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Dunlap: Be Mad At The Right Person

I got an interesting question --- actually questions --- from a friend the other day.

"What do you think PirateFest will be like?" he asked.

"The attendance?" I responded.

"Well, that and the mood – both of those things?" was the double-pronged probe thrown back at me from my friend.

So, yeah, two questions.

Two questions from a friend who is a diehard Pirates fan; a person who stuck with the franchise through all the losing and regularly heads to the ballpark with his family.

I thought for a moment and all I really know is people will probably be mad. The tenor and tone of the crowd will be an annoyed one, a crowd not necessarily out for blood, but one hellbent on some answers.

I think I have that part of the answer to my friend's question correct.

As for the attendance, I couldn't even venture a guess as to how many will show up at the convention center this weekend.

Will a ton of people pile in there because it is free? After all, this is Pittsburgh and if you gave away free kicks to the groin people would line up around the block to receive them because, well, they were free.

Will the mood of the fanbase compel people to stay away? Or, conversely, will the mood of the fanbase compel them to show up and voice some disdain?

Again, I don't know. I can't call it.

What I do know is this: I understand your frustration, I get your angst, I appreciate and fall in line with your annoyance. I'm one of you, a lifelong Pittsburgher.

What I also know is this: The people signing autographs this weekend and participating in the events at PirateFest aren't the ones who you should be heated at.

Don't take it out on them.

You are a total fool if you do.

What did Jordy Mercer ever do but give it 100 percent?

You don't think Gerrit Cole is trying to win each time he picks up a baseball?

How about Andrew McCutchen --- scheduled to appear if he's still a Pirate? You don't think Cutch busts his behind for everyone in the city?

Same with Tony Watson and Gregory Polanco --- all they have ever given you is their best effort, so don't trudge on in to the convention center full of vigor and think one iota about taking your anger out on any players.

And you know what, I'm not really on board with being all that upset with the participants in the 'Ask Pirates Management' sessions which will occur both Saturday and Sunday.

How mad can you be at Clint Hurdle? I don't think all that much.

Is it really the fault of president Frank Coonelly and/or general manager Neal Huntington that the Pirates are in the predicament that they are in?

Those three men --- Hurdle, Coonelly and Huntington --- are the participants for the 'Ask Pirates Management' sessions; sessions surely to bring out pointed questions and fury from the assembled crowd.

But, you know what, your anger will be misdirected.

Don't be mad at them, don't clomp Downtown this weekend all bitter at those guys.

You should have anger if you are a Pirates fan. But it shouldn't be directed toward the people at PirateFest.

No, save all that for the ownership group.

They deserve it.

And they deserve it all.

Every single person beneath Bob Nutting seems to be doing as well as they can considering the restrictions placed upon them.

Colin Dunlap is a featured columnist at CBSPittsburgh.com. He can also be heard weekdays from 5:40 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Sports Radio 93-7 "The Fan." You can e-mail him at colin.dunlap@cbsradio.com. Check out his bio here.

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