>Lisa Wilson of MLB.com has a meaty piece on the Pirate's minor league season and its heroes and villians, with audio and vid clips: Pirates See Light At End Of Tunnel.
For what it's worth, MLB.com's pre-season picks for 2008 Players of the Year were OF Marcus Davis, who was injured in June, and LHP Daniel Moskos, of "why did we take him instead of Matt Wieters" fame. The post-season winners ended up being INF Jim Negrych and LHP Anthony Watson.
>Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports that Brandon Moss got (or will get, we're not sure) the scope instead of the knife, on his raw knee Buc's Ross Should Be Ready For Camp.
This should cut Moss' rehab time considerably, and now the prognosis is that he'll be able to head north with the team after spring training in 2009.
>The Arizona League Pirates prospects are putting togther a blog for bored winter ball fans at Pirates In the AFL. (Thanks to Brian McElhinny at Raise the Jolly Roger for discovering that web gem.)
The Scottsdale Scorpion Seven are RHPs Mike Crotta, Derek Hankins, Jared Hughes, and Jeff Sues, along with C Steven Lerud, 2B Shelby Ford, and OF Jamie Romak.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Little California's Big Man
Former Pittsburgh pitcher Bruce Dal Canton, 67, of Carnegie, died from cancer Tuesday, in St. Clair Hospital. He pitched in the major leagues for 11 years, beginning as a pitcher with the Pirates in 1967.
He spent many years as a teacher, and like a pitching professor, he was quiet, dignified, and forgot more about the art of throwing a baseball than most of us will ever hope to know.
Dal Canton was born in 1942 and grew up in the Mon River town of California in Washington County, where attended his home high school and college, starring in baseball. He was the ace of the 1962 Cal team that won the NAIA District 30 regionals.
But being from a small school, he didn't attract much attention from the MLB. He became a teacher of general science and biology and coached at Burgettstown HS after hanging up his Vulcan uniform for the last time. But he wouldn't be off the hill for long.
Desperately seeking pitching (sound familiar?), the 1965 Pirates brought in several semi-pro guys who had been around the block for a look-see. One that made it was Dal Canton, then 24, and the ace of his beer-league nine. Another pitcher the Bucs turned up via the same route was ol' lefty Woody Fryman.
In his first pro season in 1966, Dal Canton had a 3.66 ERA in 67 innings between AA Asheville and AAA Columbus. After posting a 3.10 ERA in 93 innings in AA Macon the next season, the Pirates called him up in September. Dal Canton ended the month with a 1.88 ERA.
He began 1968 in the minors, dominating AA York (yah, they really ran thru the AA teams back in the day!) with a 1.01 ERA before being promoted to Columbus. He got clocked there, running up an 8.25 ERA. Still, Dal Canton got the call and spent another September in Pittsburgh.
In 1969, Dal Canton was in the majors for good, posting an 8-2 record and 3.34 ERA in 86 innings from the pen for a Pirates team that was on its way to becoming a powerhouse in the 1970s.
He went 9-4 in 1970 for the NL East champs, but his ERA jumped to 4.54 as control problems plagued him. Still, he pitched well over a year without a loss, recording a 7-0 mark from June 29, 1969 to July 20, 1970.
Control wasn't an entirely unexpected issue for Dal Canton. His bread-and-butter pitch was a knuckle ball (although he did throw a variety of other pitches, too). In fact, before the Braves faced the Pirates Tim Wakefield in the 1992 NLCS, they brought in the 50-year-old Dal Canton to throw BP.
That December, the Pirates dealt the wild Dal Canton, catcher Jerry May, and infielder Freddy Patek to Kansas City for pitcher Bob Johnson, shortstop Jackie Hernandez, and catcher Jim Campanis. And no, that was way before Dave Littlefield, even if it does sound like one of his moves.
Patek became a Royal mainstay, and Dal Canton spent four productive seasons in Kansas City as a swingman for the Royals.
He was a starter for KC in 1971, and had a bounce-back season. Dal Canton rang up eight wins and a 3.44 ERA in 141 innings, despite enduring shoulder problems late in the year.
In 1972 he flopped between the rotation and the bullpen, but still cobbled together a solid 3.40 ERA in 132 innings. On Aug. 14, Dal Canton set a then-Kansas City record by retiring 23 consecutive Yankees batters. And to show you what salaries were then, he still considered baseball his summer job and spent his off-seasons teaching high school.
Dal Canton's baseball days looked to be about done in 1973 when he had a 4.81 ERA and a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 38-46. That's bad even by 2008 Pirate standards. But like 1971, he roared back in 1974 with his finest season, going 8-10 with a 3.13 ERA in 175 innings with nine complete games and his only two shutouts.
But 1975 got off on a terrible foot, and by May he had compiled an astronomical 15.88 ERA.
The Royals shipped Dal Canton to Atlanta in a mystery deal of sorts. He was packaged with two players to be named later, in exchange for a Brave to be named later and cash. (In September, the Royals sent pitchers Norm Angelini and Al Autry to Atlanta in exchange for pitcher Ray Sadecki to complete the deal.)
Dal Canton finished his career pitching with the Braves and the White Sox before retiring in 1977 at the age of 35. Not a bad job for a high school coach, putting together an 11-year MLB career. Dal Canton got into 316 games, and finished with a 51-49 mark, 19 saves, and an ERA of 3.67. He allowed less than a hit an inning, giving up 894 knocks in 931-1/3 innings.
For the last twenty-five years, Dal Canton has been a pitching coach in the Atlanta organization, even working in the NL from 1987-1990. (In June 1990, when Bobby Cox took over as manager of the Braves, Leo Mazzone replaced him as their pitching coach. Can't really second guess that decision.)
Since 1999, DC, as he was called by the Brave family, had been the pitching guru for the Carolina A League Myrtle Beach Pelicans. He was the only one they ever had until his health made him take leave in May. And he was a darn good one, too. 30 kids that he tutored made it to the show.
“There’s a reason why the light seems to come on for so many of our guys at Myrtle Beach, and it doesn’t have much to do with the ballpark,” Brave scouting director Roy Clark told Baseball America while braggin' on Dal Canton.
And he was, despite a modest record as a big leaguer, quite a home town hero. Dal Canton was honored with numerous sports and community awards during his career, including selection to the Western Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. He was also one of the charter inductees to California University's Hall of Fame.
Dal Canton was always a Pittsburgh boy at heart. If you ever stopped at Coastal Field to catch a Pelican game and had a Pirate cap or shirt on, he'd be sure to come by and strike up a conversation with you, yinzer to yinzer.
A true gentleman, a thinking man's pitcher, and one of the long time foundation blocks of the Brave's rock-solid minor league factory. Bruce Dal Canton was all of that and more, and one of the good guys of the sport. His presence will be missed.
