The Pirates have played in front of nearly 110,000 fans and two sellouts in the past three evenings and, keeping with long time tradition, lost all three.
But at least tonight they gave the ticket holders a little jolt of pre-fireworks excitement before going down 7-4 to Pedro Martinez and the Mets.
Pittsburgh rallied for three runs in the ninth and had two runners on with one gone for Ryan Doumit and Adam LaRoche. But they left them aboard, although the game wasn't lost then. Zach Duke (4-11) let it get away long before that.
He gave up a lead off homer and eventually six runs on nine hits over six innings. And with Gorzo and Ross Ohlendorf biting at the bit to get back to the bigs, that's not the road for Duke to take if he wants to keep the competition at bay. The lefty hasn't won a game since June 9 against Arizona, and his ERA is 5.26.
The team is still feeling its way to its new identity. The young guys are getting their first prolonged look at life in the majors, and the vets are getting used to them in the field and trying to overcome the production - and protection - that Jay Bay and Xavier Nady brought to the lineup.
It really shows up in plate discipline. The pups, all touted to have great eyes, are flailing away. And the older guys are trying to do it all. At one point, the Bucs hit into three weak outs in a row on the first pitch offered by Martinez.
John Russell needs to lace the clubhouse cooler with a little Valium, Don Long has to keep preaching patience, and the troops need the calm & confidence to play within themselves.
Let's hope that it doesn't get uglier before the parts start to mesh. All the players know they're on a six-week audition for 2009, and that's a performance they don't want to bomb.
On the minor league front: Gorzo (3-1, 2.06 ERA) must have taken his demotion to heart. He led Indy to a 1-0 victory tonight, giving up one hit in 7 innings, striking out 5 and walking none.
Gorzelanny was flawless through through 5-1/3 innings, retiring the first sixteen Durham batters. The left-hander's bid for perfection ended when he beaned a batter, who was promptly erased on an inning-ending double play.
The leadoff batter in the seventh singled to break up his bid for a no-hitter, and he was pulled after the inning. He faced the minimum 21 batters after picking the runner off first. Pretty good stuff from Gorzo tonight.
LF Nyjer Morgan (.300) tripled and scored in the first (one of his 3 hits), and Joey Bats brought him home. C Ronny Paulino (.385) and CF Andrew McCutchen (.277) added a pair of hits in the win.
We wonder if a trip to Indy is a wake up call for these guys, or if they were just more AAAA players drawing a MLB paycheck? We'll find out in the spring and beyond.
> Altoona banged out 15 hits in a 7-2 win. RHP Jared Hughes (2-1, 3.90 ERA) went 6 innings for the win, giving up 6 hits, 1 earned run, walking 3 and striking out 4. RHP Juan Mateo (2.50 ERA) went three scoreless innings for his third save, yielding 3 hits and striking out 5.
2B Shelby Ford (.287), CF Jose Tabata (.261), and DH Melvin Dorta (.290) had three hits, while 1B Jamie Romak (.213) and SS Angel Gonzalez (.307) added a pair apiece. Ford (4), Tabata (4) and Romak (5) homered.
RHP Yoslan Herrera (5-9, 3.44) is expected to be activated from the DL to make the start for the Curve Sunday afternoon.
> Lynchburg went down, 6-2. 2B Jose De Los Santos (.213) and OF Miles Durham (.230) had two hits each. The Hillcats are on a five-game losing streak.
> Hickory got shellacked 10-0. RHP Bryan Morris (2-6, 3.47 ERA) got beat up, giving up 5 runs on 8 hits with 3 walks in 4-2/3 innings. He struck out 5. 3B Matt Hague (.322) and CF Austin McClune (.206) each had a pair of knocks.
Hague has hit safely in 17 of his last 19 games.
> State College dropped another one run game, 6-5, tonight. SS Chase d'Arnaud (.346) had three hits and a walk, an RBI and run scored. 3B Jeremy Farrell (.300) had two hits, including a double, and 2 RBI. RF David Rubenstein (.197) had a solo homer, his first, and a walk.
The Spikes rallied from a 6-0 deficit, and had runners on second and third with two out in the ninth before the game ended with a K.
> The Bradenton Bucs romped again, winning 7-2. LHP Nelson Pereira (5-2, 1.50 ERA) went five innings, giving up a run on 2 hits with 2 walks and 5 K's. C Jesus Aguilara (.295) led the attack with 3 hits and 3 RBI.
At 31-16, the baby Bucs have the best record in the GCL.
On the draft front: In all the euphoria of the recent draft and Pedromania, here's a stat that may sober up the fans - the Pirates signed fewer of its top ten picks than any team in the Central Division according to Baseball America's list.
The Brewers signed 14 (some teams had supplemental picks), the Cards and Astro's 11, the Cubs 10, and the Reds 9. Pittsburgh inked 8 of its first ten selections.
The Pirates are certainly in a position where quality counts. But as the performance of its Class A clubs shows, some capable kids, especially pitchers, are badly needed at the lower levels of the Bucco realm. And you don't find them on the waiver wire.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Pedro the Pirate
The Pirates and #1 draft pick Pedro Alvarez have agreed to a contract worth $6M (he was slotted at $3.5M), and they'll pay his tuition to finish college. It's a minor league deal, so he's not on the 40 man roster - yet.
He hit .317 with 15 doubles, nine homers and 30 RBIs this year, missing 23 of the first 24 games with a broken hamate bone in his right hand. Alvarez hit .357 with 40 homers and 132 RBIs during his first two seasons at Vanderbilt.
You can catch up on Pedro's bio on this draft post: El Matatan - Pedro Alvarez.
And we can't help but think that if Scott Boras would have floated that offer on draft day that Pedro would have a few weeks of Class A ball under his belt already. Still, bringing in a left-handed batter with some thunder in his stick is just what the doctor ordered for the run-challenged Buccos.
Pedro highlight reel from You Tube. Do ya think he and PNC are a good match?
RHP Tanner Scheppers didn't sign. Apparently he felt he deserved first round money - reportedly $2M, although his slot value was $800K - and the Pirates felt like he was damaged goods. He still couldn't throw a curve ball earlier in the week, but decided to pass up the security of a contract to roll the dice next year.
"Despite the quality efforts of both parties, it became clear that Tanner's financial expectations were not in line with the risks presented by Tanner's current status as a pitcher in the early stages of a rehabilitation program following an injury to his throwing shoulder," Neal Huntington said.
The Bucs will get the third pick of the 2nd round as compensation for him in next year's draft. Maybe he'll be there again.
Not all the first rounders signed on the dotted line. The Nationals failed to sign #9 pick Aaron Crow. The Nats were at $3.3MM and Crow's agents at $4MM, but the most head-banging seemed to be over a major-league contract. Crow signed with an indy minor league team.
The Yankee's pick at #28, Gerrit Cole, decided to go to UCLA. Who woulda thunk the Bucs could pay the ante while the Bronx Bombers couldn't? Actually, it wasn't the money in Cole's case - he's a Yankee fan, but just wanted to experience college.
Seattle's #1, Joshua Fields, drafted 20th, finished his senior season at Georgia and can negotiate with the Mariners up until a week before next year's draft. All three unsigned players are pitchers, which bodes well for next year's draft.
