Morning links: Final best/worst lists

I am thinking the links have not been updated

Bixler may be a very good minor leaguer and a nice guy, but  his playing time on the Pirates must be dictated by his play at the major league level. Bixler has run out of chances and excuses. The time has come to let Bixler go and follow in the footsteps of Chad Hermansen, Brad Eldred, etal......

the lists are amazing and had I not lived/survived them. almost unbelievable. a testament to the need for sound strategery in the FO and for the need for hope to temper doubt and doubt to temper hope. I still cringe over bell, burnitz and eldred, and always appreciate jack and freddy, even though i am optimistic their being moved will work.

makes one appreciate the greats and believe a few like clutch can break the streak.

Bixler was not having a bad day. Bixler is a AAA player. Should have asked JR why Cruz wasn't playing. Was he hurt or something?

Yes we could do without all those strikeouts, but we also give up far too many runs on the road - for 34 of 63 away games (54%) we have given up 5 runs or more. Even good hitting probably wouldn't produce a .500 record with that kind of pitching.

By contrast, at home we have given up 5 runs of more in only 24 of 64 games (38%). This is comparable to the Cardinals' overall pitching, which has given up 5 or more 48 times in 131 total games (37%).

The road kill continues - even the Reds swept the Brewers in Milwaukee - We can't even win one game there (or hardly anywhere, for that matter). Hard to fathom.

frustrated_314,

   I agree the road -home disparity is out of control. Do we take another group when we travel and put them in Bucco uniforms?

    It is WALKER time. He is scalding hot right now and our rd baseman is NOT. Give him 2 weeks and then evaluate but he deserves a chance and getting some offense from the 3rd base position would help this offense. Also Clement is not hitting any more so if PA ends up at first we need options at 3rd. Either way it might wake Andy out of his coma (hitting wise). Get Walker here and play him while he is confident and in the zone.

  Re: Bixler...... 0-3 with 3 strike outs and  misplay in the field.  Shouldn’t this guy be told to go find something he is good at? Maybe real estate, car sales, firefighting?  

Series on road this year: Two won of 21 played.

2 series won  

(2-1) (once) (at San Diego)

(3-1) (once) (at Wash)

3 series tied

(1-1) (once ) (at Cin)

(2-2) (2 times) (at St L, at Atl)

16 series lost

(0-2) (3 times)

(0-3) (5 times)

(1-2) (7 times)

(1-3) (1 time)

I wonder what Al Martin has been up to these days?

Guys and Gals,   How do you discount that Bix found a stroke and hiting the ball with command is brought up and sits

and that does not effect his stroke.

I would think espicially under his known previous nervousness at the plate.

I just do not get the idea of sitting him when he is hot and not get an idea it could tail spin him fast.

I also do not get the group here just ignoring the glaring problem his sitting could instill.

@JJ: A professional baseball player should be able to perform at a decent level whenever he is called upon to do so. To use the excuse that he wasn't ready because he sat out so long, is not an excuse at all. Bixler has had numerous chances to show he belongs on the PBC and so far, he has been a miserable failure both on offense and defense.....

Neil Walker hit 2 more home runs last night.

Someone posted yesterday that Walker should have to hit thirty homers before he gats called up.

Gee, why not make him hit seventy. Besides we have Andy.

Morning Links Part 2

Play by Play of #20 in Miller Park

scores.espn.go.com/.../playbyplay

Brewers vs Pirates Game Preview

www.cbssports.com/.../MLB_20090830_PIT@MIL

Losing is a tough habit to break

www.pressdemocrat.com/.../908299984

Baker finding familiar route around bases

www.centredaily.com/.../1477905.html

Pirates notebook for Aug. 30

www.tribune-democrat.com/.../local_story_242001117.html

THE OFFICIALLY UNOFFICIAL PBC BLOGS AND MLB LINKS: Part 1

Sandlot Swashbucklers--Walker and Myrow Bomb the Mud Hens in Shutout

mvn.com/.../walker-and-myrow-bomb-the-mud-hens-in-shutout.html

Sandlot Swashbucklers--The Numbers: 11 Wins for McSwain, 27 Saves for Rodriguez, 13 Homers for Alvarez, 51 Steals for De Los Santos

mvn.com/.../the-numbers-11-wins-for-mcswain-27-saves-for-rodriguez-13-homers-for-alvarez-51-steals-for-de-los-sa.html

Raise the Jolly Roger-When Will it End?

