PITTSBURGH, Pa. / April 2, 2010
Opening Day is now three days away. I personally cannot wait.
Yeah, a lot of people have said the Pirates have no chance. They said that about the '69 Mets, '91 Twins, '08 Rays and many others. We are all 0-0 and we all have a chance.
Cy Duke, Cy Ohlendorf, and Cy Maholm anchor an all-Cy rotation. Cy Dotel closes it down. Our lineup includes Babe Iwamura, Babe McCutchen, Babe Jones and Babe Doumit and that is just the first four.
World F'ing Champions. Believe.
April 2, 2010
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."
Iwamura Leading Off In Revamped Buccos Lineup
PITTSBURGH, Pa. / March 29, 2010
Did John Russell get drunk while chatting with Tony LaRussa on Facebook? Check out the brand new Pirates lineup:
1. Aki Iwamura, 2B
2. Andrew McCutchen, CF
3. Garrett Jones, RF
4. Ryan Doumit, C
5. Lastings Milledge, LF
6. Jeff Clement, 1B
7. Andy LaRoche, 3B
8. Pitcher
9. Bobby Crosby, SS
While we're still in Spring Training, it's almost time for real baseball and this lineup has been featured a couple of times now. A few things jump out:
Akinori Iwamura leading off. I love the move. He was good enough to lead off for the 2008 American League champions. McCutchen at second is perfect. If you have two players with equal on base skills, bat the one with less power first. I view McCutchen as more of a Grady Sizemore type than a Chuck Carr, and that is a good thing.
The pitcher batting eighth. Awful. I know all of the new sabermetric analyses say that a hypothetical lineup scores more runs this way. I don't believe it. A major aspect of National League baseball is the decision on whether to pinch hit for your starter or let him throw another inning. Well, if Paul Maholm is batting eighth maybe that comes up one inning earlier. It's not like Crosby/Cedeno is a true second leadoff man either. Connie Mack never batted his pitcher eighth and neither would I.
Crosby starting at SS. Like it. Crosby has more upside than Ronny Cedeno. Starting Cedeno is a move you make when your goal is going 74-88. I'm ignoring the fact that that actually is the 2010 Pirates' goal.
Did John Russell get drunk while chatting with Tony LaRussa on Facebook? Check out the brand new Pirates lineup:
1. Aki Iwamura, 2B
2. Andrew McCutchen, CF
3. Garrett Jones, RF
4. Ryan Doumit, C
5. Lastings Milledge, LF
6. Jeff Clement, 1B
7. Andy LaRoche, 3B
8. Pitcher
9. Bobby Crosby, SS
While we're still in Spring Training, it's almost time for real baseball and this lineup has been featured a couple of times now. A few things jump out:
Akinori Iwamura leading off. I love the move. He was good enough to lead off for the 2008 American League champions. McCutchen at second is perfect. If you have two players with equal on base skills, bat the one with less power first. I view McCutchen as more of a Grady Sizemore type than a Chuck Carr, and that is a good thing.The pitcher batting eighth. Awful. I know all of the new sabermetric analyses say that a hypothetical lineup scores more runs this way. I don't believe it. A major aspect of National League baseball is the decision on whether to pinch hit for your starter or let him throw another inning. Well, if Paul Maholm is batting eighth maybe that comes up one inning earlier. It's not like Crosby/Cedeno is a true second leadoff man either. Connie Mack never batted his pitcher eighth and neither would I.
Crosby starting at SS. Like it. Crosby has more upside than Ronny Cedeno. Starting Cedeno is a move you make when your goal is going 74-88. I'm ignoring the fact that that actually is the 2010 Pirates' goal.
March 25, 2010
Padilla Announced For Opener
PITTSBURGH, Pa. / March 25, 2010
Obviously winning the first game is going to be key to the Pirates' World Championship. The Pirates took a big step toward that today as Dodgers manager Joe Torre named Vicente Padilla as the Opening Day Starter.
Padilla had a 4.46 ERA last year which was actually his best ERA of the past six seasons. Despite ESPN's claim that Padilla was "the last guy anybody expected to start the opener," I in fact named him yesterday as one of two guys with a chance.
Joe Torre on the decision:
We just had to pick somebody, and he was the one. Am I going to say he is better than the other guys? I can't do that. We just decided to line them up that way. Again, we have four guys where I think you can put their names in a hat and just take it out.
I've actually never seen a manager admit his Opening Day starter is terrible, but that's as close as ever.
Obviously winning the first game is going to be key to the Pirates' World Championship. The Pirates took a big step toward that today as Dodgers manager Joe Torre named Vicente Padilla as the Opening Day Starter.Padilla had a 4.46 ERA last year which was actually his best ERA of the past six seasons. Despite ESPN's claim that Padilla was "the last guy anybody expected to start the opener," I in fact named him yesterday as one of two guys with a chance.
Joe Torre on the decision:
We just had to pick somebody, and he was the one. Am I going to say he is better than the other guys? I can't do that. We just decided to line them up that way. Again, we have four guys where I think you can put their names in a hat and just take it out.
I've actually never seen a manager admit his Opening Day starter is terrible, but that's as close as ever.
March 24, 2010
Rotation Set: Duke 1st, McCutchen 5th
PITTSBURGH, Pa. / March 24, 2010
Completely disregarding the results of the Pirates WFC Blog poll, the Pirates have named Zach Duke the Opening Day starter for Monday, April 5th.
Although Paul Maholm started the opener last year, my preference was to go with Duke because of his performance in last year's home opener. He shut out the Astros on four hits and was dominant throughout the game, something that's quite rare for a pitch to contact guy. Furthermore, look at him. Put an R next to his name and he could win a county commissioner election in any hinterlands county of Western PA.
It will be the lefty's second ever true Opening Day start. Zach also rose to the occasion in 2007 giving up two runs over seven innings, although the Paulino-led lineup only got him a no-decision. I love lefthanded pitching.
The Dodgers haven't named Duke's opponent yet. I think Joe Torre will let his young pitchers, Clayton Kershaw and Chad Billingsley, pitch the second and third games. That would leave either Hiroki Kuroda or Vicente "No N" Padilla to pitch the opener. My vote is Padilla because he's more likely to get lit up.
Ross Ohlendorf will start the second game of the season on Wednesday the 7th. Paul Maholm will start Thursday the 8th. Charlie Morton will start Friday the 9th at Arizona with Duke making his second start on the 10th.
Finally as predicted here and virtually nowhere else, Daniel McCutchen won the fifth starter job. In the clearest indication yet that the Pirates are basing their personnel decisions on the WFC Blog, Kevin Hart was sent to Indianapolis. McCutchen is a solid six inning/three run kind of guy which is the best any team gets from their fifth starter. He'll only start two games in April, neither of them at home, as the Pirates will give their top four guys the maximum number of starts. Another good decision.
Backing this pretty solid rotation will be a lineup that looks like this:
CF McCutchen
2B Iwamura
RF Jones
C Doumit
LF Milledge
3B LaRochetat
1B Clement
SS Cedeno
Not quite as impressive. The 5-6-7 spots could change but I'm pretty sure of the others. It's time for Ryan Doumit to put together a 25 home run year out of that cleanup spot.
Completely disregarding the results of the Pirates WFC Blog poll, the Pirates have named Zach Duke the Opening Day starter for Monday, April 5th.
Although Paul Maholm started the opener last year, my preference was to go with Duke because of his performance in last year's home opener. He shut out the Astros on four hits and was dominant throughout the game, something that's quite rare for a pitch to contact guy. Furthermore, look at him. Put an R next to his name and he could win a county commissioner election in any hinterlands county of Western PA.It will be the lefty's second ever true Opening Day start. Zach also rose to the occasion in 2007 giving up two runs over seven innings, although the Paulino-led lineup only got him a no-decision. I love lefthanded pitching.
The Dodgers haven't named Duke's opponent yet. I think Joe Torre will let his young pitchers, Clayton Kershaw and Chad Billingsley, pitch the second and third games. That would leave either Hiroki Kuroda or Vicente "No N" Padilla to pitch the opener. My vote is Padilla because he's more likely to get lit up.
Ross Ohlendorf will start the second game of the season on Wednesday the 7th. Paul Maholm will start Thursday the 8th. Charlie Morton will start Friday the 9th at Arizona with Duke making his second start on the 10th.
Finally as predicted here and virtually nowhere else, Daniel McCutchen won the fifth starter job. In the clearest indication yet that the Pirates are basing their personnel decisions on the WFC Blog, Kevin Hart was sent to Indianapolis. McCutchen is a solid six inning/three run kind of guy which is the best any team gets from their fifth starter. He'll only start two games in April, neither of them at home, as the Pirates will give their top four guys the maximum number of starts. Another good decision.
Backing this pretty solid rotation will be a lineup that looks like this:
CF McCutchen
2B Iwamura
RF Jones
C Doumit
LF Milledge
3B LaRochetat
1B Clement
SS Cedeno
Not quite as impressive. The 5-6-7 spots could change but I'm pretty sure of the others. It's time for Ryan Doumit to put together a 25 home run year out of that cleanup spot.
March 18, 2010
Hart should begin 2010 as an AAA reliever
PITTSBURGH, Pa. / March 18, 2010
Kevin Hart's third consecutive terrible start yesterday, in which he walked six and failed to get out of the second inning, should end the fifth starter competition.
Hart, the centerpiece of the Grabow/Gorzellany deal, came to Pittsburgh after a couple of excellent AAA campaigns and four solid starts as a Cub. Seeing Hart's 2.60 ERA in Chicago and 9.7 K/9 in the minor leagues during 2008-09, the Pirates justifiably expected they were adding a major league starter to their club - one who could replace the talented but control-challenged Ian Snell.
Less than a year later, the time has come for the Pirates to admit they were wrong. Sadly enough, Hart has been something of a poor man's Ian Snell. And that is a very poor metaphorical man indeed. Kevin Hart simply has not performed well enough to be in an MLB rotation, or in the major leagues at all. He has an option remaining and the Pirates should take advantage of it by sending him to the Indianapolis bullpen until he regains his command.
While I have consistently projected Daniel McCutchen to be the fifth starter, management has clearly favored Kevin Hart so far because of his stuff. A 96 mph fastball does not do anything when you walk 13 batters in 4.2 innings, as Hart has this spring. Add in a wild pitch and a hit batter too. The role of a fifth starter is to pitch five or six innings and keep the team in the game. No one needs a fifth man who if he's on could pitch a shutout, while if he's off won't get out of the second inning. If we get outings like Hart's spring starts during the season, that will absolutely kill the bullpen. As a whole the starters need to average over six innings a start so that the relievers can average their optimal 60 innings per man this season.
Hart's control problems this spring greatly exceed the scope of last year, but they are not unprecedented. In his MLB career he's averaging five walks per nine innings. Unless you're J.R. Richard or Nolan Ryan striking out 300 batters a season, no starting pitcher can have success with that many walks. And while it's tempting to view Hart as a young player since he's new to Pittsburgh, he's 27 - the age where he should be in the prime of his career.
May I suggest making Hart a reliever? Looking at minor league stats, in 2006-07 he struck out 7.4 and 7.5 batters per nine innings as mainly a starter. In 2008-09, in a swingman role with more relief appearances, those numbers went up to 9.8 and 9.6. In the major leagues those numbers have declined to 7.5 K/9 relieving - still a good number - but only 6/1 K/9 starting, an unacceptable number for a pitcher with poor control.
Moreover, relievers who throw one inning can work around walks much better than starters, who inevitably will give up a three-run homer if there are always men on base. For example, J.C. Romero in his career has averaged five walks per nine innings - identical to Hart's total. Romero has been a part of six playoff teams in the last eight years, including four seasons of under a 3 ERA and two seasons under a 2 ERA. New Pirates closer Octavio Dotel walked 5.2 per nine last year on his way to a 3.32 ERA in a role as a top set-up man.
Daniel McCutchen is no Hall of Famer but he can pitch at least five innings and keep the team in games. McCutchen is the fifth best starter in camp, capable of an ERA in the high fours which is fine for a fifth starter. I don't even see any reason to use Hart over such career minor league types as Virgil Vasquez.
