Pittsburgh Pirates can’t win without more money

There is a Dutch proverb that says, “It’s better to lose the anchor than the whole ship.”… There is a Dutch proverb that says, “It’s better to lose the anchor than the whole ship.” That quote sums up the feeling that most Pittsburghers have of Pittsburgh Pirates owner Kevin McClatchy and team manager David Littlefield.

After 14 consecutive losing seasons, it’s time for a regime change at PNC Park. Bobbleheads and Sky Blasts are the only reasons fans attend Pirates games. The culprit is McClatchy. He has the worst winning percentage of any owner in the major leagues the past six seasons, standing at .430.

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, McClatchy has reduced the team’s payroll from $47.9 million at the beginning of the 2006 season to $30.9 million as of Sept. 1.

In McClatchy’s defense, it is difficult for a small-market team to win in baseball. Teams such as the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox spend more than $120 million each season to field winning clubs each year. Currently the Pirates have the 27th highest payroll.

What that gets you is a 56- 83 record, the third worst in the majors as of Wednesday.

McClatchy also had the brilliant idea of building PNC Park to increase attendance. The Pirates currently sit 27th in the league in attendance at a mere 23,000 fans per game.

Two weeks ago, the Pirates had three consecutive sellouts that could be attributed to the Sky Blasts fireworks shows. They averaged a meager 14,000 in the three games after that.

A major problem we’re facing is the fact that McClatchy and Littlefield are enamored with veteran players who are well past their prime. Great examples are the off-season signings of Jeromy Burnitz and Joe Randa, neither of whom is in the starting lineup. But their combined salary is $10 million for the 2006 season, nearly one-third of the money the Pirates spend in player salaries.

Burnitz and Randa have combined to hit 19 home runs and drive in 75 runs. Jason Bay, who is only making $1 million this season, has hit 31 home runs and has driven in 98 — more than both Burnitz and Randa combined but for only one-tenth of their cost.

Freddy Sanchez leads the league in hitting at .347. His salary is $342,000.

Littlefield and McClatchy have made a mockery of one of the most storied franchises in major league history. Don’t forget that the Pirates have won five World Series and three consecutive division titles from 1990 to 1992.

But the loss of Barry Bonds to free agency after the 1992 campaign has haunted the franchise for years. Since then, Bonds has compiled 730 home runs and cemented his legacy as one of the greatest players of all time.

In recent years, the Pirates have given away many All-Star caliber players, including Brian Giles, Jason Kendall, Jason Schmidt and Aramis Ramirez.

If McClatchy is not willing to spend some money, the Pirates will never win. Not just his small pocketbook, but also Littlefield’s poor personnel moves have set the organization back. Teams in smaller markets consistently have winning teams. San Diego, Texas, Minnesota, Oakland and Florida all have similar payrolls to the Pirates.

This year, all have winning records, or are in contention for postseason play. Florida has won two World Series in the past 10 years and has the lowest payroll in the majors at $14 million.

McClatchy recently told the Post-Gazette he will keep Littlefield as the Pirates’ general manager in 2007. Littlefield is under contract until the 2008 season.

With no success in the Major League draft or free agency, Littlefield has worn out his welcome in Pittsburgh. An uncertain future is always better than an anemic past.

McClatchy should fire Littlefield as soon as the season is over. My advice would be to spend more money on players and less on fireworks. Fans want to watch a winner; they don’t care about what the team gives away.

You spend money to make money. If McClatchy would spend a little more on the team and overpay for young, underpaid talent instead of veterans who are well past their prime, the millions spent on fireworks could be used to fill the gaping hole at first base or one of the outfield positions.

If McClatchy will not increase his payroll, the 2007 season will end very similar to the 2006 season. To McClatchy’s credit, he made a great investment buying the Pirates, and did “save” them from leaving town.

Now he should make his profit and sell the team to an owner who will spend the money and hire the right GM to make the Pirates a winner. I would hate to lose the Pirates, but getting rid of the anchor will help keep the Pirate ship afloat.