GM: Milledge will be a 'regular'

Ding dong, the wicked (awful) Pearce is dead!

YESSSSSSSSSSSSS

He will address the team, I will write down this date and the FUTURE STARTS NOW, I think we have a MANAGEMENT TEAM that is truly trying to build a winner, O WEE, give me some more KOOL AID , Can you get DRUNK OFF OF KOOL AID, IF SO I AM , I LIKE THIS TEAM,

@MAZ

You are not the only one not giving up , the bucs are in my blood......

Great timing, with the Nationals going to PNC this weekend.

Amen on stopping the cycle.

"We want to stop the cycle of losing, and we want to stop the cycle of trading," Huntington said.

Very ironic statement to be made today.  No one has mastered the cycle of trading as he has just done, which has also guaranteed the cycle of losing for the immediate future.

The trades of the last couple of days to a week make sense.  Wilson, LaRoche, and Grabow were about to become free agents and unlikely to re-sign.  Sanchez had a big option for next year that they didn't want to pay.  He'll be leaving his prime years soon.  Snell and Gorzelanny had clearly fallen out of favor after good years in 2007 (and awful 2008 for each).  Alderson and Clement have talent and the other guys are worth bringing into the organization.  Hart and Ascanio throw hard.  Maybe for every 2-3 hard throwers brought in, one will develop the control to be successful.  But, I don't really blame people for being upset either.  

I was trying to think of how many players the Pirates have kept past their 6th full year in the majors.  Jack Wilson is one.  I believe Giles and Kendall were signed to extensions back in the day when they were the best players on the team.  Giles kept playing well while Kendall's performance dropped off.  I couldn't really think of anyone else.  

If McCutchen and Alvarez become top notch players or even All-Stars, is there any chance they'll be here past their 4th or 5th year in the league?

In 1993, the team started from scratch after Bonds and Drabek left.  In 1996, everyone from that group was unloaded (Merced, Garcia, King, Bell, Neagle, etc.) and the process started again in 1997.  They actually had a bunch of good prospects then too.  Seven of Baseball America's top 100 prospects were from the Pirates that off-season.  If I remember correctly, it was Benson, A. Ramirez, J. Guillen, Hermansen, A. Nunez, J. Anderson, and Ron Wright.  They just didn't turn out as good as people thought.

The 1999 team wasn't so bad, finishing 79-83.  If Kendall hadn't missed the second half and the guys who replaced him (Oliver/Osik) so horrible (I think they hit about a combined .210 with about 15 RBI's in the 2nd half that year).  They could have made it over .500 without that injury.  Some of those guys from that era (Schmidt, Loaiza, Lieber) seemed to get a lot better after leaving Pittsburgh too.

Littlefield came in and restarted the process again in 2001.  He tried to stockpile pitching.  It's not really his fault that they all blew out their arms.  But, he certainly made more than enough mistakes along the way to go with his bad luck.  Having all those arms led him to deal away guys like Chris Young and Leo Nunez for veterans that never did anything.  Maybe he was forced to deal Aramis.  I don't know.  The farm system was bare by the time he left, thanks mainly to signing more affordable (but less talented) guys with the first round picks.  With BJ Upton and Wieters and who knows who else, this franchise would have looked totally different.  Regardless, the team (and farm system) was in pretty sorry shape when he left in 2007.

Huntington took over an awful farm system.  The team wasn't as bad as it looked offensively as Bay bounced back, Nady had a career year, and McLouth and Doumit emerged as good players.  It's funny that Freddy Sanchez was blocked by Jose Castillo, McLouth by Duffy, and Doumit by Paulino.  There was some talent hidden away there all along.  The pitching collapsed though last year.  If Snell and Gorzelanny pitched as well in 2008 as they did in 2007, then it could have been different.  

Without a good farm system, the Pirates won't succeed.  The farm system was bad.  I'm really curious as to where Baseball America rates it in the off-season.  

I don't think they'll succeed if they never keep any players past their 6th year either.  They could mount a brief run like the early 90's.  Maybe for every two good players you develop, you get one to sign an extension and deal the other for 2-3 prospects.  

Without the money to spend, the odds are against you.  Some teams do it.  Tampa Bay is beginning a good run.  We'll see if they can sustain it past when some of their key guys hit free agency.  Oakland and Minnesota have had success.  Minnesota signed Morneau to an extension and dealt Santana for prospects.  Keep one and deal one.

