Smizik right on with criticism of Pirates

Unfortunately for those of us who have been longtime Pirates fans, the past four columns by Post-Gazette columnist Bob Smizik (Pirates lack of commitment to winning, May 30; Blame Pirates' lack of talent on the suits, May 23; Pirates foundation of youngsters not so stable, May 21; Success of Marlins, D-backs put Pirates to shame, May 20) directly hit on the problems surrounding the Pirates' organization. Pittsburgh is very lucky to have a columnist the quality of Bob Smizik. In my opinion, if Bob had devoted his entire journalism to career to writing solely about baseball, he most likely would have been nominated for the Ford Frick Award for baseball writers in the Hall of Fame a long time ago. His columns pinpoint an ownership group that has invested poorly as well as a management team that has made some serious errors in judgment. Too bad Pittsburgh has a great ballpark in PNC but a lousy product for its fans.

IRA KATZ, Plantation, Fla.

New approach needed

The Pirates should be 10 games over 500, not approaching 10 under. The time for excuses is over. They're professionals getting paid to hit, field and pitch. If they can't, they should step aside. Management should take the [George] Steinbrenner mentality toward this team, not the gentle nurturing that has left them in the basement for more than a decade. Give each player 3-4 weeks to prove his merit. Those who fail, fall. Those who shine, stay.

ERIK DUMARS, Point Breeze

Mirror images

Don't feel bad Pittsburgh. You need only to look south to Florida and see the Tampa Bay Devil Rays baseball franchise, which mirrors that of the Pirates -- a lack of depth, a lack of commitment to development, excuses for not spending and year after year of trying to fool its fans with the word hope! Well ... at least you have a much better stadium and ice cold Iron City Beer to comfort you year after year!

FRANK B. PARILLO, Tampa, Fla.

Withhold your support

When will Pittsburgh sports fans realize that the only way the Pirates are going to change is when they are no longer supported? As long as fans keep turning out for fireworks nights and other promotions, the owners still make huge profits and the Pirates still will play like the rinky dinks of the 1950s.

EUGENE FILIA, Pitcairn

Another fan lost

I have usually tried to drive from Fort Wayne, Ind., and take in several Pirate games, but no more. No, it is not the price of gas, but the Pirates' organization. As long as the current general manager remains, the Pirates will be a minor-league team. The current and last manager were poor choices. The field coaches are next to worthless. It is not the lack of player talent, but the lack of a team. Until a manager that knows how to get a team effort, the Pirates will be what they are, losers.

JIM MOHAN, Fort Wayne, Ind.

Not the real Ron Cook

Someone at the Post-Gazette slipped up. The May 25 edition carries a column attributed to Ron Cook ("Paterno's plan merits praise"), but obviously some anonymous writer penned this piece. Pittsburgh's financial problems will be solved before the real Ron Cook writes a piece in which he is not critical of Joe Paterno.

JOE WERTHEIM, Mt. Lebanon

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