PAT MEARES 2.0

The Pirates have embarrassed themselves on the field for 16 years, and now, they're embarrassing themselves in a completely different way, getting national attention on blogs from coast to coast for their childish reaction to the Nate McLouth trade.

Said Adam LaRoche:

"There ain't a guy in here who ain't [ticked] off about it," said first baseman Adam LaRoche, according to the report. "It's kind of like being with your platoon in a battle, and guys keep dropping around you. You keep hanging on, hanging on, and you've got to figure: How much longer till you sink?

"It's fine. Heck with it. We're not the GM. We don't run the team. If they feel like it's the best move for three or four years from now, great," LaRoche said, according to the report. "Unfortunately, that does me no good. I've still got to be in here telling guys it's going to be fine with Nate gone. Well, you can only do that for so long until guys just kind of ... well, they know."

Freddy Sanchez:

"Wow," second baseman Freddy Sanchez said Thursday of the trade, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "I think the biggest thing was the shock factor. It's obviously a tough pill to swallow. Our No. 3 hitter just got taken away, the guy who leads our team in home runs and RBIs, and we were 6½ games out. We could still have been right there. I think we still can. But we're all just kind of wondering right now ... wondering what it is."

An unnamed vet:

"You make a deal for a player like that, and you'd better get at least one elite guy in return," one veteran said. "Who's the guy in this trade? Who is that player?"

One finds irony in the fact that LaRoche, who is currently hitting .245 and traditionally does his best to help sink the aforementioned Pirates' platoon by the All-Star break, felt the need to speak out, especially considering the fact that LaRoche is a pending free agent and will surely exit via that route, unless he's traded first (hopefully for some prospects, for comedic irony).

The Pirates' players have carried on as if the team just broke up an outfield of Mantle, Mays, and Dimaggio, to the point of creating a clubhouse shrine to McLouth in Pat Meares fashion. The shrine was erected by Jesse Chavez and Sean Burnett, who have more than earned the right to criticize the team for all the championships they've helped bring the organization.

Forgot Meares? Of course you did. After signing a four-year, $15 million extension in April 1999, he hit .240 and .211 in the two seasons that followed. Notice I said two seasons, not four. The Pirates and Meares eventually parted ways and Meares never played in the bigs again, with a nice injury grievance as the cherry on top. And aside from the shrine that he undoubtedly deserved, there's this classic story that sort of sums up the whole Meares Era:

Shortstop Pat Meares of the Pittsburgh Pirates‚ on the disabled list recovering from surgery on his left hand‚ participates in a sausage race at Milwaukee's County Stadium. Meares‚ dressed as a 10-foot bratwurst‚ wins the race defeating a giant hot dog and a polish sausage. Two days ago‚ Meares was caught on videotape sunbathing in the upper deck of Philadelphia's Veteran Stadium for the first six innings of game.

But I digress. ESPN's DJ Gallo put the current situation into perspective with some cold, hard facts about the Pirates, and #3 on his list makes simply a beautiful point that I was planning on making myself:

Fact #3: The Pirates would not be good if they had kept their "core" in place.

Please stop pretending that last year's Opening Day outfield of Jason Bay, McLouth and Xavier Nady would one day be inducted en masse into Cooperstown.

Please. You're embarrassing yourselves.

When Nady was dealt last year, the Pirates were 48-55. When Bay left, they were 50-58. When McLouth was traded on Wednesday, they were 24-28. The Pirates aren't exactly breaking up the '27 Yankees. The '67 Yankees, maybe.

And, really, Xavier Nady?! We're talking about missing Xavier Nady? Not Barry Bonds, not Jason Bay. Not even Brian Giles. We talkin' about Xavier Nady. Xavier Nady, man. Xavier Nady. I mean, how silly is that. Xavier Nady.

Mark Madden pointed out that none of this went on in the Penguin locker room after a strong locker room guy like Ryan Whitney was dealt, which spoke to the tremendous difference between entitled Major Leaguers and the attitude of most NHL players. And I'd have to agree. Please, Pirates, for your own good, keep your thoughts to yourself and just play ball. Your comments are really not doing anyone any favors.

