Duffy, Osoria clear waivers

life is good for a flyball pitcher in Indy.

I am not going to lie, I am surprised not one but both cleared waivers.  I figured someone would of took a flyer on Osoria because he is servicable when his sinker is on.  I thought someone would take a shot on Duffy also just for the glimpses he has shown in the past.  If nothing else someone could use him as a well above average defensive replacement if he ever made his way back to the bigs.

This is the second time Osoria has cleared waivers.  The Pirates sent him through waivers without him being claimed last year, too.  They're the only team that sees anything in him.

Wow...I'm very surprised that Duffy cleared. I'm relieved, I was hoping we didn't lose him. I guess I should have trusted Huntington. :)

I'll give the man credit where due, and his moves have looked pretty good thus far into his tenure.  He's been able to sneak a few players through waivers that Littlefield would have kept on the 40 man for years. He lost Bullington, but from what I saw of him, he isn't going to be an effective major league pitcher, so it's no big loss.

Trent Jewett will certainly have a lot of speed in his lineup! I wonder who will play where? Where has McCutchen been playing, CF or LF?

McCutchen has been playing mostly in center field, with Nyjer Morgan playing mostly in left field.  Occasionally they swap, or Morgan is in center when McCutchen is DH-ing.  

Duffy cleared???!!  I am VERY surprised!  I am glad though, even if we have a logjam of OF's, I truly think Duffy (when healthy) has a chance to make the ballclub next season.  Pearce just doesn't do anything for me.  Granted, Duffy in right probably will never happen, but can McCutchen play right?  

Moss/Duffy LF

McLouth/Duffy CF

McCutchen RF

any thoughts?

Seriously, who would care if we lost either one of them? Especially Duffy. He's lived on the minor league DL. Why in the world would anyone want him at this stage of his career?

Didn't Atlanta take an interest in Duffy?

I'm really glad we retained Chris Duffy.  I really enjoyed watching him play in Pittsburgh and I look forward to seeing him again sometime in the bigs.

Apparently his struggles over the last year or two have put enough questions in other teams' minds that Chris didn't look like a safe bet.  I think in an outfield of Nyjer, Cutch and Duffy rain won't even fall on the outfield grass.  And I'd like to see Chris hitting close to 300 again with a healthy dose of the line drives he used to rap into the gaps in the bigs.

Pulling for all of our Indy outfielders.

duffy is supposedly a drunk,  and for a fact he is injury prone and a quitter-do you think that's the reason no other team picked him up?

osario is horrid--that screaming you just heard is the infielders at Indy having nightmares about playing behind him when he throws there next

if you need bodies in the system keep them-otherwise dump both of them-they're putrid

The odd men out are Jorge Cortes and Ryan Mulhern.  Duffy, McCutchen, and Morgan are all clearly superior -- Cortes and Mulhern are both 28 and not exactly dominating in AAA.  Among Cortes and Mulhern, it's hard to tell who's the next to get cut, but we just bought Mulhern from the Indians, so I'm guessing that he's more likely to limp on to spring training.

Duffy is 28 too.

Just read Dk's comment that team won't spend 2.6 million to keep Michaels. This ownership just saved 23 million in payroll they would have incurred for the balance of 2008 and 2009 had they kept Nady, Bay and Marte and seem deterrmined to reduce 2009 payroll by another huge chunk by trading Wilson after the year. But the team won't exercise Michaels' option, apparently has no plan to pursue any significant free agents and say they established a "budget" for Alvarez that they won't promise to increase with any of the 23 plus millions saved. In other words, it looks like none of the money saved and to be saved will be spent to acquire players to improve the big league club in 2009 or 2010.

The names and the faces have changed -Bonifay to Littlefield and NH, McClatchy to FC, but  the business plan for this team always looks the same-grab all the "easy money" generated by a new, publicly funded park and revenue sharing and maximize annual financial results by keeping player payroll as low as possible.

This ownership needs to show that it is committed to winning by investing some of the $$$ it saved in deadline deals to improve the major league club next year. Success on the field will translate into an enhanced  fan base, better tv and radio contracts and ultimately, increases in the value of the franchise Until the Pirates owners show their commitment  to winning by making the necessary investments to field a winning team, including keeping talented bench players like Michaels and DD-changing managers, general managers and ceo's won't stop the losing.

Duff deserves a better fate due to talent alone. i'd like to see him get him back into shape and traded for a low-level infield prospect or two.

also, i blame Jim Tracy.

real surprised duffy made it through.. happy he made it but prob not the best thing for him.. doesnt seem like the pirates have him in their near future plans by the recent move with him.. maybe if he went to another team he would have a better chance of being a starting CF..