Every GM makes mistakes too.  Some of these deals will work out and some won't.  Oakland got a lot for Mulder and not much for Hudson.  That's the way it is with prospects.

I just started rambling and totally forgot what might point was.  I don't blame people for being upset about players leaving.  Sooner or later, one of these housecleanings followed by a youth movement will work out.  

Dejan,

This really has been outstanding news from you, Chuck and Colin.  Great job!  I am sure that you are wiped out, but keep it coming.

Allright guys, let's play rank 'em. Me first.

1. Pedro Alvarez

2. Tim Alderson

3. Jose Tabata

4. Brad Lincoln

5. Gorkys Hernandez

6. Tony Sanchez

7. Rudy Owens

8.Jeff Locke

9. Robbie Grossman

10. Bryan Morris

Others: Starling Marte, Micheal Dubee, Daniel Moskos, Neil Walker, Daniel McCutchen, Jim Negrych

Sano slots at #2 and everybody drops down a notch.

How about you guys?

Capn

We weren't stopping the losing in the short term with what we had, either.  So he really didn't do anything to impact the short-term losing.

Daryle,

I am with you.  Let's go get drunk!  :-)

Perhaps the Bucs can use some of the runs they saved on the West Coast for the Nationals.

And now, no one but Donnie V from the left side of the bullpen. I keep looking for more.........

Hafta agree on the coverage. Great job. I can't tell you how many times I hit refresh on this site to read the latest news. The CEO and advertisers will be extremely happy.

If Jones is in RF, and DY is 2nd, Pearce is playing 1st everyday

For those saying we are getting too many pitchers - we just traded a ML pitcher and AAA pitcher,  and got back a ML pitcher and AAA pitcher.

I'm a little concerned about the lack of Lefties, but I'd rather have talent.  Both Hart and Astacio could be answers for late inning people, which I think is our real weakness in Pitt. right now.

Harrison as a 2nd baseman is a way to help our biggest organizational weakness.  He's not going to be a ML player in the next two years, but we do need people who will be solid in the ML's in two years as well.

Bryan Morris 3 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K so far.

Jordy Mercer 2-2.

--

Quinton Miller 4 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2BB 3 K

Starling Marte 2-3, RBI, R, SB

Robby Grossman 1-3, RBI, Outfield assist

Tony Sanchez 1-3

---

Brock Holt 3-4, R

Phil Irwin started that game, 5 IP, 2 H, 2K, 0 ER

---

Danny Moskos, as mentioned, the win and lowered his ERA, but struggled with command.

Arriba, my personal feeling as to why the Pirates would have been hard pressed to sign john is because of those chips.

 What has gotten into NyMo and Sean Burnett? I am glad they are doing well and I support the trade but look at their stats since they went to Washington. NyMo is hitting .310 for the year so he is in hte upper .360's or so since he has been there. He has 32 steals and isn't being thrown out as much and Burnett has been unhittable and is striking  a lot of folks out. It will be weird watching them and the others come in as visitors. Good luck to all of them except when playing us. I can't watch anymore of Steve Pearce, I hope they have seen enough, I have.  

Daryl, I think Neal just about has it right now. I know many of my fellow inmates do not want to accept the concept of "culture of losing" but I will insist that it will make a difference getting rid of players who for whatever reason came to the ballpark expecting to lose. A belief, in the back of their minds if not on their lips, that because we are the Pirates we will find a way to lose today.

1927 Yankees - beat, in the World Series that year - the Pirates. Guess this team is not the '27 Pirates either. Guess Huntington is not Ed Barrow (look it up).

Bucco fan in NC

I think Hart is a starter. I look for him to pitch instead of VV.  I wouldn't be stunned to see a six man rotation either. (With Karstens in there for long looks too.)

pbshoe

I have no problem with just Veal from the left, but we have to USE HIM.  It seems to me that with this new strategy of purge and rebuild, that won't be a problem anymore.

Its been too long, a seasonal rellaxation is in order

www.youtube.com/watch

I was at the game yesterday and after WINN hit the game winner , I thought to myself , HEY LAROCHE WOULD HAVE HAD THAT EASY, AM I WRONG?? LOOKED PRETTY ROUTINE, KNOW PEARCE IS A RIGHTY BUT IT BOUNCED OVER HIS GLOVE, GET RID OF HIM AND CAPPS AND I WILL BE ELATED....Thank god I got my bp jersey with my name on it , LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

I'd ask who was left to trade, but I don't want an answer to that.