McLouth trade brings clubhouse backlash [PG]

Arrrgh! you ready for some Pirate facts? [ESPN]

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THE PIRATES ARE THE WORST FRANCHISE IN SPORTS...

...Or so says author Dave Golokhov in an article appearing on Foxsports.com. The Pirates won this, their first title of any sort since the 1992 NL East Division Championship, by edging out the KC Royals, Arizona Cardinals, and Tampa Bay Rays, among others.

However, in the interactive poll that accompanies the article, the Detroit Lions were leading the way at 21% when I placed my vote, followed by "I can think of worse" at 19% and then Your Buccos at 15%.

The usual suspects were rounded up as examples of why the Pirates are the Pirates, most notably Derek Bell, Jeromy Burnitz, Tony Armas, and the Aramis Ramirez trade.

Absent were this site's namesake, as well as Matt Morris, the Jason Kendall signing, the Kevin Young signing, the Pat Meares signing, the drafts, etc....but I guess they only had so much space.

In case you were wondering, I'm not re-using old links...this shouldn't be confused with ESPN's recent inclusion of the Pirates on their "failure dynasties" feature. So ESPN and Fox have both slammed the Buccos in the last week. Who's next? I'm looking in your direction, SI!

Top 10: Worst franchises in pro sports [Foxsports.com]

Pittsburgh Pirates: The Last Stop

While hanging out with my brother recently, a great Pirate conversation blossomed: "Who was the last player to retire a Pirate?". I'm talking about a teary, this-is-the-end press conference in front of the gathered media. We quickly came to the conclusion that Pirate careers end three ways: via trade, release, or the team choosing to not re-up the player. Retirement is not an option when you wear a Pirate uniform. An interesting subplot we dug up: the career dead end of most players in their post-Bucco days. We were amazed by this...how could a player who started for the Pirates not even be worth signing for the rest of the league? How many times has this happened? Are the Pirates the last stop in MLB? On to our findings...(by the way, this has morphed into an encyclopedia of crappy major leaguers. I'm sorry, it's beyond my control).

PART I: THE BATTERS (I would call them "The Hitters", but that wouldn't apply in most cases)

COMING SOON: The sequel: THE HURLERS (Appropriately named. Trust me.)

Adrian Brown, OF: Started the bulk of games over three seasons in the Bucco OF. Relieved of his baseball duties by Team Nutting in 2002.
Post-Pirate career: 14 games with the Red Sox and Royals, out of MLB.

Al Martin, OF: Al Martin can best be summed up with that crazy story he told about when he played college football at USC, going so in depth that he talked about tackling Leroy Hoard and his tree trunk legs. Unfortunately, that never happened. Folks, your seven-year starter in the outfield.
Post-Pirate career: Spent some time with San Diego, Seattle, and Tampa Bay. Then joined the 2005 Steelers and won the Super Bowl MVP.

Armando Rios, OF: The main nugget in the Jason Schmidt booty played a total of 78 games as a Pittsburgh Plunderer. Littlefield made him walk the plank.
Post-Pirate career: Was bounced around from White Sox to Marlins to Orioles to Cardinals to Twins. Through all that, managed 104 at bats in 2003. I think I had more plate appearances for the Jefferson Township Red in my 1985 T-Ball season. Out of MLB.



Benito Santiago, C: Your 2005 opening day catcher. Took 6 games for the Pirates to put everyone involved out of their misery. It figures that the Pirates would sign the only man involved with BALCO that didn't add 25 HR per year. Post-Pirate career: Signed by the Mets, and released. Never played again in MLB.

Bobby Hill, 2B: No, not the kid from King of the Hill. This was the gem of the Aramis Ramirez trade. Just not a valuable gem. In all fairness to Hill, since he's no longer in the bigs after 2005, let's compare what he did against what Ramirez did in 2003, 2004, and 2005 since the trade:

Hill: .267, 2 HR, 38 RBI

Ramirez: .301, 82 HR, 234 RBI

Don't you feel better?

Post-Pirate career: Out of MLB.

