Morning links: Burying the lede

Weaver's piece was . . . uh . . . interesting.  Alvin Dark?  Phil Segui?  The guy sure doesn't look that old.

I'll let somebody else point out that David Ortiz is probably not the "pinch hitter", but the "DH."

And despite the fact that I am p-ooped, I'll point out that it's only:

36 DAYS UNTIL PITCHERS AND CATCHERS!!!

That Steve Pearce is now to get a serious look is great news. If the guy doesn't know by now what everyone and their aunt is saying about him --that he needs more patience at the plate --then that's another matter. But I'll give him the benefit of the doubt that he's been paying attention, and that last year was a wake-up call to him that he has taken sheer talent as far as it goes.

Pearce swings from the opposite side of the plate, but the player he really reminds me of in physique is Brian Giles. Hey, I fan can hope, can't he?

Okay then, Sir L.

You can take all the credit and all the blame.

BTW, may I point out that it's only .5 days until Bay George is appearing in concert at the Sterling Old Folks Home. And because this is a baseball thread, Bay will be including "Talkin' Baseball" in his repertoire. ("Say Hey, say Bay, say Hey!)

Oh DK. I tried to be a little oblique. But you blew your own cover. :-)

**I like the idea of Pearce having a good shot **

** Odd thing I am not sure if anyone realized;  Dave LaRoche and Steve Swisher were probably battery mates when both played for the Cubs in 1974. Another thing is both were on opposing All-Star squads in 1976,  but did not play.

www.baseball-reference.com/.../1974.shtml

www.baseball-reference.com/.../NLS197607130.shtml

Nice piece on Barney Dreyfuss. Looks like the NJJN has become a regular staple for baseball news all of a sudden LOL. Interesting part in the article about star Kiki Cuyler being benched for the entire World Series in '27 against the Yankees. Imagine a team doing that today. Nothing doing.

Speaking of movies, I'm wondering if anyone knows what's holding up the Clemente movie. It was supposed to be released a while ago and hasn't been yet.

Also, I did post a link yesterday about Ken Burns working on a new installment of his baseball series. I guess with all the other goings on, it was overlooked.

”Your oblique was strained."

Guilty as charged! I'm too much of a clown to be tactful, I guess.

...and that was an excellent pun, come to think of it, DK.

Good piece by Mike Weaver as well. I basically echo his sentiments.

Emoneypitt,

I'll keep my eyes out for the new Ken Burns documentary. Can't go wrong with Ken Burns.

RobertGraham,

Nice trivia about Swisher and LaRoche's fathers. I, for one, hadn't paid close enough attention to Swisher to know that he's the son of a former MLB'er.

Well, All. It's that about that time. See everyone in the morn.

I'm slidin' on out the door.

I liked the piece on Barney Dreyfuss, too! (Imagine that!) Honestly, I'd never really read much about him, and what I liked about the article was its conciseness ... lot of good info packed into a short space there.

JL,

It's not due to be out until spring of next year so it's going to be a while. I'm not sure if production has even started yet. It definitely should be good though given his previous work.

If you are referring to 'Chasing 3000",  the movie has been finished and has only been shown at the Tribecca Film Festival.  it is speculation why it has not been released.

Is there another movie about Roberto?

BEAT 'EM BUCS

Robertgraham,

Yes that is it. I've really been wanting to see it. Hopefully, it will at least be on DVD sometime soon if never released to the box office.

OK all, calling it a night, sleep tight, don't let all the missed free agent signings bite ;)

THE OFFICIALLY UNOFFICIAL PBC BLOGS AND MLB LINKS:

MVNPBC--Skipping Over Pittsburgh, Bautista and Belisario Pitch Well in Playoff Games,  Who is the biggest jerk in Baseball?

http://mvn.com/mlb/pirates/

Raise The Jolly Roger--Why don’t Free Agents want to sign with Pittsburgh?

http://raisethejollyroger.com/

The 'Burgh Blues--Moneyball hasn't changed, so why can't the Bucs?

theburghblues.mlblogs.com

Morning Links part 3

Midnight in the garden of good and Nady

riveraveblues.com/.../midnight-in-the-garden-of-good-and-nady-6721

Arroyo: Fighting uphill battle with Reds-includes video interview

www.necn.com/.../1231448015.html

"I Just Wasn't Made For These Times"

community.foxsports.com/.../An_Economy_Wednesday_Lets_Play_Two

What's in a Name? Will The Real Milton Bradley Please Stand Up

bleacherreport.com/.../108645-whats-in-a-name-will-the-real-milton-bradley-please-stand-up

I also posted the Ken Burns piece in yesterday's morning links--we often have so many threads and so many posts that things get overlooked so repeat posts do no harm.

