Official Pirates Thread

[pujolsmvp2005]

Re: Official Pirates Thread - The Countdown to 83

Were you surprised that he was not called up last year? I was very surprised!

 

[tramers]

Re: Official Pirates Thread - The Countdown to 83

Were you surprised that he was not called up last year? I was very surprised!

we are talking about pirates not the best owned / managed team . cutch will be up early paying too much $$$$ not to show off in majors .
he even drove an escalade in low "A" ball .

 

[pghbuccos]

Re: Official Pirates Thread - The Countdown to 83

Were you surprised that he was not called up last year? I was very surprised!

sadly I wasn't surprised he wasn't called up last year. I think they were trying to see what they had to work with to finish the season and I hope they realize how much they need him.

 

[robboshow]

Re: Official Pirates Thread - The Countdown to 83

Were you surprised that he was not called up last year? I was very surprised!

McCutchen was not called up last year because he was not on the 40 man roster. He did not need to be added until this off-season. He will be up soon enough. A June call-up gets the Pirates an extra season before he would be eligible for Free Agency.

 

[robboshow]

Re: Official Pirates Thread - The Countdown to 83

I get the impression Snell has pitched very well this spring. It's kind of hard to gauge that due to the WBC, but everything I've read implies he's regained his form of 07. I think Duke will have an improved season, but I think he's a 4 starter at best in my mind.

While we're on the topic of the rotation...

I'm interested to see how the 4/5 slots shape up over the next couple of months. Ohlendorf has not impressed me, and Karstens strikes me as a right handed, more hittable version of Duke. I was expecting Daniel McCutchen to last a little longer in the big league camp. He got hit hard, but I would have liked to have a little longer look at him.

From what I saw in the WBC, Ian is still having the same problems; not throwing inside and throwing too many pitches. Until he realizes he can not limit himself to only 8 inches of plate he will continue to struggle. I hope that Kerrigan can get through to him.

I have some hope that our offense can look really good in two years, but the pitching scares me. We really need to hit on a high end pitcher who moves quickly in this years draft.

I think the offense in two years has a lot of potential:

CF McCutchen
LF McLouth
3B LaRoche
1B Alvarez
RF Tabata
C Doumit
2B Ford
SS Who knows?

 

[tramers]

Re: Official Pirates Thread - The Countdown to 83

just can't believe the name "Shelby Ford".
doubt Bixler can get batting av up

 

[subject to change]

Re: Official Pirates Thread - The Countdown to 83

I agree that we are in desperate need of one to two front line starters if there is going to be anything to talk of possibly contending. Maholm, Snell, and Lincoln could present a nice 2,3,4 group, but I don't see any of them emerging as a true ace.

As for the lineup, I agree it has a lot of potential, but have a few small differences

McCutchen CF
McLouth LF
Doumit C
Alvarez 1B
Tabata RF
Walker 3B
Ford 2B
??? SS

I'm not entirely sold on Ford, but might like to see one of the 08 draftees eventually move to 2B. I also like Walker's glove over LaRoche at third, assuming his bat continues to develop. I think having such a strong 1-5 in the order allows for placing a greater emphasis on defense at the hot corner. Also, one thing that stands out is the overwhelming lack of any veterans in the lineup. It's nice to have such a young core, but I think there is still something to be said for having more experience in the locker room.

Still, it's meaningless unless there are some major improvements in the rotation.

 

[jjj7880]

Re: Official Pirates Thread - The Countdown to 83

My boy Zach Duke had another strong start today vs the Rays

5IP 2H 2BB 4SO 1.83 ERA this spring

 

[subject to change]

Re: Official Pirates Thread - The Countdown to 83

I just read on the PG's blog that McCutchen and Bixler were sent down to AAA this morning. Bixler isn't a huge surprise, but I know at least a few people have been calling for Cutch to start in the majors. Looks like the last bench spot will come down to Cruz or Phillips.

 

[koal]

Re: Official Pirates Thread - McCutchen sent down

hey p fans, what's the word on pedro alvarez? where is he starting the season?

 

[tramers]

Re: Official Pirates Thread - McCutchen sent down

missed about bix going aaa . he has a very nice auto , i seem to have a couple .
glad to see duke doing good, now if someone didn't collect him so much i could get some nice cards of duke !!!

 

[subject to change]

Re: Official Pirates Thread - McCutchen sent down

I would have liked to see Bixler as a backup SS/2B. He's already 25 or 26, so I'm not sure what good another year at AAA will do. And yes, he does have one of the cooler autographs I've seen from modern players. I need to pick up one of his Sweet Spot autos sometime.

