The Pirate rotation of the future is awfully young - they're not stacked up in Indy waiting for a call, but in Altoona and below - but there are a couple of guys that could pop up to take regular spots by 2011.
Brad Lincoln was selected in 2006 ahead of Tim Lincecum, Clayton Kershaw, Ian Kennedy and Joba Chamberlain. Baseball America rated him as the Pirates' fourth overall organizational prospect in 2009 and predicts that he'll join the Pittsburgh rotation in 2010. But whether the 23-year old RHP will meet those expectations depends on how well he continues to rebound from 2007 TJ surgery.
He put up modest stats at Hickory and Lynchburg, but did work a total of 103-1/3 innings a year removed from the knife, didn't have any residual arm problems, and his control was there, even if he struggled to regain complete command of his pitches.
His WHIP was around 1.27, he walked fewer than 2 batters per nine innings, and K'd over six per game, all pretty good numbers for a recovery season. The youngster will have to cut down on long balls allowed, but that's a part of a control pitcher's learning curve.
Lincoln throws a low-to-mid 90s fastball, has a good curve, and his changeup is coming along. We expect to see him in Altoona, and his work there will dictate exactly how fast a track he's on for a PNC splashdown.
Rated right behind Lincoln was Dodger pickup Bryan Morris, part of the Jason Bay deal. He's another first round pick of 2006, and like Lincoln, had TJ surgery in 2007. Baseball America rated him the Pirates' fifth best organizational prospect of 2009, and foresees an arrival date in the show of 2011 or 2012.
In fact, BA says that Lincoln and Morris should be Pittsburgh's one-two punch in 2012. Talk about a pair of guys joined at the hip!
Morris threw 96 innings of A ball in his come-back season. He struck out 83 batters, but walked 43, so his stuff is OK, but a little scattered. Morris was also shut down pretty much by the Pirates after they got him, working only 14 innings at Hickory. They say it was just precautionary - he had bicep tenderness - but that may be a red flag to watch for down the road.
To add to the woes, the 22-year old (he'll be 23 in March) had toe surgery, totally unrelated to the other problems, so he'll have a late start to the season.
Still, the RHP has the tools. Morris' heater is gunned at 95, his curve is sharp, and he's working on a changeup. What he needs most is a season or two without any visits to the surgeon. He may start at Lynchburg, but we expect him to be with the Curve before too long.
Daniel Moskos can't be blamed for where he was picked. The question is whether or not he has first-round ability and a future role with the team.
He was a reliever at Clemson, but the new suits had him start at Lynchburg last year, and the results weren't pretty. Moskos is supposed to have a power arm, but his heater was pressed to touch 90, although his slider is considered top notch.
The 22-year old LHP will likely join Altoona's rotation this year. We don't think the starting experiment will last that long. As a two pitch pony, Moskos looks like a bullpen guy, maybe becoming the Bucs next LOOGY.
Tony Watson, 23-year old LHP, has put together two solid seasons in the Pirate A ranks. Drafted in the ninth round in 2007, Watson fit the Littlefield mold of a finesse pitcher, depending on a change-up for his out pitch. But unlike most Littlefield selections, he was actually somewhat touted and drafted lower than expected.
He's got excellent control, walking fewer than two batter per nine, and he gets about a half-dozen K's per game. Watson will get to step up to Altoona this year, and another good season will get him notice as a young gun on the rise. The Curve should have quite a rotation this year; that's about the level all the upside guys have reached.
Rafael De Los Santos is a young guy - he's 22 - that has some upside. He throws a low 90s fastball, slider and changeup. De Los Santos can make bats miss the ball, but his balls miss the plate pretty often, too.
His stats at Hickory were flat-out ugly, but he doubled his innings pitched and may have just hit the wall. The RHP will be floating around somewhere in the A level this year, and may yet blossom.
20-year old LHP Nelson Pereira will get a look at West Virginia this year after blazing through the GCL last year as a 19-year old after two excellent VSL campaigns.
The youngster from El Salvador has good off speed stuff, especially his changeup and curve, and his heater is good enough to set them up. He had a 4.6/1 K to BB ratio, so he can miss some bats and still find the dish.
Christopher Aure, 19-year old LHP drafted from high school out of North Pole, Alaska, could end up more than just the answer to a trivia quiz. He's a project, but his heater is in the upper 80 range and improving while he's shown some progress with his other pitches, notably the curve and changeup.
Aure did just OK in the GCL, and there's some debate whether he's better suited to start or come out of the pen, but he has some upside and may be a keeper.
Andres Santos, a guy the Bucs picked up in the minor league portion of the Rule 5 draft from the Yankees, has some upside. The Evil Empire gave him a $400K bonus to sign, and he was lights out in the Dominican League last year.
The 22-year old Dominican has a low 90s heater and a sweet change up, and he struck out a batter an inning in the DSL with decent control. Maybe Rene Gayo and Kyle Starks stole one for the team.
Another grab bag pick that may have a shot is Rafael Quintero, a 21-year old RHP plucked from the Indians in the minor's Rule 5 draft, who had some great numbers in the DSL.
The Venezuelan is a converted catcher with great control and over a strikeout per inning. Given his background, he's a darkhorse, but hey...nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Quinton Miller, 19-year old RHP, was drafted out of high school and has yet to pitch in pro ball. He throws a fastball that ranges from the high 80s to the low 90s, with a nice slider and average change.
The Bucs thought he was worth $900K in the 20th round - he had commited to playing at North Carolina - so they certainly feel he has some major upside.
Justin Wilson led Fresno State to the College World Series when his teammate Tanner Schleppers went down. The Bucs couldn't get Schleppers to sign on the dotted line, but after a long dance, reeled Wilson into the fold.
The 21-year old LHP features a 90 MPH fastball, curve and slider. Wilson signed too late to pitch last year, and he's ticketed to head to Class A West Virgina in 2009.
Guys that we profiled yesterday that were invited to camp and have chances to eventually dent the rotation in the near term are Daniel McCutchen, Jimmy Barthmaier, Ross Ohlendorf, and perhaps Donnie Veal.
It's not a very deep collection of arms, and for all the attention Littlefield paid to pitchers, it's an area Huntington and gang are going to have really work at to build up some depth and talent.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
The 2009 Rotation
OK, it's simple enough this year. The pitching rotation is not set in stone like it was last year, nor will there be a cast of hundreds trying to win a spot. There are 10 guys gunning for five spots, so there should be plenty of innings to go around this spring for everyone to get a fair look. The competition:
Paul Maholm is da man. 2008 was his breakout season with a 9-9/3.71 line. Maholm parlayed that into a nice contract, and is ready to take a leadership role on the staff. Maholm is also a workhorse; he's thrown 560 innings and picked up 27 wins in his three MLB seasons.
He throws four pitches - a 90 MPH fastball, curve, slider and change. His control is good, if not exceptional, and his strikeout rate is about 6 batters per nine innings. Maholm is a ground ball pitcher, so infield defense is a key to his game.
The 26-year old LHP is the epitome of a guy that does a lot of little things right. Maholm doesn't fold under pressure, holds runners, doesn't usually walk himself into trouble, and is in professional shape. Having said that, he doesn't have top-of-the order stuff. But Maholm is a solid MLB pitcher, and should be a steady middle of the rotation guy for the foreseeable future, maybe growing into a #2 pitcher.
Ian Snell has the best stuff on the team, with a mid 90s heater and a sharp slider. So what's the problem? Well, he certainly threw too many pitches in too few innings, spent some time on the DL, and his control was the worst it had ever been, although he still could punch out a batter when he had to.
Some say that he has to mature some; he has too many games that he's cruising when the least bit of adversity completely derails him. There were whispers that his conditioning wasn't up to snuff last season, either, although he has a reputation as being a guy that prides himself on his shape. Whatever the problem, a 7-12/5.42 line was the result.
One thing is certain - Snell is the closest to having a top-of-the-order arm on the staff, and getting him back in operating order is job #1 for Joe Kerrigan. He's carrying around a pretty pricey long term deal, and it's hoped that Kerrigan's detailed game plans will help focus the 28-year old RHP. And while he's at it, we hope he teaches him to throw an off-speed pitch to keep the lefty hitters honest - they hit .314 off Snell last year, with a .914 OPS.
The suits say that Maholm is the only lock for the rotation; they're blowing smoke. There's no way Snell doesn't break camp with the team short of injury.
Tom Gorzelanny was the suits' favorite whipping boy last year. He was out of shape, his work habits were questioned, and he suffered the ignominy of being sent back to the bushes, topped off by a stint on the DL when he was finally recalled. To boot, he walked 70 batters and only K'ed 67. Ouch!
But possible redemption is around the corner. They worked on the 26-year old LHP's mechanics - and head - at Indy, and he came into mini-camp in better shape. He has a decent low 90s heater, but his bread-and-butter pitch is the changeup.
The question is whether Jim Tracy's blatant overuse of Gorzo in 2007, when he was 14-10/3.88, was the root of his pitching problems in 2008, when he was 6-9/5.72. For the Pirates sake, let's hope so.
Zach Duke is the textbook example of a back end rotation guy, and that's not said as an insult. He's a pitcher with an upper 80s fastball that lives off his curve, strikes out only about four batters per nine innings, and gets opponents to hit the ball on the ground. Like Maholm, Duke depends on his infield to have success.
Duke was 5-14/4.82 last year, but didn't pitch as badly as the stat line. The 25-year old LHP (he'll be 26 in April) had a terrible July, but otherwise just ran into some hard luck. He looked a lot more like the 2006 version (no, we don't ever expect to see the 2005 Duke again, when as a rookie he was 8-2/1.81).
He does the professional things well - he only gives up a couple of walks per nine innings, holds runners, and gets ground balls - but his inability to strike out hitters and dependence on his fielders will keep him at the 4-5 spot on the staff.
Jeff Karstens, a late addition to the Nady/Marte deal with the Yankees, was immediately plugged into the rotation when he joined the Bucs. The 26-year old RHP flirted with a no-no against the Cubs, but settled in to finish with a 2-6/4.03 line for the Pirates.
He's a soft thrower with an upper 80s fastball, curve, slider, and changeup. Karstens can't get the bat to miss many balls (his control is excellent, but he only struck out 23 batters in 51-1/3 innings), and depends on command and location to get by. He also has an elbow problem that popped up in mini-camp that's supposed to set him back a week or two in Bradenton; we'll find out how severe it is soon enough.
Karstens looks like a back of the rotation/long relief pitcher for the Pirates.
Ross Ohlendorf was a guy the Bucs were after, and they finally pried him loose from the Yankees. The 26-year old RHP, touted to be a flamethrower, threw just in the low 90s with a 0-3/6.35 line for the Pirates, and had 13 K's and 12 BBs in 22-2/3 innings, hardly dominating stuff.
He admitted to being worn down at the end of the season, and that's the nub of the problem. The Big O threw 131-2/3 innings in 42 outings, 25 from the pen and 17 as a starter, not a particularly overwhelming workload. The Pirates have to decide if his future is as a starter and stretch him out, or, as the Yankees thought before dealing him, in the bullpen. Either way, he's likely to end up in Indy, though he does have a shot at being the long man out of the pen.
Phil Dumatrait is this year's mystery man. Is he the dude that lit the league up in April and May replacing the infamous Matty Mo, or the bum that got hammered in his last three outings? We may not find the answer this year.
The 27-year old has a couple of questions hanging over him. First, how badly was his performance affected by a bum wing, which landed him on the DL and eventually led to surgery? Second, can they stretch him out as a starter? He only has 17 MLB starts, and he wore down as the game went on.
If he was healthy - which he isn't - he'd probably be a lock to make the rotation with his low 90s heater setting up his offspeed stuff, although the LHP had some control issues, walking nearly five batters per nine innings. Dumatrait is out of options and hasn't been throwing, so he'll most likely start the year on the DL and pop back onto the 25-man when he's recovered.
Still, we can't help but feel 2008 and possibly 2009 will be wasted years for Dumatrait, and he needs to get healthy and notch some innings on his belt.
Daniel McCutchen throws a two and four seam heater, both in the low 90s, with an excellent curve and a changeup. He's still waiting to get a call to the show, and will probably have to wait a little longer, although he does have an outside shot at making the club.
McCutchen goes after batters, and has pretty good control. As with most guys that are around the plate, he's susceptible to the long ball, giving up 26 in 171-1/3 combined innings last year. The 26-year old RHP had a combined 7-9/4.01 ERA in AAA last year, and unless someone falls flat on their face, is likely to end up at Indy.
Jimmy Barthmaier, 25-year old RHP, was a top five prospect for the Astros in 2005-06, but when he was promoted to AA in 2007, he got bombed. The Pirates claimed him after the season, and thought enough of him to keep him on the 40-man after a combined 5-5/3.85 line at Altoona and Indy last year.
Barthmaier throws in the low 90s, and has a decent curve and changeup. He struck out eight and walked three per nine innings. Barthmaier needs to get stronger, though - he averaged just under 5 innings pitched per start, and he'll be ticketed for Indy to begin the season. But his career is back on track.
Virgil Vasquez, a 26-year old RHP, is here just to provide some depth at Indy. He's never pitched in the majors, and is a control artist with a subpar upper 80s heater and the usual array of curve-slider-changeup. He was waived by three teams during the 2008-09 off season, with Pittsburgh being the only club that had room on its 40-man for him.
So how does the rotation set up? It looks to GW like Maholm-Snell-Gorzo-Karstens-Duke will be the starting five. Dumatrait will be on the DL, Vasquez and Barthmaier are heading to Indy, with Ohlendorf and McCutchen joining them, unless Karstens' elbow becomes an issue; then those two will be fighting for the fifth spot.
Of course, there will be a lot of twists and turns in the Pirate pitching soap opera, so stay tuned. There's still not enough competition, depth, or quality, and that will make for some interesting coaching - and management - decisions.
And remember that it's not a staff that can get by on pure stuff and power; it'll depend mightily on team defense; as they say in the lingo, it's a group that pitches to contact. For the rotation to improve, the glovework has to hold up its end of the bargain in 2009, no matter what miracles Kerrigan and maturity perform.
Perry Hill may just end up being the key coach for the pitching staff this season.
Paul Maholm is da man. 2008 was his breakout season with a 9-9/3.71 line. Maholm parlayed that into a nice contract, and is ready to take a leadership role on the staff. Maholm is also a workhorse; he's thrown 560 innings and picked up 27 wins in his three MLB seasons.
He throws four pitches - a 90 MPH fastball, curve, slider and change. His control is good, if not exceptional, and his strikeout rate is about 6 batters per nine innings. Maholm is a ground ball pitcher, so infield defense is a key to his game.
The 26-year old LHP is the epitome of a guy that does a lot of little things right. Maholm doesn't fold under pressure, holds runners, doesn't usually walk himself into trouble, and is in professional shape. Having said that, he doesn't have top-of-the order stuff. But Maholm is a solid MLB pitcher, and should be a steady middle of the rotation guy for the foreseeable future, maybe growing into a #2 pitcher.
Ian Snell has the best stuff on the team, with a mid 90s heater and a sharp slider. So what's the problem? Well, he certainly threw too many pitches in too few innings, spent some time on the DL, and his control was the worst it had ever been, although he still could punch out a batter when he had to.
Some say that he has to mature some; he has too many games that he's cruising when the least bit of adversity completely derails him. There were whispers that his conditioning wasn't up to snuff last season, either, although he has a reputation as being a guy that prides himself on his shape. Whatever the problem, a 7-12/5.42 line was the result.
One thing is certain - Snell is the closest to having a top-of-the-order arm on the staff, and getting him back in operating order is job #1 for Joe Kerrigan. He's carrying around a pretty pricey long term deal, and it's hoped that Kerrigan's detailed game plans will help focus the 28-year old RHP. And while he's at it, we hope he teaches him to throw an off-speed pitch to keep the lefty hitters honest - they hit .314 off Snell last year, with a .914 OPS.
The suits say that Maholm is the only lock for the rotation; they're blowing smoke. There's no way Snell doesn't break camp with the team short of injury.
Tom Gorzelanny was the suits' favorite whipping boy last year. He was out of shape, his work habits were questioned, and he suffered the ignominy of being sent back to the bushes, topped off by a stint on the DL when he was finally recalled. To boot, he walked 70 batters and only K'ed 67. Ouch!
But possible redemption is around the corner. They worked on the 26-year old LHP's mechanics - and head - at Indy, and he came into mini-camp in better shape. He has a decent low 90s heater, but his bread-and-butter pitch is the changeup.
The question is whether Jim Tracy's blatant overuse of Gorzo in 2007, when he was 14-10/3.88, was the root of his pitching problems in 2008, when he was 6-9/5.72. For the Pirates sake, let's hope so.
Zach Duke is the textbook example of a back end rotation guy, and that's not said as an insult. He's a pitcher with an upper 80s fastball that lives off his curve, strikes out only about four batters per nine innings, and gets opponents to hit the ball on the ground. Like Maholm, Duke depends on his infield to have success.
Duke was 5-14/4.82 last year, but didn't pitch as badly as the stat line. The 25-year old LHP (he'll be 26 in April) had a terrible July, but otherwise just ran into some hard luck. He looked a lot more like the 2006 version (no, we don't ever expect to see the 2005 Duke again, when as a rookie he was 8-2/1.81).
He does the professional things well - he only gives up a couple of walks per nine innings, holds runners, and gets ground balls - but his inability to strike out hitters and dependence on his fielders will keep him at the 4-5 spot on the staff.
Jeff Karstens, a late addition to the Nady/Marte deal with the Yankees, was immediately plugged into the rotation when he joined the Bucs. The 26-year old RHP flirted with a no-no against the Cubs, but settled in to finish with a 2-6/4.03 line for the Pirates.
He's a soft thrower with an upper 80s fastball, curve, slider, and changeup. Karstens can't get the bat to miss many balls (his control is excellent, but he only struck out 23 batters in 51-1/3 innings), and depends on command and location to get by. He also has an elbow problem that popped up in mini-camp that's supposed to set him back a week or two in Bradenton; we'll find out how severe it is soon enough.
Karstens looks like a back of the rotation/long relief pitcher for the Pirates.
Ross Ohlendorf was a guy the Bucs were after, and they finally pried him loose from the Yankees. The 26-year old RHP, touted to be a flamethrower, threw just in the low 90s with a 0-3/6.35 line for the Pirates, and had 13 K's and 12 BBs in 22-2/3 innings, hardly dominating stuff.
He admitted to being worn down at the end of the season, and that's the nub of the problem. The Big O threw 131-2/3 innings in 42 outings, 25 from the pen and 17 as a starter, not a particularly overwhelming workload. The Pirates have to decide if his future is as a starter and stretch him out, or, as the Yankees thought before dealing him, in the bullpen. Either way, he's likely to end up in Indy, though he does have a shot at being the long man out of the pen.
Phil Dumatrait is this year's mystery man. Is he the dude that lit the league up in April and May replacing the infamous Matty Mo, or the bum that got hammered in his last three outings? We may not find the answer this year.
The 27-year old has a couple of questions hanging over him. First, how badly was his performance affected by a bum wing, which landed him on the DL and eventually led to surgery? Second, can they stretch him out as a starter? He only has 17 MLB starts, and he wore down as the game went on.
If he was healthy - which he isn't - he'd probably be a lock to make the rotation with his low 90s heater setting up his offspeed stuff, although the LHP had some control issues, walking nearly five batters per nine innings. Dumatrait is out of options and hasn't been throwing, so he'll most likely start the year on the DL and pop back onto the 25-man when he's recovered.
Still, we can't help but feel 2008 and possibly 2009 will be wasted years for Dumatrait, and he needs to get healthy and notch some innings on his belt.
Daniel McCutchen throws a two and four seam heater, both in the low 90s, with an excellent curve and a changeup. He's still waiting to get a call to the show, and will probably have to wait a little longer, although he does have an outside shot at making the club.
McCutchen goes after batters, and has pretty good control. As with most guys that are around the plate, he's susceptible to the long ball, giving up 26 in 171-1/3 combined innings last year. The 26-year old RHP had a combined 7-9/4.01 ERA in AAA last year, and unless someone falls flat on their face, is likely to end up at Indy.
Jimmy Barthmaier, 25-year old RHP, was a top five prospect for the Astros in 2005-06, but when he was promoted to AA in 2007, he got bombed. The Pirates claimed him after the season, and thought enough of him to keep him on the 40-man after a combined 5-5/3.85 line at Altoona and Indy last year.
Barthmaier throws in the low 90s, and has a decent curve and changeup. He struck out eight and walked three per nine innings. Barthmaier needs to get stronger, though - he averaged just under 5 innings pitched per start, and he'll be ticketed for Indy to begin the season. But his career is back on track.
Virgil Vasquez, a 26-year old RHP, is here just to provide some depth at Indy. He's never pitched in the majors, and is a control artist with a subpar upper 80s heater and the usual array of curve-slider-changeup. He was waived by three teams during the 2008-09 off season, with Pittsburgh being the only club that had room on its 40-man for him.
So how does the rotation set up? It looks to GW like Maholm-Snell-Gorzo-Karstens-Duke will be the starting five. Dumatrait will be on the DL, Vasquez and Barthmaier are heading to Indy, with Ohlendorf and McCutchen joining them, unless Karstens' elbow becomes an issue; then those two will be fighting for the fifth spot.
Of course, there will be a lot of twists and turns in the Pirate pitching soap opera, so stay tuned. There's still not enough competition, depth, or quality, and that will make for some interesting coaching - and management - decisions.
And remember that it's not a staff that can get by on pure stuff and power; it'll depend mightily on team defense; as they say in the lingo, it's a group that pitches to contact. For the rotation to improve, the glovework has to hold up its end of the bargain in 2009, no matter what miracles Kerrigan and maturity perform.
Perry Hill may just end up being the key coach for the pitching staff this season.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
The Bullpen - Set Up to Mop Up
After yesterday's look at the closers, we move on to the hoi polloi of the pen, the arms from the eighth inning set-up crew down to the long and mop-up guys.
This year's bridge tag-team should be the same as last year's, RHP Tyler Yates and LHP John Grabow.
Tyler Yates showed periods of promise, and streaks of maddening wildness. His 2008 line was 73-1/3 innings, 6-3-1/4.66, with 63 Ks and 41 BBs. The 31-tear old needs badly to put it together; he has closer stuff but little league control.
When he's on, his mid-90s fastball and little slider are nearly untouchable - Yates throughout his career has generally given up fewer hits than innings pitched - but he has to work ahead in the count, not behind. His 1.54 WHIP is testament to that. This was his last year for arbitration, so he has to show the suits he can find the dish if he wants another contract here.
