Why so quite?

I'll be psyched when the team goes over .500! Until then, all I see this
move as another way to cut salary to boost Nutting's profit! Show me a
competitive, over .500 team and then I'll get psyched.


"p62c61" <p62c61.DeleteThis@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:cd99ef21-294d-4d00-9156-ff374fd690ec@79g2000hsk.googlegroups.com...
> Man oh geeze, with everything that's happened recently nothing to say?
>
> Oh well then I'll be the first... finally some light at the end of
> this tunnel. Not this year, not next year but the 2010 Pirate lineup
> should be something we're all looking forward to.
>
> If the Pirates can get Alvarez under contract, and now they really
> have to make it happen no matter what, the system that was so barren
> just a year ago is going to be sick deep at and all four corners and
> in CF.
>
> Can't wait to see "the Roches" at the infield corners, not only good
> baseball but a great story.
>
> Still a long way to go and plenty of opportunities to screw up, but
> confidence is growing in the new front office everyday.
>
> I'm very psyched!
 >> Stay informed about: Why so quite? 

On Aug 1, 11:49 am, John <dahlgren.j... RemoveThis @gmail.com> wrote:
> On Aug 1, 9:15 am, p62c61 <p62... RemoveThis @gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Man oh geeze, with everything that's happened recently nothing to say?
>
> I've been waiting for you to chime in because you seem to know more
> about prospects than most who inhabit this NG.
>
>
>
> > Oh well then I'll be the first... finally some light at the end of
> > this tunnel. Not this year, not next year but the 2010 Pirate lineup
> > should be something we're all looking forward to.
>
> Is there help for the pitching staff in this? Are Snell and Gorzo
> just "tired" after being overworked last year (Snell, maybe but Gorzo
> had his career year last year, in my opinion)? And they really didn't
> gut the future outfield to do it.
>
>
>
> > If the Pirates can get Alvarez under contract, and now they really
> > have to make it happen no matter what, the system that was so barren
> > just a year ago is going to be sick deep at and all four corners and
> > in CF.
>
> Who plays middle infield? Sanchez will be 32 and Jack Wilson is Jack
> Wilson. Do you think they'll get Alvarez signed? I'm thinking yes,
> even though they've picked up the other LaRoche. Who plays CF?
> McCutcheon or McLouth?
>
>
>
> > Can't wait to see "the Roches" at the infield corners, not only good
> > baseball but a great story.
>
> Can Andy get Adam to hit in April and May? If he can, then the trade
> is worth it. But Adam only signed a one-year contract last year at $5
> million. What happens to him?
>
>
>
> > Still a long way to go and plenty of opportunities to screw up, but
> > confidence is growing in the new front office everyday.
>
> > I'm very psyched!
>
> Still lots of question marks but definitely good signs. I want to see
> them sign Alvarez and shoot JVB. And who plays middle infield in
> 2010? Bixler probably ain't gonna cut it.

The folks at Baseball Prospectus like the trade. Trading for
prospects always has some risk, but this is the kind of risk the
Pirates need to take to get out of the rut we are in.
 >> Stay informed about: Why so quite? 

> The folks at Baseball Prospectus like the trade. Trading for
> prospects always has some risk, but this is the kind of risk the
> Pirates need to take to get out of the rut we are in.

Here's how I look at it: the Pirates weren't going to win with what they
had, but some of the pieces are in place. They got rid of the two most
easily replaceable components. Nady is injury-prone, and Bay peaked three
years ago. They're not losing much either way. And I like reading these
comments about how the Yankees didn't give up enough to gain Marte. At the
end of the day, he's a middle reliever. He's a good middle reliever, yes,
but he's a middle reliever. You don't give up a lot for that. The Pirates
lost three totally replaceable players and gained 8 prospects. Three of
them played in today's game. One of them pitched 6 shutout innings, and
another went 1-4 and scored a run. I consider that a success right off the
bat. In fact, I defy anybody to show me a team this year that improved
itself more over the next 5 years than the Pirates did this week.
 >> Stay informed about: Why so quite? 

On Aug 1, 12:49 pm, John <dahlgren.j....RemoveThis@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Aug 1, 9:15 am, p62c61 <p62....RemoveThis@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Man oh geeze, with everything that's happened recently nothing to say?
>
> I've been waiting for you to chime in because you seem to know more
> about prospects than most who inhabit this NG.

Thanks, but I can't believe nobody nailed me for my typo in the
subject...

The quality of the Internet dogs s really slipping when they miss an
opportunity for a spelling flame that's been served up on a silver
platter

> Is there help for the pitching staff in this?  Are Snell and Gorzo
> just "tired" after being overworked last year (Snell, maybe but Gorzo
> had his career year last year, in my opinion)?  And they really didn't
> gut the future outfield to do it.

I think there is hope, but pitching being the beast that it is we'll
have to wait and see to know for sure. IMO, if nothing else the
situation the Pirates were in before these trade underscore the folly
of taking the high risk the approach the Pirates have the past few
years - lots of early draft picks along with money and development
resources being poured into pitchers - rarely works out.

