Pittsburgh Pirates: Money machine?

It's what we've been telling you all along.

Don't feel sorry for the poor Pirates or Brewers. They're making money doing nothing.

The Pirates made nearly $29.4 million in 2007 and 2008, according to team financial documents, years that were part of a streak of futility that has now reached 18 straight losing seasons. The team's ownership also paid its partners $20.4 million in 2008.

... "The numbers indicate why people are suspecting they're taking money from baseball and keeping it — they don't spend it on the players," said David Berri, president of the North American Association of Sports Economists and the author of two books detailing the relationship between finances and winning. "Teams have a choice. They can seek to maximize winning, what the Yankees do, or you can be the Pirates and make as much money as you can in your market. The Pirates aren't trying to win."

Remember when dishing out all that public money for a new stadium would make the Pirates more competitive? Well, the owners have become richer, that's for sure; but the losing continues.

Pirates fans: Tell your owners to spend a few bucks on players, instead of hookers to accompany them on "business trips."