Apr 29, 2002 By John Mehno 4 min read

PITTSBURGH – Red flag for the people at the Pirates offices who are responsible for trolling the Internet and clipping the newspapers: Here’s another one you’re not going to like.

Pirates CEO Kevin McClatchy finally admitted that raising some ticket prices after a 100-loss season was a mistake.

(What’s next, a confession that Derek Bell may not have been the best free agent investment?)

But, as is his habit, McClatchy couldn’t let it go at that. He had to declare the issue closed and complain that discussion of 2002’s decreased attendance is detracting from what the Pirates are doing on the field.

The Pirates should develop players as well as they’ve honed their persecution complex. The team’s better-than-expected start has brought all manner of expanded feelgood coverage, some of which has landed in parts of newspapers other than the sports section – like the front page, for example.

The TV stations have done their usual overkill with a hot story, also expanding the coverage outside of the sports segments.

No one is neglecting the team’s winning record. In fact, if you had a dollar for every time the phrase “first-place Pirates” was written or spoken in the last week, you might have enough money to make Pat Meares go away.

On Friday’s KDKA-TV morning news, the anchor team was displaying the promotional items that were to be given away at this weekend’s games. Every business in Pittsburgh would love to have that kind of free advertising.

If all else fails, the Pirates control the radio and TV coverage of their games. The announcers work for them. Not only do they control the spin; they can jam in as many promos and sponsor mentions as they want.

The games are the backdrop for what amounts to a daily three-hour Pirates infomercial. Instead of paying for the airtime the way most marketers do, they take in millions for allowing broadcast outlets to publicize their product.

Yet the Pirates alternately whine and snarl about what a raw deal they’re getting. With all the things that need to be done with the Pirates, how does the schedule allow for so much paranoia?

The Steelers brought their new draft choices to town for the weekend and all the television stations interviewed them.

It used to be the other way around.

There was a time in the early 1980s when the embers of Super Bowl-era Steelermania were still flickering enough to send the local TV stations into fits of temporary insanity.

No sooner would the Steelers make their pick that an operative from one of the stations was on the phone with the chosen one. They’d make arrangements to hustle the newest Steeler to town for exclusive appearances on their air.

Some of the dealings were clandestine enough to resemble CIA missions. There were private planes, limousines and secret code names involved.

It seems silly now but having the first mumblings from Darryl Sims seemed important back then.

Alas, logic took over and the TV stations now patiently wait their turn. On draft night, they used audiotape from the conference call that serves print and radio reporters.

The stations find it more cost-effective to let the Steelers pick up the air fares and hotel rooms. The Steelers probably feel better that their draft choices don’t risk dislocated shoulders from being tugged by competing TV stations. But it sure was fun to watch them waste money.

Center fielder Adrian Brown’s slow start is creating a real opportunity for Chad Hermansen, currently on a minor league injury rehab assignment.

As desperate as the Pirates are for power, Hermansen should get a shot, his high strikeout totals notwithstanding.

John Mehno can be reached at: jmehno@timesnet.net.