Pirates cut eight, tab Karstens to start

Wow... I thought Phillips and Bootcheck would make the team for sure.

Hopefully Salazar is accepting a spot in Indianapolis.  Either that, or they're giving Nyjer about 6 weeks to prove himself before calling up McCutchen.

Wow, a couple of these really stunned me. I saw Bootcheck maybe making the cut and definitely thought Salazar deserved a spot (possibly over the faultering Nyjmo). Denny B. was no shocker and thought he should have been among the first cuts and Andy Phillips chances were ruined by his injuries. Are these guys considered released or can they go to the minors?

Yoi.

I really thought Salazar deserved a roster spot over Nyjer Morgan.

Huntington University sure is handing out a lot of scholarships these days.

Don't think Karstens deserves the spot based on his ST performance. How many of these guys stay as minor leaguers?

I think Nyjer is going to be on a short leash. If he doesn't show something by the 1st week of May, Salazar will probably get recalled until they decide McCutchen's ready.....

Morning all.  I know it's hard to support Nyjer right now, but remember Gorzp's Spring 2 years ago and his "breakout" season that followed.  Not saying it will happen, just that it could and it only has to be for 2 months till Cutch is brought up (after improving his bunting--:))

Bizzy,

Carryover from previous thread....

"It was awful noisy in the asylum last night, peeked in and chaos, I hope everything is taken care of"

I would like to make one comment about yesterdays discussion.

Everyone is welcome to their own opinion and this being an internet blog I would expect that everyone is welcome to express their opinion, be it optimistic, pessimistic, or otherwise.

What I don't understand though is the need by some to make general characterizations about those who share and express pessimistic opinions. IMO comments such as "Negative nellies" are unncessary.

I doubt very much that those people who possess optimistic opinions would appreciate much of someone made sweeping generalizing comments about "Naive Nancy's" or "Dreamy Sillyhearts" and the like.

Going forward I would hope we can avoid those kinds of unnecessary comments.

We all have opinions and part of what makes this blog great is the great and passionate debates we have regarding those opinions, but the sweeping generalization comments like "negative nellies" are really uncalled for.

I realize this isn't something covered in the "Guide to Commenting", but nonetheless a good policy to have nonetheless.

OK, I stepping down off the soapbox now.

;-)

PI---hard to argue that Karstens deserves it, but it really was the pick of a bad litter.

I'm a little stunned that Davis isn't on the team.  Evidently Veal and Hansen are both going north.  Who is the long man?

I'm still obsessing about Indianapolis... I checked the minor league web site and indeed there is some sort of video and audio coverage of the games mentioned.  It doesn't give a schedule of what will be broadcast and nothing seems to be hitting me up for cash... so now I'm really suspect.

Has anyone in the asylum watched Indianapolis on the web and if so, could you provide some details?  I find it hard to believe it won't cost me some serious green.

You can't take too much away from Salazar, because he did what he could this spring.  But, it seems every time he was being productive, it was happening in the late parts of these games against lesser pitching.  I am encouraged by most of this, however, because more and more it seems like you have to earn a spot on this team.  Let's hope Huntington can find another starter this week.

Oh, and my prediction for the season...

78-84...  And a glimmer of hope for 2010!!!!

Re: 'That made Jeff Karstens the fifth starter.' I think the word 'temporarily' should be inserted after Karstens until NH looks over the waiver wire and possible trade list.....

This points to know commitment to win. I have been a supporter for a long time and sending down guys who actually produce, is a bad sign. All apologist please don't respond with this is just ST, because if we are talking about "accountability" nothing they have done points to this.

JAL please change my prediction to 50 - 112 100 HR

Figured Monroe made it & once Phillips was cut, I also figured Cruz was in......

NuHo---IF "negative nellies" is unnecessary (I have not used that term) then "apologists," "brainwashed by the FO," and other similar references to posters who are more on the optimistic side (or at least more optimistic that the posters who are consistently pessimistic) should also be verboten. IMHO

If Monroe makes the team, they have to clear a 40 man spot for him, wonder who they will waive?

As noted above, it will be interesting to see who reports to AAA and who takes the out.

As a reminder, Burnett and Hansen are out of options, so cutting one of them could clear as spot.

I think I read something yesterday that a club is looking at maybe acquiring Burnett?

