Hurdle, Banister are the finalists for manager
Former Rockies manager Clint Hurdle, recently profiled on this very site, will be interviewed tomorrow but is already one of two finalists for the Pirates job. Expect the Pirates to sign him before Sunday, which is the first day negotiations with free agents can begin. It would be a big disadvantage to not have a leader in place for free agent negotiations.
The other finalist is Jeff Banister, who was most recently the Pirates bench coach. Jeff had an astounding 1.000 career batting average for the Pirates, going 1-for-1 for the 1991 squad. But he hasn't managed since 1998 and even then it was at the AA level. It's hard for me to believe he has a great chance at the job - if the Pirates wanted him to manage the team they could have given him the job two weeks ago after he interviewed for it.
What would it take to not be re-signed?
The Pirates got off to an inauspicious start to this offseason by re-signing reliever Wil Ledezma. No details were released, but let's hope this contract is of the minor league variety.
Ledezma went 0-3 with a 6.86 ERA in 27 games for the Pirates. He was brought up to replace Javier Lopez as the lefty specialist out of the bullpen, but got absolutely torched by opposing lefties who put up a batting line of .367/.424/.533. He's put up a 5.26 career ERA, and has a career WHIP identical to last year's 1.58.
Ledezma is a good minor league pitcher, but there's no reason to think at age 29 that he's talented enough to be on a big league staff. No details were released, but let's hope this one was a minor league contract.
Four Cuts Made
Outfielder Brandon Moss and pitchers Sean Gallagher, Steven Jackson and Justin Thomas were all outrighted to AAA. They can all become minor league free agents. Maybe the Pirates will resign one or two of these guys, but none have shown any indication of being major league ballplayers. The roster is down to 38 men after these moves, meaning the Pirates weren't unbelievably anxious to hang on to any of them. Brandon Moss, for one, proved once again in September that he can't hit major league pitching. All four will get AAA contracts somewhere.
Dotel Becomes A Free Agent
Former Pirate closer Octavio Dotel, still featured in the blog's title bar to provide a link to the glory days of last July, is a free agent. The Rockies declined his option as expected.
Dotel pitched well here, going 2-2 with a 4.28 ERA and 21 saves while racking up strikeouts. Overall on the season he appeared in 68 games, gave up only 52 hits in 64 innings, K'd 75 batters and walked 32. Those are basically the same numbers he's always put up, and I would be open to bringing him back in 2011.
Showing posts with label Brandon Moss. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brandon Moss. Show all posts
November 3, 2010
August 2, 2010
Keep Moss at AAA
Surprisingly, many in the Pirates fan base are calling for the recall of Brandon Moss.
Moss's season numbers at Indianapolis, .269/.334/.491, are rather pedestrian.
But he's hit .351/.388/.757 in 18 games since the All-Star break including eight home runs and 30 RBI.
It is tempting to think Moss is turning a corner and finally realizing his potential at the age of 26. But there is simply nothing in Moss's record to suggest that he should be getting at bats over Lastings Milledge at this point.
Far from this being a breakout year, Moss has actually owned Triple A pitching since his age 23 season with nothing to show for it in the majors. Here are his career slash lines:
2007 (Age 23)
AAA: .282/.363/.471 in 133 games
MLB: .280/.379/.440 in 15 games
2008 (Age 24)
AAA: .282/.346/.528 in 43 games
MLB: .246/.304/.436 in 79 games
2009 (Age 25)
MLB: .236/.304/.364 in 133 games
2010 (Age 26)
AAA: .269/.334/.491 in 102 games
Except for his poor start this year, Moss has consistently owned International League pitching. Yet the results in the majors were the opposite. He performed very well in 25 at bats in 2007. The following year his numbers were unimpressive yet he at least didn't embarrass himself in a part time role. Then last year, he couldn't drive the ball or get on base. The more playing time he got, the worse he hit, which is why he has hit .241/.307/.393 in his career.
Moreover, rather than being some kind of improvement, Moss's 2010 is actually the worst he has ever hit at AAA.
