Does this team need leaders?

by woobie on Aug 8, 2009 2:42 AM EDT Comment 19 comments

Since it was in the unreadable PBC Blog comments section, I doubt many of you read this when it was first posted.

To make a long story short, here is an excerpt of Dejan's response to what some posters deemed "negative" coverage:

I will say it again: There is no leadership on the team.

If you want me to write about nothing but the happy stuff, I can't do that. That is not my job. It is to tell you what is going on.

Who will take responsibility, if anyone?

Who is accountable?

That requires a long follow-up over the next two months.

http://community.post-gazette.com/blogs/pbc/default.aspx

I, for one, didn't have a problem with the coverage.

The team played horribly Thursday night and deserved to be called out in an objective manner. Nor did I have an issue with reporting that Hart and Jackson were unavailable to talk postgame. After all, the beat writers/talking heads have a job to do. And while both players provided explanations after the fact, it didn't exactly scream of "professionalism" on their part.

What I don't care for is all this leadership nonsense, at least not now.

How can a team that's been gutted -- and rightfully so -- have someone instantly take the reigns? How can Ryan Doumit, who seems to have no interest whatsoever in such a role, become a leader based on mere seniority? The same goes for Ramon Vazquez; why, just because he's old enough to remember a few John Hughes movie lines?

As much as it pains me to say, I'm with John Russell on this one. Leaders, at least in regard to pro baseball, are made, not born.

Let these 25 guys play. Let them succeed. Let them fail. Let them whatever ... someone will come to the forefront.

Also, and this is another thread for another day, but I find it odd that Dejan seems more outwardly critical now than when DL was ripping this organization, from top to bottom, to shreds. Of course, that's his prerogative. It's just strange.

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Agreed

We have no leadership now. Big surprise. McCutcheon is a rookie, he’s not gonna lead yet, give him a year or two, and he’s our best option now.

by Phantaskippy on Aug 8, 2009 4:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree with you that this is Cutch's team now.

He seems like he is a very level headed guy who can set a great example for other players.

"So you think 25 percent of the country is retarded?! Yea. Atleast 25 percent. Well lets so a sample. There are 4 of us an you're retarded. Thats 25 percent." Southpark; Mystery of the Urinal Deuce

by gorillakilla34 on Aug 8, 2009 6:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think any leaders will step up this year.

This is just kind of a miss matched bunch of guys post July 31. Maholm is struggling. Andy might be pouting a little over his brother getting trade. Doumit might not want to step up because he figures he’s gone next. Cutch is the best talent but is still too young to be rallying players. The rest of the guy’s are either rookies, unproven players, or new guys. I think the only guys who should be expected to step up and lead the rest of this year are the one’s who get paid to lead: the coaching staff.

"So you think 25 percent of the country is retarded?! Yea. Atleast 25 percent. Well lets so a sample. There are 4 of us an you're retarded. Thats 25 percent." Southpark; Mystery of the Urinal Deuce

by gorillakilla34 on Aug 8, 2009 6:43 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This leadership stuff

is highly overrated anyway. It’s a talking point more than anything. Not that I don’t think you need someone to be able to talk to the team, but I thought Dejan was off-base with his remarks.

by Slizeezyc on Aug 8, 2009 7:39 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Cardinals announcers.

Last night, they said that the Pirates lacked veteran leadership now and that’s the big reason they’re losing. Has nothing to do with not having the talent to win, it’s just leadership. And the big reason that the Cardinals are winning, it’s not talent, it’s veteran leadership from guys like Pujols, Holliday and Carpenter.

by IAPiratesFan on Aug 8, 2009 7:56 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

More like

They have the best hitter in the game in Pujols, another stud in Holliday, and an ace in Carpenter. talent>leadership. Winning breeds leaders and chemistry.

Show me a guy whos afraid to look bad, and I'll show you a guy you can beat every time. -Lou Brock

by Green_Wave on Aug 8, 2009 11:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I can only assume PiratesFan was kidding about the leadership.

by ryebr3ad on Aug 8, 2009 6:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I know

It was more in response to the Cards announcers even though I doubt they read this site.

Show me a guy whos afraid to look bad, and I'll show you a guy you can beat every time. -Lou Brock

by Green_Wave on Aug 8, 2009 7:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Last year

I believe Dejan was fairly dismissive of Dougie M’s gritty veteran leadership as a way to rally a young team. Interesting that he’s changed his outlook and now demands some rah-rah speechifying after a bad loss.

by maguro on Aug 8, 2009 9:29 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That isn't right

He cited it a million times until he got ripped for it a billion times here and finally backed off. He kept reporting all winter how the Pirates had yet to make Dougie M. Leadership an offer and every time it set off a stream of criticism toward the team.

by dtoddwin on Aug 8, 2009 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

OK Thanks

I seem to recall him being more rational than that but I guess not.

by maguro on Aug 8, 2009 11:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That and

we have got to get the bullpen going again we have to find a guy that we can use in the eighth inning since we traded Grabow who was the setup man for Capps you know that the game was for all intents and purposes over now its o god what happen after the bull pen gives up 6 runs in one inning this is horrifing to watch find some guys to put in the bullpen please.

by WVPiratesfan on Aug 8, 2009 11:05 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Said it before, say it again:

If it was OK to pitch Capps the 9th and 10th on Thursday, why isn’t it OK to pitch him the eighth and ninth? What, we might be in save situations two nights in a row?

by bucdaddy on Aug 9, 2009 12:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

A Leader Will Emerge.

I think that right now all the players are tentative and reticent in assuming a leadership role. I do believe that this will be Andrew’s team and he will not be a loquacious and emotionally charged type but approach it like he does everything else. With a cool, quiet confidence that engenders his actions on the field demonstrating to his teammates exemplary professionalism.

by tjc on Aug 8, 2009 11:54 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Dejan.

By the way, recently it feels to me that Dejan has become the spokesman for the other side. Maybe I am wrong but there appears to be that bias in his writing lately.

by tjc on Aug 8, 2009 11:59 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

If one leads by example...

looks like our leaders will be Cutch and Duke.

by Thunder on Aug 8, 2009 12:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This will be Cutch's team before long

and I think Alvarez will soon pitch in.

As a kinda of darkhorse I really like Tony Sanchez down in WV. I’ve seen him play in person half a dozen times and he just strikes me as having all the intangibles. Desire, character, and leadership to name a few.

He strikes me as a guy the Steelers would draft. He may not have the best raw talent but they know he will work his butt off and stay out of trouble off the field while being a catalyst for the guys in the locker room. As many times as that stuff is overrated it is also underrated. Rooney has made the Steelers the best franchise in the NFL and arguably all of sports through the continuous method of drafting high character guys.

Someone is going to have to step up in the bullpen and I think (if hes not traded, and I don’t think its necessary he is) Capps could do that. If that doesn’t happen a guy could definitely emerge in the next few years when the dust settles and I’m not too concerned about it.

by McCutchenIsTheTruth on Aug 9, 2009 1:42 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs