Will Buccos Fans ever be satisfied

Outside of games being played its been an amazing 10 days for a Pirates fan, Pedro Alvarez returned to the lineup and Neal Huntington trades Low A Ball 1B Aaron Baker for 1B Derrek Lee(Orioles) and picks up Ryan Ludwick(OF) from the Padres for a player to be named later or cash considerations. 

I'll be honest, Ludwick and Lee aren't Beltran, Upton, or Pence. But lets be real, it would've costed the Pirates too much to trade to get those players. We be talking about losing James Taillon(P), or Starling Marte(OF). You can't risk your entire future to get studs right now. Next year may be a different story with Coles(P) will be playing Low or High A ball. Plus Beltran didn't want to waive his no trade clause to come to the Pirates.

Its obvious Pedro is struggling a little at the plate. He also didn't start that great when he was called last season. Be patient with him, his bat will start to catch fire as August progresses. Pedro isn't a flash in the pan and to be frank, he's a stud young player. Plus he has "protection" in the lineup in Ludwick, Lee, and Andrew McCutchen. You even have a decent bat in Ryan Doumit to return in a few weeks.

2 weeks ago, Pedro was killing the ball in AAA and everyone wanted him to play in MLB. Now he returns and faces 7 great pitchers and struggles, and everyone wants him sent back. Since his return he's 4-29 1HR 4 RBI's 13K's. Its not impressive BUT its better than his start last June/July.

The Pirates are 54-52 4.5 games behind the first place Brewers. Losing streaks like this was bound to happen. They happen to all teams. No reason to jump a cliff just yet. Just remember the Pirates was close to 25-30 games out of first. On top of that the Pirates are close to matching last years win total for the entire season. This team with the lineup before the additions of Lee and Ludwick was realistically a 82-83 win team now I'd say they're an 85-86 win team.

I'm glad the Pirates made some moves. It shows some commitment to winning. And on top of that, Huntington really didn't give up much to acquire Lee and Ludwick.

Sorry about the rambling, but people totally needs to relax and enjoy the ride. Remember it could be worse, we lived it the past 18 years. And it appears that better days are ahead.

Economy Going Over a Cliff

I gotta love the media types from the "Left" and the "Right". Both sides pointing fingers at each other like 4 year old kids at the playground. You caused the mess, no you caused the mess. Grow up Mr. Congressmen and Mr. Mediabaffoon.

This country needs jobs, pure and simple. Look at your wardrobes people. How many items in your closet says "Made In America". Then look around your house and count how many things are "Made In China". We need to become a manufacturing nation with a trade surplus.

If we had a trade surplus, there wouldn't be any Debt Ceiling talks today.  And here's why, if people was working these kind of jobs, there wouldn't be a need for Welfare, Food Stamps, Universal Health Care etc..

But to be fair to the Progressives, our war machine really needs to be scaled back. How can we expect to fight these wars and win them when we can't even defend out own borders? Plus Bush's consolidation of Homeland Security and the Patriotic Act didn't help matters. 

Here's the cold hard truth, no matter what happens this week in Washington creditors such as Standard & Poors is going to lower our Credit Ranking from AAA to AA status. What that means is that you, me, and the next guy/girl is going to have to pay higher interest rates on Mortgages and Credit Cards?

So while some of you want to blame the Republicans and others wants to blame the Democrats. Just remember until we have a viable manufacturing base again, our problems will not be resolved. There will most likely be a deal struck before Tuesday but remember all they're doing is pushing our problems to a later date. So I will not be celebrating with the rest of the nation when it is struck just due to that fact.

I agree with Obama on one point in all of this. We have a realistic chance of solving our nations debt. Problem is both sides really don't offer a realistic bill that would solve this debt crisis, other than pushing the debt problem to a later date.

The Government really needs to stay out of the market place and let the markets rebuild itself. Until that happens, we're screwed.  End of discussion!!!

Big XII: A Disfunctional Network of Schools

When they say everything is larger in the Lone Star State, they wasn't kidding. The rumors are massive, but then again they are rumors and to be taken for what they are worth.

One day Larry Scott(Pac 12 Commish) says the Conference is still looking to expand to 16 but the next he says Texas isn't going to join the Pac 12. Now who in the world is out there that would make expanding to 16 worthwhile without Texas. A Baylor, Texas Tech, Oklahoma St., and Boise St, combo really doesn't add up when we're talking about dollars and cents.