With all the chatter about the Pirates looking for a right handed power bat of the bench wonder why Gabe Kapler's name hasn't come up.

He's seem to fit the bill perfectly, cheap, no long term obligation pretty patient and who knows what he might do if he got 400 plate appearances.

In fact as I look over the list of available free agents there are still quite a few left handed counterparts available that could make a nice platoon situation with Kapler for not a lot of jingle.

Hinske/Kapler

Wilkerson/Kapler

Floyd/Kapler

And just for fun, I wonder what Griffey is asking for?

Dumatrait out of starting rotation mix just because of a 10 day setback?  Granted, it could take a longer but it seems to me to be a knee jerk reaction.  I guess it really doesn't matter.  I'm thinking we actually might have starting rotation by committee this year.

Good morning, all.  

I would be one of those who would welcome Nady back and I would like it even more if the Yankees were made to look foolish by it.  They probably wouldn't care - they'd bulldoze right over it with some sort of explanation which had to do with money and buying his services for a couple of months.

Could someone who either has played baseball or knows more about this than I answer this question:

How do you learn to hit a breaking ball, particularly at a relatively advanced stage of your career, like, oh, for instance, Pearce?  Is this mental or physical?  Does he not think this is serious situation and isn't making a concerted effort to get past this?  I don't see this as just a patience issue, because there are major league pitchers who can throw breaking balls for strikes.  You can't lay off forever.  And can this be fixed in one spring training?  I'm afraid this is going to be a permanent hole in his box of tools.

I'm hoping there's a better idea than just to have him see a million breaking balls.  Plus, I would have thought he would have already done that, to no avail.

UDN

Kapler might not fit their definition of a power bat.  I'm not sure what they consider a power bat but Kapler has an average of 11 HR per 400 AB for his career.  They may consider power as someone who would hit 20 per 400 AB.  

Capn

It is mental.  To hit a breaking ball you need to study the pitcher's delivery and pick up the rotation early.  It is more recognition than physical ability.  If you can hit a fastball you have the bat sped to hit a breaking ball.  Combine patience and recognition and you can hit anything that comes into certain zones.  

@JAL wrote re: Morning links: Burying the lede

on Jan 9, 2009 9:13 AM

UDN

Kapler might not fit their definition of a power bat.  I'm not sure what they consider a power bat but Kapler has an average of 11 HR per 400 AB for his career.  They may consider power as someone who would hit 20 per 400 AB.  

__________

JAL nice way to say he does not have power.  Yes a power bat should have at the least 20 HR's in it if not more.

I think it's really unfair to Pearce to bemoan his inadequate defensive prowess in the outfield given the fact that he's played the position for all of one year.  Context is certainly important here and it should be noted in all fairness to him.  

Steve Pearce should absolutely be starting in right field this season. For whatever reason, the Pirates aren't giving him ample opportunity to blossom at the major league level.  After his ridiculously successful 2007 minor league season, it seems like he was an afterthought in 2008.  I'm sure he was disappointed that the Bucs showed not too muhc faith in him.  Even in 2008 he has 4 HRs in 100 at bats. Not great, but it would project to 20+ HRs over the course of a regular season.

Everybody's talkin' bout Moss-ism, Morgan-ism, bagism, etc. ..  All I am saying is give Pearce a chance!  

There is a report this morning that Kapler signed with Boston, so Bosox got both Rocco and Kapler.

Who is next on our list?

Capn,  At his level of play he does not hit a breaking ball because he does not see the spin out of the pitchers hand.

That can be physical or emotional or just down right I am going to kill the next fastball I see.

So , this is the key he needs to start watching the release of the ball.  If he does see the spin, then he is in troublle.