Whatever is done with Kevin Hart, he should not be starting with any Major League club. This would simply lead to too many bullpen innings, loss of confidence and an inevitable demotion. A 6.92 ERA last summer and a 15.43 this spring should be enough to end his tenure as a Pirates starter.
Kevin Hart's third consecutive terrible start yesterday, in which he walked six and failed to get out of the second inning, should end the fifth starter competition.
Hart, the centerpiece of the Grabow/Gorzellany deal, came to Pittsburgh after a couple of excellent AAA campaigns and four solid starts as a Cub. Seeing Hart's 2.60 ERA in Chicago and 9.7 K/9 in the minor leagues during 2008-09, the Pirates justifiably expected they were adding a major league starter to their club - one who could replace the talented but control-challenged Ian Snell.
Less than a year later, the time has come for the Pirates to admit they were wrong. Sadly enough, Hart has been something of a poor man's Ian Snell. And that is a very poor metaphorical man indeed. Kevin Hart simply has not performed well enough to be in an MLB rotation, or in the major leagues at all. He has an option remaining and the Pirates should take advantage of it by sending him to the Indianapolis bullpen until he regains his command.While I have consistently projected Daniel McCutchen to be the fifth starter, management has clearly favored Kevin Hart so far because of his stuff. A 96 mph fastball does not do anything when you walk 13 batters in 4.2 innings, as Hart has this spring. Add in a wild pitch and a hit batter too. The role of a fifth starter is to pitch five or six innings and keep the team in the game. No one needs a fifth man who if he's on could pitch a shutout, while if he's off won't get out of the second inning. If we get outings like Hart's spring starts during the season, that will absolutely kill the bullpen. As a whole the starters need to average over six innings a start so that the relievers can average their optimal 60 innings per man this season.
Hart's control problems this spring greatly exceed the scope of last year, but they are not unprecedented. In his MLB career he's averaging five walks per nine innings. Unless you're J.R. Richard or Nolan Ryan striking out 300 batters a season, no starting pitcher can have success with that many walks. And while it's tempting to view Hart as a young player since he's new to Pittsburgh, he's 27 - the age where he should be in the prime of his career.
May I suggest making Hart a reliever? Looking at minor league stats, in 2006-07 he struck out 7.4 and 7.5 batters per nine innings as mainly a starter. In 2008-09, in a swingman role with more relief appearances, those numbers went up to 9.8 and 9.6. In the major leagues those numbers have declined to 7.5 K/9 relieving - still a good number - but only 6/1 K/9 starting, an unacceptable number for a pitcher with poor control.
Moreover, relievers who throw one inning can work around walks much better than starters, who inevitably will give up a three-run homer if there are always men on base. For example, J.C. Romero in his career has averaged five walks per nine innings - identical to Hart's total. Romero has been a part of six playoff teams in the last eight years, including four seasons of under a 3 ERA and two seasons under a 2 ERA. New Pirates closer Octavio Dotel walked 5.2 per nine last year on his way to a 3.32 ERA in a role as a top set-up man.
Daniel McCutchen is no Hall of Famer but he can pitch at least five innings and keep the team in games. McCutchen is the fifth best starter in camp, capable of an ERA in the high fours which is fine for a fifth starter. I don't even see any reason to use Hart over such career minor league types as Virgil Vasquez.
Whatever is done with Kevin Hart, he should not be starting with any Major League club. This would simply lead to too many bullpen innings, loss of confidence and an inevitable demotion. A 6.92 ERA last summer and a 15.43 this spring should be enough to end his tenure as a Pirates starter.
March 13, 2010
April Home Giveaways Preview
PITTSBURGH, Pa. / March 13, 2010
Before I start with the promotions, I am pleased to report that The Pittsburgh Kid Paul Spadafora defeated Ivan Fiorletta by technical knockout Friday improving his record to 44-0-1. 50,000 people will watch a couple of three loss fighters tomorrow in Dallas, while Spadafora can't get a title fight because everyone is afraid of him.
Monday, April 5 vs. Los Angeles - 1:35 p.m.
Opening Day / Magnetic Schedule
The home opener is the most fun Pirates game of the season, and this year we get a rare home game on the true Opening Day. While the schedule magnet is not that amazing, the atmosphere of being at a 100% full PNC Park is unbeatable. Last year we also got an unadvertised free hat so I would expect something similar again.
The Pirates have announced that standing room-only and single-seat tickets are all that remain. I have 30 tickets to the game so it must be awesome to be my friend.
Wednesday, April 7 vs. Los Angeles - 7:05 p.m.
Nothing
There's no giveaway this night and it's likely to be cold. But for people who can't get out of work during the day this is the only chance to see them against a good team this month. To me the Dodgers organization always has had a certain cachet.
Thursday, April 8 vs. Los Angeles - 12:35 p.m.
T-Shirt Thursday
This is my favorite among the 2010 free shirts. It's a unique yet understated design with the PNC park diagram. You'll get to see either Cy Ohlendorf, Cy Duke or Cy Maholm pitching and you'll have a whole section to yourself. Luckily my schedule is open from 11:45-4:30 Thursdays, a perfect window to go claim this shirt.
Friday, April 16 vs. Cincinnati - 7:05 p.m.
Pirates Aluminum Water Bottle
These water bottles are all the rage these days. You can tell because the same people who own Mac laptops own them. Not only that, but aluminum is unparalleled amopng metals for its combination of strength and relatively light weight. Another game I'm planning to attend.
Saturday, April 17 vs. Cincinnati - 7:05 p.m.
Fireworks / Irish Celebration / Scratch'n Win Saturday
PIttsburgh loves fireworks. Why is it Scratch'n Win? Shouldn't it be Scratch 'n' Win? I guess they want parallelism with Eat'n Park, where you will most certainly "win" two dollars off. Cincinnati has a lot of fairly interesting young players. Hopefully in this game Pittsburgh is not called for a late hit out of bounds FOR HITTING A GUY WHO IS STILL IN BOUNDS.
Sunday, April 18 vs. Cincinnati - 1:35 p.m.
Kids Day / Kids Andy LaRoche Replica Home Jersey
I see people walking around with kids all the time. Where are they finding women who aren't on The Pill? Unfortunately I haven't figured out the answer to this question.
Oakland coeds, if you're planning ahead for Halloween, a child's size Andy Laroche jersey would be perfect, cut up, for your "SluRoche" costume.
Tuesday, April 20 vs. Milwaukee - 7:05 p.m.
Nothing
Ah, a rare Pirates-Brewers series. The Bucs haven't had much success against Milwaukee the last few years, but the 2010 Brew Crew is going with a rotation of Yovani Gallardo, Randy Wolf, Doug Davis, Jeff Suppan and Manny Parra. That looks merely well below average until you consider the top three are locks to get hurt...
Wednesday, April 21 vs. Milwaukee - 7:05 p.m.
Nothing
...The Brewers had the NL's third best offense in '09 but Mike Cameron and Jason Kendall are gone, replaced in the starting lineup by Carlos ".292 career OBP" Gomez and 39 year old Gregg "Only in the starting lineup ironically" Zaun. Felipe Lopez had a .407 OBP in his half season and is gone as well. Their bench is Jody Gerut, Joe Inglett, Craig Counsell, George Kottaras and Mat Gamel.
Thursday, April 22 vs. Milwaukee - 12:35 p.m.
Pirates Recycled Green Cap / T-Shirt Thursday / Alumni Autographs
The motherlode! I'll gladly buy a $9 ticket to see the game and get a free cap and T-shirt. The hat will be perfect for many St. Patrick's Days to come, and the shirt looks awesome in an "already looks like a 20 year old find at Goodwill" kind of way.
Before I start with the promotions, I am pleased to report that The Pittsburgh Kid Paul Spadafora defeated Ivan Fiorletta by technical knockout Friday improving his record to 44-0-1. 50,000 people will watch a couple of three loss fighters tomorrow in Dallas, while Spadafora can't get a title fight because everyone is afraid of him.
Monday, April 5 vs. Los Angeles - 1:35 p.m.
Opening Day / Magnetic Schedule
The home opener is the most fun Pirates game of the season, and this year we get a rare home game on the true Opening Day. While the schedule magnet is not that amazing, the atmosphere of being at a 100% full PNC Park is unbeatable. Last year we also got an unadvertised free hat so I would expect something similar again.
The Pirates have announced that standing room-only and single-seat tickets are all that remain. I have 30 tickets to the game so it must be awesome to be my friend.
Wednesday, April 7 vs. Los Angeles - 7:05 p.m.
Nothing
There's no giveaway this night and it's likely to be cold. But for people who can't get out of work during the day this is the only chance to see them against a good team this month. To me the Dodgers organization always has had a certain cachet.
Thursday, April 8 vs. Los Angeles - 12:35 p.m.T-Shirt Thursday
This is my favorite among the 2010 free shirts. It's a unique yet understated design with the PNC park diagram. You'll get to see either Cy Ohlendorf, Cy Duke or Cy Maholm pitching and you'll have a whole section to yourself. Luckily my schedule is open from 11:45-4:30 Thursdays, a perfect window to go claim this shirt.
Friday, April 16 vs. Cincinnati - 7:05 p.m.Pirates Aluminum Water Bottle
These water bottles are all the rage these days. You can tell because the same people who own Mac laptops own them. Not only that, but aluminum is unparalleled amopng metals for its combination of strength and relatively light weight. Another game I'm planning to attend.
Saturday, April 17 vs. Cincinnati - 7:05 p.m.
Fireworks / Irish Celebration / Scratch'n Win Saturday
PIttsburgh loves fireworks. Why is it Scratch'n Win? Shouldn't it be Scratch 'n' Win? I guess they want parallelism with Eat'n Park, where you will most certainly "win" two dollars off. Cincinnati has a lot of fairly interesting young players. Hopefully in this game Pittsburgh is not called for a late hit out of bounds FOR HITTING A GUY WHO IS STILL IN BOUNDS.
Sunday, April 18 vs. Cincinnati - 1:35 p.m.Kids Day / Kids Andy LaRoche Replica Home Jersey
I see people walking around with kids all the time. Where are they finding women who aren't on The Pill? Unfortunately I haven't figured out the answer to this question.
Oakland coeds, if you're planning ahead for Halloween, a child's size Andy Laroche jersey would be perfect, cut up, for your "SluRoche" costume.
Tuesday, April 20 vs. Milwaukee - 7:05 p.m.
Nothing
Ah, a rare Pirates-Brewers series. The Bucs haven't had much success against Milwaukee the last few years, but the 2010 Brew Crew is going with a rotation of Yovani Gallardo, Randy Wolf, Doug Davis, Jeff Suppan and Manny Parra. That looks merely well below average until you consider the top three are locks to get hurt...
Wednesday, April 21 vs. Milwaukee - 7:05 p.m.
Nothing
...The Brewers had the NL's third best offense in '09 but Mike Cameron and Jason Kendall are gone, replaced in the starting lineup by Carlos ".292 career OBP" Gomez and 39 year old Gregg "Only in the starting lineup ironically" Zaun. Felipe Lopez had a .407 OBP in his half season and is gone as well. Their bench is Jody Gerut, Joe Inglett, Craig Counsell, George Kottaras and Mat Gamel.
Thursday, April 22 vs. Milwaukee - 12:35 p.m.Pirates Recycled Green Cap / T-Shirt Thursday / Alumni Autographs
The motherlode! I'll gladly buy a $9 ticket to see the game and get a free cap and T-shirt. The hat will be perfect for many St. Patrick's Days to come, and the shirt looks awesome in an "already looks like a 20 year old find at Goodwill" kind of way.
March 12, 2010
Great Pirates In History: Don SlaValliere
While platooning has fallen out of favor in this century, a couple of decades ago almost all MLB teams used platoons at one or two positions. The Pirates duo of Don Slaught and Mike LaValliere was one of the best, backstopping the Pirates during their three consecutive division championships from 1990-92.
