I attempted to attend today’s game vs the Mets.  I got there at 4:59, and there wasn’t an employee in sight.  Around 5:25, an employee come to the gates and says that they’re not allowed to open the gates until they hear from Pirates “upper” management.  He would return 5 minutes later to inform those of us at the gate that the game would be cancelled. 

It’s barely been raining since 7:00.  This game could’ve and should’ve been played. 

Why the cancellation?  Simple.  The Pirates attendance for the first time games of this series was 11,000 and 10,000.  The attendance tonight would’ve likely been in the 8-9,000 range.  The Pirates simply wanted to get this game rescheduled later in June or July, when the kids are out of school, so they can get a big draw.  They are getting embarrassed in attendance, and rightly so.  Even after last week’s sell out for fireworks, the Pirates are DEAD LAST in attendance in Major League Baseball.

So, I’m at home and I turn on the MLB Network and they are reporting on the Braves acquiring Nate McLouth from the Pirates for three minor leaguers.  At first, I was shocked.  I looked up the prospects and saw that they weren’t even top prospects.  We didn’t get their best prospects.  We didn’t get Tommy Hanson or Jason Heyward. 

This was a salary dump – which is seemingly the motive behind every trade we’ve done in the past 17 years. 

The Pirates signed Nate to a long term deal and hailed him as one of the core players that they were going to build around for the future.  What a joke.  I can only imagine what the players must be feeling in the clubhouse after hearing about this trade.  They probably feel like someone just pulled the carpet out from under them.  Maybe they cancelled the game because the players revolted. (I wish).

One possible explanation for the trade could be that the Pirates needed to make room for Andrew McCutchen, who was called up after the trade.  Why not trade Nyjer Morgan or Brandon Moss?  Why not deal Adam LaRoche and move Moss to first base?  I just don’t get it.  I wanted to see McCutchen called up eventually, but not like this.

So, the Pirates have basically sealed the deal on another miserable losing season, which will set an all time record for futility.  While they’re at it, here’s another trade General Manager Neal Huntington is likely considering:

Freddy Sanchez to the Tampa Bay Rays.  The Rays offer of Reid Brignac, Tim Beckham and David Price will be turned down by Huntington, who, after scanning the Rays minor leagues sees two players he likes.  Sanchez for Henry Wrigley (because he likes his last name), and Joseph Cruz (because he’s 6’4″, so he probably throws hard)

Sanchez has been one of our best hitters.  If he gets 635 plate appearances, his contract automatically renews itself next year.  Funny that Sanchez has been getting some random off days.  Especially last week, the day after going 6 for 6.
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So, what does this trade mean for ballhawking?  It means that slightly more batted balls will reach the bleachers in left field.  Hopefully McCutchen hits in the last group and hits for power.  The trade also likely means less balls in center field.  Nate was great and picking out the regular ballhawks and hooking them up during the games.  We can only hope that McCutchen will do the same. 

I’m mad.  I wish I could go to tomorrow’s game with some scathing signs to hold up.