Snell and Gorzo, let's just say I wish the front office could sue Jim
Tracy for damages related to these two. The way he beat them down
trying to squeeze out a few wins to save his own ass was just
disgraceful. If Gorzelanny isn't seriously injured and can bounce
back it'll be a minor miracle. As for Snell, it's probably worth
remembering that he was a late round pick that pretty much erupted out
of nowhere last season. He's probably suffering from overuse but as I
stated at the beginning of the season it was unrealistic to expect a
repeat performance that the same level this season.

If he can stay healthy I think Bryan Morris is a potential 1 or 2
starter.

> > If the Pirates can get Alvarez under contract,  and now they really
> > have to make it happen no matter what, the system that was so barren
> > just a year ago is going to be sick deep at and all four corners and
> > in CF.
>
> Who plays middle infield?  Sanchez will be 32 and Jack Wilson is Jack
> Wilson.

My vote goes to Jose Bautisa. Yeah you give up some defense at the
position but he won't embarrass himself at second and he'll give you
more offense than they've had there for a while. He could hold the
position down at least until we see if Negrych is the real deal or
not... which btw I think he might be.

> Do you think they'll get Alvarez signed?  I'm thinking yes,
> even though they've picked up the other LaRoche.  

Man oh man I hope so. There's also Hague crushing the ball at
Hickory so I would expect at least one of these guys to move to a
corner outfield spot or first if Adam LaRoche decides to get foolish
about what he'd want to sign an extension.

>Who plays CF? McCutcheon or McLouth?

For the time being McLouth until McCutchen shows he's ready ... the
nice thing is now they have all these options and something is bound
to work out if all of them don't.

> Can Andy get Adam to hit in April and May?  If he can, then the trade
> is worth it.  But Adam only signed a one-year contract last year at $5
> million.  What happens to him?

I think they try to sign him to an extension if they can get the money
right. If the Pirates don't try to stick it to him the slow start to
the first half again and the presence of his brother could work in the
team's favor...

And if not it's okay, one of Alvarez, Hague or Andy LaRoche can slide
over eventually.

> Still lots of question marks but definitely good signs.  I want to see
> them sign Alvarez and shoot JVB.  And who plays middle infield in
> 2010?  Bixler probably ain't gonna cut it.

Poor JVB, you really have to feel for the guy - is it really his
fault? He's not the one you need to shoot it's the schmuck(s) in the
organization who thought drafting one of the best college hitters
available and turning him into a pitcher was a good idea. It's the
longest of long shots but at this point I'd offer him a chance and all
the time he needed to try and resurrect his career as a 1B/OF.

At the risk of harping on the past, he's not even the worst of it.
Daniel Moskos looks like he might end up being the worst first round
pick this team has ever made.
 >> Stay informed about: Why so quite? 

On Aug 1, 12:31 pm, "GraveDigger" <A... DeleteThis @Anon.net> wrote:
> I'll be psyched when the team goes over .500! Until then, all I see this
> move as another way to cut salary to boost Nutting's profit! Show me a
> competitive, over .500 team and then I'll get psyched.

You're way to cynical dude, understandably so, but still.

This was not a salary dump like in the past. They actually acquired
talented ball players and they drafted potential stars before that.
There's no point in pouring money down a hole as they have been and
when the time is right, and it's coming soon, Nutting will have to
spend some money. That time however is not now.

In fact, I would be surprised if last week is the end of their
activity.
 >> Stay informed about: Why so quite? 

> You're way to cynical dude, understandably so, but still.
>This was not a salary dump like in the past. They actually acquired
>talented ball players and they drafted potential stars before that.

I agree. The team on the field now is exactly the same as the team on the
field two weeks ago, if not better. Heck, two of the guys they traded for
(Bay and Nady's replacements) both hit homers yesterday! At the end of the
day, this team will improve when the pitching staff improves, and they've
taken steps to make that happen a few years down the road. We shall see. I
like what they're doing, however.
 >> Stay informed about: Why so quite? 

>At the risk of harping on the past, he's not even the worst of it.
>Daniel Moskos looks like he might end up being the worst first round
>pick this team has ever made.

That's saying something!
 >> Stay informed about: Why so quite? 

True, but the pitching is still down-right AWFUL! The relief staff can't
hold a lead if their life depended on it.


"Brian Allen" <blah.RemoveThis@blah.com> wrote in message
news:yvGlk.5214$yn5.1418@newsfe08.iad...
>> You're way to cynical dude, understandably so, but still.
>>This was not a salary dump like in the past. They actually acquired
>>talented ball players and they drafted potential stars before that.
>
> I agree. The team on the field now is exactly the same as the team on the
> field two weeks ago, if not better. Heck, two of the guys they traded for
> (Bay and Nady's replacements) both hit homers yesterday! At the end of
> the day, this team will improve when the pitching staff improves, and
> they've taken steps to make that happen a few years down the road. We
> shall see. I like what they're doing, however.
>
 >> Stay informed about: Why so quite?