The beginning of a football season is one of my truly busy times of the year.  That's why you haven't seen much in this space in recent weeks.  That plus I'm writing a lot of other stuff these days.  Let's get started

Mountain Lions

I don't know why people ask me what I think of the Mountain Lions before a season starts.  I saw both scrimmages Altoona was a part of before last Friday's North Allegheny game and was quite underwhelmed.  They were sluggish against Hollidaysburg and after a slow start against Erie Prep, they kicked it into a better gear and looked ok for the most part.  But, North Allegheny was first up on the Mountain Lion schedule.

The Borne Power Index predicted that Altoona would lose by two touchdowns and based on what I'd seen leading into the first game, I thought that would be a decent outcome.  Altoona lost some very talented seniors, virtually all their speed and had not much size up front.  They had a spattering of good kids here and there, but this had all the earmarks of a rebuilding year, with a short roster. 

I identified Jordan Novosel, Derek Gallardy and Nick Soto as players who Altoona would depend on for the new season.  Cory Becker, DJ Greene and Ty Wentz all had big games as well as the others mentioned.  Wentz picked off a Mike Locke pass at the 28 and returned it for a touchdown with 1:42 left and Altoona had a very unlikely victory.  It got us to thinking about big Mountain Lion wins...unlikely in some cases.

Jim Abbott suggested the Cincinnati Moeller game under Ed Dalton as the last win as big as this.  I thought last year's Harrisburg game was as big, though not the size of upset.  A couple of others come to mind.  Back in the 80's, Altoona upset Brooke, WV at Mansion Park.  Bucky Billiard, Brooke's coach, was so upset with the officiating that he refused to play Altoona again.  When Vince Nedimyer was coach, Altoona traveled to Williamsport and no one gave them a chance.  Damon Luciano led the team to victory hitting big pass after big pass to Vic Huber.  Just a few years ago, Altoona traveled to Easton and won.  It was a high scoring affair and came one day after Coach Tom Palfy's father had died unexpectedly.  It was memorable for another reason.  The broadcast crew had an accident at high speed on the way to the game.  Thanx to the police in the Poconos, we were able to get there on time.  I'm sure there were others, but those were pretty good ones.

What does this mean for the season?  Why would you ask me?  I obviously know nothing about it!

Just kidding.  There is certainly more hope for the 9 remaining games on the schedule.  But the rest of the teams are familiar with Altoona and there's not going to be any sneaking up on anyone from now on.  This is certainly a game they can win this week.  But Chambersburg did get out to an 18-0 lead against Lower Dauphin before falling in the end.  Beware.  Altoona usually has a tough time in Trojanland. 

But having seen what I've seen to date, Altoona's heart won't be a question mark.

Pitt

Not that I actually thought Pitt would lose this game, but I surely didn't think they were a lock.  I've seen this act before.  Highly touted athletes, highly beatable opponent and the poorly prepared team loses to the overacheivers.  In fact, I see this every year at Pitt. 

Dave Wannstedt is as good a reason as any that Pitt continues to lose games like this.  I don't really want to take anything away from Bowling Green.  They deserve praise for winning in what should have been a less than ideal situation for them.  Add on the fact that Pitt was up 14-0, playing at home and this one can turn the stomach of any good Pitt fan. 

The euphoria created by the win over West Virginia last year may have been a bit inflated.  Pitt had a really disappointing season last year.  They regularly underacheived, a Wandstedt trait.  That fact seemed to hide behind their big win.  Well, guess what.  The coach is still Dave Wannstedt.  The team will still underacheive.  They'll come up with a monumental effort from time to time, but don't get your hopes too high.  The worst fact that looms over the program is that Pitt had to beg Wannstedt to take the job.  At least they only play Buffalo this week.

Penn State

Have they started playing yet?  If you'd have offered me a trade of opponents last week, I'd have taken it.  Penn State could have played North Allegheny and the Mountain Lions could have had Coastal Carolina.  If I've heard one person talk about the sharp Penn State offense, I've heard 25.  Please.  Wait until they actually face a defense.

