Top Ten Pirates of the PNC Park Era: #9 Paul Maholm

	Wins	Losses	ERA	IP	SO	BB
7 years	53	73	4.36	1143.2	705	382

Although he’s not the flashiest pitcher with the greatest stats, Paul Maholm was a steady southpaw that always took the ball every fifth day. Maholm was never an over-powering strikeout pitcher, but rather a ground ball guy that relied on his defense. He anchored the Pirates rotation for several seasons, while being surrounded by many mediocre pitchers. He also rarely received much run support from the offense, and thus ended his Bucco career with a .421 winning percentage. The Mississippi State product suffered a serious injury in 2004 with the Altoona Curve when he was hit in the face with a line drive. The injury resulted in a few surgeries, but Maholm bounced back and made it to the big leagues in 2005. He then pitched for the Bucs through 2011; unfortunately, he and the team had a bit of a falling out when they declined his $9.75 million option. It was nice to see Paul find success last season with the Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves. As a guy who was stuck on some abysmal teams yet was still reliable year after year, we respect Maholm. He was also helpful in all the community work the Bucs do; he even pledged $25,000 to Pirates Charities when he inked a new contract in 2009.

Photo: pmreddick/Creative Commons

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Five Promotions We Want at PNC Park in 2013

We’ve collected numerous pieces of Pirates memorabilia over the years. Many of these souvenirs have been promotions handed out at the gates of the ballpark. While it’s not a major factor in choosing which games to attend, it is still nice to receive a “gift” from the game.

With our 20-game plan this year, most promotions were fireworks. There weren’t really any true giveaways besides a few free shirts, a hat, and the Joel Hanrahan bobblehead. Despite being a fan-favorite, the Pirates have drastically decreased the amount of bobblehead giveaways over the years. Free Shirt Fridays are solid, but essentially the only item given to fans on a consistent basis. In our opinion, the promotional schedule has been pretty bland as of late. Therefore, here are five promotions we want to see at PNC next season.

1. A.J. Burnett Replica Tattoo Arm Sleeve

Everyone has seen A.J.’s sick tattoos – why not make a sleeve out of them? We think this would make for a cool giveaway.

2. Andrew McCutchen Replica Dreadlocks

Andrew McCutchen is probably one of the most recognizable Pirates – not only due to his playing ability, but also because of his dreadlocks. The Altoona Curve, double-A affiliate of the Bucs, held a promotion this past season that contained fake dreads attached to a cap:

This has the potential to be a popular collectible, especially for kids.

3. Jeff Karstens Derp Mask

If you’ve been on social media networks over the past year, you’ve probably seen various pictures of Jeff Karstens making ridiculous faces. While a bit far-fetched, a Karstens mask would be quite hilarious.

4. Pedro Alvarez “El Toro” Bobblehead

As we said, bobbleheads have recently been lacking. The classic bobbleheads are nice items for collectors, but why not switch it up a bit? Incorporate Pedro Alvarez’s nickname, El Toro (meaning “the bull” in Spanish), and put a bull head on top.

5. Kyle Stark “Hoka Hey” Action Figure

Kyle Stark, the assistant GM who enforces special training methods, deserves his own promotion. Rather than critiquing baseball skills, minor leaguers train like Navy SEALS. Therefore, we think it’s fitting for Stark to have an action figure, just like G.I. Joe.

Promotions aren’t as necessary to attract fans to PNC as they were a few seasons ago, when the Bucs were far more abysmal. However, it’s still cool to receive such items upon entering the stadium. Free shirts are legit, but what else is there? The giveaways have been pretty dull.

We’re just having some fun with these five ideas, and the chances of them happening are <0.1%. Regardless, we think the Pirates should step it up and offer some unique promotions next season.

Let us know if you have any promotional ideas of your own.

Minor League Comparison: Starling Marte vs. Andrew McCutchen

A young Andrew McCutchen in 2009 with the Indianapolis Indians

Pirates fans are eager to see young stud Starling Marte make his MLB debut. Many believe that he can kickstart the lackluster offense and provide a spark for the Bucs. However, is he ready to make the jump to the big leagues? Here’s a look at how Marte’s time in the minors so far compares to superstar Andrew McCutchen, who was recalled after appearing in 451 minor league games.