raisethejollyroger.com/.../when-will-it-end-pirates-3-brewers-7

Mondesi's House--Ryan Doumit Sent to Time Out

mondesishouse.blogspot.com/.../ryan-doumit-sent-to-time-out.html

The Green Weenie--Road Kill

oldbucs.blogspot.com/.../road-wimps.html

THE OFFICIALLY UNOFFICIAL PBC BLOGS AND MLB LINKS: Part 2

PBC Home Page--Pirates no help to Hart in loss to Crew

pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/.../article.jsp

PBC Home Page--Huntington calls leaders to step up

pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/.../article.jsp

MLB Transactions

www.cbssports.com/.../transactions

Bucco Fans--Pirate Prospect GTracker

www.buccofans.com/.../2009-pittsburgh-pirates-prospects.html

Pittsburgh Sports Buzz--Poll Results: When Will the Pirates Win?

pittsburghsportsbuzz.blogspot.com/.../poll-results-when-will-pirates-win.html

The "Mc" Effect--The Future of the Rotation

eatsleepmlb.mlblogs.com/.../the_future_of_the_rotation.html

Pi, but never a one time to have a chance with a consisitant at bat opporunity.

That you can not discount.  Mary Lou retton said it best when asked how does she feel taking just one day off from practice sh said it tskes me over a week to feel I regained my level of performance.

He should have stayed down or brought to play.  We will never know and he never did get that chance of a start.

Money man, hitting lthe line drives of life i hope somewheres

Today is SLAPPHAPPY SUNDAY and we review the...

77777777  Wilson/Snell Trade  77777777777

Trade completed on July 30, 2009, Jack Wilson & Ian Snell for Ronny Cedeno, Jeff Clement, Nathan Adcock, Brett Lorin and Aaron Pribanic. Here’s how the players are performing for their new teams since the trade was completed.

Stats thru Aug.29 ...Ian Snell won his 3rd game in a row last night.

Jack Wilson – Seattle Mariners – SS

1 HR  5 RBI  .215 **  18 G  65 AB  8 R  14 H  14 K  3 BB  1 SB ** .246 OBP .338 SLG

Ian Snell – Seattle Mariners – RHP

3-1,   5.10 ERA  **  6 G  30 IP  25H  6 HR  15 K  19 BB  ** 1.47 WHIP .223 OP AVG.

Ronny Cedeno – Pittsburgh – SS – Bats : R

4 HR  12 RBI  .288 **  23 G  73 AB  9 R  21 H  9 K  2 BB  1 SB ** .316OBP .479 SLG

Jeff Clement – Indy – 1B -  Bats: L

7 HR 22 RBI .221 ** 25 G,  95 AB, 16R 21 H, 25 K, 12 BB, 1 SB ** .313 OBP .463 SLG

Nathan Adcock – Lynchburg - RHP

3-1, 3.50 ERA **  5 G,  18 IP, 18H,  4 HR, 11 K, 5 BB ** 1.27WHIP  .254 OP AVG.

Brett Lorin – West Virginia – RHP

1 – 1 , 1.93 ERA ** 5 G, 23.1IP, 23 H, 1 HR, 15 K , 9 BB ** 1.38 WHIP .277 OP AVG

Aaron Pribanic – West Virginia - RHP

3 – 1, 2.42 ERA ** 5 G, 26 IP, 19 H,  5 HR,  12 K. 4 BB ** 0.88 WHIP .200 OP AVG.

777777777777777777777777777777777777777

Tomorrow (MADD MONDAY) we review the McLouth trade results.

Some thoughts on th lists:

for all of the discussion of salary inequities in baseball, anyone who believes spending is the Bucs' primary problem need only look at our BEST list.  For 17 years, that is pathetic.  Pathetic.  The inability of this team to find more impact players is simply amazing.  Guys like KY, Jack, and Al Martin should never be the best players at their position for a season, let alone 17 year stretch.  They say even a blind squirril finds a nut once in a while.  What does that make the Pirates?

Second, glad to see my namesake make the list.  But I will tell you:  in 1999, I watched Jimmy mow down Mike Piazza and the Mets in less than 2 hours.  It was one of the most dominating pitching performances I've ever seen live.  Dk referenced the belly picture, which has been my avatar if you don't rmember it, but what you don't remeber is that Jimmy didn't just stink, he didn't care.  He could have been a great pitcher, but that dark master, the cocobean, drove him to ruin.

