Seriously

I am still delusional. I am still hopeful and optimistic. At least when it comes to the fact that Andrew McCutchen's encouraging start in AAA has me checking the box score of the Indy Indians on a daily basis.

I want hope for the future. I know, I really do know, that until ownership commits to winning and until knowledgeable baseball people are in charge of completing remaking the organization that the Pirates have no chance to be a winning team, let alone a winning organization.

But it's just these kids. When it comes to any sport, I love prospects, especially the prospects whose potential, whether that comes in the form of winning everywhere in the minor leagues (Ian Snell, then Ian Oquendo, then Ian Snell again, and don't dare to ask Ian about that, he'll get angry, though maybe you should ask him about it before he pitches just to make sure he's enraged enough to pitch well) or breaking records everywhere (in hockey, one Sidney Crosby), or well--just being able to acclimatize to AAA hitting where other prospects, even ones who will make it the Show, take time to adjust.

I know I'm a sucker, delusional, and ridiculously hopeful. But even if I'm relegated to seeing these prospects as young players in the Show (before they morph into the stars they may one day be for teams willing to pay the price for stars), I just love to watch great players. And I especially love to watch great players at the nascent point of their careers.

Profound Thought*: I'm a sucker. But McCutchen looks good. And, if I can't enjoy a winning team, I may as well enjoy individual players. Because baseball in the summer really should be pleasurable, not painful.

(*Sorry. I can't break my profound thought format. I'll keep trying.)