Just posting an out of the box idea I've had, wondering what you guys thought.  I sent it to DK, but got no response so he obviously didn't think it was any good:

Even the most optomistic bucco fan will realize that they're not going to make a turnaround like the Rays last year, or even have a chance at .500 this upcoming year.  Along with people/companies spending less on entertainment, hence less people going to the games, I thought of one way the bucs could get a larger crowd for a series.  They allow one local ballplayer a chance at 1 at-bat/1 batter faced.  The Pirates hold some sort of selection, via the MVP of an adult summer league, such as the Butler Eagle County wooden bat league that has many ex minor leaguers, or even a guy like Chris Sidick off the Wild Things, just to make sure it's a genuine ball player that wouldn't make a complete fool of themselves.  They do this when the rosters are expanded, just for a 4 game series like the one against the Padres Sept. 18th to the 21st, and Russel has to use them once in the series.  Just a pinch hit/pitch in relief to one batter.  I got this idea from the Vince Papale story.  I would think it would create a buzz around the series, that otherwise just us diehards would be getting excited to see the call ups while everybody else would resume to talking about the Steelers.  I mean just think if the lucky individual would get a hit, or get a batter out.  Just an idea, I know the intial reaction would be "no way" and I totally understand that, but also understand it's all about getting fans in the stands and entertaining the masses.