Aug 3, 2011 3 min read

The Pirates still have hope after all.

You can thank Neal Huntington for that.

The Bucs’ general manager was in a pressure-packed situation as the major league baseball trade deadline approached. Other contenders were making deals and time was running out.

What to do?

Huntington had to be mulling over many questions.

Sacrifice a load of talented prospects for Astros outfielder Hunter Pence? Stand pat and see if players returning from injury can help? Make a couple minor moves and hope for the best?

As it turned out, Huntington played his cards just right. No, he didn’t land Pence, but he did a little more than make a couple minor moves.

The Pirates brought in a two legitimate, veteran hitters in 35-year-old first baseman Derrek Lee and 33-year-old outfielder Ryan Ludwick, and had to give up very little in return, thus keeping their improving farm system mostly untouched.

Lee was dealt for Class A infielder Aaron Baker, who was having a fine season but was considered far away from the major leagues.

Ludwick cost the Bucs only a player to be named later or cash considerations.

Will these moves, which are sure to boost what was a struggling Pittsburgh lineup, win the Pirates the division title?

That’s very unlikely and that isn’t why these were excellent trades.

Huntington should be lauded, but not because these shrewd transactions will lead to a playoff berth.

What Huntington did was make the fans happy, showing them that, yes, the Pirates actually will go out and get a player to improve the current squad instead of dealing good veterans to replenish the farm system or just to dump salary, as they’ve done countless years in the past.

What Huntington did was make manager Clint Hurdle and his top players happy, showing them that he’s willing to add pieces when they’re needed to help the team contend.

What Huntington did was show the baseball world that the Bucs are now serious about winning. He’s also kept the region still interested in baseball as football season fast approaches.

Despite all this, N.L. Central foes Milwaukee, St. Louis and Cincinnati are still clearly more talented than Pittsburgh.

Though the Pirates are currently struggling and may not stay in the hunt for the postseason, they do have their best shot since 1997 to crack the .500 mark and finally throw that 18-year-old monkey, now as big as King Kong, off their back.

For once, the Pirates look like a team that is capable of either getting better or holding their own the rest of the way, instead of one calling up minor leaguers to replace departing starters and thus limping to the finish line.

Sure, Hurdle, Huntington and the players talk about how a .500 record isn’t what they’re shooting for, and that’s the way they should look at it.

But if these Bucs could attain that goal this year, it would be a boost for the fans, the team’s mentality and major league baseball itself.

That would make for a nice springboard into 2012 as well.

Wouldn’t it be nice for once, when spring training rolls around, to see fans looking forward to a baseball season with a smile and some optimism?

That is why these two trades could have a much bigger, longer-lasting impact than you may have first thought, even if neither Lee nor Ludwick returns next year.

The bottom line is Huntington finally has the Pirates’ ship headed in the right direction.

Rob Burchianti can be reached at rvburchianti@hotmail.com.