He spent many years as a teacher, and like a pitching professor, he was quiet, dignified, and forgot more about the art of throwing a baseball than most of us will ever hope to know.
Dal Canton was born in 1942 and grew up in the Mon River town of California in Washington County, where attended his home high school and college, starring in baseball. He was the ace of the 1962 Cal team that won the NAIA District 30 regionals.
But being from a small school, he didn't attract much attention from the MLB. He became a teacher of general science and biology and coached at Burgettstown HS after hanging up his Vulcan uniform for the last time. But he wouldn't be off the hill for long.
Desperately seeking pitching (sound familiar?), the 1965 Pirates brought in several semi-pro guys who had been around the block for a look-see. One that made it was Dal Canton, then 24, and the ace of his beer-league nine. Another pitcher the Bucs turned up via the same route was ol' lefty Woody Fryman.
In his first pro season in 1966, Dal Canton had a 3.66 ERA in 67 innings between AA Asheville and AAA Columbus. After posting a 3.10 ERA in 93 innings in AA Macon the next season, the Pirates called him up in September. Dal Canton ended the month with a 1.88 ERA.
He began 1968 in the minors, dominating AA York (yah, they really ran thru the AA teams back in the day!) with a 1.01 ERA before being promoted to Columbus. He got clocked there, running up an 8.25 ERA. Still, Dal Canton got the call and spent another September in Pittsburgh.
In 1969, Dal Canton was in the majors for good, posting an 8-2 record and 3.34 ERA in 86 innings from the pen for a Pirates team that was on its way to becoming a powerhouse in the 1970s.
He went 9-4 in 1970 for the NL East champs, but his ERA jumped to 4.54 as control problems plagued him. Still, he pitched well over a year without a loss, recording a 7-0 mark from June 29, 1969 to July 20, 1970.
Control wasn't an entirely unexpected issue for Dal Canton. His bread-and-butter pitch was a knuckle ball (although he did throw a variety of other pitches, too). In fact, before the Braves faced the Pirates Tim Wakefield in the 1992 NLCS, they brought in the 50-year-old Dal Canton to throw BP.
That December, the Pirates dealt the wild Dal Canton, catcher Jerry May, and infielder Freddy Patek to Kansas City for pitcher Bob Johnson, shortstop Jackie Hernandez, and catcher Jim Campanis. And no, that was way before Dave Littlefield, even if it does sound like one of his moves.
Patek became a Royal mainstay, and Dal Canton spent four productive seasons in Kansas City as a swingman for the Royals.
He was a starter for KC in 1971, and had a bounce-back season. Dal Canton rang up eight wins and a 3.44 ERA in 141 innings, despite enduring shoulder problems late in the year.
In 1972 he flopped between the rotation and the bullpen, but still cobbled together a solid 3.40 ERA in 132 innings. On Aug. 14, Dal Canton set a then-Kansas City record by retiring 23 consecutive Yankees batters. And to show you what salaries were then, he still considered baseball his summer job and spent his off-seasons teaching high school.
Dal Canton's baseball days looked to be about done in 1973 when he had a 4.81 ERA and a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 38-46. That's bad even by 2008 Pirate standards. But like 1971, he roared back in 1974 with his finest season, going 8-10 with a 3.13 ERA in 175 innings with nine complete games and his only two shutouts.
But 1975 got off on a terrible foot, and by May he had compiled an astronomical 15.88 ERA.
The Royals shipped Dal Canton to Atlanta in a mystery deal of sorts. He was packaged with two players to be named later, in exchange for a Brave to be named later and cash. (In September, the Royals sent pitchers Norm Angelini and Al Autry to Atlanta in exchange for pitcher Ray Sadecki to complete the deal.)
Dal Canton finished his career pitching with the Braves and the White Sox before retiring in 1977 at the age of 35. Not a bad job for a high school coach, putting together an 11-year MLB career. Dal Canton got into 316 games, and finished with a 51-49 mark, 19 saves, and an ERA of 3.67. He allowed less than a hit an inning, giving up 894 knocks in 931-1/3 innings.
For the last twenty-five years, Dal Canton has been a pitching coach in the Atlanta organization, even working in the NL from 1987-1990. (In June 1990, when Bobby Cox took over as manager of the Braves, Leo Mazzone replaced him as their pitching coach. Can't really second guess that decision.)
Since 1999, DC, as he was called by the Brave family, had been the pitching guru for the Carolina A League Myrtle Beach Pelicans. He was the only one they ever had until his health made him take leave in May. And he was a darn good one, too. 30 kids that he tutored made it to the show.
“There’s a reason why the light seems to come on for so many of our guys at Myrtle Beach, and it doesn’t have much to do with the ballpark,” Brave scouting director Roy Clark told Baseball America while braggin' on Dal Canton.
And he was, despite a modest record as a big leaguer, quite a home town hero. Dal Canton was honored with numerous sports and community awards during his career, including selection to the Western Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. He was also one of the charter inductees to California University's Hall of Fame.
Dal Canton was always a Pittsburgh boy at heart. If you ever stopped at Coastal Field to catch a Pelican game and had a Pirate cap or shirt on, he'd be sure to come by and strike up a conversation with you, yinzer to yinzer.
A true gentleman, a thinking man's pitcher, and one of the long time foundation blocks of the Brave's rock-solid minor league factory. Bruce Dal Canton was all of that and more, and one of the good guys of the sport. His presence will be missed.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
The Big Boys Battle...
It's time for the wanna-bes to take a seat in front of the TV and watch the big boys battle it out on the road to the 2008 World Series.
The Phils will trot out Cole Hamels (14-10, 3.09), Brett Myers (10-13, 4.55), Jamie Moyer (16-7, 3.71), and Joe Blanton (4-0, 4.20 as a Phil; 9-12, 4.69 overall) on Thursday when they open at home against LA at 8:22 PM, on Fox.
The Dodger's will answer with Derek Lowe (14-11, 3.24), with the rest of the guys "to be announced," though it shouldn't take a crystal ball to see into Joe Torre's future. He'll almost certainly use Chad Billingsley (16-10, 3.14), Hiroki Kuroda (9-10, 3.73), and Clayton Kershaw (5-5, 4.26) or Greg Maddux (8-13, 4.22).
We'd bet on LHP Kershaw to match up against the lefty Philly bats of Ryan Howard and Chase Utley. GW doesn't expect a Brad Penny sighting.
The Dodgers swept a four-game series from the Phillies at Dodger Stadium. The Phillies swept a four-game series from the Dodgers at Citizens Bank Park.
Dodger Stadium is pitcher-friendly. Citizens Bank Park is hitter-friendly. The Dodgers led the National League in team earned run average. The Phillies led the league in home runs. Think the home field is an advantage in this matchup?
