http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09240/993848-63.stm
Three Rookie-of-the-Year candidates in this game. Happ, the Phillies pitcher, and Jones & McCutchen, the two guys who went yard on him. 😀
It's going to be a bumpy road back to respectability, but hopefully, by the end of June next year we'll have 2 more position guys, and a couple more pitchers up at the major-league level who will raise the talent level higher than it is now, and you'll start to see the Bucs move up in the standings.
Just about all the major news outlets, and most of the Yinzer fans decried all the trades the Pirates made this year (and last) as salary dumps, because they remembered too well the moves, signings and trades made by the previous GM. Here's the thing: they weren't playing .500 ball with the "awesome" players we "gave away", so how good were they really? The trades were made to increase depth in the minor leagues, and to add 'high upside' guys while their stock was low. These were baseball trades, not dumps.
This year, the Bucs promoted center-fielder Andrew McCutchen. Dude's gonna hit home runs and steal bases like 1991-92-era Barry Bonds before too much longer, and play center field like Andy Van Slyke. Lastings Milledge is an outfielder we picked up cheap in a trade. He was a previously highly-rated prospect who had an injury and struggled a bit, plus, I think he was rushed to the majors. I see him as Bobby Bonilla-lite. We have another outfielder in Jose Tabata that might be up in June of next year. He needs to develop more power, but he's just turned 21, and that power will hopefully be just another year or 2 away. We have three 1st basemen to choose from (two of them with a legitimate shot at being good, one that I think we're wasting our time on), and I think Jones will eventually settle in there, his natural position.
We have a first-round pick in 3rd-baseman Pedro Alvarez coming up next June, and he's gonna be a slugger with good OBP. I'd compare him to Aramis Ramirez. Shortstop Ronny Cedeno is picking right up where Jack Wilson left off, and Delwyn Young is a surprise at 2nd base. If Young should falter in the field, Andy LaRoche, our current 3rd baseman who is doing well (his batting's coming around lately, is a very good fielder) except for a lack of power for his position, could move to 2nd when Alvarez comes up.
Another thing different about the Pirates these days is the coaching staff. The current staff is one that is actually IMPROVING batters, pitchers, and fielders. We bring up a player, or trade for one, maybe move his position in the field, and there's actual IMPROVEMENT. I can't tell you what a breath of fresh air that is. In the past, we've had pitchers and batters ruined by tinkering with their mechanics. Now, we see actual progress made with many players.
The new front-office team has been very busy the past 2 years, with much wheeling and dealing, and some very good drafts. It's quite refreshing to read about what they're doing and see the sense in it. I used to read about the old front-office's antics, and look at the computer screen like a dog watching a magic trick. "Huh? What? WTF is it that you think you're doing?" Now I read it, and I think, "I can see where that move makes sense, and it might well pay off." Imagine that.
Three Rookie-of-the-Year candidates in this game. Happ, the Phillies pitcher, and Jones & McCutchen, the two guys who went yard on him. 😀
It's going to be a bumpy road back to respectability, but hopefully, by the end of June next year we'll have 2 more position guys, and a couple more pitchers up at the major-league level who will raise the talent level higher than it is now, and you'll start to see the Bucs move up in the standings.
Just about all the major news outlets, and most of the Yinzer fans decried all the trades the Pirates made this year (and last) as salary dumps, because they remembered too well the moves, signings and trades made by the previous GM. Here's the thing: they weren't playing .500 ball with the "awesome" players we "gave away", so how good were they really? The trades were made to increase depth in the minor leagues, and to add 'high upside' guys while their stock was low. These were baseball trades, not dumps.
This year, the Bucs promoted center-fielder Andrew McCutchen. Dude's gonna hit home runs and steal bases like 1991-92-era Barry Bonds before too much longer, and play center field like Andy Van Slyke. Lastings Milledge is an outfielder we picked up cheap in a trade. He was a previously highly-rated prospect who had an injury and struggled a bit, plus, I think he was rushed to the majors. I see him as Bobby Bonilla-lite. We have another outfielder in Jose Tabata that might be up in June of next year. He needs to develop more power, but he's just turned 21, and that power will hopefully be just another year or 2 away. We have three 1st basemen to choose from (two of them with a legitimate shot at being good, one that I think we're wasting our time on), and I think Jones will eventually settle in there, his natural position.
We have a first-round pick in 3rd-baseman Pedro Alvarez coming up next June, and he's gonna be a slugger with good OBP. I'd compare him to Aramis Ramirez. Shortstop Ronny Cedeno is picking right up where Jack Wilson left off, and Delwyn Young is a surprise at 2nd base. If Young should falter in the field, Andy LaRoche, our current 3rd baseman who is doing well (his batting's coming around lately, is a very good fielder) except for a lack of power for his position, could move to 2nd when Alvarez comes up.
Another thing different about the Pirates these days is the coaching staff. The current staff is one that is actually IMPROVING batters, pitchers, and fielders. We bring up a player, or trade for one, maybe move his position in the field, and there's actual IMPROVEMENT. I can't tell you what a breath of fresh air that is. In the past, we've had pitchers and batters ruined by tinkering with their mechanics. Now, we see actual progress made with many players.
The new front-office team has been very busy the past 2 years, with much wheeling and dealing, and some very good drafts. It's quite refreshing to read about what they're doing and see the sense in it. I used to read about the old front-office's antics, and look at the computer screen like a dog watching a magic trick. "Huh? What? WTF is it that you think you're doing?" Now I read it, and I think, "I can see where that move makes sense, and it might well pay off." Imagine that.