Now lets think about the SEC for a second. Mike Slive(SEC Commish) has said that the league isn't looking to expand but could expand to 16 in 15 minutes. I do believe him. I'm not sure what teams he would have in mind other than Texas A&M and possibly Oklahoma in the West and a Virginia Tech and WVU in the East.

The Long Horn Network appears to be the driving force to all of these expansion rumors, due to the possibility of the Network airing HS games. A&M, and Oklahoma appears to be the most vocal about it. The kicker is that this very same Network help keep the league together last year, when it appeared all hell was going to break loose.

I really don't know whats going to happen out West. And honestly, I don't think anything will happen anytime soon. Too many variables to what will happen to Baylor and Texas Tech seems to be the roadblock for Texas A&M to leave at the moment.

Texas A&M may very well end up in the SEC with Texas Tech or Baylor. I don't know what kind of move Oklahoma would make as well.
 
So what happens to the network of Kansas, Kansas St., Mizzouri, and Iowa St? Last year when things was red hot, there was rumors of those schools heading to the Big East. But a lot could've changed in a year's time.

The biggest variable remains to be Texas. How would they react if the conference suddenly imploded? Joining the ranks of an Independent could be likely. But what about a move to the B1G 10? No one seems to be talking about that possibility anymore. And maybe that could be wishful thinking for a B1G 10 fan.

5-14 could be the direction everything is going and then again nothing may happen. Grab your popcorn and enjoy the season, and what could be an entertaining offseason.

My best guess is that the Big XII rumors will simmer down once football season starts and the Big XII will be stable for years to come. But who am I. With everything said, I'd hate to be in Don Beebe's shoes.

Time for the WPIAL to Fix its Scheduling

As I sit back wishing the Bears the best of luck as they head to Dallas for the Redbull 7 on 7 Tournament, I have to say this will be the best competition the Bears face until the playoffs or possibly even that too. And I have to say that is a problem.

The WPIAL desperately needs a new way of scheduling its schools because locking schools into 8 games with the chance of scheduling who you want for only 1 game really isn't that fair. And the be honest, the only positive I could see is that AD's that are lazy really just gets to schedule one game and then they're done.

I totally understand that the WPIAL loves the current system because its an easy breakdown for their precious 16 team playoffs. I get their philosophy of trying to have 4 Conferences per class.

But what exactly does TJ and Clairton get out of playing the likes of EF and South Park, and Avella and Bentworth, Some of these games between top flight schools against these bottom feeders are blowouts the Thursdays before the games are even played. Schools like Avella, Brownsville, Quaker Valley, and Burgettstown are losing more and more fan and player interest as well. Which is a crying shame because Avella and Brownsville has rich football history's.

I don't have a simple solution to this problem, but maybe we could have 8 Conferences of 4 teams. It still helps the WPIAL figure out its playoff seeding of 8 schools but it only locks schools into 3-4 games of year which would force schools to schedule 5-6 games a year.

Sure you'll have some of the same mismatch's a season but his would allow schools like Avella to play more Tri County South and even Big 7 schools which could give them a chance to possibly win more games. And with that you allow for more Big Time OOC games like a Clairton-TJ or TJ vs Bethel Park. On top of that you give schools more chances to schedule big time OOS games against Florida, Texas, and Ohio Schools. Playing better competition more often gives the WPIAL better chances of winning those big time OOS games and make our schools better in the process.

At the same time I also feel that there are too many schools included in the WPIAL playoffs except for 2A simply because 2A has so many schools in it and is much more competitive than the other class's. In 4A you been having 3-6 schools in the playoffs. And it totally doesn't make sense. With my solution of 8 Conferences of 4 teams that would mean only the 8 Conference champs would make it to the playoffs. Good teams may get left out that way as well, but sometimes life isn't fair.

The WPIAL needs to make changes no doubt, I have a few solutions on the table. Will they happen, I doubt it. The WPIAL likes to make things easier only for themselves. But the level of play in the WPIAL is continuing to drop, and schools aren't having a proper way to better themselves, which is playing better competition more often.

To Trade or Not to Trade; That is the Question

It has been an amazing season for the Pirates indeed. They are currently 44-41 and within arm reach of 1st place. And there is a very strong possibility that they could be in 1st place by the All Star Break.

Right now there is a hot topic on Talk Radio, Message Boards, Twitter, and Blogs and that is that the Pirates needs to trade for a big bat in its lineup.