The BoSox have their rotation set for the Tampa Bay series. It's Daisuke Matsuzaka (18-3, 2.90), Josh Beckett (12-10, 4.13), Jon Lester (16-6, 3.21) and Tim Wakefield (10-11, 4.13).
Some local flavor will spice up the games as Pittsburgh watches to see if Jay Bay, who had 2 long balls, 3 RBI and 3 runs scored, including the series-clincher with two out in the ninth, can keep his heroics going in his first-ever playoff campaign.
The Rays will counter with James Shields (14-8, 3.56), Scott Kazmir (12-8, 3.49), Matt Garza (11-9, 3.70) and probably Andy Sonnanstine (13-9, 4.38).
The series opens in Tampa Bay on Friday at 8:37 PM, on TBS. The story line for the ALCS is the new boys on the block, the Rays, versus the been-there, done-that BoSox. Tampa won the regular season series ten games to eight. The Red Sox went 7-2 in Fenway, the Rays 8-1 in The Trop, so home cookin' means something in this match, too.
Let the games begin! Hey, Alfonso, pass the chips. And CC, get me a beer while you're headed to the cooler. Misery so loves company, hehe.
The Phils will trot out Cole Hamels (14-10, 3.09), Brett Myers (10-13, 4.55), Jamie Moyer (16-7, 3.71), and Joe Blanton (4-0, 4.20 as a Phil; 9-12, 4.69 overall) on Thursday when they open at home against LA at 8:22 PM, on Fox.
The Dodger's will answer with Derek Lowe (14-11, 3.24), with the rest of the guys "to be announced," though it shouldn't take a crystal ball to see into Joe Torre's future. He'll almost certainly use Chad Billingsley (16-10, 3.14), Hiroki Kuroda (9-10, 3.73), and Clayton Kershaw (5-5, 4.26) or Greg Maddux (8-13, 4.22).
We'd bet on LHP Kershaw to match up against the lefty Philly bats of Ryan Howard and Chase Utley. GW doesn't expect a Brad Penny sighting.
The Dodgers swept a four-game series from the Phillies at Dodger Stadium. The Phillies swept a four-game series from the Dodgers at Citizens Bank Park.
Dodger Stadium is pitcher-friendly. Citizens Bank Park is hitter-friendly. The Dodgers led the National League in team earned run average. The Phillies led the league in home runs. Think the home field is an advantage in this matchup?
The BoSox have their rotation set for the Tampa Bay series. It's Daisuke Matsuzaka (18-3, 2.90), Josh Beckett (12-10, 4.13), Jon Lester (16-6, 3.21) and Tim Wakefield (10-11, 4.13).
Some local flavor will spice up the games as Pittsburgh watches to see if Jay Bay, who had 2 long balls, 3 RBI and 3 runs scored, including the series-clincher with two out in the ninth, can keep his heroics going in his first-ever playoff campaign.
The Rays will counter with James Shields (14-8, 3.56), Scott Kazmir (12-8, 3.49), Matt Garza (11-9, 3.70) and probably Andy Sonnanstine (13-9, 4.38).
The series opens in Tampa Bay on Friday at 8:37 PM, on TBS. The story line for the ALCS is the new boys on the block, the Rays, versus the been-there, done-that BoSox. Tampa won the regular season series ten games to eight. The Red Sox went 7-2 in Fenway, the Rays 8-1 in The Trop, so home cookin' means something in this match, too.
Let the games begin! Hey, Alfonso, pass the chips. And CC, get me a beer while you're headed to the cooler. Misery so loves company, hehe.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
The Ricardo Rincon Tree
Since we're talkin' trades and their fallout, GW thought it's time to remind Neal Huntington how one smart move can have positive repercussions that ripple through the years.
On March 30, 1997, the Pirates pulled off a minor deal, purchasing the contract of LHP Ricardo Rincon from the Mexico City Reds of the Mexican League. The roots of that small transaction are still running deep in Pittsburgh's organization.
He pitched in the Steel City for two seasons, 1997-98, appearing in 122 games and working 125 innings. Rincon's record was 4-10 with 18 saves and a 3.17 ERA. He was a handy dude to have around the bullpen, but his only taste of fame here was when he combined with Francisco Cordova on July 12, 1997, for a dramatic, ten-inning no-hitter.
After the 1998 season, Rincon was dealt to Cleveland, who was desperately seeking a left-handed reliever. The return was a promising young outfielder named Brian Giles.
Giles, of course, spent the next 4+ years as the Pirate's main man, blasting 149 HRs and plating 499 RBI during that span while appearing in two All-Star games. But by 2003, his contract was weighing heavily on the Buc bean counters, and in August he was shipped to San Diego for Jason Bay and Ollie Perez.
Jay Bay became a Pirate mainstay, manning LF from 2003 until this summer. He made two All-Star games, and drilled 139 HR and tallied 452 RBI during his stay. Bay was dealt to Boston in a three-way deal for Andy LaRoche, Brandon Moss, Craig Hansen and Bryan Morris, as Pittsburgh sought an infusion of young blood.
Perez was on the hill here from 2003 until the 2006 trade deadline. He had a record of 21-31, with an ERA of 4.59 and 421 strikeouts in 398 innings of work. He showed a ton of promise - in 2004, he was 12-10 with a 2.98 ERA and 239 Ks - but like Ian Snell this year, mental focus was a huge problem.
The suits gave up on Ollie, and sent him along with Roberto Hernandez to the Mets for Xavier Nady, a man Dave Littlefield had long lusted to have in Pittsburgh colors. In fact, many thought that's who he wanted in the Giles deal, but the Padres wouldn't surrender him (not that Bay was a bad return).
Nady gradually evolved from a platoon player to a middle of the order guy, hitting 61 HRs and driving in 152 runs in 269 games as a Pirate. Then his number was called (and being a Boras client, it was sure to be called), and he joined the Bronx Bombers at the deadline for Jeff Karstens, Ross Ohlendorf, Dan McCutchen and Jose Tabata.
Here's the net result for sending a few pesos to Mexico City for Ricardo Rincon in 1997: Rincon begat Giles; Giles was flipped into Bay and Perez; Perez brought Nady; Bay and Nady turned into Moss, LaRoche, Karstens, Ohlendorf, Hansen, McCutchen, Tabata, and Morris. Be fruitful and multiply, hey?
So in a way, the immediate future of the Pittsburgh ball club rests on the laurels of Ricardo Rincon's Pirate family tree. It's been fruitful for the past decade; let's hope it continues to multiply.
On March 30, 1997, the Pirates pulled off a minor deal, purchasing the contract of LHP Ricardo Rincon from the Mexico City Reds of the Mexican League. The roots of that small transaction are still running deep in Pittsburgh's organization.