The lefthanded half of the platoon, Mike LaValliere, was the first to arrive in Pittsburgh. He had started as a rookie for the '86 Cardinals, but Whitey Herzog wanted the Pirates' veteran catcher Tony Pena to work with his ptiching staff of mostly lefthanded junkballers. The Cardinals would pay a steep price for Pena, sending LaValliere, Mike Dunne and Andy Van Slyke.
The '87 Cardinals won the pennant but the Pirates won the trade. Platooning with Junior Ortiz in 1987, LaValliere improved his batting average from .236 to .300, threw out 45% of base stealers and even won the Gold Glove - an impressive accomplishment for a part time player. By 1989 Ortiz had slumped to .217 with one home run, while LaValliere hit .316 with a .406 OBP. It was time to make a move.
Spanky's numbers would certainly lead to a starting job today, but it was sacrilege in 1989 to suggest that a lefthanded hitting catcher could play every day.
So the Pirates sent a journeyman pitcher and a nothing prospect to the Yankees, acquiring the nondescript, 31 year old Don Slaught. In retrospect it's hard to imagine much excitement about bringing in the guy who had just hit .251 with five home runs while catching the second worst pitching staff in the American League.
Yet it all worked out in 1990. Just as LaValliere had done three years before, Don Slaught suddenly turned into a line drive hitter of epic proportions in Pittsburgh. He hit .300 with a .375 OBP and had 25 extra base hits in 230 at-bats. LaValliere didn't have any power but got on base at a .362 clip. This was great production out of the 7 hole in a year when the Pirates' team OBP of .330 led the league. While LaValliere was the better catcher of the pair, Slaught threw out a respectable 31% of runners too. The pitching staff improved to fifth in the league, led by Doug Drabek's 22 win season.
In 1991, it was more of the same as LaValliere hit .289, Slaught hit .295 and both had OBPs over .350 again. Both were veteran catchers by now and the pitching staff thrived, posting the second best ERA in the league. Bob Walk's 3.60 was the highest ERA in the starting rotation.
In 1992, LaValliere dropped to a .256 average but had excellent plate discipline and still had a .350 OBP. Slaught, now a 33 year old catcher who had never been a full time player, posted an unreal .345/.384/.482 slash line. Behind the plate, this was the duo's finest season. They combined to throw out 37% of base stealers and did an excellent job catching a young knuckleballer named Tim Wakefield who went 8-1 with a 2.15 ERA. While the '09 Red Sox had to carry three catchers for part of the year just to have someone who could catch Wakefield, the '92 Pirates didn't even have to break their regular platoon as both men did a near flawless job of catching the knuckler.
Of course with this duo having led the Bucs to three straight division titles, hitting and fielding well every year, the clear choice was to keep them together. Not so. General manager Ted Simmons began dismantling the division champions in the offseason, and 11 men from the playoff roster were gone by Opening Day including aces Doug Drabek and John Smiley. LaValliere criticized these moves, and he became the 12th player gone - released after one game in 1993. The Pirates still owed $4.05 million on his contract so they paid him to catch for the White Sox in 1993 and '94.
With LaValliere gone, incredibly, Slaught still wasn't an everyday player. Tom Prince batted 204 times and hit .196 with two home runs. Slaught continued with the Bucs until 1995, and overall hit .305/.370/.421 for the Bucs before he departed via free agency to make way for Jason Kendall.
Both catchers are now working in instructional roles. LaValliere and Jeff Robinson opened a youth baseball training facility in Florida, while Slaught is president of the video training company RightView Pro.
A switch hitter with excellent contact hitting, on base, throwing and game calling skills, Don SlaValliere was truly a Great Pirate in History.
The lefthanded half of the platoon, Mike LaValliere, was the first to arrive in Pittsburgh. He had started as a rookie for the '86 Cardinals, but Whitey Herzog wanted the Pirates' veteran catcher Tony Pena to work with his ptiching staff of mostly lefthanded junkballers. The Cardinals would pay a steep price for Pena, sending LaValliere, Mike Dunne and Andy Van Slyke.The '87 Cardinals won the pennant but the Pirates won the trade. Platooning with Junior Ortiz in 1987, LaValliere improved his batting average from .236 to .300, threw out 45% of base stealers and even won the Gold Glove - an impressive accomplishment for a part time player. By 1989 Ortiz had slumped to .217 with one home run, while LaValliere hit .316 with a .406 OBP. It was time to make a move.
Spanky's numbers would certainly lead to a starting job today, but it was sacrilege in 1989 to suggest that a lefthanded hitting catcher could play every day.
So the Pirates sent a journeyman pitcher and a nothing prospect to the Yankees, acquiring the nondescript, 31 year old Don Slaught. In retrospect it's hard to imagine much excitement about bringing in the guy who had just hit .251 with five home runs while catching the second worst pitching staff in the American League.Yet it all worked out in 1990. Just as LaValliere had done three years before, Don Slaught suddenly turned into a line drive hitter of epic proportions in Pittsburgh. He hit .300 with a .375 OBP and had 25 extra base hits in 230 at-bats. LaValliere didn't have any power but got on base at a .362 clip. This was great production out of the 7 hole in a year when the Pirates' team OBP of .330 led the league. While LaValliere was the better catcher of the pair, Slaught threw out a respectable 31% of runners too. The pitching staff improved to fifth in the league, led by Doug Drabek's 22 win season.
In 1991, it was more of the same as LaValliere hit .289, Slaught hit .295 and both had OBPs over .350 again. Both were veteran catchers by now and the pitching staff thrived, posting the second best ERA in the league. Bob Walk's 3.60 was the highest ERA in the starting rotation.
In 1992, LaValliere dropped to a .256 average but had excellent plate discipline and still had a .350 OBP. Slaught, now a 33 year old catcher who had never been a full time player, posted an unreal .345/.384/.482 slash line. Behind the plate, this was the duo's finest season. They combined to throw out 37% of base stealers and did an excellent job catching a young knuckleballer named Tim Wakefield who went 8-1 with a 2.15 ERA. While the '09 Red Sox had to carry three catchers for part of the year just to have someone who could catch Wakefield, the '92 Pirates didn't even have to break their regular platoon as both men did a near flawless job of catching the knuckler.
Of course with this duo having led the Bucs to three straight division titles, hitting and fielding well every year, the clear choice was to keep them together. Not so. General manager Ted Simmons began dismantling the division champions in the offseason, and 11 men from the playoff roster were gone by Opening Day including aces Doug Drabek and John Smiley. LaValliere criticized these moves, and he became the 12th player gone - released after one game in 1993. The Pirates still owed $4.05 million on his contract so they paid him to catch for the White Sox in 1993 and '94.
With LaValliere gone, incredibly, Slaught still wasn't an everyday player. Tom Prince batted 204 times and hit .196 with two home runs. Slaught continued with the Bucs until 1995, and overall hit .305/.370/.421 for the Bucs before he departed via free agency to make way for Jason Kendall.
Both catchers are now working in instructional roles. LaValliere and Jeff Robinson opened a youth baseball training facility in Florida, while Slaught is president of the video training company RightView Pro.
A switch hitter with excellent contact hitting, on base, throwing and game calling skills, Don SlaValliere was truly a Great Pirate in History.
March 10, 2010
A Four Man Rotation?
PITTSBURGH, Pa. / March 10, 2010
Recently I have had a chance to listen to several of the radio broadcasts of the Pirates spring training games. Yes, I realize that is pathetic, but isn't it more pathetic to be reading a blog about someone listening to these games on the radio?
Anyway, the announcers were talking about the possibility of carrying only 11 pitchers out of camp. The advantage is obvious, in that keeping 11 pitchers would buy some time to keep both Brandon Moss and Delwyn Young on the roster. Young is their best pinch hitter, while Moss is their best defensive outfielder. Both are out of options and would certainly be claimed by another team if the Pirates tried to pass them through waivers.
In Weaver on Strategy, Earl Weaver talks about why he went with a nine man pitching staff. That tenth pitcher would be only used in blowouts, Weaver reasoned, while an extra pinch runner, pinch hitter or defender would be used in tight games. The same reasoning holds doubly true when we're talking about a 12th pitcher. I have no problem going with 11 pitchers all season. WIth 12 pitchers it is always a challenge finding enough work for everyone.
What surprises me is that the Pirates are discussing not a six man bullpen (essentially what they used last year with Donnie Veal as the rarely used seventh reliever) but breaking camp with a four man rotation. Of course not a real four man rotation, 1971 style with everybody starting 40 games - but at least four men until we get through off days in April. This would buy some time to make a roster move or wait for an injury so Moss and Young can remain in the organization.
Looking at the schedule, with no rainouts a true four man rotation would necessitate using whoever started on April 7 on three days rest on April 11. I have to think there's no way they would do this, especially with a day game scheduled on the 11th. However, D.J. Carrasco or another long reliever could make this start allowing the Pirates to option their fifth starter (probably Daniel McCutchen) to Indianapolis until the 24th. With rain outs it could be longer.
I actually think this course of action seems likely, because I just can't see the Pirates giving up on Moss considering what they gave for him. I also can't imagine they would want to get rid of Young's bench bat. This would have the added benefit of keeping everyone pitching every fifth day in April.
Here's the roster I expect to see on Opening Day:
C (2) Ryan Doumit, Jason Jaramillo
IF (6) Ronny Cedeno, Jeff Clement, Bobby Crosby, Akinori Iwamura, Andy LaRoche, Ramon Vazquez
OF (6) Ryan Church, Garrett Jones, Andrew McCutchen, Lastings Milledge, Brandon Moss, Delwyn Young
SP (4) Zach Duke, Paul Maholm, Charlie Morton, Ross Ohlendorf
RP (7) Brian Bass, D.J. Carrasco, Brendan Donnelly, Octavio Dotel, Javier Lopez, Evan Meek, Jack Taschner.
DL (1) Joel Hanrahan
I have Jack Taschner taking the final relief spot, because he throws with his left hand. That's not to say that he isn't f'ing horrible, spring results notwithstanding. I would prefer Jeff Karstens there.
Then on April 24, you call up Daniel McCutchen to make his first start. Presuming none of the outfielders have gotten injured yet, choose who is doing worst out of Crosby, Vazquez and Cedeno and DL them with a phantom injury. Five infielders is fine for a while with Jones able to play first base and Young able to play second.
Recently I have had a chance to listen to several of the radio broadcasts of the Pirates spring training games. Yes, I realize that is pathetic, but isn't it more pathetic to be reading a blog about someone listening to these games on the radio?
Anyway, the announcers were talking about the possibility of carrying only 11 pitchers out of camp. The advantage is obvious, in that keeping 11 pitchers would buy some time to keep both Brandon Moss and Delwyn Young on the roster. Young is their best pinch hitter, while Moss is their best defensive outfielder. Both are out of options and would certainly be claimed by another team if the Pirates tried to pass them through waivers.
In Weaver on Strategy, Earl Weaver talks about why he went with a nine man pitching staff. That tenth pitcher would be only used in blowouts, Weaver reasoned, while an extra pinch runner, pinch hitter or defender would be used in tight games. The same reasoning holds doubly true when we're talking about a 12th pitcher. I have no problem going with 11 pitchers all season. WIth 12 pitchers it is always a challenge finding enough work for everyone.What surprises me is that the Pirates are discussing not a six man bullpen (essentially what they used last year with Donnie Veal as the rarely used seventh reliever) but breaking camp with a four man rotation. Of course not a real four man rotation, 1971 style with everybody starting 40 games - but at least four men until we get through off days in April. This would buy some time to make a roster move or wait for an injury so Moss and Young can remain in the organization.
Looking at the schedule, with no rainouts a true four man rotation would necessitate using whoever started on April 7 on three days rest on April 11. I have to think there's no way they would do this, especially with a day game scheduled on the 11th. However, D.J. Carrasco or another long reliever could make this start allowing the Pirates to option their fifth starter (probably Daniel McCutchen) to Indianapolis until the 24th. With rain outs it could be longer.
