If I had an answer for this dilemma, I’d have already brought it to the attention of those who could effect the necessary change. My complaint in my posts has been directed at fans who believe Nutting can’t compete for free agents as a small market team owner.Bobster wrote: ↑Wed Jan 03, 2024 4:28 pmIt's easy to say we "won't accept" that. What do you propose?Doc wrote: ↑Wed Jan 03, 2024 11:41 amI asked why the Pirates "can't" sign Bellinger. You told me why they "won't". And no, we don't have to "accept" that. That's exactly what Nutting wants: an acceptance and belief that he's unable to sign top talent. It allows him to continue to operate the way he does. He's playing a zero sum game where he wins and we fans lose. I don't understand why you've decided we have to accept that.fjk090852-7 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 03, 2024 2:48 am
We cannot sign top of the line free agents because we have an owner who provides our GM with a budget that is not competitive with other MLB teams. You are aware of that as well as myself, and as longtime Pirates fans we have to accept, but not agree as to how our owner operates this franchise.
I'm certain Nutting doesn't think the fan base believes he is unable to sign top talent. The fan base is well aware that he simply chooses not to. Nutting knows the fans don't like it. He knows the fans are always angry. But he has a monopoly on MLB in Pittsburgh. It's not as if fans are flocking to the ballpark. In 2023 their attendance was 26th of 30. Nutting doesn't care. He knows attendance increases if he puts more money into the team and improves them. But he's making a profit without doing that.
It's not as if the fans are being fooled and don't see how Nutting operates. MLB refuses to make Nutting operate any differently. What should fans do about it?
As for what fans can do about it, we know that boycotting rarely works, and I’m sure it wouldn’t in this case. Demanding that MLB remove him as an owner would be futile and would most certainly be ignored. Imploring local corporations, particularly PNC, to pressure Nutting into being a serious owner would take a monumental effort that would be nearly impossible to organize and likely fail. A media campaign in a place like New York might be effective but I don’t see that working in a parochial city like Pittsburgh. There may be other options but I agree that getting Nutting to change isn’t going to happen due to action that comes from outside of the organization or MLB.
I’d hate to think that we’ll never be rid of Nutting but I believe he has no plans to ever sell. Why would he? And there’s no guarantee that the new owner would be any different. Our only hope is that MLB owners implement a new system that, like the NFL, puts every franchise on equal footing. It would take a cataclysmic occurrence to bring that about.
Nope, we’re stuck with him. I just don’t want to hear fans feeling sorry for him, parroting his claim that he can’t compete for free agents.
Not biotching and moaning over and over and over about Nutting.