He pitched in the Steel City for two seasons, 1997-98, appearing in 122 games and working 125 innings. Rincon's record was 4-10 with 18 saves and a 3.17 ERA. He was a handy dude to have around the bullpen, but his only taste of fame here was when he combined with Francisco Cordova on July 12, 1997, for a dramatic, ten-inning no-hitter.
After the 1998 season, Rincon was dealt to Cleveland, who was desperately seeking a left-handed reliever. The return was a promising young outfielder named Brian Giles.
Giles, of course, spent the next 4+ years as the Pirate's main man, blasting 149 HRs and plating 499 RBI during that span while appearing in two All-Star games. But by 2003, his contract was weighing heavily on the Buc bean counters, and in August he was shipped to San Diego for Jason Bay and Ollie Perez.
Jay Bay became a Pirate mainstay, manning LF from 2003 until this summer. He made two All-Star games, and drilled 139 HR and tallied 452 RBI during his stay. Bay was dealt to Boston in a three-way deal for Andy LaRoche, Brandon Moss, Craig Hansen and Bryan Morris, as Pittsburgh sought an infusion of young blood.
Perez was on the hill here from 2003 until the 2006 trade deadline. He had a record of 21-31, with an ERA of 4.59 and 421 strikeouts in 398 innings of work. He showed a ton of promise - in 2004, he was 12-10 with a 2.98 ERA and 239 Ks - but like Ian Snell this year, mental focus was a huge problem.
The suits gave up on Ollie, and sent him along with Roberto Hernandez to the Mets for Xavier Nady, a man Dave Littlefield had long lusted to have in Pittsburgh colors. In fact, many thought that's who he wanted in the Giles deal, but the Padres wouldn't surrender him (not that Bay was a bad return).
Nady gradually evolved from a platoon player to a middle of the order guy, hitting 61 HRs and driving in 152 runs in 269 games as a Pirate. Then his number was called (and being a Boras client, it was sure to be called), and he joined the Bronx Bombers at the deadline for Jeff Karstens, Ross Ohlendorf, Dan McCutchen and Jose Tabata.
Here's the net result for sending a few pesos to Mexico City for Ricardo Rincon in 1997: Rincon begat Giles; Giles was flipped into Bay and Perez; Perez brought Nady; Bay and Nady turned into Moss, LaRoche, Karstens, Ohlendorf, Hansen, McCutchen, Tabata, and Morris. Be fruitful and multiply, hey?
So in a way, the immediate future of the Pittsburgh ball club rests on the laurels of Ricardo Rincon's Pirate family tree. It's been fruitful for the past decade; let's hope it continues to multiply.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Pellas On the Pirates: Small Market Reality
Reality Bites Back Hard!
One thing we can say for certain is that the current Pirates brass definitely did not intend to do another Aramis Ramirez deal when they traded Jason Bay and Xavier Nady during the 2008 season.
In one sense you could say those were "salary dump" trades, because the club had obviously decided it wasn't going to pony up to re-sign Bay and Nady long term. I have no problem with that decision in principle.
It would be different if the club was closer to contender status, but unfortunately our pitching staff went completely off the deep end this season, and that is not likely amenable to a quick fix. Plus, we would have lost significant trade leverage by hanging onto Bay and Nady until next season, at which point opposing GMs would be lining up for the fire sale.
I will add that our front office also made a clear and powerful statement by doling out large sums of money for our amateur draft picks this year. We can expect that that policy will continue into the next couple of seasons at least.
Bottom line: I have no problem in principle with what the Pirates chose to do, ie, to spend their money on drafting and developing young players en masse as opposed to committing perhaps $15 million per on Bay and Nady for the next 3-4 years. That is a wise move as far as I am concerned.
However, the hard reality is that there is always risk with this strategy. No matter how well the Florida Marlins, Minnesota Twins, and Oakland A's have sailed this course themselves, there simply is no guarantee that young players acquired in trade will equal, replace, or exceed the production lost when the veteran(s) leaves town.
So far, the Nady trade still looks at least respectable, while the Bay trade looks disastrous. If Brandon Moss is permanently affected by what looks like a serious if not catastrophic knee injury, we're down to Andy LaRoche, Whatsisname Hansen, and A-baller Brian Morris. It is quite possible that NONE of these players will ever be a significant contributor in a Pirates uniform.
That's the nature of the necessary risk a team like the Pirates must take from time to time. And oh by the way: re-signing your veterans to humongous long term deals doesn't always work out, either. Look at the Yankees with Jason Giambi (yes I know they got him as a free agent, but my point here has to do with his bazillion dollar contract).
Yes, we'll miss Jason and "X" and maybe even Damaso Marte---assuming he doesn't come right back to Pittsburgh this offseason as a free agent, a move I would welcome. But the Bucs still did the right thing, no matter how this all turns out in the end, and they must continue to do the right thing in the future. That's small market reality.
One thing we can say for certain is that the current Pirates brass definitely did not intend to do another Aramis Ramirez deal when they traded Jason Bay and Xavier Nady during the 2008 season.
In one sense you could say those were "salary dump" trades, because the club had obviously decided it wasn't going to pony up to re-sign Bay and Nady long term. I have no problem with that decision in principle.
It would be different if the club was closer to contender status, but unfortunately our pitching staff went completely off the deep end this season, and that is not likely amenable to a quick fix. Plus, we would have lost significant trade leverage by hanging onto Bay and Nady until next season, at which point opposing GMs would be lining up for the fire sale.
I will add that our front office also made a clear and powerful statement by doling out large sums of money for our amateur draft picks this year. We can expect that that policy will continue into the next couple of seasons at least.
Bottom line: I have no problem in principle with what the Pirates chose to do, ie, to spend their money on drafting and developing young players en masse as opposed to committing perhaps $15 million per on Bay and Nady for the next 3-4 years. That is a wise move as far as I am concerned.
However, the hard reality is that there is always risk with this strategy. No matter how well the Florida Marlins, Minnesota Twins, and Oakland A's have sailed this course themselves, there simply is no guarantee that young players acquired in trade will equal, replace, or exceed the production lost when the veteran(s) leaves town.
So far, the Nady trade still looks at least respectable, while the Bay trade looks disastrous. If Brandon Moss is permanently affected by what looks like a serious if not catastrophic knee injury, we're down to Andy LaRoche, Whatsisname Hansen, and A-baller Brian Morris. It is quite possible that NONE of these players will ever be a significant contributor in a Pirates uniform.
That's the nature of the necessary risk a team like the Pirates must take from time to time. And oh by the way: re-signing your veterans to humongous long term deals doesn't always work out, either. Look at the Yankees with Jason Giambi (yes I know they got him as a free agent, but my point here has to do with his bazillion dollar contract).
