OnlyBucs

Yeah it's off-the-field news (or more literally, right on the field I guess) but this is good to hear. It was a big misstep. I miss the board with the physical light bulbs on it but that's not going to happen.



https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/pir ... 2211160071

Finally they do something right. I loved that scoreboard.



Interesting how long it’s been since both Nutting and Williams have talked with the media. Actually, I don’t want to hear from Nutting at all. He’d just lie anyway.

53616D6D794B68616C696661000 wrote: Yeah it's off-the-field news (or more literally, right on the field I guess) but this is good to hear.  It was a big misstep.  I miss the board with the physical light bulbs on it but that's not going to happen. 



https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/pir ... 2211160071
Good move!

Agree, a very good move.



The loss of the scoreboard (I loved the scoreboard at Forbes Field), a staple in all ball parks, was a constant reminder of how cheap Nutting is.



Of course, Nutting probably figured that the scoreboard was unnecessary because why should Pirate fans and players care what is happening with other teams since the Pirates have no chance of competing for anything except last place and a higher draft pick.

Wish I could read the article. This was undoubtedly the biggest complaint regarding the "fan experience". Yes, they did show the scores between innings, but you had maybe a minute to take all the scores in.



I find it hard to believe they're actually doing something for the "fan experience" that doesn't involve putting in another bar.

4F696E7B727E697F771C0 wrote: Wish I could read the article. This was undoubtedly the biggest complaint regarding the "fan experience". Yes, they did show the scores between innings, but you had maybe a minute to take all the scores in.



I find it hard to believe they're actually doing something for the "fan experience" that doesn't involve putting in another bar.
Per the article, Travis Willams made the announcement at a town hall meeting attended by "50 or 60 people." Questions had to be submitted ahead of time (apparently so that Williams, Cherington and Shelton could avoid any issues they'd rather not talk about). The media was not invited.



The article states:

Reasons for returning the out-of-town scoreboard should be fairly straightforward. PNC Park was pretty much the only major league park without one, and fans made their displeasure known, either in postseason surveys or via social media.



The Pirates averaged 15,524 per home game in 2022, down from 18,412 in 2019, the last full year before the pandemic.



That 2022 figure represents an all-time low at PNC Park. In fact, the past three full seasons represent the three lowest attendance years in the ballpark’s history (since 2001).



Williams has not taken questions from reporters about the state of the team since March 3, 2021. Owner Bob Nutting’s last group availability was Oct. 28, 2019, when the Pirates introduced the hiring of Williams as president.



While it's nice to get the scoreboard back, the fact that it is in response to diminishing attendance and follows the dumpster dive for Choi to play 1B suggests that the brain trust is still looking for ways to improve the fan experience without making a serious effort to improve the team.

I don't know how you connect the scoreboard to attendance. The Pirates have been listening to fans on what takes place at the game that doesn't relate to the game.



And Choi is not a dumpster dive. I think he'll be a solid addition. It can't hurt when a guy comes from a winning culture.

012720353C30273139520 wrote: I don't know how you connect the scoreboard to attendance. The Pirates have been listening to fans on what takes place at the game that doesn't relate to the game.



And Choi is not a dumpster dive. I think he'll be a solid addition. It can't hurt when a guy comes from a winning culture.
Tampa essentially gave Choi away. The winning culture didn't want him. He is a career .239 hitter who's last 3 seasons have been consistent at .230, .229 and .233. His power is modest and below average for a corner infielder. He is not a good defender. And he's 32 so he's not a young guy with untapped potential. IMHO he was a quick fix at 1B with a low ceiling. Exactly what a team that claims it is rebuilding and should be getting stronger each year should not be doing. If he lasts the season, they'll be looking to upgrade that position the following year.

7B5D5A4F464A5D4B43280 wrote: Wish I could read the article. This was undoubtedly the biggest complaint regarding the "fan experience". Yes, they did show the scores between innings, but you had maybe a minute to take all the scores in.



I find it hard to believe they're actually doing something for the "fan experience" that doesn't involve putting in another bar.


Hold on there Surg, some fans need more places to drink so they can overcome the suckiness of the Pirates.

4F626F7E79687F3F3C0D0 wrote: I don't know how you connect the scoreboard to attendance. The Pirates have been listening to fans on what takes place at the game that doesn't relate to the game.



And Choi is not a dumpster dive. I think he'll be a solid addition. It can't hurt when a guy comes from a winning culture.
Tampa essentially gave Choi away. The winning culture didn't want him. He is a career .239 hitter who's last 3 seasons have been consistent at .230, .229 and .233. His power is modest and below average for a corner infielder. He is not a good defender. And he's 32 so he's not a young guy with untapped potential. IMHO he was a quick fix at 1B with a low ceiling. Exactly what a team that claims it is rebuilding and should be getting stronger each year should not be doing. If he lasts the season, they'll be looking to upgrade that position the following year.
Pirates team OPS+84, Choi 114 (average is 100) Huge Win for Choi.

Pirates team 1B combined WAR in 2022, -4, Choi WAR 1.2, meaning he improves the team WAR at first by 5.2. Huge Win for Choi.

Pirates team BA-.222, Choi .233 Win Choi

Pirates team OBP-.291, Choi .341 HUGE Win Choi

Pirates team SLG- .364, Choi .388 Win Choi

Of all the players with as many AB's (356) as Choi, only Reynolds and Hayes had a higher batting average. So I find the three areas you chose, BA, fielding, and power, he's clearly better than practically everyone on the team, let alone far superior than any first baseman they threw out there. He'll be platooned. Chavis hit 14 HR's and had 49 RBI, all his HR's and most of his RBI at that position. Choi was 11/52 in 72 fewer AB's.



I've clearly shown Choi is an upgrade. What did you want, Rizzo? He's a stop gap, and quite honestly, IIRC you were one of the people enamored with guys like Chavis and Gamel, but Choi doesn't cut the grade?



And may I kindly so remind, Tampa plays the game on the cheap like the Pirates. He was projected 4.5 million in arbitration and Tampa needs to save money to pay for Glasnow. Dumping Choi pays for almost 20 percent of that salary.



But you know what? Instead of calling guys dumpster dives right out of the chute, why don't we give them a chance?