ESPN has put up a preview of the Pirates. Nothing really new there, except Crasnick expands a bit on what Bay said at Piratefest. He says Huntington and Coonelly spoke with Bay, that they would have liked to have spoken to him before he went to the media, but it seems neither party is saying that they are disgruntled. As Michael Scott says they are all very gruntled on the team.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=crasnick_jerry&id=3238436

Dejan has an article about Jason Bay saying he was disappointed that the Pirates did not acquire new players or change the roster this offseason. It is not so much what Bay said, but what Huntington said in reply that is very interesting. Saying that they are not just going to get guys to "appease the public" or to "trade guys at low value to make themselves feel better." Perhaps the most telling is the final quote;

"Look, we're not preaching that this team is going to contend. We can't do that. But we can say it will be better. How much better? It's going to be very, very interesting to see."

It is a far cry from the blather that Littlefield would talk about. I find it very candid and refreshing.

http://www.postgazette.com/pg/08025/852230-100.stm

http://hyzduhq.blogspot.com