Brant Brown, OF: He was the dork that dropped the ball in the Cubs playoff game in 1998. That moment really opened Bonifay's eyes, and he would be dropping fly balls for the Pirates soon after. And all he had to give up was Jon Lieber, who's won 79 games since the trade. Post-Pirate career: Much like a winning season in the McNutting era, it doesn't exist.

Carlos Garcia, 2B: I'll never forget sitting in the 6th level at the 1994 All Star Game, feeling so proud of Carlos Garcia for making the All Star Game. I mean, he only hit .277 with 6 HR that year, but I was so excited that fans voted a Pirate to play in his hometown. Later that day, I was told at the tender age of 16 that there was no Santa Claus. Post-Pirate career: Bounced around with the Jays, Angels, and Padres, and bounced from the league after 1999. Alas, he was never elected to any more All Star Games.

Chad Hermansen, SS/OF: Once said by a Pirate scout: "He could walk on water." He didn't mention that he said this while taking a tour of the Civic Arena ice with Hermansen. Scouts like that are why the Pirates have 14 losing seasons in a row. Dumped for a finished Darren Lewis in 2002.
Post-Pirate career: Cubs, Dodgers, Blue Jays, and I'm guessing a beer league somewhere. But he went 13 for 75 in those Post-Pirate ABs!

Chris Stynes, 3B: Played in 74 games, starting many, at 3B for 2004 Pirates. The Pirates lost 89 games that year, so you can't blame him for at least 15 of those losses. Released in August 2004 with a .216 average.
Post-Pirate career: Signed by Baltimore, never appeared in any MLB action.

Daryle Ward, 1B: Started 133 games at 1B in 2005 with Pirates, suddenly lost the ability to hit with any power. Curious for a guy who averaged a HR every 13 at bats in 2000 with Houston, over 119 games. Hmmm. Post-Pirate career: Signed with Washington as a backup and has 59 plate appearances in 2006.

Derek Bell, OF: The Pirates paid him $10 million for 27 hits. That's $370,000 per hit. Good thing the Pirates don't have Ichiro.
Post-Pirate career: Bought a boat and sailed away with a stolen $10 mil. Arrested on April 20,2006 with a warm crack pipe. I kid you not---look him up on Wikipedia. Out of MLB.

Ed Sprague, 3B: He played one year (1999) with the Pirates, hit .267 with 22 dingers, and they let him walk in favor of Aramis Ramirez. I specifically remember Jason Kendall being really ticked about that move. I mean, who wouldn't want a guy that would go on to play two more seasons and hit 14 HR? Post-Pirate career: San Diego, Boston, Seattle, and on 4th down, he punted. Out of the majors after 2001.

Emil Brown, OF: The human yo-yo of trips back and forth to the minors. Traded in 2001 for Shawn Camp and Shawn Garrett. Littlefield figured, "If I'm getting one Shawn who's not going to reach the majors, I might as well get two."
Post-Pirate career: His odyssey has taken him to Tampa Bay, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Houston, and KC. Four years after the Pirates gave up on him, he resurfaces as a starter in the world of Dan Quisenberry and BBQ Ribs.

Freddy Garcia, 3B. No, the Pirates didn't have the rights to the dominating pitcher who looks like The Rock

. This is the Pirates' Freddy Garcia, of the .222 career average. Post-Pirate career: 2 ABs with the Braves. Got to take infield behind Chipper Jones for a game.

Ivan Cruz, 1B/OF: Supposedly a late blooming power prospect. I'd say he spoiled. Post-Pirate career: 14 AB with the 2002 Cardinals, and that's about it. Out of MLB.

Jeff Reboulet, 2b: One year experiment at 2B in 2003. Never send Littlefield to the lab. Post-Pirate career: None. Pirates were the last stop. Out of MLB.

Jermaine Allensworth, OF: Given the shot at starting OF in the late 90s, and graciously gave up that spot to other players. Dealt to the Royals in a blockbuster for Manuel Bernal in 1998. Post-Pirate career: 104 games with the Royals and the Muckin' Fets. Out of MLB after 1999.