Ok, as far as words, you folks know I am a Moss fan, words, from JR he is our starting right fielder, there are so many words from this wizard, I lose track of them, learned a long time ago in a galazy far far away, that you gotta back up words they are cheap if you dont.  I humbly throw the BS flag at anything this Opie says, what day is it?

IMO another spin by the spin doctors, what timing, take the heat off the nastiness Neal showed this past week by promoting Blastings

This is bad, crap, was talking to my other, she actually said, we can go to the game Saturday if you want, right now, I don't want to

daryle - stronger than koolaid, but don't text/drink and drive ; }

@DK and staff: GREAT work--maybe Neal will let you video the team meeting--would love to hear that! AND I think it will still prove the plan is functional.

from previous thread:

My rankings and ravings:

1. Tim Alderson: Love the upside and pitching takes top spot.

2. Jose Tabata: Quiet but solid

3. Pedro Alvarez: hitting a ton...needs some refinement but I see him with the big club in 2010.

4. Tony Sanchez: great work ethic and love the attitude along with his hitting.

5. Brad Lincoln: has good stuff and will see Pittsburgh in 2010.

6. Michael Dubee: We need him now but still needs some work...

7. Gorkys Hernandez: Could play now but I see him late 2010.

8. Daniel McCutchen: Better than his numbers show...remember Indy has no reall hitters right now...

9. Jeff Locke: I think the sleeper of all sleepers in the McClouth trade...

10. Robbie Grossman: Good numbers and quiet efficiency...

I will not include a 16-year old kid yet...

papacoach wrote re: GM: Milledge will be a 'regular'

on Fri, Jul 31 2009 1:23 AM

Daryl, I think Neal just about has it right now. I know many of my fellow inmates do not want to accept the concept of "culture of losing" but I will insist that it will make a difference getting rid of players who for whatever reason came to the ballpark expecting to lose. A belief, in the back of their minds if not on their lips, that because we are the Pirates we will find a way to lose today.

BINGO

BAB

From last thread, I put Lincoln ahead of Hernandez because I've seen them  both play in person and like Lincoln's stuff more then I like Gorky's tools. If that makes sense to you.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'll rank mine again here on the new thread.....

1.) Alderson

2.) Alvarez

3.) Tabata

4.) Lincoln

5.) Hernandez

6.) Sanchez

7.) Grossman

8.) Marte

9.) Ownes

10.) Morris

And if we get Sano, it'd be a tough call but I'd put him about even with Alvarez.

Joe, good point. With the chips floating around in his elbow Grabow could be done for the year at any time.

Would've much rather read, Milledge, McCutchen, Moss in OF, with Jones at 1B, no AAAA Pearce.

Left Coast Buccaneer,

Not interested in arguing with you.  Everyone's a little testy anyway!

Just because Yoslan Herrera pitched for the Pirates last year never made him a Major Leaguer.  It just proved that he wasn't.

Diaz has yet to prove anything at AA, much less AAA.  He is not a prospect yet, just a possibility.  

I see a legitimate prospect as a probability!  

Your supposed definition makes every Minor Leaguer a prospect.

By the way, Jack Wilson came to the Pirates from AAA, where he hit .369 in 115 PA, with a .430 OB%, and 3 errors in the field.  He earned his way here from AAA.

I have been remiss in not joining many of my fellows in thanking our fearless leader and his two trusty sidekicks. You guys let me feel as if I am almost in the room with Neal. Thanks guys, keep up the great work.

Are GJones and Doumt the oldest at 28 now?  Well, this is a true rebuild...unfortunately we have to wait a few years to see if the players work out.  Hopefully the money still flows into the draft and int'l signings while we wait.

In the tradition of the old, and I think still around, "Bottom Ten" column that runs during football season, the Pirates vs. Nationals would probably earn the "Crummy Game of the Week" Award.  Suprisingly, this matchup is not the Sunday Night Game on ESPN.  

marty

Got it.  I don't disagree with much else on your list. Though I would have Morris and Locke ahead of Owens.  One season from Owens isn't enough for me to have him in the top 10. Knocking on the door though, just like Moskos.

Daryle

Sleep well and don't give up although I am very close to doing so

Not that we are giving up on the 27 yankees, but Opie is not a proven commodity, he's no Joe L Brown, those statements really ticked me off, what is he some frigging genius, outplaying all of these guys on 4 card stud?