The Pirates signed eight of their top 10 picks, and 32 in toto. Scheppers and 10th-round pick Andrew Gagnon were the two top-tens who didn't sign. Gagnon, just out of high school, decided to pitch for Long Beach State next year instead of turning pro.
And Bob Nutting surely put his wallet where his mouth was this year. The Bucs spent something like $10M in draft bonuses in an effort to restock the minors. Between the draft and the recent deals, next year's Pirates prospect list will look a whole lot different than this year's did. And a whole lot better.
He hit .317 with 15 doubles, nine homers and 30 RBIs this year, missing 23 of the first 24 games with a broken hamate bone in his right hand. Alvarez hit .357 with 40 homers and 132 RBIs during his first two seasons at Vanderbilt.
You can catch up on Pedro's bio on this draft post: El Matatan - Pedro Alvarez.
And we can't help but think that if Scott Boras would have floated that offer on draft day that Pedro would have a few weeks of Class A ball under his belt already. Still, bringing in a left-handed batter with some thunder in his stick is just what the doctor ordered for the run-challenged Buccos.
RHP Tanner Scheppers didn't sign. Apparently he felt he deserved first round money - reportedly $2M, although his slot value was $800K - and the Pirates felt like he was damaged goods. He still couldn't throw a curve ball earlier in the week, but decided to pass up the security of a contract to roll the dice next year.
"Despite the quality efforts of both parties, it became clear that Tanner's financial expectations were not in line with the risks presented by Tanner's current status as a pitcher in the early stages of a rehabilitation program following an injury to his throwing shoulder," Neal Huntington said.
The Bucs will get the third pick of the 2nd round as compensation for him in next year's draft. Maybe he'll be there again.
Not all the first rounders signed on the dotted line. The Nationals failed to sign #9 pick Aaron Crow. The Nats were at $3.3MM and Crow's agents at $4MM, but the most head-banging seemed to be over a major-league contract. Crow signed with an indy minor league team.
The Yankee's pick at #28, Gerrit Cole, decided to go to UCLA. Who woulda thunk the Bucs could pay the ante while the Bronx Bombers couldn't? Actually, it wasn't the money in Cole's case - he's a Yankee fan, but just wanted to experience college.
Seattle's #1, Joshua Fields, drafted 20th, finished his senior season at Georgia and can negotiate with the Mariners up until a week before next year's draft. All three unsigned players are pitchers, which bodes well for next year's draft.
The Pirates signed eight of their top 10 picks, and 32 in toto. Scheppers and 10th-round pick Andrew Gagnon were the two top-tens who didn't sign. Gagnon, just out of high school, decided to pitch for Long Beach State next year instead of turning pro.
And Bob Nutting surely put his wallet where his mouth was this year. The Bucs spent something like $10M in draft bonuses in an effort to restock the minors. Between the draft and the recent deals, next year's Pirates prospect list will look a whole lot different than this year's did. And a whole lot better.
Friday, August 15, 2008
The Other Side of the Coin
It's one thing when the Big Units and Pedro Martinez' of the world shut you down. But when Jamie Moyer and Mike Pelfrey get in on the act, you're in trouble.
Pittsburgh has scored 25 runs in its past 10 games, and lost three of its last four, dropping a season-low 12 games below .500. The Pirates are 20 games behind the Cubs.
The first four batters for the Metropolitans reached against hard-luck righty Jason Davis, and two scored. He retired 13 of the next 14, but it was too late. Davis has an ERA of 1.80, and a record of 1-2.
The Bucs had a couple of shots against Pelfrey but couldn't cash in. The LaRoche boys both singled to start the second, but a pop-up and DP squelched that rally.
Nate McLouth opened the sixth with a double, but was caught in a rundown trying to advance on a bouncer to the pitcher. That's the third straight game Pittsburgh has had a runner thrown out trying to go from second to third on an infield grounder.
Adam LaRoche was gunned at home in the seventh on a bang-bang play after challenging Carlos Beltran's arm, and in justice, it took a perfect strike to get him. Jack Splat homered in the eighth and managed to touch all the bases for the Buc's only tally.
The turnabout in pitching has been nothing short of amazing, with ten consecutive quality starts being thrown. Now the offense - not just the new kids on the block, though they're struggling, but the whole gang - have to get more selective and quit pressing so hard.
None of them can replace Jay Bay and the X-Man, and the sooner they quit trying to be what they're not, the sooner the attack will come around.
On the minor league front: Indy blew a 5-0 lead, giving up a pair of runs in both the eighth and ninth innings to go down 6-5. RHP Jimmy Barthmaier (3.43 ERA) went six strong innings, giving up a run on 4 hits with 6 K's and a walk.
But Marino Salas, JVB, and Juan Perez gave up 5 runs in the final three innings to negate his effort. Perez (2-2, 3.31 ERA) took the loss.
LF Nyjer Morgan (.294) had a double, three RBI, and a run scored. He stole 5 bases, including third twice and home. Morgan has 43 swipes for the Tribe.
3B Neil Walker (.236) hit his 15th HR, and 2B Luis Cruz (.310) had a pair of knocks, including a double. Andrew McCutchen (.279) went 0-3, but he walked twice and stole two sacks. He has 30 steals on the year.
> Altoona had a laugher, banging out 18 hits en route to a 12-0 victory. LHP Kyle Bloom (4-7, 4.47 ERA), RHP Ron Belisario (5.08 ERA) and RHP Moises Robles (2.77 ERA) combined for the shutout.
1B Jamie Romak (.197) had his coming out party, collecting 4 hits including two that went yard, 6 RBI, and a pair of runs scored. 3B Jim Negyrch (.306) also had 4 hits, 2 runs, and 2 RBI.
CF Jose Tabata (.254) DH Shelby Ford (.289), RF Brad Corley (.271), and LF Jonel Pacheco (.269) each had two hits. Ford and Tabata also had a stolen base apiece.
> Lynchburg went down quietly, 4-1. RHP Brad Lincoln (1-4, 5.52 ERA) went 5 innings, giving up 8 hits and three runs, with 4 strike-outs. LF Miles Durham (.224) broke up the shutout in the ninth with a solo homer, his third. He also doubled.
> Hickory was down 7-0 before they got to the plate, and lost 10-3. 1B Tom Hagan (.271) hit his fifth homer, going 2-3 with a walk. RF Keanon Simon (.225) and SS Jordy Mercer (.229) added a pair of hits.
> State College lost 5-4. RHP Alan Knotts (4.01 ERA) kept the game close, going 4-1/3 innings giving up 3 hits, no runs, and K'ing a pair.
SS Chase d'Arnaud (.330) was hot, going 3-4 with a double, walk, and two tallies. 3B Jeremy Farrell (.296) and CF Ciro Rosero (.270) had two hits each.
> The Bradenton Pirates lost the first game of a twin bill, 1-0. LHP Tyler Cox (2-3, 1.74 ERA) took the loss, giving up 1 hit over five innings and an unearned run. He struck out 5.
The GCL Buccos came back in game 2, winning 7-1. RHP Albert Fagan (2-2, 3.72 ERA) went five innings, giving up three hits and striking out two. RHP Brent Klinger (0.77 ERA) finished up, giving up a run over the last two innings on two hits with 2 K's.
The baby Bucs were led by 3B Freizer Pedron (.190) who went 2-3 with a double, walk, 2 runs and an RBI. 1B Alex Vargas (.258) had two hits, a double, and a run scored and RBI.