Finally a story:  when I was 16, I played Lefon baseball.  I could tell that i wasn't as good as the other kids.  When I finally got into a game to pitch, I got shelled and lasted only 1/3 inn.  On the busride home, my head leaned against the window and it hit me that my baseball career was over.  Last night, on the FSN Wis telecast, I saw the same look that burdened my face 17 years ago on Brian Bixler.  This kid knows he doesn't belong here.  He knows he's done. We can argue his merits, but I'm telling you, you can see it on his face:  he knows it's over.

DK's negative reporting is getting to me. Bixler is a potential Brandon Moss if he gets a chance to play.

Too many "Negative Nellies" on here.

I blame JR for the loss last night. Doumit should have started. Ryan is our leader.

All you negative people need not apply. DK, that means you.

The heading makes it seem like a "football" story, but the article at www.post-gazette.com/.../994215-66.stm has something for OLD Pirate fans (like me).

@JoeyBats: Speaking of Snell - I was fortunate to get the Seattle - KC game on the Japanese channel over here live and watched as Ian took a line drive off his right forearm. He went down but finished the 5th inning and got the win, but they took him out for precautionary x-rays. Haven't heard if they found anything......

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<  PROSPECT WATCH  >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Today’s Topic: RELIEF PITCHING (stats thru 8/29/09)

Jon Meloan – RHP – Indy (waiver deal from Tampa)

0 – 0, 4.57ERA ** 41G, 65IP, 68 H, 9 HR, 60K, 28 BB

Jeff Sues – RHP – Altoona & Indy (5th Rd, 2005 Draft: on Pirate 40 man roster)

2-6,    4.50 ERA ** 45 G,  86 IP  75 H 8 HR 84 K  42BB (2 saves)

Tyler Herron – RHP – Altoona (waiver deal from Cardinals) on D/L

2-6,  4.40 ERA **  17 Games,  71.2 IP 78H 3 HR 55 K  37 BB

Yoslan Herrera – RHP – Indy & Altoona – (free agent from Cuba)

11-1,  3.17 ERA ** 25 G, 10.2 IP 103 H  6 HR 67 K 36 BB

Dustin Molleken – RHP – Lynchb. & Altoona (15th rd, 2003 Draft)

4-2,  4.13 ERA ** 35 G, 76.1 IP 73H  7 HR 66 K 22 BB  (2 saves)

Michael Dubee – RHP – Lynchb. & Altoona (part of A. Phillips trade)

5-1,  2.30 ERA ** 48 G, 66.2 IP 63H  6 HR 75 K 12 BB ** ( 7 saves)

Casey Erickson – RHP – West Virginia (part of E. Hinske trade)

7-4,  1.81 ERA **  35 G, 79.2 IP  84 H  1 HR  66 K  19 BB

Diego Moreno – RHP- St.Col & W.Va (free agent Venezuela)

1-2,  1.47 ERA, **  17G,  43 IP, 25 H, 2 HR,  54K, 14BB  (5 saves)

Nelson Pereira – LHP – State College (free agent El Salvador)

4-5,  4.71 ERA  **  13 G,  42 IP, 37 H, 4 HR, 45K,  24 BB

Victor Black – RHP – State College ( Round 1A, 2009 Draft)

1-1, 3.55 ERA,  **  11 G,  25.1  IP, 22 H,  0 HR, 28 K,  13 BB (1 save)

Brooks Pounders – RHP – GCL Pirates (2nd Round, 2009 Draft)

2-2,  3.04 ERA  **   9 G,  23.2 IP, 19 H, 1 HR,  20 K, 11 BB

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

@Demery44: DK is just like Howard Cosell, he tells it like it is! To quote Jack Nicholson in A Few Good Men, "You can't handle the truth!

Only fun item of the evening:  So my sister calls from Erie and says she's at a pre-season hockey game.  She says she stepped outside for a moment and realized she can look into the Erie Seawolves stadium from where she's standing.  I told her to look for Pedro Alvarez on the opposing Altoona Curve.

She calls back later and is looking into the ballpark again and says laughing, "Isn't Alvarez that guy who you bought all those baseball cards because you're convinced he's a future hall of famer?... well he just struck out".  That's ok I says... cause he'll homer next time... and he did.

Is it too early to put Kevin Hart on the worst list as RH starting pitcher?

Neal has a keen eye for talent. I see Hart pitch and I see nothing.

@pi-rat (and, whoever said it on one of the previous threads)

Good summary.  When you look at our "best"... it truly is pathetic. And, until you see it on paper, it's hard to imagine that in 17 years, we didn't get at least LUCKY getting a few good people.  Especially home grown talent.  

