Tabata will be promoted to Indianapolis, Alvarez will finish year with Altoona

Tabata moves up to take the place of Milledge.

Barring a complete meltdown we should be seeing Tabata in Pittsburgh sometime next year.

Love the call-up, great to hear that Tabata is on the up-swing.  This opens the possibility that he's a late-season callup next year, but even if he's not ready then I won't be upset.  Guys like Tabata and Milledge that the Pirates can afford to work on.  They're great players, they just need a little work.

I haven't posted for a while and I was waiting for all of the trade hysteria to cool down. That being said I applaud NH for all of the moves he's made. These moves just get the Bucs one step closer to putting a competitive team together. And to cap it all off one of our Top 3 prospects gets bumped up to AAA. It's all starting to come together, and I can't wait to see what Blastings can do the rest of this year.  Now its time to see what the kids can do.

I see Mrs. Bay has checked herself into the asylum ... the dear ... she's watched me get all beside myself in this mayhem we call Bucco Fever, and finally said, "Move over Rover, time for me to come over."

We had such a blast in the Burgh, for our 20th anniversary, hooking up with so many bloggers that week ... she's already having a big time on here.

Wow! What an impressive past two days. I know that's probably not the way the team is viewing it, but, hey ...

I'M A-LIKING-A-DE-WAY-DATTA-NEIL-IZZA-MOVING-DE-CHESS PIECES!

I think it's exciting ... new blood, TALENTED new blood, Lastings will be in the lineup tomorrow - and every day after that - and Tabata's in Indy.

You know, down here in Texas, we revere the memory of The Alamo ... brave lot of 150-some men who held out as long as they could, sort of like the Buccos of recent years ...

But THIS TIME I feel like Sam Houston is on his way with reinforcements! SOLID reinforcements!

Let's see, I can see Garrett Jones as Davy Crockett ... anyone else?

I don't know if anyone wants to comment but should we be concerned about two home runs in 61 games?  I know Mauer is one guy who struggled for power early but hit for average and his power is coming along quite nicely......Same situation?

From what I have learned, isn't doubles what you are looking for at Double-A

@DK - "Tabata, 20, batted .303 in 61 games for Class AA Altoona, with two home runs, 15 doubles and 25 RBIs."

And he was out for a long time, too, with that injury ... anyone remember how much he missed ... a month?

I'm still waiting for Rudy Owens to get a call up. I'm starting to think that he's going to skip A and head straight to AA.  I'm also wondering if Alverez is going to get the call up to AAA this year or if he will start next year there. I know he's young but Sterling Marte has been doing pretty well in WV. It's starting to get very interesting following all of the Bucs prospects and seeing them move up in the system.

Fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-ka-ching! Just one step closer to reaching Pittsburgh. The young man is really achieving a lot at the ripe age of 20.

IF TABATH IS READY FOR AAA THEN ALVAREZ CAN'T BE TOO FAR BEHIND. I DON'T HINK NEIL  HAD MANY OPTIONS IN PROMOTING SOMEONE FROM ALTOONA TO PLAY THE OUTFIELD IN INDY.

GORKY IS A JOKE BTW.

I like the idea of PA staying at AA for the rest of the season...remember they still have Walker (who hit 2 homers this afternoon) at 3B to try out. DON'T rush players just to move them....This "non-move" tells me alot about the PLAN overall as well as these trades. I think Tabata will work well in Indy (plus they really don't have any outfielders (though Bixler is going quite well out there in CF). No rush...we're not going anywhere!

bcsrtull,

Tabata has missed a ton of time this year. However, I frequently hear the Pirates will have 3-5 25 HR players soon. As best I see it, there are only 2( tow) players playing for the Pirates who are a decent bet to hit 25 HR's in a season, and neither has ever doen it at a Major League level: Jones and Doumit. Alvarez and Clements( if they can find a place to hide his glove) also could do it. Milledge may do it occasionally, but I wouldn't count on it. Same with Moss.

So no-one who ever has, and 2 who very well could if they played a whole season. Tabata may just be one of those guys who doesn't have power.

I just wonder if someone is going to organize a "Milledge People" section at PNC. I think that would be cool ... with a lot of creative possibilities!

Richly deserved for Tabata, especially given the incredible emotional rollercoaster he's dealt with this season.  Glad to see that he has continued to excel on the baseball field -- and equally glad to see that he's going to an Indianapolis club without Ian Snell and Tom Gorzelanny and their attitudes.  

Welcome to Pittsburgh, Mr. Milledge!  

Dejan, go to bed!

I'm okay with Tabata moving up. More power should come as he gets age and experience. I've read previously that his bat is major league ready - don't know about his defense.

I'm glad Alvarez is staying in Altoona. This will provide some stability and let him work on his defense. His hitting is coming along nicely.

I think there is a fair chance both will be in Pittsburgh sometime next year if they keep progressing as they have.

