Pirates Tidbits (2009 season)

[Jake]

Originally Posted by Jake

Bucs chase Dan Haren after five innings and four runs, his shortest outing of the season. Go figure.

Of course, they still have to hold the lead.

4 batters, 1 out and 3 runs later, it's tied at 4-4.

[Jake]

Originally Posted by Jake

4 batters, 1 out and 3 runs later, it's tied at 4-4.

2 innings later, Arizona leads 9-4. Same old Pirates.

[Jake]

Failing to reach an agreement on an extension you knew Jack Wilson was a goner. He goes to Seattle along with Ian Snell (underachiever extraordinaire) in exchange for Ronny Cedeno, Jeff Clement and 3 minor league pitchers.

It seems every trade the Bucs have made since Huntington took over last year has involved at least one pitcher in return. Stock piling the minors with arms is fine with me given the pitching woes over the years.

Look for Freddy Sanchez (another failed contract extension) to be gone by Friday as well.

[NFBuck]

Originally Posted by Jake

Look for Freddy Sanchez (another failed contract extension) to be gone by Friday as well.

Looks like the Giants are emerging as favorites...

2:20pm: SI.com's Jon Heyman says the Giants are in serious talks for Sanchez. The teams are discussing John Bowker, Kevin Frandsen and Jesus Guzman.

MLB Rumors - MLBTradeRumors.com

[Jake]

Sanchez to SF for 2007 top draft pick, pitcher Tim Alderson. If this guy lives up to the hype it'll be a steal.

Tim Alderson - The Baseball Cube

[Jake]

Originally Posted by Jake

Sanchez to SF for 2007 top draft pick, pitcher Tim Alderson. If this guy lives up to the hype it'll be a steal.

Tim Alderson - The Baseball Cube

5:51pm: Kovacevic is reporting that the minor leaguer is AA pitcher Tim Alderson. This is an impressive haul for Sanchez--Alderson was ranked the #4 prospect in the Giants' system by Baseball America. What we thought was a salary dump deal has turned into a pretty solid coup for the Pirates.

MLB Rumors - MLBTradeRumors.com

[Jake]

Another day, another trade, another young starting pitcher. Kevin Hart from the Cubs for FA to be RP John Grabow and disappointing Tom Gorzellany.

ESPN cracked me up this morning bemoaning the players the Pirates traded the last 2 years, as though they were the '27 Yankees. They couldn't even play .500 ball so trading pending FAs and overpaid underachievers is okay with me, so long as they're good trades and the talent acquired amounts to something. Time will tell.

[NFBuck]

Originally Posted by Jake

Another day, another trade, another young starting pitcher. Kevin Hart from the Cubs for FA to be RP John Grabow and disappointing Tom Gorzellany.

ESPN cracked me up this morning bemoaning the players the Pirates traded the last 2 years, as though they were the '27 Yankees. They couldn't even play .500 ball so trading pending FAs and overpaid underachievers is okay with me, so long as they're good trades and the talent acquired amounts to something. Time will tell.

Well, at least they're moving in the right direction. Given their track record developing players, however, makes it hard to believe much will come of it.

I have a soft spot for the Buccos as my pops was a diehard Pirates fan and I went to many games in the late 80's/early 90's at Three Rivers. Those were some teams. They need ownership that gives a [censored] about the franchise. If you put a winner in that beautiful stadium, they'd be a hot ticket. Unfortunately, that'll probably never happen. Such a waste. McCutcheon is a real talent, unfortunately, he's just biding his time until the inevitable trade in 2011.

[Bucky Katt]

Originally Posted by Jake

ESPN cracked me up this morning bemoaning the players the Pirates traded the last 2 years, as though they were the '27 Yankees.

Quote from Neal Huntington, the Pirates' GM:

"We don't feel like we've broken up the '27 Yankees ... It's not like we've taken something on the rise and tore it down."

[Jake]

Originally Posted by NFBuck

Well, at least they're moving in the right direction. Given their track record developing players, however, makes it hard to believe much will come of it.

The struggles since 93 are well documented, but Huntington has only been on the job for 14 months and he's added 27 young players to a farm system sorely in need of talent. He had no part in the previous 13+ years. New pitching coach Joe Kerrigan has made a noticeable improvement with a few of the young arms this year, and if he sticks around there is reason to believe he could make something of the new guys, too.

This is the approach the Bucs needed to take. They need a strong farm system, a la Minnesota, to be competitive (or something close to it) with any regularity. It's the only way "small markets" can compete in the current MLB. I just wish they had taken this approach a few years ago instead of overpaying aging veterans like Derek Bell, Jeromy Burnitz and Matt Morris.

[NFBuck]

Originally Posted by Jake

This is the approach the Bucs needed to take. They need a strong farm system, a la Minnesota, to be competitive (or something close to it) with any regularity. It's the only way "small markets" can compete in the current MLB. I just wish they had taken this approach a few years ago instead of overpaying aging veterans like Derek Bell, Jeromy Burnitz and Matt Morris.

Try explaining that to Indians fans. Most of them have deluded themselves into thinking Cliff Lee = Roy Halladay and Victor Martinez (and his .213 BA since May) was worth more than three prospects (including one very highly touted one). Small market teams have to build from within and that happens by shipping off established stars to seed the farm system. Indians fans don't get that for the most part. They seem to think we should keep the guys we have and continue signing Carl Pavano's, Kerry Woods's and David Dallucci's. All that adds up to is 85 losses. It's [censored]ing ponderous.

[Jake]

Andrew MCutcheon, 4/4 with 3 homers tonight.

Sure is fun when the Nationals come to town.

[NYBuckeye]

Originally Posted by Jake

Andrew MCutcheon, 4/4 with 3 homers tonight.

NL Rookie of the Year?

[NFBuck]

Originally Posted by Jake

Andrew MCutcheon, 4/4 with 3 homers tonight.

Sure is fun when the Nationals come to town.

That kid's gonna be a helluva player.

[Jake]

Originally Posted by Jake

Sure is fun when the Nationals come to town.

Well, it was fun for awhile. The Nats won the last 2 games to split the 4 game series at PNC Park.

Tonight, something called Yusmeiro Petit - with a 1-5 record and 6.75 ERA - has a no hitter going against the Bucs through 7 innings, and leads 6-0.