OnlyBucs

this is from MLB Trade Rumors and may be similar to what he sadi on his radio show.



With the Pirates having fallen to 41-48 since a good start to the season, “[highlight]the optimism has turned to realism,[/highlight]” general manager Neal Huntington told reporters Sunday (via Jerry Dipaola of the Pittsburgh-Tribune Review). Huntington went on to explain that [highlight]he projected the Pirates would win 78 to 82 games this year,[/highlight] but he was[highlight] hopeful they’d exceed expectations.[/highlight] Instead, with the deadline looming and Pittsburgh nine games out of a playoff spot, the team looks like a seller in the making. Huntington will make a decision on the club’s direction in the coming days, it seems, as he noted that “this is one of those weeks where 4-4 doesn’t do us a lot of good. We need to make up some ground in a short period of time and we need to show we can continue to do that.”





more details and Neal taking blame in Trib article:



https://triblive.com/sports/pirates/138 ... to-realism



so it looks like his goal is to put together a team that is projected to win 78-82 and get lucky.

I'd like to speak to this moron, he is taking this team over the cliff and he doesn't need to be allowed to do anymore damage. I believe he's preparing for his next gig, no telling what kind of deals he's willing to give to get his next job.

So while trying to sell the public on the premise that this would be a competitive team rather than rebuilding, he only projected 78-82 wins. There's a lie in there somewhere. Of course he encourages the fans to think that even now there's hope if they "make up some ground in a short period of time." But then there's the all important caveat, "and we need to show we can continue to do that.” Which means they need to do that by the non waiver trade deadline of 7/31---3 weeks! So Neal has now established the scenario that even a winning streak within the next 3 weeks won't be enough because that won't be enough time to show it can be continued. Neal seems to be well versed in the history of snake oil salesmen.

keep it simple. If he projected the team was going to win 78-82 this year, fire him. He's not going to come within 8 games of that.



He's getting caught in his own lies now, and looking dumber than ever.

As far as I remember this is the first time I recall Neal expressing he expected a 78 to 82 win season. Surprising for someone who didn't deem this a rebuilding year.



Based on this admission, and every stupid move Clint has made this season, you almost get the feeling the BMTIB did every thing it could to justify a sell off at the deadline.



Personally, I predicted 76 wins and expected a sell-off at the deadline. When the BMTIB said they expected us to contend, I thought DISINGENUOUS.



If I were GM, I would package trade-offs for premium prospects only. Even if we had to trade 3 or 4 players for one in order to get a can't miss prospect, let's do it. We might even have to include Marte, Polanco, or Rivero.



The real question is does this Management really want to build a winner? Maybe they are just concerned with perpetual cost containment? If so, nothing we discuss really matters.

I believe he was saying that the 78 82 wins range was a projection that even the 2013, 14 and 15 teams were projected at. Those teams exceeded that projection,and there was hope that this current team would also exceed that win total. It has not happened,and he takes the responsibility for the current team not competing as expected. I think I recall that in spring training 2013 when Hurdle said the team would win like 94 games I included thought he was dreaming. The analytics projected that team to be no better than .500.

202C2D767F767E73746B71460 wrote: I believe he was saying that the 78 82 wins range was a projection that even the 2013, 14 and 15 teams were projected at. Those teams exceeded that projection,and there was hope that this current team would also exceed that win total. It has not happened,and he takes the responsibility for the current team not competing as expected. I think  I recall that in spring training 2013 when Hurdle said the team would win like 94 games I included thought he was dreaming. The analytics projected that team to be no better than .500.




I think he is saying this too. If in the off season they can project the team to win 78-82 there work is done. That is good enough for these guys. I think is a damning admission.

777B7A2128212924233C26110 wrote: I believe he was saying that the 78 82 wins range was a projection that even the 2013, 14 and 15 teams were projected at. Those teams exceeded that projection,and there was hope that this current team would also exceed that win total. It has not happened,and[highlight] he takes the responsibility[/highlight] for the current team not competing as expected. I think  I recall that in spring training 2013 when Hurdle said the team would win like 94 games I included thought he was dreaming. The analytics projected that team to be no better than .500.


He takes the responsibility?   where did he say that?



NH has a habit of not taking responsibility. Even when it seems he is taking responsibility or says he is, he immediately starts pointing fingers next sentence: (analytics, luck, timing, marketsize, percentage of payroll,)

6B626A7B750F0 wrote: I believe he was saying that the 78 82 wins range was a projection that even the 2013, 14 and 15 teams were projected at. Those teams exceeded that projection,and there was hope that this current team would also exceed that win total. It has not happened,and[highlight] he takes the responsibility[/highlight] for the current team not competing as expected. I think  I recall that in spring training 2013 when Hurdle said the team would win like 94 games I included thought he was dreaming. The analytics projected that team to be no better than .500.


He takes the responsibility?   where did he say that?


Listen to the podcast of his Sunday show on 93.7 the Fan .

606C6D363F363E33342B31060 wrote: I believe he was saying that the 78 82 wins range was a projection that even the 2013, 14 and 15 teams were projected at. Those teams exceeded that projection,and there was hope that this current team would also exceed that win total. It has not happened,and[highlight] he takes the responsibility[/highlight] for the current team not competing as expected. I think  I recall that in spring training 2013 when Hurdle said the team would win like 94 games I included thought he was dreaming. The analytics projected that team to be no better than .500.


He takes the responsibility?   where did he say that?


Listen to the podcast of his Sunday show on 93.7 the Fan .






It's 27 minutes.  I'll listen to it, but if he "takes responsibility" and then next sentence starts deflecting to other people/things like always, I'm not counting it lol