Official Pirates Thread

[cgilmo]

I have a sterling refractor and this...

and more

 

[subject to change]

Just got back from the game...McCutchen looked good in his first game. While I think losing McLouth's bat will ultimately hurt a lineup already significantly lacking in HR power, the combination of Morgan and McCutchen at the top of the lineup is undoubtedly going to be exciting to watch.

 

[tramers]

glad i have a nice stash of all three

 

[jjj7880]

Duke looking ok, but giving up 3 longballs... Hopefully the Pirates can put some runs on the board.

 

[jjj7880]

Wow, despite Zach's HR trouble tonight this has been 1 exciting game to watch. Cutch is tearing it up!!!!!!!!!!

 

[thenumberonemetfan]

Sanchez with the nice play and an assist.

 

[pghbuccos]

the Bucs designated Craig Monroe for assignment and recalled Steve Pearce from AAA Indianapolis after the game last night. Pearce has played 1st base this season in Indy. so I guess this means Adam LaRoche is on his way out.

 

[subject to change]

I can't see the return for LaRoche being all that significant, even if he does start to heat up. I wish the Buccos would just take the compensation picks on Grabow and LaRoche if the return isn't overwhelming. Of course, I can't think of the last time the Buccos just let a decent free agent walk...

 

[subject to change]

I went out to Altoona last night to catch my first Curve game of the year, and had a great time. There was supposed to be a Nate McLouth bobblehead giveaway, but apparently they didn't arrive in time, so I'll be going to a game later in the year to pick up the bobble. Despite being horribly unprepared, I was able to get some nice autos. I ended up getting Negrych and Delaney to sign a picture of PNC Park, and was able to get Lerud on a card. The highlights of the night were getting Tabata on a card and Gorkys Hernandez on my ticket stub, and Yoslan Herrera on Pirates logo.

The game itself was the best I have the Curve play over the last 2 years, even though thew the lead late in the game. Moskos looked very good, particularly the first time through the lineup. He kept hitters off balance, and worked very efficiently through 7+. Alvarez did not impress me, and and really needs to learn to work the count better. He fell behind very quickly in almost every AB.

 

[pghbuccos]

sounds like you had a good time Mark. I am not sure why Alvarez was promoted to AA so fast when his average was pretty low. I would think they would've had him work on his batting fundamentals a little more in A ball.

I went to the Pirates Royals game last night. it was the best game I have gone to this season. it was cool to see both teams wearing their Heritage jerseys. the Pirates wore their Crawfords jerseys and the Royals wore their Monarchs jerseys. the Bucs won 6-2 thanks to a 3 run home run by Delwyn Young.

 

[subject to change]

Busy day for the Buccos...

Hinske was traded for guys that are almost 24 in A Ball, and looks like Sean Burnett and Nyjer Morgan are next out the door for Milledge and Joel Hanrahan.

I'm not particularly fond of either deal. Hinske was wasting away on the bench, but it would have been nice to at least get some younger prospects back. I know there will be two very disappointed Pirate fans on this board if the Morgan deal goes through...I'm not crazy about it. I realize Nyjer is 29 and at his peak value, but Burnett adds a solid lefty in the pen. More importantly, Milledge seems to be a bit of a headcase, and Hanrahan seems like the kind of live arm with no control that we already have in excess in the pen.

 

[tramers]

Busy day for the Buccos...

Hinske was traded for guys that are almost 24 in A Ball, and looks like Sean Burnett and Nyjer Morgan are next out the door for Milledge and Joel Hanrahan.

I'm not particularly fond of either deal. Hinske was wasting away on the bench, but it would have been nice to at least get some younger prospects back. I know there will be two very disappointed Pirate fans on this board if the Morgan deal goes through...I'm not crazy about it. I realize Nyjer is 29 and at his peak value, but Burnett adds a solid lefty in the pen. More importantly, Milledge seems to be a bit of a headcase, and Hanrahan seems like the kind of live arm with no control that we already have in excess in the pen.

now who could you be talking about????

 

[subject to change]

Busy day for the Buccos...

Hinske was traded for guys that are almost 24 in A Ball, and looks like Sean Burnett and Nyjer Morgan are next out the door for Milledge and Joel Hanrahan.

I'm not particularly fond of either deal. Hinske was wasting away on the bench, but it would have been nice to at least get some younger prospects back. I know there will be two very disappointed Pirate fans on this board if the Morgan deal goes through...I'm not crazy about it. I realize Nyjer is 29 and at his peak value, but Burnett adds a solid lefty in the pen. More importantly, Milledge seems to be a bit of a headcase, and Hanrahan seems like the kind of live arm with no control that we already have in excess in the pen.

now who could you be talking about????

