I have a question.

Why must I be considered dumb, stupid or ignorant because I attend Pirate games and like doing so?

Apparently, the in thing to do now is to make fun of of we mindless sheep who venture into PNCPark to support the local team and/or watch baseball.

Pirate ticket buyers have been the latest to field blame for the team's consistently poor on-field performance over the past 15 years.

Because we continually flock to see fireworks, collect bobbleheads and watch losing baseball, the Pirates will never win.

Now here's a question for you:How ridiculous is that?

• Point No. 1:It is not my responsibility to see to it that the Pirates present me, as a fan, with a winning team. That is not my job.

I do not get fired if the Pirates lose. I do not receive a promotion or pay raise if the Pirates win. The Pirates do not pay me at all, in fact.

Other people hold such jobs and should be held accountable for the team's position in the standings. They get paid for it. I don't.

• Point No. 2: I am a baseball fan living in Pittsburgh. If I want to see major league baseball, I'm going to PNCPark. And spare me the cracks about the Pirates being a glorified minor league team, etc., been there, heard that.

Even if the home team is terrible, sometimes guys wearing the visiting uniform are worth the price of admission to see in person.

• Point No. 3:If you're tired of seeing the Pirates lose, don't go to the games.

If the only reason you're going to PNCPark is to see a Pirate win, check the probable pitchers and go when Ian Snell or Tom Gorzelanny is the starting pitcher. Chances are much better you will see a Pirate victory.

Even a bad baseball team wins in front of the home crowd every now and then.

If you want to see a big league game in a beautiful ballpark, go anytime. If you're a pure baseball fan, yes, the Pirates will frustrate you by the way they play at times. Gotta give a fair warning there.

Contrary to popular belief, the fans do not have the power to make the home team's ownership spend dollars to create a winner. Ask Cubs fans about that. Ask Phillies fans about that. Ask a lot of fans in a lot of cities about that.

While baseball is a business, it is also still a sport. To win requires sound baseball people making quality judgments on baseball talent and developing a deep, productive farm system.

Good luck getting a ticket to a Cubs game. They haven't won a World Series since 1908.

Nobody goes to Florida Marlins games. They won the World Series in 1997 and tore that team apart. They won again in 2001 and tore that team apart. Now they're close to being ready to win again.

It's not all about fan base or wealthy pockets. It's about knowing talent, staying healthy and developing quality players. Cleveland, Minnesota and Oakland come to mind.

I haven't come to that conclusion by being dumb, stupid or ignorant.

I'm a baseball fan.