Click here to submit your question

Before we begin, a shout here goes to longtime contributor John Fluharty of West Virginia for noticing the 16-year-old kid on Bradenton's roster, which prompted my asking some questions and producing this note for the Sunday paper.

I tried to write you back, John, but your server keeps rejecting what I send. I will try not to take it personally ...

Q: Do you think Dave Littlefield's contract will be extended? I'm hopefully doubtful based on the numerous errors he and his staff have made in evaluating talent and signing players. One example: The Pirates passed on Matt Wieters in the draft, apparently because of financial reasons, but they invested heavily in Tony Armas, Joe Randa and Jeromy Burnitz. What makes these investments worse is that the Pirates keep these players the entire year, inhibiting the development of possibly more capable and inexpensive players.

The only difference between Cam Bonifay and Littlefield is that Bonifay gave players longer-term contracts.

Kirk Davis of Brushton, Pittsburgh

KOVACEVIC: I have not heard specifically that Littlefield is in trouble, Kirk, but the three-pronged convergence of a new CEO coming in, the team on its way to yet another losing season and Littlefield entering a lame-duck year in 2008 would not appear to bode well.

Q: It's well documented that the Nuttings don't spend up to par with the rest of Major League Baseball when it comes to payroll. But how do they spend on amenities when it comes to taking care of the players, such as travel conditions and clubhouse comfort?

In your experience around the league, are Pirates players treated as well by the owners or are their benefits more similar to the ones that Rachel Phelps gives the Indians in "Major League?"

Neal Hechtkopf of Arlington, Va.

KOVACEVIC: First, to repeat what I promise to correct each time it comes up, there are no "Nuttings" directly involved in the operations of the team. There is one Nutting, just Bob Nutting. The next time I hear that Ogden Nutting or any other Nutting has anything to do with the Pirates -- other than on paper -- will be the first.

To your Q, Neal, the Pirates stay almost exclusively in top-tier hotels, they travel on Delta charters without going through conventional security lines or baggage hassles or check-ins, air-conditioned and souped-up buses that take them right to the steps of the plane, and their clubhouse surely ranks as one of the top two or three in all of Major League Baseball in terms of appearance and amenities. The only clubhouses that I have seen that are even comparable are those of the San Diego Padres at Petco Park and the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park.

It does not get much better than any of the above.

Really, the only negative on the ledger is the cramped and outdated clubhouse at McKechnie Field, as well as the minor annoyance of players having to go back and forth between McKechnie and Pirate City several times a day, given that the only dressing facilities are at McKechnie. It is only a 10-minute drive each way, but there is a train that runs regularly into the Tropicana plant that stops traffic and can cause some frustration and even tardiness.

The McKechnie clubhouse is supposed to be upgraded as part of the big project that will include lights, but the matter of the two facilities being separate will remain as is.

Q: I am 22 and vaguely remember watching the Bucs vs. Braves at my grandmother's Carrick home in 1992. My question is: Do the Pirates publicly acknowledge that they lost my entire generation of fans who are now apathetic? And do they realize the problems of building the next generation based on bobblehead junk?

My little brother and his friends, born around 1994, only know of rumors connecting "Pirates" to "baseball." Now at age 13, they also outgrew the promo junk and have not one winning memory.

If Nutting doesn't start spending money, how does he think the Pirates will exist without two generations of fans?

Dave Yochum of Scott Township

KOVACEVIC: Congratulations, first of all, for correctly counting the Nuttings involved.

The best way I can answer your question, Dave, is that, no, I do not think the Pirates fully grasp the extent to which they have lost Pittsburgh's young sports fan.

I once raised the issue with Kevin McClatchy, and he responded by pointing out that there are many young people attending games at PNC Park, including many children on Sundays, and that there are lots of young people at events such as PirateFest and the Caravan. When I countered by pointing out that the passion level of those fans -- the type that would do anything for a No. 87 Penguins sweater, for instance -- seems negligible, the conversation went right back to those young people that he sees.

I can understand McClatchy's side. He is going off what he sees.

But I have covered all of the Steelers' home games for years for our paper until taking this beat, and I spent eight years on the NHL beat, and there simply is no comparison when it comes to the interest and intensity levels. None. It barely even makes for a worthy debate, in my view.

That said, I get suggestions from readers about how the Pirates should market themselves to this or that demographic, about having promotions for college students (they already do), how they should get into the community to reach out to kids (they already do), and my response to all of that is that nothing will work until the team wins. When that happens, the kids will find legitimate individual idols on the team. And, when that happens, a stamp finally will be made that is far more indelible than the various blips -- Brian Giles, Jason Kendall, Jason Bay, Freddy Sanchez -- that pop up from time to time.

As my colleague Bob Smizik wrote the other day, the Pirates' demographic is quite old. I get the same kind of mail he does, much of it opening with fond memories of Ralph Kiner or wondering why Jim Tracy cannot be more like Danny Murtaugh.

And that is swell, but only if the baton gets passed.

Until tomorrow ...