Yes, we'll miss Jason and "X" and maybe even Damaso Marte---assuming he doesn't come right back to Pittsburgh this offseason as a free agent, a move I would welcome. But the Bucs still did the right thing, no matter how this all turns out in the end, and they must continue to do the right thing in the future. That's small market reality.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Central Division Blues
"That's life,
That's what all the people say.
You're riding high in April,
Shot down in May..."
Well, Frank Sinatra almost had it right - it took till October for the Central Division to get shot down by the rest of the NL. The Cubs and Brewers can join Pittsburgh in the "wait till next year" rut.
Chicago couldn't exorcise the Billy Goat curse, and the Dodgers under Joe Torre swept them in the NLDS. Never was the old adage "good pitching will stop good hitting" more evident in a series.
Starters Derek Lowe, Chad Billingsley and Hiroki Kuroda combined to limit the Cubs to three runs in 19 innings, a 1.42 ERA, and the Dodgers outscored them, 20-6, in the three games. LA held the top of the Chicago order to 2-24 (.083), and the big guns simply had no one to bring home.
And Ned Colletti has a Cheshire Cat grin that's impossible to erase today.
As for the Brew Crew, the way that they and the Mets stumbled, bumbled, and fumbled down the stretch must have made baseball wonder if there was any point to inviting a wild-card to the party, at least in the NL.
The Phils showed their muscle and used the long ball to oust Milwaukee today and take the NLDS three games to one.
For the Brewers, it was a bitter if not totally unexpected pill to swallow. And with CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets ready to hit the market, their window as a playoff caliber club may be shut for at least the short-term future.
Now the two hottest teams in the NL will play for all the marbles, starting in Philadelphia on Thursday.
What's it mean for next year's Central Division race? Well, the Cubs are almost certain to join the FA lottery and open the purse strings to find a partner for the Big Z. The Brewers will have to retool. It's time for them to shop Prince Fielder for the player haul he should bring in for Milwaukee.
Houston and Cincy have new life, although the Cubs still seem too talented to catch in the standings. The Pirates? Same ol', same ol'. Wait till next year. They have it down to a science.
And if you want to use the playoff teams as a measuring stick, the Pirates were 10-42 against the clubs that made it, a .192 winning percentage. They were 4-14 against the Cubs, 1-14 against the Brewers, 2-5 against LA, 2-4 against the Phils, 0-3 against the White Sox, and 1-2 against the Rays. (The Bucs were 3-4 against the Mets, driving a stake in their playoff heart, hehe).
Against the hoi polloi of baseball, Pittsburgh actually had a winning 57-53 record. So the Bucs can hang with the crowd. They just get hammered when they step out of class.
That's what all the people say.
You're riding high in April,
Shot down in May..."
Well, Frank Sinatra almost had it right - it took till October for the Central Division to get shot down by the rest of the NL. The Cubs and Brewers can join Pittsburgh in the "wait till next year" rut.
Chicago couldn't exorcise the Billy Goat curse, and the Dodgers under Joe Torre swept them in the NLDS. Never was the old adage "good pitching will stop good hitting" more evident in a series.
Starters Derek Lowe, Chad Billingsley and Hiroki Kuroda combined to limit the Cubs to three runs in 19 innings, a 1.42 ERA, and the Dodgers outscored them, 20-6, in the three games. LA held the top of the Chicago order to 2-24 (.083), and the big guns simply had no one to bring home.
And Ned Colletti has a Cheshire Cat grin that's impossible to erase today.
As for the Brew Crew, the way that they and the Mets stumbled, bumbled, and fumbled down the stretch must have made baseball wonder if there was any point to inviting a wild-card to the party, at least in the NL.
The Phils showed their muscle and used the long ball to oust Milwaukee today and take the NLDS three games to one.
For the Brewers, it was a bitter if not totally unexpected pill to swallow. And with CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets ready to hit the market, their window as a playoff caliber club may be shut for at least the short-term future.
Now the two hottest teams in the NL will play for all the marbles, starting in Philadelphia on Thursday.
What's it mean for next year's Central Division race? Well, the Cubs are almost certain to join the FA lottery and open the purse strings to find a partner for the Big Z. The Brewers will have to retool. It's time for them to shop Prince Fielder for the player haul he should bring in for Milwaukee.
Houston and Cincy have new life, although the Cubs still seem too talented to catch in the standings. The Pirates? Same ol', same ol'. Wait till next year. They have it down to a science.
And if you want to use the playoff teams as a measuring stick, the Pirates were 10-42 against the clubs that made it, a .192 winning percentage. They were 4-14 against the Cubs, 1-14 against the Brewers, 2-5 against LA, 2-4 against the Phils, 0-3 against the White Sox, and 1-2 against the Rays. (The Bucs were 3-4 against the Mets, driving a stake in their playoff heart, hehe).
Against the hoi polloi of baseball, Pittsburgh actually had a winning 57-53 record. So the Bucs can hang with the crowd. They just get hammered when they step out of class.
Going, Going, Gone
He patrolled left field at PNC Park since the late days of 2003 in All-Star fashion, except for his hobbled 2007 season. He provided a solid middle of the order presence and twice represented Pittsburgh in the mid-season Classic as one of the NL's premier outfielders. And, of course, he was the man that replaced Manny Ramirez.
He is Jason Bay, and his too-brief stay in the Steel City was plenty long enough to establish himself as one of Pittsburgh's, and baseball's, top guns.
Who woulda thought that when the Bays welcomed Jason Raymond into the world on September 20, 1978 in Trail, British Columbia, that a MLB star was born?
Those Bays must have had a ball-playing gene lurking somewhere in their make up. Jay's sister, Lauren Bay Regula, is a pro softball player who represented Canada in the 2004 & 2008 Olympics.
Bay went through the usual Canuck childhood. He played hockey as a youngster, but eventually quit in favor of baseball. He's still friends with fellow Trail native and Edmonton Oilers center Shawn Horcoff.
Like many Canadian ballplayers, he grew up idolizing Larry Walker, also a B.C. native. He rooted for the Mariners as a kid.
Early on, Bay showed his baseball skills, playing on a Trail team that reached the 1990 Little League World Series. He was eventually drafted by the Montreal Expos in the 22nd round of the 2000 draft from Gonzaga University, and marched his way from short-season A ball through the ranks in double time.
Other teams recognized his talents, and he began a nomadic stretch as teams vied for his rights. He was dealt to the New York Mets on March 24, 2002, for Lou Collier. The Mets shipped him to the San Diego Padres for Steve Reed at the 2002 trading deadline.
