THE ATHLETIC's Peter Gammons wrote under the header, "Salute The Brewers, The Rare Small Market Team Really Trying To Win." During an offseason in which "tanking and collusion and market correction have ruled, the Brewers have been both fiscally wise and aggressive, all while operating in the second smallest market in the game." They are "trying and that’s why their fans support them" (THEATHLETIC.com, 1/30).
MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY? In Pittsburgh, Paul Zeise writes Pirates fans' anger has "turned to fan apathy" as Owner Bob Nutting has "quickly become public enemy No. 1 and the face of the Pirates’ penny-pinching ways." The biggest problem is that Pirates President Frank Coonelly, Senior VP & GM Neal Huntington and Nutting are "really bad at public relations." The three "can’t seem to get out of their own way these days, and every time one of them opens his mouth he makes a bad situation worse." Zeise: "Is it too much, though, for fans to ask for an honest answer? Is it too much for the Pirates management team to answer questions without a condescending tone as if fans are the stupid ones?" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 1/31).
MEET & GREET: In Ft. Lauderdale, Tim Healey notes the Marlins are "hosting their annual FanFest at Marlins Park" on Feb. 10, and it will be the public’s "first chance to interact with the team’s revamped roster after an offseason overhaul." The event is "mandatory for players on the 40-man roster" and "limited to one day, as opposed to the Saturday-Sunday setup from last year." FanFest is "free to the public" (South Florida SUN SENTINEL, 1/31).