Pirates

I know, baseball season is over.  And it will be until the Pirates decide to participate.  However, just to add an exclamation point to how awful baseball is, the Pirates' #1 pick has been pushed toward redoing his deal by super agent Scott Boras.  If the deal is quashed and the Pirates wind up losing Pedro Alvarez, I will never pay attention to baseball again.  I'll play poker all summer.

Steelers

Who knows how this thing is going to turn out?  The schedule is brutal.  The offensive line is untested.  A 9-7 year might just be great.  Here are the things I want to see.

No clunkers.  In other words, don't go on the road and lose to Arizona because you weren't ready.  Don't have key members of the team dropping passes, fumbling or missing chip shot field goals.  This schedule is demanding enough without putting oneself behind the 8 ball. 

No special teams gaffes.  Along the lines of the first request, the Steelers cannot be giving huge chunks of yardage to the opposition right after scoring.  The defense has to help out as much as possible.  They cannot if the ball is on their side of the 50 when the drive begins.

No road kill in the backfield.  Ben was run over so much last year, I'm surprised he didn't have tire tracks on his jersey.  The line has to block better and he's got to get rid of the ball quicker.  I like him running out of the pocket, but some designed quick release pass plays could take some of the defense's aggressiveness down a notch. 

I really think this team is going to score a lot of points.  In the NFL 2008, you have to be able to march with the big bands.  New England, San Diego, Indianapolis all will just keep scoring if they have to.  The Steelers have the weapons to do just that.  They need to score touchdowns.  If the defense slips like it did at the end of 2007, they'll need to score more points. 

And don't take Houston for granted.  They've got one of the best defensive linemen in the league and it will be his and their priority to chase Ben and get to him.  If they have success in holding the Steelers down, Sunday could be a long day.  Keep in mind that for Houston to be successful, they've got to keep pace with Indy and Jacksonville and perhaps even Tennessee.  That makes for a toughened opponent.

Yesterday, I was escorted around the brand spanking new Altoona Junior High School.  I'm sure you've heard about the end that's sinking, the crane that's stuck and the permits they didn't get.  What a bunch of hooey.  The new school is the state of school construction art.  There is no shrinking end.  The crane is gone.  They start next week. 

I am an ousider on this whole thing.  Afterall, I didn't attend either of the two revered junior high schools.  My children went to Keith and I liked the building, but this is different.  I couldn't begin to tell you all the ways this one is better than the stately old buildings.  In fact, if there were necessary repairs for the older buildings, the cost was going to be in the same neighborhood as this new one, price-wise.  And you'd still have two old buildings. 

This school is air conditioned.  I can't even imagine those hot days trapped inside Keith or Roosevelt.  Air conditioning isn't even an option anymore, it's a necessity.

The gymnsiums at Keith and Roosevelt were quaint, but just not functional.  There are two gyms at the new junior high, one with bleechers.  The classrooms are much bigger, there's some room to stretch out. 

The grades are separated by floor.  There is little crossing paths during the day.  The physical education and arts sections are apart from the classroom areas, but for most of the day, the 9th graders will be with 9th graders and so forth. 

The cafeteria has many options for the kids.  And, there's plenty of room for everyone.  Across 7th Ave. is the intramural field, and across that is the high school.  It's truly a campus. 

You taxpayers have gotten your money's worth with this new plant.  And, it's up to you to help prepare your children to learn what they need to live a fruitful life.  It's such a shame that kids fall through this system and wind up getting their pictures in the paper having been busted for drug abuse.  Don't let this happen to your kids, parents. 

One way you can help is to stop moaning about the loss of Roosevelt and Keith and get behind this community project to keep our students ahead of the wave of technology.  This school is a plum.  Harvest it....

Students preparing for performances...

Girls basketball practice in the second gym...

And the main gym. Note track around the top...

Trophies from Keith and Roosevelt

Mats from Keith and Roosevelt were refurbished, recoated and will catch the sweat of Altoona Junior High wrestlers in the new wrestling room...

 Three plaques, Keith, Roosevelt and Altoona Junior High

This is the courtyard where rumors claimed a crane had become trapped.  I couldn't find the crane.

Any part of the building can be seen from this security room...

Assistant Superintendant George Cardone in the cafeteria

 Computers were brought from Keith and Roosevelt.  They're everywhere...

 A beautiful library...