He debuted with the Padres on May 23, 2003, and his first major league hit was a ninth-inning home run. He was plunked by a pitch two days later, and shelved with a broken wrist.
On August 26, 2003, Bay was traded to the Pirates, along with Óliver Pérez and Cory Stewart, in exchange for Brian Giles. Not every Dave Littlefield deal was a dud.
He finished the season with a .287 batting average, four home runs, and 14 RBI in 30 games. Bay began the 2004 season on the DL after shoulder surgery, and didn't join the team until May.
But even though he missed several weeks in the field, he still produced the best offensive numbers of any NL rookie. He hit .282 in 120 games, leading all first-year hitters in home runs (26), RBI (82), slugging percentage (.550), extra base hits (54) and total bases (226).
His 26 homers broke the Pirates rookie record of 23 set by Johnny Rizzo in 1936 and matched by Ralph Kiner in 1946. Bay was NL Rookie of the Month three times. He won the first of his pair of Tip O'Neill awards, honoring Canada's best ballplayer.
It was topped by his NL Rookie of the Year award. Bay was the first and only Pirate so honored. And it only got better.
In 2005, Bay was selected to his first MLB All-Star Game as a reserve outfielder, and appeared in the Home Run Derby. He finished the season with a .306 average, 32 home runs, and 101 RBI, leading the Pirates in every major hitting category.
He was a pretty disruptive guy to have on base, too. Until he was picked off in the last week of the season, he had tied the MLB record for most consecutive steals in a season, at 21.
Bay started 2006 en fuego. He had a kick-butt May, when he hit .321 with 12 dingers (a team record for HRs in a month) and 35 RBI. From May 22 to May 28 he hit home runs in six straight games, two shy of the MLB record held by ex-Pirate Dale Long, Don Mattingly, and Ken Griffey, Jr.
Bay hit 10 homers in ten games, but he didn't go yard during the seventh game of the streak. He made up for it by mashing two bombs the next day.
With a big push by the Pirate PR staff and some impressive hometown plunking (a whole lotta Democrats in town must be Pirate fans, hehe), Bay led all NL outfielders in the All-Star voting. Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder even shouted out for rockers to vote for Bay during a Mellon Arena gig.
Bay became the first member of the Pittsburgh Pirates voted into the All-Star game as a starter since Andy Van Slyke in 1993. To add a little sugar, the game was held at PNC Park, where he was greeted by a thunderous roar from the Pittsburgh faithful. He finished the year hitting .286, with 35 HRs and 109 RBI.
But 2007 was to be his year from hell. Playing on one good wheel - and he never used his bum knee as an excuse - he was tentative in the field and hit full-season lows of .247, with 21 long balls, 84 RBI and a .418 slugging percentage.
Pirate fans shook their heads, and many wondered if the golden child had lost his magic. The new Bucco suits couldn't find a taker for him in the off season, or at least one willing to bet that 2007 was an off-year, not a career trend.
But the quiet Bay proved his doubters wrong. He spent the off-season resting his knee and clearing his head, and came back with a vengeance. He was the Jay Bay of old.
In 106 games as a Pirate in 2008, he hit .282 with 22 HR and 64 RBI, and was once again solid defending PNC's cavernous left field. Bay had extra-inning walk-off hits in back-to-back games, and got his third walk-off of the season (and his career) with a 13th-inning home run against Tampa Bay. He was Pittsburgh's Mr. Clutch.
Bay would be rewarded for his performance in a way, when at the deadline, Pittsburgh shipped him to Boston, where he could play for a contender in front of packed houses instead of the orphanage PNC Park had become for hapless nines over the years.
Tampa Bay had their shot at him, too, but wouldn't give up enough young talent. Looks like they'll get to meet him next week and find out if it's better to have Jay Bay with you or against you.
Pirate fans were understandably left in a deep, dark funk by the deal. While time will tell if Brandon Moss, Andy LaRoche, Craig Hansen and Bryan Morris will eventually help right the floundering Buc ship, early returns sure make it look like Pittsburgh has sprung another leak or two in its corsair.
Meanwhile, Bosox fans, weary of the Manny melodrama, have welcomed Bay into the Beantown brotherhood. Why wouldn't they?
He told the Boston media that his dad was a die-hard Red Sox fan who had bought him a BoSox onesie to wear when he was a baby. Bay thought the outfit was still in his parent's Trail cellar, along with his two childhood bedroom posters of Boston greats Jim Rice and Yaz. Nothing like getting off on the right foot, hey?
More importantly, Bay also gave them a glove and effort rarely shown by Ramirez, and smacked the horsehide around pretty well, hitting .293 with 9 HR and 37 RBI in 49 games as a Red Sox. And two homers in two playoff games put to rest any questions about Bay being a money player.
So to Jay Bay, his wife Kristen, and two daughters, Addison and Evelyn, we wish continued success and good fortune. Bay's a class act and deserves some love on the national stage.
For long suffering Pirate fans, they hope the Jason Bay trade eventually ranks up there with the Brian Giles deal, and that it doesn't join the Aramis Ramirez give-away in the annals of Pittsburgh sausage-making.
The future of a franchise, at least short-term, may be decided by the answer.
He is Jason Bay, and his too-brief stay in the Steel City was plenty long enough to establish himself as one of Pittsburgh's, and baseball's, top guns.
Who woulda thought that when the Bays welcomed Jason Raymond into the world on September 20, 1978 in Trail, British Columbia, that a MLB star was born?
Those Bays must have had a ball-playing gene lurking somewhere in their make up. Jay's sister, Lauren Bay Regula, is a pro softball player who represented Canada in the 2004 & 2008 Olympics.
Bay went through the usual Canuck childhood. He played hockey as a youngster, but eventually quit in favor of baseball. He's still friends with fellow Trail native and Edmonton Oilers center Shawn Horcoff.
Like many Canadian ballplayers, he grew up idolizing Larry Walker, also a B.C. native. He rooted for the Mariners as a kid.
Early on, Bay showed his baseball skills, playing on a Trail team that reached the 1990 Little League World Series. He was eventually drafted by the Montreal Expos in the 22nd round of the 2000 draft from Gonzaga University, and marched his way from short-season A ball through the ranks in double time.
Other teams recognized his talents, and he began a nomadic stretch as teams vied for his rights. He was dealt to the New York Mets on March 24, 2002, for Lou Collier. The Mets shipped him to the San Diego Padres for Steve Reed at the 2002 trading deadline.
He debuted with the Padres on May 23, 2003, and his first major league hit was a ninth-inning home run. He was plunked by a pitch two days later, and shelved with a broken wrist.
On August 26, 2003, Bay was traded to the Pirates, along with Óliver Pérez and Cory Stewart, in exchange for Brian Giles. Not every Dave Littlefield deal was a dud.
