PiratesFest has become an annual event where management explains how it believes the Pirates can win on the shoestring budget afforded them by owner Bob Nutting. Someone from management makes a ridiculous, usually intelligence-insulting and condescending comment designed to make sure everyone knows how wrong the team’s critics are.
Last year, it was president Frank Coonelly saying that it’s an “insult” that anyone would question the team’s commitment to winning. This year, it was Neal Huntington pointing out the percentage of payroll they pay to Andrew McCutchen.
“We already pay Andrew a significantly higher percentage of our payroll than the Penguins pay to Crosby,” Huntington told the crowd.