Labs are spacious and well supplied...

They call the kitchen the food sciences lab...

The Steelers play Dallas, the Giants, the Redskins and Eagles.  They have the Colts, Jaguars and Titans.  The Chargers and Patriots are also on their schedule, not to mention their division rivals.  If they play like they did last night, they'll be lucky to win four games. 

I'm not sure there's any area where you could say the Steelers played particularly well.  Their defense sucked.  The offense took a few series to get going.  The special teams gave up a kickoff return for a touchdown.  This was uninspired.  I understand that camp gets boring.  You'd think everyone would look forward to playing a game.  This is another instance of Mike Tomlin's team not playing well on the road. 

The tackling was atrocious.  The Steelers are supposed to be tough and hard hitting.  Last night, they were not so tough and hard whiffing. 

The line play on both sides of the ball was awful.  Ben was on the run again and there wasn't much running room.  The defensive line was pushed around like a shopping cart. 

It's only pre-season, so it's far from time to push the panic button.  But, here's a team that expects to be excellent that settled for something much less.

Let's visit the fullback position.  Last year, Dan Krider was more or less set adrift by the Steelers.  They weren't going to use a fullback, so they said.  So, now, they're using the fullback more, but it's Carrie Davis, not Krider.  If you were going to use the fullback more, why not keep the good fullback???

This secondary cannot cover individuals. They must have pressure on the quarterback in order to be able to stay with the opposition receivers. 

I believe that the Steelers' offense will be powerful this year.  But, I also believe that they'll have to be.  Sure, there were no special schemes in the gameplan, but eventually, you've got to work on what you actually plan on utilizing during games. 

If the Minnesota game looks at all like this one, bells are going to go off in the alarm department.  The Steelers cannot afford to get off to a slow start.  If they get behind in their division, catching anyone may be impossible.  I've liked Mike Tomlin in his first year plus.  But, I've seen too many flat performances by his team.  Many more of those and I'll have to assume his preparation is lacking.

The Steelers looked ok in their first pre-season game on Friday against the Eagles.  In fact, I imagine both teams felt pretty good about themselves.  The loss of Charlie Batch is an issue, but he is just the backup quarterback.  The Steelers may be better off without him if Byron Leftwich has anything left in the tank.  And, Dennis Dixon, the rookie QB from Oregon looks like he's got some game. 

Ben drove the team down the field with ease on the Steelers' first possession.  He only threw two passes, but completed both of them.  Willie Parker didn't appear to be any slower than he was at his fastest.  Rashard Mendenhall is going to be a very big part of this team as time moves on.  Limus Sweed got his name in the paper.  Santonio Holmes is going to have a big year.

The offensive line was pretty decent.  This is accounting for the fact that neither defense was doing anything out of the ordinary.  The young Steeler defenders did get some pressure late, but the first string did little to upset McNabb's rythem.  They also were without Casey Hampton and Troy Polamalu.  Lawrence Timmons made a nice track down of a Philly runner.

As for the line play, it is becoming apparent that the Steeler line of 2007 had been infiltrated by a maverick who sabotaged the whole continuity of the line.  Alan Faneca.  Faneca, alledgedly, either didn't understand the new blocking scheme of a new coaching staff or chose not to follow the new blocking pattern.  That would explain why Ben Roethlisberger was under attack so often.

It was preseason of course and no defense is really putting a great deal of layering into their plan.  It's called vanilla defense.  But the line protected when the quarterbacks threw and they blocked when the running backs ran.  Only a few times did we see missed assignments and QB's on the run.  You can be sure, the line will be put to the test early and often.  Houston could be one of the up and coming teams and has a fine pass rusher in Mario Williams

The Steelers open with Houston.  And given the strength of their schedule this season, they absolutely have to beat the Texans in week one if they've got any hope of putting together a successful year.

Charlie Batch may as well have pointed a gun at his collarbone and pulled the trigger.  He was foolish for trying to pick up yardage, lowering his shoulder at the end of his run.  Not that Batch is an important part of the team, but you must have someone that is ready to go, just in case. 

