Final: Brewers 8, Pirates 5

..........

Prates Lineup

RF Gregory Polanco (L)
2B Neil Walker (S)
CF A. McCutchen (R)
LF Starling Marte (R)
3B Jung-Ho Kang (R)
1B Pedro Alvarez (L)
C F. Cervelli (R)
SS Jordy Mercer (R)
P F. Liriano (L)

JARED HUGHES ?

Giles is Philly's future closer...would cost less to get Jaquin Benoit from SD for that.

tds....I agree 100%...donot really criticize and even laugh off criticism...Nutting is never discussed and he could really help us take the nect step and does not...Fan has went down hill

They have the 2nd best record in the NL and 3rd best in MLB. If that's not good enough for people, the Fan guys are right. Don't waste your time and/or money. Most fans waited 20 years for competitive, winning baseball and all some people want to do is tear it down. This is the 5th year in a row the Pirates are sniffing around 1st place post All Star Game. At some point for most people, the nonsensical spoiled brat attitude and uninformed narratives get old.

Oh, and there is a difference between criticizing an underperforming player or bad trade after you know what the team actually got out of it and continuing the "Nutting is cheap" narrative. The former being based in reality while the latter, well, isn't.

Some people can't just sit and enjoy. It's always "they can do better". Crazy Pens fans blast that organization because they didn't win 6 Cups in a row. Sports is supposed to be entertaining, an escape. If it's not, don't watch or don't go. Watch a movie or something you'll enjoy.

Ishakawa is absolutely terrible.

Pedro is hitting better than Ishakawa. Career and this season. It's not such an easy decision.

Glad it's just not me that gets this impression. I think it's great to get into the playoffs via the wild card , but why is it laughed at when a major move is mentioned for a big bat or impact pitcher that can possibly put us over the top. The Nuttings could spend an additional 20 mil per year and still have a lower payroll than Cincy and the Brewers.

Please post a link that documents and itemizes Bob Nutting's financial portfolio as well as the team's ability to pay an additional $20M for anything. I'd like to see it. I don't want to see outside "estimates" based on rumors or hearsay or any other version of BS that gets spouted by the anti-Nutting narrative nuts. You made the claim. Prove it.

Thank you Robert! NO sports teams opens their books. Forbes guesses and any others guess too. Doesn't mean it's not close, or maybe way off. Just means we don't know and never will.

When a team is winning, except if it's something severe, say what happened at Penn State, all the negative stuff seems to get swept under the table. It's not a popular move for the media to go against the tide and attack a winning team with negative news.

When a team is not doing well, the media looks to capitalize on the public's anger and disappointment by exposing the negative stuff -- Hoka Hey being a prime example. I admit that I got swept up in that tide at the time. It came right after an epic meltdown of the season, when emotions were especially high.

As far as Nutting not spending enough, it's hard to criticize the path the Pirates have taken. Look at what is happening in Cincinnati this year. They are stuck with Votto's contract and are going to have a major fire sale there within the next couple weeks because they overspent their means. Same with tonight's opponent, the Brewers. You think the Twins are having any regrets over Joe Mauer's contract?

Teams like the Pirates simply cannot afford to pay that kind of money to one player over a term of many years. The deal that Liriano got, or the one that was allegedly offered to Martin is about the best you will see from the Pirates.

As far as nobody at The Fan championing a big name player, Colin Dunlap is on record for wanting to go after Cole Hamels. I think more than anything, people are just being realistic about what the Pirates will do.

Concerning the Snyder trade, financial flexibility was listed as one of the reasons, but not the only or even main reason. That deal was done more so to make room for Polanco to play everyday, and because Huntington wanted room for Lambo, which once again has turned out to be a flop. Because of this, there simply was not enough ABs to go around.

Snider was traded because they were/are committed to Polanco - and because they added that awesome super sub S-Rod [.584 OPS?]. I loved lunchie and was sorry to see him go - think they could have kept him and and not wasted the effort on Hart or S-Rod. But dumpster diving is part of the DNA of the BMTIBB so at least they added a couple of pretty good looking prospect arms - too bad they are not willing to use them as trade chips to add the bat the badly need

And how did Forbes get those figures? Facts? Did teams open up their books? Yeah it's all guessing. Might be right or close but they don't know.

Don't forget about Jungmann tomorrow...if they hit like they did last night, they could get swept this weekend.

Just think if they add Cueto or Hamels to that rotation...

they removed him before 9th

Who's saying they are strapped for cash?

Cole hammel etc etc pipe dream we can't afford to go get a bat or starting pitcher

Oh, it is barctaa2. That's convenient. Maybe it's just me, but the "criticisms" I've seen have been more focused on who it would take to give up. Certainly that's a fair discussion.

Vanimal....

Bad brat makes you squirt and squat

Thought you are the oldest.

@Patrick: ZING!!

No, he is not the oldest

Thanks for the answers.

You know I am kidding AW. If I knew how to reverse the order of posts, I would tell you.

Kidding goes both ways, Patrick. Relax