Some characterize Andrew McCutchen’s departure to Texas as “sad.”
Nah.
Not from the Pirates’ point of view, anyway.
The Pirates didn’t want their clubhouse to be a museum. They moved on from a player that’s old and past significant usefulness. A nostalgia act. An extra pierogi.
It’s sad from McCutchen’s perspective, maybe.
A minor-league contract? That’s flushing a lot of dignity after 17 MLB seasons.
Thirty MLB teams told McCutchen he’s not good enough. He should believe them.
McCutchen’s big-league career is likely finished.
But his story in Pittsburgh will yet be resumed.
Current hard feelings on McCutchen’s part duly noted, he and the Pirates will eventually reunite for the common cause of revenue, and with a healthy dollop of McCutchen’s ego tossed in.
There’s only one place where McCutchen is a legend.
That begs two questions:
• Does he get his number retired by the Pirates?
• Does he get a statue at PNC Park?
The Pirates’ standard when it comes to retiring numbers isn’t high.
Billy Meyer had a abominable .417 winning percentage as manager from 1948-52. His Pirates lost 112 games in 1952.
Yet Meyer’s No. 1 is inexplicably retired. Nobody knows why. He wasn’t stricken by disaster, as can be a catalyst. Not beyond that ‘52 season.
But some Pirates as deserving as McCutchen — or more so — don’t have their numbers retired.
That list includes Baseball Hall of Famers Max Carey, Kiki Cuyler, Dave Parker, Arky Vaughn and Lloyd Waner.
McCutchen won’t make the Baseball Hall of Fame.
He’s not even a top-10 Pirate of all-time. Probably not top 20.
It’s easy to name a bunch of better outfielders, including Carey, Roberto Clemente, Cuyler, Ralph Kiner, Parker, Willie Stargell, Lloyd and Paul Waner, maybe Al Oliver.
Such a plethora of those superior to McCutchen seems to rule out a statue.
There are just four of those at PNC Park: Clemente, Bill Mazeroski, Stargell and Honus Wagner. McCutchen isn’t them.
But McCutchen will get his No. 22 retired, and a statue.
Bet on it.
Other factors are in play besides comparative quality and, in fact, mean more.
Every generation of fans deserves to have its best player feted, especially from a rare successful era in recent Pirates history.
You can debate McCutchen’s level of great.
But he’s definitely good enough. McCutchen spearheaded three playoff teams and got a National League MVP.
That brings us to money.
Nobody wants to attend to, say, Max Carey Day. He retired after the 1929 season, passed away in 1976. Everybody who saw Carey play is dead.
But retiring McCutchen’s No. 22 sells tickets and creates hype.
Unveiling a statue of McCutchen sells tickets and creates hype.
Andrew McCutchen Day sells tickets and creates hype.
Giving away a McCutchen jersey or T-shirt sells tickets and creates hype.
Not all on the same day. Heck, no.
We’re talking four paydays. For the team and McCutchen will get some, too.
McCutchen will be honored to the max. Retired number, statue, all of it.
Does it really matter why?