Pittsburgh has scored 25 runs in its past 10 games, and lost three of its last four, dropping a season-low 12 games below .500. The Pirates are 20 games behind the Cubs.
The first four batters for the Metropolitans reached against hard-luck righty Jason Davis, and two scored. He retired 13 of the next 14, but it was too late. Davis has an ERA of 1.80, and a record of 1-2.
The Bucs had a couple of shots against Pelfrey but couldn't cash in. The LaRoche boys both singled to start the second, but a pop-up and DP squelched that rally.
Nate McLouth opened the sixth with a double, but was caught in a rundown trying to advance on a bouncer to the pitcher. That's the third straight game Pittsburgh has had a runner thrown out trying to go from second to third on an infield grounder.
Adam LaRoche was gunned at home in the seventh on a bang-bang play after challenging Carlos Beltran's arm, and in justice, it took a perfect strike to get him. Jack Splat homered in the eighth and managed to touch all the bases for the Buc's only tally.
The turnabout in pitching has been nothing short of amazing, with ten consecutive quality starts being thrown. Now the offense - not just the new kids on the block, though they're struggling, but the whole gang - have to get more selective and quit pressing so hard.
None of them can replace Jay Bay and the X-Man, and the sooner they quit trying to be what they're not, the sooner the attack will come around.
On the minor league front: Indy blew a 5-0 lead, giving up a pair of runs in both the eighth and ninth innings to go down 6-5. RHP Jimmy Barthmaier (3.43 ERA) went six strong innings, giving up a run on 4 hits with 6 K's and a walk.
But Marino Salas, JVB, and Juan Perez gave up 5 runs in the final three innings to negate his effort. Perez (2-2, 3.31 ERA) took the loss.
LF Nyjer Morgan (.294) had a double, three RBI, and a run scored. He stole 5 bases, including third twice and home. Morgan has 43 swipes for the Tribe.
3B Neil Walker (.236) hit his 15th HR, and 2B Luis Cruz (.310) had a pair of knocks, including a double. Andrew McCutchen (.279) went 0-3, but he walked twice and stole two sacks. He has 30 steals on the year.
> Altoona had a laugher, banging out 18 hits en route to a 12-0 victory. LHP Kyle Bloom (4-7, 4.47 ERA), RHP Ron Belisario (5.08 ERA) and RHP Moises Robles (2.77 ERA) combined for the shutout.
1B Jamie Romak (.197) had his coming out party, collecting 4 hits including two that went yard, 6 RBI, and a pair of runs scored. 3B Jim Negyrch (.306) also had 4 hits, 2 runs, and 2 RBI.
CF Jose Tabata (.254) DH Shelby Ford (.289), RF Brad Corley (.271), and LF Jonel Pacheco (.269) each had two hits. Ford and Tabata also had a stolen base apiece.
> Lynchburg went down quietly, 4-1. RHP Brad Lincoln (1-4, 5.52 ERA) went 5 innings, giving up 8 hits and three runs, with 4 strike-outs. LF Miles Durham (.224) broke up the shutout in the ninth with a solo homer, his third. He also doubled.
> Hickory was down 7-0 before they got to the plate, and lost 10-3. 1B Tom Hagan (.271) hit his fifth homer, going 2-3 with a walk. RF Keanon Simon (.225) and SS Jordy Mercer (.229) added a pair of hits.
> State College lost 5-4. RHP Alan Knotts (4.01 ERA) kept the game close, going 4-1/3 innings giving up 3 hits, no runs, and K'ing a pair.
SS Chase d'Arnaud (.330) was hot, going 3-4 with a double, walk, and two tallies. 3B Jeremy Farrell (.296) and CF Ciro Rosero (.270) had two hits each.
> The Bradenton Pirates lost the first game of a twin bill, 1-0. LHP Tyler Cox (2-3, 1.74 ERA) took the loss, giving up 1 hit over five innings and an unearned run. He struck out 5.
The GCL Buccos came back in game 2, winning 7-1. RHP Albert Fagan (2-2, 3.72 ERA) went five innings, giving up three hits and striking out two. RHP Brent Klinger (0.77 ERA) finished up, giving up a run over the last two innings on two hits with 2 K's.
The baby Bucs were led by 3B Freizer Pedron (.190) who went 2-3 with a double, walk, 2 runs and an RBI. 1B Alex Vargas (.258) had two hits, a double, and a run scored and RBI.
The deadline, tick tock, tick tock...
Well, they signed someone, just not who you hoped for...yet.
The Pirates inked their 20th-round draft pick, RHP Quinton Miller, to a $900,000 bonus, plus college tuition, according to Dejan. That's late first, early second round money.
Miller, 18, was ranked the No. 1 prospect in New Jersey by Baseball America after going 6-3 with a 2.13 ERA in 21 appearances for Shawnee HS. He had 85 strikeouts and 14 walks in 52-2/3 innings.
Among all prospects, he was ranked No. 158, so Pittsburgh broke the slot by a mile. Apparently they project him to be an elite arm down the road.
He throws a fastball from the high 80's to mid 90's, as well as a good slider and average change. Miller appears to be, according to Wilbur Miller's Pirate Profiles, the Plan B behind 10th round pick Drew Gagnon, who opted for college ball. He isn't expected to pitch before fall instructional league.
Miller was ready to take his game to the University of North Carolina. We'll give the Bucs credit - they took a shot at some of the high school talent, and stepped up to sign them, even though it cost them a ton of Nutting's money.
He joins other HS picks OF Robbie Grossman, SS Benjamin Gonzalez, LHP Christopher Aure, CF Wesley Freeman, OF Edwin Roman, and SS Jared Cunningham. Beats having all those 22-year old guys playing A ball.
Now for word on Pedro and Tanner...
The Pirates inked their 20th-round draft pick, RHP Quinton Miller, to a $900,000 bonus, plus college tuition, according to Dejan. That's late first, early second round money.
Miller, 18, was ranked the No. 1 prospect in New Jersey by Baseball America after going 6-3 with a 2.13 ERA in 21 appearances for Shawnee HS. He had 85 strikeouts and 14 walks in 52-2/3 innings.
Among all prospects, he was ranked No. 158, so Pittsburgh broke the slot by a mile. Apparently they project him to be an elite arm down the road.
He throws a fastball from the high 80's to mid 90's, as well as a good slider and average change. Miller appears to be, according to Wilbur Miller's Pirate Profiles, the Plan B behind 10th round pick Drew Gagnon, who opted for college ball. He isn't expected to pitch before fall instructional league.
Miller was ready to take his game to the University of North Carolina. We'll give the Bucs credit - they took a shot at some of the high school talent, and stepped up to sign them, even though it cost them a ton of Nutting's money.
He joins other HS picks OF Robbie Grossman, SS Benjamin Gonzalez, LHP Christopher Aure, CF Wesley Freeman, OF Edwin Roman, and SS Jared Cunningham. Beats having all those 22-year old guys playing A ball.
Now for word on Pedro and Tanner...
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Skyblast Strike One
The Pirate bats failed again as Pittsburgh went down to the woeful Reds, 3-1, in front of a crowd of 35,439 REO Speedwagon fans at PNC Park.
