Sometimes the nicest thing to say

can be to say little or nothing.
So in that vein,I'll say little (for now) about the Pirates 100th loss of the season.
However,I still think things are on the upswing,despite the major league teams issues.
Slowly,players with more talent are progressing through the system and with some luck,we should see a bit of improvement in 2012.
Yes,2012,not 2011.
Most of the players that would have been helpful from this years Indianapolis team have already arrived,so don't look for a ton of help next season,although a surprise or two isn't out of the question.

Most of the really talented prospects this year were at High A Bradenton and short season State College,with a few hopefuls sprinkled in at AA Altoona and Low A West Virginia,so most of the future difference makers are a year away at minimum,although a few of the pitchers at Altoona could make the team with a fast start/excellent spring considering the state of the Pirate rotation and the likelihood of Zach Duke being non-tendered for arbitration.

Just try to be optimistic,as hard as that is to do and think of better times down the road.
Looking at the Pirates right now,that is the only thing to do.

Bullpen Notes

The complete broadcast of Game seven of the 1960 World Series is found in Bing Crosby's wine cellar.?
MLB Network has plans to broadcast the game over the winter and I am sure MLB will release it on DVD in time for Christmas.

Two more thoughts on this- One,I bet that is one interesting wine cellar to go through.all things considered.
Two-Which person did more to make Pirate fans happy in 2010-Bing Crosby or Bobby Crosby?

Baseball affiliation fever ended with Kansas City moving their Low A squad from Burlington to Kane County with Oakland being forced to take Burlington.
The Athletics also were the last team standing in short season and will be the new team with Vermont.

The other move was Baltimore leaving Bluefield in the Applachian League,which ended an affiliation between the two that started in the Eisenhower administration.
No problems for the Appy circuit though as Toronto swooped in and grabbed the Bluefield team for their system.
You may remember the Appy problems a few years back with the Blue Jays leaving Pulaski and leaving the league a team short and Pulaski without a team for one season........