Pirates tidbits (2012 season)

[Jake]

82 or bust, the annual rallying cry.

So how are the Bucs preparing for next year's run at mediocrity?

Signed Eric Bedard. Solid pitcher when healthy, worthless when on the DL (where he spends the majority of his time).

Signed Nate McLouth. He turned to crap right after they traded him away a couple years back so getting him on the cheap as a 4th OF isn't the worst move they've ever made.

Traded Jose Veras for Casey McGehee. Veras was a decent reliever but the Bucs actually have depth there. Interesting move after former #1 overall pick Pedro Alvarez shit the bed last season. Of course, first base isn't exactly crowded so if both guys are actually semi-productive there's a spot available.

Paul Maholm appears to be gone since Bedard signed for half of what Maholm's option would cost. Maholm may land on his feet somewhere and be a decent pitcher but frankly Pirates fans are tired of watching him. Charlie Morton - who either throws a CG or gets chased in the first - is back as is Kevin Correia. Joel Hanrahan is there to close when there is the occasional chance at victory.

Tabata, Presley and McCutcheon form an interesting young outfield with a lot of potential. If Alvarez and McGehee can provide some pop in the middle (along with underrated 2B Neil Walker) there could be enough production to chase the elusive 82. As usual, it'll come down to the rotation not imploding 2-3 times a week.

Go Bucs. :ohwell:

 

[darbypitcher22]

I work with a lot of people from the Pittsburgh area. If the Buccos start out like gang busters and win the first 2 or 3 everyone will start screaming "Championship! NL Central YES!"

Then they'll lose 4 or 5 and it'll be "Fire Hurdle! Sell off the team!"

Same thing the last 4 or 5 years anyways.

 

[Jake]

NFL fans are like that every sunday.

 

[darbypitcher22]

NFL fans are like that every sunday.

Yes I know but its a little easier to handle... its only 16 weeks of that and a win keeps everyone happy.

Only been once but I loved PNC Park. The people I was with are natives and they just kept saying how much of a shame it is that they can't put a better team in it, and I agree.

 

[Jake]

The date was July 20, 2011 and the Pittsburgh Pirates were alone in first place in the N.L. Central, having just shut out the Cincinnati Reds in consecutive games. This actually happened. Easily verifiable. The season was well beyond its halfway point and Pittsburgh sat atop a division that would eventually produce two playoff teams, including the Series champ.

But then the year took a familiar turn. The Pirates dropped three straight games, and 19 of their next 24. On the morning of August 20, 2011, just one month after leading the Central, Pittsburgh found itself in fourth place, 14.5 games back. Buried. Doomed. The team would ultimately finish with 90 losses. The Bucs have not experienced a winning campaign since 1992, when Barry Bonds Version 1.0 was at his peak.

Woohoo. :ohwell:

Here come the Bucs

 

[Jake]

Well, there is some good news: the Bucs no longer have to deal with Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder 36 games this year. :pirate2:

 

[darbypitcher22]

Well, there is some good news: the Bucs no longer have to deal with Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder 36 games this year. :pirate2:

I'm sure this will excite them.

 

[Jake]

Yes I know but its a little easier to handle... its only 16 weeks of that and a win keeps everyone happy.

Only been once but I loved PNC Park. The people I was with are natives and they just kept saying how much of a shame it is that they can't put a better team in it, and I agree.

Judging by attendance figures it seems too many in the Burgh are quite content to enjoy the weather, get another bobblehead or worthless trinket and watch fireworks or a lousy over the hill band after the game. I'm tired of of buying tickets for that shit.

I'll make my annual visit but nothing more if it's another garbage season, which seems likely.

 

[brodybuck21]

Any info on Reynoldsburg/OSU grad Eric Fryer and if he will be in the mix for the starting catcher position in 2012?

 

[ScriptOhio]

Any info on Reynoldsburg/OSU grad Eric Fryer and if he will be in the mix for the starting catcher position in 2012?

This site doesn't think so:

2011
AA: 345/427/549, 113 AB, 4 2B, 2 3B, 5 HR, 16 BB, 21 K, 1 SB
AAA: 203/333/314, 118 AB, 5 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 21 BB, 30 K, 3-3 SB
MLB: 269/345/269, 26 AB, 3 BB, 7 K, 1-2 SB
Fryer opened the season backing up Sanchez again, this time at Altoona. He also saw time in both outfield corners and at DH. He was hot at bat in the early going, hitting posting a .976 OPS through late May. At that point, the Pirates were losing catchers left and right and ran short in AAA, so they promoted Fryer. He hit well initially and, dissatisfied with Dusty Brown and Wyatt Toregas, the Pirates acquired Mike McKenry and added Fryer to the roster to serve as the backup. He saw only limited action but held his own, going 7-for-26 with three walks. He threw out three of ten base stealers and had no passed balls in eight games, although his inexperience showed at times. When Ryan Doumit returned, the Pirates sent Fryer back to AAA and he struggled badly, hitting 132/281/151 in 17 games while sharing the catching with Jason Jaramillo. He had a good walk total, but he fanned in a quarter of his ABs. Between Altoona and Indianapolis, Fryer threw out 27% of base stealers.
The Pirates did not recall Fryer in September. This made sense with Doumit, McKenry and Jaramillo all in the majors, although their puzzling, mid-month decision to claim the Matt Pagnozzi may indicate that the Pirates have reservations about Fryer, a possibility they reinforced by designating Fryer for assignment to make room for roster additions in preparation for the Rule 5 draft. At this point, despite being 26, Fryer has surprisingly little experience behind the plate. He?s caught only 225 pro games due to the moves back and forth between the plate and the outfield, the 2010 injury, the two partial seasons on the same team with Sanchez, and the time spent on the bench in Pittsburgh. He also has an erratic track record at bat, which surfaced again when he went back to AAA. Of course, he?s gotten only 257 ABs above class A. It?s a little hard to say exactly what the Pirates have with Fryer, but he clearly has potential, both defensively and offensively, drastically more of the latter than the offensively hopeless Pagnozzi. He cleared waivers and should return to Indianapolis in 2012.

Entire article: http://players.piratesprospects.com/2010/02/eric-fryer.html

 

[brodybuck21]

This site doesn't think so:

2011
AA: 345/427/549, 113 AB, 4 2B, 2 3B, 5 HR, 16 BB, 21 K, 1 SB
AAA: 203/333/314, 118 AB, 5 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 21 BB, 30 K, 3-3 SB
MLB: 269/345/269, 26 AB, 3 BB, 7 K, 1-2 SB
Fryer opened the season backing up Sanchez again, this time at Altoona. He also saw time in both outfield corners and at DH. He was hot at bat in the early going, hitting posting a .976 OPS through late May. At that point, the Pirates were losing catchers left and right and ran short in AAA, so they promoted Fryer. He hit well initially and, dissatisfied with Dusty Brown and Wyatt Toregas, the Pirates acquired Mike McKenry and added Fryer to the roster to serve as the backup. He saw only limited action but held his own, going 7-for-26 with three walks. He threw out three of ten base stealers and had no passed balls in eight games, although his inexperience showed at times. When Ryan Doumit returned, the Pirates sent Fryer back to AAA and he struggled badly, hitting 132/281/151 in 17 games while sharing the catching with Jason Jaramillo. He had a good walk total, but he fanned in a quarter of his ABs. Between Altoona and Indianapolis, Fryer threw out 27% of base stealers.
The Pirates did not recall Fryer in September. This made sense with Doumit, McKenry and Jaramillo all in the majors, although their puzzling, mid-month decision to claim the Matt Pagnozzi may indicate that the Pirates have reservations about Fryer, a possibility they reinforced by designating Fryer for assignment to make room for roster additions in preparation for the Rule 5 draft. At this point, despite being 26, Fryer has surprisingly little experience behind the plate. He?s caught only 225 pro games due to the moves back and forth between the plate and the outfield, the 2010 injury, the two partial seasons on the same team with Sanchez, and the time spent on the bench in Pittsburgh. He also has an erratic track record at bat, which surfaced again when he went back to AAA. Of course, he?s gotten only 257 ABs above class A. It?s a little hard to say exactly what the Pirates have with Fryer, but he clearly has potential, both defensively and offensively, drastically more of the latter than the offensively hopeless Pagnozzi. He cleared waivers and should return to Indianapolis in 2012.

Entire article: http://players.piratesprospects.com/2010/02/eric-fryer.html

Thanks!

 

[Jake]

Any info on Reynoldsburg/OSU grad Eric Fryer and if he will be in the mix for the starting catcher position in 2012?

The Bucs signed the immortal Rod fucking Barajas, so I doubt it with McKenry also being in the mix. Fryer played a little last year when three catchers were hurt.

 

[brodybuck21]

The Bucs signed the immortal Rod fucking Barajas, so I doubt it with McKenry also being in the mix. Fryer played a little last year when three catchers were hurt.

This is what I figured....

 

[Jake]

This is what happens when you stink for 19 years. :ohwell:

Well, it appears that the Bucs aren't quite as myopic - or cheap - as we thought. They did try to land some pitching. It ends up that the FO made a nice little offer to Edwin Jackson, one that would have possibly kept him around until the Gerrit Cole and Jameson Taillon debuts. They tried to entice him from two directions, one year for $10M or 3 years for $30M, according to Fox Sport's Ken Rosenthal. But it was no dice, as EJ inked an $11M deal with the Nats.

They also reached out to Roy Oswalt and were shooed away, according to Rob Biertempfel of the Trib. They didn't even use the interest to help build Oswalt's market value a tad. That's a little odd, as he's 34 years old and the team's he's courted so far haven't shown much reciprocal interest.

http://www.oldbucs.blogspot.com/

 

[Jake]

Pirates acquire A.J. Burnett in exchange for two minor leaguers

Championship!