Ian Snell lasted 6 ugly frames, but only yielded a pair of runs. He gave up 6 hits - five for extra bases - and walked 5, while striking out a pair. The leadoff hitter reached four times against him; the second hitter got on the other two innings.
But the game was there for the taking in the seventh when the Bucs loaded the bases with nobody out in a 2-1 game. But big bro LaRoche K'ed, lil' bro Andy hit into a DP, the boos rang out, and that was all she wrote, especially after TJ Beam gave up an insurance run in the ninth on a triple and suicide squeeze.
A curious play took place early in the 7th inning. With runners on 1st and 2nd and no one out, Nate McLouth, batting third, bunted for a base hit to juice the sacks.
That begs the question - should your three hitter and leading RBI guy be laying down a bunt, whether for a hit or sac, in that situation? This station-to-station attack isn't going to cut it for the lumber challenged brave new Bucs.
The Pirates left 10 runners on base, including the bases loaded in the first and seventh innings, and two on in the fourth and fifth frames. None of their eight hits were for extra bases.
It's a painful learning curve that Pittsburgh is now on.
On the minor league front: Indy was off today, but CF Andrew McCutchen, 3B Neil Walker and RHP Jimmy Barthmaier have been named among the International League's best in the upcoming August 25 edition of Baseball America.
The three Indians were listed in BA's annual "Best Tools" issue. McCutchen was named the "Most Exciting Player," Walker the "Best Defensive Third Baseman," and Barthmaier as having the "Best Breaking Ball" in the IL.
The hottest Indy stick, though, belongs to OF Nyjer Morgan, who has 20 hits in his last 45 at-bats and is hitting .330 since the All-Star break.
> Altoona was whipped 11-3 today. DH Melvin Dorta (.287) and C Milver Reyes (.167) each had a pair of hits. Matt Capps pitched a scoreless inning, K'ing 2. He'll move up a level now in his rehab, and report to Indy.
> Lynchburg lost 9-3 in 10 innings. The Hillcats had only five hits, led by C Chris Jones (.227), who was 2-3, including his 2nd HR.
> Hickory launched a 16 hit attack against Greensboro to win 12-3. The barrage was led by SS Silvio Pena (.280), who went 4-5 with 2 runs scored and an RBI. RF Keanon Simon (.221), who's been on a tear this week, had 2 hits, RBI's, and runs while hitting his 2nd HR.
CF Austin McClune (.205) went deep for the third time, and had 3 RBI and 2 runs scored. 1B Tom Hagan (.266) also homered, his fourth, and collected two knocks, an RBI and 2 tallies. DH Joe Munoz (.233) added two hits and an RBI and score.
> State College was thumped again, 13-4. CF Ciro Rosero (.265) had 3 hits while LF Matt Payne (.275), 3B Chase d'Arnaud (.313), and 1B Jeremy Farrell (.292) each had a pair. The team committed three errors and fanned 11 times.
The Spikes have 11 wins all season. It's hard to imagine what any of the young Bucs there can take out of the year as a positive learning experience to carry into next season.
> Bradenton was off today. Recently signed Pirate draft picks LHP Justin Wilson and OF Robbie Grossman will report to the GCL team to finish up the season and then likely get some work in the instructional league.
Ian Snell lasted 6 ugly frames, but only yielded a pair of runs. He gave up 6 hits - five for extra bases - and walked 5, while striking out a pair. The leadoff hitter reached four times against him; the second hitter got on the other two innings.
But the game was there for the taking in the seventh when the Bucs loaded the bases with nobody out in a 2-1 game. But big bro LaRoche K'ed, lil' bro Andy hit into a DP, the boos rang out, and that was all she wrote, especially after TJ Beam gave up an insurance run in the ninth on a triple and suicide squeeze.
A curious play took place early in the 7th inning. With runners on 1st and 2nd and no one out, Nate McLouth, batting third, bunted for a base hit to juice the sacks.
That begs the question - should your three hitter and leading RBI guy be laying down a bunt, whether for a hit or sac, in that situation? This station-to-station attack isn't going to cut it for the lumber challenged brave new Bucs.
The Pirates left 10 runners on base, including the bases loaded in the first and seventh innings, and two on in the fourth and fifth frames. None of their eight hits were for extra bases.
It's a painful learning curve that Pittsburgh is now on.
On the minor league front: Indy was off today, but CF Andrew McCutchen, 3B Neil Walker and RHP Jimmy Barthmaier have been named among the International League's best in the upcoming August 25 edition of Baseball America.
The three Indians were listed in BA's annual "Best Tools" issue. McCutchen was named the "Most Exciting Player," Walker the "Best Defensive Third Baseman," and Barthmaier as having the "Best Breaking Ball" in the IL.
The hottest Indy stick, though, belongs to OF Nyjer Morgan, who has 20 hits in his last 45 at-bats and is hitting .330 since the All-Star break.
> Altoona was whipped 11-3 today. DH Melvin Dorta (.287) and C Milver Reyes (.167) each had a pair of hits. Matt Capps pitched a scoreless inning, K'ing 2. He'll move up a level now in his rehab, and report to Indy.
> Lynchburg lost 9-3 in 10 innings. The Hillcats had only five hits, led by C Chris Jones (.227), who was 2-3, including his 2nd HR.
> Hickory launched a 16 hit attack against Greensboro to win 12-3. The barrage was led by SS Silvio Pena (.280), who went 4-5 with 2 runs scored and an RBI. RF Keanon Simon (.221), who's been on a tear this week, had 2 hits, RBI's, and runs while hitting his 2nd HR.
CF Austin McClune (.205) went deep for the third time, and had 3 RBI and 2 runs scored. 1B Tom Hagan (.266) also homered, his fourth, and collected two knocks, an RBI and 2 tallies. DH Joe Munoz (.233) added two hits and an RBI and score.
> State College was thumped again, 13-4. CF Ciro Rosero (.265) had 3 hits while LF Matt Payne (.275), 3B Chase d'Arnaud (.313), and 1B Jeremy Farrell (.292) each had a pair. The team committed three errors and fanned 11 times.
The Spikes have 11 wins all season. It's hard to imagine what any of the young Bucs there can take out of the year as a positive learning experience to carry into next season.
> Bradenton was off today. Recently signed Pirate draft picks LHP Justin Wilson and OF Robbie Grossman will report to the GCL team to finish up the season and then likely get some work in the instructional league.
Rainblast Pre Game
The Bucs signed sixth round pick Robbie Grossman, a Texas high school OF'er. He's 18, 6-1, 190 pounds. He won the Josh Beckett Award for the Houston area's top player in 2008 as a senior at Cypress-Fairbanks HS after he hit 11 home runs.
Grossman was a member of USA Baseball's junior team in 2007, batting .450 at the Pan-Am Junior Championships and earning a spot on the all Pan-Am team.
Grossman's bonus is for $1 million, plus money for a college education. That makes the switch-hitter the most costly Pirate draftee so far and gives him signing money equal to a late first-round pick.
He lasted until the sixth round because he was considered next to impossible to sign, with a scholarship to Texas already in hand. The Pirate suits considered him the equivalent of a second rounder. He'll report to Bradenton in the GCL.
> Dejan Kovacevic wrote that 5th rounder LHP Justin Wilson signed exactly at slot value, for a bonus of $195,000.
> The much-anticipated Adam and Andy LaRoche debut is finally expected to take place tonight, weather permitting, when the Pirates wrap up a three-game series against the Reds at PNC Park. It'll be the first time they've ever played on the same team.