JayPo - Do you really think Salazar, Bootcheck, Vasquez, etc are really worth 12 more wins from your earlier prediction?   Doesn't the cutting of Bautista at least ease that a little?  (Personally, as I've said, I hope Salazar is accepting a spot in Indy)

triple G  my guess is DMAC iis the one with that answer

@Bizrow - <If Monroe makes the team, they have to clear a 40 man spot for him, wonder who they will waive>

I have been asking that question for 2 weeks.

@Hostage - I agree with you on Salazar. He has done everything they asked of him and Nyjer has done very little of what was asked. Nyjer really needs to go down. He still slides past 2nd base. How many winns will he cost with his bad baserunning?

I honestly think Chavez will be the final cut.....

BTW--and I hope this is not too repetitive, but NuHo deserves many kudos for introducing the "contest" to the blog.  It has brought out more lurkers than any one single thing that I can think of.  Based on last night, that may not in every instance be a good thing, but my hat is off to NuttingHostage.

But remember, folks, NuHo's rules: only one change allowed prior to opening day, which some have already used.

Jay po

Will change your prediction

Candle--Need to predict number of Home Runs the team will hit --that is the tiebreaker.

For those who left the last thread before they saw this

For those not around last night I should point out that someone came on using the same avatar I have and posting as J4L--they violated a number of the rules in the Guide to Commenting.  Moderator removed the poster once but he returned a bit later.  This could happen to any of us so if a post looks unusual check the name carefully.  At the top of the page is a contact link where you can notify the web people.

Diehard - yes I do think it is worth 12 wins. What it comes down to is it doesn't matter what the names are that got cut. If you are performing you should come North. We are all about accountability right? This team and organization went from being one of the greatest ever to a complete joke. I can't believe how much this set me off.

Hi, all.  My first thoughts:  I'm shocked.  Having Karstens end up in a starter role after yesterday's performance defies explanation.  I do recall, as Arriba mentioned, that 2 years ago Gorzo had an awful spring and they took him north, inexplicably, and that was his great year.  I never understood that.  Is that same thing happening w/ Karstens?  Somehow, I doubt it.

I fear that Burnett is lost.  I will be surprised if Hansen is dropped, so that would mean Burnett.  I'd rather Burnett were traded than cut, but I'm not happy with either.  Always on the short end of the stick with this team.

Salazar!  I hope you're back soon.  

I'm pretty disillusioned (and this has nothing to do with the Pirates' cuts), and need to query for those in the know here.  Is this site policed by moderators?  I noticed, in the past few days particularly, that discussions have been hijacked by trolls, and I saw no sign of their offensive posts being zapped.  

I was a regular participant (and moderator) of another baseball related site for many years...until the trolls, with their personal attacks and other such cowardly nonsense, became too numerous to police and it just wasn't fun to visit there anymore, even to simply read.  That experience translates to my hesitancy here to become more involved.

I'd sure hope that  a mechanism is in place on a PG sponsored blog to nip this in the bud in a hurry.  I'd hate to see this site, obviously replete with a vast majority of well-meaning folks, deteriorate into a circus.  Dejan surely couldn't have envisioned that.

Back to baseball.  We need a fifth starter, and Kartens doesn't fit the bill!  AND---I'd give Nyjer no more than one WEEK to do something...ANYTHING...to prove that he belongs here at all.  SERIOUSLY!!

All cut will probably be assigned to a minor league team, those without options (Burnett if he is one) would have to clear waivers (or risk being picked up by another team). I believe the only one with an escape clause (make the 25 or can claim free agency) is Monroe. Most (if not all) of those guys are in ST on a minor league contract to begin with.

In regard to guys that were cut, it wasn't easy for this to be done. As posted, to retain Monroe, it will require a roster move, as Monroe is not on the 40 man. Salazar, Philips and Jones were all non-roster invites too, so they are not on the roster.

What I would anticipate is that Phillips will play every position at Indy, get healthy and return to the big dance in a month or so. As for Salazar, he doesn't have an opt-out like Monroe has. I would assume that when Cutch is ready, he will be put on the roster and Morgan will be DFA'd. From there, Salazar will be the first to come up should any of the OF's go down with injuries. Should Monroe stink it up for the first few months, he'll be gone and Salazar will get the call.

 I understand that we had 4 guys that it could be said "earned" their way here, but that would have come at the cost of cutting 4 players off our 40 man. You just can't do that. We need the depth and we need to let the roster settle it's own issues out. In 60 days, the landscape will look drastically different. All 4 of those players will just have to wait it out.

KMR

The moderator did eventually get the troll out but it took longer than I thought it would.  Probably better monitored during the day than at night.