At .272/.334/.382 Milledge is not hitting well this season. However, those numbers aren't so bad that this won't look like a good season for him given a good finish. He is historically a slow starter as he did this year, and is hitting .297/.350/.453 since June 1. Throughout his career, August has been Milledge's best month at .310/.374/455, a trend he continued with a single and a triple yesterday afternoon. He also is 18 months younger than Brandon Moss. If you're still hung up on Moss's AAA performance, Milledge hit better at Indianapolis last year than Moss ever did in that league.
I'm not saying Milledge is great or even that he should start in 2011. At this point in his career he has the talent of a fourth outfielder or platoon player. However, I see no reason to bench him in favor of a guy who has the talent of a starting outfielder at AAA and who has already failed given 716 major league plate appearances.
Moss's season numbers at Indianapolis, .269/.334/.491, are rather pedestrian.
But he's hit .351/.388/.757 in 18 games since the All-Star break including eight home runs and 30 RBI.It is tempting to think Moss is turning a corner and finally realizing his potential at the age of 26. But there is simply nothing in Moss's record to suggest that he should be getting at bats over Lastings Milledge at this point.
Far from this being a breakout year, Moss has actually owned Triple A pitching since his age 23 season with nothing to show for it in the majors. Here are his career slash lines:
2007 (Age 23)
AAA: .282/.363/.471 in 133 games
MLB: .280/.379/.440 in 15 games
2008 (Age 24)
AAA: .282/.346/.528 in 43 games
MLB: .246/.304/.436 in 79 games
2009 (Age 25)
MLB: .236/.304/.364 in 133 games
2010 (Age 26)
AAA: .269/.334/.491 in 102 games
Except for his poor start this year, Moss has consistently owned International League pitching. Yet the results in the majors were the opposite. He performed very well in 25 at bats in 2007. The following year his numbers were unimpressive yet he at least didn't embarrass himself in a part time role. Then last year, he couldn't drive the ball or get on base. The more playing time he got, the worse he hit, which is why he has hit .241/.307/.393 in his career.
Moreover, rather than being some kind of improvement, Moss's 2010 is actually the worst he has ever hit at AAA.
At .272/.334/.382 Milledge is not hitting well this season. However, those numbers aren't so bad that this won't look like a good season for him given a good finish. He is historically a slow starter as he did this year, and is hitting .297/.350/.453 since June 1. Throughout his career, August has been Milledge's best month at .310/.374/455, a trend he continued with a single and a triple yesterday afternoon. He also is 18 months younger than Brandon Moss. If you're still hung up on Moss's AAA performance, Milledge hit better at Indianapolis last year than Moss ever did in that league.
I'm not saying Milledge is great or even that he should start in 2011. At this point in his career he has the talent of a fourth outfielder or platoon player. However, I see no reason to bench him in favor of a guy who has the talent of a starting outfielder at AAA and who has already failed given 716 major league plate appearances.
April 5, 2010
Moss Clears Waivers; Will Start at AAA
PITTSBURGH, Pa. / April 5, 2010
I really enjoy the fact of having the location in my dateline, even though I always list it as Pittsburgh including when it's BS and I'm posting from somewhere else. It really keeps me grounded while also providing an alibi.
The Indianapolis outfield got a lot stronger today as Brandon Moss -
pictured here in happier days as a Red Sox and star of elementary school posters - cleared waivers. He's going to be the starting right fielder for Indy.
Is it just me or is Indianapolis an exceedingly random place to have the Pirates' affiliate? Phillies/Allentown, Indians/Columbus, these make sense. I don't think I'll be traveling to the Heartland for any I-Tribe action.
But if I did, I would see an outstanding AAA right fielder. While he has a little bit of a "can't hit" problem in the major leagues, all my Pawtucket readers can back me up on this - Moss is a legitimate #3 hitter in Triple A. It's all about roles. Like Ringo Starr solo as opposed to his Beatles career.
Moss should hit something like .290/.360/.490 in Indy, numbers that would warrant a recall to Pittsburgh when rosters expand for the September stretch run.
Needless to say, this news doesn't say much for the Pirates' talent evaluation. A year and a half after he was the centerpiece of the Jason Bay deal, no one wants to get Moss for the waiver price.
Still, I'm glad to keep Moss in the organization and hold out hope that he can contribute at the MLB level one day, even if that is as a fifth outfielder.