John Grabow had a career year last season, blossoming when Damaso Marte was moved, giving Grabow the set-up job. He came through with his first full-time sub 4.00 ERA season, with a line of 6-4-1 and ERA of 2.84.
Of concern are the bone chips floating around in his elbow that landed him on the DL in 2007. Grabow was dangled as trade bait during the off season, and like Yates, he's in his last year of team control. And like Marte, the 31-year old doesn't have a big split between RH & LH hitters, so he's more than a LOOGY. The Pirates don't seem to like dropping dollars on relievers, so we look for a deadline deal in Grabow's future.
After that pair, it should be a free-for-all for the remaining handful of bullpen spots.
Everyone knows Sean Burnett's story. Another of the stable of AAAA starters, he was DFA'ed in early 2008 - and no one took him. Finally, last year the Bucs converted him to the pen, and after some Indy time and a shaky MLB start, Jeff Andrews moved him over a bit on the rubber, and he took off, halving his ERA in the second part of the season. Burnett finished the year with 58 appearances, 1-1/4.76, averaging 7 Ks and 5 Ws per nine innings.
Still, the 26-year old number one pick has issues with control, and his splits easily qualify him as a stone-cold LOOGY. He's out of options, so he breaks camp with the team or becomes a free agent. While he's said by the suits to not be a lock to make the club, Burnett is the only LH with any experience outside of Grabow and should be a Buc in April.
From the wild child no one wanted to fast riser, Evan Meek is quite a story. As a Rule 5 selection, he was unfortunately thrown right into the fire early in the season when the Pirate staff imploded. The suits tried to give him back to Tampa Bay; they wouldn't take him, and for a few bucks, Meek became a Bucco.
Put at the right level, he regained his control at Altoona and continued to look strong in a brief stop at Indy. Meek walked fewer than three batters per game, and struck out eight per nine innings in the bushes. He throws a low 90s heater that sinks, and has a good groundball out ratio. The 25-year old RHP will probably start out the season at Indy to reinforce his mechanics, and has the opportunity to supplant Yates, maybe as soon as this summer.
30-year old RHP Chris Bootcheck was picked up from the Angels, and looks like a minor league depth signing. The Angels drafted him first in 2000, but except for a decent showing in 2005, he's never shown MLB ability.
He throws a low 90s fastball, and also has a slider, curve, and changeup, befitting a guy that was a starter until 2006. Bootcheck provides a veteran presence to a young minor league system.
LHP Daniel Haigwood, a 25-year old, throws a high 80s - low 90s fastball, a curveball, slider, and an excellent changeup. And, praise the Lord, he typically gets ahead of batters early in the count. Haigwood is considered to have some major league potential; he struck out 60 in 57 innings at AA Portland last year, so he's a signing with some upside down the road.
Haigwood was converted to a reliever last year by Boston, and just what the Bucs plan to do with him at this point is up in the air. He'll probably report to Altoona - Indy is starting to get logjammed - and depending on the organizational needs, he could end in the pen or rotation.
Juan Mateo was a hot shot in the Cub organization, but after shoulder woes in 2007 that lingered into last season, they let him go. The Bucs signed him, and flipped him to the bullpen, both to ease the stress on his shoulder and because he's pretty much a one trick pony, depending on his mid 90s heater to carry the day.
The 26-year old RHP is ticketed to start at Indy or Altoona, depending on the numbers crunch, and is on track to become a middle inning reliever in the show.
The big Rule 5 pick-up, high-kicking, power pitching Donnie Veal, came to mini-camp firing darts but with mechanics that'll drive Joe Kerrigan to a shrink's couch. The Pirates would love to straighten him out enough to carry this year as a long man. Then they could ship him to Indy in 2010 to fill a starting role, where his value would skyrocket. And unlike Evan Meek, if the 24-year old LH doesn't cut the mustard here, he's likely to find a home somewhere away from PNC.
Craig Hansen is the Buccos mystery child. The 25-year old RHP has a rifle for an arm, but can't find the dish. A lot of his problems trace back to the Red Sox fast tracking him after drafting him first in 2005; he's had more MLB appearances than AA and below outings since then.
As Wilbur Miller at Pirate Player Profiles reports: "...The Pirates face a difficult situation with Hansen. He has no options left, so they'll have to carry him in the majors, which they'll almost certainly do because he's perceived to have a very high ceiling."
"Unfortunately, putting him into a close game is the equivalent of conceding defeat. He probably needs a couple years in the minors to work on his mechanics, but he won't get them now. Keeping him in the majors will be the equivalent of carrying a Rule 5 pick, except he can't go to the minors after a year."
RHP Brian Slocum, who will turn 28 in March, looks like a veteran Jason Davis-type insurance policy for the Bucs. He can start and come out of the pen, and has had a couple of cups of coffee with the Indians. Slocum depends on a low 90s fastball, and also throws a changeup and curve.
The word is that the suits think he has a decent shot of making the roster, but it makes more sense for him to start the year in Indy and join the club if needed.
Jason Davis was DFA'ed and booted off the 40-man roster, but after a slow dance with the Japanese league, decided to take another shot with Pittsburgh. The 28-year old RHP has parts of seven MLB seasons under his belt, and can still bring it, throwing in the mid 90s.
He brings a veteran presence to the organization, and being equally comfortable as a starter and reliever, can fill in the back of the rotation or as long bullpen man competently if called upon. Davis will likely begin in Indy again.
Romulo Sanchez, the unlikely focal point of a blogosphere bobblehead battle, isn't very likely to be on the roster to deserve one. When the 24-year old RHP was called up (he'll turn 25 in April), John Russell buried him, and no wonder. He walked twice as many hitters as he fanned.
But the suits have more confidence in him; he's still in the 40-man roster. Sanchez is young, and throws in the mid 90s, so he looks like another case of picking potential rather than production. He was 5-1-4/3.46 at Indy last year, but for a power pitcher, his strike out rate was awfully low, just 5 batters per nine innings. And Indy is probably where he'll be come April.
Dave Davidson will be 25 in April, and probably will start the year at Indy after spending the last two seasons at Altoona. GW isn't sure why he's sticking on the 40-man roster, but suspects that a dearth of LH pitchers in the minors makes him more valuable to the Bucs than to many other clubs, so they're unwilling to risk losing him to the Rule 5 draft in a league that sees lefties as the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
His K rate is OK, nailing 7-8 batters every nine, but he offsets that by walking 5 per game while with the Curve in 2007-08. His stuff isn't overwhelming; he throws a 90 MPH heater and a curve. But Davidson does give up fewer hits than innings pitched, and is one Buc minor-leaguer not plagued by the long ball. He'll get his spring workout with the Canadian team in the WBC.
Denny Bautista, as Wilbur Miller noted, was rated by Baseball America among the top five prospects for three different teams: Florida, Baltimore and Kansas City. Hey, he throws in the mid-to-upper 90s. Unfortunately, no one seems to know where the ball's going. He was lights out for a few weeks after Pittsburgh claimed him, but NL batters quickly learned to show some patience, and the bottom fell out.
With the 26-year old's terrible command - he's never walked fewer than 4.5 batters per nine in any MLB stint - Bautista is ticketed to head to Indy as a reclamation project. He was taken off of the 40-man roster and DFA'ed after the season, and signed a minor league deal with a June 1st opt-out clause if he's not on the Pirate roster. We suspect he'll get to exercise it.
The Pirates play 17 games in 18 days to open the season, and that should effect how they build their early bullpen. Our guess is that they might keep a sixth starter as protection against a 2008-type blowout. If that's so, there will be precious few spots up for grabs in camp if one assumes that Capps, Grabow, Yates and Burnett are locks.
A lot depends on whether they hold on to Veal or not; he could become that mop-up/long guy if he doesn't pitch his way out of Pittsburgh. It'll be an interesting spring with so many unproven arms in Bradenton this year.
(Tomorrow, we'll feature the starters invited to camp, and on Tuesday we'll check out the rotation candidates in the system.)
This year's bridge tag-team should be the same as last year's, RHP Tyler Yates and LHP John Grabow.
Tyler Yates showed periods of promise, and streaks of maddening wildness. His 2008 line was 73-1/3 innings, 6-3-1/4.66, with 63 Ks and 41 BBs. The 31-tear old needs badly to put it together; he has closer stuff but little league control.
When he's on, his mid-90s fastball and little slider are nearly untouchable - Yates throughout his career has generally given up fewer hits than innings pitched - but he has to work ahead in the count, not behind. His 1.54 WHIP is testament to that. This was his last year for arbitration, so he has to show the suits he can find the dish if he wants another contract here.
John Grabow had a career year last season, blossoming when Damaso Marte was moved, giving Grabow the set-up job. He came through with his first full-time sub 4.00 ERA season, with a line of 6-4-1 and ERA of 2.84.
Of concern are the bone chips floating around in his elbow that landed him on the DL in 2007. Grabow was dangled as trade bait during the off season, and like Yates, he's in his last year of team control. And like Marte, the 31-year old doesn't have a big split between RH & LH hitters, so he's more than a LOOGY. The Pirates don't seem to like dropping dollars on relievers, so we look for a deadline deal in Grabow's future.
After that pair, it should be a free-for-all for the remaining handful of bullpen spots.
Everyone knows Sean Burnett's story. Another of the stable of AAAA starters, he was DFA'ed in early 2008 - and no one took him. Finally, last year the Bucs converted him to the pen, and after some Indy time and a shaky MLB start, Jeff Andrews moved him over a bit on the rubber, and he took off, halving his ERA in the second part of the season. Burnett finished the year with 58 appearances, 1-1/4.76, averaging 7 Ks and 5 Ws per nine innings.
Still, the 26-year old number one pick has issues with control, and his splits easily qualify him as a stone-cold LOOGY. He's out of options, so he breaks camp with the team or becomes a free agent. While he's said by the suits to not be a lock to make the club, Burnett is the only LH with any experience outside of Grabow and should be a Buc in April.
From the wild child no one wanted to fast riser, Evan Meek is quite a story. As a Rule 5 selection, he was unfortunately thrown right into the fire early in the season when the Pirate staff imploded. The suits tried to give him back to Tampa Bay; they wouldn't take him, and for a few bucks, Meek became a Bucco.
Put at the right level, he regained his control at Altoona and continued to look strong in a brief stop at Indy. Meek walked fewer than three batters per game, and struck out eight per nine innings in the bushes. He throws a low 90s heater that sinks, and has a good groundball out ratio. The 25-year old RHP will probably start out the season at Indy to reinforce his mechanics, and has the opportunity to supplant Yates, maybe as soon as this summer.
30-year old RHP Chris Bootcheck was picked up from the Angels, and looks like a minor league depth signing. The Angels drafted him first in 2000, but except for a decent showing in 2005, he's never shown MLB ability.
He throws a low 90s fastball, and also has a slider, curve, and changeup, befitting a guy that was a starter until 2006. Bootcheck provides a veteran presence to a young minor league system.
LHP Daniel Haigwood, a 25-year old, throws a high 80s - low 90s fastball, a curveball, slider, and an excellent changeup. And, praise the Lord, he typically gets ahead of batters early in the count. Haigwood is considered to have some major league potential; he struck out 60 in 57 innings at AA Portland last year, so he's a signing with some upside down the road.
Haigwood was converted to a reliever last year by Boston, and just what the Bucs plan to do with him at this point is up in the air. He'll probably report to Altoona - Indy is starting to get logjammed - and depending on the organizational needs, he could end in the pen or rotation.
