2010 Pirates

[BurghFan]

Re: 2010 Pirates

As I said earlier in this thread, I love interleague play but the Pirates just can't seem to win. And for anyone wondering, the Pirates do indeed have the worst overall record in interleague play since its inception in 1997. This only goe through 2009, but with a 2-13 mark this year it's not getting any better.

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/history/interleague/records.jsp

[MizzyMike05]

Re: 2010 Pirates

Good game for the Pirates tonite against the Phillies. McCutchen looked like he was locked in with good command. Meek had two pretty solid innings and his ERA dropped below 1 again. Dotel has been doing very well in closing situations, and he looks pretty reliable, so hopefully they can get something for him at the deadline. Alvarez has quietly hit in 4 straight games and seems to be slowly finding his swing.

[KOP]

Re: 2010 Pirates

side note but over the past year or so after attending a game at PNC Park I've become somewhat of a Pirates fan. It's kind of weird because I'm a Rangers fan and I guess I too am accustomed to not really going anywhere (this year changes it hopefully!) so I feel bad for the Pirates and mainly the fans. There is such a good core of young talent starting from McCutchen to Tabata to Lincoln to Morris to Alvarez and the list goes on but you can't be having half of the people they have playing for them now to make it anywhere. It's sad and I hope one day that the Pirates once again return to their former glory days but as far as right now goes, that's going to be a BIG work in progress.

[M11x]

Re: 2010 Pirates

side note but over the past year or so after attending a game at PNC Park I've become somewhat of a Pirates fan. It's kind of weird because I'm a Rangers fan and I guess I too am accustomed to not really going anywhere (this year changes it hopefully!) so I feel bad for the Pirates and mainly the fans. There is such a good core of young talent starting from McCutchen to Tabata to Lincoln to Morris to Alvarez and the list goes on but you can't be having half of the people they have playing for them now to make it anywhere. It's sad and I hope one day that the Pirates once again return to their former glory days but as far as right now goes, that's going to be a BIG work in progress.

This club is still a mess but I can't remember a more encouraging time to watch the Pirates since the '97 club fell short a couple games for the division.

[M11x]

Re: 2010 Pirates

I think Huntington should trade Meek now at his potentially highest value. Obviously many contending teams could use Meek in the second half and some might be willing to part with more than at the end of the season.

[MizzyMike05]

Re: 2010 Pirates

What do you guys have for predictions for the second half of the season for the Buccos? Who do you think Huntington will move, if anyone at all? Will Garrett Jones go on a tear? Will McCutchen bat .300? Meek's second half? Any prospects going to get called up? Will Alvarez prove he is an elite talent?

I think that the pirates will finish the year having somewhere between 60-65 wins. Meek's ERA will probably creep up to around the 2 area. McCutchen will most likely bat around .290, he needs to pick up his RBI total. Garrett Jones will have somewhere between 22-28 HR's. Huntington will probably trade Doumit now, along with maybe Lopez and Dotel. Maholm or Duke could possibly be shipped for the right price. Most likely no major prospects will smell the bigs this season. And last but certainly not least, I believe Pedro Alvarez will get his average up around .265 and maybe have 18 HR's by year's end. Lets go bucs!

[mjb2124]

Re: 2010 Pirates

Here is hoping that we can finish dead last and draft that Anthony Rendon kid from Rice next year.

Unfortunately Rendon destroyed his ankle playing for Team USA this past Wednesday. Some reports said he fractured multiple areas in his ankle and foot, tore tendons and a possible dislocation. Hopefully he can bounce back from what sounds like a terrible injury. If he does bounce back, but doesn't play up to his capabilities, it might make for an interesting pick. Do you take Rendon and hope he'll eventually bounce back completely or take another player that might not be as talented or have as high of a ceiling?

[BurghFan]

Re: 2010 Pirates

Well, the Bucs were busy today.

-Crosby, Carrasco, Church to Arizona for C Chris Snyder & SS Pedrio Ciriaco
- Dotel to LA for RHP James McDonald and OF Andrew Lambo
- Lopez to SF for RHP Jose Martinez and LF John Bowker

Looks like the pen is getting an overhaul. I would assume Meek moves into the closer role with Dotel gone. What they really is starting pitchers though.

[MizzyMike05]

Re: 2010 Pirates

Just to bud in real quick, I absolutely love every move done today for the team. They are looking a lot better now.

[DirrtySouth78]

Re: 2010 Pirates

I also would like to say that I like the moves the Buccos made at the deadline.

I would also like to give my $.02 on all the people here in PGH that I hear who think than Huntington needs to go. I believe it would be a mistake to let that man go. Not saying everything has gone right in his tenure, but since he has taken over as GM, the Pirates have gone from a 5+ year rebuilding plan to possibly 3-5 year. He has dramatically improved the minors and has shipped out players who were not part of the rebuilding plan, but has not traded players away without atleast getting something in return

I'm not saying that all the deals worked out in his favor, but if you look at who was sent away for who they got at that time, more often than not I would say that atleast it looked even. You can atleast see that he has a plan and has taken a few chances, wether they worked out or not I understand the reasoning.

I just get tired of all the Bashing I hear around here lately and wanted to vent a lil bit. I think the man has a plan and has the Buccos atleast pointed in right direction. Wether they accomplish anything or not I see improvement throughout the oranization since he has been here

[MizzyMike05]

Re: 2010 Pirates

I also would like to say that I like the moves the Buccos made at the deadline.

