Getting on the same page

by: Geep Charlebois

The biggest question that I have for this year’s Pirates team is will they carry themselves as the cohesive unit this season as they worked through last year’s playoff run? The answer lies at the hands of Clint Hurdle. He is a master motivator. He understands that each player has different needs. He is the one setting the tone that the clubhouse leaders need to follow. The Pirates have a good mix of youth and experience. I think that the skipper has learned from his Colorado experience how to keep the team moving in the right direction with everyone on the same page. I am hoping that we are at the start of a Clint Hurdle renaissance à la Pete Carroll at U.S.C. and onto the Seahawks. With the signing of Marte the pieces are being set into place for a long run of core talent.

The team is having a press conference on Friday regarding the new food selections at PNC Park. A few options have been leaked out already including the Closer. The sandwich which plays off of Jason Grilli’s nickname is a grilled cheese sandwich consisting of nine cheeses along with candied bacon. If we are going to say that the Pirates have big expectations for the 2014 season that statement includes the collective waistline of those in attendance.

I saw a headline on pirates.com that reads “Pirates broadcaster Brown excited for 2014 season.” Mr. Brown is the “Voice of the Pirates” so I agree that it is worth having his take on the upcoming season. He is the reason that for those listening to a game on the radio that they are not just listening to background talk, relentless statistics, and trivia but are a part of the energy at the ball park and can easily picture the action. And yes, the team is coming off the first winning season in a generation. But to those familiar with the play-by-play man’s demeanor while broadcasting a game isn’t this just lazy copywriting? What is not to be excited about? The more cautious fans are excited. Seriously, Greg Brown is what would happen to us all if we had the energy of a preschooler.

Opening Day Memory 1987 Pirates vs. St. Louis

The elements were getting in place for the Pirates Division Champion teams of the early 90’s. Bonds, Bonilla, Van Slyke, and Bream were in the starting lineup. But the biggest memory from the game was not the Buccos breaking a late tie in the 9th to win it was the National Anthem. One of the guys from the folk trio Peter, Paul & Mary, I’m thinking it was Paul but I’m not sure anymore, came out with his acoustic guitar to sing “The Star Spangled Banner.” He made it through the first verse when apparently the tremendous echo of the cookie cutter Three Rivers left him at a loss for the words to the song. The crowd of 52,000 stepped in for him and got him back in line. He was very gracious. My high school buddies and I thought it was funny that a professional musician would forget the words but appreciated how cool it was in a time of relative peace for our country for everyone to sing the Anthem as loud and as clearly as we did.