Out of all those drafts before NH ... all we really have to show right now is Cutch... and Walker if he keeps up what he is doing.  Duke, Malholm are decent too I guess.  But, that is a lot of draft picks (and, FA's/trades) to miss on over these years.

I would say definitely more bad management than finances.

From my glass half full perspective I see the lists as nothing more than a chance to continue a rant of from bad to worse.

There is no fun in that mudville and I will bypass it.

Make it bypass that dirt road

******  RACE FOR THE 2010 Number 1 DRAFT PICK   ******

Stats thru Aug.29:

1.  Washington…….46 wins

2.  Kansas City……49 wins

3.  PIRATES…….. 53 wins

     Baltimore……..  53 wins

5.  Cincinnati……..  56 wins

     San Diego……... 56 wins

7.  Oakland………..57 wins

8.  Cleveland …….. 58  wins

*********************************************

Good Morning Inmates...

Well it was another tough lost last night.  I didn't think that Kevin Hart pitched to bad last night.  It seemed that both starting pitchers were strugling with the home plate umpires ever changing strike zone.  It seemed that Hart was very fustrated with the lack of called strikes.  The wife even asked me last night in the 3rd or 4th inning where the strike zone was located.  I told her that it looked like it might be a 1 foot by 1 foot box...I seriously couldn't tell her where it was.  

Oh, and Kevin Hart didn't hit Ryan "i'm a cry baby" Braun last night.  It looked like that pitch hit the end of the bat and not his hands.  If that low 90's fast ball would have struck his hands, you would have seen him holding or shake his hand in pain.  There was none of that last night.  He just dropped the bat, said something to Jason, and went to first.

Well anyway, the wife and I will be at Miller Park again this afternoon.  Im looking forward to seeing the Big O pitch, and she is looking forward to seeing her boy toy Andy play 3rd again.  I will also be taking my meds early this morning so I can deal with all the wonderful brewer fans that I will have to deal with.  (I will try and post a recap of my experience at the park this week.)

Let's go Buc's!

BuccoFanInWI wrote re: Morning links: Final best/worst lists

on Sun, Aug 30 2009 2:16 PM

Good Morning Inmates

Bob walk said at one point that the pitch was belt high down the pike and it was called a ball.

Club Record as GM thru 8/29/2009:

The 20th straight loss for the Nuttings in Milwaukee has  Wrong Way Huntington marching in his usual direction:

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

Bonifay-------- 616 - 775 = .442 % - 4 / 9

Littlefield------ 421 - 549 = .434 % - 2 / 6

Huntington--- 120 - 169 = .415 % - 1 / 1

Winning percentage + last place finishes during tenure.

A 1 for 4 night with a HR actually raises MIke Schmidt Jr.'s Slugging % and OPS, his ave and OBP remain the same.

The Andy LaRoche Line - Career as a Major Leaguer:

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

Games: 231

HR: 13 / RBI: 74

Ave: .222 / OBP: .311 / Slg%: .331 / OPS: .642

And introducing yet another new addition to the blog going forward:

Mario Mendoza's Revenge:

The Brian Bixler career line

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

AB = 141 / K's: 59 / K% = 42%

.170 AVE / .235 / OBP / .234 Slg% / .469 OPS

Jersey Joe...

Well I was stuck watch the FSN Wisconsin Brewer feed, so I go to listen to the brewer homer crew just rag on how bad the Pirates are.  They were *** that the Pirates hit Braun...and were throwing inside on Prince.  

I was at the game on Friday, and I still don't really know what happen to Dommit.  We were sitting directly behind the Pirate dug out and we couldn't understand why Dommit was taken out.  My first reaction was that he was benched because of injury.  The wife thought that it was because he wasn't running hard to first.  

Today we will be sitting on the 3rd base line right behind the tarp.  I will be the black shirt in the sea of drunken blue shirts.  

Bixler is not even an Adam Hydzu. Time to face the truth.

Adam Hyzdu is a god in Altoona, PA where he had arguably the greatest single season performance by a Curve player ever and he is freakin' Babe Ruth compared to Brian Bixler.

BuccoFanInWI wrote re: Morning links: Final best/worst lists

on Sun, Aug 30 2009 2:39 PM

Jersey Joe...

will be looking for you

Very early this AM i wrote - and had trampled by ants - that when Leyland received players for minors, he almost always put them in the lineup in their first game, even day of arrival.  It was often commented on by the beat writer at the time. (Homer? Socrates?)  He didn't want them sitting on the bench wondering what the big leagues would be like.

