Al-Anon

Rooting for the Pirates is like being married to an alcoholic: eternally hoping that the behavior will change, and repeatedly being disappointed.

The Pirates are getting ready to go out on a toot again, and there's not a thing I can do about it. I know, I know..."You have to take care of yourself."

Will someone please explain to me why the fact that Sean Casey is a nice guy is pertinent to the discussion of whether signing him to a three-year contract is wise? Really, who cares? As a poster at OnlyBucs points out, the teams that Casey has played on have a .480 win percentage.

"I think it would be a huge thing for the Pirates," outfielder Jason Bay said. "They always talk about trying to get good baseball players who are also good people.

"Sean hasn't been here long, but he has more than lived up to his reputation as one of the best people in baseball and, obviously, what he can do on the field goes without saying."

No, it doesn't go without saying, so I'll say it: What he will be able to do on the field in 2007-2009 is not sufficient to be a good way to spend $18M.

Character doesn't win championships, talent does. Talk to a sports writer who covered the 1979 Pirates sometime and ask him what that group of guys was like in the clubhouse.

Durocher may have been right.