More Great Work By The Pirates

This off season has been one of the most trying in the last 17 years of constant losing.Why do you ask?

The Pirates have taken yet another team out of the mix for fans in this area to ever see up and coming players..The Lynchburg Hillcats and moved them to Florida.Who are we stuck seeing in High A this year?The Reds,Yuck!!! And I know this will be debated,But isn't this whole thing about saving money?When is a move the Pirates make NOT about saving?

Matt Capps released instead of offering tender.From all reports the amount in question was about $500,000,Maybe alittle more..Yes Capps had an off year.But he also saved 27 games..Again in my opinion,It's all about the money..

Then this morning I was checking the Pirates Caravan dates.. And see if you can notice what's missing.

2010 Pirates Winter Caravan complete schedule
Group 1

Featuring manager John Russell, players Andrew McCutchen, Kevin Hart and Evan Meek, and broadcasters Greg Brown and Bob Walk
PIRATES CARAVAN, GROUP 1 SCHEDULE
Date Location Time Event Details
Sun., Jan. 24 Somerset, PA 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. Caravan Kickoff Event at Seven Springs Mountain Resort, featuring free autographs, live events, trivia, Deal or No Deal, gaming stations, face painter, Canonball Crew and The Pirate Parrot.
Mon., Jan. 25 Latrobe, PA TBA School Assembly
Greater Latrobe Jr. High School
Mon., Jan. 25 Latrobe, PA 12:00 Noon - 1:30 p.m. Luncheon hosted by Pirates radio affiliate WCNS
Giannelli's 2
Mon., Jan. 25 Uniontown, PA 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. Autograph Session
Uniontown Mall
Tue., Jan. 26 Morgantown, WV 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. School Assembly
Cheat Lake Middle School
Tue., Jan. 26 Morgantown, WV TBA Luncheon
Location TBA
Tue., Jan. 26 Washington, PA 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. Autograph Session
Dick's Sporting Goods
Wed., Jan. 27 Wheeling, WV TBA Daytime Events TBA
Wed., Jan. 27 Steubenville, OH 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. Autograph Session
Fort Steuben Mall
Thu., Jan. 28 Youngstown, OH TBA School Assembly
Frank Ole Intermediate School
Thu., Jan. 28 Youngstown, OH 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Luncheon
Butler Art Institute
Group 2

Featuring third base coach Tony Beasley, players Garrett Jones, Delwyn Young, Ross Ohlendorf, and broadcasters Tim Neverett and Steve Blass
PIRATES CARAVAN, GROUP 2 SCHEDULE
Date Location Time Event Details
Sun., Jan. 24 Somerset, PA 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. Caravan Kickoff Event at Seven Springs Mountain Resort, featuring free autographs, live events, trivia, Deal or No Deal, gaming stations, face painter, Canonball Crew and The Pirate Parrot.
Mon., Jan. 25 Johnstown, PA 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. School Assembly
Greater Johnstown Middle School
Mon., Jan. 25 Altoona, PA 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. Autograph Session
Dick's Sporting Goods
Tue., Jan. 26 Kittanning, PA TBA School Assembly
Kittanning Jr. High School
Tue., Jan. 26 Indiana, PA 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. Autograph Session
Indiana Mall
Wed., Jan. 27 Butler, PA TBA Luncheon
Location TBA
Wed., Jan. 27 New Castle, PA 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. Autograph Session
Scottish Rite Cathedral
Thu., Jan. 28 Hermitage, PA 9:15 - 10:15 a.m. School Assembly
Delahunty Middle School
Thu., Jan. 28 Beaver Falls, PA TBA Luncheon
Location TBA



The Caravan will be immediately followed by PirateFest. Now in its 20th year, PirateFest will once again take place at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center from Friday, January 29 through Sunday, January 31. The interactive three-day baseball carnival features free autograph sessions, youth baseball clinics, prizes, games and question and answer sessions with Pirates management and players and much more.

Players Andrew McCutchen, Ross Ohlendorf, Paul Maholm, Zach Duke, Steve Pearce, Andy LaRoche, Lastings Milledge, Garrett Jones, Charlie Morton, Joel Hanrahan and Evan Meek along with manager John Russell and hitting coach Don Long are all scheduled to participate in this year's PirateFest. In addition, Pirates Hall-of-Famer Bill Mazeroski will be in attendance.
PirateFest information and tickets »

They have taken the Cumberland,Md And Erie Pa visits off this year... For a team that needs fans to come out to the park,And see this team you sure aren't helping by making your fan base angry!!

We went to last years Caravan,And had a good time,Now with the Reds calling Lynchburg home,And no Caravan to speak of. The only team we get to see(Without traveling 60 + miles)will be the WV Power,Pittsburgh's Low A club,And that's probably 1 or 2 times a year.(Editors note-After checking the Hagerstown Suns schedule for 2010,We will host the Power for 12 games!!)