I'm sick of Ownership and Management of this team

[Doc]

I suppose most of you read the Jason Mackey piece in the Post-Gazette this morning about baseball team valuations. While the Pirates are near the bottom in terms of the valuation of the franchise, and again near the bottom in total revenue earned, our Bucs are near the very top in operating income (basically their profit) made on their revenue. Now that’s a winning season for Bob Nutting!

[fjk090852-7]

It is being reported that 3 billboards have been installed in Pittsburgh which states “ Bob Please Sell The Team “. A fan who is tired of the annual losing started a Go Fund Me Page and has raised in excess of $ 15,000 to get these billboards erected. Many of us on this site have texted our displeasure with the Pirates Owner, and by seeing these billboards many more fans are disgusted with ownership. I know it is probably a false hope, but later his month Baseball Owners are gathering for a meeting and I wonder if the Commissioner or one of his associates would pull Nutting aside and discuss the negative publicity his team is generating. I am sure Baseball cares less if the fan base is disgusted with Nutting, but why does the industry want to read about negativity about one of their team owners. Let’s hope there is some discussion.

[mouse]

If MLB hasn't pulled the owner of the (Once) Oakland A's aside, I doubt very much they have concerns about Nutting.

[Doc]

It is being reported that 3 billboards have been installed in Pittsburgh which states “ Bob Please Sell The Team “. A fan who is tired of the annual losing started a Go Fund Me Page and has raised in excess of $ 15,000 to get these billboards erected. Many of us on this site have texted our displeasure with the Pirates Owner, and by seeing these billboards many more fans are disgusted with ownership. I know it is probably a false hope, but later his month Baseball Owners are gathering for a meeting and I wonder if the Commissioner or one of his associates would pull Nutting aside and discuss the negative publicity his team is generating. I am sure Baseball cares less if the fan base is disgusted with Nutting, but why does the industry want to read about negativity about one of their team owners. Let’s hope there is some discussion.

Obviously, no organization wants negative publicity but MLB is perfectly okay with an owner like Nutting doing business as he does. First and foremost, his Pirates are schedule-fillers. It doesn’t matter if the team succeeds or fails on the field. As long as his franchise remains profitable, Bob Nutting is in the good graces of the commissioner and other owners.

[Possum]

It is being reported that 3 billboards have been installed in Pittsburgh which states “ Bob Please Sell The Team “. A fan who is tired of the annual losing started a Go Fund Me Page and has raised in excess of $ 15,000 to get these billboards erected. Many of us on this site have texted our displeasure with the Pirates Owner, and by seeing these billboards many more fans are disgusted with ownership. I know it is probably a false hope, but later his month Baseball Owners are gathering for a meeting and I wonder if the Commissioner or one of his associates would pull Nutting aside and discuss the negative publicity his team is generating. I am sure Baseball cares less if the fan base is disgusted with Nutting, but why does the industry want to read about negativity about one of their team owners. Let’s hope there is some discussion.

Obviously, no organization wants negative publicity but MLB is perfectly okay with an owner like Nutting doing business as he does. First and foremost, his Pirates are schedule-fillers. It doesn’t matter if the team succeeds or fails on the field. As long as his franchise remains profitable, Bob Nutting is in the good graces of the commissioner and other owners.

MLB is in the business to make money and they don't give a damn about diehard fans like us.

[Bobster]

It is being reported that 3 billboards have been installed in Pittsburgh which states “ Bob Please Sell The Team “. A fan who is tired of the annual losing started a Go Fund Me Page and has raised in excess of $ 15,000 to get these billboards erected. Many of us on this site have texted our displeasure with the Pirates Owner, and by seeing these billboards many more fans are disgusted with ownership. I know it is probably a false hope, but later his month Baseball Owners are gathering for a meeting and I wonder if the Commissioner or one of his associates would pull Nutting aside and discuss the negative publicity his team is generating. I am sure Baseball cares less if the fan base is disgusted with Nutting, but why does the industry want to read about negativity about one of their team owners. Let’s hope there is some discussion.