Once the brain starts to recognize the spin it starts a curve ball swing which essentially is likened to getting fooled by an outside pitch when you are looking in: your stride changes along with your center of gravity.

Skill plus intensite plus repetition and a lot of it developes the ability to hit a curve just as a fastball.

Can he learn  sure.  He first learns the release point of the ball.  he second looks for spin  then he watches with out swinging about 20000 curve balls go be because he does not know how a ball moves from its spin and he needs to learn that.

Then his God given talent will put it together.

I am sure some of you think I am nuts but I will refrsh ourselves with my solution to adams problem:

Psychocybernetics.  He needs to get in his mind what the best and worst cureve balls look like from the release point to the catchers mitt.  He then needs to view himself batting and watching that ball come out of the pitchers hand and hitting it  and hitting it and hitting it.

I used this technique for years and I know it works.  I have taught little leaguers who were on the team just because I was a free babysitter who had no desire to hit was afraid to hit or was never taught how to hit, how to hit.

I have taught highschool players to hit high school pitching who never played organized baseball one day.  It works.

And it would work for adam also if he would just never put the bat down during the off season.

Ted Williams the best hitter ever said he could almost count the strings on the ball when it is released, the rest of us know thats the best.

Bender, Capn, UncleDirt, 21sthebest, JAL & LarryZ, Good Morning!

@Larryz - "All I am saying is give Pearce a chance!"

Your real name isn't John Lennon, is it?

@JAL - "It is mental.  To hit a breaking ball you need to study the pitcher's delivery and pick up the rotation early.  It is more recognition than physical ability.  If you can hit a fastball you have the bat sped to hit a breaking ball.  Combine patience and recognition and you can hit anything that comes into certain zones."

JAL, please be careful. You know the way the front office monitors our posts. With one like that, they're liable to hire you as Don Long's assistant. I know your wife may be able to handle you being gone on game nights, but we've grown accustomed to having you RIGHT HERE for commentary throughout the games.

This becomes ALL THE MORE IMPORTANT now that Lanny's gone. Any word on Lanny lately?

Hey Baywatch!  Yeah, I think there's a lot of the Lanny so-called "retirement" issue that we don't know.  My hunhc and friends who know Lanny think he may have been nicely "asked" to retire, or else.  

@Capn...I totally agree on not caring how the Yanks would look by trading Nady back.

I'm all for Pearce starting, if he can figure out the other pitches.  

Bay

Hey, I'd take that job--that would be fun.  I was pretty good hitter--no power but good contact.

Mad

Thank you

Well, must be off to some meeting--back this afternoon when we probably have 3 or 4 threads going :)

"I've talked to many Pirates and White Sox fans who would like to see their team sign [Pedro] Martinez to a one-year deal, but the interest level of those teams is unknown." Tim Dierkes from MLBTR. Hehe... I wonder who that Pirate fan might have been...

Pedro the Burgh. Let it happen.

You know, Guys, I'm some encouraged by NH's take on the possibility of Pearce being our right-handed power hitter. Granted, he's learning but so did everyone else who was thrown out there and given a chance.

Even when there wasn't much pop in his bat last year, he came up with some BIG game-winning hits. I remember the one through the left side against the Mets in Shea - the game we came back against Pedro; and there was the one over the third base bag, also late in the season ... and if I remember right, his home runs came in the last couple of weeks, OK, not in bunches but I think he was making some headway.

Mostly, it seems like he just wasn't getting to play much. Sometimes, you need to play it out.

I remember, back in the late 70s when jogging was starting to become a craze, I had a hard time getting going UNTIL, UNTIL NOW ... I went out and bought my first pair of REAL running shoes ...

And, you know, once I had $35 in the venture you better believe I ran!

Uh ... would anyone like to try to explain what this has to do with Pearce, 'cause I forgot :-)

Baywatch - re: the shoes story, I think you are saying because the Pirates have invested much time in Pearce they shouold give him a "real" chance to be a success.  He deserves it.  Jeez, he won minor league Player of the Year.  What the hell else does he need to do?

John Grabow to the Yankees for Melky Cabrera.

@Ya'Zhynka - "John Grabow to the Yankees for Melky Cabrera."

Ya'Zhynka, I'm hip! But I think I'd be more hipper if it was John "Pass the Blood Pressure Meds" Grabow for Xavier "You Gotta Love Him If You're a Woman" Nady.