Juan Mateo was a hot shot in the Cub organization, but after shoulder woes in 2007 that lingered into last season, they let him go. The Bucs signed him, and flipped him to the bullpen, both to ease the stress on his shoulder and because he's pretty much a one trick pony, depending on his mid 90s heater to carry the day.
The 26-year old RHP is ticketed to start at Indy or Altoona, depending on the numbers crunch, and is on track to become a middle inning reliever in the show.
The big Rule 5 pick-up, high-kicking, power pitching Donnie Veal, came to mini-camp firing darts but with mechanics that'll drive Joe Kerrigan to a shrink's couch. The Pirates would love to straighten him out enough to carry this year as a long man. Then they could ship him to Indy in 2010 to fill a starting role, where his value would skyrocket. And unlike Evan Meek, if the 24-year old LH doesn't cut the mustard here, he's likely to find a home somewhere away from PNC.
Craig Hansen is the Buccos mystery child. The 25-year old RHP has a rifle for an arm, but can't find the dish. A lot of his problems trace back to the Red Sox fast tracking him after drafting him first in 2005; he's had more MLB appearances than AA and below outings since then.
As Wilbur Miller at Pirate Player Profiles reports: "...The Pirates face a difficult situation with Hansen. He has no options left, so they'll have to carry him in the majors, which they'll almost certainly do because he's perceived to have a very high ceiling."
"Unfortunately, putting him into a close game is the equivalent of conceding defeat. He probably needs a couple years in the minors to work on his mechanics, but he won't get them now. Keeping him in the majors will be the equivalent of carrying a Rule 5 pick, except he can't go to the minors after a year."
RHP Brian Slocum, who will turn 28 in March, looks like a veteran Jason Davis-type insurance policy for the Bucs. He can start and come out of the pen, and has had a couple of cups of coffee with the Indians. Slocum depends on a low 90s fastball, and also throws a changeup and curve.
The word is that the suits think he has a decent shot of making the roster, but it makes more sense for him to start the year in Indy and join the club if needed.
Jason Davis was DFA'ed and booted off the 40-man roster, but after a slow dance with the Japanese league, decided to take another shot with Pittsburgh. The 28-year old RHP has parts of seven MLB seasons under his belt, and can still bring it, throwing in the mid 90s.
He brings a veteran presence to the organization, and being equally comfortable as a starter and reliever, can fill in the back of the rotation or as long bullpen man competently if called upon. Davis will likely begin in Indy again.
Romulo Sanchez, the unlikely focal point of a blogosphere bobblehead battle, isn't very likely to be on the roster to deserve one. When the 24-year old RHP was called up (he'll turn 25 in April), John Russell buried him, and no wonder. He walked twice as many hitters as he fanned.
But the suits have more confidence in him; he's still in the 40-man roster. Sanchez is young, and throws in the mid 90s, so he looks like another case of picking potential rather than production. He was 5-1-4/3.46 at Indy last year, but for a power pitcher, his strike out rate was awfully low, just 5 batters per nine innings. And Indy is probably where he'll be come April.
Dave Davidson will be 25 in April, and probably will start the year at Indy after spending the last two seasons at Altoona. GW isn't sure why he's sticking on the 40-man roster, but suspects that a dearth of LH pitchers in the minors makes him more valuable to the Bucs than to many other clubs, so they're unwilling to risk losing him to the Rule 5 draft in a league that sees lefties as the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
His K rate is OK, nailing 7-8 batters every nine, but he offsets that by walking 5 per game while with the Curve in 2007-08. His stuff isn't overwhelming; he throws a 90 MPH heater and a curve. But Davidson does give up fewer hits than innings pitched, and is one Buc minor-leaguer not plagued by the long ball. He'll get his spring workout with the Canadian team in the WBC.
Denny Bautista, as Wilbur Miller noted, was rated by Baseball America among the top five prospects for three different teams: Florida, Baltimore and Kansas City. Hey, he throws in the mid-to-upper 90s. Unfortunately, no one seems to know where the ball's going. He was lights out for a few weeks after Pittsburgh claimed him, but NL batters quickly learned to show some patience, and the bottom fell out.
With the 26-year old's terrible command - he's never walked fewer than 4.5 batters per nine in any MLB stint - Bautista is ticketed to head to Indy as a reclamation project. He was taken off of the 40-man roster and DFA'ed after the season, and signed a minor league deal with a June 1st opt-out clause if he's not on the Pirate roster. We suspect he'll get to exercise it.
The Pirates play 17 games in 18 days to open the season, and that should effect how they build their early bullpen. Our guess is that they might keep a sixth starter as protection against a 2008-type blowout. If that's so, there will be precious few spots up for grabs in camp if one assumes that Capps, Grabow, Yates and Burnett are locks.
A lot depends on whether they hold on to Veal or not; he could become that mop-up/long guy if he doesn't pitch his way out of Pittsburgh. It'll be an interesting spring with so many unproven arms in Bradenton this year.
(Tomorrow, we'll feature the starters invited to camp, and on Tuesday we'll check out the rotation candidates in the system.)
Saturday, February 7, 2009
The Buc Closers Top To Bottom
Spring is in the air, and the Pirate pitchers and catchers are six days away from camp. This week, we're gonna take a look at the Bucco hurlers, starting with the finishers.
A bullpen is only as strong as its closer, and the Bucs have the dependable Matt Capps ready to finish out games. His strengths are a bulldog mentality, a low 90s heater, pin point control, and a developing off-speed pitch to spring on those dang lefties.
The 25-year old began his career as a starter, and at the time his change-up was considered his best pitch, so we think there's a lot of upside to him adding that to his selection menu, along with the occasional breaking ball.
Capps had an inconsistent year in 2008 (2-3-21, 3.02), held back by a bout of bursitis in his shoulder. It healed with rest, and he also committed himself to getting into better physical condition, coming into camp a little lighter and a lot more in shape.
This is a big year for Capps. The RHP became the closer in 2007 when Solly Torres couldn't hang onto the job, and until his injury made him mortal, he had the best save percentage in baseball.
Capps is also working on the last year of a contract paying him $2.35M in 2009, though he's under team control for two more years after that via arbitration. So he'd like to prove he can pitch a whole season and be da man this year.
Jesse Chavez was Indy's closer last year, and notched 14 saves with a 2.88 ERA. Pittsburgh got the 25-year old in 2006 as part of the Kip Wells deal, and he's a fairly hard thrower (93-95 MPH) with decent control.
But the RHP has a terrible split (.177/.282) against lefties, which limits his usefulness. Still, John Russell called his name during his September audition when the game was on the line, so the organization thinks he has some promise.
There are a couple of guys down the road with enough closer potential that the Pirates added them to the 40-man roster.
One is 25-year old RHP Jeff Sues, who was drafted by the organization in 2005 as a starter, but was bedeviled by injuries.
In what was basically his first full pro season, he threw well at both Lynchburg and Altoona. Sues hits the mid-90s when he's on, and his control is OK but sometimes streaky. He could end up at Indy at some point this year, and is on a fast track to Pittsburgh.
The other is surprise addition 22-year old RHP Ronald Uviedo. He struck out 88 batters in 87 innings of work at Lynchburg and Hickory walking just 20, and throws a 94 MPH fastball and sharp curve.
Both youngsters are fly ball pitchers, so they occasionally give up the long ball. They're also Rule-5 eligible, and that means they'll be fast tracked so that they don't jam up the 40-man roster.
Eric Krebs has a nice arm too, and was converted to the pen last year. But the 23-year old RHP, who throws a 94 MPH heater with a slider, has two problems - he's on the wild side, and he can't stay out of the tub. Still, he struck out 60 in 57 innings at Lynchburg and has upside that can't be ignored.
He's another Rule-5 eligible hurler, but slid through the lottery this year after being smacked in the face with a liner and missing some time in the minors, followed by being shut down with shoulder tenderness in Hawaii during fall ball. Krebs should start out at Altoona, and this season should sort out whether he's a pretender or prospect.
Tom Boleska, a 22-year old RHP who was lights out at Hickory, may be a player to watch. He struck out 47 in 45 innings, with an ERA of 2.36 and a WHIP of 0.93 for the Crawdads, throwing a mid-90s heater and slider. Boleska will start the season in the tub - he suffered an oblique sprain at the end of last year, and still isn't ready to go.
One young guy worth mentioning is Brent Klinger, who gave up one earned run, allowed just eight hits, and struck out 13 batters in 15-1/3 innings between the GCL and State College. The 20-year old RHP throws a 94 MPH heater and will probably be at West Virginia to open 2009.
Guys on the MLB roster that are considered having the stuff to close are RHPs Tyler Yates and Craig Hansen. Both throw bullets, but have to show they can find the plate before they're entrusted with a lead. And both are out of options, so they have to make the club in the spring or face being DFA'd. Yates should, but Hansen will be an interesting decision.
Daniel McCutchen was considered potential closer material back in his Yankee days thanks to his control, aggressive, right at 'em approach against hitters and his mental toughness, but the Pirate suits seem perfectly happy to have him start.
And given his upside and the nature of the Bucco rotation, GW can't find any fault in that thinking.
(Tomorrow - the bullpen bridges and backenders)
A bullpen is only as strong as its closer, and the Bucs have the dependable Matt Capps ready to finish out games. His strengths are a bulldog mentality, a low 90s heater, pin point control, and a developing off-speed pitch to spring on those dang lefties.
The 25-year old began his career as a starter, and at the time his change-up was considered his best pitch, so we think there's a lot of upside to him adding that to his selection menu, along with the occasional breaking ball.
Capps had an inconsistent year in 2008 (2-3-21, 3.02), held back by a bout of bursitis in his shoulder. It healed with rest, and he also committed himself to getting into better physical condition, coming into camp a little lighter and a lot more in shape.
This is a big year for Capps. The RHP became the closer in 2007 when Solly Torres couldn't hang onto the job, and until his injury made him mortal, he had the best save percentage in baseball.
Capps is also working on the last year of a contract paying him $2.35M in 2009, though he's under team control for two more years after that via arbitration. So he'd like to prove he can pitch a whole season and be da man this year.
Jesse Chavez was Indy's closer last year, and notched 14 saves with a 2.88 ERA. Pittsburgh got the 25-year old in 2006 as part of the Kip Wells deal, and he's a fairly hard thrower (93-95 MPH) with decent control.
But the RHP has a terrible split (.177/.282) against lefties, which limits his usefulness. Still, John Russell called his name during his September audition when the game was on the line, so the organization thinks he has some promise.
There are a couple of guys down the road with enough closer potential that the Pirates added them to the 40-man roster.
One is 25-year old RHP Jeff Sues, who was drafted by the organization in 2005 as a starter, but was bedeviled by injuries.
In what was basically his first full pro season, he threw well at both Lynchburg and Altoona. Sues hits the mid-90s when he's on, and his control is OK but sometimes streaky. He could end up at Indy at some point this year, and is on a fast track to Pittsburgh.
The other is surprise addition 22-year old RHP Ronald Uviedo. He struck out 88 batters in 87 innings of work at Lynchburg and Hickory walking just 20, and throws a 94 MPH fastball and sharp curve.
Both youngsters are fly ball pitchers, so they occasionally give up the long ball. They're also Rule-5 eligible, and that means they'll be fast tracked so that they don't jam up the 40-man roster.
