2024 Off-Season Thread

[fjk090852-7]

The Bucs signed Elvis Alvarado a minor league free agent pitcher from the Marlins. He is being added to the 40 man roster.

Alvarado was supposedly signed during the Winter Meetings to a split contract, and so far the team has not officially signed him nor added him to the 40 man roster. Possibly it may be a visa situation, and they cannot get him to Pittsburgh for a physical. It is just surprising that nothing official has been announced for almost a month.

[Surgnbuck]

PirateFest 2025 is in about two weeks away. There have been some comments that fans should ware shirts etc telling Bob to sell the team, or even a protest by some fans. I would think these next couple weeks the Pirates might do something to show the fan base that the FO has a pulse. If everything remains the status quo the fans who attend the event may show their displeasure if there is a Q and A with Pirate Management. In the past President, GM and Manager field the questions. Too bad fans couldn’t put Bob on the hot seat.

I don't know format this year, but I thought the Pirates required questions to be submitted in writing last year (so they could pick and choose which ones to answer).

They'd be crazy not to do it that way. If they allowed people to throw out questions, it could turn into chaos. Can you imagine what people, in a crowd of angry and disenchanted fans, would start to do? It would get ugly pretty fast, especially if Nutting were there. But there's no way he would be, even if the questions are chosen prior to the Q&A. He'd be a fool to shown up at the event. He has to know how despised he is.

Well I guess the people that got suckered into contributing money for those signs that seemed to have accomplished oh so much have buyers remorse, need a freebie now to go and try to ruin. I'm sure it will have the same impact. Maybe they can buy tickets to a game and walk out, that oughta show em! Or stop some total stranger wearing Pirates gear (like me) and tell me just how much I'm enabling by buying stuff! I love watching them lose their minds when I ask them, "feel better now?" I think BOB is the same way.

[Bobster]

I don't know format this year, but I thought the Pirates required questions to be submitted in writing last year (so they could pick and choose which ones to answer).

They'd be crazy not to do it that way. If they allowed people to throw out questions, it could turn into chaos. Can you imagine what people, in a crowd of angry and disenchanted fans, would start to do? It would get ugly pretty fast, especially if Nutting were there. But there's no way he would be, even if the questions are chosen prior to the Q&A. He'd be a fool to shown up at the event. He has to know how despised he is.

Well I guess the people that got suckered into contributing money for those signs that seemed to have accomplished oh so much have buyers remorse, need a freebie now to go and try to ruin. I'm sure it will have the same impact. Maybe they can buy tickets to a game and walk out, that oughta show em! Or stop some total stranger wearing Pirates gear (like me) and tell me just how much I'm enabling by buying stuff! I love watching them lose their minds when I ask them, "feel better now?" I think BOB is the same way.

No one expected drastic, immediate change because of a few billboards. Here's part of the group's mission statement:

"We're a group of frustrated, passionate Pittsburgh Pirates fans tired of the endless losing baseball in our great city. Rather than sit idly and complain, we decided to do something to create discomfort within the organization and call attention to the blatant dereliction of duty in hopes to affect change."

Doesn't sound like a bunch of suckers to me. No one expects Nutting to sell. But is it asking too much to want a better product on the field for the fans when the owner appears to have no interest in doing that? There's little or nothing fans can do about the situation. But at least these passionate fans (or "suckers" as you call them) are trying to do something even if it's just making the issue more public in hopes that Nutting might feel compelled to make changes in his method of operating the team. So that nonsucker fans like you can get even more enjoyment out of following the team. Doesn't seem to me that such an effort deserves insults and ridicule.

[Doc]

I don't know format this year, but I thought the Pirates required questions to be submitted in writing last year (so they could pick and choose which ones to answer).

They'd be crazy not to do it that way. If they allowed people to throw out questions, it could turn into chaos. Can you imagine what people, in a crowd of angry and disenchanted fans, would start to do? It would get ugly pretty fast, especially if Nutting were there. But there's no way he would be, even if the questions are chosen prior to the Q&A. He'd be a fool to shown up at the event. He has to know how despised he is.