> State College Spikes' infielders Chase d'Arnaud and Jeremy Farrell were named to the New York-Penn League All-Stars. The game will be played Tuesday in Troy, N.Y.
d’Arnaud is hitting .302 for the Spikes in 23 games. The shortstop has collected six doubles, four triples and 10 RBI. 3B Farrell, who was voted in at 1B, is also hitting .302 with six doubles. In 31 games, Farrell has 16 RBI and two triples.
> Pittsburgh's suits really were working the phones at the trade deadline, according to ESPN's Jayson Stark:
Grossman was a member of USA Baseball's junior team in 2007, batting .450 at the Pan-Am Junior Championships and earning a spot on the all Pan-Am team.
Grossman's bonus is for $1 million, plus money for a college education. That makes the switch-hitter the most costly Pirate draftee so far and gives him signing money equal to a late first-round pick.
He lasted until the sixth round because he was considered next to impossible to sign, with a scholarship to Texas already in hand. The Pirate suits considered him the equivalent of a second rounder. He'll report to Bradenton in the GCL.
> Dejan Kovacevic wrote that 5th rounder LHP Justin Wilson signed exactly at slot value, for a bonus of $195,000.
> The much-anticipated Adam and Andy LaRoche debut is finally expected to take place tonight, weather permitting, when the Pirates wrap up a three-game series against the Reds at PNC Park. It'll be the first time they've ever played on the same team.
> State College Spikes' infielders Chase d'Arnaud and Jeremy Farrell were named to the New York-Penn League All-Stars. The game will be played Tuesday in Troy, N.Y.
d’Arnaud is hitting .302 for the Spikes in 23 games. The shortstop has collected six doubles, four triples and 10 RBI. 3B Farrell, who was voted in at 1B, is also hitting .302 with six doubles. In 31 games, Farrell has 16 RBI and two triples.
> Pittsburgh's suits really were working the phones at the trade deadline, according to ESPN's Jayson Stark:
Speaking of Pirates deals that almost happened, it's incredible how many teams thought they were on the verge of some kind of pre-deadline trade with Pittsburgh that fell through when the Jason Bay/Ramirez extravaganza came together.
Indications are that, with only minutes left until the deadline, the Rays still thought they were in line to trade for Bay, the Rockies apparently thought they had a shot to reel in Ian Snell, the Marlins believed they'd be the third team in the Manny/Bay deal, and the Phillies thought that the Grabow trade was very much alive.
Then the Pirates opted to focus all their last-minute energies on that Boston/L.A. blockbuster. So the only thing those other clubs got out of it was fewer rollover minutes on their cell phone bills in August.
In the hours after the trading deadline, we were critical of the Pirates for dealing three high-profile players without getting back a single can't-miss, centerpiece prospect back. But in the days since, we've been convinced by executives of several teams that the Pirates actually did better in their two big deals than we originally gave them credit for.
"There are no stars in there, but they need that depth of talent," an official of one club said. "They need numbers. And they accomplished that."
"I think they're on the right track," one NL scout said. "At least they decided they couldn't keep doing the same thing they've been doing and took some chances."
One NL executive even defended them on the widely hammered Xavier Nady-Damaso Marte deal, saying: "If they got three major league pitchers in that deal, and I think they did, then great for them. And all three guys (Jeff Karstens, Ross Ohlendorf and Daniel McCutchen) are either ready or close. So that's a good deal, not a bad deal."
Nevertheless, when asked to name the best player of the eight this team received in those trades, the baseball men we spoke with had a tough time finding a clear-cut Pirates acquisition they'd buy stock in. The name we heard most: 21-year-old right-hander Bryan Morris (3.15 ERA in low Class A). "If he stays healthy, he's definitely the best talent in that group," one GM said.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Pellas on the Pirates: No Offense
Can the New Bucs Mash Their Way to Victory?
As I recall, in the days leading up to the trade deadline this year, there were a few voices who were vociferously against trading away our big hitters. Bob Smizik, for example, went on record to say that the Pirates should re-sign Jason Bay to a megabucks contract.
Such voices were definitely in the minority, as most observers, commentators, and fans were squarely in favor of dealing our veterans, particularly the position players, in order to obtain young prospects, especially pitchers. But recent events mean that it's only fair I mention the dissenters here so they can say "I TOLDJA SO" if they want to!
While I am not ready to join their chorus, I will say this: OUR OFFENSE, AT LEAST RIGHT NOW, IS TERRIBLE. Certainly I didn't expect that guys like Steven Pearce, Brandon Moss, and Andy LaRoche would step right in and equal or surpass hard-hitting veterans like Jason Bay and Xavier Nady. But neither did I expect popguns and Punch-n-Judy---which is plainly what we have right now.
Which is not to say that making the trades we did was necessarily a bad or stupid or even low-percentage move. I know as most fans do that Pearce, Moss, and Andy LaRoche have nothing left to prove in the minors, and that their minor league numbers are all very good.
Sooner or later guys like that have to prove it or lose it at the big league level. I'll throw them another bone and add that right now we certainly miss Adam LaRoche, who was finally raking after his usual two months of putrescence to start the season.
But this team's offensive "attack" just stinks, there's no other way to put it. As much as our pitching has improved---and a tip of the cap goes to Jeff Karstens in particular---our offense has gone backward at least as far as the pitching has gone forward. Add in the fact that current management is definitely committed to an AL model, and our current struggles and staid, station to station style of baserunning becomes very hard to watch.
Unless Pearce, Moss, and Andy LaRoche can all really mash, and unless they start really mashing soon, we've got big problems, because outside of Nate McLouth, there's no one on this team or projected to be on it next season that can play any kind of small ball and manufacture some runs.
Well, maybe Andrew McCutchen, but while he's fast, he's not a legitimate basestealer because he gets caught far too many times if his minor league numbers are any indication.
This is all extremely worrisome, even though in fairness it's still far too early to tell for sure if any of our 3 young position players are going to make it or not. But I'm beginning to be concerned. That much I do know.
(Will Pellas, GW columnist at large, takes offense at the baby Buc's lack of offense.)
As I recall, in the days leading up to the trade deadline this year, there were a few voices who were vociferously against trading away our big hitters. Bob Smizik, for example, went on record to say that the Pirates should re-sign Jason Bay to a megabucks contract.
Such voices were definitely in the minority, as most observers, commentators, and fans were squarely in favor of dealing our veterans, particularly the position players, in order to obtain young prospects, especially pitchers. But recent events mean that it's only fair I mention the dissenters here so they can say "I TOLDJA SO" if they want to!
While I am not ready to join their chorus, I will say this: OUR OFFENSE, AT LEAST RIGHT NOW, IS TERRIBLE. Certainly I didn't expect that guys like Steven Pearce, Brandon Moss, and Andy LaRoche would step right in and equal or surpass hard-hitting veterans like Jason Bay and Xavier Nady. But neither did I expect popguns and Punch-n-Judy---which is plainly what we have right now.
Which is not to say that making the trades we did was necessarily a bad or stupid or even low-percentage move. I know as most fans do that Pearce, Moss, and Andy LaRoche have nothing left to prove in the minors, and that their minor league numbers are all very good.