I fell off the fence, if the guy can't talk straight, he's another *** in our sad history

Guess I have to live to 70 to have hope, we'll be back at the moon before that

Long time reader, first time commenter...and YES, I will get an avatar soon:-)

Anyway, I know this is a small point, Dejan, but I thought there was a spot open on the 25-man roster. Sanchez, Wilson and Grabow were traded and only Cedeno and Hart are heading to Pittsburgh. That should leave a spot for Milledge without sending anyone down.

Feel sorry for Jack Wilson...hasn't batted yet but his team is down 3-0 already...getting shelled!

Marty, I realize most people are ready to ship Pearce out yesterday if possible, he makes me a bit crazy sometimes, but Sporting News does not give out it'd Minor League Player of the year award to just anyone. At this point in this season I think Neal would not be doing his job if he did not give him multiple chances to find out if that was a real year or a mirage. Just thinkin'

Ya' know what's gonna be fun?

Spring training is gonna be fun.

And I'm good with the deal for Hart because my name is Hart.  I've always said that the only thing this team lacked is Hart.  (The Brewers have Hart, but he's apparently from the Amish side of the family....)

Jack Wilson grounds out in his Seattle debut

BAB

I put Owens ahead of Morris and Locke just based on the numbers, and Morris ahead of Locke based on what I've heard about the two.

I think the pants around the ankles crowd listing the best 'prospects' should load up on vaseline.

Ooh, we have such DEPTH!  Really?  I was unaware that the other 29 teams were competing to win minor league titles.  And when these great 'prospects' get weighed down by losing, and become part of the 'culture of losing', let's ship them out too!

Honestly, what a bunch of losers, listing minor leaguers.  The focus SHOULD be about the Pittsburgh Pirates, not the Altoona Curve or Indianapolis Indians.  But just lube up all night long thinking longing thoughts of minor leaguers, who'll either suck, or if not, will be traded for more of the same.

Junior Ortiz,

Excellent critique!!

Usually long posts get maudlin but your's was right on throughout.

Thanks!!

[I've got a ball somewhere that Junior signed.}

I don't think the Mariners picked up Jack for just this year. They have NO shot at the division, and barely any shot at the wild card.

The Angels are WAY better than anyone else, and the Mariners are not really close to Texas, Boston or Tampa Bay as far as a legit wild card shot.

buccoforlife

Welcome to the asylum!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

eight was great

"Feel sorry for Jack Wilson...hasn't batted yet but his team is down 3-0 already...getting shelled!"

WEll at least he should be used to that!!!! Sorry had to get that jab in there at our Buccos. :)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

papacoach

He only got that award because he put up unbelievable numbers in one season. Thats the only seasons hes had number remotely close to that in the minors, and has shown none of that in the majors, I'm still not sure he can hit a breaking ball.

The official team page shows 24 on the active roster, including Hart and Cedeno, and lacking Grabow, Wilson & Sanchez.  So maybe Salad Bar is safe for now.  

John Lease,

Isn't it past your bedtime?  

You have to get up early to ride your bike for your paper route!

@Lease....nice contribution...

Lease-

Your view is short-sighted and tragic. You must be a miserable person not being able to see beyond tomorrow.

ant marching yet again--but not a new trade--just more on the last one=========================================

you know, I like the game so much, I still will concetrate on who is in the field.  

if I had a ticket for every game for hear on ourt I would go.

I still have hope that Roberto is in Cuba or somewheres.

No player loss is comparable.  As long as these kids play hard i will be behind them

LETS GO BUCS

Things that make you go hmmmmmmm.

Ramon Vazquez is the only guy on the active roster who is over 30 years of age.  Looking at the 40 man, only Vazquez and Tyler Yates are over 30.  Salazar is next oldest at 28.

If Pedro starts at Indy next year, who gets the reps at 3B...him or Walker?

We keep getting pitching, which is great and all - but we still need some bats. The MLB team just can't hit, and have sent packing pretty much all their experienced bats.

I'm not going to look it up, but I'd lay some money that the Pirates new starting lineup is the most inexperienced in possibly MLB history - short of the first year or two. Doumit, in what - his second or third year as a starter - is the "old man" of the bunch. Crazy. Looking forward to a lot more games scoring 0-2 this year! (not really)

Hey Bizzymon,

Some dude joined us from Alabama last night.  Doesn't that knock off another state?

Welcome buccoforlife!  

thanks Roxtar.

looks like we will finally have young guys pushing young guys for jobs.

there once was a young las named lease

did your mother never tell you to cease

what a childish foul mouth

have you gone south

or is just your the stench of your release

you have earned much, its called paged down by.