And welcome to the asylum, Ya'Zhynk. We're glad you're hear. MadTurk will be along shortly with your orientation packet - straight jacket and meds, all you'll need here.

From whence dost thou broadcast? Are you in/around the Burgh, or Way out West like little ol' me (East Texas), or somewhere else in this great land. We do have a few international posters, too ... Phillipines, Germany, Brazil, Oz ...

Bizrow is having a bad day - There is a report this morning that Kapler signed with Boston, so Bosox got both Rocco and Kapler.

Who is next on our list?

Its Mark Kotsay, not Kapler, so he is still on the board

Aslo, read that Ollie P has few suitors??

"How do you learn to hit a breaking ball, particularly at a relatively advanced stage of your career, like, oh, for instance, Pearce?  Is this mental or physical?  "

I'd say they key is to picking it up out of the pitcher's hand as early as possible.  The ball comes out slightly upwards as opposed to a fastball.  As soon as you recognize it, you try to hit it the opposite way.  That helps to keep your hands back.  The result can be that the ball will be hit to any field.

Bosox signed Mark Kotsay, not Gabe Kapler.

TheBurghBlues

You are the only person that I know of that has stood on that soap box shouting Pedro.....

IMO.......Poor fit.....both ways.........doubtful that there is even any serious interest by either side.....

Barney Bayfus -- (kind of like that new avatar, much better than yesterday's)  -- and all . . .

Saw on one of the links that JAL posted that a lot of Yankee fans would be happy with Tabata back for Nady.  Of course my immediate thought was "no way."  

I'm also wondering what happens if Baldelli doesn't make it with the Sox out of spring training.  Asking, not taking a position, but would we still want him?

Thanks, everyone, for the instruction on hitting a breaking ball.  I really appreciate it.  Now, with that knowledge in mind, combined with the fact that Pearce had trouble with that up through last year, I don't know if I feel better about him or worse.

Out for awhile, along with most of the local population buying out the grocery stores b/c of upcoming snow storm.  I wonder if the Chargers are in town yet.  They'd better get here soon.

@ Bay <<Ya'Zhynka, I'm hip! But I think I'd be more hipper if it was John "Pass the Blood Pressure Meds" Grabow for Xavier "You Gotta Love Him If You're a Woman" Nady.>>

That thought of Grabow for Nady crossed my mind when DK started that thread last night. Is Grabow coming into his final year before free agency? If so, it may just come down to which player would you rather have for one year. With all the 8 and 9 digit deals that NY has been conducting, I doubt if NY fans would hardly notice the deal.

Baywatch,

Thanks for the welcome. I wasn't expecting that. i've been reading you loons off and on for awhile. I almost jumped in at the trading deadline. What a day you all had on this site!

I'm just outside of Pittsburgh. And I'm already well-stocked on the meds.

I'd also rather have nady than Cabrera. The Yankees only lefty in the pen is Marte, but I'm not sure Grabow would be enough to snag Nady. They can keep Swisher. He's fading.

Ya'Zhynka

Welcome to the asylum....

Now that you have taken the plunge with your first posts, don't be a stranger. If you been a reader, then you already know that we like to debate all sides of the issues, any and all viewpoints are welcome.

The Curve Ball and Mr. Pierce;

First of all who said he can't hit a curve ball, term should be breaking balls?

Who hits breaking balls out of the park?

Don't power hitters hit fast balls out of the park?

Is a power hitter the same as a contact hitter?

Don't power hitters usually strike out a lot?

Could Jason Bay hit a breaking ball when he was here?

Are not some hitters natural hitters?

Are not some power hitters natural power hitters?

Now to Pierce, anyone watching him hit can see he is so far off balance that it looks like they are messing with him, he is a free swinger and isn't near selective enough, most power hitters don't get 3 or 4 breaking balls thrown at them in a time at bat, at least not 3 or 4 that are over the plate, he will get enough fast balls to hit if he is patient.

I would like to see a stat that shows how many times hitters are struck out with breaking balls vs fast balls? Something tells me Pierce is not alone!

