OnlyBucs

1B2E3939320B39393235395C0 wrote: You and I aren't local to The Burgh.  I read TribLive daily.  Dave reads the PG.



I dont listen to post-game pressies or to any of Shelton's or Cherington's shows.



My question is- do members of the media ask them about "playing time" and/or "lineups" that seem off-center?



It's harder to question moves when they're in first place, but...



Fans pay money and they come to see the better players. 



I'm not sure that Shelton truly has the final say.  Go out of line with your boss often enough, lose, and he'd find out how much "say" he has at all.  He probably goes along with the system, and who could blame him?  The Bucs strike me as being run by committee rather than a dictatorship like managers were back when we were kids.



The Pirates could be the first "committee" that's the better choice!   :)
I listened to a Post Gazette podcast last week and they were questioning Shelton's lineups and his tendency to move players in and out of the lineups instead of letting them get comfortable with steady playing time.

I wonder if this will be a season where they pump us up then lose 9 of 10. Pump us up, big losing streak, etc.



Actually it will be better then we had in a long time.



100% sure there is not a Pirate fan in the world who have thought we'd be in first place May 19.

I wonder if this will be a season where they pump us up then lose 9 of 10. Pump us up, big losing streak, etc.



Actually it will be better then we had in a long time.



100% sure there is not a Pirate fan in the world who have thought we'd be in first place May 19.[/quote



Otis, didn't they just do that? It might not have been 9 out of 10, but it wasn't a good stretch.



I agree- said it all along- I don't move goalposts. I predicted 98 losses, so even if the team should falter, it would have to be pretty bad before I'll complain.



I thought that the team would be better, as in losing, but not by nearly as much as we did last season. I thought that the division would tighten up and that some key guys like Reynolds and Bednar would be dealt near the deadline. I thought that the Cubs would be tougher than last year. I didn't expect the Cardinals to be so bad for so long to start the season. That's a team that I can see clawing its way back into the mix.



No way would I have expected the team to be .545 on May 19. I still don't think that we'll finish at .500. It's a long season. But, to even be in the conversation and not having visiting people make fun of us is surely refreshing.



Already, this has been a fascinating start, and I think it's going to be no holds barred as August turns to October.



Baseball has its stories every year, but this year, I see some intriguing things all through the standings this year. The Diamondbacks are much like us. They were even worse not long ago. Look at The Fish lurking behind the loaded Braves and what's behind them. The Rump Rangers were terrible. Now, they're in first. Tigers....Orioles. And, the BJs have some leapfrogging to do. We're one of the stories, but only one of them. It's nice that we're such a good story after being a bad one for so long.

654845545342551516270 wrote: You and I aren't local to The Burgh.  I read TribLive daily.  Dave reads the PG.



I dont listen to post-game pressies or to any of Shelton's or Cherington's shows.



My question is- do members of the media ask them about "playing time" and/or "lineups" that seem off-center?



It's harder to question moves when they're in first place, but...



Fans pay money and they come to see the better players. 



I'm not sure that Shelton truly has the final say.  Go out of line with your boss often enough, lose, and he'd find out how much "say" he has at all.  He probably goes along with the system, and who could blame him?  The Bucs strike me as being run by committee rather than a dictatorship like managers were back when we were kids.



The Pirates could be the first "committee" that's the better choice!   :)
I listened to a Post Gazette podcast last week and they were questioning Shelton's lineups and his tendency to move players in and out of the lineups instead of letting them get comfortable with steady playing time.


What I'm wondering is- whether any of them have asked that question to Shelton and/or Ben?



I would expect the canned response (we look at this, we look at that, we try to divide the ball, matchups, etc.) but at least it makes them aware that we think they're off their rockers sometimes.



It's easier to ask that when you're mired in a two-week slump- or, your star third baseman can't hit .240 and 2 home runs.

As long as they win, I couldn't care less

who makes the calls

Must admit I'm impressed with the crowds at PNC. I wonder if the Penguins missing the Playoffs boosted it up a bit?????????



Love for the BUCS to keep fans of Pittsburgh tuned in once Steelers start up.

Found missing thread.