J.J. Davis, OF: Former #1 pick in 1997 dealt in 2004 to Washington (then Montreal) for future OF stud Antonio Sucre. And sucre he did.
Post-Pirate career: 26 AB with Washington in 2005, signed by Colorado, appears to be finished.

Joe Oliver, C: After Jason Kendall let Pirate fans see what an ankle bone looks like on the 4th of July in 1999, Cam Bonifay needed a catcher. He needed a catcher so bad, he needed 2 catchers. And on July 23, he acquired catchers Oliver and Humberto Cota. And all it cost was future .300 hitter Jose Guillen. And that move let the Pirates finish 5 games under .500 in 1999.
Post-Pirate career: 86 games with the Mariners, Boston, and the Yankees. The last 2 teams were at the request of Peter Gammons.

John Wehner, OF: For those of you who missed my article on John Wehner, you'll get a lot more info by clicking here for the story. Post-Pirate career: Pirate announcer. He has Pirate Seperation Anxiety (PSA).

Keith Osik, C: The Humberto Cota of yesteryear shopped his wares after the 2002 season. There's always a market for light-hitting backup catchers...OR SO HE THOUGHT!!
Post-Pirate career: 96 games over 3 seasons with the Brewers, Orioles and Nationals. Out of MLB.

Kevin Elster, SS: What do you say about a guy who started all those years for the Mets and the highlight was his .241 average in '91? How about "Why would another team sign him in 1997?" Post-Pirate career: half a season with Texas, and half with LA. Out of MLB after 2000.

Kevin Polcovich, SS: I swear this guy was actually a local high school kid that snuck into the dressing room. He was 5'9", 170 and looked like he was 14. I never heard of him before he joined the team, and I never heard of him after he left the team. Anyone who can hit .189 over 212 ABs has one talent: fooling baseball executives into thinking he can play. Post-Pirate career: Finished high school and attended Triangle Tech.

Kevin Young, 1B: Released by the Pirates in 2003. Actually stopped playing like he cared in 1999. Post-Pirate career: Signed by Minnesota, but never reached the majors - no additional MLB action.

Lou Collier, SS: The Pirates saw enough in him to give him 110 starts in 1998. He had such a great season, the Pirates waived him goodbye that December. Post-Pirate career: 4 teams, 342 ABs, and was actually traded for Jason Bay in 2002. Out of MLB after 2004.

Mark Johnson, 1b: 6'4". 230 lbs. Towering. Just never panned out, for whatever reason. Post-Pirate career: Don't worry, like many Pirates, he didn't pan out anywhere else, either. Out of MLB after 2002.

Matt Lawton, OF: The juice didn't do much good for this admitted user. All it took was 101 games for Littlefield and Co. to show him the door in 2005.
Post-Pirate career: 19 games with the Cubs & 21 with the Yankees in 2005; 11 games with the Mariners in 2006; released by Seattle May 31, 2006. Currently out of MLB.

Mike "All About the" Benjamin, SS: Hit a stunning .150 over 108 games in 2002. Are they sure he was a SS and not a pitcher? Really?
Post-Pirate career: Come on. Fool MLB GMs once, shame on you. Fool MLB GMs twice, shame on MLB GMs.

Mike Kingery, OF: OK, this is like, the 38th of these I've done, and I'm seriously ready to puke. I don't know how the Pirates acquired so many guys that suck, it must be a gift. But I have to see this project till the end. The only thing I can say here is that the Pirates have never had a good player in this era named Mike. Benjamin, Kingery, Restovich, and in the pitcher section, Williams, were all terrible. This clown started in 1996 and hit .246. 'Nuff said. Post-Pirate career: ( ) *symbolizing nothing

Mike Restovich, OF: 52 games, .214 average in 2005. Mediocrity wrapped in averageness and deep-fried in apathy. Team elected not to re-sign.
Post-Pirate career: 2 for 12 with the Cubs in 2006. Currently at AAA Iowa.

Pat Meares, IF: Can you believe this guy made about $21 million in his career? But that's another topic. The frequently injured malcontent was finished in 2001, even with 2 years left on his contract. Between Larry Brown and Meares, this not-working-for-pay thing looks pretty good.
Post-Pirate career: Figuring out how many generations of Mearses can live off of $21 million.