Strangely, when I read about the trade, you and Brad were the first thing I thought of. With the number of times they've tried to trade Jack, I have some idea how dejecting/frustrating it can be to see your favorite player on the block. After meeting both Sean and Nyjer at Piratefest, I thought both had great personalities and enjoyed my brief conversations with them. I had already been stocking up on cards for next year's Piratefest, so it's very sad to see these two leave...even if it is a good 'baseball decision.'

 

[tramers]

[quote="subject to change":lhttmxgg]Busy day for the Buccos...

Hinske was traded for guys that are almost 24 in A Ball, and looks like Sean Burnett and Nyjer Morgan are next out the door for Milledge and Joel Hanrahan.

I'm not particularly fond of either deal. Hinske was wasting away on the bench, but it would have been nice to at least get some younger prospects back. I know there will be two very disappointed Pirate fans on this board if the Morgan deal goes through...I'm not crazy about it. I realize Nyjer is 29 and at his peak value, but Burnett adds a solid lefty in the pen. More importantly, Milledge seems to be a bit of a headcase, and Hanrahan seems like the kind of live arm with no control that we already have in excess in the pen.

now who could you be talking about????

Strangely, when I read about the trade, you and Brad were the first thing I thought of. With the number of times they've tried to trade Jack, I have some idea how dejecting/frustrating it can be to see your favorite player on the block. After meeting both Sean and Nyjer at Piratefest, I thought both had great personalities and enjoyed my brief conversations with them. I had already been stocking up on cards for next year's Piratefest, so it's very sad to see these two leave...even if it is a good 'baseball decision.'[/quote:lhttmxgg]
I vented on another site my thoughts, if Capps and Doumit go i'll really be upset. As for stocking up don't even think about my stuff .

 

[subject to change]

With the heightened talk of Sanchez being traded, I thought I'd pose an interesting question to the Pirate fanbase (and anyone else that may happen to wander into this thread...)

Disregarding personal preferences, who would you consider a) the 5 most popular Pirates coming on the 09 opening day roster, and b) the 5 most popular Pirates of the 00's

Taking such things as national media coverage and the number of shirts/jerseys I've seen around PNC Park over the past 9 years, here is my take:

09:
1) Sanchez
2)McLouth
3)Wilson
4)Maholm
5)Morgan

For the decade:
1)Giles
2)Sanchez
3)Bay
4)Wilson
5)Kendall


To get at my larger point, with all but Maholm from the 09 top 5 either traded or on the block, and the fairly bittersweet losses of a number of other fan favorites from the past decade or so, I can't help but feel that the Pirates are running a very high risk of entirely alienating a generation of fans. While I have backed the moves of management, I have to question their PR skills. I recall both Connelly and Huntington making statements to the effect that they feel winning will bring fans back to the Pirates, and I'm sure to a certain extent that is true. However, I can't help but feel that this cycle of losing players in which the fans have made a significant emotional investment is doing nothing but pushing away the dedicated, die-hard fans that have been the team's main draw for the past 2 decades, as casual fans have increasingly lost interest in the team.

 

[tramers]

i'll agree with you . at least I can still remember the 60's players. as for the new @#$#$$ running team maybe they will fall in the river but that would be pollution .
one of my goals is a game in pitt ,this year going to balti.

 

[subject to change]

I think the Pirates have almost entirely lost one, if not two generations of fans. Whatever kids may have been captivated by the early 90's teams are now likely in the mid to late 20's, and have likely been turned away by the 17 years of losing, and anyone younger than that has little to no recollection of winning baseball in Pittsburgh. They can only show replays of the '79 series for so long...

On an unrelated note, I'm heading down to the Outer Banks in a couple of weeks, near Cape Hatteras...any minor league parks fairly close by? I'd love to catch a minor league game while down there, if possible.

 

[tramers]

can't help you on eastern part of state , i'm near charlotte. i've never been to outer banks.

 

[sheetskout]

Boo Yah!!!!!! 5 of em.....

 

[subject to change]

can't help you on eastern part of state , i'm near charlotte. i've never been to outer banks.

Looks like they have a wooden bat summer league not far from where we'll be staying, so I may check that out some night.

If you make it up to Pittsburgh, let me know. I'd be happy to give you some suggestions of what to check out. Enjoy Baltimore...never been to their park, but the city itself is pretty nice from what I've seen of it.

sheets- Nice pickups. I've been considering picking up one of the blues, but had hoped the initial prices would be a little lower.