PNC: the new Wrigley Field

In his previous post, Zeke wrote, The more this team loses, the closer we are to seeing change. It's a common assumption in the Pirate-fan blogosphere that if this team repeats its failure in the second half, the effect would precipitate major changes such as the firing of Littlefield or even, we dare to hope, the sale of the team to more enlightened owners. I'm becoming increasingly convinced that this assumption is incorrect.

After attending last Saturday night's sell-out and listening to the Littlefield show on KDKA the following day, I don't think that anyone in management at the Pirates perceives any serious problem that needs to be solved. With the exception maybe of McClatchy's recent interview, there is no detectable sense of urgency or consternation anywhere to be found except within that small segment of the fan base represented by blogs, message boards, and fan-protest movements.

Here's what I think the bad guys think:

1. We're making a profit.
2. We have a very young starting rotation. Teams that have young starting rotations often struggle but eventually improve.
3. We have a lot of other young players--Paulino, Doumit, Castillo, Sanchez, Duffy, Eldred, Bautista, McLouth--who are going to get better, and when they do, we will too.
4. Because of (1), the worst thing we can do is to panic. We need to stay the course and be patient.
   
5. Our new manager is the perfect leader to implement a strategy of patience. (UPDATE: Tracy articulates his philosophy, such as it is, here. Via Bucs Dugout.)
   
6. We have a great PR/marketing staff that is adept at accentuating the positive.
7. While the signings of Burnitz, Randa, and Casey may not have worked out, they did show the fans that we are willing to spend money and are not simply shameless profiteers.
   
8. Our success and profitability don't depend on wins and losses. We have the best stadium in baseball, and the fans love coming to it. We are selling something larger and more sustainable than just the fortunes of one baseball team; we are selling The Baseball Experience in Pittsburgh's Field of Dreams.
   
9. This strategy is working, and there is no need to change it, because
10. We're making a profit.
    

The Cubs have been failing forever. They're Chicago's lovable losers. The fans still love to go to Wrigley, and they love their Cubbies. As a business plan, owning a team of lovable losers that plays in a beautiful facility is every bit as viable as a plan that is built around on-field success. Maybe more so, because it is more predictable.

Should the fates ever allow the Pirates to blunder their way into a post-season, all who read this are reminded not to be too quick to lunge for souvenirs and not to interfere with foul balls while they are still in play. Chances in the post-season for lovable losers are extremely rare.