is LaRoche good to go for this series in Coors?

McClatchy saved the Pirates’ franchise in Pittsburgh, built PNC park and got 10 plus years before Nuttings’ “baseball advisors” told him a change was needed. Littlefield had a five year contract, but he got an extra year or two when he smartly hired his buddy, Tracy, so that he could get an extension so that his tenure would coincide with Tracy’s contract.

After Littlefield’s first year, the Pirates were named the Organization of the Year for the performance of their minor leagues. Forget about the fact that they had overage players on every roster and only a handful or less of actual prospects. And this situation never changed over Littlefield’s tenure.

Those were lost years for the Pirates’ franchise.

So it’s a real Catch 22. One hires new front office personnel, gives them contracts (probably three years) to turn things around, crosses ones’ fingers, and then measures the results.

And I certainly am willing to give Coonelly and Huntington a chance.

I just haven’t seen anything happen yet in their nine months on the job. Some players have improved their performance considerably over last season hopefully improving their trade value as expected; however, quite a few have slipped backwards. This will always be the case.

The bench has improved but the record is only four games better than last year, and I don’t think that what is left of the fan base has been greatly inspired.

The only 2008 signing, to date, that is really opening eyes is Matt Hague, now playing 3B at Hickory. Even if Alvarez is signed, I think that Hague is going to provide real competion for both him and Walker going forward. Hague tore up the Pac-10 in 2007 and transferred to Oklahoma State for 2008. The competition at both of these schools is certainly on a par or better than the competition in the SEC. Hague should be put on a fast track so that he can finish the year at Lynchburg or Altoona.

After the July 31 trading deadline and the August 15 draft signing deadline, all Pirate fans are going to have formed a much better idea as to what to expect from the new front office.

Doing nothing is always an option. Very occasionally, it is the best option. But being pro-active, making decisions and then taking action is usually the way that most winners get things done.

Can anyone advise me on how to register to coment at Dejan’s blog? Maybe it’s right in front of my face, but I’m not seeing it.

Richert was pitching independent ball last year, and I think he was a pretty good candidate to be released when the Indians picked up Bullington. I think he’s just a spaceholder to fill in for the guys who are making random starts in Pittsburgh.