@Kragbax - Phillips also has an escape clause, but, I think he will take the minor league assigmnet with the understanding that he will get his playing time in and then be called up.

Hostage

The action last night went beyond expressing opinions.  The poster was not giving opinions, he was throwing insults of all types.  Ask JJ about some of those posts.

DK - "Basically, that means one relief spot is all that remains to be determined. Those not yet told they have made it are Sean Burnett, Evan Meek, Craig Hansen, Donnie Veal and Jesse Chavez."

Does that mean that one of these is getting cut, or that only one would be kept?  I would think if only one is being cut it would be Chavez, unless a deal is being worked with the Cubs to retain and send down Veal.

I am with PI--I think Chavez will be last cut unless he performs very well in his next outing.

Have to assume that Karstens is only the 5th starter pending the outcome of talks with TB about Niemann. The guy at Pirate Revolution came up with Niemann about a month ago and looks like he was right on the button. If I was Neal I'd offer Hansen and Morgan and even another useless "prospect"; when they laughed in my face, I'd offer someone like Pearce, since it's obvious the FO really doesn't want to keep him. I think NH would really like to unload Grabow but TB doesn't seem to want him.

Karstens is it only because he's marginally less awful than Vasquez or Davis. NH would love to send Karstens back to AAA which is why he's seriously pursuing Niemann.

Keeping Monroe looks like another case of myopia in the FO. There must be some intangible there we're not seeing, or else it's just that he's a righty and nothing else matters. Not that anyone else they had to choose from was a clearly better choice.

Keeping Morgan is insanity. If any more proof was needed that the FO has zero expectations of winning anything this year, one need look no further than Morgan. (Or the fact that our starting lineups in ST have BAs closer to Mendoza than Clemente. What is that likely to translate to when they're playing everybody's regulars instead of their minor leaguers?) Salazar is no wunderkind but worth at least two Morgans. Even playing Hinske with Monroe or Salazar on the bench and Morgan g-o-n-e is better than starting the season with Morgan anywhere near PNC Park other than as a customer. It's May 1 that they can bring up Cutch and rid us of the horribly inept Morgan, yes? I still can't imagine why they didn't keep someone who can actually hit, even if only for a month. Although as everyone keeps pointing out that this team is not going to contend for anything but ignominy, it can't make much difference.

Will go out on a limb and say 61-101 only because the Central is not as good as it was last year, so they may do a bit better against the Cubs and Brewers. But the rest of the league is likely to kill them. And as this is the team whose finish last year represented a 117 loss full season, 101 losses seems optimistic.

@Nu Ho - re - crazy asylum last night.

Thanks for the response, but I was more worried about blogges stealing avatars and the like, as KMRempel noted - Is this site policed by moderators?

I see now from an earlier post that JAL was on top of things, as usual.

Whoever was doing that was quite goofy, I wonder, do you think Mrs Tabata has a computer in the jail house?? ; }

But as stated above as well, back to baseball, hope today I can spend more time listening to Bay's PBP, outstanding effort yesterday.

Re - Kartsens - well, as we've discussed, guess PBC does give out scholarships, only who else is an option?

I am not worried about Burnett, I feel like he constantly under performs. I wish Bud would step in and force this management team out of the game.

Jal, thanks for keeping up, and sorry for forgetting HR's.  

My prediction...

108HRs

diehard

No, it means one of those listed will be the the last cut.  THere are 27 players in camp, Dunatrait will start on the DL so that leaves 26.  One of the 26 will have to be cut by opening day.  Only sets in the pen are Capps, Grabow, and Yates.  

I would like to thank all who responded to my question last night about the 2009 season etc.

It is too bad that the discussion got hijacked after JAL got SNAGGED.

Two things jumped out at me about the responses.

1. Everyone loves this franchise and is passionate about its fortunes.  I hope management realizes the loyalty of the fans , and will make a greater effort to reward us with a more competitive product.   Loyalty will stretch a long way before it snaps and no one group should take advantage of that for their own personal reward.

2. Most of you said they cared about 2009 and each and every game.  I am one of you as well.

But concurrently, you seem to be satisfied with the inertia displayed by the FO to improve the team for the coming season.    I find that hard to reconcile.  I would think that included in your passion for each and every game would be the hope that the FO would have done more to address this year.

I do care about 2009 but think the FO whiffed on this one with their eye focused on the next few years.

Oh yes, the tiebreaker - 93 homers.

