Major League Baseball has failed Pittsburgh

As a longtime Pirates fan, I appreciate your editorial (Oct. 18, “Bob Nutting should field a major league team — or find someone who will”) regarding the failure of the Pirates’ ownership, but you did not go far enough.

There needs to be a call to action, pressure brought to bear by local and state officials, the public and the media. Someone needs to give this nebulous group, the invisible WE, a voice. WE need to do something, and soon.

The Pirates’ lease runs out in nine years, and conversations about renewal will begin years ahead of time. Negotiations will not favor Pittsburgh. There are several cities, including Charlotte, Nashville and Las Vegas, that would love to wrest the Pirates from Pittsburgh. They will claim they can better support the Pirates than Pittsburgh, and declining attendance will be all the evidence needed. Ownership and MLB will recite the same evidence.

Measured by attendance alone, one can argue that Pittsburgh does not support baseball, but when a franchise fields a total of four winning seasons in 29 years, who is to blame?

WE should be framing this conversation. Being on the attack is likely a stronger position than being on the defensive. Major League Baseball will ultimately decide the future of baseball in Pittsburgh. While we often call out Mr. Nutting’s ownership, Major League Baseball is equally culpable.

It is far more protective of its famous MLB logo than it is of the product it promotes. By not imposing expectations on ownership, MLB has failed this city and many others and needs to be called to task, and soon.

F. MILLER

Highland Park