Sooner or later guys like that have to prove it or lose it at the big league level. I'll throw them another bone and add that right now we certainly miss Adam LaRoche, who was finally raking after his usual two months of putrescence to start the season.
But this team's offensive "attack" just stinks, there's no other way to put it. As much as our pitching has improved---and a tip of the cap goes to Jeff Karstens in particular---our offense has gone backward at least as far as the pitching has gone forward. Add in the fact that current management is definitely committed to an AL model, and our current struggles and staid, station to station style of baserunning becomes very hard to watch.
Unless Pearce, Moss, and Andy LaRoche can all really mash, and unless they start really mashing soon, we've got big problems, because outside of Nate McLouth, there's no one on this team or projected to be on it next season that can play any kind of small ball and manufacture some runs.
Well, maybe Andrew McCutchen, but while he's fast, he's not a legitimate basestealer because he gets caught far too many times if his minor league numbers are any indication.
This is all extremely worrisome, even though in fairness it's still far too early to tell for sure if any of our 3 young position players are going to make it or not. But I'm beginning to be concerned. That much I do know.
(Will Pellas, GW columnist at large, takes offense at the baby Buc's lack of offense.)
That's the Way
Now that's the kinda baseball we're talking about.
Paul Maholm kept the string of sweet pitching performances going, the Buc bats finally put together a big inning, and Jay Michaels, with a couple of tumbling catches, and Andy LaRoche, showing off a howitzer for an arm, keyed a strong defensive game as the Pirates won 5-2 tonight.
Maholm ran off eight innings of 7-hit ball, yielding only a pair of solo homers. 69 of his 96 pitches were strikes as he struck out 5 and didn't walk a soul, picking up his 8th win and dropping his ERA to 3.69.
Ol' Pirate Josh Fogg kept the Bucs off balance over the first four innings, but they got to him the second time around with a four run fifth inning. The big blows were a two run double by Ryan Doumit and a two run dinger by Michaels.
Brandon Moss drove one into the bullpen in the eighth, John Grabow pitched a perfect ninth for his third save, and Pittsburgh had a nice, workman-like win over the Reds.
Freddie Sanchez returned to the lineup, Adam LaRoche is expected back tomorrow after his third straight multi-hit game at Hickory, and the Bucs got LHP Justin Wilson, their fifth round pick, to sign on the dotted line.
Wilson will report to the GCL Bradenton Pirates, where he'll finish out what's left of the season. From there, he'll take part in the Pirate's fall instructional league. Wilson appeared in 23 games (19 starts) in his junior season at Fresno State and went 9-5 with a 4.14 ERA. He finished the year with 108 strikeouts.
Pedro Alvarez, Tanner Scheppers, Robert Grossman (6th round) and Andrew Gagnon (10th round) are the other top 10 picks still unsigned as the clock continues to tick.
After the game, Joey Bats was sent down to AAA to clear a spot for Adam LaRoche on the 25-man roster. There really wasn't any other logical choice, as he joins Gorzo and Ronny Paulino at the Indy home for wayward Pirates.
Speaking of wayward Pirates, the Giants DFA'ed Jose Castillo, 27, who hit .244 in 394 plate appearances for SF. He earned $650K.
On the minor league front: Indy won 1-0 behind the four hit pitching of RHP Ross Ohlendorf (3-3, 3.60 ERA). He went eighth innings, striking out three and walking one. Ohlendorf threw 100 pitches, 65 for strikes. It was Indy's second straight shutout victory.
The Tribe got its only run of the afternoon in the first when 3B Neil Walker (.236) drove in LF Nyjer Morgan (.294). They both had a pair of hits, as did SS Brian Bixler (.284) and C Candy Maldonado (.222), who had two doubles.
> Altoona lost 5-3. CF Jose Tabata (.257) was a one man wrecking crew, going 4-4 with a double, RBI, and two runs scored.
> Lynchburg was rained out.
> Hickory lost 17-11, giving up eight runs in the last two innings.
RF Keanon Simon (.218) went 3-5 with a double, 3 runs scored, and an RBI. 3B Silvio Pena (.243) had two hits and a walk, scored twice and added an RBI. SS Jordy Mercer (.225) had 2 hits and drove in a pair. C Aeden McQueary (.114) was 2-4 with two runs and an RBI. DH Matt Hague (.329) had two hits.
Adam LaRoche was 2-3 in his third Crawdad appearance with a walk and 2 RBI. He'll rejoin Pittsburgh tomorrow after hitting .600 in rehab.
> State College broke out the bats tonight, but in an amazing come-from-ahead loss, gave up 7 runs in the ninth to lose 13-10. And we thought Pirate pre-trade pitching was bad!
DH Kyle Morgan (.162) went 2-2 with a walk and HR, his first, 3 runs and 3 RBI. 2B Chad Rice (.246) had two hits, a walk, a double, and 3 RBI. CF Ciro Rosero (.258) had two hits, a double, and 2 RBI. IF Chase D'Arnaud (.308) also had a pair of knocks, a double, and 2 runs. The Spikes smacked 6 doubles and a homer in the loss.
> Bradenton won 4-1 as three pitchers combined on the seven hit victory. RF Edward Garcia (.235) went 2-2 with a pair of walks, a run and an RBI. 3B Jarek Cunningham (.325) went 2-4 with an RBI and run scored. DH Craig Parry (.326) had a pair of hits and scored.
Seems like the Pirates sent all the bats to State College and Hickory and kept all the arms at Bradenton.
Paul Maholm kept the string of sweet pitching performances going, the Buc bats finally put together a big inning, and Jay Michaels, with a couple of tumbling catches, and Andy LaRoche, showing off a howitzer for an arm, keyed a strong defensive game as the Pirates won 5-2 tonight.
Maholm ran off eight innings of 7-hit ball, yielding only a pair of solo homers. 69 of his 96 pitches were strikes as he struck out 5 and didn't walk a soul, picking up his 8th win and dropping his ERA to 3.69.
Ol' Pirate Josh Fogg kept the Bucs off balance over the first four innings, but they got to him the second time around with a four run fifth inning. The big blows were a two run double by Ryan Doumit and a two run dinger by Michaels.
Brandon Moss drove one into the bullpen in the eighth, John Grabow pitched a perfect ninth for his third save, and Pittsburgh had a nice, workman-like win over the Reds.
Freddie Sanchez returned to the lineup, Adam LaRoche is expected back tomorrow after his third straight multi-hit game at Hickory, and the Bucs got LHP Justin Wilson, their fifth round pick, to sign on the dotted line.
Wilson will report to the GCL Bradenton Pirates, where he'll finish out what's left of the season. From there, he'll take part in the Pirate's fall instructional league. Wilson appeared in 23 games (19 starts) in his junior season at Fresno State and went 9-5 with a 4.14 ERA. He finished the year with 108 strikeouts.
Pedro Alvarez, Tanner Scheppers, Robert Grossman (6th round) and Andrew Gagnon (10th round) are the other top 10 picks still unsigned as the clock continues to tick.
After the game, Joey Bats was sent down to AAA to clear a spot for Adam LaRoche on the 25-man roster. There really wasn't any other logical choice, as he joins Gorzo and Ronny Paulino at the Indy home for wayward Pirates.
Speaking of wayward Pirates, the Giants DFA'ed Jose Castillo, 27, who hit .244 in 394 plate appearances for SF. He earned $650K.