He is still young on the Major League level, I don't know where he is projected, but I would have to say he is probably a 250-260 hitter with 10-15 homeruns if he plays a lot.

ugly- i have also been in on the thought of signing Pedro (but not as vocal as BBlues.

Ii'm normally on board with the current NH/FC approach  but think Pedro could fit the bill wrt our search for a vet starter. But, for me, it would be only IF it's a 1yr deal (maybe with an option) for $2-3M, + incentives. Pedro also has the previous relationship with our pitching coach, has a mean streak (which could rub off on Snell,  Gorzo, etc), and might be a mentor to our young arms. with that he  could be a low risk/high result option.

Breaking Balls -- And the trick to the slider, if I remember from "Boys of Summer" or some other old book that I no longer have lying around to check is that one of the seams is on the axis of rotation so that it appears to the batter like the ball approaching has a red dot on it.  See the dot, it's not going to break as much as a curve.  

leadoff

"Who hits breaking balls out of the park? "

You only have to consistantly hit them at all, if you can't hit it then you will not see a fast ball. to hit ouyt of the park.

"Don't power hitters hit fast balls out of the park?"

They don't get to see fast balls unless the demonstrate that they can hit breaking pitches.

"Is a power hitter the same as a contact hitter?"

Sometimes......the best ones are/were.....Pujols for example

"Don't power hitters usually strike out a lot?"

Agreed, most strike out more.

"Could Jason Bay hit a breaking ball when he was here?"

Not well, but when he was hitting well, he didn't fall for the ones out of the strike zone.

"Are not some hitters natural hitters?"

Yes...... but most have to hone their skills.

"Are not some power hitters natural power hitters?"

Power is not necessarily learned, but plate discipline can be learned…

I think that Pierce can become a very dangerous hitter if he can learn to recognize breaking pitches, not swing at the ones out of the strike zone.

@jaun << and might be a mentor to our young arms. with that he  could be a low risk/high result option.>>

That is exactly what we are looking for in a vetran pitcher, but it is something that he has never demonstrated within his carrier. In my opinion, "his" mean streak is a personality trait that makes him more of a loner that a mentor, he is not similar to Doug M. in that respect.

JL nice link last night just read it today fell asleep after the Natl Championship celebration for the Gators

Good afternoon inmates.

21sthebest: << I'm thinking we actually might have starting rotation by committee this year.>>

I refuse to believe it. Did you read the summary of candidates in that article? More potential that last year.

WE HAVE OHLENDORF. (Been a while since I said that).

JL: Bay George. I nearly spit coffee at that. LOLOL.

It appears to me from reading all of you who understand the mechanics of hitting a whole lot better than I do that the thing Pearce needs more than anything else is at bats, and lots of them. If he is allowed to go out day after day to deal with live major league pitching without the worry that ome bad game and he is on the bench we will either have ourselves a major league power hitter who deserved to be minor league player of the year or a AAAA hitter who belongs at Indy.

THat thought really ran on but I think it makes sense.

ugly - you might be right wrt Pedro's personality, although he seemed pretty popular when with the BoSox. I would think though that Joe Kerrigan would probably be the best one to make the call whether Pedro could mentor or not, and I am certain he has had numerous conversations with FC/NH wrt Pedro. On this, I think time will tell

Papacoach: I agree. I can't for the life of me figure out how a guy who is trying to secure a major league baseball starting roster position does not spend his whole dang winter learning how to hit pitches. I'd hire pitchers if I had to! This is his chance to shine!

According to Jon Heyman of SI.com he said that the Pirates offered more guaranteed money for Rocco Baldelli then the Red Sox did.

PoH: <spend his whole dang winter learning how to hit pitches.>

I think it was jj who offered that AdLa should be pursuing such a strategy, too.  It makes sense.  Yeah, a little downtime is good for you, but when you're fighting to improve your early season performance, or simply fighting to have an MLB spot (there are 800 such jobs in the world), you need to work a little harder than the next guy.

Bucco51

I suspect that Rocco wasn't confident that he can hold up to the rigors of the NL, so he chose the AL.