Pokey Reese, 2B: Team elected not to re-sign after 2004 season. Played one more year for Boston, then signed with Seattle but did not appear in any MLB action. Picked up by Florida in '06, but had no contact with the club for 72 hours and was cut loose. The most he contributed as a Pirate was parking that cool Mercedes SUV of his in the player's lot.

Post-Pirate career: 1 season, 96 games, .221 average, out of MLB.

Randall Simon,1B : A two-time Pirate, he was released in 2004 and signed by Tampa Bay.

The only Pirate that can claim whacking a weiner in Milwaukee as the high point of their career

Post-Pirate career: 8 games, 17 AB, .117 Avg. Released by Tampa Bay in 2004. Out of MLB. Court ordered to not touch any sausage products.

Raul Mondesi, OF: Namesake of this site! Signed as a free agent in 2004, appeared in 26 games before the infamous Mario Guerrero extortion threats started. These threats distracted Mondesi so much that he couldn't commit to the Pirates, so they let him go only a month into the season. Thankfully, once the Pirates let Mondesi go, he somehow was able to get his life in order in the span of nine days to sign with the Angels.
Post-Pirate career: He ticked off the Angels enough to cut him after playing in only 8 games. Atlanta took a chance in 2005, apparently ignorant to the fact that he just screwed over 2 MLB teams. He tomahawk chopped for 41 games, and his baseball tombstone was finalized. Out of MLB.

Ruben Mateo, OF: One-time prospect signed by the Pirates in 2004. 33 AB and a .242 average. Not to be confused with Ruben Rivera, the guy who stole and tried to sell Derek Jeter's glove. Post-Pirate career: Sold to Kansas City, hit .194 over 32 games, out of MLB.

Tike Redman, OF: Held down the 3-hole on opening day in 2005 because a computer program told Lloyd to do so. That was Lloyd McClendon by the way, not Lloyd Christmas.

That computer must have missed the fact that 3-hole hitters are not supposed to bat there because they happen to average 3 home runs per season. The Pirates are even cheap on software. Team chose not to re-sign after 2005. Likely the last Tike we'll see until we inevitably draft his son in a few years. Signed by Tigers, currently in AAA Toledo.

Turner Ward, OF: Example 1A of the hustling white guy that the Pirates have consistenly signed year after year. The fans love him, he runs into and through walls (in this case, literally)...and he hits .262 as a starter. Post-Pirate career: 42 games with the Diamondbacks and Phils. Out of MLB by 2001.

Warren Morris, OF: Hero of the College World Series with LSU, had a solid 1999 rookie season before totally falling apart by 2001. Pirate fans were unhappy. And when Pirate fans are unhappy, heads roll. Like on March 13, 2002. Because the fans are the most important.
Post-Pirate career: Minnesota, St. Louis, Boston, Detroit, Cleveland..101 games and out of MLB by 2003. Unfortunately, did not get the Pat Meares golden parachute. Out of MLB.


I thought I would comment on the Pirates 2005 opening day lineup (if you want to verify this, go to www.retrosheet.org) a la "Where are they now?"

1. Matt Lawton, RF - Out of MLB
2. Jack Wilson, SS- Starting SS, Pirates
3. Tike Redman, CF- AAA, Tigers
4. Jason Bay, LF- Starting OF, Pirates
5. Daryle Ward, 1B- Backup 1B, Nationals
6. Ty Wigginton, 3B- Starting 3B, Devil Rays
7. Jose Castillo, 2b- Starting 2B, Pirates
8. Benito Santiago, C- Out of MLB
9. Oliver Perez, SP - 2-10 for Pirates

Only one year later, and 4 of the 8 hitters are currently out of the big leagues, and the pitcher is on pace to lose more than 20 games. I'm shocked this lineup only scored 2 runs against Milwaukee that day. Ogden, Kevin and Dave, you've outdone yourselves. Excelsior.

10 Worst McClatchy/Nutting Pirates Moves

In order of how they brought down the organization, here are the 10 worst moves orchestrated by McClatchy, Nutting, Littlefield, and Bonifay (inept baseball executives, not a law firm) since taking over the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1996.