I actually think this course of action seems likely, because I just can't see the Pirates giving up on Moss considering what they gave for him. I also can't imagine they would want to get rid of Young's bench bat. This would have the added benefit of keeping everyone pitching every fifth day in April.
Here's the roster I expect to see on Opening Day:
C (2) Ryan Doumit, Jason JaramilloIF (6) Ronny Cedeno, Jeff Clement, Bobby Crosby, Akinori Iwamura, Andy LaRoche, Ramon Vazquez
OF (6) Ryan Church, Garrett Jones, Andrew McCutchen, Lastings Milledge, Brandon Moss, Delwyn Young
SP (4) Zach Duke, Paul Maholm, Charlie Morton, Ross Ohlendorf
RP (7) Brian Bass, D.J. Carrasco, Brendan Donnelly, Octavio Dotel, Javier Lopez, Evan Meek, Jack Taschner.
DL (1) Joel Hanrahan
I have Jack Taschner taking the final relief spot, because he throws with his left hand. That's not to say that he isn't f'ing horrible, spring results notwithstanding. I would prefer Jeff Karstens there.
Then on April 24, you call up Daniel McCutchen to make his first start. Presuming none of the outfielders have gotten injured yet, choose who is doing worst out of Crosby, Vazquez and Cedeno and DL them with a phantom injury. Five infielders is fine for a while with Jones able to play first base and Young able to play second.
March 5, 2010
Pirates Aughts All-Star Team
One of the most frustrating aspects of being a Pirates fan, if I had lived in Pittsburgh prior to 2008, must have been the great seasons that were wasted. During the past decade there were great, even historically great seasons. Here's the best lineup I could come up with from the 2000-09 teams. Indeed, compressing ten years into one would produce a World Series champion.
1. C Jason Kendall '00 (R)
.320/.412/.470, 112 R, 14 HR, 58 RBI, 22 SB
Even in the offense-happy era of 2000, Jason Kendall's season was unreal. A .412 OBP from a catcher with some pop. Not only that, but Kendall started an unbelievable 147 games and threw out 30% of base stealerrs. At this point, in his third consecutive season of a .400 OBP, Jason Kendall looked like a Hall of Fame catcher. Until age 32 his most comparable players were Mickey Cochrane and Thurman Munson.
2. RF Brian Giles '02 (L)
.298/.450/.622, 95 R, 38 HR, 103 RBI, 15 SB
Acquired for Ricardo Rincon in one of the great trades in history by any team, Brian Giles was a completely ridiculous player during his time in Pittsburgh. In five years he put up an OPS over 1.000, with a .426 OBP and .591 slugging percentage. Mickey Mantle had a .421 OBP and slugged .557 in his career. Yeah, Brian Giles was awesome.
3. LF Jason Bay '05 (R)
.306/.402/.559, 110 R, 32 HR, 101 RBI, 21 SB
I could have chosen several Jason Bay seasons. Bay was, and still is, a legitimate top 10 run producer in MLB. Oh, and he stole 21 bases while being caught once. It's too bad the Pirates didn't get more for him as he was one of the greatest talents ever to be traded at the July deadline.
4. 3B Aramis Ramirez '01
.300/.350/.536, 83 R, 34 HR, 112 RBI, 5 SB
He's put up similar numbers for the past seven years in Wrigley, but Ramirez's '01 season was otherwordly. Can you even fathom driving in 112 runs for the '01 Pirates? He played good defense too, and he was 23. Mike Schmidt hit .196 when he was 23.
5. CF Nate McLouth '08 (L)
.276/.356/.497, 113 R, 26 HR, 94 RBI, 23 SB
In his first full season, Nate McLouth made a lot of us wonder why the hell he wasn't starting earlier. McLouth has the speed and contact skills of your father's leadoff hitters, but he adds the power of the new generation of leadoff men. Add in a gold glove and only 3 times caught stealing all year, and you wonder why Nate couldn't still be playing left field at PNC.
6. 2B Freddy Sanchez '06 (R)
.344/.378/.473, 85 R, 6 HR, 85 RBI, 3 SB
I guess not walking isn't a problem when you hit .344. I know batting average is an overrated statistic, but you have to realize how unreal a .344 batting average really is. Going 1-for-3 would decrease that average. Freddy got 200 hits and a league leading 53 doubles in '06, and managed to get MVP votes despite playing for a 95 loss team.
7. 1B Adam LaRoche '08 (L)
.270/.341/.500, 66 R, 25 HR, 85 RBI, 1 SB
Pittsburgh fans never warmed up to Adam LaRoche, but he quietly had a few very good years here. He's not Ryan Howard but as the 2004-05 Braves proved, you can go to the playoffs with Adam LaRoche as a first baseman. In classic LaRoche fashion, Adam hit .304/.361/.613 in the second half and drove in 42 runs in 49 games despite having no one to drive in.
8. SS Jack Wilson '04 (R)
.308/.335/.459, 82 R, 11 HR, 59 RBI, 8 SB
A slick fielder who's valuable even when he doesn't hit, Jack Wilson hit a ton in 2004. We're talking 201 hits and 64 extra base hits from a guy who played Gold Glove caliber defense. I wish him the best in Seattle.
9. P Oliver Perez '04
12-10, 2.98, 1.15 WHIP, 196 IP, 239 K
Not surprisingly, no Pirate pitchers have good win totals in the decade. But Oliver Perez in 2004 was as dominating as any pitcher has been this century. It's hard to believe considering some other seasons he's put up, but 2004 Oliver struck out a cool 11 batters per nine innings while batters hit .207 against him. Oh, and he was 22 at the time.
1. C Jason Kendall '00 (R)
.320/.412/.470, 112 R, 14 HR, 58 RBI, 22 SB
Even in the offense-happy era of 2000, Jason Kendall's season was unreal. A .412 OBP from a catcher with some pop. Not only that, but Kendall started an unbelievable 147 games and threw out 30% of base stealerrs. At this point, in his third consecutive season of a .400 OBP, Jason Kendall looked like a Hall of Fame catcher. Until age 32 his most comparable players were Mickey Cochrane and Thurman Munson.
2. RF Brian Giles '02 (L).298/.450/.622, 95 R, 38 HR, 103 RBI, 15 SB
Acquired for Ricardo Rincon in one of the great trades in history by any team, Brian Giles was a completely ridiculous player during his time in Pittsburgh. In five years he put up an OPS over 1.000, with a .426 OBP and .591 slugging percentage. Mickey Mantle had a .421 OBP and slugged .557 in his career. Yeah, Brian Giles was awesome.
3. LF Jason Bay '05 (R)
.306/.402/.559, 110 R, 32 HR, 101 RBI, 21 SB
I could have chosen several Jason Bay seasons. Bay was, and still is, a legitimate top 10 run producer in MLB. Oh, and he stole 21 bases while being caught once. It's too bad the Pirates didn't get more for him as he was one of the greatest talents ever to be traded at the July deadline.
4. 3B Aramis Ramirez '01
.300/.350/.536, 83 R, 34 HR, 112 RBI, 5 SB
He's put up similar numbers for the past seven years in Wrigley, but Ramirez's '01 season was otherwordly. Can you even fathom driving in 112 runs for the '01 Pirates? He played good defense too, and he was 23. Mike Schmidt hit .196 when he was 23.
5. CF Nate McLouth '08 (L).276/.356/.497, 113 R, 26 HR, 94 RBI, 23 SB
In his first full season, Nate McLouth made a lot of us wonder why the hell he wasn't starting earlier. McLouth has the speed and contact skills of your father's leadoff hitters, but he adds the power of the new generation of leadoff men. Add in a gold glove and only 3 times caught stealing all year, and you wonder why Nate couldn't still be playing left field at PNC.
6. 2B Freddy Sanchez '06 (R)
.344/.378/.473, 85 R, 6 HR, 85 RBI, 3 SB
I guess not walking isn't a problem when you hit .344. I know batting average is an overrated statistic, but you have to realize how unreal a .344 batting average really is. Going 1-for-3 would decrease that average. Freddy got 200 hits and a league leading 53 doubles in '06, and managed to get MVP votes despite playing for a 95 loss team.
7. 1B Adam LaRoche '08 (L)
.270/.341/.500, 66 R, 25 HR, 85 RBI, 1 SB
Pittsburgh fans never warmed up to Adam LaRoche, but he quietly had a few very good years here. He's not Ryan Howard but as the 2004-05 Braves proved, you can go to the playoffs with Adam LaRoche as a first baseman. In classic LaRoche fashion, Adam hit .304/.361/.613 in the second half and drove in 42 runs in 49 games despite having no one to drive in.
8. SS Jack Wilson '04 (R).308/.335/.459, 82 R, 11 HR, 59 RBI, 8 SB
A slick fielder who's valuable even when he doesn't hit, Jack Wilson hit a ton in 2004. We're talking 201 hits and 64 extra base hits from a guy who played Gold Glove caliber defense. I wish him the best in Seattle.
9. P Oliver Perez '04
12-10, 2.98, 1.15 WHIP, 196 IP, 239 K
Not surprisingly, no Pirate pitchers have good win totals in the decade. But Oliver Perez in 2004 was as dominating as any pitcher has been this century. It's hard to believe considering some other seasons he's put up, but 2004 Oliver struck out a cool 11 batters per nine innings while batters hit .207 against him. Oh, and he was 22 at the time.
March 3, 2010
Thoughts On The Lineup
PITTSBURGH, Pa. / March 3, 2010
As expected, all the Pirates' regulars made the trip to Tampa for the exhibition opener today. I wouldn't take anything from the results (a 6-3 loss to the Yankees) but it does appear that today's lineup shows how John Russell will order his hitters.
1. Andrew McCutchen cf
2. Akinori Iwamura 2b
3. Garrett Jones rf
4. Ryan Doumit c
5. Ryan Church dh
6. Lastings Milledge lf
7. Jeff Clement 1b
8. Andy LaRoche 3b
9. Ronny Cedeno ss
Thoughts:
1. If JR believes Ryan Church is the #5 hitter out of this group, we'll see him starting a lot of games.
2. I've seen arguments for batting McCutchen third. Cutch is the team's best hitter but he belongs at the leadoff spot. This is the spot he's been accustomed to, it gets him the most plate appearances on the team, and it gets him on base in situations where stealing second helps the team.
3. McCutchen and LaRoche are the only Pirates who are above average hitters for their lineup spot.
4. Once again the club lacks a true cleanup hitter. For this to be an average lineup, Ryan Doumit needs to play like his 2008 form.
5. The lineup would look a lot better if we had a legitimate hitter at shortstop.
I would guess tomorrow afternoon's Pirates-Braves game in Kissimmee will be a B game, with Clement and maybe one or two others as the only starters making the trip. Charlie Morton will pitch the first two innings for the Pirates.
As expected, all the Pirates' regulars made the trip to Tampa for the exhibition opener today. I wouldn't take anything from the results (a 6-3 loss to the Yankees) but it does appear that today's lineup shows how John Russell will order his hitters.
1. Andrew McCutchen cf2. Akinori Iwamura 2b
3. Garrett Jones rf
4. Ryan Doumit c
5. Ryan Church dh
6. Lastings Milledge lf
7. Jeff Clement 1b
8. Andy LaRoche 3b
9. Ronny Cedeno ss
Thoughts:
1. If JR believes Ryan Church is the #5 hitter out of this group, we'll see him starting a lot of games.
2. I've seen arguments for batting McCutchen third. Cutch is the team's best hitter but he belongs at the leadoff spot. This is the spot he's been accustomed to, it gets him the most plate appearances on the team, and it gets him on base in situations where stealing second helps the team.
3. McCutchen and LaRoche are the only Pirates who are above average hitters for their lineup spot.
4. Once again the club lacks a true cleanup hitter. For this to be an average lineup, Ryan Doumit needs to play like his 2008 form.
5. The lineup would look a lot better if we had a legitimate hitter at shortstop.
I would guess tomorrow afternoon's Pirates-Braves game in Kissimmee will be a B game, with Clement and maybe one or two others as the only starters making the trip. Charlie Morton will pitch the first two innings for the Pirates.