This was started by a fan on the DK Sports website. He did a Go Fund Me page to raise money for the boards. They raised over $18,000. I was glad to contribute. No one involved thinks it will convince Nutting to sell. The objective is to launch a campaign of public outcry about how much the fan base despises how the team is operated. At least one of the TV stations did a report on it. It is hoped that the sentiment gains traction with the public, media and city leaders to put pressure on Nutting to become a better owner.

It's easy to say a couple of billboards won't change anything. But discontent is pretty much universal among Pirate fans. The organizer of this effort just felt it was better to try something in the hope of affecting change than to accept that there is nothing that can be done. I applaud the effort.

[Doc]

It is being reported that 3 billboards have been installed in Pittsburgh which states “ Bob Please Sell The Team “. A fan who is tired of the annual losing started a Go Fund Me Page and has raised in excess of $ 15,000 to get these billboards erected. Many of us on this site have texted our displeasure with the Pirates Owner, and by seeing these billboards many more fans are disgusted with ownership. I know it is probably a false hope, but later his month Baseball Owners are gathering for a meeting and I wonder if the Commissioner or one of his associates would pull Nutting aside and discuss the negative publicity his team is generating. I am sure Baseball cares less if the fan base is disgusted with Nutting, but why does the industry want to read about negativity about one of their team owners. Let’s hope there is some discussion.

This was started by a fan on the DK Sports website. He did a Go Fund Me page to raise money for the boards. They raised over $18,000. I was glad to contribute. No one involved thinks it will convince Nutting to sell. The objective is to launch a campaign of public outcry about how much the fan base despises how the team is operated. At least one of the TV stations did a report on it. It is hoped that the sentiment gains traction with the public, media and city leaders to put pressure on Nutting to become a better owner.

It's easy to say a couple of billboards won't change anything. But discontent is pretty much universal among Pirate fans. The organizer of this effort just felt it was better to try something in the hope of affecting change than to accept that there is nothing that can be done. I applaud the effort.

I love that this fan has chosen to express himself regarding Nutting’s management of the franchise. I hope his efforts pick up steam, but I have my doubts because Pittsburgh sports fans are now focused on football. I’m also of the opinion that Nutting can’t be embarrassed. He’ll just hunker down in Wheeling for the winter, then show up in Bradenton in February where he’ll tell us his usual lie that the goal for 2025 is the playoffs.

[Bobster]

It is being reported that 3 billboards have been installed in Pittsburgh which states “ Bob Please Sell The Team “. A fan who is tired of the annual losing started a Go Fund Me Page and has raised in excess of $ 15,000 to get these billboards erected. Many of us on this site have texted our displeasure with the Pirates Owner, and by seeing these billboards many more fans are disgusted with ownership. I know it is probably a false hope, but later his month Baseball Owners are gathering for a meeting and I wonder if the Commissioner or one of his associates would pull Nutting aside and discuss the negative publicity his team is generating. I am sure Baseball cares less if the fan base is disgusted with Nutting, but why does the industry want to read about negativity about one of their team owners. Let’s hope there is some discussion.

This was started by a fan on the DK Sports website. He did a Go Fund Me page to raise money for the boards. They raised over $18,000. I was glad to contribute. No one involved thinks it will convince Nutting to sell. The objective is to launch a campaign of public outcry about how much the fan base despises how the team is operated. At least one of the TV stations did a report on it. It is hoped that the sentiment gains traction with the public, media and city leaders to put pressure on Nutting to become a better owner.

It's easy to say a couple of billboards won't change anything. But discontent is pretty much universal among Pirate fans. The organizer of this effort just felt it was better to try something in the hope of affecting change than to accept that there is nothing that can be done. I applaud the effort.

I love that this fan has chosen to express himself regarding Nutting’s management of the franchise. I hope his efforts pick up steam, but I have my doubts because Pittsburgh sports fans are now focused on football. I’m also of the opinion that Nutting can’t be embarrassed. He’ll just hunker down in Wheeling for the winter, then show up in Bradenton in February where he’ll tell us his usual lie that the goal for 2025 is the playoffs.