I wonder if the Yankees regret the Nady/Marte trade. Of course, they probably prefer to pay for free agents than give their prospects a chance.

Long-time reader, first-time poster here:

1) Live in Milwaukee and hate the Brewers.

2) I believe the Buccos are on the right path.

3) I'm the only one in my family who thinks that.

4) I don't think we were going to win with any of the guys we traded over the last few years . We really couldn't add anybody by trade to help us compete unless we gave away the farm (we obviously didn't have a farm to give)

5) I'm glad to see we are getting something to build on instead of Jose Hernandez and Matt Morris. Maybe we won't sign Jeromy Burnitz next spring.

I've been in Milwaukee since 1992. Maybe I should move back and everything will go back to how I remember it once was.

I wish I were home, I wish I were home, I wish I were home....

Dang, I don't have my ruby slippers....Anyways, this was just a ramble to pop my cherry on here. Go Buccos! This is not the last you have heard from Lyger

Welcome, Lyger...cool avi!

Meds have been handed out every hour on the hour since Neal went into overdrive...and the back-ordered straight jackets just came in, so we should have one in your size.   ;-)

Really -- welcome.  

Thanks DMac-

The frustration has just been building up for so long.

Finally though, we're to the point where they stopped calling me to tell me what terrible move we did here or there. So I guess that's a good sign. I bleed black n gold.

I was at the Steelers/Jets playoff game a couple years back, then my brother and I were at Super Bowl XL in Detroit, the 'burgh for the Jacksonville game two years ago and then again for the AFC championship game this year. I can't wait until I get to go to a meaningful Pirates game in PNC park or in Miller Park for that matter.

DK, keep up the good work. I wish it was really an escape from reality, but it is sugar-on-top.

@Lyger - well done on the avatar

well why dont they just move both up?....pittsburgh is the molasses of development...they act like if your young you cant play...until we change ya of course...i mean cmon nobody has natural talent?   get serious

Lyger--as a poster here for some time, I have to say I love your avatar!

mrjay

I disagree with you. I believe that, if they move Alvarez up, it probably won't help him (he & Walker would have to share time) & could hurt him.

Bucs did this before with a player. He started the season in Lynchburg, as I recall, moved quickly up to Altoona, then on to Indy & ended up being a Sept call up.

His name was Steve Pearce. Moved up way too fast & probably stunted his development somewhat.

It's hard to be a Bucs fan these days (years?), but I think they've done the right thing here for the long term--that is, if Huntingdon and the rest can judge talent.  I am not yet on the Garrett Jones bandwagon--I remember a guy named Joe Charbonneau who was ROY for the Indians in the 80s, and then disappeared.  At the same time, the idea of a young team maturing together is appealing, if not guaranteed.  

Re: Tabata defense. Jose made a fine catch along the right field line last night in Altoona -- made the 2.5 hour trek. Pedro Alvarez had trouble with a lefty pitcher -- no surprise there -- in Game 1. Danny Moskos was hitting 90 mph, with his sinking fastball it looks like he'll actually make the majors.

Some food for thought, lifted from a comment on CBSSportsline.com.  Here are the present BAs of the guys the Bucs have traded since last year:

Jason Bay, .250

Adam LaRoche, .248

Jose Bautista, .249

Ronny Paulino, .258

Xavier Nady, .286 (only 28 ABs, on the DL for a second straight year)

Nate McLouth, .261

Nyjer Morgan, .310

Morgan is probably not as valuable as his average makes him seem; Bay probably is moreso.  Everyone else is probably right on.  The question is, does this represent such an enormous outflow of baseball talent?  Doesn't look like it, especially considering they hadn't won.

DK:

Does the fact that Alvarez remains at Double-A for the rest of their season rule out a September callup to the Pirates?

I wonder how much improvement PA makes if puts more effort into staying in shape over the winter?We all know the PBC was unhappy last Feb.Who knows maybe he loses a few lbs and picks up the weights more often.He could possibly surprise us at spring training.

@maz  

Pedro looked like he was in pretty good shape -- for him (or me, BTW) last night in Altoona.

Tabata is another one of those that could impress after a good offseason.If you've never seen him...think very large strong safety or linebacker.The man is very "thick' and yet has good wheels and a very good arm.He gets around good on a fastball.As you can see he has only 25 Ks on 228 ABs.At 5'11"and 215 the power will come.He won't turn 21 for 2 more weeks.

The Future is coming....2012!

miledge, mccutch, tabata - most athletic outfield of all time

Piano Legs - what heresy! Everyone knows that was the Team That Was Just About To Jell before those evil FO guys destroyed it! If only we'd stood pat, we'd be in the Series this fall for a City of Champions trifecta!

Thanks for reminding all the real Kool Aid drinkers in the asylum that when you're facing a task similar to the rebuilding of Japan after two A-bombs, you don't keep the bulldozers parked in the garage, you shovel out the trash and start over.