Eric Krebs has a nice arm too, and was converted to the pen last year. But the 23-year old RHP, who throws a 94 MPH heater with a slider, has two problems - he's on the wild side, and he can't stay out of the tub. Still, he struck out 60 in 57 innings at Lynchburg and has upside that can't be ignored.
He's another Rule-5 eligible hurler, but slid through the lottery this year after being smacked in the face with a liner and missing some time in the minors, followed by being shut down with shoulder tenderness in Hawaii during fall ball. Krebs should start out at Altoona, and this season should sort out whether he's a pretender or prospect.
Tom Boleska, a 22-year old RHP who was lights out at Hickory, may be a player to watch. He struck out 47 in 45 innings, with an ERA of 2.36 and a WHIP of 0.93 for the Crawdads, throwing a mid-90s heater and slider. Boleska will start the season in the tub - he suffered an oblique sprain at the end of last year, and still isn't ready to go.
One young guy worth mentioning is Brent Klinger, who gave up one earned run, allowed just eight hits, and struck out 13 batters in 15-1/3 innings between the GCL and State College. The 20-year old RHP throws a 94 MPH heater and will probably be at West Virginia to open 2009.
Guys on the MLB roster that are considered having the stuff to close are RHPs Tyler Yates and Craig Hansen. Both throw bullets, but have to show they can find the plate before they're entrusted with a lead. And both are out of options, so they have to make the club in the spring or face being DFA'd. Yates should, but Hansen will be an interesting decision.
Daniel McCutchen was considered potential closer material back in his Yankee days thanks to his control, aggressive, right at 'em approach against hitters and his mental toughness, but the Pirate suits seem perfectly happy to have him start.
And given his upside and the nature of the Bucco rotation, GW can't find any fault in that thinking.
(Tomorrow - the bullpen bridges and backenders)
Friday, February 6, 2009
Today's News
* Tom Gorzelanny told Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com that "(After) what happened last year, I know the importance of coming into Spring Training in great shape." Gorzo added that "It shows that I am taking my preparation seriously and that I'm ready to be a good Major League pitcher."
He's 15 pounds lighter now than at this time last spring. Makes you wonder, though, why so many guys, especially with a new administration on board, came to camp looking like Pillsbury Dough Boys last season.
Gorzo, Matt Capps, Ronny Paulino...guess they all learned a lesson the hard way, both about themselves and the new bosses.
* The Blue Jays claimed RHP T.J. Beam off waivers from the Pirates on Thursday. Beam, 28, posted a 4.14 ERA and 4.7 K/9 in 45-2/3 innings for the Pirates in 2008.
We're still wondering why he got the ax instead of Dave Davidson or Romulo Sanchez, especially as the suits claimed all winter that Beam had a realistic shot of making the bullpen out of camp. We don't expect Davidson or Sanchez to challenge for a job.
* For those of you looking forward already to the 2009 draft, the Pirates will get back-to-back selections in the second round (#48 & 48a), with the second pick serving as compensation for not signing Fresno State's Tanner Scheppers.
* The pride of Duquesne U, LHP Joe Beimel has drawn interest recently from the Diamondbacks, Tigers, Rockies, and Phillies, but still hasn't gotten the terms he wants.
* Daryle Ward signed a minor league contract with the Reds.
* Kevan Smith, back-up QB at Pitt, has decided to cast his fate with Panther baseball this year. He's a big guy - 6'-3", 240 pounds - and was a hammer when he played at Seneca Valley. Smith is going back to catching, and following in the steps of guys like Drew Henson and John David Booty, although a better comparison might be with J.R. House. He could be worth keeping an eye on during the next couple of seasons.
* The Bucs aren't the only team staring down the arbitration barrel with a young outfielder. In Saint Louis, Ryan Ludwick asked for $4.25M and was offered $2.8M, while Rick Ankiel asked for $3.3M and the Cardinals countered with $2.35M. Both seem likely to settle their differences in front of a arbitrator later this month.
* Why hasn't Ben Sheets inked a deal? How about because he's likely to have elbow surgery for a a torn flexor tendon. Sheets hopes for a July or August return, but could lose the entire season. No wonder he wanted a three-year deal, hey?
But if he's not signed by the draft, the team that inks him won't have to give up a first-round pick. So he could get a lot of love later in the summer, either as a deadline-type pickup or a via a cheap guarantee, incentive-laden contract for a club that could warehouse him until 2010.
He's 15 pounds lighter now than at this time last spring. Makes you wonder, though, why so many guys, especially with a new administration on board, came to camp looking like Pillsbury Dough Boys last season.
Gorzo, Matt Capps, Ronny Paulino...guess they all learned a lesson the hard way, both about themselves and the new bosses.
* The Blue Jays claimed RHP T.J. Beam off waivers from the Pirates on Thursday. Beam, 28, posted a 4.14 ERA and 4.7 K/9 in 45-2/3 innings for the Pirates in 2008.
We're still wondering why he got the ax instead of Dave Davidson or Romulo Sanchez, especially as the suits claimed all winter that Beam had a realistic shot of making the bullpen out of camp. We don't expect Davidson or Sanchez to challenge for a job.
* For those of you looking forward already to the 2009 draft, the Pirates will get back-to-back selections in the second round (#48 & 48a), with the second pick serving as compensation for not signing Fresno State's Tanner Scheppers.
* The pride of Duquesne U, LHP Joe Beimel has drawn interest recently from the Diamondbacks, Tigers, Rockies, and Phillies, but still hasn't gotten the terms he wants.
* Daryle Ward signed a minor league contract with the Reds.
* Kevan Smith, back-up QB at Pitt, has decided to cast his fate with Panther baseball this year. He's a big guy - 6'-3", 240 pounds - and was a hammer when he played at Seneca Valley. Smith is going back to catching, and following in the steps of guys like Drew Henson and John David Booty, although a better comparison might be with J.R. House. He could be worth keeping an eye on during the next couple of seasons.
* The Bucs aren't the only team staring down the arbitration barrel with a young outfielder. In Saint Louis, Ryan Ludwick asked for $4.25M and was offered $2.8M, while Rick Ankiel asked for $3.3M and the Cardinals countered with $2.35M. Both seem likely to settle their differences in front of a arbitrator later this month.
* Why hasn't Ben Sheets inked a deal? How about because he's likely to have elbow surgery for a a torn flexor tendon. Sheets hopes for a July or August return, but could lose the entire season. No wonder he wanted a three-year deal, hey?
But if he's not signed by the draft, the team that inks him won't have to give up a first-round pick. So he could get a lot of love later in the summer, either as a deadline-type pickup or a via a cheap guarantee, incentive-laden contract for a club that could warehouse him until 2010.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
A Couple of Interviews
Todd Wright of Sporting News Radio got on the horn and talked to Nate McLouth just before the Super Bowl (hey, better late than never, right?) Here's what McLouth had to say:
* He's not nervous about repeating his All-Star season, even though he admits that hitting is a case of overcoming failure. McLouth said he's excited because he knows he can "improve a lot," specifically citing consistency at the plate.
* He had this to say about the Steelers (and we suspect it carries over to baseball): McLouth likes them because they're "not flashy, but hard-nosed." And he gave the 'Burghers their props - "Steeler fans are crazy," he admitted, adding that they're bonkers supporting all the sports teams in the City, even the Bucco faithful.
* Finally, he said this about the newly discarded red unis - he's glad they tossed them in the garbage. McLouth claimed that he felt like he was "working in the drive-through at McDonalds" every time he pulled the reds on.
He's a big fan of the black & gold scheme shared by the City teams. "Those colors are always associated with the City, and people are proud of them."
Frank Coonelly had his periodic chat with the fans yesterday, and here's a few things he said:
* About the 2009 season - "I would never want to make predictions as to the number of games that we will win, but I am confident that we will play better than we did in 2008 and surprise a lot of people with our performance."
He says improved pitching and having Andy LaRoche and Brandon Moss start the year with the Pirates are big reasons for his optimism.
* Why the lack of big free agent interest - "As we have said, we need to build our team from a core of premiere players signed and developed here in Pittsburgh. Secondly, because we value our high Draft choices so highly, it would be very difficult for us to lose a first- or second-round Draft choice as compensation for signing a Type-A free agent."
But there is someone out there he has some love for, although all reports say he wants to go to LA if Manny overplays his hand - "(Adam) Dunn is an interesting free agent because he would not cost us a Draft pick. Right now, the salaries that he is expecting do not fit within our budget. If other moves were made and Dunn fit within our budget, he is someone who we would consider."
* And finally, the plan as he sees it - "We are building this team in the same manner as the Minnesota Twins have built their clubs over the last several years and as the Tampa Bay Rays built their World Series team...We are aggressively spending money on the Draft and in the international markets, and in the Dominican Republic in particular. We have also acquired premiere players via trade. In short, we need to sign and/or develop our own premiere players and then retain them in the system for as long as possible."
And he made a point of adding that the suits are not looking at a window that's down the road: "We expect to win in 2009 and would not find it acceptable to attempt to build a team that will not win until 2010 or 2012."
We'll see about that one.
* He's not nervous about repeating his All-Star season, even though he admits that hitting is a case of overcoming failure. McLouth said he's excited because he knows he can "improve a lot," specifically citing consistency at the plate.
* He had this to say about the Steelers (and we suspect it carries over to baseball): McLouth likes them because they're "not flashy, but hard-nosed." And he gave the 'Burghers their props - "Steeler fans are crazy," he admitted, adding that they're bonkers supporting all the sports teams in the City, even the Bucco faithful.
* Finally, he said this about the newly discarded red unis - he's glad they tossed them in the garbage. McLouth claimed that he felt like he was "working in the drive-through at McDonalds" every time he pulled the reds on.
He's a big fan of the black & gold scheme shared by the City teams. "Those colors are always associated with the City, and people are proud of them."
Frank Coonelly had his periodic chat with the fans yesterday, and here's a few things he said:
* About the 2009 season - "I would never want to make predictions as to the number of games that we will win, but I am confident that we will play better than we did in 2008 and surprise a lot of people with our performance."
He says improved pitching and having Andy LaRoche and Brandon Moss start the year with the Pirates are big reasons for his optimism.
* Why the lack of big free agent interest - "As we have said, we need to build our team from a core of premiere players signed and developed here in Pittsburgh. Secondly, because we value our high Draft choices so highly, it would be very difficult for us to lose a first- or second-round Draft choice as compensation for signing a Type-A free agent."
But there is someone out there he has some love for, although all reports say he wants to go to LA if Manny overplays his hand - "(Adam) Dunn is an interesting free agent because he would not cost us a Draft pick. Right now, the salaries that he is expecting do not fit within our budget. If other moves were made and Dunn fit within our budget, he is someone who we would consider."
* And finally, the plan as he sees it - "We are building this team in the same manner as the Minnesota Twins have built their clubs over the last several years and as the Tampa Bay Rays built their World Series team...We are aggressively spending money on the Draft and in the international markets, and in the Dominican Republic in particular. We have also acquired premiere players via trade. In short, we need to sign and/or develop our own premiere players and then retain them in the system for as long as possible."
And he made a point of adding that the suits are not looking at a window that's down the road: "We expect to win in 2009 and would not find it acceptable to attempt to build a team that will not win until 2010 or 2012."
We'll see about that one.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Killing Some Time Before They Report...
Need something to carry you through the agonizing wait before they start to toss the horsehide around? Here's a couple of Bucco-related tidbits to help you weather the angst until February 14th arrives:
* There's a bobblehead battle being waged in the blogosphere. Eron of Sitting In The North Side Notch is championing a Romulo Sanchez doll write-in; DK of the PBC Blog is pushing some old guy named Honus Wagner for the honor, and Michael at Hyzdu Headquarters is tub-thumping for oldie but goodie Fred Clarke.