Absotively, posilutely no surprises in this morning's cuts...at least to me. I'm fairly sure that one of the moves waiting for this afternoon is someone (a pitcher) going on waivers or outrighted (most likely Jesse Chavez). That will open a spot on the 40 man for Monroe. I do believe that someone from some other roster will show up between now and Monday...necessitating at least 1 more cut.

And...NuHo/JAL...change my prediction to 60-102.

Ohhhhhhh!  Did I misunderstand?  Only one will be cut from that group?  I guess I don't have all my numbers straight.  Next year I'm setting up a spreadsheet.  I might still worry about Burnett until he hears, though.  You can never tell with him.

Well I'll say this on behalf of Morgan, when the games counted (end of last year) AND he was given a lot of playing time, he produced. The other "scholarships" (AnLa and Moss) did NOT produce at all last year, even given ample playing time.

Now in ST, which regardless of what people want to or don't want to hear, stats themselves mean almost nothing. Adam LaRoche hit pretty good last spring, but began the regular season with his typical torrid .100 "average". Nady hit for crapola last spring but when the games counted, began his career year.

Basically, I'm trying to be a little optomistic here (though admitidly inside I have some reservations). All I'm reading about it NyjMo not deserving, yet almost nothing about Moss or Little LaRoche, though when the games did count, they've done less.

Past performance doesn't equate to future results, so I'm hoping all of them have career years and kick butt. In the meantime, however, I'm willing to give NyjMo a few weeks withf the games counting to see how he'll do.

Cisco

Need predicted home runs total for the team to go with your prediction of the record

Keep checking above for DK's updates.  There are 5 since the original post.

I will post an update on the prediction contest on the gameday thread later today.  With Candle and Cisco we now have 93 predictions

Good morning everyone…..

Concerning the cuts......there are a lot more opportunities for evaluation aside from the ST games themselves. The coaches have been working very closely with many of these players, and they could be extracting more/better information from their performances than we can from the box scores.

Making predictions of doom based on the cutting of a couple projected for the bench are not going to have a significant impact on the W-L columns. Karstens hasn’t pitched well, but nobody has stood out for that 5th position. The choice between Karstens, Salazar, or Davis is not all that difficult; they all stunk, so let the pitching coach’s impute be the deciding factor.

The Bootcheck decision surprises me, but maybe his numbers were exaggerated the same way Salazar's were -- facing scrubs in late innings.  Karstens has shown some flashes (especially the near-perfect game last year), and DJ noted last year that the guy has a solid mindset.  

I will say this - and call me naive or too trusting or whatever -- I didn't see a single ST game, inning, at bat or pitch, so I'm not really in a position to judge any of the decisions (I imagine many of us have the same vantage point in that regard).  I hope the guys that are paid to make these decisions know what they're doing (and I've been okay with most of their decisions during their tenure).

However, I really, really, really hope that the guys they take north can kick it (not boot it) and show the central how good they can be  -- there are some real good surprises in this team.

For what it's worth.....

Capn

Yes, only one from that group unles the team picks up someone new.

Dissapointed for these guys, Davis, Salazar, Phillips and Jones, all of them give us some depth when we need callups.

To go through a season you need depth,  the good teams usually have about 35 players that they can use and be successful, the Pirates have improved greatly from the past couple of years when they had about 16 players that they could count on. The players they sent down today and some of the previous send downs, like McCutchen, Walker, Alvaraz, Tabata, Ford and guys that don't get mentioned much, Friday, Sues, Mercer, Grossman all show the future is getting brighter, don't ask me when that is going to be, if you know, you should not be writing on this blog site, there is a job waiting for you.

Cisco

Got it

Good morning everyone!

I'm surprised about Salazar...I had hoped he would make the cut, but like everyone else, he should be in Indy.  Bootcheck surprised me too.  He didn't pitch too badly.  I'm not surprised that Karstens is #5, though I can't say I'm enthused, given his ST performance.  

I do think somethings' up though, and DK's going to be busy.

NH...I have been putting Duffy updates in every so often.  He's having an outstanding spring, but may be victimized by that ugly business side of things..Gwynn is out of options and can't be sent to AAA -- Duffy can.  The Brewers were on MLB Network last night and Gwynn looked awful in CF...but then again, I'm a little biased.  :-)

GGG...RE:  video from Indy...I think there may be a charge, but it's not as much as MLB.tv.  I can't remember though.  I didn't pay last year, because it was at the very end of the season, and you can watched archived games for free.

Krag - I think most people seem to be presently withholding judgement on Andy because by all accounts (DK, Chuck Finder, on and off field managment and fans who trekked out to Bradenton) he doesn't look anything like what we saw last year.  He seems to have done a lot of work and earned his spot on the roster this year.  Time will tell on that one.

