The Pirates said good-bye to president Frank Coonelly today, and it looks like they will bring over former Pittsburgh Penguins COO Travis Williams:

It’s not just baseball, either. The Pirates seem to know they need to market themselves differently given their recent struggles. Ditto for how they communicate with media and carry themselves. They need to find a way to work together via changed culture and messaging.

By hiring Williams, the Pirates will get a unique set of eyes, an experienced leader (indirectly) plucked from a team that routinely does this stuff right, especially when it comes to making themselves interesting and interacting with fans.

The Pirates also need someone with a fresh perspective, the guts to question the process and the smarts to see if there’s another way to do things. Ask anyone around the Penguins: Williams has been that guy.

Post-Gazette.com

Pittsburgh improved with Coonelly at the helm, but not enough. It’s been 40 years since the Pirates won a championship, and they really haven’t come close. It’s time for someone to take them to the next level.