Pittsburgh Sound | 2008 Pittsburgh Pirates

[goosedennis]

Pirates Looking to Improve on 2007 Season



PITTSBURGH -- Looking to rebound on a disappointing 68-94 season, newly-appointed General Manager Neal Huntington took to the free agent market to upgrade the team. Over the winter, he added corner infielder Doug Mientkiewicz. Mientkiewicz, 33, hit .277/.349/.440 last year with the New York Yankees, which prompted Huntington to offer him a two-year deal worth $3.84 million in the first year and $4.84 in the latter. The second year is a team-option contract year, which means that if the Pirates are unhappy with his performance, he can be dropped for a $400,000 buyout. The Buccos are expecting that he can hit about .270/.330/.425 this season and will be upset if he does not.

[goosedennis]

Opening day, I decide to check the waiver wire.



A couple of these guys look good, then I see Scott Hatteberg, who was waived by the Reds.
.



I look into his stats and decide "why the hell not," so I put in a claim for him.

[goosedennis]

Pirates Announce Lineups

As it has been for the past 4 seasons, the lineup is lead by outfielder Jason Bay

1.
#16 Doug Mientkiewicz 3B
166 AB - .277/.349/.440, 5 HR, 24 RBI

2.
#12 Freddy Sanchez 2B
602 AB - .304/.343/.442, 11 HR, 81 RBI

3.
#13 Nate McLouth CF
329 AB - .258/.351/.459, 13 HR, 38 RBI

4.
#25 Adam LaRoche 1B
563 AB - .272/.345/.458, 21 HR, 88 RBI

5.
#38 Jason Bay LF
538 AB - .247/.327/.418, 21 HR, 84 RBI

6.
#22 Xavier Nady RF
431 AB - .278/.330/.476, 20 HR, 72 RBI

7.
#41 Ryan Doumit C
252 AB - .274/.341/.472, 9 HR, 32 RBI

8.
#2 Jack Wilson SS
535 AB - .296/.350/.440, 12 HR, 56 RBI

Rotation

1. Ian Snell #45
208 IP - 9-12, 3.76 ERA, 1.33 WHIP

2. Tom Gorzelanny #24 LHP
201.2 IP - 14-10, 3.88 ERA, 140 WHIP

3. Zach Duke #57
107.1 IP - 3-8, 5.53 ERA, 1.73 WHIP

4. Paul Maholm #28 LHP
177.2 IP - 10-15, 5.02 ERA, 1.42 WHIP

5. Matt Morris #35
198.2 IP - 10-11, 4.89 ERA, 1.52 WHIP

[UKPhilliesFan]

Good potential in the lineup there, keep going