How many positions will be set in stone going into the spring?  Two?  Three?  I'm scheduling time off right now.  We'll need to have a Bradenton gathering.

@roxtar

I think Aquint\o (sp??) has to be placed on the 40 man, but not 25 man, Milledge has not been officially moved yet

It will be interesting to hear if NH lets DK and co into his "talk" with the new club, lets see what spin he and FC put on it, I would think the new guys won't roll their eyes, as the old guys did, it will be a grand BS session

Good night and good tidings to you and yours, in the asylum, my first hope is I wake up tomorrow, my second is my loved ones do too, my third is that the PBC has a future.

And of course, a prayer to my friends

First of all I feel like the new kid at school.When I watch the game tomorrow there will be new faces.Living in Iowa I have seen quite a few games when Cedeno was with the Cubs.Folks you better hope he's not the solution in the PBC's eyes.With Grabs gone Karsten's becomes sooo important for us.We're going to need even better starting pitching /Cedeno and Young in there.They might as well think about getting rid of Moss over the offseason.These last couple days remind me of an old song "96 Tears".

Posted by Groat2Maz from previous thread:

I'm Glad You Didn't See Roberto,

If a team has 5 quality Major League players in its line-up and 3 subpar, you can do one of two things:

1/  Replace the 3 subpar players with quality players and make a run at the pennant——maybe by adding free agents

2/  Call the 5 quality players losers and get rid of them, claiming need for a fresh start all around.

You obviously are from the 2nd school from your comments recently.

However, it looks to me that we:  1/ still have not addressed those three subpar positions in our line-up, and 2/ have added MORE spots in the lineup to fill, and 3/ traded quality major leaguers like McLouth, Wilson, Sanchez for lottery tickets, ALL of them in low minors far from the Majors.

I'm glad you didn't get to see Roberto  .  .  .  .  because he didn't play on a Pirate team that made it to the World Series until his 6th season in the Majors.  YOU would have traded him by now.

=====================================================

1) I can't help I was born in 1986.  I can only ask why?

2) Please name the 5 quality major leaguers

3) Please name the 3 sub par

4) Explain with what FREE AGENTS you would have added to replace the 3 subpar players (and what you would've done with the 3 subpar players...they are under contract) and make a run at the pennant (I'm sorry, people think the fans that are for the complete rebuild are nuts, but that statement above is possibly the worst thing I've ever read written on these boards)

5) I called none of these players losers.  They are still major leaguers.  When placed on GOOD ball clubs they can contribute and nicely.  COLLECTIVELY AS A GROUP, they are a 67 win team. I WANT A COMPLETE FRESH START! NEAL IS @*#&^$ RIGHT. THIS WAS NOT THE 27 YANKEES.  THIS WAS NOT EVEN THE 2006 CARDINALS.

TELL ME WHAT 3 FREE AGENTS YOU WOULD ADD TO A 67 WIN TEAM THAT HASN'T HAD A WINNING SEASON IN ALMOST 2 DECADES WITH THE WORST (OR 2ND WORST) PITCHING STAFF WITH NO ORGANIZATIONAL DEPTH AT ANY POSITION?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!?!?

I'm sorry, but that above post is just stupid.  How can you call me out when you write something that naive?  Do you think they didn't examine all avenues? I'm sure they probably thought about your idea.  Then they looked at ALL LEVELS OF THE ORGANIZATION (remember, there is a thing called the minor leagues) and saw there was absolutely nothing that resembled a future major leaguer and they were coming off a season in which they had the worst pitching staff, and they realized that this ORGANIZATION is in NO WAY, SHAPE OR FORM REMOTELY CLOSE TO MAKING A RUN AT THE PENNANT.

And another thing.  I don't want to trade everybody.  Clearly I want to keep everyone we've acquired through the trades.  And please tell me, who have the pirates TRADED over the past 16+ seasons that had 1 ounce of the ability of Roberto Clemente?  Just b/c you are old, doesn't make you wise, and clearly by your response to me above, you are not.

One last question......

What are you not a GM of a major league baseball team?  If you knew how to turn around a team (that is coming off of CONSECUTIVE 67 WIN SEASONS) that hasn't won more games than it has lost in the regular season in nearly 2 decades by simply adding 3 free agents to our 5 quality major leaguers (Wow, btw, 3+5 = 8, There are 25 spots on our roster so 25 - 8 = 17 other players on the team that hasn't had a winning season in 16+ years and you think we only need to replace 3...AM I THE ONLY ONE THAT THINKS THAT IS THE STUPIDEST THING THEY HAVE EVER READ).