On the minor league front: Indy won 1-0 behind the four hit pitching of RHP Ross Ohlendorf (3-3, 3.60 ERA). He went eighth innings, striking out three and walking one. Ohlendorf threw 100 pitches, 65 for strikes. It was Indy's second straight shutout victory.
The Tribe got its only run of the afternoon in the first when 3B Neil Walker (.236) drove in LF Nyjer Morgan (.294). They both had a pair of hits, as did SS Brian Bixler (.284) and C Candy Maldonado (.222), who had two doubles.
> Altoona lost 5-3. CF Jose Tabata (.257) was a one man wrecking crew, going 4-4 with a double, RBI, and two runs scored.
> Lynchburg was rained out.
> Hickory lost 17-11, giving up eight runs in the last two innings.
RF Keanon Simon (.218) went 3-5 with a double, 3 runs scored, and an RBI. 3B Silvio Pena (.243) had two hits and a walk, scored twice and added an RBI. SS Jordy Mercer (.225) had 2 hits and drove in a pair. C Aeden McQueary (.114) was 2-4 with two runs and an RBI. DH Matt Hague (.329) had two hits.
Adam LaRoche was 2-3 in his third Crawdad appearance with a walk and 2 RBI. He'll rejoin Pittsburgh tomorrow after hitting .600 in rehab.
> State College broke out the bats tonight, but in an amazing come-from-ahead loss, gave up 7 runs in the ninth to lose 13-10. And we thought Pirate pre-trade pitching was bad!
DH Kyle Morgan (.162) went 2-2 with a walk and HR, his first, 3 runs and 3 RBI. 2B Chad Rice (.246) had two hits, a walk, a double, and 3 RBI. CF Ciro Rosero (.258) had two hits, a double, and 2 RBI. IF Chase D'Arnaud (.308) also had a pair of knocks, a double, and 2 runs. The Spikes smacked 6 doubles and a homer in the loss.
> Bradenton won 4-1 as three pitchers combined on the seven hit victory. RF Edward Garcia (.235) went 2-2 with a pair of walks, a run and an RBI. 3B Jarek Cunningham (.325) went 2-4 with an RBI and run scored. DH Craig Parry (.326) had a pair of hits and scored.
Seems like the Pirates sent all the bats to State College and Hickory and kept all the arms at Bradenton.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Basement Battle
Jeff Karsten's Pittsburgh debut was OK by most standards - 7 innings, four runs (three earned), 7 hits, and a seventh straight quality start for the Pirates. But it wasn't up to Edinson Volquez's snuff.
Volquez went 6-2/3 innings, giving up 5 hits, a run, and K'ing 5 on his way to win number 14. He's the kind of arm Pittsburgh lusts for - heater that clocks in at 93-95 on the gun, diving change-up, and a nasty curve - and all with great movement.
We're not too concerned with the bats right now. After all, in the first 12 days of August, Pittsburgh's faced Ted Lilly, Carlos Zambrano, Dan Haren, Randy Johnson, Brandon Webb, Pedro Martinez and Volquez. That's a pretty fair stable of pitchers.
Take away not only Jay Bay and Xavier Nady, but Adam LaRoche and for a good chunk of time, Freddie Sanchez and Jack Splat, and you're sending the B team out to compete against the aces.
But what's discouraging is the lack of fundamentals the remade club has shown.
Two more errors today - that's eight over three games. Another runner was thrown out going from second to third on a ground ball. No discipline at the plate. Failed bunts. Runners stranded in key situations, and no long balls to make up for the lack of timely hitting.
Give the other guys a run or two, leave a couple of your guys on base instead of plating them...well, you need some kind of pitching to overcome that.
The Reds are the perfect example. They just lost Adam Dunn and Junior. Their first baseman is a catcher. Their left fielder just got called up, and their center fielder is hitting .188. They were riding a six-game losing streak, and had dropped 14 of its last 16.
What happens? The catcher, Javier Valentin, homers and makes a nice diving stop of a ball up the line to take the Pirates out of their last and best chance to make a game of it. The .188 hitter, Corey Patterson, drives in a run with two outs, and to prove it's not a fluke, does it again a few innings later. The rookie, Chris Dickinson, gets his first MLB hit.
Wilson and Sanchez are still days away from returning to the lineup. LaRoche will be back any day (Thursday looks likely).
It'll be interesting to see who gets shipped to Indy when he does report (We think Joey Bats looks like the odd man out). Or will one of the infielders get DL'ed? Fifteen days would take them very close to September's expanded roster and some easy moves.
And it looks like young LaRoche may have rushed his return - he had considerable difficulty hanging on to the bat, and was spotted massaging his thumb in the dugout. He said that it's "manageable," which is a far cry from OK.
No one said that a makeover of Pirate baseball would be easy, and it's in choppy seas right now.
On the minor league front: Indy won 2-0 behind Corey Hamman (3-3, 4.81 ERA). He went 7-1/3 innings, giving up five hits with a walk and a strike out. Three relievers cleaned up after him to nail down the win.
Four Tribesmen had a pair of hits - CF Nyjer Morgan (.291), SS Brian Bixler (.281), 1B Jason Delaney (.304, 2-2, double, two walks, and run scored), 2B Luis Cruz (.314, double, RBI). C Ronny Paulino (.390) went 0-2, but walked twice and scored.
> Altoona lost a 4-3 heartbreaker. After scoring three runs in the eighth to go ahead, RHP Ron Belisario (4-4, 5.36 ERA) gave up a pair in the ninth to lose it. Matt Capps continued his rehab, going an inning and striking out a pair.
CF Jose Tabata (.248) went 2-4 with an RBI, and 2B Shelby Ford (.288) had a double and two RBI.
> Lynchburg lost 7-0. LHP Brian Holliday (5-10, 5.45 ERA) took the loss. He gave up three hits in five innings, but a homer, three walks and three errors led to his downfall. The Hillcats had four hits.
> Hickory went down 9-4. RF Keanon Simon (.211) went 3-4 with his first homer, a walk, 2 runs scored and an RBI. 3B Matt Hague (.321) went 2-4 with and RBI, and SS Jordy Mercer (.219) hit his fourth home run.
1B Adam LaRoche had a pair of hits, with a double, run, and RBI.
> State College lost 7-1. DH Calvin Anderson (.265) had two hits, including his sixth HR.
> Bradenton won 2-1 as four pitchers scattered 10 hits for the victory. DH Benjamin Gonzalez (.223) had two hits and an RBI. CF Edwin Roman (.216) went 1-2 with a walk, stolen base, and scored twice.
Volquez went 6-2/3 innings, giving up 5 hits, a run, and K'ing 5 on his way to win number 14. He's the kind of arm Pittsburgh lusts for - heater that clocks in at 93-95 on the gun, diving change-up, and a nasty curve - and all with great movement.
We're not too concerned with the bats right now. After all, in the first 12 days of August, Pittsburgh's faced Ted Lilly, Carlos Zambrano, Dan Haren, Randy Johnson, Brandon Webb, Pedro Martinez and Volquez. That's a pretty fair stable of pitchers.
Take away not only Jay Bay and Xavier Nady, but Adam LaRoche and for a good chunk of time, Freddie Sanchez and Jack Splat, and you're sending the B team out to compete against the aces.
But what's discouraging is the lack of fundamentals the remade club has shown.
