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Thursday, July 24, 2003

By Robert Dvorchak, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

CINCINNATI -- The players may be just as perplexed by the Pirates' salary dump as their fans, but publicly at least, their attention is on doing their jobs rather than worrying about who might go next or whether the team will get fair value in return.

"There's no explanation for it except economics," Brian Giles said of the recent trades.

"We lost $30 million the past three years. We have to do something. It is a business. They have to do what's best for the organization. From what it looks like, they're going to have to cut back on the payroll and start over.

"As players, we can't worry about that. We have to prepare ourselves and get ready to play."

Asked if he expected to remain with the Pirates, Giles said: "Not by the looks of it. There are going to be more guys [gone]."

He even made light of the situation, looking up at the clubhouse TV at one point to say, "Look at the ticker. It says we just traded Cheese Chester to Milwaukee for the Italian sausage."

That doesn't make less sense than trading a closer, a left-handed set-up man, the top run-producer and cleanup hitter, and the leadoff hitter/center fielder/top base-stealer plus cash for what the Pirates got in return.

The breakup of the Pirates came less than four months after they opened Great American Ball Park with a sweep of the Cincinnati Reds that generated optimism and high expectations. When the team fizzled, trades were expected.

But a reasonable return was expected from contenders desperately trying to fill needs.

"This team never played up to its capabilities before we started [making trades]," Giles said. "For us to sit here and point fingers at [General Manager] Dave Littlefield and Mac [Manager Lloyd McClendon] and say, 'What are they doing breaking up this team?' Shoot, we never showed them we could make a run at it."

"Obviously, the five-year plan they had wasn't successful. I don't know how many years they're going to [go] on this one," Giles said.

"It's something that needs to be done. It's frustrating as a player wanting to win here. That's probably not going to happen for some time."

Jason Kendall didn't say much.

"I don't worry about those things. There's no reason to comment. I don't have control over things," he said. "It's not really in our hands. Only one way you can go.

"What are you going to do, sit there and moan? That doesn't help. We need some guys to step it up. There's no use in saying anything. We have one job to do -- go out and play."

Privately, the players reacted similarly to the fans by raising many questions. If the idea is to acquire more talent, why are the Pirates giving away more than they're getting?

How can a franchise less than three years removed from getting a bailout in the form of a taxpayer-financed ballpark be in such dire straits?

When is this cycle of rebuilding and shuttling players through a revolving door going to end?

Is ownership committed to winning? Why aren't the people who voted for Plan B investigating the squandering of tax money or demanding that the Pirates open their books to verify that owner Kevin McClatchy's claims of red ink are valid?

While it would benefit McClatchy to explain exactly what the new plan is, no answers have been forthcoming.

"It all can't be revealed to you at this time," McClendon said. "I understand your frustration. There are things that can be said, and certain things that can't be said. That's just the way it is. At some point, it all comes to fruition.

"Most people are not privileged to see the big picture. I'm looking at the entire picture.

"Sometimes, you have to make tough decisions. Sometimes, you have to stand alone. Sometimes, it ain't pretty. You have to have a solid foundation to get it done. We're trying to do that. In the end, you'll reap the benefits and rewards. You'll have the satisfaction."

That may not be enough to quiet the outrage of fans who want rebates for the brand of baseball they'll be paying for the rest of the season.

Pirates fans have grown used to seeing their players in All-Star games and the postseason -- wearing other teams' uniforms. That's a trend that won't soon change.