I really think Nyjer may be on his last chance with the team, and they're going to give him a month or so to prove himself.  If he starts to get on base, great.  If not, I think he's bound for Indy before summer comes.

Snoopy

Welcome to the asylum.  Your first post was the first post of thread, something many have tried to do and not made it.

Meds and straight jacket at front desk

If you want to add an avatar click on my name for instructions.

Good Morning, CandelArea (Welcome back, buddy), JayPo (PLEASE take back that 112-loss prediction), Hostage (No more "negative nellies" if you retract your characterization of Michaels as "blondie, the cop beater" and HATING on the front office ... well, maybe it's just best to say we're all free to say what we want to ... America and all that ... otherwise, liked your soapbox derby this morning), JAL, JJ, Arriba, Stargell'sStar (welcome back to you, too, buddy!), JohnLease (from God's little acre, Despair, PA! Every time I used to drive 80 out near Lock Haven, I thought, "This has to be the most beautiful place in the world!"), Bizzy, Ceesco (Where the heck have you been, wif your Adam Dunn self?), diehard, Kragbax (I was takin' a bath), irate, KMRemple, Capn, PI, Arriba, Snoopy82 and ...

TripleG! You asked about watching Indy games on the Internet. I'm pretty sure you can watch them ... I'll check w/Bay Jr., he used to watch them ... I'm thinking it's free, not sure. Maybe it comes with the mlb.tv package if you get that. Will check for you.

A few thoughts on the cuts ... I was a little surprised the cut Bootcheck ... as weak as they are in the bullpen, and how his curveball was the talk of the town - sharpest breakin' THANG since Blyleven - I was surprised there.

As for Karstens, let me pose something I don't think has been posed yet ... Could it be his shutout of the Cubs at Wrigley, and near no-no vs. the Diamondbacks, there, factored in? Again, put him up against Vaszquez, not hard to beat him out. But I'd say given what he did early on last season (yeah, I remember he fell off the table after that), and throw in that Kerrigan has worked with him before ... maybe not such a no-brainer after all.

Kragbox

Good to see at least one other person gets it.

Nyjmo deserves his chance.  If he doesn't deliver after 1-2 months, down he goes.

Moss.  What has he done?  But give him a chance and see what happens.

The FO created this scenario and we have to live with it.   Enjoy!

Uglyken...my original prediction was based on management putting the 25 most talented players on the roster. That isn't happening...therefore...I don't expect them to max out their potential.

Dejan's last update at 937 basically tells me the only remaining move coming today might be to create a hole on the 40 man roster for Monroe (goodbye Jesse or Dave). The last pitching spot may not be decided until Meek is over the flu and they see how he pitches...or they send him to Indy or put him on the DL...since his shoulder was hurting before he got sick.

Thunder

Got your change

DMAC,

"He's [Duffy] having an outstanding spring, but may be victimized by that ugly business side of things.."

I'd have to say that he made his bed and now he has to lie in it.  But all he has to do is play well and keep his head on straight and good things should happen for him eventually.

Off to do a few things--back in about an hour--by which time we have a new thread

And with that...I'm off to bed...since I am in the middle of a nasty set of midnight shifts.

Bay

Thanks, as always, for your morning greetings

And Good Morning to you, DMac (forgot you were lurking!), Ugly, Leadoff and HeyFred!

Karstens - "You don't want to get too high or too low. I always try to be even-keel."

I like BULLDOG for my starters ... well, maybe somewhere between Snell and Bulldog!

Since I have stated from my first post on that if this team has Adam at first and Blka Bla, we are dead in the water may 1st.

As much as I also have been resiliant with my support of givng every chance to morgan because if he shines it will be bright, I do agree he has to be on a very short choker chain.

I do not give him the whole month, I think he goes 0 for three games he sits  not for ever but we need hitters.  

JAL, ask JJ,  thanks for uncovering my Arriba dug for me foxhole.  You ride around in a black and white and All I do is place a post next to yours and I am called unsavory names.

What the cuts are sayint o me is we have any number of guys who have shined a bit this spring.  We have some clear cut take charge skits.  We also mostly have no take charge couplings.  So to borrow my favorite latin expression and help with translation from DMAC is fine is what were we to do?

I think the team they will take north including any late moment moves will be a team built considering a variety of resons for decisions.  

