There’s nothing good about seeing the Jolly Roger raised on a sinking ship. I have a way for the Pirates to make the playoffs and maybe win the World Series. Don’t laugh just yet … hear me out.
Many baseball tournaments have a loser’s bracket with a chance to win the trophy. Imagine if the same were true for Major League Baseball, with one difference: Instead of a traditional loser’s bracket, it could be the Worst Teams Bracket (WTB).
The top four losers or worst teams in both leagues could play in a WTB tournament to decide the final wild card spot for each league. Just think what this would do to trades and the trade deadline.
I would hope that all teams would prefer to win. But if the Pirates are losing and have a chance to make the WTB and play on … would they do a player dump? All losing team ownership would have to rethink: Should I acquire or should I trade?
Many fans, like me, dislike the deadline trades and what teams get in return. Hometown boy David Bednar comes to mind. Can you say rebuilding? I hate when they say that.
Think about the fans. People still go to losing Pirates games, and with the WTB possibility, fans would have something to cheer about whether the team is winning or losing.
If the WTB winners get hot at the right time, they could have a shot at winning it all. Imagine the Pirates in the World Series. (I think I just saw a unicorn.)
Larry Lehew
Brackenridge