Mark Madden's Hot Take: Is Ji-Man Choi supposed to get Pirates fans excited?

The Pirates no sooner got done losing 100 games than their attendant stooge media started to hype impending improvement for 2023.

The initial trigger: Acquiring first baseman/DH Ji-Man Choi from Tampa Bay.

One blogger said that Choi could mean three additional wins for the Pirates.

So, they would lose 97 games instead of 100. What a glorious season 2023 will be.

Does this mean the Pirates won’t feel the need to sign Aaron Judge?

Choi isn’t exactly the South Korean Lou Gehrig. His girth suggests he might be the South Korean Daniel Vogelbach, but not as productive. (Korean BBQ is awesome.)

Choi, 31, hit .233 with 11 home runs, 52 RBIs, 36 runs and an OPS of .729 last season. His career high for home runs is 19. For RBIs it’s 63.

Is that what’s supposed to get Pirates fans excited? Choi is a corner infielder with limited power, just like Ke’Bryan Hayes.

Choi needs elbow surgery, BTW.

The offseason will see the Pirates sign a few middling free agents who can’t get jobs elsewhere. Their arrival will be heralded by the usual suspects.

Prospects will continue to develop. Some will make the Pirates, like catcher Endy Rodriguez. Rodriguez was acquired for pitcher Joe Musgrove. Musgrove was acquired for pitcher Gerrit Cole. Ultimately, Rodriguez will be traded for prospects.

When does a good player stay? (Somebody better than Hayes.)

When does future success finally arrive?

The stooge media will trumpet even the slightest improvement. Not losing 100 games for a third straight season will be celebrated like V-J Day.

Here’s a headline from a Bucco blog: “Pirates Have the Building Blocks for a Strong Starting Rotation.”

No, they don’t.

The con continues.