Columnist cites Guardians to blast Pirates

Jun 1, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton (17) reacts during the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Columnist uses Guardians' success to blast Pirates

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 8/18/22

The Cleveland Guardians and Pittsburgh Pirates are two smaller-market MLB teams going in different directions this summer.

As of Thursday afternoon, the 63-55 Guardians sat atop the American League Central standings and held a one-game lead over the second-place Minnesota Twins and a two-game advantage over the Chicago White Sox. The Pirates, meanwhile, began the day at 45-72, in the basement of the National League Central standings, and in headlines for comments that longtime Boston Red Sox television color commentator and Hall-of-Famer Dennis Eckersley made during a broadcast earlier this week.

"You talk about a no-name lineup. There’s no team like this," Eckersley said about the unremarkable Buccos during Tuesday's game between Pittsburgh and Boston. "This is a hodgepodge of nothingness. It’s ridiculous. It really is."

The Guardians completed an exciting eighth-inning rally to come from behind and stun the Detroit Tigers 8-4 on Wednesday evening. Pittsburgh columnist Dejan Kovacevic, creator of sports website DK Pittsburgh Sports, used the occasion to seemingly lash out at Pirates ownership and also the club's front office:

In Cleveland, they’re in first place with a $65 million payroll, the youngest roster in the majors and, just for fun. nine top-100 prospects still in their system. It ain’t all about the money. You need baseball people who want to win AND know how to do it. https://t.co/cvOFIlLwZX
— Dejan Kovačević (@Dejan_Kovacevic) August 18, 2022

Per Spotrac, the Pirates are 28th out of 30 clubs in payroll totals this season. Meanwhile, the Guardians are only slightly above them at 27. ESPN numbers show Cleveland is 25th in attendance for the campaign and averaging 16,845 fans per home game, while Pittsburgh is 27th and averaging 16,021 spectators.

"I couldn't give any less of a crap what that guy has to say," Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds said about Eckersley on Wednesday.

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