Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, August 22, 1993 TAG: 9308220060
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: D1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Jack Bogaczyk
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
It also has the Pirates, who, thanks in no small part to Leyland's superb managing, have won three consecutive National League East Division titles. It won't be four this sour season.
Pittsburgh is one of those small-market baseball clubs that needs revenue sharing not just to prosper but to survive. The proof is having Barry Bonds, Doug Drabek and Bobby Bonilla in other teams' uniforms.
What has happened at Three Rivers Stadium this season, however, wasn't created simply by a shortage of money but by a shortage of talent. The Pirates finally are paying for the prospects they traded several years ago, crippling their farm system.
That system includes the Salem Buccaneers, who for the fifth consecutive Carolina League season, are going nowhere. This is the trickle-down theory at work. Pittsburgh recently changed general managers - for the fourth time in eight years. The Pirates are changing scouting supervisors - again.
The disarray in the Pirates' front office has left the farm system a mess. Some players - former Bucs John Wehner and Kevin Young among them - were called to the majors too soon. Others have reached the bigs who don't belong. Pittsburgh's talented Class AA pitching coach has been moved so many times in recent years that it's no wonder his name is Spin Williams.
Yes, you need more than four hands to count the Pirates' farmhands who have come through Salem since 1987 and reached the majors. The purpose of a farm system is player development, but there also is something to be said for learning to win. That isn't happening in the Pirates' farm system.
The Buccaneers have two needs: a new ballpark and a new affiliation. Let's be greedy.
Salem has one season left on its player development contract with Pittsburgh. It isn't likely the Buccaneers can change that. According to PDC language, a minor-league club that wants to cancel an affiliation first has to contact the commissioner.
Baseball doesn't have a commissioner.
Maybe Bucs owner Kelvin Bowles could reel in the Florida Marlins as a parent club. What's so fishy about that? Bowles is a Marlins scout, and the club's top Class A club is at High Desert in the California League now. Salem would be a geographic improvement, especially since Florida's Class AA club will be the Portland (Maine) Sea Dogs of the Eastern League.
The Salem Crappie?
Hey, the Bucs are last in the eight-team league in pitching, but they're also seventh in hitting in a hitter's park. They're headed for their 11th consecutive losing half-season in the Carolina League. It could be 13 by this time next summer. Pittsburgh's farm subsidy doesn't promise much help.
Augusta, Ga., the link below Salem in the Pirates' chain, entered Saturday night 18 games under .500 this season in the South Atlantic League. Welland, Ontario, in the short-season New York-Penn League, was five under .500.
The Pirates' front office has raved about its past two drafts. Then why the poor records in the low minors? And why does Pittsburgh's rookie entry in the Gulf Coast League have a 19-35 record? Only the Cubs and Mariners have worse records at the rookie level.
When the Pirates returned as Salem's parent club in '87, the result was a league pennant. Salem has been sliding since. In 14 halves with Pittsburgh talent, Salem has two finishes over .500. It seems San Diego (1981-83) and Texas (1984-86) weren't such poor providers before the Bucs stopped here again. The Padres were 1-for-6 in winning halves; the Rangers 2-for-6.
You read that right. Since 1981, Salem has played 26 half-seasons and had five winners. Still, it is the only franchise in minor-league baseball that has increased home attendance in each of the past 10 years, and Salem will set another club record at Municipal Field tonight or Aug. 29.
Hey, bucco, imagine what might happen if there weren't so many rough edges on the diamond.
by CNB