It actually got to Nutting enough that he had Williams issue a statement. The statement deliberately misidentified the frustrations of the fan base as "disappointment with the way last season ended" rather than the real reason of the overall lack of commitment to winning. The statement also included the usual blather about "building a team" which means they are always in building mode instead of winning mode. Here's the statement:

"We appreciate the passion of all of our fans and share in the disappointment with the way last season ended," Williams said in the statement. "In the end, we all want the same thing: To win. We are focusing all of our energy on building a team that can compete for the postseason and will not let anything distract us from achieving that goal."

[Doc]

This was started by a fan on the DK Sports website. He did a Go Fund Me page to raise money for the boards. They raised over $18,000. I was glad to contribute. No one involved thinks it will convince Nutting to sell. The objective is to launch a campaign of public outcry about how much the fan base despises how the team is operated. At least one of the TV stations did a report on it. It is hoped that the sentiment gains traction with the public, media and city leaders to put pressure on Nutting to become a better owner.

It's easy to say a couple of billboards won't change anything. But discontent is pretty much universal among Pirate fans. The organizer of this effort just felt it was better to try something in the hope of affecting change than to accept that there is nothing that can be done. I applaud the effort.

I love that this fan has chosen to express himself regarding Nutting’s management of the franchise. I hope his efforts pick up steam, but I have my doubts because Pittsburgh sports fans are now focused on football. I’m also of the opinion that Nutting can’t be embarrassed. He’ll just hunker down in Wheeling for the winter, then show up in Bradenton in February where he’ll tell us his usual lie that the goal for 2025 is the playoffs.

It actually got to Nutting enough that he had Williams issue a statement. The statement deliberately misidentified the frustrations of the fan base as "disappointment with the way last season ended" rather than the real reason of the overall lack of commitment to winning. The statement also included the usual blather about "building a team" which means they are always in building mode instead of winning mode. Here's the statement:

"We appreciate the passion of all of our fans and share in the disappointment with the way last season ended," Williams said in the statement. "In the end, we all want the same thing: To win. We are focusing all of our energy on building a team that can compete for the postseason and will not let anything distract us from achieving that goal."

It figures he had Williams handle this rather than he getting himself out there. The last sentence is precious..

[Bobster]

I love that this fan has chosen to express himself regarding Nutting’s management of the franchise. I hope his efforts pick up steam, but I have my doubts because Pittsburgh sports fans are now focused on football. I’m also of the opinion that Nutting can’t be embarrassed. He’ll just hunker down in Wheeling for the winter, then show up in Bradenton in February where he’ll tell us his usual lie that the goal for 2025 is the playoffs.

It actually got to Nutting enough that he had Williams issue a statement. The statement deliberately misidentified the frustrations of the fan base as "disappointment with the way last season ended" rather than the real reason of the overall lack of commitment to winning. The statement also included the usual blather about "building a team" which means they are always in building mode instead of winning mode. Here's the statement:

"We appreciate the passion of all of our fans and share in the disappointment with the way last season ended," Williams said in the statement. "In the end, we all want the same thing: To win. We are focusing all of our energy on building a team that can compete for the postseason and will not let anything distract us from achieving that goal."

It figures he had Williams handle this rather than he getting himself out there. The last sentence is precious..

It's interesting that Williams gave a cleaned-up statement to WPXI in reference to the billboard story. The revised statement:
“We appreciate the passion of all our fans. In the end, we all want the same thing…to win. We are focusing all of our energy on building a team that can compete for the postseason in 2025 and beyond. We know that our fans want and deserve that.”

The revised statement does not suggest fan discontent is due merely to how last season ended, no longer suggests the resentment of fans is a distraction and specifies they are building a team to compete for the postseason in 2025 and beyond, rather than the original ambiguous comment about building for an unspecified time.

The fact that the organization feels compelled to respond to the negativity of the billboards and cleaned up their initially unsatisfying response at least shows that we have their attention. That's a step in the right direction for an organization that routinely takes its fans for granted and doesn't seem to care what we think.