2008 Attendance: 1,609,076
Acquisitions:
Eric Hinske (TB) - IF/OF
Ramon Vasquez (Tex) - IF
Craig Monroe (Min) - OF
Gone from 2008
Jason Michaels - OF
Doug Mientkiewicz - 1B
Luis Rivas - IF
Chris Gomez - IF
The Pirates have finished 67-95 in three out of the the four seasons. With no free agent acquisitions of note, the 2009 Pirates are clearly looking to build with in. Here is what the Bucco Experts predict for the 2009 Season.
Matt - Pittsburgh Lumber Co. - 72-90
Jim - Sportocacy - 70-92, not a game better
Brian - Raise the Jolly Roger - 71-91
Nick - Pgh Sports & Mini Ponies - 82-80
Pat - WHYGAS - 65-97
Sean - Sean's Ramblings - 76-86
Jesse Behr - TheBurghBlues - 81-81
RizzoSports.com - 70-92 - I just don't think they have right people in place to do anything better.
Here are 5 questions for the season:
1. The Losing Record - The Pirates have a chance to set professional sports history with a 17 consecutive losing season.
2. Encore - Will Ryan Doumit, Nate McLouth, and Paul Maholm improve on last year's season? Recent Bucco History says no. Don't forget the Pirates reinvested their Bay/Nady/Marte money in contract extensions for this group.
3. Where are the Young Guys? - How long until we see Neil Walker, and Andrew McCutchen.
4. Coaching / Front Office - Joe Kerrigan is the new pitching coach, but John Russell and Neal Huntington have been here long enough that they can't blame anyone but themselves. I like to point out that Huntington was demoted in Cleveland and John Russell was fired by the Pirates as Third Base Coach. The simple point is if Pittsburgh is going to be a wining team, they'll need an above average front office and manager.
5. We'll they come - The biggest star the Pirates have is the stadium tax payers in Western PA built for them. However given the down economy and team that could lose 100 games, attendance could be a lot lower than last year's 1,609,076.
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