March 2, 2010
Time to play ball!
PITTSBURGH, Pa. / March 2, 2010
The Pirates finally start their Grapefruit League schedule Wednesday afternoon against the New York Yankees. Live from Legends Field in Tampa, the game will be shown on national TV on the MLB Network. And in the Pittsburgh area, the radio broadcast will be on 104.7.
Cy Maholm will pitch the first inning and Cy Ohlendorf will pitch the second inning for the Pirates. The Pirates haven't said which position players will travel, but with Thursday's game in Kissimmee I would expect to see the whole starting lineup make the much shorter trip to Tampa Wednesday.
Even in the spring there's a heightened excitement facing the Yankees, but don't look for the Bucs to show too much against their potential World Series opponent.
One position battle I'm watching is for the final roster spot or two - Brandon Moss vs. Delwyn Young vs. John Raynor. These battles are usually somewhat of a pointless crapfest since the loser goes to AAA and is back in May. But Young and Moss are out of options and Raynor is a Rule V pick - meaning that one or two of these guys could be out of the organization by Opening Day. All three should get a lot of playing time this spring, especially Raynor since he's new to the organization.
Jeff Clement is another guy who should play a lot. He has the bat to start in MLB, but even though he's the projected starter I don't think the Pirates are 100% sold on him at first base. If he can't field the position they'll move Garrett Jones back to first and start Ryan Church most days in the outfield.
34 days until the real Opening Day.
The Pirates finally start their Grapefruit League schedule Wednesday afternoon against the New York Yankees. Live from Legends Field in Tampa, the game will be shown on national TV on the MLB Network. And in the Pittsburgh area, the radio broadcast will be on 104.7.
Cy Maholm will pitch the first inning and Cy Ohlendorf will pitch the second inning for the Pirates. The Pirates haven't said which position players will travel, but with Thursday's game in Kissimmee I would expect to see the whole starting lineup make the much shorter trip to Tampa Wednesday.Even in the spring there's a heightened excitement facing the Yankees, but don't look for the Bucs to show too much against their potential World Series opponent.
One position battle I'm watching is for the final roster spot or two - Brandon Moss vs. Delwyn Young vs. John Raynor. These battles are usually somewhat of a pointless crapfest since the loser goes to AAA and is back in May. But Young and Moss are out of options and Raynor is a Rule V pick - meaning that one or two of these guys could be out of the organization by Opening Day. All three should get a lot of playing time this spring, especially Raynor since he's new to the organization.
Jeff Clement is another guy who should play a lot. He has the bat to start in MLB, but even though he's the projected starter I don't think the Pirates are 100% sold on him at first base. If he can't field the position they'll move Garrett Jones back to first and start Ryan Church most days in the outfield.
34 days until the real Opening Day.
March 1, 2010
Pirates Fantasy Values
PITTSBURGH, Pa. / March 1, 2010
It's March, and that means we've turned the calendar from Fantasy Winter Olympics season to Fantasy Baseball season.
While most Pittsburghers do not view the Pirates through black and gold goggles, I saw Nate McLouth go in the fourth round last year in a Pittsburgh-based draft. I perrsonally was pleased to get Ryan Doumit in like round 7. If you have ever even considered picking up Mewelde Moore in Fantasy Football or Mark Eaton in Fantasy Hockey, you could be susceptible to a similar mistake in baseball.
The Pirates have a balanced team that will win the World Championship, but fantasy baseball is not real baseball. The Pirates do not hit that many home runs or attempt that many steals, and they don't have pitchers who get many strikeouts. Here's where you should draft your Buccos players in a 12 team league. Adjust accordingly if you're playing NL Only or with a larger league.
WORTH DRAFTING
Andrew McCutchen - 9th Round
Cutch was a great player to pick up on waivers last year, but I have seen him go too early in every draft this spring. He'll score 100 and steal 30 bases, but I don't think he has more than 15 homer power. He definitely can't drive in many runs batting leadoff behind Ronny Cedeno and the pitcher's spot. So the only thing making him better than Rajai Davis or Juan Pierre, who you can get in the 14th round, is 10 home runs and 20 RBI.
Garrett Jones - 11th Round
Garrett Jones is somewhat of a question mark. But there are actually not that many outfielders who hit with power anymore. If you took a guy like Carl Crawford early it makes sense to fill out your outfield with a guy like Jones who has 25 home run power and 15 steal speed. He'll also bat third which is a great spot for runs and RBI. The reason he falls to round 11 is that he is too risky. If he doesn't hit at the beginning of the year he'll get dropped in the lineup and could even lose his starting role.
Octavio Dotel - 14th Round
Compared to other lower tier closers, Dotel's advantages are strikeouts and a secure job. He was brought to Pittsburgh to close and as we saw last year, there is really no set of facts that would cause JR to change his closer. His ratios won't be that great but I'd certainly take him over a guy like Bobby Jenks who could lose his closing job in April. In a non-Pittsburgh draft you can get him much later, like round 18.
Ryan Doumit - 16th Round
Ryan Doumit was rather terrible last year, and could easiliy lose his starting job. The Pirates aren't showing great confidence in him by attempting to trade him. However, he has a spot in the middle of the order and if he doesn't get injured and hits like 2008 could be a top 5 catcher. The odds of both of those things happening are pretty low.
Lastings Milledge - 17th Round
Lastings has 25 home run/25 steal talent, but it's risky to bet on whether he'll achieve that. But none of the other outfielders going this late have the same combination of talent and starting job, making Lastings a solid fourth or fifth outfield choice.
Paul Maholm, Zach Duke, Ross Ohlendorf - 20th Round
The Pirates' top three starters are way better in real life than in fantasy. They won't hurt your ratios but none of them are strikeout pitchers and wins are too unpredictable. One guy like that is good in the late rounds, where you're hoping for a sixth starting pitcher who won't kill your team. Any more and you'll lose points in strikeouts.
Jeff Clement, Andy LaRoche - 21st Round
Clement will probably be the Pirates' first baseman but still qualifies at catcher. He has the potential to hit 25 home runs which makes him worth drafting if you punted your catcher spot. The problem with Clement is that even if JR names him starter, which is not certain, I think he'll start maybe 75% of the time. He'll also hurt your batting average.
Unless he gets moved up in the lineup, Andy LaRoche won't score enough runs to be worth a higher pick. A guy who doesn't steal bases needs a little more power to help, and in fantasy you won't get points for his defense.
Akinori Iwamura - 22nd Round
Iwamura is not a terrible second base option if you don't get any of the top ten second basemen. If he's healthy all year he'll score 100 runs and steal 25 bases. He's never healthy all year so you drop him when he gets hurt.
The reason why nobody else is on this list is because you shouldn't draft him. For various reasons, every player on here except Milledge and Jones is way more valuable in real baseball than in fantasy. It's more fun to win your league than to have a team of all Pirates.
It's March, and that means we've turned the calendar from Fantasy Winter Olympics season to Fantasy Baseball season.
While most Pittsburghers do not view the Pirates through black and gold goggles, I saw Nate McLouth go in the fourth round last year in a Pittsburgh-based draft. I perrsonally was pleased to get Ryan Doumit in like round 7. If you have ever even considered picking up Mewelde Moore in Fantasy Football or Mark Eaton in Fantasy Hockey, you could be susceptible to a similar mistake in baseball.The Pirates have a balanced team that will win the World Championship, but fantasy baseball is not real baseball. The Pirates do not hit that many home runs or attempt that many steals, and they don't have pitchers who get many strikeouts. Here's where you should draft your Buccos players in a 12 team league. Adjust accordingly if you're playing NL Only or with a larger league.
WORTH DRAFTING
Andrew McCutchen - 9th Round
Cutch was a great player to pick up on waivers last year, but I have seen him go too early in every draft this spring. He'll score 100 and steal 30 bases, but I don't think he has more than 15 homer power. He definitely can't drive in many runs batting leadoff behind Ronny Cedeno and the pitcher's spot. So the only thing making him better than Rajai Davis or Juan Pierre, who you can get in the 14th round, is 10 home runs and 20 RBI.
Garrett Jones - 11th Round
Garrett Jones is somewhat of a question mark. But there are actually not that many outfielders who hit with power anymore. If you took a guy like Carl Crawford early it makes sense to fill out your outfield with a guy like Jones who has 25 home run power and 15 steal speed. He'll also bat third which is a great spot for runs and RBI. The reason he falls to round 11 is that he is too risky. If he doesn't hit at the beginning of the year he'll get dropped in the lineup and could even lose his starting role.
Octavio Dotel - 14th Round
Compared to other lower tier closers, Dotel's advantages are strikeouts and a secure job. He was brought to Pittsburgh to close and as we saw last year, there is really no set of facts that would cause JR to change his closer. His ratios won't be that great but I'd certainly take him over a guy like Bobby Jenks who could lose his closing job in April. In a non-Pittsburgh draft you can get him much later, like round 18.
Ryan Doumit - 16th Round
Ryan Doumit was rather terrible last year, and could easiliy lose his starting job. The Pirates aren't showing great confidence in him by attempting to trade him. However, he has a spot in the middle of the order and if he doesn't get injured and hits like 2008 could be a top 5 catcher. The odds of both of those things happening are pretty low.
Lastings Milledge - 17th Round
Lastings has 25 home run/25 steal talent, but it's risky to bet on whether he'll achieve that. But none of the other outfielders going this late have the same combination of talent and starting job, making Lastings a solid fourth or fifth outfield choice.
Paul Maholm, Zach Duke, Ross Ohlendorf - 20th Round
The Pirates' top three starters are way better in real life than in fantasy. They won't hurt your ratios but none of them are strikeout pitchers and wins are too unpredictable. One guy like that is good in the late rounds, where you're hoping for a sixth starting pitcher who won't kill your team. Any more and you'll lose points in strikeouts.
Jeff Clement, Andy LaRoche - 21st Round
Clement will probably be the Pirates' first baseman but still qualifies at catcher. He has the potential to hit 25 home runs which makes him worth drafting if you punted your catcher spot. The problem with Clement is that even if JR names him starter, which is not certain, I think he'll start maybe 75% of the time. He'll also hurt your batting average.
Unless he gets moved up in the lineup, Andy LaRoche won't score enough runs to be worth a higher pick. A guy who doesn't steal bases needs a little more power to help, and in fantasy you won't get points for his defense.
Akinori Iwamura - 22nd Round
Iwamura is not a terrible second base option if you don't get any of the top ten second basemen. If he's healthy all year he'll score 100 runs and steal 25 bases. He's never healthy all year so you drop him when he gets hurt.
The reason why nobody else is on this list is because you shouldn't draft him. For various reasons, every player on here except Milledge and Jones is way more valuable in real baseball than in fantasy. It's more fun to win your league than to have a team of all Pirates.
February 17, 2010
Pirates Start Training For WFC Season
Pitchers and catchers report to spring training at noon today.
I really prefer that pitchers and catchers report to spring training during the worst possible weather here in the Great White North. It creates the greatest possible difference between current life and hope. While we're sitting here hoping garbage collection resumes, somewhere Donnie Veal is long tossing and Jason Jaramillo is doing wind sprints. It really uplifts the soul.
And I almost don't need to mention it, but there's a special air of optimism knowing that there's a 100% chance of a Pirates title this year.
Finally, apologies for the lack of posts lately. Admittedly this blog has been suffering so our staff can bring you the Fantasy Winter Olympics Blog. Check the site out, it's F'ing Awesome.
February 10, 2010
I Sponsored His Baseball Reference Page For A Reason
PITTSBURGH, Pa. / February 10, 2010
While most of the national recognition goes to the #1 ace power pitchers, the Randy Johnsons and now the Tim Lincecums, quite another type of pitcher has long since stolen my heart. That is, of course, the four-pitch, pitch to contact, classic #3 starter.
My favorite season in baseball history has to be Carlos Silva's 2005. Although he's imploded since then, his 2005 was a year of beauty. Despite allowing more than 10 hits and one home run per nine innings, Silva went 9-8, 3.44 that year. He did so by allowing 9 walks all year. Nine walks in 188 innings. And two were intentional.