Well I guess the people that got suckered into contributing money for those signs that seemed to have accomplished oh so much have buyers remorse, need a freebie now to go and try to ruin. I'm sure it will have the same impact. Maybe they can buy tickets to a game and walk out, that oughta show em! Or stop some total stranger wearing Pirates gear (like me) and tell me just how much I'm enabling by buying stuff! I love watching them lose their minds when I ask them, "feel better now?" I think BOB is the same way.

I can’t judge or criticize the way people spend their money. They earned it, they can do with it want they want. So if it’s buying tickets to support the team, or buying signs as a form of protest, they have their reasons.

Fans are angry and I can sympathize. I’m angry, too, but I should direct more of my anger at MLB for not implementing a fair system that requires all teams to spend a certain amount on payroll. Nutting’s playing within the current rules, but he can do more than he is. It’s obvious he’s not trying to win, the very objective of the sport. That’s deplorable, and deserves all the bad publicity that comes his way.

[Surgnbuck]

They'd be crazy not to do it that way. If they allowed people to throw out questions, it could turn into chaos. Can you imagine what people, in a crowd of angry and disenchanted fans, would start to do? It would get ugly pretty fast, especially if Nutting were there. But there's no way he would be, even if the questions are chosen prior to the Q&A. He'd be a fool to shown up at the event. He has to know how despised he is.

Well I guess the people that got suckered into contributing money for those signs that seemed to have accomplished oh so much have buyers remorse, need a freebie now to go and try to ruin. I'm sure it will have the same impact. Maybe they can buy tickets to a game and walk out, that oughta show em! Or stop some total stranger wearing Pirates gear (like me) and tell me just how much I'm enabling by buying stuff! I love watching them lose their minds when I ask them, "feel better now?" I think BOB is the same way.

No one expected drastic, immediate change because of a few billboards. Here's part of the group's mission statement:

"We're a group of frustrated, passionate Pittsburgh Pirates fans tired of the endless losing baseball in our great city. Rather than sit idly and complain, we decided to do something to create discomfort within the organization and call attention to the blatant dereliction of duty in hopes to affect change."

Doesn't sound like a bunch of suckers to me. No one expects Nutting to sell. But is it asking too much to want a better product on the field for the fans when the owner appears to have no interest in doing that? There's little or nothing fans can do about the situation. But at least these passionate fans (or "suckers" as you call them) are trying to do something even if it's just making the issue more public in hopes that Nutting might feel compelled to make changes in his method of operating the team. So that nonsucker fans like you can get even more enjoyment out of following the team. Doesn't seem to me that such an effort deserves insults and ridicule.

Neither should buying tickets to the games, but I put up with that all the time. Tough.

[3pirates3]

https://x.com/MLBPipeline/status/1874993533977051605

[fjk090852-7]

Just my opinion,but this offseason has had more negativity towards the Pirates Organization. There are many reasons such as all the years of losing, poor player development, and a stingy owner. From billboards, shirts and even the many posts on this site this offseason has shown me there is passion with the fan base. One would think with the negative things that have gone on,ownership would want to change the way they have operated. So far it is business as usual! I totally agree baseball needs some type of arrangement where teams spend up to a minimum each season. This would force owners like Nutting to spend additional money on salaries. I care about Pirate Baseball, that’s why I post, and visit sites about the Pirates. Whatever they do,or not do this offseason I will follow them beginning ST to seasons end. I just wish they would take advantage of the pitching staff lead by Paul Skenes while he is a Pirate, and compete for postseason baseball.

[3pirates3]

I don't think the negativity is anything new, nor are the excuses from the other side.

[Ecbucs]

Just my opinion,but this offseason has had more negativity towards the Pirates Organization. There are many reasons such as all the years of losing, poor player development, and a stingy owner. From billboards, shirts and even the many posts on this site this offseason has shown me there is passion with the fan base. One would think with the negative things that have gone on,ownership would want to change the way they have operated. So far it is business as usual! I totally agree baseball needs some type of arrangement where teams spend up to a minimum each season. This would force owners like Nutting to spend additional money on salaries. I care about Pirate Baseball, that’s why I post, and visit sites about the Pirates. Whatever they do,or not do this offseason I will follow them beginning ST to seasons end. I just wish they would take advantage of the pitching staff lead by Paul Skenes while he is a Pirate, and compete for postseason baseball.

good businessmen know that sentiment has no cash value.

[3pirates3]

https://x.com/ByJackHarris/status/1875265348079120694