Hello JR?  Jim Leyland calling...

NuHo,

  I was looking at those same career lines fr Andy last night and laughing. He has had SIGNIFICANT major league time now and needs to produce, enough of the excuses. And how about JJ now getting on the Bixler hasn't had a chance soapbox? He might have the worst stats in the history of MLB for a non pitcher strikeout wise, can't field, and runs the bases like he is drunk. A rather noble cause to champion.

In response to JJ from the previous thread...Bix was brought up to fill a utility role though, not to be a starter.

And it's not like he hadn't been up here before...he's had a couple of call ups since I've been here.  \

And last night wasn't on Hart...the defense blew some outs.  DY didn't play a ball correctly and both Pearce and Bix had errors.  It happens, but it seems to happen more in Milwaukee.

I am confused why Moss is getting benched though, unless they want to see more of Pearce at 1st.  That is the only thing I can think of.  Moss deserves more time -- he has been hitting better when he gets starts.

BuccoFaninWI,

I watched the game on FSN as well and got tired of the Brewer announcers whining everytime Hart pitched Fielder or Braun inside.  I thought that is what a pitcher is supposed to do.  Overall, I thought Hart pitched pretty well--if he gets a little d and a consistent strike zone he would have been through the 6th giving up only 2 runs.

Anyway good luck at Miller Park.  The thing that cracks me up about Brewer fans is that the Brewers have won exactly one more playoff game than the Pirates in the last 17 years and they act like they cheer for the Yankees.

Streak ends today!

i think it's time for a whole lotta inside pitches today

one or two may get away from 'em

careful with that ax, eugene

ants marching======================================

Joey Bats : your list of relief pitching prospects is far from complete.Leaving Michael Dubee and Jean Machi  might have been forgiveable,but leaving Ramon Aguero out is a little short sighted.He has better " stuff " than most you have listed.

Can we call them the Bawlin' Brewers?  

Jeez Louise...pitchers are allowed to pitch inside, just so long as they're not actually trying to hit the batter.  

I don't see our players complaining after Milledge got tagged by a pitch yesterday.

Drew,  here is a little help with your call

www.youtube.com/watch

Bats : I owe you one ! I see you did have Dubee listed.My comment about Aguero still stands though.

DMAC, I hear that idea but like I said also on the last night line,

when Mary lou Retton was asked about taking a day off  and what it did to her she said it takes a week to get back what you lose in a day off.

JOHN VANDER WAL had 24hrs and 94 rbi with a 299 avg in 2000.  That is not a BUST!

NO PIRATE WILL ACCOMPLISH THAT THIS YEAR!!!!

Scott421 : neither Vander Wal or Matt Stairs should ever be considered a " bust ".VW was,and Stairs still is,a true professional hitter.

Nu Hos : though I couldn't agree with you more regarding La Roche's numbers,why are you so concerned ? About June of next season,it won't matter who is playing third base,they will be moved !

Wow.

After reading (and participating) in this lovely Top 10 exercise, I don't know whether to call the Better Business Bureau (Hello?  I'd like to file a complaint . My team's GM just signed Matt Morris and picked up all of his salary.) or the Attorney General's Consumer Protection division.

Sometimes you get blinded by being a fan.  Looking at those list of names and lack of accomplishments is sobering - after years of reckless Kool Aid chugging.  Its tough to wake up and smell reality.  

I am very disappointed for Chris Stynes, who gave it his all to make this team. In half a season before they benched and finally released their free agent 3rd baseman, Stynes hit .216 with 1 HR and 16 RBIs. Talk about power from the corner position! And he accomplished this with a batting stance that suggested he'd never before tried to hit a ball with a bat.

He was so bad that his 10-year MLB career came to an abrupt end when the Pirates released him. No other team would touch him after that putrid performance. Even the Orioles cut him the next year in spring training.  

But then again, even Stynes couldn't match Doug Strange, a 1998 free agent who batted .173 with 0 HRs and 14 RBIs (OPS .217, SLG .216) in 90 games and 185 ABs. Compared to Stynes and Strange, Jose Hernandez looked like Pie Traynor and Mike Schmidt rolled into one. And Hernandez was awful!!!  

If there is one thing I question and I have before is the advancement in our hitting coach's techniques.

Just do not see certain basic hitting requirements in advancement.