Dennis Dixon looks like he'll be a good player, but he just isn't ready to go to war in the NFL yet.  He looked like he could make some plays, but he'll have to have a bit more seasoning before you can expect him to be able to handle leading the team.  Getting Byron Leftwich takes care of the problem.  Since he really hasn't played much in recent years, his health should be good.  Coach Tomlin says he is lean, which he wasn't when he was starting for Jacksonville.  And maybe he can give the coaches a few tips on beating the Jaguars.  If the Steelers have a nemesis, it's them.

This week, they'll take on Buffalo in Canada.  You'd hope Ben will play most of the first half and that Leftwich will get a chance to go relatively early.  But Dixon must get some PT too. 

Special teams made some points with me.  Coverage on all but one kick was pretty good, although an Eagle did slip and fall on his own.  Ernster's punts were acceptable and he did something I'm not sure you noticed.  He kicked off and put the ball in the end zone.  Jeff Reed cannot do that.  Ernster would be a valuable addition to the kicking team if he could just hit the end zone on kickoffs.

Eddie Drummond had a nice return.  Jeremy Bloom didn't get a chance to return any, he fair caught everything.

This is a month long practice, getting ready for the season.  The first live step was Friday.  So far so good.

Time to visit a few sporty things...and none of them involve Brett Favre...

Give the Pirates credit.  Steeler training camp has opened and the Pirates have had their share of the sports pages in these parts.  Who would have thought. 

First there was the Nady trade and then Jason Bay.  I think it's a good sign that the Bucs are dealing with the best franchises in baseball.  Certainly on the Major League level, the Yankees and Red Sox rarely bring rookies into the fold, but in order to get the high level pros that take the field for them, young players locked in behind grizzled vets are expendable. 

The Pirates have taken undesirables off the hands of good teams in the past, but early returns say these deals were good for the Bucs.  Neil Huntingdon is the first GM the Pirates have had since Sid Thrift who hasn't begun or ended each news conference with an apology to the fans.  Huntingdon seems to have his hands firmly around the situation.  The Pirates are a small market team in a vulturous business.  Their moves have to be perfect just to be competitive. 

But it can be done.  Others have shown that it is possible to be successful in the current market place, even with a moderate payroll.  The first thing the Pirates have to purge from their mental makeup is this defeatest attitude.  It's been prevalent in the makeup of their teams for almost a decade and a half.  The better players are trying to get onto a better team and the hangers on, just can't do any better.  Notsomuch if Huntingdon's plan takes hold. 

Ok, that's enough of the Pirates.  I divorced them after the Colorado series following the All-
Star break.  I may let them re-apply for my attention at a later date. 

News hasn't been great out of Steeler camp.  Too many players were banged up early.  Not sure if they are out of shape injuries, but it didn't seem so.  Frankly, when a starter spends time on the sideline, you know that player cannot be hurt any worse while he's out.  For the veterans, training camp is too long anyway.  You hope to head off anything that could turn into a nagging problem. 

The best news I've heard is that last year's #1 draft pick, Lawrence Timmons is having a good camp.  He's been given a better than 50-50 chance of being a starting linebacker for the Steelers before mid-season. 

Dan Sepulveda's injury is the most troubling at this point.  I still think this offense, if the line comes together will be the most powerful Steeler offense, perhaps ever.  They'll be more explosive than they've ever been.  And they are supposedly going to no-huddle more often. 

Just me, but a full game of no-huddle is impracticle.  The game takes too long. 

I must admit that I watched some of the Redskins-Colts game on Sunday.  Not many of the players were all that familiar, but just seeing a supposedly pro football game was like coming home to your family when you've been gone for some reason or another.
 

I want you to understand what has just happened in our Congress.  The House of Representatives have just voted to adjourn for summer vacation.  It's a Presidential election year, so each of them will be campaigning in their districts as the next five weeks unfold. 

On the table for this "governing" body is the issue of drilling and exploration for more oil.  This is our oil.  Ok, not exactly mine and yours, but it is under ground that is either ours or land that we have some say over.  You know, like that Great Lakes land that the Canadians are stripping of our natural gas, or the piece of Alaska that we've just given to Russia, or that spot in the Gulf where China is drilling.

Nancy Pelosi says she is trying to save the planet.  Others say that we cannot drill our way out of this tight spot on oil.  We need alternative fuels to be developed.  They say we all know that drilling isn't going to solve our problems.