Even if he is not swinging I would think it would do Pearce to spend mini camp for example watching every pitcher there through a breaking ball until his recognition of the spin improves. Second thought which  I hope the Pirates have at least tried is to send our Steve to an eye doctor to be certain he CAN see the spin at the release point

@Ya'Zhynka

I see you have been warmly welcomed to the asylum.  The nurse may not be so welcoming but she keeps us out of trouble most of the time.  Sorry your meds may be taken but those prescibed by the nurse are required.  The Straight jacket fitting will take place at once, colors as BillyKidd would say is your choice of a combination of black and gold.  

Welcome please know you have checked in and now can never leave.

just read the Dreyfuss story; this would make a great movie, but I don't think many people would believe it's true!

I was also just catching up on yesterday's posts, and the last post under the Nady/Swisherpost is from a Yankee fan. Many of you may have missed it, but it's interesting reading if you have time, and also gives kudo's to all of us for being so respectful on this blog!! here's a link to yesterdays blog: community.post-gazette.com/.../pirates-yankees-talk-swisher-nady.aspx

@ papacoach <<f he is allowed to go out day after day to deal with live major league pitching without the worry that ome bad game and he is on the bench >>

If this isn't the year to try that, then when? How can we expect him to learn to hit major league pitching while riding the bench or playing in the minors?

It is exactly the year UK which is why Dunn(even though I advocated his pickup as a possible ticket seller) Nady, Swisher, etc. are not wise pickups. Let someone else deal with Dunn's SOs, Gomes trying to get over the Mendoza line and so on.  LET THE YOUNG UNS PLAY

@papacoach-

LET THE YOUNG UNS PLAY

We do have to try to win in 2009, if we think we can win with the young uns, so be it, I for one think this team can win and if I were in management I would do whatever I could to that means.

Bout time Pearce gets a fair shot.  Now let's see if he really does or not.  Talk is cheap.  Others have had more of a chance then him.  We shall be watching.  Time to sink or swim as they say.  Hope he does well and plays a better outfield or better yet 1st since that is where he belongs anyway.  Could be tough if ADLA hits early though.

back to Dunn again?? isn't Dunn Done yet? can we change the spelling of his surname to Done?? Obviously, I'm tired of this one and hope we are not pursuing Done, or Dunn , or Dunn and Doner!!

I’m for giving Pierce the first part of the year to demonstrate progress. If he fails, then we may have to bring up McCutchen; if he continues to improve as the year goes on, then we may be able to hold off McCutchen until next year, which may be the PBC’s preferred schedule (I think).

@ leadoff: <<We do have to try to win in 2009, if we think we can win with the young uns, so be it, I for one think this team can win and if I were in management I would do whatever I could to that means.>>

AMEN!

very good article in today's BP, called busting the salary cap myth. it even uses the PBC as an example. Given the discussion on this over the last few days, i suggest you take a look

the link: www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php

RE - Pearce. So IMO, if we are going to give him a chance, then give him the chance, run him out there 6 days a week for a month or so and see what he can do.  Too often, IMO, it seems as though we "give people a chance" for maybe a week then its back to the bench for the most part.

Just like a running back, hitters need to be out there and find their groove (Go STEELERS, BTW)

@Ya'Zhynka

Belated welcome from me

Juan--

Thanks for the link, excellent article, something to think about.

I am old school, I think we get the chance for the best draft picks, therefore we get the premier players over the Yankees and the Red Sox, they have to pay a lot of money for whomever they get.

Our only problem has been the inablility to select top talent and our inability to develop it when we get it.

Jaun

Dunn ain't done until Dunn is done but I am done with Dunn :)

If you haven't seen it--DK posted a bit about Chris Gomez signing with Baltimore

Juan--

Correction:Our only problem has been the inablility to select top talent and our inability to develop it when we get it.

Should read,

Our only problem has been the inablility to select top talent and when we do get it right, our inability to develop the talent.

Former big-league pitcher Dave Roberts dies at 64

www.usatoday.com/.../2009-01-09-roberts-obit_N.htm

JAL--

Why don't you tell us how you really feel about Dunn!!!!

Gomez gone, the O's took us again, first Weiters now Gomez.

Leadoff

Been there, done that, done with with Dunn--Dunn has become our two party system--pro-Dunn, anti-Dunn and never the twain shall meet.

Just a thought-- Assuming Andrew is "ready", I would think Nyjer is good enough for left field until June 1st.   I wanted Balldelli and I wanted a still peaking Adam Dunn.  

