-- The beat guys report that the Pirates optioned C Jason Jaramillo and LHP Justin Thomas to Indy. Eric Kratz is the likely replacement for JJ, and Thomas left to make room for the return of Zach Duke.
To clear space on the 40-man roster for Kratz, the most probable move would be to put Chris Jakubauskas on the 60-day DL. He's now on the 15-day DL. They do have other options available; guess we'll find out Friday.
-- Tim Williams of Bucco Fans tweeted that Jeff Locke has been promoted to Altoona. The 22 year-old lefty was 9-3 with a 3.54 ERA at High A Bradenton, and had 83 strikeouts in 86-1/3 innings, and issued just 14 walks.
And the death spiral continues.
ReplyDeleteThis team is incredibly, shockingly, pathetically bad. I guess the only hope is improvement from within; unless the kids get better, it's hard to envision anything good for the Pirates. Ever.
I do think the current crop of position players is somewhat more talented than the players they're replacing, but I don't think it's a night and day difference. Also, the crying need is, plainly, starting pitching. Until and unless we get a bunch of rookie pitchers who can step up to Pittsburgh next season and beyond, the carnage will continue.
This is Neal Huntington's team, no more blaming of Dave Littlefield. And Huntington's vision ain't pretty.
Next season's pitching doesn't promise to be much different, either, Will.
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