He finished the season with a .287 batting average, four home runs, and 14 RBI in 30 games. Bay began the 2004 season on the DL after shoulder surgery, and didn't join the team until May.
But even though he missed several weeks in the field, he still produced the best offensive numbers of any NL rookie. He hit .282 in 120 games, leading all first-year hitters in home runs (26), RBI (82), slugging percentage (.550), extra base hits (54) and total bases (226).
His 26 homers broke the Pirates rookie record of 23 set by Johnny Rizzo in 1936 and matched by Ralph Kiner in 1946. Bay was NL Rookie of the Month three times. He won the first of his pair of Tip O'Neill awards, honoring Canada's best ballplayer.
It was topped by his NL Rookie of the Year award. Bay was the first and only Pirate so honored. And it only got better.
In 2005, Bay was selected to his first MLB All-Star Game as a reserve outfielder, and appeared in the Home Run Derby. He finished the season with a .306 average, 32 home runs, and 101 RBI, leading the Pirates in every major hitting category.
He was a pretty disruptive guy to have on base, too. Until he was picked off in the last week of the season, he had tied the MLB record for most consecutive steals in a season, at 21.
Bay started 2006 en fuego. He had a kick-butt May, when he hit .321 with 12 dingers (a team record for HRs in a month) and 35 RBI. From May 22 to May 28 he hit home runs in six straight games, two shy of the MLB record held by ex-Pirate Dale Long, Don Mattingly, and Ken Griffey, Jr.
Bay hit 10 homers in ten games, but he didn't go yard during the seventh game of the streak. He made up for it by mashing two bombs the next day.
With a big push by the Pirate PR staff and some impressive hometown plunking (a whole lotta Democrats in town must be Pirate fans, hehe), Bay led all NL outfielders in the All-Star voting. Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder even shouted out for rockers to vote for Bay during a Mellon Arena gig.
Bay became the first member of the Pittsburgh Pirates voted into the All-Star game as a starter since Andy Van Slyke in 1993. To add a little sugar, the game was held at PNC Park, where he was greeted by a thunderous roar from the Pittsburgh faithful. He finished the year hitting .286, with 35 HRs and 109 RBI.
But 2007 was to be his year from hell. Playing on one good wheel - and he never used his bum knee as an excuse - he was tentative in the field and hit full-season lows of .247, with 21 long balls, 84 RBI and a .418 slugging percentage.
Pirate fans shook their heads, and many wondered if the golden child had lost his magic. The new Bucco suits couldn't find a taker for him in the off season, or at least one willing to bet that 2007 was an off-year, not a career trend.
But the quiet Bay proved his doubters wrong. He spent the off-season resting his knee and clearing his head, and came back with a vengeance. He was the Jay Bay of old.
In 106 games as a Pirate in 2008, he hit .282 with 22 HR and 64 RBI, and was once again solid defending PNC's cavernous left field. Bay had extra-inning walk-off hits in back-to-back games, and got his third walk-off of the season (and his career) with a 13th-inning home run against Tampa Bay. He was Pittsburgh's Mr. Clutch.
Bay would be rewarded for his performance in a way, when at the deadline, Pittsburgh shipped him to Boston, where he could play for a contender in front of packed houses instead of the orphanage PNC Park had become for hapless nines over the years.
Tampa Bay had their shot at him, too, but wouldn't give up enough young talent. Looks like they'll get to meet him next week and find out if it's better to have Jay Bay with you or against you.
Pirate fans were understandably left in a deep, dark funk by the deal. While time will tell if Brandon Moss, Andy LaRoche, Craig Hansen and Bryan Morris will eventually help right the floundering Buc ship, early returns sure make it look like Pittsburgh has sprung another leak or two in its corsair.
Meanwhile, Bosox fans, weary of the Manny melodrama, have welcomed Bay into the Beantown brotherhood. Why wouldn't they?
He told the Boston media that his dad was a die-hard Red Sox fan who had bought him a BoSox onesie to wear when he was a baby. Bay thought the outfit was still in his parent's Trail cellar, along with his two childhood bedroom posters of Boston greats Jim Rice and Yaz. Nothing like getting off on the right foot, hey?
More importantly, Bay also gave them a glove and effort rarely shown by Ramirez, and smacked the horsehide around pretty well, hitting .293 with 9 HR and 37 RBI in 49 games as a Red Sox. And two homers in two playoff games put to rest any questions about Bay being a money player.
So to Jay Bay, his wife Kristen, and two daughters, Addison and Evelyn, we wish continued success and good fortune. Bay's a class act and deserves some love on the national stage.
For long suffering Pirate fans, they hope the Jason Bay trade eventually ranks up there with the Brian Giles deal, and that it doesn't join the Aramis Ramirez give-away in the annals of Pittsburgh sausage-making.
The future of a franchise, at least short-term, may be decided by the answer.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
On the Links
OK, GW is lazy today. He got up early and played some golf - poorly, sad to say - and stopped at the nineteenth hole in an effort to keep Iron City Brewery alive and kickin'. Imbibing some courage from a keg is not the best way to prep for a post, so...
Here's a handful of links to help feed your Bucco baseball appetite:
George King III/The New York Post - No Talk on McLouth Trade Yet
Jenifer Langosch/MLB.com - Pirates Will Count on Growth from Core
Alan Robinson/Associated Press - Poor '08 Finish May Be Bad Omen For '09 Pirates
Joe Starkey/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Sign LaRoche? You Kiddin' Me?
Rob Biertempfel/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Bucs Continue to Clean House
Jamal Corner/Reuters - Boston's Bay Bidding to Avoid Comparisons With Ramirez
Here's a handful of links to help feed your Bucco baseball appetite:
George King III/The New York Post - No Talk on McLouth Trade Yet
Jenifer Langosch/MLB.com - Pirates Will Count on Growth from Core
Alan Robinson/Associated Press - Poor '08 Finish May Be Bad Omen For '09 Pirates
Joe Starkey/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Sign LaRoche? You Kiddin' Me?
Rob Biertempfel/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Bucs Continue to Clean House
Jamal Corner/Reuters - Boston's Bay Bidding to Avoid Comparisons With Ramirez
Friday, October 3, 2008
As Long As We're Talkin' Rumors...
Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors writes that "Yankees 2B Robinson Cano's name comes up a lot (as trade bait), and NY will probably seek starting pitching in return (though a center fielder could also make sense). Cano won't necessarily be traded, but let's discuss some possible suitors."
One of the teams he mentions, among many, is the Pirates. He says "They might move Freddy Sanchez this winter. I could almost see Ian Snell being floated for Cano, but not Paul Maholm or Nate McLouth."
Hmmmm...Snell for Cano. Well, first Sanchez would have to go, and any deal would entail trading low on him after this season, though he did hit .348 for the last two months. Age and injuries will certainly drop his value.