 

[BGSRCGUY]

Re: Official Pirates Thread - The Countdown to 83

I just read on the PG's blog that McCutchen and Bixler were sent down to AAA this morning. Bixler isn't a huge surprise, but I know at least a few people have been calling for Cutch to start in the majors. Looks like the last bench spot will come down to Cruz or Phillips.

How did Cutch not make the team? He looked like one of the bright spots for the Pirates.

 

[subject to change]

Re: Official Pirates Thread - McCutchen sent down

It's not that he 'didn't make the team' so much as there's no reason to have him in the majors right now. This team is still a long way from contending, and will likely be somewhere around 90 losses this year. Keeping McCutchen in the minors for an extra month or two will allow the team to retain his rights for an extra year, during which they'll have a far better shot at playing meaningful games.

 

[BGSRCGUY]

Re: Official Pirates Thread - McCutchen sent down

It's not that he 'didn't make the team' so much as there's no reason to have him in the majors right now. This team is still a long way from contending, and will likely be somewhere around 90 losses this year. Keeping McCutchen in the minors for an extra month or two will allow the team to retain his rights for an extra year, during which they'll have a far better shot at playing meaningful games.

Ya I understand, but don't they owe their fans somewhat of a respectable team? Something to get excited over?

 

[subject to change]

Re: Official Pirates Thread - McCutchen sent down

Without turning this into an essay on Pittsburgh sports, yes and no.

Right now, the Pirates are really drawing upon two bases for ticket sales: season ticket holders (who are gradually decreasing every year) and families looking for some affordable entertainment. Sadly, there are far more of the latter at the ballpark than anyone else, but that's another rant for another day.

Pittsburgh is a great sports town...if you're a winner. All it takes is a quick drive passing through the city to see Pittsburgh is a town that is enamored with its sports teams, from the flags, banners, and signs that adorn cars, houses, any just about anything else you can imagine year-round. Perhaps the best example is the Penguins. A couple of years ago, tickets were incredibly easy to come by, and the team was in danger of leaving town. Attendance was atrocious, and the arena was pretty barren on many nights, despite the team being a powerhouse through much of the 90's and early 00's. A few big name draft picks and a breakout season, and suddenly seemingly half the city owns the powder blue alternate jerseys and the arena is filled on a regular basis.

Do the Pirates ownership and management owe it to the city and those season ticket holders that still remain? As a member of the latter group, I would definitively say so. However, starting someone like Cutch in the majors an extra month or two early isn't going to change the fact that the large majority of the city couldn't care less about the Buccos. Only consistent and continued success on the field will do that. It will take more than McCutchen to turn this team into a winner. Hopefully the combination of Cutch, Pedro Alvarez, Tabata, and others can help develop a core that can produce a perennial contender. If so, I can assure you the last 16 years will quickly disappear from the memory of the average Pittsburgher. Nobody will care whether McCutchen made his debut in July 09 or September 08. The management needs to make moves that are in the best interest of the baseball club as a whole, regardless of what may be a good public relations or marketing move at the time. Catering to PR and a casual at best fan base has not, and will not produce a winner on the field. It will lead to a lot of Jeromy Burnitz's, bobblehead nights, and Lynyrd Skynyrd that the devoted fan base has had to endure for the past 10 years.

*end rant*

 

[tramers]

Re: Official Pirates Thread - McCutchen sent down

ref players to watch at altoona; four i know huges, corley,negrych and boone.
negrych first pick and i like corley . lot of names i don't know - not having played here .

 

[subject to change]

Re: Official Pirates Thread - McCutchen sent down

I was high on Corley since he was drafted. I stocked up on a ton of his stuff in hopes of starting a new player collection once Jack Wilson retired or left the Pirates...I figured he would be coming up as Jack was on the way out. I really hope he can get things together, but I'm not too optimistic. I still have 2 Sterling Black ref's, 7 Sterling ref's, 2 BC Blues, along with about 20 Just autos, including a 1/1.

I talked with Negrych a little while he was in AA at the end of the year. He was really nice, and I hope he can continue to succeed, even if it ends up being in a bench role eventually.

 

[tramers]

Re: Official Pirates Thread - McCutchen sent down

corley 1/1 ? so your the one that has it!!

 

[subject to change]

Re: Official Pirates Thread - McCutchen sent down

It's just the 1/1 auto from Just. I've never seen the Red ref 1/1's from BC or Sterling. I remember the red Bowman Draft 1/1 ended via BIN maybe 2 or 3 years ago? I think the price was somewhere around 70-100. Still hoping I can pick up a Gold ref one of these days.