Aramis Ramirez 3B of the Cubs and Jose Reyes SS of the Mets are just 2 of the names mentioned.

My biggest question to those who are begging for a trade is, who are you willing to give up to make the current lineup better? The Pirates are probably going to have to trade a Brad Lincoln, Alex Presley, or some other Prospects. To think that the Pirates can dump Diaz and Cedeno for Jose Reyes is a bit far fetched. Remember to get talent, the Pirates must give up talent.

Let me be frank, Paul Maholm must be kept and payed the 10M+ he would be owed. People seem to forget that the Pitching is what got the Pirates this far. Trading a P like Maholm for a bat could set the team back instead of helping. There is 0 evidence that P Brad Lincoln step in and the rotation doesn't miss a beat.

On the flip side guys like 3B Josh Harrison, OF Alex Presley, SS Chase d'Anaud has helped put a little gas back on the Pirates offensive gas pedal. Each of those guys will provide depth once LF Jose Tabata and 3B Pedro Alverez returns to the lineup. SS d'Arnaud and OF Alex Presley also has a great chance of starting as well.

Now that leaves us to the the question of; what do we do with OF Matt Diaz, OF Steve Pearce, 1B Lyle Overbay, and SS Ronny Cedeno. To be honest an lineup that looks like this isn't that bad going forward; LF Jose Tabata, CF Andrew McCutchen, RF Alex Presley, 3B Pedro Alverez, SS Chase d'Arnaud, 2B Neal Walker, 1B Garrett Jones, and the Catching platoon of Ryan Doumit and Chris Snyder is a solid lineup on the field and at the plate. I just think everyone does need to be patient until the guys return from injury.

I hate to ruin the future of this team just to help with our playoff chances this year. You trade for rental players only when you think you have a great shot of winning the World Series. And honestly, the Pirates aren't there yet.

The Pirates needs to worry about getting these young guys much needed playing time to make the bench that much better. As of right now, we could be having guys like Lyle Overbay, Steve Pearce, and Ryan Doumit coming off the bench in big time Pinch Hitting situations and a kid like Josh Harrison as a Pinch Runner-if need be.

If the Pirates can get a big time bat in the offseason via Free Agency, then hell I'm all for it.

Is Going to Class 2A Worth It for Clairton?

Clairton has been mighty impressive on the 1A level. The Bears have won 31 straight games and nabbed back to back state championships along the way. But could the Bears sustain this level of success at the 2A level is the question.

A couple of Class A sized schools in Aliquippa and Jeannette could be examples of Clairton being more than competitive in 2A. But at the same time we do have to be realistic and realize that the Bears chances of winning state title's would be greatly diminished at the 2A level.

The biggest con in a 2A move would be the starters playing longer during games which would increase the chances of an injury. An undersized line plus numbers could spell disaster for the Bears if the injury bug would set in.

At the same time stiffer competition would also make the individual players and the team much better on the field.

I must say the biggest pro for a move to 2A would be profits at the gate during home games plus less travel for away games. There will be larger crowds for say an SA-Clairton game than an Avella-Clairton game and the same would be said for a Steel Valley-Clairton game than a Fort Cherry-Clairton game. And at the same time bus rides to Keystone Oaks is much closer than bus rides to Chartiers-Houston and Avella. The net profits just for the Athletic Department in general should be enough for a move to 2A worthwhile.

2A playoffs would also be whole be really fun for the fans, but at the same time much, much tougher. While Clairton would lose the game against the always tough Rochester, the return would be possible games against; Aliquippa, Jeannette, Beaver Falls, Greensburg Central Catholic and so on. Its a tougher slate no doubt, but Clairton Nation would back the Bears every step of the way.

I support a move to 2A for plenty of reasons. I'd say the biggest reason would be more exposure. Some of the fringe D1A prospects would most likely be D1A prospects in 2A football. Plus the schedule in general would be much much better. Think of the possibility of playing; South Park, South Fayette, Steel Valley, East Allegheny, South Allegheny, Keystone Oaks, Seton La Selle, and Washington as a regular season slate compared to what we have no.

I totally understand the other side to the argument. If the Bears go 16 and 0 this season, the Bears would be riding a 47 game winning streak. And I get that point no doubt. Continuing that winning streak would be much easier in 1A than it would be in 2A.  But for a district strapped for cash, a move to 2A would be more than worth it in the pocketbooks. Larger crowds for home games and shorter bus rides for away games equals profits, and to me those profits are more worthwhile than continuing the winning streak.