Mark Madden

Mark Madden

The Super Genius of Pittsburgh Sports.Full Bio

 

UNDENIABLE PIRATE TRUTHS

Fertilizer is being spread thick in the wake of the Gerrit Cole and Andrew McCutchen trades. So I want to present some undeniable Pirate truths:

*Bob Nutting is a billionaire, and the ninth-richest owner in MLB. He can afford to spend more money. He chooses not to.

*The Pirates will show a profit this year before one ticket is sold.

*Nutting does not want to sell the Pirates. He will milk that cash cow until the udders fall off.

*The Pirates are not rebuilding, reloading, or contending. They are maximizing profit by any means possible. That is the franchise’s philosophy.

*They got OK return for Cole, bad return for McCutchen.

*Nutting is the proprietor of the scam. Except it’s not really a scam. Nutting is conning you out of your money in plain sight.

*President Frank Coonelly, GM Neal Huntington and manager Clint Hurdle are just following orders. But they are co-conspirators.

*In three years, PNC Park will be 20 years old. Nutting is going to want your tax dollars to pay for renovation.

*Nutting does not care about winning. When it occurs, it’s a happy accident that creates more revenue.

I’m sure there are more. But that’s a basic user’s guide. The main priority is profit, and everything else trickles down.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

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