Sorry for the venting, but I can't have someone come at my post with rediculous nonsense.  Next chat, please ask DK if he thinks that this team was 3 FA's away from making A RUN AT THE PENNANT?!?!?!

Here's a sample response you'll get (not quoted of course):

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHAHAHAHA    

Okay,  -- first post under own name (avatar will appear when help arrives!). Usually get a personal recap of what's going on on the blog, but Baywatch is at work, and I'm here needing a baseball fix.

Hi, capn, poh, arriba wilver, jersey joe, mad turk, irate, radio man... and I've probably missed some.

I agree with     marty34156  :

    <I> Would've much rather read, Milledge, McCutchen, Moss in OF,   with Jones at 1B, no AAAA Pearce.<I>

I'd like to see Jones at 1B.

Question -- (showing my ignorance, but no better way to learn than to ask)  who is Opie?

I thought I was going to also have to ask who is W, but it turns out it was not a single letter double-u, but a double v..  Got it.

Sorry, DMac, I left you out in my very first greeting!

and Hi to you, too, Papa Coach.

Mrs. Bay -

No Hap Cap for you. You left out the G-Man. Okay, you met so many of us that weekend I will forgive you.

Opie is a nicname for Neal Huntington, General Manager of the Pirates. He got the name because he resembles Ron Howard who played Opie on Andy Griffith's show.

Thank goodness that Pearce is finally going to get his shot.  Moss has had two long looks last year and this and has done NOTHING with them.

Pearce may end up not being the answer, but I'd at least like to see what he can do with a 1/2 season - something he's not gotten.

I'm sick of Moss and with the glut of outfielders, I don't see any way that he's still on the major league roster by this time next year.

Hey, G-Man!  I didn't list you because I hadn't seen any posts from you this evening.  But I've already got a vintage Hap Cap from last year!

Okie doke, thanks for the answer about Opie.

I also left out frustrated 314 -- Houston trip, I think.

GMAN,  you slippery dog you, who saw you? is not your forte:

www.youtube.com/watch

GMAN, to whom?

"Huntington would not say who will go down tomorrow to clear space for Milledge, but that almost surely will be immensely struggling Jeff Salazar."

Why does someone need to go down?  isnt the 25 man roster at 24 now that Freddy is gone?  And the 40 man should be at 38 with Dumatrait and Hansen on the 60 Day DL.

was just about to ask that

sanchez wilson and grabow

added hart and cedeno

what did i miss?

So MAYBE in 2012 we can field a team that can finish .500, let alone compete for the World Series?

Someone wake me up when that time comes, because otherwise there is a ton of dreaming going on...

The Pirates are counting on EXACTLY the buzz that is going on in these forums and others ("we have a great farm system", so and so has great potential, etc.")

Has everyone simply forgotten that EVERY TIME a promising player comes up from the minors and earns his pay, the Pirates REFUSE to pay them and trade them?  Do I really have to get that list out?  Why will this time be ANY different?

Until I see a payroll approaching 75-80M to compete with other teams in the division to go ALONG with a great farm system, you all are simply living in a fantasy world that is disconnected with reality.  The Pirates could not be any farther away from competing for a World Series on July 30th 2009 if they tried.

As for the topic, I put the over/under on Lastings Milledge going Milton Bradley at around 20 games.

I just looked at Marty's rankings of prospects. I have no idea how Gorkys is rated at all. He hits all of .260, is supposed to have tons of speed, but doesn't steal bases, has no power, and is good defensively. To me, sounds like Adrian Brown all over again. I think Atlanta saw that he didnt have any talent and shipped him off. It wouldn't be the first time the Pirates got nothing for something (Ramirez to Cubs, Bay to Red Sox, etc.) This management team says all the right things, but all they have done is free up payroll that they won't spend on talent next year, and the fans of Pittsburgh will have to endure another 3+ years of losing before we can even hope to sniff a .500+ season.

@Joerevs300 - "As for the topic, I put the over/under on Lastings Milledge going Milton Bradley at around 20 games."

I think we're all looking forward to him being himself, not anyone else. Besides, Milton Bradley, for all the headaches he's caused his employers, has been a pretty productive dude.

I'll take any productive dudes we can get our hands on right now. If Milledge throws the ball into the stands after the second out ... believe me, A LOT worse things have happened this year.

I kinda like the idea of having a guy on the team who goes Cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs!