Jim Tracy Annoys Me

If I have to hear Jim Tracy talk about how "special" a particular player is or could become in the future one more time this season, I am going to overreact. I do not know how I am going to overreact, but rest assured, an overreaction will be forthcoming.

Seriously. As the losses accumulate, Tracy always seems to pull out one of his favorite words. That word? "Special." It's special when a player begins his career. It's special when a career minor leaguer has a night where he masquerades as a major league player. And, oh yes, last night, Ian Snell giving up three runs, no walks, and striking out 7 in 7 innings to the New York Mets was special.

Maybe it's just an over-used Tracy-ism, but I'm sick of hearing about "special." Fine, Sanchez's batting championship last season was legitimately special. But really, Tracy has so overused this term that it's become fraught with meaninglessness...to such a point that I do some odd combination of wincing/snickering/being otherwise unable to keep a straight face while I listen to Tracy's verbosity about some event or playing being or becoming "special."

Snell may yet morph into a 20 game winner at some future point, a top of the rotation pitcher, or he may not. But I will be relieved when I no longer have to hear Jim Tracy talking using such terms as "very special" to describe one of my current favorite Pirates. It's almost too preschool-teacher-like for my liking (I taught middle school for three years, and I would've been eaten alive by my students if I ever talked to or about them the way Tracy talks about his players).

Now there's an interesting question. If Tracy were not a manager of an (allegedly) MLB team, what occupation would best suit his soothing use of terms such as "special" as well as his stubborn inability to recognize/admit mistakes? Thoughts?

As for my thoughts, I have two, and really, they're questions.

1.) When will the Pirates get a new manager? At this point, I'm dreaming of Lloyd or Lamont, and I'm pretty sure that's bad.

2.) Why do I even read the PR drivel on the official website of the Pittsburgh Pirates? For the entertainment value of laughing/wincing at hearing about "special" or just to see how deluded the team truly is or at least pretends to be?

Sigh. I guess hearing about "special" is just another part of the self-inflicted torture I must undergo as a Bucco fan.

But, seriously, Mr. Tracy, find a new word.