Andrew McCutchen Is An MVP (And The Pirates Are No Longer Jagoffs)

Andrew McCutchen was just named the MVP of the National League. And after two decades as a sad punchline, the Pittsburgh Pirates were a playoff team. The Buccos' immediate future looks promising, in no small part because they made sure to lock McCutchen into a long-term contract just as his star began to burn bright. Below, from the summer of 2012, is our story about how McCutchen’s rise through the Pirates’ system stands in stark opposition to the team’s 20 years of poor decision-making.