If you feel like joining in the fray, you can vote at Bobblehead Ballot. There are actual candidates listed, too, for your voting pleasure.
And for the GW pick? He's waiting for a Gunner give-away.
* Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com has the Bucs covered coming and going. Here's her story Hopes High For New Look Bench. She also penned a story back in October that makes her look like a Delphi oracle: Bucs Will Count On Growth From Core.
* DK has the latest pre-camp stuff on the Bucs in his Hot Stove Report, featuring the much maligned Andy LaRoche, who's apparently rarin' to go in 2009.
* Paul Sullivan of Sully Baseball Blog has a post well worth reading, comparing the Buc's All-Time teams. Sully picks the best roster from the homegrown guys that were born and bred Pirates and a team of guys that came to Pittsburgh from other organizations. It's a pretty interesting read, and a great starting point for Bucco debaters.
* There's a bobblehead battle being waged in the blogosphere. Eron of Sitting In The North Side Notch is championing a Romulo Sanchez doll write-in; DK of the PBC Blog is pushing some old guy named Honus Wagner for the honor, and Michael at Hyzdu Headquarters is tub-thumping for oldie but goodie Fred Clarke.
If you feel like joining in the fray, you can vote at Bobblehead Ballot. There are actual candidates listed, too, for your voting pleasure.
And for the GW pick? He's waiting for a Gunner give-away.
* Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com has the Bucs covered coming and going. Here's her story Hopes High For New Look Bench. She also penned a story back in October that makes her look like a Delphi oracle: Bucs Will Count On Growth From Core.
* DK has the latest pre-camp stuff on the Bucs in his Hot Stove Report, featuring the much maligned Andy LaRoche, who's apparently rarin' to go in 2009.
* Paul Sullivan of Sully Baseball Blog has a post well worth reading, comparing the Buc's All-Time teams. Sully picks the best roster from the homegrown guys that were born and bred Pirates and a team of guys that came to Pittsburgh from other organizations. It's a pretty interesting read, and a great starting point for Bucco debaters.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
The Pittsburgh Crawfords
The Pittsburgh Crawfords formed in 1925 through the effort of two local ballplayers, Teenie and Bill Harris, and was made up of black players from two local school teams, Watts and McKelvey Highs. The nine practiced at Washington Park for the 1925 season, picking up more local players as time went on.
In 1926, the team entered the city league, and its main sponsor was the Crawford Bath House and Rec Center, a public facility that aided immigrants as well as African-Americans who migrated from the South, and hence their name.
They became a city rec league powerhouse, and more money started to roll in from the community. Gus Greenlee made his first big donation to the team in 1926; his cash provided the funds for new team uniforms.
From 1927-1928, the Crawfords were one of the top black sandlot teams in the city. They played all comers locally, facing off against veteran teams made up of men in their 20s, 30s, and 40s, just to get some competition. And often, some of the star opposing players would switch allegiances and defect to the Crawfords. If ya can't beat 'em, join 'em.
Teenie Harris dropped out of the management, to join his brother Woogie in the numbers racket. Teenie became a renowned photographer with the Courier, and Woogie was one of the Hill District's top businessmen, although his profession was a little unorthodox. The team was still associated with the Crawford House, and was managed by original founder Bill Harris with Harry Beale, and coached by Jim Dorsey, Sr.
The Crawfords were bought in 1931 by Gus Greenlee, a numbers operator originally from South Carolina. He would change the team from a neighborhood giant to a pro franchise, one of black baseball's best for a decade.
Greenlee also operated one of black Pittsburgh's favorite nightclubs, the Crawford Grill, where the likes of Lena Horne and Bill "Bojangles" Robinson entertained and players like Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson unwound. The Crawfords were from the start the best financed team in black baseball - Greenlee was known as the Hill's banker. Revenue generated from the numbers racket allowed him to sign some of its biggest names. And he did.
The major African American leagues of the 1920s (the Negro National League and the Eastern Colored League) had fallen apart, and Greenlee inked many of the now-unemployed black stars for Pittsburgh.
Greenlee signed the Grays' Oscar Charleston to be the Crawfords' first baseman and manager. Catcher Josh Gibson, versatile Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe (so dubbed by Chicago writer Damon Runyon after pitching the first game of a doubleheader and catching the second), third baseman William Julius "Judy" Johnson (a onetime Grays player), pitcher extraordinaire Leroy "Satchel" Paige, and speedy center fielder James Thomas "Cool Papa" Bell found their way to the Steel City's new powerhouse.
Playing as indy barnstormers, the Crawfords immediately established themselves as perhaps the best black team in the United States.
The Crawfords played in the new Greenlee Field, one of the few parks built specifically for the Negro Leagues and under team control. Greenlee Field was the first black-built and owned major league baseball field in the United States.
In 1931, construction started on Bedford Avenue between Chauncy and Duff in Pittsburgh's Hill District. The park opened on April 29, 1932, and reportedly cost $100,000 of Greenlee's numbers profit.
Greenlee Field held 7,500 spectators and it was the home field for the Crawfords throughout the Depression era. It was located a few blocks up Bedford Avenue from Ammon Field, home to the black Pittsburgh Keystones team (they played in the short-lived National Colored Ball League, the first black league, in 1887).
The park was razed in 1938 after the team was disbanded, and eventually became the Bedford Dwellings housing project. The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission placed a marker at the stadium's former site in 2007.
The Greenlee Field was important to the players, both symbolically and physically. When black clubs used the Pirates' Forbes Field, they weren't allowed in the clubhouses. And when they played at local fields like Washington or West Parks, they were basically playing under sandlot conditions. Greenlee Field was big league, and theirs.
He also bought the team its own bus, so they could travel in a bit of comfort and had a place to crash if Jim Crow made a town the club visited hostile. He ran a first class operation. Pittsburgh was the place to be, and the place to play.
In 1933, Greenlee founded a new Negro National League, with the Crawfords as charter members. The club narrowly lost the first-half title to the Chicago American Giants and both teams claimed the second-half title. The two title-holders were supposed to square off for the championship, but Greenlee, as league president, awarded it to his Crawfords without a playoff. He decided that it was good to be the king and took advantage.
The next season, as Gibson led the league with 16 home runs and Paige won 20 games, the Crawfords were near the top of the overall standings, but won neither half. Records of all games against league opponents, not just those considered official league games, show the Crawfords with far and away the best record for 1934. Their date with destiny was fast approaching.
In 1935, its greatest season, the Crawfords had to overcome the defection of its No. 1 pitcher Satchel Paige, because of a contract dispute. There are two stories. One is that Greenlee refused to give him a raise from his $250/month contract; the second is that Paige signed a contract for the same money during his wedding reception (which was in Las Vegas, and paid for by Greenlee), when he was in no condition to read it over.
At any rate, he played for the Philly Giants, the El Paso Mexicans, and the North Dakota Bismarcks in 1935 (they paid him $400/month and leased a car for him). It wouldn't be the last time he and Greenlee would soon bump heads over contracts.
Despite his absence, the Crawfords lived up to their promise, taking the first-half title with a 26-6 record, then defeating the New York Cubans in a close seven-game series for their only undisputed NNL pennant.
According to league stats published by the historian John Holway, Bell batted .341, Bill Perkins hit .337, Sam Bankhead .336, Charleston .309 and Gibson .304 while leading the league in home runs and steals. But pitching was the key.
LHP curveball specialist Leroy Matlock, who had pitched for the St. Louis Stars, went 18-0 in league play. RHP Roosevelt Davis, known for a spitball that struck so much fear into hitters that they couldn't handle his legal pitches, went 12-4.
In the World Series against the Cubans, Matlock sat out the first two games, and the Crawfords lost both. Matlock's 3-0 shutout in Game 3 put Pittsburgh back in the Series. The Crawfords lost the next game, and were in a 3-1 hole. Sound familiar to Pirate fans?
Matlock trailed, 5-2, in the sixth game, but Charleston tied it with a home run and Johnson won it with a single. The Crawfords erased a 7-5 deficit against Cubans' pitcher Luis Tiant (the father of the Red Sox star) with homers by Gibson and Charleston. Bell singled and used his wheels to bring home the title, stealing second and scoring from there on an infield error.
Many consider this Crawford team to be the best black nine in history; if it's not, they're surely on the short list. Not only did they win the Black Series, but they boasted of four future Hall of Famers (they would have six the next year, when they signed Buck Leonard and Satchel Paige rejoined the squad).
After a mediocre first half (16-15) in 1936, the Crawfords rallied to win the NNL's second half with a 20-9 record. Paige had returned, and contributed an 11-3 record. The Crawfords retained the title when Greenlee, still the prez, declared them champs over the protests of the Washington Elite nine, which had won the first-half crown.
The following spring, Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, Cool Papa Bell, and several other Crawfords players bolted for Santo Domingo, to play for the Dominican dictator, Rafael Trujillo, and the franchise never recovered. Paige and Greenlee were still on different pages financially, and Satchel led the pack to the greener pastures of Central America.
After two second division finishes and a running low on cash - even the numbers racket isn't a bottomless gold pit - Greenlee sold the team, his field was demolished, and the franchise moved to Toledo in 1939 and then to Indianapolis in 1940 before disbanding.
In the mid 1940s another team using the same Pittsburgh Crawfords' name was formed, but it wasn't related in any way to the original franchise. And so ends the saga of of a brief but brilliant moment in Pittsburgh baseball.
And hey, there was another great black team in Pittsburgh around the same era - the Homestead Grays. You may want to catch up on their storied history, too.
In 1926, the team entered the city league, and its main sponsor was the Crawford Bath House and Rec Center, a public facility that aided immigrants as well as African-Americans who migrated from the South, and hence their name.
They became a city rec league powerhouse, and more money started to roll in from the community. Gus Greenlee made his first big donation to the team in 1926; his cash provided the funds for new team uniforms.
From 1927-1928, the Crawfords were one of the top black sandlot teams in the city. They played all comers locally, facing off against veteran teams made up of men in their 20s, 30s, and 40s, just to get some competition. And often, some of the star opposing players would switch allegiances and defect to the Crawfords. If ya can't beat 'em, join 'em.
Teenie Harris dropped out of the management, to join his brother Woogie in the numbers racket. Teenie became a renowned photographer with the Courier, and Woogie was one of the Hill District's top businessmen, although his profession was a little unorthodox. The team was still associated with the Crawford House, and was managed by original founder Bill Harris with Harry Beale, and coached by Jim Dorsey, Sr.
The Crawfords were bought in 1931 by Gus Greenlee, a numbers operator originally from South Carolina. He would change the team from a neighborhood giant to a pro franchise, one of black baseball's best for a decade.
Greenlee also operated one of black Pittsburgh's favorite nightclubs, the Crawford Grill, where the likes of Lena Horne and Bill "Bojangles" Robinson entertained and players like Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson unwound. The Crawfords were from the start the best financed team in black baseball - Greenlee was known as the Hill's banker. Revenue generated from the numbers racket allowed him to sign some of its biggest names. And he did.
The major African American leagues of the 1920s (the Negro National League and the Eastern Colored League) had fallen apart, and Greenlee inked many of the now-unemployed black stars for Pittsburgh.