Pearce looks overmatched as a pitch hitter, but when he plays 3-4 times a week, he looks like there is some potential there. I think he's still in the early phase of his career where at bats are going to slow down for him, but it hasn't occurred yet.

I'm really starting to believe spring training is going to be crucial for Gorzo, Snell, Pearce, aka "the old regime guys".

POH, SirL & Any Others Who Get the Same Idea ---

Enough of the Boy George photos.  Pretty soon I fear that you'll be arguing for the new Bucco colors to be red, gold and green!  :)

Laedoff

I would not say the O's took us with Weiters--we were the culprits there--it is not like he would still been around when the Pirates picked in the 2nd round.  Pirates had a chance and passed it up.

Turk -- << Hope he does well and plays a better outfield or better yet 1st since that is where he belongs anyway.  Could be tough if ADLA hits early though.  >>

Probably true, but really it would be OK with me if Adam tears the cover off the ball in Arpil and May 8^)

JAL -- One more outburst like that and we'll have to dun you.

JAL--

Okay we took ourselves, I promised myself I never wanted to see or hear that name again (Weiters) and I did it, no more tea today for me.

So sorry to see that Dave Roberts has died, especially at such a young age.

I'll never forget the time he struck out Dave Winfield with the bases loaded in the 18th inning of a game in 1979 in which he fell behind 3-0 (at least I think it was the 18th inning). The Pirates eventually won the game 4-3 in 20 innings (at least I think it was 4-3).

I stayed up and watched the whole game with my father, which was a big deal as a then 11-yr old, especially given that it was a late night West Coast start to begin with. I believe the game ended at 4:00 am and my father and I were ecstatic.

RIP Dave and thanks for the memory! Clutch

@JHadar wrote re: Morning links: Burying the lede

on Jan 9, 2009 4:14 PM

Turk -- << Hope he does well and plays a better outfield or better yet 1st since that is where he belongs anyway.  Could be tough if ADLA hits early though.  >>

Probably true, but really it would be OK with me if Adam tears the cover off the ball in Arpil and May 8^)

_________

I agree a nice problem to have would it not?

Here's saluting Dave Roberts and the entire 1979 World Series Champion Pirates. The team that put Sister Sledge on the map.

I was able to find the box score of the game I referenced above in which Roberts fanned Winfield in the 18th with the bases loaded. It occured on 8/25/79 and Roberts pitched four scoreless innings to earn the win. Clutch performance in the heat of a pennant race!  Wish I could remember how the Pirates scored in the 20th.

www.baseball-almanac.com/.../boxscore.php

Jh

Don't you dare dun me :)

@JAL:

Been there, done that, done with with Dunn--Dunn has become our two party system--pro-Dunn, anti-Dunn and never the twain shall meet.

LOLOL. Nice one.

I'd love to know how Pearce is spending his winter. What he's doing to improve his game. Hint... Hint...

Hey, Chicken!

All - Off to the wars in just a few minutes. SNOW PICTURES, people! It's my understanding it hasn't hit the Burgh yet? Anybody else posting who lives in that snow path, it sure would be great to see snow where you live.

I moved to Texas from Pennsylvania in 2000, and there was only enough snow to cover the ground ONCE!

My mistake - I should have pasted the Done with Dunn hominyminy that JAL did, not the quote I used. Ooops.

POH

All I know about Pearce is that he went to Mexico, started well, took ill, and did not finish well due to the illness.  After that no idea.  Maybe DK can track him down and let us know what he has been doing.

I didn't know Pearce left Mazatlan due to illness...he definitely stayed longer than Duffy did.

Oops...I was just able to read the Pirates' site on Pearce.  

I should look before I leap.  ;-)

DMac

We all should look before we leap lest we leap into something icky :)

@DMac wrote re: Morning links: Burying the lede

on Jan 9, 2009 7:21 PM

I didn't know Pearce left Mazatlan due to illness...he definitely stayed longer than Duffy did.

________

I think they left together to see about starting a new/used car dealership.  Matching jackets and bow ties.

That is the back-up plan if he does not get the chance here this year anyway.

@JAL...Good point...That would just be bad.  :-(

@Mad...Gee, I was picture the open collars with those awful jackets and mirrored sunglasses.