1. Clueless Drafting, the only thing consistent about the Pirates

The Pirates are the LA Clippers ("Veterans of the lottery process") of baseball. For all their losing and high picks, very few players have ever turned out. Do read on...

1997, picking 8th, they choose J.J. Davis, he of a .179 average in 106 MLB at-bats to date. Anyone think #16, Lance Berkman, would look good in a Pirate uni right now?

1998, picking #15, they choose Clint Johnston, a pitcher who never rose above AA. They passed on a couple other pitchers you may have heard of: C.C. Sabathia, Brad Lidge, and Mark Prior.

1999, picking 8th, it's Bobby Bradley, one of many Pirate pitchers who would blow out his arm. They passed on #9 Barry Zito, #10 Ben Sheets, #12 Brett Myers, and #19 Alexis Rios. Wow.

2000, picking 19th, time for Sean Burnett, another Pirate of the blown out arm variety.

2001, 8th again, the card says John Van Benschoten, record-setting HR hitter for Kent State. Of course, the Pirates turn him into a pitcher and he blows out his arm. By the way, they missed out on #25 Bobby Crosby, #26 Jeremy Bonderman, and #38 David Wright.

2002, #1, and it's Bryan Bullington. Yep, blown out arm. Who'd we miss this year? BJ Upton, Prince Fielder, Jeremy Hermida, Scott Kazmir, Nick Swisher, Jeff Francoeur...

2003, the magic 8 spot yet again, and the call is Paul Maholm, who doesn't blow out his arm, but does manage to get hit in the face with a line drive. Anyone think #12 Lastings Milledge would look good in the PNC outfield?


2A and 2B. The signings of Derek Bell (2000) and Raul Mondesi (2004).
While this site is named in honor of Raul, the Bell signing is equally bad, and fit to be tied as the worst free agent signing of this period. To recap, Bell hit .266 with 18 HR and 69 RBI in 2000 with the NY Mets. For his efforts, GM Cam Bonifay rewarded DBell with a 2-year, $10 million deal to join the Pirates in their new digs at PNC Park. Let's just say that 2001 did not produce great results for this marriage. Bell managed a mind-numbingly horrible .173 average, to go along with 5 HR and 13 RBI in 46 games. In 2002, Bell announced that if he would not open the season as the starting outfielder, he would enter "Operation Shutdown". The Pirates cut him loose before the season, and "The Ultimate Pirate" was born: Bell stole $10 million and literally bought a boat and sailed into the sunset.

Mondesi's signing was equally ridiculous. He hit a respectable .272 with 24 HR and 71 RBI with the Yankees and Diamondbacks in 2003. However, Mondesi was a sinking ship, and his career was clearly on the decline. Those are perfect characteristics for a Pirate free agent signing, and he inked with the Pirates in February 2004. By May he was talking of leaving the team for personal reasons in the Dominican Republic, later known to be threats from hitting instructor Mario Guerrero. He left the team on May 11 and for all purposes quit on the Pirates, refusing to return to the team while using the legal issues as an excuse. His contract was terminated roughly a week later, and after another 10 days, he signed with Anaheim. The deal was investigated by MLB, as the circumstances were, shall we say, "shady", but they were cleared of any wrongdoing. Shortly after he signed with the Angels, he tore his quad (karma?) and was placed on the DL. He was released by the Angels in July for not showing up for his rehab therapy. Atlanta arrogantly signed Mondesi as a reclamation project in 2005 and proved once and for all that he was at the end of the line, appearing in just 41 games and producing 4 HR.

4. 2003: Pirates trade 3B Aramis Ramirez and OF Kenny Lofton to the Cubs for 2B Bobby Hill, 3B Jose Hernandez, and minor leaguer Matt Bruback
This is the ones that the masses can't forgive. Faced with not making payroll (or so the story goes), the Pirates HAD to make a move in the summer of 2003. With Kris Benson injured and unable to be traded, the Pirates dumped their 3B of the future (along with Lofton, a veteran still capable of contributing) in exchange for three players. Hill had one season (2004) as the main starter at 2B for the Pirates but was released in 2005 and has not surfaced in the major leagues since. Hernandez, who once fanned 188 times with the Brewers, was brought in for Ramirez. He hit .223 over the remaining months, and was released on October 1, 2003. Like a phoenix, he rose again, this time with the 2006 Pirates, contributing a .177 batting average to the Steel City Buccaneers. Bruback never reached the major leagues. Ramirez's career averages are 29 HR/100 RBI and .277 average, a perennial all star candidate. Lofton was a key cog in the 2003 Cubs playoff run and is now the starting CF for the Dodgers.