In addition to a lack of walks, the other stat I like for a starting pitcher is innings pitched. When you watch pitcher usage throughout a year, it comes up once every week or so that a bullpen needs a day off. They need a starting pitcher to go seven innings so most guys can take a break. Carlos Silva pitched seven innings in 22 of his 27 starts in 2005. And he only allowed more than four runs three times.
While the Pirates lack a true ace, the Pirates have three definite #2/#3 control guys atop their rotation. Because he got the job done in both 2008 and 2009, Paul Maholm is my choice to start on Opening Day.
Paul is the exception from the Littlefield era, Dave's only #1 pick that worked out. Chosen #8 overall in 2003 out of Mississippi State, he had top prospect pedigree having gone 9-2, 2.76 against SEC aluminum bat lineups that spring. He went to former New York-Penn League affiliate Williamsport and had a 1.83 ERA in the summer.
After an injury riddled 2004 when Paul nevertheless had a 3.43 ERA, he really put things together by going 7-3, 3.30 in the minors in 2005. Of course he was a young pitcher with the Pirates in the 2000s and it was time to rush him to the big leagues. He had some up and down years as a young MLB starter going 21-26, 4.60 from 2005-2007.
As I'm sure you remember, Maholm had his breakout season two years ago. The record (9-9) said mediocre but the other numbers - 206 innings, a 1.28 WHIP, 3.71 ERA and 2.7 walks per nine innings - said ace. That earned him the Opening Day start last year.
Paul continued his success and even upped the ante at the beginning of last year. He was 3-0, 2.02 after four starts and had a 3.61 ERA through June 11. Then, inexplicably, he got hit hard all summer to the tune of a 6.58 ERA and .340 batting average against from mid-June through mid-August.
There had to be some problem. Apparently it was that he had injured his knee in that Opening Day start, an injury which he later revealed hurt him all season. He wrapped his knee in ice after every start. Nevertheless Paul finished strong with a 2.89 ERA over his last seven starts.
Despite pitching through injury, there were a lot of positives in Maholm's 2009. Considering that he gave up 10.2 hits per nine innings his 8-9, 4.44 overall mark was solid. He did this by keeping the ball in the park (0.6 home runs per 9 innings) and not issuing free passes (2.8 walks per nine). In the last two years he's put up an identical 4.06 ERA to the $16 million pitcher A.J. Burnett.
While for batters the key to improvement is usually correcting a weakness, the key for Maholm will be getting better at the strongest aspect of his game. With a 90 mph fastball and hittable breaking stuff, to have a "Silva 2005" type of year Paul will need to have even better control.
I think he does that in 2010. An ace in 2008, Paul was pitching hurt in a horrible atmosphere last year and still was a good #3 starter. He'll be 28 this year and I think he has a career year - a hit an inning and 1.8 walks per nine innings while still under one home run per nine. That would yield a 3.30 ERA which would be good for 15 wins with the improved offense.
While most of the national recognition goes to the #1 ace power pitchers, the Randy Johnsons and now the Tim Lincecums, quite another type of pitcher has long since stolen my heart. That is, of course, the four-pitch, pitch to contact, classic #3 starter.
My favorite season in baseball history has to be Carlos Silva's 2005. Although he's imploded since then, his 2005 was a year of beauty. Despite allowing more than 10 hits and one home run per nine innings, Silva went 9-8, 3.44 that year. He did so by allowing 9 walks all year. Nine walks in 188 innings. And two were intentional.
In addition to a lack of walks, the other stat I like for a starting pitcher is innings pitched. When you watch pitcher usage throughout a year, it comes up once every week or so that a bullpen needs a day off. They need a starting pitcher to go seven innings so most guys can take a break. Carlos Silva pitched seven innings in 22 of his 27 starts in 2005. And he only allowed more than four runs three times.
While the Pirates lack a true ace, the Pirates have three definite #2/#3 control guys atop their rotation. Because he got the job done in both 2008 and 2009, Paul Maholm is my choice to start on Opening Day.Paul is the exception from the Littlefield era, Dave's only #1 pick that worked out. Chosen #8 overall in 2003 out of Mississippi State, he had top prospect pedigree having gone 9-2, 2.76 against SEC aluminum bat lineups that spring. He went to former New York-Penn League affiliate Williamsport and had a 1.83 ERA in the summer.
After an injury riddled 2004 when Paul nevertheless had a 3.43 ERA, he really put things together by going 7-3, 3.30 in the minors in 2005. Of course he was a young pitcher with the Pirates in the 2000s and it was time to rush him to the big leagues. He had some up and down years as a young MLB starter going 21-26, 4.60 from 2005-2007.
As I'm sure you remember, Maholm had his breakout season two years ago. The record (9-9) said mediocre but the other numbers - 206 innings, a 1.28 WHIP, 3.71 ERA and 2.7 walks per nine innings - said ace. That earned him the Opening Day start last year.
Paul continued his success and even upped the ante at the beginning of last year. He was 3-0, 2.02 after four starts and had a 3.61 ERA through June 11. Then, inexplicably, he got hit hard all summer to the tune of a 6.58 ERA and .340 batting average against from mid-June through mid-August.
There had to be some problem. Apparently it was that he had injured his knee in that Opening Day start, an injury which he later revealed hurt him all season. He wrapped his knee in ice after every start. Nevertheless Paul finished strong with a 2.89 ERA over his last seven starts.
Despite pitching through injury, there were a lot of positives in Maholm's 2009. Considering that he gave up 10.2 hits per nine innings his 8-9, 4.44 overall mark was solid. He did this by keeping the ball in the park (0.6 home runs per 9 innings) and not issuing free passes (2.8 walks per nine). In the last two years he's put up an identical 4.06 ERA to the $16 million pitcher A.J. Burnett.
While for batters the key to improvement is usually correcting a weakness, the key for Maholm will be getting better at the strongest aspect of his game. With a 90 mph fastball and hittable breaking stuff, to have a "Silva 2005" type of year Paul will need to have even better control.
I think he does that in 2010. An ace in 2008, Paul was pitching hurt in a horrible atmosphere last year and still was a good #3 starter. He'll be 28 this year and I think he has a career year - a hit an inning and 1.8 walks per nine innings while still under one home run per nine. That would yield a 3.30 ERA which would be good for 15 wins with the improved offense.
February 5, 2010
Post-Gazette Is A Joke
PITTSBURGH, Pa. / February 5, 2010
Up until now I haven't commented on the apparent offer by Mario Lemieux to buy the Pirates - the reason being that the team is not for sale, so Mario's offer is irrelevant.
I also would prefer not to comment on garbage editorials in the local newspaper regarding the same topic. Yet I feel compelled to do exactly that.
A recent Post-Gazette editorial, calling for Bob Nutting to sell the team, starts with a completely dirty trick by blaming the Nuttings for the past 17 years. In less than 3 of those years did the Nuttings have control of the team. I own some stock in Exxon and I actually had the same power over Exxon from 1994-2007 as Bob Nutting had over the Pirates, that is to say none. It's hard to believe the editorial board of a major American newspaper has such a poor grasp of facts.
To make matters worse the editorial goes on to criticize Nutting for the Pirates' failure to win in 2010. Are they serious? The 2010 season hasn't even started yet!
And finally, the editorial closes by saying that Nutting should sell the team to the Mario Lemieux-led group for the good of the city - citing the money Lemieux has put into the Penguins.
Of course it would be nice if some rich guy paid a lot of money for the Pirates for fun. Believe it or not there is no Mark Cuban here.
While a Lemieux-led group might in fact benefit the Pirates, Bob Nutting has no obligation to sell the team for that reason. And it's a complete joke to blame him for the losing that took place since 2007. It is like blaming me that the 20 pound weight I bought around the same time still does not float.
Finally, Lemieux clearly would not buy the Pirates with the intention of losing money. With a bottom 5 ranking in the league in attendance comes a bottom 5 ranking in payroll. Give the Pirates, Nutting ownership and all, what the Penguins have - a full house paying $50 to $150 a seat - and I am sure you would see a much higher MLB payroll.
During the Littlefield years, the Post-Gazette was reliably optimistic for no reason - even endorsing the Santiago transactions I wrote about yesterday. Now that the Pirates have a solid young core together, the P-G calls for a sale of the team.
I happen to think the Pirates have put together a good team. At the very least, I would not proclaim this a losing season with the Pirates' record at 0-0. I would hope that before writing any more, the P-G Editorial Board takes the time to find a factual basis for their statements.
Up until now I haven't commented on the apparent offer by Mario Lemieux to buy the Pirates - the reason being that the team is not for sale, so Mario's offer is irrelevant.
I also would prefer not to comment on garbage editorials in the local newspaper regarding the same topic. Yet I feel compelled to do exactly that.
A recent Post-Gazette editorial, calling for Bob Nutting to sell the team, starts with a completely dirty trick by blaming the Nuttings for the past 17 years. In less than 3 of those years did the Nuttings have control of the team. I own some stock in Exxon and I actually had the same power over Exxon from 1994-2007 as Bob Nutting had over the Pirates, that is to say none. It's hard to believe the editorial board of a major American newspaper has such a poor grasp of facts.
To make matters worse the editorial goes on to criticize Nutting for the Pirates' failure to win in 2010. Are they serious? The 2010 season hasn't even started yet!And finally, the editorial closes by saying that Nutting should sell the team to the Mario Lemieux-led group for the good of the city - citing the money Lemieux has put into the Penguins.
Of course it would be nice if some rich guy paid a lot of money for the Pirates for fun. Believe it or not there is no Mark Cuban here.
While a Lemieux-led group might in fact benefit the Pirates, Bob Nutting has no obligation to sell the team for that reason. And it's a complete joke to blame him for the losing that took place since 2007. It is like blaming me that the 20 pound weight I bought around the same time still does not float.
Finally, Lemieux clearly would not buy the Pirates with the intention of losing money. With a bottom 5 ranking in the league in attendance comes a bottom 5 ranking in payroll. Give the Pirates, Nutting ownership and all, what the Penguins have - a full house paying $50 to $150 a seat - and I am sure you would see a much higher MLB payroll.
During the Littlefield years, the Post-Gazette was reliably optimistic for no reason - even endorsing the Santiago transactions I wrote about yesterday. Now that the Pirates have a solid young core together, the P-G calls for a sale of the team.
I happen to think the Pirates have put together a good team. At the very least, I would not proclaim this a losing season with the Pirates' record at 0-0. I would hope that before writing any more, the P-G Editorial Board takes the time to find a factual basis for their statements.
February 4, 2010
Great Pirates In History: Benito Santiago
December 2004. Having already traded the erstwhile catcher/leadoff man Jason Kendall to Oakland, Pirates GM Dave Littlefield now started to think about whether he had any catchers who could start the following season.
Kendall had always caught ridiculous numbers of innings (one of the reasons it was actually smart to trade him at that point), which meant nobody else in the Pirates organization had any experience. Backups Humberto Cota and J.R. House had totalled just 79 plate appearances for the '04 Bucs. So Littlefield, in his ongoing epic quest for veteran experience, decided he needed a catcher who "could start 80 to 90 games."
Rather than add a catcher via free agency, why not get one at the cost of a promising prospect? Enter the Royals' Benito Santiago, 40 years old at the time, coming off both an injury that ended his 2003 season in June and a subpoena in the Congressional steroid inquiry. Completing the Littlefield trifecta he had a contract for over $2 million in 2005. Kansas City agreed to pay $1 million of his salary. In exchange, the Pirates sent Leo Nunez, a 21-year-old relief prospect who had gone 10-4, 3.12 in A ball and already possessed a fastball in the mid 90s.
Another way to put that would be to say that instead of releasing Benito Santiago, Royals GM Dayton Moore - hardly a master dealer - got the Pirates to give up a good prospect and pay $1.125 million of Santiago's salary.