Greenlee signed the Grays' Oscar Charleston to be the Crawfords' first baseman and manager. Catcher Josh Gibson, versatile Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe (so dubbed by Chicago writer Damon Runyon after pitching the first game of a doubleheader and catching the second), third baseman William Julius "Judy" Johnson (a onetime Grays player), pitcher extraordinaire Leroy "Satchel" Paige, and speedy center fielder James Thomas "Cool Papa" Bell found their way to the Steel City's new powerhouse.
Playing as indy barnstormers, the Crawfords immediately established themselves as perhaps the best black team in the United States.
The Crawfords played in the new Greenlee Field, one of the few parks built specifically for the Negro Leagues and under team control. Greenlee Field was the first black-built and owned major league baseball field in the United States.
In 1931, construction started on Bedford Avenue between Chauncy and Duff in Pittsburgh's Hill District. The park opened on April 29, 1932, and reportedly cost $100,000 of Greenlee's numbers profit.
Greenlee Field held 7,500 spectators and it was the home field for the Crawfords throughout the Depression era. It was located a few blocks up Bedford Avenue from Ammon Field, home to the black Pittsburgh Keystones team (they played in the short-lived National Colored Ball League, the first black league, in 1887).
The park was razed in 1938 after the team was disbanded, and eventually became the Bedford Dwellings housing project. The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission placed a marker at the stadium's former site in 2007.
The Greenlee Field was important to the players, both symbolically and physically. When black clubs used the Pirates' Forbes Field, they weren't allowed in the clubhouses. And when they played at local fields like Washington or West Parks, they were basically playing under sandlot conditions. Greenlee Field was big league, and theirs.
He also bought the team its own bus, so they could travel in a bit of comfort and had a place to crash if Jim Crow made a town the club visited hostile. He ran a first class operation. Pittsburgh was the place to be, and the place to play.
In 1933, Greenlee founded a new Negro National League, with the Crawfords as charter members. The club narrowly lost the first-half title to the Chicago American Giants and both teams claimed the second-half title. The two title-holders were supposed to square off for the championship, but Greenlee, as league president, awarded it to his Crawfords without a playoff. He decided that it was good to be the king and took advantage.
The next season, as Gibson led the league with 16 home runs and Paige won 20 games, the Crawfords were near the top of the overall standings, but won neither half. Records of all games against league opponents, not just those considered official league games, show the Crawfords with far and away the best record for 1934. Their date with destiny was fast approaching.
In 1935, its greatest season, the Crawfords had to overcome the defection of its No. 1 pitcher Satchel Paige, because of a contract dispute. There are two stories. One is that Greenlee refused to give him a raise from his $250/month contract; the second is that Paige signed a contract for the same money during his wedding reception (which was in Las Vegas, and paid for by Greenlee), when he was in no condition to read it over.
At any rate, he played for the Philly Giants, the El Paso Mexicans, and the North Dakota Bismarcks in 1935 (they paid him $400/month and leased a car for him). It wouldn't be the last time he and Greenlee would soon bump heads over contracts.
Despite his absence, the Crawfords lived up to their promise, taking the first-half title with a 26-6 record, then defeating the New York Cubans in a close seven-game series for their only undisputed NNL pennant.
According to league stats published by the historian John Holway, Bell batted .341, Bill Perkins hit .337, Sam Bankhead .336, Charleston .309 and Gibson .304 while leading the league in home runs and steals. But pitching was the key.
LHP curveball specialist Leroy Matlock, who had pitched for the St. Louis Stars, went 18-0 in league play. RHP Roosevelt Davis, known for a spitball that struck so much fear into hitters that they couldn't handle his legal pitches, went 12-4.
In the World Series against the Cubans, Matlock sat out the first two games, and the Crawfords lost both. Matlock's 3-0 shutout in Game 3 put Pittsburgh back in the Series. The Crawfords lost the next game, and were in a 3-1 hole. Sound familiar to Pirate fans?
Matlock trailed, 5-2, in the sixth game, but Charleston tied it with a home run and Johnson won it with a single. The Crawfords erased a 7-5 deficit against Cubans' pitcher Luis Tiant (the father of the Red Sox star) with homers by Gibson and Charleston. Bell singled and used his wheels to bring home the title, stealing second and scoring from there on an infield error.
Many consider this Crawford team to be the best black nine in history; if it's not, they're surely on the short list. Not only did they win the Black Series, but they boasted of four future Hall of Famers (they would have six the next year, when they signed Buck Leonard and Satchel Paige rejoined the squad).
After a mediocre first half (16-15) in 1936, the Crawfords rallied to win the NNL's second half with a 20-9 record. Paige had returned, and contributed an 11-3 record. The Crawfords retained the title when Greenlee, still the prez, declared them champs over the protests of the Washington Elite nine, which had won the first-half crown.
The following spring, Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, Cool Papa Bell, and several other Crawfords players bolted for Santo Domingo, to play for the Dominican dictator, Rafael Trujillo, and the franchise never recovered. Paige and Greenlee were still on different pages financially, and Satchel led the pack to the greener pastures of Central America.
After two second division finishes and a running low on cash - even the numbers racket isn't a bottomless gold pit - Greenlee sold the team, his field was demolished, and the franchise moved to Toledo in 1939 and then to Indianapolis in 1940 before disbanding.
In the mid 1940s another team using the same Pittsburgh Crawfords' name was formed, but it wasn't related in any way to the original franchise. And so ends the saga of of a brief but brilliant moment in Pittsburgh baseball.
And hey, there was another great black team in Pittsburgh around the same era - the Homestead Grays. You may want to catch up on their storied history, too.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Farm Fresh - The Outfield
OK, we're gonna have some musical chairs being played for the outfield positions, and we think all through the season, not just in the spring. You can count on Nate McLouth and Brandon Moss being locks, Nyjer Morgan pretty close to one, Eric Hinske as the fourth man, and then it gets a little interesting for that fifth spot.
Craig Monroe or Steve Pearce? This actually could end up a big deal, at least in the early part of the season, because with it lookin' like an all-lefty starting OF out of the gate, the extra RH outfielder could potentially see plenty of at-bats.
Monroe put together some pretty solid years for Detroit, but in the past two seasons, he's hit .219 and .202 and was DFA'ed by the Twins. His slugging percentages the past two years have been .370 and .405.
He's still got a little pop in his bat and his splits, both average and power-wise, are pretty even, making him a prime PH candidate. Monroe looks a lot to GW like Jason Michaels with a bat, but not quite as capable with a glove.
Pearce is everyone's favorite whipping boy, though he's only had 177 MLB at-bats to prove himself, with a decent line of .266/4/57 but a weak slugging % of .412. Like Monroe, he can't draw a walk to save his soul, though he does put the ball in play much more often.
He's certainly no golden glove OF either, though he plays first base pretty well and could be useful there in a back-up role, given Hinske's splits against lefties (and for that matter, Pearce's splits against righties).
The Pirates, from what we hear, would like to have him spend the season at Indy. Pearce will be 26 in April, and probably deserves a tour of duty with the big club. That will be the internal debate - is being a young MLB bench player a help or hindrance to development? We think Monroe is a long shot to make a difference on the team, and just serves to block Pearce. We'll see what the suits think.
Jeff Salazar could sneak into the mix, if Hinke is seen as more of a corner infield type than OF. He can play all three OF positions, but as a lefty stick that doesn't strike fear in any pitcher's heart, the 28-year old is almost certainly ticketed to Indy as a Kevin Thompson-type insurance policy.
It may be a moot point for that trio; Andrew McCutchen, unless he totally flames out in the first couple of months at Indy, will be called up as soon as the suits are sure he can avoid reaching "Super Two" arbitration status, and we expect to see him sometime in the early summer.
Everyone is waiting for the 22-year old's coming-out party. Some say another year to work out a couple of kinks in his armor - plate patience and base stealing, in particular - won't hurt. But even if he ends up being merely a solid player and not a superstar, hey, the team could use him. It's time for him to play.
He's a top of the order hitter and will be the best gloveman in the outfield as soon as he arrives. And we're thinking that McLouth and McCutch batting one-two will give the team a leadoff punch it hasn't seen in years. And with a McLouth-McCutch-Moss OF, balls should have some trouble finding the gaps as frequently as they do now.
Another whisper is that Neil Walker, catcher turned third baseman, may have another flip in his career and get some time in the OF to address that need. With little LaRoche and Pedro sandwiching him, it seems like the smart play.
After Jose Tabata, there's not a lot in the top levels of the Pirate system. And the 20-year old will be at Altoona to start 2009, still a minimum of a couple of season away from the show.
He played briefly for the Curve last year. In 89 at-bats, his line was .348/3/13, with a OBP of .402, slugging percentage of .562, OPS of .964, and 10 stolen bases. Small sample, but a taste of his potential when his head's together.
Jamie Romak, the 1B/OF hybrid that is the biggest power bat in the organization, has to prove himself at Altoona this year. As a 24-year old, his clock is ticking. Same for Jared Keel, another big bat that should join Romak at Altoona. He hit 20 bombs at Lynchburg last year, but he's 24 too, and time is not on his side.
Marcus Davis is another oldie but goodie. He's a 24-year old with some upside, but a project. He's got some tools, but started off late and comes from a small college background. If Davis can establish himself this season, probably at Lynchburg, after missing most of last year to a knee injury, he could jump on the prospect track. Davis is fighting father time, too, but could end up another Nyjer Morgan-type tale, except he has some tools and played baseball as a kid.
The Pirates still like 21-year old Austin McClune, a speedy ex-gridder with a rifle arm. His stats regressed dramatically at the dish last year, but he showed better plate discipline and a bit of gap power. If he regains his stroke at West Virginia, McClune will remain in the team's future plans.
To show the gap, the next batch of prospects are three 19-year olds that the scouts like, all drafted out of high school. Quincy Latimore, Wesley Freeman, and Rob Grossman are all just taking their first steps in the system, and we'll see a couple of seasons down the road how their careers turn out.
Craig Monroe or Steve Pearce? This actually could end up a big deal, at least in the early part of the season, because with it lookin' like an all-lefty starting OF out of the gate, the extra RH outfielder could potentially see plenty of at-bats.
Monroe put together some pretty solid years for Detroit, but in the past two seasons, he's hit .219 and .202 and was DFA'ed by the Twins. His slugging percentages the past two years have been .370 and .405.
He's still got a little pop in his bat and his splits, both average and power-wise, are pretty even, making him a prime PH candidate. Monroe looks a lot to GW like Jason Michaels with a bat, but not quite as capable with a glove.
Pearce is everyone's favorite whipping boy, though he's only had 177 MLB at-bats to prove himself, with a decent line of .266/4/57 but a weak slugging % of .412. Like Monroe, he can't draw a walk to save his soul, though he does put the ball in play much more often.
He's certainly no golden glove OF either, though he plays first base pretty well and could be useful there in a back-up role, given Hinske's splits against lefties (and for that matter, Pearce's splits against righties).
The Pirates, from what we hear, would like to have him spend the season at Indy. Pearce will be 26 in April, and probably deserves a tour of duty with the big club. That will be the internal debate - is being a young MLB bench player a help or hindrance to development? We think Monroe is a long shot to make a difference on the team, and just serves to block Pearce. We'll see what the suits think.
Jeff Salazar could sneak into the mix, if Hinke is seen as more of a corner infield type than OF. He can play all three OF positions, but as a lefty stick that doesn't strike fear in any pitcher's heart, the 28-year old is almost certainly ticketed to Indy as a Kevin Thompson-type insurance policy.