5. 2001: Pirates trade P Jason Schmidt traded to the Giants (with OF John Vander wal) for P Ryan Vogelsong and OF Armando Rios
Schmidt would blossom into one of the majors' finest starters, finishing as runner up for the 2003 NL Cy Young with a 2.34 ERA and 17-5 record. He is still recognized as one of the league's dominant hurlers. Vander wal was a part-time starter for the Pirates who whacked 35 HR over two seasons with the black and gold. Vogelsong, who was supposedly a dominant pitcher in the making, has become the go-to "mop up man" for the Pirates, often referred to as "The White Flag". His career line: 10-22, 5.86 ERA. Rios had all of three at-bats with the Pirates before an injury. He responded with a mediocre 76 game run in 2002, was released after the season, and appeared in only 49 more MLB games.

6. 1999: Pirates sign IF Pat Meares
Meares was signed as a free agent from the Twins, and hit .308 over 21 games before an injury sidelined him for the season. He was signed to an extension before the 2000 season, and was paid nearly $15 million over the next four years in exchange for 219 games, a .230 average, and unofficial position as clubhouse martyr after an injury debate with the team.

7. 2004: Pirates trade P Kris Benson and 2B Jeff Keppinger to the Mets for 3B Ty Wigginton and OF Jose Bautista
Benson was the #1 overall pick in 1997 and was once thought of so highly that Peter Gammons picked him to win the Cy Young Award. So Pirate fans were a little upset that in 2004 all the Pirates could do was acquire Ty Wigginton in exchange, especially when considering that the Pirates' asking price was believed to be none other than DAVID WRIGHT! Asking for Wright and settling for Wigginton is akin to asking $10,000 for a car and settling for $100. "Wiggy" hit .237 with 12 HR over two years with the Pirates. Benson is now on to Baltimore, 8-5 with a 4.06 ERA so far in 2006. Keppinger is hitting .297 at AAA for the Mets.

8. 1999: Pirates sign 1B Kevin Young to a 6-year, $24 million contract in 1999
Be careful, those two words may cause some Pittsburghers to spontaneously combust. Young got his first major shot in the bigs on the Pirates' 1993 "post-Bonds" team, where he struggled, hitting .236 in 141 games. He had played himself out of baseball, and in 1997, the Pirates signed him off the waiver wire after being cut loose by the feared KC Royals. Young responded by hitting .300 in '97, followed by .270/27/108 in 1998 (looking back, was it a product of the era?). The Pirates responded by tossing him $24 million over the next four years. As a thank you, Young responded with the following seasons:
2000: .258/20/88
2001: .232/14/65
2002: .246/16/51
2003: .202/2/7 (mercifully cut after 52 games)

9. 2000: Pirates sign C Jason Kendall to 6-year, $60 million contract
The pressure was mounting on the Pirates to build upon some cornerstones for the future with the christening of PNC Park in 2001. Kendall was a hard worker who had come back from a horrendous ankle injury in 1999. Unfortunately, after the signing, Kendall seemed to lose any of the little power he had while simultaneously polluting the clubhouse with a sour attitude towards young players. He has averaged three home runs per season since 2002.

10. 1998: Pirates trade P Jon Lieber to Cubs for OF Brant Brown
Brown was a starting OF for the Pirates in 1999, and responded with a .232 average and 16 HR. He was dealt a year later for journeyman OF Bruce Aven and was out of baseball by the end of 2000. Lieber had four very productive seasons with the Cubs and signed with the Yankees in 2003. Not spectacular, but an effective innings eater and quality pitcher the Pirates sorely lacked.