I think they've been highjacked by aliens.  They're not making any sense to me.  The Democrats are pushing to control oil speculators and "get" BIG OIL.  They say it'll take too long to get the oil into the system anyway.  Many of the oil speculators are off our shores.  So, any regulations put in play with those people are going to have the effect of a pop gun on an elephant.  I have no love for the oil companies, but they could get the oil to us quicker than the Democrats are saying. 

When the President said he was releasing the restrictions against drilling for oil and exploring for it in our country, the price of a barrell of oil immediately dropped a bit.  Do you think this was a coincidence?  If the rest of the oil producers know that we are going to go after our own, prices on theirs WILL go down.  It won't even take the presence of our oil, just the promise of it. 

So how is it that the Democrats have seen fit to throw a monkey wrench into any potential relief we might be able muster for our citizens from the high gas and oil prices?  I think there are deals that have been made in private that require the Reps to maintain this obstructionist stance.  I think they are on the take. 

Congressman John Peterson of Pennsylvania has proposed legislation which would address all of our energy options.  But the first thing it would do is allow drilling in our vast seas and under our land.  Alternative forms of energy would be pursued as well.  In other words all barrells loaded, no pun, all guns blazin'.  In the words of a sage old soothsayer, "gitter done!"

The Democrats have put their party ahead of you.  It is more important to them to stop any positive movement in energy production that might just rescue our economy, than to have something happen that might just help you.  They cannot afford to have anything good happen while George W. Bush is President.  It may make him look better and the Democrats look worse.  Anyone who votes for a national office and selects a Democrat is out of their mind.  Wake up. You are being held hostage by a stupid political party system.  Throw 'em all out of office.

Temporary inconvenience, permanent improvement.  Or so we hope. 

Dan Sepulveda damaged his ACL yesterday.  A punter isn't the quarterback or a running back or an offensive lineman, but Dan was expected to end all punting woes for the Steelers. 

He did some of that last year.  They actually had traded up to get to him in last year's draft.  He was able to drop a punt inside the 10 and get it to stop close.  He had a booming leg that might just get the opposition to chase after those deep punts rather than circle under and return them.

Still, last year wasn't a terrific year for Sepulveda.  Until now, I thought he was just getting used to the pro game.  Maybe he was just not always on his game.  Come to find out, his ACL has been an issue since he first hurt it in 2006.  He had an operation on it and came back to play four months later.  It hasn't been the same since.

Perhaps the operation he's about to get will be the answer.  He says it really never was quite right after the first operation.  Although the MRI's always indicated the structure was good.  Hopefully, this one will take better.  And he won't be rushed back into action. 

This does add an issue to a team that already had issues.  Another bad thing for an already bad special teams unit was far from what they needed.  It could be that his replacement will make it easier for the Steelers to cover punts.  Last year they were lousy at it.  Paul Ernster has been signed off of waivers from Detroit.  His numbers are unspectacular.  He's kicked in the NFL before, so he should be able to get the basics done. 

With the roster limitations of the new season, only 80 are in camp, the Steelers chose to use just one punter in camp.  One would hope that the other teams were using two.  And that before the beginning of the season, a decent one presents himself. 

In '06, Ernster kicked for Denver.  One of the other skills he possesses is kickoffs.  He had 19 touchbacks on his kickoffs that year.  The Steelers have never had a kicker who could put the ball in the end zone consistently.  It would be a benefit to the Steelers to have someone who could kick deep on kickoffs.  Then Jeff Reed could just do the placement kicks.

The Steelers have never treated kicking like it was important.  When they finally spent draft picks to get a good punter, they got one that may be damaged.  Perhaps this operation will solve his trouble for years to come.  

So, the Pirates traded Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte to the Yankees for Jose Tabata, Dan McCutchen, Jeff Karstens and Ross Ohlendorf.  There isn't any way the Steelers could make a six player deal that I wouldn't recognize four of the names, so I should bow out of any further comment.  But I won't. 

I've only read what I've read, but early opinions of Jose Tabata are that he is a talent that has already worn out his welcome with one team.  That the team that's tired of him is the most successful franchise in the history of organized sports has to be troubling. 