Santiago arrived in training camp, and Mike Gonzalez and others predicted they would have lower ERAs thanks to the veteran backstop. The Post-Gazette speculated on his chances of moving up the career games caught list (he was seventh at the time).
Though management claimed excitement about their new catcher, the first sign of dissatisfaction with the Santiago deal came just before the season when Littlefield bought Dave Ross from the Dodgers. The L.A. backup had hit .170 in 2004, making him a great candidate for a job in Pittsburgh.
Benito started on Opening Day and tripled off Ben Sheets in his first Pirates at-bat. He would bat only seven more times at PNC Park.
A week into the season, Santiago came down with a virus and was placed on the disabled list. Humberto Cota was recalled to split time with Ross. On April 30th the Pirates tried to send Benito on a rehab assignment, but he refused and proclaimed himself ready to play. Although Cota still had options remaining and could have been sent to AAA, the Pirates decided to release Santiago on May 8, feeling that Humberto Cota - batting .200 at the time - had won the starting job.
Santiago never played again in MLB.
So it was that after spending $1.125 million, trading the future closer Nunez, and buying the contract of another veteran, the Pirates were left a month into the season with Humberto Cota - a Pirate since 2001 - as the starter.
Benito Santiago's Pirates Career:
6 games (team record 1-5)
23 at-bats
1 run
6 hits
0 home runs
0 RBI
0 walks
0 stolen bases
.263 average
Kendall had always caught ridiculous numbers of innings (one of the reasons it was actually smart to trade him at that point), which meant nobody else in the Pirates organization had any experience. Backups Humberto Cota and J.R. House had totalled just 79 plate appearances for the '04 Bucs. So Littlefield, in his ongoing epic quest for veteran experience, decided he needed a catcher who "could start 80 to 90 games."
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimAvUyRZuZ3vaatlJ8LYX56RvgYpDGeDRvv8V4wDooZnANOmPOvuZC3rEqpaxmXFUEdwSs-N76BP2-hw-icQxOhrBXvpRvmGMiNKzTxwhyphenhyphen5uT6xVCx2BsuT3AfDHpUf7BAbw_yIbIOjc4z/s1600-h/santiago.jpg)
Rather than add a catcher via free agency, why not get one at the cost of a promising prospect? Enter the Royals' Benito Santiago, 40 years old at the time, coming off both an injury that ended his 2003 season in June and a subpoena in the Congressional steroid inquiry. Completing the Littlefield trifecta he had a contract for over $2 million in 2005. Kansas City agreed to pay $1 million of his salary. In exchange, the Pirates sent Leo Nunez, a 21-year-old relief prospect who had gone 10-4, 3.12 in A ball and already possessed a fastball in the mid 90s.Another way to put that would be to say that instead of releasing Benito Santiago, Royals GM Dayton Moore - hardly a master dealer - got the Pirates to give up a good prospect and pay $1.125 million of Santiago's salary.
Santiago arrived in training camp, and Mike Gonzalez and others predicted they would have lower ERAs thanks to the veteran backstop. The Post-Gazette speculated on his chances of moving up the career games caught list (he was seventh at the time).
Though management claimed excitement about their new catcher, the first sign of dissatisfaction with the Santiago deal came just before the season when Littlefield bought Dave Ross from the Dodgers. The L.A. backup had hit .170 in 2004, making him a great candidate for a job in Pittsburgh.
Benito started on Opening Day and tripled off Ben Sheets in his first Pirates at-bat. He would bat only seven more times at PNC Park.
A week into the season, Santiago came down with a virus and was placed on the disabled list. Humberto Cota was recalled to split time with Ross. On April 30th the Pirates tried to send Benito on a rehab assignment, but he refused and proclaimed himself ready to play. Although Cota still had options remaining and could have been sent to AAA, the Pirates decided to release Santiago on May 8, feeling that Humberto Cota - batting .200 at the time - had won the starting job.
Santiago never played again in MLB.
So it was that after spending $1.125 million, trading the future closer Nunez, and buying the contract of another veteran, the Pirates were left a month into the season with Humberto Cota - a Pirate since 2001 - as the starter.
Benito Santiago's Pirates Career:
6 games (team record 1-5)
23 at-bats
1 run
6 hits
0 home runs
0 RBI
0 walks
0 stolen bases
.263 average
February 2, 2010
The Decade in Bobbleheads: 2002
PITTSBURGH, Pa. / February 2, 2002
Continuing the bobblehead retrospective, let's look at 2002, the first year the Pirates did better in the bobblehead department than on the field.
After issuing only one bobblehead per season in 2000 and 2001, the Pirates truly got on the bobblehead bandwagon in 2002 with a total of five giveaways. Quality was up as well, with all statues looking at least somewhat like the real player depicted despite some obvious flaws. The fans responded with solid attendance for all giveaways.
Willie Stargell
April 10, 2002
Worthiness: A+
Execution: B-
While Clemente's all-around game makes him the best Pirates player of all time, Willie Stargell gets my vote as the best Pirates hitter ever. His 2002 bobblehead, though not great, was easily the Pirates' best effort to date. The statue's face looks like Stargell, complete with 1979 era 'stache, and the 1979 jersey and hat are well done complete with Stargell Stars.
Unfortunately 2002 was still part of the "two fat legs stuck together" era of bobbleheads, causing the attempt at high stirrups to make it appear that the slugger is wearing black shorts and black work boots. As always I would prefer an action pose or at least a batting stance, but apparently technology didn't allow such things back in those days of yore.
The Pirates gave these away at the second home game of the season - traditionally one of the worst days of the year for attendance - and drew 36,000 fans. With a decent bobblehead and 62 degree weather, it hardly mattered that starter Kip Wells got rocked on the way to an 8-5 victory. Overall, this was a worthy giveaway and the best example of an early bobblehead before poses became more complex.
Jason Kendall
June 26, 2002
Worthiness: A
Execution: C+
After honoring three Hall of Famers, the Pirates made another worthy choice in depicting Jason Kendall as the first 2000s era bobblehead. Kendall is the greatest catcher in Pirates history, a three-time All-Star with a .306 batting average and .387 on base percentage during nine years in the Steel City. On a more dubious note, this giveaway began the tradition that any Pirate honored with a bobblehead is destined to be traded. At least Kendall stuck around for two more years after this giveaway.
Here the Pirates have done a pretty good job of depicting what Jason Kendall would look like if he was Puerto Rican. He looks pretty good as a Puerto Rican. Bonus points for finally producing a bobblehead that has an accurate mouth, i.e. including both lips and teeth. Catcher's gear is pretty well done too.
Kendall led off that day and got a walk, a hit, a run and an RBI as the giveaway drew 37,000 fans for a midweek 7-4 win over Montreal.
Brian Giles
September 6, 2002
Worthiness: A
Execution: B-
It seems like so long ago that Brian Giles batted in the middle of the Pirates' order. While he was still a useful player until 2008, his recent years have eroded memories of the level of star he was. In his five years in Pittsburgh, he never had an on base percentage below .404 or slugged less than .514. He averaged over 100 runs, RBI and walks a season and actually got MVP votes four years in a row - all astounding for a player who toiled for last place teams with little protection in the lineup. He even was part of two good trades, as the Pirates got him from the Indians for Ricardo Rincon and then after the five great years of production swapped him to San Diego for a package including future bobblehead Jason Bay.
The Brian Giles face is pretty well done, assuming he played for the Pirates when he was 16. Also I know that the fat attached legs era bobbleheads had limitations on pose, but get that ball to the infield already! When would he ever stand around with the ball during a game? Do they think Brian was a pitcher? Still, this cartoon 16-year-old Brian Giles bears a remarkable resemblance to the real guy and that's good for a B-. At this point I'm just going to assume the Pirates used to play in work boots.
33,000 fans turned out for this giveaway and were rewarded with an 11-0 rout of the Marlins. Giles batted third and went 1-for-3 with a walk, an RBI and a run scored.
Pokey Reese
September 21, 2002
Worthiness: C
Execution: B
I'm not sure why, but the Pirates were really pleased with their signing of Pokey Reese in 2002. He hit .237 with one home run in the first half, and the Pirates responded by adding a Reese bobblehead giveaway that September. Sure he was a good defender and a fan favorite, but Pokey Reese just isn't a name you would expect to see accompanied by the phrase "Pirates Great." I could understand the choice if the Pirates had honored five or six players from the '02 team, but there's no reason to honor Reese before Ramirez, Kevin Young, even Craig Wilson or Kris Benson.
Perhaps this bobblehead itself reflects the reason Pokey was chosen. Who else would be so proud to stand in a Pirates uniform, holding his hat and glove? While the Mazeroski bobblehead of 2000 appeared to be in great pain, this Pokey Reese radiates joy. It's also the most realistic proportioned bobblehead of the year, as the trademark early 2000s fat legs stuck together are a bit skinner than all other examples.
Over 33,000 fans turned out, and Pokey went 0-for-4 with a walk and a run scored out of the leadoff spot in a 4-2 loss to the Cubs.
Pirate Parrot
September 22, 2002
Worthiness: F
Execution: B
Do we really need a bobblehead of the Pirate Parrot? I just can't believe anyone cares that much about a mascot. This giveaway was nothing but shameless pandering for attendance by a bad team. The fact that this Pirate Parrot depiction is better done than the Mazeroski, Clemente and Stargell statues just adds insult to injury. The Pirate Parrot did not play as 25,000 fans saw a 5-4 victory over the Cubs.
Be sure to check out the previous years:
The Decade in Bobbleheads: 2001
The Decade in Bobbleheads: 2000
Again, sorry to disappoint anyone who came for the 1979 World Series Live Blog. For unavoidable reasons I had to postpone the Game 3 Live Blog to next week, Tuesday February 9 at 7:00 p.m.
Continuing the bobblehead retrospective, let's look at 2002, the first year the Pirates did better in the bobblehead department than on the field.
After issuing only one bobblehead per season in 2000 and 2001, the Pirates truly got on the bobblehead bandwagon in 2002 with a total of five giveaways. Quality was up as well, with all statues looking at least somewhat like the real player depicted despite some obvious flaws. The fans responded with solid attendance for all giveaways.
Willie StargellApril 10, 2002
Worthiness: A+
Execution: B-
While Clemente's all-around game makes him the best Pirates player of all time, Willie Stargell gets my vote as the best Pirates hitter ever. His 2002 bobblehead, though not great, was easily the Pirates' best effort to date. The statue's face looks like Stargell, complete with 1979 era 'stache, and the 1979 jersey and hat are well done complete with Stargell Stars.
Unfortunately 2002 was still part of the "two fat legs stuck together" era of bobbleheads, causing the attempt at high stirrups to make it appear that the slugger is wearing black shorts and black work boots. As always I would prefer an action pose or at least a batting stance, but apparently technology didn't allow such things back in those days of yore.
The Pirates gave these away at the second home game of the season - traditionally one of the worst days of the year for attendance - and drew 36,000 fans. With a decent bobblehead and 62 degree weather, it hardly mattered that starter Kip Wells got rocked on the way to an 8-5 victory. Overall, this was a worthy giveaway and the best example of an early bobblehead before poses became more complex.
Jason KendallJune 26, 2002
Worthiness: A
Execution: C+
After honoring three Hall of Famers, the Pirates made another worthy choice in depicting Jason Kendall as the first 2000s era bobblehead. Kendall is the greatest catcher in Pirates history, a three-time All-Star with a .306 batting average and .387 on base percentage during nine years in the Steel City. On a more dubious note, this giveaway began the tradition that any Pirate honored with a bobblehead is destined to be traded. At least Kendall stuck around for two more years after this giveaway.
Here the Pirates have done a pretty good job of depicting what Jason Kendall would look like if he was Puerto Rican. He looks pretty good as a Puerto Rican. Bonus points for finally producing a bobblehead that has an accurate mouth, i.e. including both lips and teeth. Catcher's gear is pretty well done too.
Kendall led off that day and got a walk, a hit, a run and an RBI as the giveaway drew 37,000 fans for a midweek 7-4 win over Montreal.
