tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6207200414495313452.post3596513112933673782..comments2023-10-10T12:46:47.186-04:00Comments on The Green Weenie: It Keeps Right On A'Hurtin'...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6207200414495313452.post-50873580761535134032010-06-20T00:16:43.061-04:002010-06-20T00:16:43.061-04:00I don't think they're that far along, Will...I don't think they're that far along, Will, to mold a team one way or another. I can tell by the draft and trades that they like big, hard throwers. <br /><br />As for the position players, I think it's whatever sticks against the wall; even in the draft they're all over the place regarding physical tools. <br /><br />Whether that's an organizational tug-of-war or a dynamic of marketplace reality is hard to tell; probably a bit of both.Ron Ieracihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08784507810080514099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6207200414495313452.post-5413282194061984862010-06-19T12:29:12.196-04:002010-06-19T12:29:12.196-04:00Again, what is their identity, and what sort of te...Again, what is their identity, and what sort of team are they trying to build that plays ball "the Pirate Way"? American League, Earl Weaver, 3-run home runs and great pitching? Or, National League, Whitey Herzog, go-go-go high average hitters who run all day long (with great pitching, of course)? <br /><br /><br />Seems to me we're neither of those things, though---it must be said---we had 3 guys on the roster at or nearly the same time in Morgan, McLouth, and McCutchen who would certainly have enabled us to play Whiteyball, assuming McLouth would have stayed healthier with us than he has in Atlanta (perhaps an unfounded assumption). <br /><br /><br />Man, our starting pitching stinks. Just. Stinks.WilliamJPellashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12774466220683142262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6207200414495313452.post-5271752575255672212010-06-19T09:21:54.219-04:002010-06-19T09:21:54.219-04:00Yah, Will, Maholm has been awfully dependable this...Yah, Will, Maholm has been awfully dependable this year; I think he's left four games with the lead and not gotten a decision.<br /><br />Maybe next time his knee aches, they'll give him a couple turns off instead of making him pitch one-legged like last year.<br /><br />The pitching has been disastrous, and it does call their evaluation and/or coaching skills into question. <br /><br />The hitting shouldn't be this bad, but at least it brought the next wave of talent here to learn the ropes. I still think they'll have a turnaround toward respectability as the year goes on and the pups progress.<br /><br />Still, that lack of power is a killer and needs addressed.Ron Ieracihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08784507810080514099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6207200414495313452.post-9004531874042413752010-06-18T09:41:57.219-04:002010-06-18T09:41:57.219-04:00This team truly is bad beyond belief. There is a ...This team truly is bad beyond belief. There is a small glimmer of hope when it comes to the everyday position players---though still not yet enough talent overall and Doumit needs to go---but it's the starting pitching that is utterly killing us. <br /><br /><br />I still think Paul Maholm is a quality mid-rotation starter in the big leagues, but his knee and other dings seem to have knocked him down a couple of pegs. Duke is awful. Ohlendorf hasn't recaptured his form from last season. Morton is hopeless. Karstens is actually our best chance to win on most nights, and that's beyond pathetic. (Don't get me wrong, I love Jeff, and every staff needs guys like him, but he should be a long man and spot starter, not taking a turn every fifth day.) <br /><br /><br />I'll say again that you have to ask what's going on with our pitching when so many hurlers seem to go straight into the ground when they come here. Granted, none of them are world beaters, but....yoi and double yoi.WilliamJPellashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12774466220683142262noreply@blogger.com