So Tabata is young.  And he is from another country, which is probably a challenge for him.  But, the story goes that he quit in the middle of a game once.  Huh?  The last time I heard of that was when my son was in the Altoona Little League.  One of his teammates left his team to go get ice cream with his family.  By the way, that player wasn't allowed back on the team.

Hopefully, the pitchers will be able to help.  The Pirate organization is still throwing John Van Benschoten to the wolves.  It would have to be an improvement to have a young man with two arms, to go to as opposed to another Van Benschoten goring. 

I realize you can't be too picky when the organization is as weak as this one is.  You are always going to have to accept some baggage when you are so far down the totem pole. 

I'm no baseball guy, so understand that I may just be talking out of turn.  But, this kid is troubled in ways that a few more push-ups won't solve.  Not saying he cannot get his act together.  Just saying that if he was a true big time prospect, the Yankees wouldn't have made him available.

Steelers

Thank God, camp has opened.  We need not concern ourselves with bottom rung baseball teams.  The Steelers are in camp and life is good. 

I checked out the Post-Gazette web site and they had video of the arriving Steelers.  Now, there's a group that didn't pick their rides based on gas mileage.  Jeff Reed's fat white short bed truck has to be a guzzler.  And he's just the kicker.

Mike Tomlin is pushing this "battle" between Sean Mahan and Jeff Hartwig at center.  If this is going to be a battle, then the Steelers are in trouble.  Mahan was the most likely to fail on the entire offensive line last year.  Made Chucky Okobi look like Mike Webster.  At least he could warn Ben that trouble was coming, since he was usually facing the backfield shortly after the snap. 

Casey Hapton is too fat.  Usually someone who plays up front, especially nose guard, should be fat.  But, they also have to be strong and able to endure four quarters and 16 games.  Mike Tomlin thinks Hampton won't be able to do that so he's sending Hampton to boot camp.  The further into a lineman's career that they get, the less actual game preparation they need.  But the conditioning must be in place.  Hampton will be prone to all sorts of aches and pains if he isn't ready to take the beating.  Tomlin is right to pull him off the assembly line.  He shouldn't have to.  Hampton needs to act like a pro and get the home work done before reporting to class.

It all boils down to the lines...it always does.  If the center position is solid, the rest will follow.
 

The time is now to pick up information on the Steelers.  With camp starting Sunday, some real news should be surfacing soon.  We need something to break through the Plaxico Burress wants a new contract, Brett Favre wants to play, Browns think they can win, balderdash that has dominated the football news.  Just a little Steeler news would be good.  Here's what I want to know now.

I want Rashard Mendenhall and Limus Sweed to get their names onto those contracts.  There can be no delay in getting them on the field and into the offense.  The Steelers have had a pretty effective offense that might have just been turned potent with these additions.  Mwelde Moore is part of the package too.  There are 16 tough games and depth is important.  In skill positions, the Steelers should be stronger. 

Of course, this all may be derailed by an ineffective offensive line.  You're going to get Ben Roethlisberger killed if you don't block.  He's been on the run for much of the last two years.  With Alan Faneca gone and some indecision on where the others will line up, the O line is a huge question mark. 

I think this could mean longer playing time for the starting unit in pre season games.  It's going to take some time for the line to work as one.  Decisions will have to be made early enough so that the players might have a chance to gel by opening day.

The defense was poor overall after Aaron Smith went down last year.  Stan Savran pointed to the injury of Ryan Clark in the secondary as another issue last year.  One should also note how ineffective Troy Polamalu was.  That is likely attributable to injury trouble.  Clark Haggans is gone at linebacker.  So, where does it all go from here? 

The Giants showed how important a pass rush is in today's NFL.  You just can't cover well enough if the opposition line blocks and the quarterback has time to pick you apart.  With Lamar Woodley ready to step into a starting role, and a renewed effort to get Lawrence Timmons into the lineup, linebacker shouldn't be hurt by Haggans absence. 

But they must pressure the quarterback in some way.  The Steelers pass rush has always been more effective when they've had a dedicated pass rushing lineman or linebacker.  Usually it's been a young guy who hasn't yet gotten fully indoctrinated into the system.  He's been effective because he hasn't really played within the system, more of a freelancer.