I would also like to give my $.02 on all the people here in PGH that I hear who think than Huntington needs to go. I believe it would be a mistake to let that man go. Not saying everything has gone right in his tenure, but since he has taken over as GM, the Pirates have gone from a 5+ year rebuilding plan to possibly 3-5 year. He has dramatically improved the minors and has shipped out players who were not part of the rebuilding plan, but has not traded players away without atleast getting something in return

I'm not saying that all the deals worked out in his favor, but if you look at who was sent away for who they got at that time, more often than not I would say that atleast it looked even. You can atleast see that he has a plan and has taken a few chances, wether they worked out or not I understand the reasoning.

I just get tired of all the Bashing I hear around here lately and wanted to vent a lil bit. I think the man has a plan and has the Buccos atleast pointed in right direction. Wether they accomplish anything or not I see improvement throughout the oranization since he has been here

agree completely dirrtysouth

[DirrtySouth78]

Re: 2010 Pirates

agree completely dirrtysouth

Good to see that atleast someone who follows the Pirates agrees with me. Get tired of trying to get people to understand what the man has done/is trying to accomplish.

First GM in awhile who has a clue

[mjb2124]

Re: 2010 Pirates

I'll be honest, I'm not that thrilled with NH or the moves he's made. I will give him credit that he does have a plan and is sticking to his plan, but I'm still not thrilled with some of the moves he's made over the last few years. The Snyder/Church/Carrasco/Crosby move is a wash for both teams. Neither team gave up anything and neither team received anything.

The Dotel trade is interesting in both players received could at least amount to something whereas Dotel didn't have a future with this team.

The Lopez trade is pretty much a wash as well. Giving up Lopez isn't a big deal and the return is pretty weak as well.

The only negative to the Dotel/Carrasco/Lopez moves is it left the bullpen pretty bare. This caused them to sign Chan Ho Park and Chris Resop off waivers today. Both pitchers stink and are basically stop-gaps. I'm also worried about Meek as he's pitched an awful lot of innings so far.

IMO, NH has done a very good job with the drafts, but has done an average to below average job on trades/FA pickups (who didn't see Aki Iwamura being a bust aside from NH?). Basically, his MLB scouts stink while his draft scouts are pretty darn good.

[BurghFan]

Re: 2010 Pirates

Well, McDonald looked good in his first start for the Pirates tonight. 8 K's in 6 scoreless innings.

[steelers312213]

Re: 2010 Pirates

I can't believe people are calling for Huntington's head already. His drafting has been terrific. He's taken the best position player and best pitcher available in two drafts, and then drafted a catching prospect that nobody else would have, who has turned out to have some star qualities so far (although it's still early for him). Not to mention all the pitching he's loaded up on in the past two drafts. Plus, you're even seeing failed Littlefield picks like Walker and Moskos thrive under Huntington's new farm system. Walker could be the rookie of the year this year.

For where our team and farm system was before he got there, to where it is now, it's quite the difference.

With the trades, I don't think he's done bad at all. He's gotten good value in return for everybody except Bay, although Bryan Morris is looking pretty impressive. Only thing is LaRoche was awful and can't even produce as a bench/utility player, Moss couldn't even hit in an MLB lineup, and Craig Hansen hasn't even played yet, has he? This was the only "bad" trade I'd say Neal made, mainly because Hansen and Moss were obviously not going to do anything for this club.

McLouth? He wasn't even a good player. He got sent down this year didn't he? Guy played way above his head for one season, Neal knew it, and dumped him at his peak for a handful of prospects. Morton has good stuff, despite being sooooo bad this season. I think he has the talent to turn it around. While Locke is looking pretty good in A ball, and Gorkys has been on fire before his season-ending injury. With McCutchen and Tabata lurking right around the corner, who needed Nate McLouth? I think Neal definitely won that trade.

Sanchez for Alderson, I still think was a great move. You know we weren't going to find many clubs that would give up one of their top prospects for Freddy freakin Sanchez. Alderson may have tanked since coming to our farm, but the upside is there. While Sanchez is just a singles hitting 2nd baseman, a glorified utility player since he fluked his way to a batting title, really. Plus he's injured constantly.

Nady for McCutchen, Ohlendorf, Karstens, Tabata? You can't beat that trade. That was an excellent trade, probably the best Neal made. He took a guy that is a DL regular and having a career season, and shipped him off for three pitchers, and a top OF prospect. None of the three pitchers may be aces or anything, but all are solid back of the rotation guys who can contribute. On top of a prospect who has star potential. And the Yankees got what? Half a season of Nady, didn't make the playoffs, and then Nady got hurt again the next year and never even played for them again.

You'd rather have Nyjer Morgan over Milledge? I surely wouldn't. Plus, they also got Hanrahan in that deal. Both have worked out. Nyjer, not so much.

This go around, I think they hit another HR on the trades. Getting rid of an aging relief pitcher like Dotel for a top prospect? He might be a problematic prospect, but if the talent is there then why not take the risk? You're only losing a very replaceable Dotel, while gaining a possible star. Josh Hamilton was once in that same position. McDonald can probably be a solid starter for us, too. They even got somewhat of a return for garbage like Javier Lopez, which is pretty hard to believe. You guys gotta remember that it's not like we were dealing elite players or something. We were dealing a bunch of irrelevant free agent pickups that any team could have signed, yet none did. But we got a return for them. We basically got a return of some decent talent, for aging crap that nobody wanted to begin with. That's good.

When you look at some of other teams trades, like the horrid return the DBacks got for Dan Haren, or the horrid return(s) Houston got for Oswalt and Berkman, I would say what Huntington is doing looks pretty damn good.

Regardless, he deserves at LEAST five years to complete his plan. I feel we'll see a big change in this club's competitiveness as early as next season. Will they hit .500? Probably not, but I bet you there's signs of great things.