The Official 2006 Pittsburgh Pirates Thread

[LetsGoBucs]

Re: The 2006 Save us Mark Cuban Thread

Nice game by Ian Snell last night. Maybe the starters are starting to come around. They've been pitching good for a few weeks now, minus Ollie....

[mjb2124]

Re: The 2006 Save us Mark Cuban Thread

Well, Florida just took 2 out of 3 from us. Does it get any lower? Anyhow, more ramblings as I wait for this damn conference call to end so I can go home:

- Duffy sent down, Mike Edwards back up. Duffy needed to go down, but Edwards? Ehhh, I guess it's better than sitting a young guy a future on the bench. Let Edwards rot there.

- Snell was terrible yesterday. Cota was a lot of the problem in the first inning (dropping pitches, passed balls, stolen bases), but Snell was bad as well. He had done well for a while until that point.

- Craig Wilson has really fallen off. He was on a tear early on, but can't do anything now.

- Littlefield said today that when Randa is healthy, he's the starting 3B. Wonderful. Jose Bautista, the future at 3B for the Pirates, has done well since he was called up. 2 HR's and good defense. Yet the Pirates still want to play Randa. Why? At this point, looking toward next year should be all that matters and Bautista is part of that.....Randa isn't.

- Ollie goes on Wed and says he's felt GREAT in his bullpen sessions. It will also be the first time he's pitched since he decided to go back to his 2004 mechanics. Going to be interesting.

- Tracy seems a little tense lately. In his interviews in the Post-Gazette and on TV, he's been very quick with answers. The losing is getting to him. I'm sure he's having a hard time rationalizing all his promises during the spring about how much better this team would be.

- Wilson and Doumit should be back from injuries this week. Hamstring injuries tend to linger so I expect to see 1 of them, or both on the DL at some point the rest of the year. It's a shame for Jack as he was playing very well.

That's about it from me. I'm finding it hard to watch this team lately. I get through a few innings and usually find something else to do. Way too early in the season to do that!

[LetsGoBucs]

Re: The 2006 Save us Mark Cuban Thread

Ollie pitched a nice game last night. Too bad the pen couldn't hold it.

Good sign if Ollie comes around....

[DirrtySouth78]

Re: The 2006 Save us Mark Cuban Thread

Not Even June yet and Baseball season is over in PGH, Ugh..Heard rumour that McClatchey might sell his part of team after ASG, would love to see Cuban pick that up...Its obvious this season is a wash, why not just go all young guys, F it. Whats the worst they can do, maybe win a lil bit..Beernutz is absloutely awful, I had hope for awhile about this team but I can't stand even watchin them anymore. Whatever happened to that guarantee that if we gave the Pirates a new stadium our payroll would be competitive..40 mil. isn't competitive..Frustration is getting to me, bout to start selling rest of my season tickets if we don't look a lil better soon..Attendance has to be dropping lately cause we are getting worse rather than better.

[LetsGoPitt]

Re: The 2006 Save us Mark Cuban Thread

Casey is back for the Bucs today. Too bad that means less of Craig Wilson, because Burnitz isn't going to be sent to the bench. At least Bernie is finally hitting on occasion.

Duke starts tonight because of the marathon game. I really hope he can turn things around, because the rest of the staff is looking better. Ollie is finally looking like his old self. Too bad Tracy left him in a little too long yesterday.

[LetsGoPitt]

Re: The 2006 Save us Mark Cuban Thread

Ahh...nothing like a good ol' 14-3 butt whooping to put you in a good mood. Doug Davis looked like the DD from a few years ago in this one. Sadly though, Bay's home run streak came to an end today. Nice to see Casey back in the lineup and contributing already. And I certainly don't mind seeing Bautista playing in CF, especially if he hits like he did today.

[mjb2124]

Re: The 2006 Save us Mark Cuban Thread

LGoP - I loved today's lineup. Not because they scored 14 runs (some of those were gift wrapped), but because of the balance it showed. Some power hitters, some spray hitters, some speed, some contact hitters, some defense.

Let's hope this starts off a nice little winning streak. Of course we have a somewhat tough schedule coming up against the NL West so we'll see.

Also good to see that Ollie has been pitching much better. Improved velocity and a lot more snap on his slider.

[LetsGoPitt]

Re: The 2006 Save us Mark Cuban Thread

I think the lineup should stay the way it is for the forseeable future. Swapping Burnitz and Wilson really doesn't make much of a difference these days (both have power and strike out way more than they should). As much as I like Sanchez, he's not a #3 hitter. I'd even consider maybe putting him 8th, as he's a scrappy type of hitter who would be a good one to help turn the lineup over. Paulino is wasted in the #8 spot, as is Castillo. I'd consider putting Paulino at #6 and Castillo at #7 (or vice versa).

