Contentment, Perspective, and Adam LaRoche

The Pirates have had some serious issues getting production out of their first basemen in recent years. Garrett Jones, Jeff Clement, Steve Pearce, and Lyle Overbay all tried their hand and did very little to help the team win before the Pirates made a desperation trade to get Derrek Lee, who ended up playing incredibly well in an irrelevant period of two months for the Pirates.

Now, Kevin Creagh at Pirates Prospects has posted something that would make a lot of Pirate fans cringe, the possibility of the Pirates trading for Adam LaRoche.

Yes, Adam LaRoche. The same Adam LaRoche that was easily the least likable Pirate for a span of about two years. From his slow starts to his largely cavalier attitude, LaRoche developed quite a negative reputation.

However, let's not let emotions get in the way of logic and perspective. Adam LaRoche was the best first baseman the Pirates have had (excluding Lee) in a long time.

The Pirates are a pitiful franchise. If I cut one of my fingers off for everything they have done right in the last twenty years, I would still be typing this post conventionally without much trouble. So let's get some perspective and stop finding stupid reasons to dislike players.

Did Adam LaRoche look like his mother had just been killed every time he stepped on the field? Yes. Did Adam LaRoche hit 58 home runs with a .270+ batting average in less than 3 years with the Pirates? Yes. Has anyone else done anything resembling that in recent memory? No.

It's the same way with players like Steve Pearce and Chase d'Arnaud, although neither of them have done anything with the Pirates to make you really like them. Pearce was a good hitter against left-handed pitchers in his career, and he was certainly a benefit to the team when healthy, but people just decide to dislike him because he looks and talks like a mindless jerk. d'Arnaud is never going to get a fair shake because he looks like a high school jock that consistently sleeps with your girlfriend and sister without your permission.

I'm not saying bring Adam LaRoche back, because the price is probably too high and that is important. I'm also not saying that we should completely shut off that possibility. If you want logical perspective, read the post I linked to above. But can we please start realizing what team I am writing about here and the history of that team. If someone can hit the ball over the fence 20+ times a year and hits higher than .250, I want him on the team regardless of what he looks or acts like.