I really enjoy the fact of having the location in my dateline, even though I always list it as Pittsburgh including when it's BS and I'm posting from somewhere else. It really keeps me grounded while also providing an alibi.The Indianapolis outfield got a lot stronger today as Brandon Moss -
pictured here in happier days as a Red Sox and star of elementary school posters - cleared waivers. He's going to be the starting right fielder for Indy.
Is it just me or is Indianapolis an exceedingly random place to have the Pirates' affiliate? Phillies/Allentown, Indians/Columbus, these make sense. I don't think I'll be traveling to the Heartland for any I-Tribe action.
But if I did, I would see an outstanding AAA right fielder. While he has a little bit of a "can't hit" problem in the major leagues, all my Pawtucket readers can back me up on this - Moss is a legitimate #3 hitter in Triple A. It's all about roles. Like Ringo Starr solo as opposed to his Beatles career.
Moss should hit something like .290/.360/.490 in Indy, numbers that would warrant a recall to Pittsburgh when rosters expand for the September stretch run.
Needless to say, this news doesn't say much for the Pirates' talent evaluation. A year and a half after he was the centerpiece of the Jason Bay deal, no one wants to get Moss for the waiver price.
Still, I'm glad to keep Moss in the organization and hold out hope that he can contribute at the MLB level one day, even if that is as a fifth outfielder.
March 29, 2010
Brandon Moss Era Ends
PITTSBURGH, Pa. / March 29, 2010
I didn't really expect it to happen, but Brandon Moss has played his last game in a Pirate uniform.
Moss was designated for assignment today meaning the team has ten days to trade, waive or release him.
While some players can get DFA'd and then slip through the cracks and be sent to the minors, Moss isn't one of them. He'd almost certainly be claimed on waivers, so the Pirates basically will try to trade him. Of course their negotiating position is quite compromised with the 10 day limit.
My personal Brandon Moss era ended when he hit .203/.254/.271 with 0 home runs and 1 RBI last April. However, I thought he would stick with this team as a fifth outfielder/defensive replacement. That job will now go to John Raynor.
Anyway, this move is basically an admission of defeat in the Jason Bay trade. Bay for Craig Hansen, Andy LaRoche, Bryan Morris and Brandon Moss. Moss was the centerpiece and in retrospect maybe it's not a great idea to overpay for the numbers a guy put up at Augusta in the South Atlantic League. LaRoche is a decent hitter and a good fielder but he might be out of the starting lineup as early as June.*
* The month of June has not yet been renamed Alvarez.
For Moss's spot the Pirates picked up Hayden Penn on waivers. Hayden Penn has given up 90 runs in 80 major league innings. There is no way I can endorse this pickup.
Do MLB general managers make moves like that thinking, "Hayden Penn, looks like a good waiver claim" or do they make the move thinking, "Goddamnit. Jesus Christ. We actually are in a position where we have to claim Hayden Penn."
I didn't really expect it to happen, but Brandon Moss has played his last game in a Pirate uniform.
Moss was designated for assignment today meaning the team has ten days to trade, waive or release him.While some players can get DFA'd and then slip through the cracks and be sent to the minors, Moss isn't one of them. He'd almost certainly be claimed on waivers, so the Pirates basically will try to trade him. Of course their negotiating position is quite compromised with the 10 day limit.
My personal Brandon Moss era ended when he hit .203/.254/.271 with 0 home runs and 1 RBI last April. However, I thought he would stick with this team as a fifth outfielder/defensive replacement. That job will now go to John Raynor.
Anyway, this move is basically an admission of defeat in the Jason Bay trade. Bay for Craig Hansen, Andy LaRoche, Bryan Morris and Brandon Moss. Moss was the centerpiece and in retrospect maybe it's not a great idea to overpay for the numbers a guy put up at Augusta in the South Atlantic League. LaRoche is a decent hitter and a good fielder but he might be out of the starting lineup as early as June.*
* The month of June has not yet been renamed Alvarez.
For Moss's spot the Pirates picked up Hayden Penn on waivers. Hayden Penn has given up 90 runs in 80 major league innings. There is no way I can endorse this pickup.
Do MLB general managers make moves like that thinking, "Hayden Penn, looks like a good waiver claim" or do they make the move thinking, "Goddamnit. Jesus Christ. We actually are in a position where we have to claim Hayden Penn."
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