Special teams have been bad for so long, I can't remember the last time they were good.  Actually, I do remember Antwaan Randle El, but they've really never done great on the defensive side of special teams.  I think that starts with the kicker. 

Dan Sepulveda was erratic in his first season with the Steelers.  He'd hit that big one, but when they needed the boomer most, he didn't have it.  And Jeff Reed's kickoffs are low and short.  Returnable in other words. 

Given the strength of the Steeler schedule, you've got to wonder just how many wins this team is going to be able to get.  They could have a great year and go 9-7.  There is truly no room for error.  With as much question about who will be on the field and where, Pittsburgh has their work cut out for themselves in training camp. 
 

I must admit that I have given the Pirates plenty of chances.  I want them to fill my summer boredom.  I must also admit I have not been the most loyal fan.  The last 15 years have been tough.  I saw my first Pirate game in the 50's at Forbes Field.  I wasn't even 10 years old.

I was in attendance for Bill Mazeroski night.  One year, I was there for 40 Pirate games.  That's half.  I actually shook hands with Roberto Clemente.  He signed a poster for me.  Unfortunately that poster is lost.  I cried when Roberto died trying to help Nicaraguan earthquake victims. 

I attended the last game at Forbes Field, actually a double header with the Cubs.  I was there for the first night at Three Rivers Stadium.  I attended playoff and World Series games at Three Rivers.  I went to Philadelphia to see the Pirates play.  I listened or watched every game like it was my lifeline. 

After they were eliminated in 1992, I blurted out that they should break up the team since they just couldn't get over the hump and get back to the World Series.  I wish I could take that request back.  The last 15 years have been pure baseball hell. 

I know that I am down on Major League Baseball because my team cannot or will not compete.  Through a decade and a half of mismanagement, we are stuck with this. 

This is a franchise which has been down so long, they will need up to identify itself when it finally becomes visible.  I've thought up was within sight at times this year.  It still may be.  But it is becoming apparent that anything that resembles a healing is years away. 

This edition of the Pirates has been entertaining at times, maddening at others and on occasion downright pitiful.  This weekend was pitiful.  Losing four straight to a team that hasn't been able to get out of their own way all season is beyond aggravating, it's embarrassing.  This team's record isn't going to look much different than those less successful teams of the last 15 years have looked. 

I can't say that this team hasn't suffered some really unfortunate breaks through the season.  The players they counted on most haven't been worth a hill of beans.  What could possibly have happened to Tom Gorzelanny and Ian Snell?  Is it just the Pirate curse?  They wouldn't be the first promising young starters to fall apart well before they've reached Hall of Fame status. 

This group has been so good that there's some thought that they maybe should just hold onto their trade-bait players like Xavier Nady, Damaso Marte, Jason Bay and Jack Wilson.  The question to ask here is, how could anyone else be less successful than this team's accumulation of players?

Depth is a major issue with the Pirates.  There isn't any.  When an injury comes along, the product suffers.  When Jack Wilson went on the DL, the replacements were pitiful.  With the pitching staff depleted by injury and ineffectiveness, the replacements have been minor league at best. 

The current management may have a winning plan in place, but this is not something you can take care of over night.  Unfortunately, having top draft choices in the Major Leagues doesn't always translate to developing great players.  Especially if the management has no idea what a great player is. 

In the NFL, and NHL there is a salary cap for the franchises to deal with.  Rarely does someone go New England over everyone and rack up titles.  Bottom to top is not rare in the NFL.  The NBA only employs 12 players per team so they can revamp overnight with the right moves. 

Major League Baseball is different.  There is no protection for the teams who can't keep up with the fat cat Jones's.  You have an organization at the top supported by a team at every minor league level.  You've got to be able to stock 5 or 6 full baseball teams.  We are seeing now just how many actual prospects exist in the Pittsburgh Pirate organization. 

I can no longer watch this season.  Tonight, the World Poker Tour is on the Game Show Network.  Tomorrow is the first in an every Tuesday series of World Series of Poker telecasts.  Steeler camp begins Sunday.  Sorry for jumping ship.  The baseball season just ended for me.