Brian GilesSeptember 6, 2002
Worthiness: A
Execution: B-
It seems like so long ago that Brian Giles batted in the middle of the Pirates' order. While he was still a useful player until 2008, his recent years have eroded memories of the level of star he was. In his five years in Pittsburgh, he never had an on base percentage below .404 or slugged less than .514. He averaged over 100 runs, RBI and walks a season and actually got MVP votes four years in a row - all astounding for a player who toiled for last place teams with little protection in the lineup. He even was part of two good trades, as the Pirates got him from the Indians for Ricardo Rincon and then after the five great years of production swapped him to San Diego for a package including future bobblehead Jason Bay.
The Brian Giles face is pretty well done, assuming he played for the Pirates when he was 16. Also I know that the fat attached legs era bobbleheads had limitations on pose, but get that ball to the infield already! When would he ever stand around with the ball during a game? Do they think Brian was a pitcher? Still, this cartoon 16-year-old Brian Giles bears a remarkable resemblance to the real guy and that's good for a B-. At this point I'm just going to assume the Pirates used to play in work boots.
33,000 fans turned out for this giveaway and were rewarded with an 11-0 rout of the Marlins. Giles batted third and went 1-for-3 with a walk, an RBI and a run scored.
Pokey ReeseSeptember 21, 2002
Worthiness: C
Execution: B
I'm not sure why, but the Pirates were really pleased with their signing of Pokey Reese in 2002. He hit .237 with one home run in the first half, and the Pirates responded by adding a Reese bobblehead giveaway that September. Sure he was a good defender and a fan favorite, but Pokey Reese just isn't a name you would expect to see accompanied by the phrase "Pirates Great." I could understand the choice if the Pirates had honored five or six players from the '02 team, but there's no reason to honor Reese before Ramirez, Kevin Young, even Craig Wilson or Kris Benson.
Perhaps this bobblehead itself reflects the reason Pokey was chosen. Who else would be so proud to stand in a Pirates uniform, holding his hat and glove? While the Mazeroski bobblehead of 2000 appeared to be in great pain, this Pokey Reese radiates joy. It's also the most realistic proportioned bobblehead of the year, as the trademark early 2000s fat legs stuck together are a bit skinner than all other examples.
Over 33,000 fans turned out, and Pokey went 0-for-4 with a walk and a run scored out of the leadoff spot in a 4-2 loss to the Cubs.
Pirate ParrotSeptember 22, 2002
Worthiness: F
Execution: B
Do we really need a bobblehead of the Pirate Parrot? I just can't believe anyone cares that much about a mascot. This giveaway was nothing but shameless pandering for attendance by a bad team. The fact that this Pirate Parrot depiction is better done than the Mazeroski, Clemente and Stargell statues just adds insult to injury. The Pirate Parrot did not play as 25,000 fans saw a 5-4 victory over the Cubs.
Be sure to check out the previous years:
The Decade in Bobbleheads: 2001
The Decade in Bobbleheads: 2000
Again, sorry to disappoint anyone who came for the 1979 World Series Live Blog. For unavoidable reasons I had to postpone the Game 3 Live Blog to next week, Tuesday February 9 at 7:00 p.m.
No Live Blog Tonight / Bobblehead Retrospective Instead
Greetings loyal readers,I'm sure this will disappoint the 5 people who were looking forward to the Live Blog, but alas I am a law student as well as a Pirates blogger. Law school responsibilities will prevent me from presenting a new 1979 World Series Live Blog tonight. I will resume with the Game 3 Live Blog a week from today, Tuesday, February 9, at 7 p.m.
I do strive to be the best blogger I can be, so in a pathetic attempt to provide original content, I will present the 2002 Year in Bobbleheads retrospective tonight at 7 p.m. This break should also give me a chance to recharge with my 1979 cultural references.
Go Bucs!
February 1, 2010
The 2010 Championship Is Real
PITTSBURGH, Pa. / February 1, 2010
It has come to my attention that several Pittsburgh fans do not believe 2010 will be a World Championship season. The argument goes something like: The same players who formed a horrible team in last year's second half are coming back, there have only been minor offseason changes, and even if a few players improve the Pirates will only win 75 games.
Clearly this argument is wrong, because the Pirates are going to win the World Series this year, and 75 win teams don't win the World Series. To elaborate:
1. The offense is better at every position.
The average age for a position player's offensive peak is 27. Thus, it is reasonable to expect anyone who was under 27 in 2008 to be better in 2009. Several returning starters, SS Ronny Cedeno (27 in 2010), 3B Andy LaRoche (26), CF Andrew McCutchen (23), and LF Lastings Milledge (25) fall into this category. It's unlikely that any of these players have had their career years yet.
2B Akinori Iwamura is a ridiculous upgrade on Delwyn Young, a solid pinch hitter who couldn't field or hit as an everyday player. 1B Jeff Clement, while unproven, has to do better than the crapfest that was Steven Pearce's second half. C Ryan Doumit had a poor 2009 mainly due to injury and should bounce back given good health, while backup Jason Jaramillo hits the magic age 27 this year. And RF Garret Jones, while not possessing Brandon Moss's defensive skills, will play a full season and is a major offensive upgrade over Moss, who memorably drove in one run all of last April.
There's no way a lineup is going to click when it is inhabited by garbage players like Brian Bixler and Steven Pearce. While not featuring any superstars, the Pirates' 2010 lineup is a big improvement and has as much talent as say, the 1988 Dodgers, who won the World Series. I see 800 run potential. Note: I may or may not have made that bullshit 1988 Dodgers claim while only being able to think of three players in that lineup.
2. The girl on the right sidebar believes in the Pirates.
And it's not just her. Halloween falls on the same night as Game 4 of the World Series this year. Imagine the possibilities. So many girls in Oakland will dress up as Slutty Ross Ohlendorf.
3. The starting rotation will eat innings and throw strikes.
Unlike hitters, control-type starting pitchers usually improve until age 29 or 30. The Pirates' rotation is headlined by Zach Duke (age 27), Paul Maholm (28) and Ross Ohlendorf (27), all of whom were solid last year and all of whom should continue to get better. I expect the Big 3 to each pitch 200 innings with a sub-4.00 ERA and under 3 walks per nine innings. Few walks plus good defense is a recipe for success. At #4, Charlie Morton had a 4.55 ERA last year as a 25-year-old, and showed a lot of improvement throughout the summer. He should be a league average starter which is all you expect from your #4.
Finally at fifth starter, there are a few options but I expect Daniel McCutchen to win the job. Do you remember the Kevin Hart/Ian Snell disaster at #5 last season? Yeah, they combined to go 3-16 with a 5.98 ERA in the 5 hole. Daniel McCutchen has been solid in Triple A for two full seasons now and while no one was watching, put up a respectable 4.21 ERA in six starts last September. Bullshit projection systems have him at between a 4.27 and 4.67 ERA this year which is far better than an average fifth starter.
4. Momentum will carry the Pirates to the World Series.
Anyone with even an elementary understanding of fluid dynamics knows that by getting off to a good start at home - say a 2-1 series win over the Dodgers - the Pirates will establish an unstoppable force which will carry them to a championship.
5. The Marlins have won two World Series.
Their logo is a teal fish! Obviously it doesn't take much.
6. The bullpen is significantly upgraded.
As I explained in an earlier post, unlike in previous years the Pirates should have a bullpen made up of seven pitchers who aren't complete jokes. John Russell was hamstrung last year by only having one or two reliable bullpen options at any time, which gave him zero leverage in making decisions. The Pirates have completely revamped their bullpen, filling it with credible average to above-average major league arms.
7. Wearing all black to games.
People look awesome in all black.
8. Believe.
There's really no reason to be a baseball fan other than to root for a championship for your team. You want to start believing now so that you can enjoy this entire championship run, from spring training until the parade.
Once Pittsburgh wins the championship it's not going to be that great to say, I bitched for 15 years, have been believing in them since mid-October and went to one game. You want to say, I believed all along.
This is 2010.
This is our year.
GoPens Pirates.
It has come to my attention that several Pittsburgh fans do not believe 2010 will be a World Championship season. The argument goes something like: The same players who formed a horrible team in last year's second half are coming back, there have only been minor offseason changes, and even if a few players improve the Pirates will only win 75 games.
Clearly this argument is wrong, because the Pirates are going to win the World Series this year, and 75 win teams don't win the World Series. To elaborate:
1. The offense is better at every position.The average age for a position player's offensive peak is 27. Thus, it is reasonable to expect anyone who was under 27 in 2008 to be better in 2009. Several returning starters, SS Ronny Cedeno (27 in 2010), 3B Andy LaRoche (26), CF Andrew McCutchen (23), and LF Lastings Milledge (25) fall into this category. It's unlikely that any of these players have had their career years yet.
2B Akinori Iwamura is a ridiculous upgrade on Delwyn Young, a solid pinch hitter who couldn't field or hit as an everyday player. 1B Jeff Clement, while unproven, has to do better than the crapfest that was Steven Pearce's second half. C Ryan Doumit had a poor 2009 mainly due to injury and should bounce back given good health, while backup Jason Jaramillo hits the magic age 27 this year. And RF Garret Jones, while not possessing Brandon Moss's defensive skills, will play a full season and is a major offensive upgrade over Moss, who memorably drove in one run all of last April.
There's no way a lineup is going to click when it is inhabited by garbage players like Brian Bixler and Steven Pearce. While not featuring any superstars, the Pirates' 2010 lineup is a big improvement and has as much talent as say, the 1988 Dodgers, who won the World Series. I see 800 run potential. Note: I may or may not have made that bullshit 1988 Dodgers claim while only being able to think of three players in that lineup.
2. The girl on the right sidebar believes in the Pirates.
And it's not just her. Halloween falls on the same night as Game 4 of the World Series this year. Imagine the possibilities. So many girls in Oakland will dress up as Slutty Ross Ohlendorf.
3. The starting rotation will eat innings and throw strikes.
Unlike hitters, control-type starting pitchers usually improve until age 29 or 30. The Pirates' rotation is headlined by Zach Duke (age 27), Paul Maholm (28) and Ross Ohlendorf (27), all of whom were solid last year and all of whom should continue to get better. I expect the Big 3 to each pitch 200 innings with a sub-4.00 ERA and under 3 walks per nine innings. Few walks plus good defense is a recipe for success. At #4, Charlie Morton had a 4.55 ERA last year as a 25-year-old, and showed a lot of improvement throughout the summer. He should be a league average starter which is all you expect from your #4.
Finally at fifth starter, there are a few options but I expect Daniel McCutchen to win the job. Do you remember the Kevin Hart/Ian Snell disaster at #5 last season? Yeah, they combined to go 3-16 with a 5.98 ERA in the 5 hole. Daniel McCutchen has been solid in Triple A for two full seasons now and while no one was watching, put up a respectable 4.21 ERA in six starts last September. Bullshit projection systems have him at between a 4.27 and 4.67 ERA this year which is far better than an average fifth starter.
4. Momentum will carry the Pirates to the World Series.Anyone with even an elementary understanding of fluid dynamics knows that by getting off to a good start at home - say a 2-1 series win over the Dodgers - the Pirates will establish an unstoppable force which will carry them to a championship.
5. The Marlins have won two World Series.
Their logo is a teal fish! Obviously it doesn't take much.
6. The bullpen is significantly upgraded.
As I explained in an earlier post, unlike in previous years the Pirates should have a bullpen made up of seven pitchers who aren't complete jokes. John Russell was hamstrung last year by only having one or two reliable bullpen options at any time, which gave him zero leverage in making decisions. The Pirates have completely revamped their bullpen, filling it with credible average to above-average major league arms.
7. Wearing all black to games.
People look awesome in all black.
8. Believe.
There's really no reason to be a baseball fan other than to root for a championship for your team. You want to start believing now so that you can enjoy this entire championship run, from spring training until the parade.
Once Pittsburgh wins the championship it's not going to be that great to say, I bitched for 15 years, have been believing in them since mid-October and went to one game. You want to say, I believed all along.
This is 2010.
This is our year.
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