Options, level of play, level of prior performance play, team needs, player play needs, what the heck lets see how this unfolds for a few weeks to see how changes will be made.

re: DK's latest update - "We have a lot of players who have to keep their jobs."  Plus the reference a bit farther down to that being RF, LF, 3B, and bullpen.  I think Neal's definitely saying the right things, and those are things we'll find refreshing to look back on if players struggle and we see roster changes based on performance as the season progresses.  We'll have to wait and see how they follow through on it.

GGG

MLB has a minor league TV package.  Go to MILB.com and click on the multimedia tab.  It's all there.

Is anybody else's calendar moving too slow?  Shouldn't the 6th be here already?

I thought I better throw my prediction out there.  As usual I'll be optimistic but not to optimistic.  I think 500 will be tough.  So I will say 80-82.  Home runs  I'll say 160.  There is more power potential there then a lot are thinking.   I believe Mcclouth and Larouche will hit near 60 together.  So that means the rest of the team just has to hit 100.  Thats an average of 9 per player.  Look at past years stats I believe thats easily done by this team.  Once again at this time of year I am always way optimistic by July it begins to fade.  Hey can we change our prediction at the all star break?  LOL

@diehard - "Is anybody else's calendar moving too slow?  Shouldn't the 6th be here already?"

Diehard, I'm looking for a day job so I can catch the Pirates every night, and weekends, too! All you praying people out there, HEAVE one up for me that I'd find one ... may have to defect to Papa John's!

The Tampa Bay Rays website reports that the Pirates are interested in acquiring right-handed starting pitcher Jeff Niemann. Niemann was a first-round pick in 2004 and is out of options. He has been in the running to be the Rays fifth starter. Baseball Prospectus 2009 states that in most other systems Niemann would be the top pitching prospect.

Salazar was a casualty of the lefty righty thing, they had too many left handed outfielders to keep him.

IMO he is a better player then Morgan or Monroe, might not have the upside of Moss, but for now is better than him too.

Hey baywatch I'm looking for a cook where I work.  Of course thats in Illinois that probably won't help much.  Just joking here.  Will voice my opinion on the roster later.  Have to head to work now.  Duty calls.

After reading NH's comments above I think the PBC is being overly optimistic on what they have heading North. A lot of 'ifs' are being bandied about and it seems that they are expecting everyone to perform like they THINK they can. I don't believe this will happen. As for possible acquisitions that the FO was looking at, I'd sure like to be a bug on the wall during one of their discussions.....

Ya-

The problem is the Rays want the bank for Niemann, the Pirates were willing deal with them last year for him at the trade deadline, but the Rays would not give him up.

dami

Got it

Ya'Z

Yes, the Padres are also interested in him.  Some discussion on him yesterday.

After reading DK's review of the Central Division this morning and not having the time, energy, and interest of following all the clubs at the same depth we do here with the Bucs -- I'm tempted to ask what GM's/FO's did a good job this winter?  And see if there is a correlation between having the money to spend and "intelligent" buying.

Then in the remarks above there's this NH quote << Some of the people that we've talked to have chosen other opportunities. Some of the people that we've talked to our looking for more than we are willing to give and that's in trades and free agency. >> [seems like great Blog fodder]  It gets you wondering if the FO is overvaluing our resources, if the Bonifay/Littlefield regime was so easy to hornswoggle (great Pirate word) that our FO is not expected to demand a fair trade, or that the doctrine of "how to build a team" is so well known that all the clubs are overvaluing prospects -- or all of the above.

JJ--I apologize if I offended you on the foxhole.  I did not mean to and was just trying to lighten things up last night, unsuccessfully it appears.

JAL,

I wasn't on the blog last night so I assumed the reference was to the what I thought was good debate on Keppinger vs. Cruz and all that stuff around 5:00 PM.

Must have been more later that I missed.

New Thread

Ants marching ==========================

offend me I am still laughing and I hope you are too,  I was just teasing JAL a bit  like it was his fau;t you had to go out and dig me a hole

Arriba you must have missed my multiple funny guy comments to you

leadoff,

I think the difference with Niemann now is that he is out of options. The Rays might lower their demands when faced with the possibility of losing him.

JJ--thanks . . . as always, no problem here.

Wilver,

My legacy will be as the man who introduced "the contest" and "The Nuho Line" to the PBC Blog.

;-)

Wow, Chavez and Hansen make the team. It's going to be fun watching our beloved Bucs get their butts handed to them come the 7th and 8th inning. Weak.

I thought Garrett Jones had a good spring.

So, do all of these guys go to Indy?