It may be a moot point for that trio; Andrew McCutchen, unless he totally flames out in the first couple of months at Indy, will be called up as soon as the suits are sure he can avoid reaching "Super Two" arbitration status, and we expect to see him sometime in the early summer.
Everyone is waiting for the 22-year old's coming-out party. Some say another year to work out a couple of kinks in his armor - plate patience and base stealing, in particular - won't hurt. But even if he ends up being merely a solid player and not a superstar, hey, the team could use him. It's time for him to play.
He's a top of the order hitter and will be the best gloveman in the outfield as soon as he arrives. And we're thinking that McLouth and McCutch batting one-two will give the team a leadoff punch it hasn't seen in years. And with a McLouth-McCutch-Moss OF, balls should have some trouble finding the gaps as frequently as they do now.
Another whisper is that Neil Walker, catcher turned third baseman, may have another flip in his career and get some time in the OF to address that need. With little LaRoche and Pedro sandwiching him, it seems like the smart play.
After Jose Tabata, there's not a lot in the top levels of the Pirate system. And the 20-year old will be at Altoona to start 2009, still a minimum of a couple of season away from the show.
He played briefly for the Curve last year. In 89 at-bats, his line was .348/3/13, with a OBP of .402, slugging percentage of .562, OPS of .964, and 10 stolen bases. Small sample, but a taste of his potential when his head's together.
Jamie Romak, the 1B/OF hybrid that is the biggest power bat in the organization, has to prove himself at Altoona this year. As a 24-year old, his clock is ticking. Same for Jared Keel, another big bat that should join Romak at Altoona. He hit 20 bombs at Lynchburg last year, but he's 24 too, and time is not on his side.
Marcus Davis is another oldie but goodie. He's a 24-year old with some upside, but a project. He's got some tools, but started off late and comes from a small college background. If Davis can establish himself this season, probably at Lynchburg, after missing most of last year to a knee injury, he could jump on the prospect track. Davis is fighting father time, too, but could end up another Nyjer Morgan-type tale, except he has some tools and played baseball as a kid.
The Pirates still like 21-year old Austin McClune, a speedy ex-gridder with a rifle arm. His stats regressed dramatically at the dish last year, but he showed better plate discipline and a bit of gap power. If he regains his stroke at West Virginia, McClune will remain in the team's future plans.
To show the gap, the next batch of prospects are three 19-year olds that the scouts like, all drafted out of high school. Quincy Latimore, Wesley Freeman, and Rob Grossman are all just taking their first steps in the system, and we'll see a couple of seasons down the road how their careers turn out.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Where They Landed
Hey, we know it's Super Sunday, so a tip of the hat to anyone that spends today surfin' the Buc Blogs. GW thought with camp just around the corner, we'd take a look at the old Pirates one last time before getting into 2009. Here's all the ex-Pittsburgh free agents for 2008-09 from Yahoo!Sports and where they landed:
Oliver Perez, SP: The grand mystery of the Class of ’09: Is he the guy who thoroughly dominates one start, or the one who looks Triple-A bound the next? Turned down 3 yrs/$30M from the Mets, his only public suitor. (EDIT: Perez and the Mets reached a preliminary agreement Monday on a $36 million, three-year contract.)
Brian Shouse, RP: The good: .180 batting average and .486 OPS, 28-to-2 K-to-BB ratio against lefties. The bad: 1.27 ERA at Miller Park vs. 4.70 on the road. Just signed for 2 yrs with Tampa Bay.
Joe Beimel, RP: Great ERA (2.02) is a bit misleading – 20 of 60 inherited runners scored. Was a hot target early, now waiting for a call.
Damaso Marte, RP: After declining Marte’s option, the Yankees signed the 33-year-old left-hander to a three-year, $12M deal.
Cesar Izturis, SS: The Orioles filled a problematic position by signing the defensively gifted Izturis to a two-year deal.
Sean Casey, 1B: The Mayor, a left-handed hitter with a sweet swing and disposition to match has retired with a .302 career batting average.
Ty Wigginton, 3B: He just signed a two-year, $6MM deal with Baltimore. The O's first offered one year with a club option but upped the ante due to competition from the Giants, among others.
Moises Alou, OF: Even at 42, he can still rake. When healthy. Which, unfortunately, is never. Phillies are kicking his Model-T tires.
David Ross, C: Lots of raw power (38 home runs between ’06 and ’07) disappeared in ’08. He did show improved plate discipline, and could be a sleeper signing for the Braves, who got him for two years at $3M.
Emil Brown, OF: Nice stats (13 home runs, 59 RBIs) belie his terrible on-base percentage, bad baserunning instincts and laughable defense. Not much interest in the 34-year old.
Daryle Ward, 1B/OF: After two standout pinch-hitting seasons, hit only .216 last year. No bites for the 33-year old so far.
Doug Mientkiewicz, 1B: Showed tremendous plate discipline with 44 walks to 28 strikeouts, even if all his power is sapped. Can eliminate Bucs from his wish list; will probably sign on late again, like last year.
Jason Michaels, OF: The 32-year-old agreed to a $750K, one-year contract with the Astros.
Julian Tavarez, RP: Hey, he’s always up for throwing at batters, if nothing else. DFA'ed twice last year and the Braves didn't re-sign him.
Jon Lieber, SP/RP: Is there another season left in the arm? He turns 39 right before opening day. Lost rotation spot to Jason Marquis last year; that about says it all.
Mike Lincoln, RP: Workmanlike return to the major leagues after a four-year absence buys him another shot, this time with the Reds for a two-year stint.
Chris Gomez, UT: The consummate journeyman, Gomez may have found his ninth team by signing a minor-league deal with the Orioles.
Ron Villone, RP: Truly an anomaly: survived Joe Torre and lived to tell about it without a scar on his pitching arm. The 39-year old hasn't been on the same team for more than two years in his MLB career.
Josh Fogg, SP: Penance for accepting the nickname "The Dragon Slayer" is a 7.58 ERA the next season. Signed a minor league deal with the Rockies.
Kip Wells, SP/RP: So promising once, he hasn’t finished with an ERA under 5.00 since 2004. No takers yet.
Luis Rivas, 2B/SS: One of the rare cases of Minnesota rushing a player, Rivas never recovered from early failures and is little more than a bounce-around guy. Signed minor league deal with the Cubs.
Tony Armas Jr., SP: For all of his talent and hype, Armas is one of the great disappointments of the past decade. Signed a minor league deal with the Mets.
Rob Mackowiak, UT: After a dismal year with the Nationals, Mackowiak will try to make the Mets roster as a minor-league invitee.
Ricardo Rincon, RP: Left-handed, still has a pulse. The 38-year old mainly played in Mexico last year, and will probably be on their WBC roster this year. And hey, he still gets props from us. Remember when Francisco Cordova and Rincon combined on their no hitter on July 12, 1997 at TRS? Mark Smith hit a three-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the 10th for the win. It's the last no-hitter in Pirates history.
Humberto Cota, C: the Reds signed Cota to a minor league deal. Cota, nearly 30, hit .319/.342/.493 in 37 Triple A games last year. He served a 50-game suspension for testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug.
GO STEELERS!!!
CONGRATULATIONS STEELERS!!!!!
Oliver Perez, SP: The grand mystery of the Class of ’09: Is he the guy who thoroughly dominates one start, or the one who looks Triple-A bound the next? Turned down 3 yrs/$30M from the Mets, his only public suitor. (EDIT: Perez and the Mets reached a preliminary agreement Monday on a $36 million, three-year contract.)
Brian Shouse, RP: The good: .180 batting average and .486 OPS, 28-to-2 K-to-BB ratio against lefties. The bad: 1.27 ERA at Miller Park vs. 4.70 on the road. Just signed for 2 yrs with Tampa Bay.
Joe Beimel, RP: Great ERA (2.02) is a bit misleading – 20 of 60 inherited runners scored. Was a hot target early, now waiting for a call.
Damaso Marte, RP: After declining Marte’s option, the Yankees signed the 33-year-old left-hander to a three-year, $12M deal.
Cesar Izturis, SS: The Orioles filled a problematic position by signing the defensively gifted Izturis to a two-year deal.
Sean Casey, 1B: The Mayor, a left-handed hitter with a sweet swing and disposition to match has retired with a .302 career batting average.
Ty Wigginton, 3B: He just signed a two-year, $6MM deal with Baltimore. The O's first offered one year with a club option but upped the ante due to competition from the Giants, among others.
Moises Alou, OF: Even at 42, he can still rake. When healthy. Which, unfortunately, is never. Phillies are kicking his Model-T tires.
David Ross, C: Lots of raw power (38 home runs between ’06 and ’07) disappeared in ’08. He did show improved plate discipline, and could be a sleeper signing for the Braves, who got him for two years at $3M.
Emil Brown, OF: Nice stats (13 home runs, 59 RBIs) belie his terrible on-base percentage, bad baserunning instincts and laughable defense. Not much interest in the 34-year old.
Daryle Ward, 1B/OF: After two standout pinch-hitting seasons, hit only .216 last year. No bites for the 33-year old so far.
Doug Mientkiewicz, 1B: Showed tremendous plate discipline with 44 walks to 28 strikeouts, even if all his power is sapped. Can eliminate Bucs from his wish list; will probably sign on late again, like last year.
Jason Michaels, OF: The 32-year-old agreed to a $750K, one-year contract with the Astros.
Julian Tavarez, RP: Hey, he’s always up for throwing at batters, if nothing else. DFA'ed twice last year and the Braves didn't re-sign him.
Jon Lieber, SP/RP: Is there another season left in the arm? He turns 39 right before opening day. Lost rotation spot to Jason Marquis last year; that about says it all.
Mike Lincoln, RP: Workmanlike return to the major leagues after a four-year absence buys him another shot, this time with the Reds for a two-year stint.
Chris Gomez, UT: The consummate journeyman, Gomez may have found his ninth team by signing a minor-league deal with the Orioles.
Ron Villone, RP: Truly an anomaly: survived Joe Torre and lived to tell about it without a scar on his pitching arm. The 39-year old hasn't been on the same team for more than two years in his MLB career.
Josh Fogg, SP: Penance for accepting the nickname "The Dragon Slayer" is a 7.58 ERA the next season. Signed a minor league deal with the Rockies.
Kip Wells, SP/RP: So promising once, he hasn’t finished with an ERA under 5.00 since 2004. No takers yet.
Luis Rivas, 2B/SS: One of the rare cases of Minnesota rushing a player, Rivas never recovered from early failures and is little more than a bounce-around guy. Signed minor league deal with the Cubs.
Tony Armas Jr., SP: For all of his talent and hype, Armas is one of the great disappointments of the past decade. Signed a minor league deal with the Mets.
Rob Mackowiak, UT: After a dismal year with the Nationals, Mackowiak will try to make the Mets roster as a minor-league invitee.
Ricardo Rincon, RP: Left-handed, still has a pulse. The 38-year old mainly played in Mexico last year, and will probably be on their WBC roster this year. And hey, he still gets props from us. Remember when Francisco Cordova and Rincon combined on their no hitter on July 12, 1997 at TRS? Mark Smith hit a three-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the 10th for the win. It's the last no-hitter in Pirates history.
Humberto Cota, C: the Reds signed Cota to a minor league deal. Cota, nearly 30, hit .319/.342/.493 in 37 Triple A games last year. He served a 50-game suspension for testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug.
GO STEELERS!!!
CONGRATULATIONS STEELERS!!!!!
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