Let's see how Santos does today. He's definitely the odd man out once Wells comes back.

[mjb2124]

Re: The 2006 Save us Mark Cuban Thread

Yep, I wouldn't change a thing in this lineup.....which probably means Tracy will change it completely!

Seriously, since another LH'er is going tonight for MIL, he should continue to sit Burnitz and go with the same exact lineup. Then try some other things when a RH'er is pitching.

Here's a problem I have. This organization seems to have no direction. Bautista is supposed to be the 3B of the future, yet he never plays 3B. Most of his playing time seems to be in CF. Other guys get the same treatment. Where's the plan? Here's a list of things:

Where will Bautista play next year? 3B? CF? RF?
If Bautista is a CF'er, what about McLouth? RF?
Where does Doumit play if Paulino is the "everyday" catcher? RF? 1B?
Does Sanchez stay at 3B? He's hitting and fielding great....

I guess some of it depends on if Casey comes back. With Eldred's injury, he now needs another year in AAA. He's starting to get older and I'm not sure he's the answer at 1B either.

I'd just like to see the team get a plan, stick to it and let the chips fall where they may. Right now there are too many players without positions or with too many possible positions.

[bjf1377]

Re: The 2006 Save us Mark Cuban Thread

Well guys, if the weather looks like it will cooperate, me & my buddies may contribute to the Pittsburgh economy a little bit by going to the game Friday. I'm a big Padres fan and I really wanna see PNC Park, so this is a damn good weekend to see a game. I'm amazed at the number of tickets left for the game still. Reminds me of going to a Brewers game at Miller Park a few years back and having prime choice for seats

[mjb2124]

Re: The 2006 Save us Mark Cuban Thread

Weekday games are empty. Usually only 15,000.

Weekend games lately have drawn around 25-30K. Mostly walkups especially if it's a nice day.

People just refuse to buy season tickets for this team. Not worth spending the money on season tickets knowing the Owner is putting it into his pocket and not back into the product on the field. 14 straight losing seasons tends to make people not care anymore. Add in reports that the Ownership group is making over 20 MIL on the team and pocketing much of that and you get what's happening to the Pirates.

[bjf1377]

Re: The 2006 Save us Mark Cuban Thread

Weekday games are empty. Usually only 15,000.

Weekend games lately have drawn around 25-30K. Mostly walkups especially if it's a nice day.

People just refuse to buy season tickets for this team. Not worth spending the money on season tickets knowing the Owner is putting it into his pocket and not back into the product on the field. 14 straight losing seasons tends to make people not care anymore. Add in reports that the Ownership group is making over 20 MIL on the team and pocketing much of that and you get what's happening to the Pirates.

Well, hopefully the weather will keep away a few of those people so we can get some decent seats. I'm kinda excited cause I saw Jason Bay's first career HR when he was with the Padres and I've been following him since. And (sadly) I've seen more Padres games than Indians games the past few years. And obviously, everyone I talk to that has been to PNC Park loves it, so I have to add it to my stadium list

[mjb2124]

Re: The 2006 Save us Mark Cuban Thread

Well, hopefully the weather will keep away a few of those people so we can get some decent seats. I'm kinda excited cause I saw Jason Bay's first career HR when he was with the Padres and I've been following him since. And (sadly) I've seen more Padres games than Indians games the past few years. And obviously, everyone I talk to that has been to PNC Park loves it, so I have to add it to my stadium list

Currently it's supposed to be 70 with some thunderstorms. Hopefully the storms are in the morning/early afternoon. I'm sure you can get decent seats. I just advise against LF and RF seats. I personally don't like those seats.

Have fun.

[LetsGoPitt]

Re: The 2006 Save us Mark Cuban Thread

Hell of a game this afternoon! After Castillo almost wins it with a hit that was originally ruled a homerun and later changed to a double, Doumit ends up driving him in with a single to win the game. Great comeback and a 4-game sweep against the Brewers. And Burnitz even contibuted with 2 doubles!

Let's hope this roll can continue against the Padres

[mjb2124]

Re: The 2006 Save us Mark Cuban Thread

Yeah I was following it on ESPN Gamecast and then later read in the PG that Castillo almost continued his HR streak. That would've been something if he won it on a HR AND continued his streak.

4 game sweep is nice! 6 of the last 7 as well. This team is really hot right now.

We've got Jake Peavy on Saturday so that's going to be a real big challenge.