Two more errors today - that's eight over three games. Another runner was thrown out going from second to third on a ground ball. No discipline at the plate. Failed bunts. Runners stranded in key situations, and no long balls to make up for the lack of timely hitting.
Give the other guys a run or two, leave a couple of your guys on base instead of plating them...well, you need some kind of pitching to overcome that.
The Reds are the perfect example. They just lost Adam Dunn and Junior. Their first baseman is a catcher. Their left fielder just got called up, and their center fielder is hitting .188. They were riding a six-game losing streak, and had dropped 14 of its last 16.
What happens? The catcher, Javier Valentin, homers and makes a nice diving stop of a ball up the line to take the Pirates out of their last and best chance to make a game of it. The .188 hitter, Corey Patterson, drives in a run with two outs, and to prove it's not a fluke, does it again a few innings later. The rookie, Chris Dickinson, gets his first MLB hit.
Wilson and Sanchez are still days away from returning to the lineup. LaRoche will be back any day (Thursday looks likely).
It'll be interesting to see who gets shipped to Indy when he does report (We think Joey Bats looks like the odd man out). Or will one of the infielders get DL'ed? Fifteen days would take them very close to September's expanded roster and some easy moves.
And it looks like young LaRoche may have rushed his return - he had considerable difficulty hanging on to the bat, and was spotted massaging his thumb in the dugout. He said that it's "manageable," which is a far cry from OK.
No one said that a makeover of Pirate baseball would be easy, and it's in choppy seas right now.
On the minor league front: Indy won 2-0 behind Corey Hamman (3-3, 4.81 ERA). He went 7-1/3 innings, giving up five hits with a walk and a strike out. Three relievers cleaned up after him to nail down the win.
Four Tribesmen had a pair of hits - CF Nyjer Morgan (.291), SS Brian Bixler (.281), 1B Jason Delaney (.304, 2-2, double, two walks, and run scored), 2B Luis Cruz (.314, double, RBI). C Ronny Paulino (.390) went 0-2, but walked twice and scored.
> Altoona lost a 4-3 heartbreaker. After scoring three runs in the eighth to go ahead, RHP Ron Belisario (4-4, 5.36 ERA) gave up a pair in the ninth to lose it. Matt Capps continued his rehab, going an inning and striking out a pair.
CF Jose Tabata (.248) went 2-4 with an RBI, and 2B Shelby Ford (.288) had a double and two RBI.
> Lynchburg lost 7-0. LHP Brian Holliday (5-10, 5.45 ERA) took the loss. He gave up three hits in five innings, but a homer, three walks and three errors led to his downfall. The Hillcats had four hits.
> Hickory went down 9-4. RF Keanon Simon (.211) went 3-4 with his first homer, a walk, 2 runs scored and an RBI. 3B Matt Hague (.321) went 2-4 with and RBI, and SS Jordy Mercer (.219) hit his fourth home run.
1B Adam LaRoche had a pair of hits, with a double, run, and RBI.
> State College lost 7-1. DH Calvin Anderson (.265) had two hits, including his sixth HR.
> Bradenton won 2-1 as four pitchers scattered 10 hits for the victory. DH Benjamin Gonzalez (.223) had two hits and an RBI. CF Edwin Roman (.216) went 1-2 with a walk, stolen base, and scored twice.
Tuesday pre-game
The Pirates have turned 21 double plays in their last 10 games. They lead the National League with 133 double plays, a tribute to their often make-shift infield, ground ball pitchers, and a quadzillion opposing baserunners on the paths.
> If Jason Davis can hold up his end of the rotation and no one gets hurt in the next 2-1/2 weeks, we don't foresee anyone coming up from Indy until the rosters expand in September.
With all the young guys in the lineup, there's really no point to it. We'd expect everyone that makes it to Pittsburgh after Indy's season is over September 1st is already on the 40 man roster, which is full now. But Phil Dumatrait could go on the 60-day DL to clear a spot if the Pirates wanted a look at a non-roster player (i.e., Andrew McCutchen).
That means the likely possibilities are Gorzo, Ross Ohlendorf, Jimmy Barthmaier and Marino Salas to bolster the pitching and Brian Bixler, Ronny Paulino and Nyjer Morgan as position players. Gorzo and Ohlendorf are locks; the rest will be mix-and-match.
> Why can't we do it here? Indianapolis leads the International League with 156 stolen bases. The Indians have led the IL in thefts in each of the past three seasons (163 in ‘07, 180 in ‘06 and 163 in ‘05). OFs Nyjer Morgan (38) and Andrew McCutchen (28) have the most stolen bases of any tandem in Triple-A Baseball.
> Jim Callas of Baseball America says:
> Tanner Scheppers threw two or three dozen pitches for the suits at PNC today and looked good. We expect that he'll be signed before Alvarez. Also, it seems that the on-again, off-again talks with Justin Wilson are back on. That's great news for a pitching poor Pirate organization if those arms get added to the system.
> If Jason Davis can hold up his end of the rotation and no one gets hurt in the next 2-1/2 weeks, we don't foresee anyone coming up from Indy until the rosters expand in September.
With all the young guys in the lineup, there's really no point to it. We'd expect everyone that makes it to Pittsburgh after Indy's season is over September 1st is already on the 40 man roster, which is full now. But Phil Dumatrait could go on the 60-day DL to clear a spot if the Pirates wanted a look at a non-roster player (i.e., Andrew McCutchen).
That means the likely possibilities are Gorzo, Ross Ohlendorf, Jimmy Barthmaier and Marino Salas to bolster the pitching and Brian Bixler, Ronny Paulino and Nyjer Morgan as position players. Gorzo and Ohlendorf are locks; the rest will be mix-and-match.
> Why can't we do it here? Indianapolis leads the International League with 156 stolen bases. The Indians have led the IL in thefts in each of the past three seasons (163 in ‘07, 180 in ‘06 and 163 in ‘05). OFs Nyjer Morgan (38) and Andrew McCutchen (28) have the most stolen bases of any tandem in Triple-A Baseball.
> Jim Callas of Baseball America says:
Fear not, Pirates fans, regarding Pedro Alvarez. Or fans of just about any other club with an unsigned first-round pick.
We're going through the usual last-minute rhetoric, with both clubs and players laying it on thick. Pirates president Frank Coonelly worries that "grossly exceeding the well-established market for drafted players" would harm his club's ability to build a winner. (So would not signing Alvarez.)
With the exception of Wake Forest first baseman Allan Dykstra, who has a hip condition that worries the Padres, I believe all of the unsigned first-rounders will agree to terms before the deadline. Here's how I see it unfolding:
Vanderbilt third baseman Alvarez (No. 2 overall, Pirates) and Florida State catcher Posey (No. 5, Giants) will get the most lucrative deals in this year's draft, landing major league contracts worth more than No. 1 overall pick Tim Beckham's deal with the Rays. Beckham signed a draft-record $6.15 million bonus, with MLB calculating the present value at $4.7 million after Tampa Bay spread it over five years under provisions for two-sport athletes.
> Tanner Scheppers threw two or three dozen pitches for the suits at PNC today and looked good. We expect that he'll be signed before Alvarez. Also, it seems that the on-again, off-again talks with Justin Wilson are back on. That's great news for a pitching poor Pirate organization if those arms get added to the system.
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