A Farewell To Sports Nates

Right now the Penguins are looking to fight their way up from a 2-1 series deficit in the NHL championship and the Steelers get to be the President of football for a few more months but, in rather big news for the armpit of Pittsburgh pro sports, the Pirates have apparently traded center fielder Nate McLouth to the Atlanta Braves for pitching prospects. It was nice to see him more or less scrap his way into the starting lineup (plus an All-Star Game and a Gold Glove last season) and I'm sad to see him go. Rooting for the Pirates has of course been a dismal affair for the past decade and half and these days it basically means hoping that the franchise's talent evaluation has perked up substantially after a recent change in executive management. So let's hope that the beans they traded the latest cow for at least sprout within the next couple of years. Part of me thinks that if this turns into a pitcher who won't get Snelled every outing in 2011 then it may all be worth it, especially if McLouth replacement / top Pirates prospect Andrew McCutchen works out. A different, more accurate part of me just shrugs and wishes McLouth well, despite an unfaded dislike of the Braves since they bested the Bucs in 1992 in their last playoff appearance / winning season / whiff of any prospect of success.