But let's say for the sake of argument the suits are blowing up the team. Would that be a good deal for Pittsburgh to make?
According to the Elias ratings, as conjured up by Eddie at Tiger Thoughts blog, Snell is our top starter, just missing B status and tucked between Jason Marquis and David Bush. Pretty average ranking, overall. He scores 58 out of a possible 100.
Snell's worked 372-1/3 innings over the past two years, with a 16-24 record and 4.50 ERA. Nasty stuff, and he does eat some innings, but not very productively. Some think with his stuff and temperment that he should be a closer, not a starter, and his pitch counts would seem to agree even if his innings worked don't.
He'll be 27 at the end of October. Snell's contract is worth $8.6M through 2010, and the club has two option years after that, when the real money kicks in. His 2011 salary would be $6.75M and $9.25M in 2012.
Cano has put up a .289-33 HR-169 RBI-163 RS line in the past two years, and that's awfully solid for a middle infielder. His fielding average is .984, just about the league average, and his range is a little above average.
He'll turn 26 later this month, and has two arbitration years - 2009 and 2010 - left. Cano would fit nicely into that 2010-2011 window the Pirates are looking at now. He'd cost the team a big contract after that, though we think they'd try to tie him up at least into his first free agent year if they landed him. Cano made $3M in 2008.
Dealing Freddie would be a big PR hit for the Bucs, and losing Snell would take the guy with hands-down the best stuff on the club out of the rotation, and one who is under club control until 2012. And ya know what? We'd make the move in a New York minute. Would you?
Deaner wouldn't. For an alternate view of Cano, check out his links at Blue Collar Baseball.
One of the teams he mentions, among many, is the Pirates. He says "They might move Freddy Sanchez this winter. I could almost see Ian Snell being floated for Cano, but not Paul Maholm or Nate McLouth."
Hmmmm...Snell for Cano. Well, first Sanchez would have to go, and any deal would entail trading low on him after this season, though he did hit .348 for the last two months. Age and injuries will certainly drop his value.
But let's say for the sake of argument the suits are blowing up the team. Would that be a good deal for Pittsburgh to make?
According to the Elias ratings, as conjured up by Eddie at Tiger Thoughts blog, Snell is our top starter, just missing B status and tucked between Jason Marquis and David Bush. Pretty average ranking, overall. He scores 58 out of a possible 100.
Snell's worked 372-1/3 innings over the past two years, with a 16-24 record and 4.50 ERA. Nasty stuff, and he does eat some innings, but not very productively. Some think with his stuff and temperment that he should be a closer, not a starter, and his pitch counts would seem to agree even if his innings worked don't.
He'll be 27 at the end of October. Snell's contract is worth $8.6M through 2010, and the club has two option years after that, when the real money kicks in. His 2011 salary would be $6.75M and $9.25M in 2012.
Cano has put up a .289-33 HR-169 RBI-163 RS line in the past two years, and that's awfully solid for a middle infielder. His fielding average is .984, just about the league average, and his range is a little above average.
He'll turn 26 later this month, and has two arbitration years - 2009 and 2010 - left. Cano would fit nicely into that 2010-2011 window the Pirates are looking at now. He'd cost the team a big contract after that, though we think they'd try to tie him up at least into his first free agent year if they landed him. Cano made $3M in 2008.
Dealing Freddie would be a big PR hit for the Bucs, and losing Snell would take the guy with hands-down the best stuff on the club out of the rotation, and one who is under club control until 2012. And ya know what? We'd make the move in a New York minute. Would you?
Deaner wouldn't. For an alternate view of Cano, check out his links at Blue Collar Baseball.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
It's Never Too Soon To Start Looking...
OK, the Pirates have their sights set on a RH outfielder with some pop and a vet starter for the bottom of the rotation. We're assuming that they're not looking at the top guns, and that leaves precious few ballplayers that won't want Jay Bay money for Jay Michaels performance.
We took a peek at the upcoming FA crop. Assuming they want to stay at the $5M or under mark, there's not that much out there.
Outfielders? Maybe Juan Rivera and certainly Cliff Floyd and Gabe Kapler are in their bracket, or Rocco Baldelli if he's able to play. That's a huge if. If the list gets expanded to the infield corners, Casey Blake and Hank Blalock should be on the radar, though Blalock has a club option and may not hit the market.
Pitching? The Big Unit? A popular choice, but probably still overpriced for the Bucs, though we'd love to see him in the locker next to Dirt Dog Doug. Do you think that would lift the Buc's intensity level up a decibel or three?
Maybe Freddy Garcia and Odalis Perez, or if they take a risk, McCandless Township's achy Matt Clement are in play. Clement's another big question mark, medically.
Now we admit we're just taking a grope in the dark. We really don't know how much they're going to allocate for free agency, and that will affect the list. But we see them trying to sign someone to a Xavier Nady priced contract, and not much more.
There's not a lot of depth to the pitching after the top dogs, unless you think Kip Wells looked good in a Pirate uniform. And as we saw last season, that gap drives up the going rate for arms. Teams like to lock up the middle of the rotation; it's the smart play.
But hey, it's fun to play GM. Look at the list and throw your log into the hot stove. It makes the off-season a lot more bearable, even if CC and Mark Teixeira don't sign here. Well, we can dream, can't we?
We took a peek at the upcoming FA crop. Assuming they want to stay at the $5M or under mark, there's not that much out there.
Outfielders? Maybe Juan Rivera and certainly Cliff Floyd and Gabe Kapler are in their bracket, or Rocco Baldelli if he's able to play. That's a huge if. If the list gets expanded to the infield corners, Casey Blake and Hank Blalock should be on the radar, though Blalock has a club option and may not hit the market.
Pitching? The Big Unit? A popular choice, but probably still overpriced for the Bucs, though we'd love to see him in the locker next to Dirt Dog Doug. Do you think that would lift the Buc's intensity level up a decibel or three?
Maybe Freddy Garcia and Odalis Perez, or if they take a risk, McCandless Township's achy Matt Clement are in play. Clement's another big question mark, medically.
Now we admit we're just taking a grope in the dark. We really don't know how much they're going to allocate for free agency, and that will affect the list. But we see them trying to sign someone to a Xavier Nady priced contract, and not much more.
There's not a lot of depth to the pitching after the top dogs, unless you think Kip Wells looked good in a Pirate uniform. And as we saw last season, that gap drives up the going rate for arms. Teams like to lock up the middle of the rotation; it's the smart play.
But hey, it's fun to play GM. Look at the list and throw your log into the hot stove. It makes the off-season a lot more bearable, even if CC and Mark Teixeira don't sign here. Well, we can dream, can't we?
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