I still think that duffy could be a good starting CF or the pirates.. He prob has the best defense on the team through the minors and on the pirates.. Duffy did bat i think .341 for a half of a season then genius Tracy made him switch his approach to make him try to hit opposite field and take pitches where he could just not adjust

J-Mike is a journeyman outfielder. He was a nice pickup early in the season, but obviously, the Pirates have other concerns than whether or not to pick up his option. Really, what good does he do on the Pirates' bench next season. We're looking at a possible Moss/McLouth/McCutchen outfield. All young guys who need a lot of at-bats. There's really no point to mix in Michaels and take away from their development. Now if we're going to compete next season, by all means keep Michaels. But we all know we're not.

Where was it said that the team won't pick up Michael's option?

What I also find interesting is that Duffy was assigned to Indy, as he'd been at Altoona when last he was playing.

PhillyJake...   Maybe/Hopefully that is a sign that Mccutchen will be coming up shortly??

Jason Michaels is a good player in his role, but on a team like the Bucs (present and 2009), paying 2.3M for a fourth outfielder probably does not make sense, however, he could be a good platoon guy to keep if Pearce does not pick it up. We need a RH hitting outfielder, if only to platoon with someone.

A word about Duffy. He must really have the talent we saw a flash of a few years ago. NH seems to be sticking with him, despite waiving him (a calculated gamble).

Thanks, Paul for the update...it is greatly apprecaited.

NH has said from Spring Training that he had plans for Duffy with the major league team...I know things change, but maybe not in this case.  I hope Duffy is able to show the talent he has...he started to in Altoona.

I don't think McLouth will be benched in favor of Morgan, or Duffy for that matter, he's been playing too well and he has more power in his bat than either of them.  

McCutchen isn't on the 40-man roster either, so some moves would have to be made before we see him in September and from what I understand, they don't want to start his major league clock ticking just yet...but again that could change.

rod d...

I'm sure we all appreciate different points of view, I personally, would prefer you not resort to trashing someone's character the process.  You don't like Duffy because he's injury prone, or he had personal issues to work out a few years ago, fine, but I think calling him a drunk is uncalled for.

Philly Jake..

In one of the earlier posts today...and I'm sorry, I don't remember which one...J-Mike's salary was brought up and it was hinted that most likely the Pirates would not exercise the option.  

from Dmac

"rod d...

I'm sure we all appreciate different points of view, I personally, would prefer you not resort to trashing someone's character the process.  You don't like Duffy because he's injury prone, or he had personal issues to work out a few years ago, fine, but I think calling him a drunk is uncalled for."

first of all-- its ron--not rod  - d--and to you MR. ron d

having a liquid problem = personal problem= no one wants him = all the same thng to me

but i have no personal poof of this ----i have not seen the problem myself-so i'll silence myself form  any furthur comments on the matter--bottom line....bucs are wasting their time to nuture this guy for the big leagues again--

DMac wrote :

"I don't think McLouth will be benched in favor of Morgan, or Duffy for that matter, he's been playing too well and he has more power in his bat than either of them."

thx for clearing all that up DMac...a lot of us thought there was a real chance that McClouth may lose his job to Morgan or Duffy---you can't be serious with htis comment? if you are then go lay down for awhile..........

Why USENET is better than blogs: kill files!

ron d

Oops,  sorry, MR. ron d    

I apologize for the typo.  I am fairly accurate most of the time, but mistakes do happen.

As for your ending comment, I was merely responding to something posted earlier on with a suggested outfield that left McLouth out. I didn't mean to put  anyone's knickers in a twist.

"having a liquid problem = personal problem= no one wants him = all the same thng to me "

I'm glad life is so black and white for you.

Attention DuffyNation:

(this would be you buc fever and D Mac)

I have a suggestion, which would solve a few of the organizational issues facing our PBC.  Instead of assigning the now waiver-cleared Duffy to Indianapolis and creating a logjam at Centerfield, why not instead assign him to State College?

Think of how valuable the leadership of a high-end, gold glove caliber outfielder, could be to those kids.  I'm sure Duffy would help improve the Spikes' dismal record and since State College is even further north than Altoona, the climate should be even milder and help him avoid the dehydration monster.

After a few months of him showcasing his talents there i'm sure there will be a dozen teams lining up to trade us their 45th round pick in the 2011 draft for him.

Um... you can't trade draft picks... just so you know.

D Mac

Not a problem.. i get it

I will now call you Mr. DMac after ur being so humble

Mr. Ron D

Dmac

thx for th response  I will now address you u as Mr. Dmac

Mr Ron D