Post-Gazette beat writers Dejan Kovacevic and Chuck Finder blog about the Pittsburgh Baseball Club.
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Onezies
jason bay, kip wells, jason michaels.....how many more former glory/gory bucs step to the FA bar?
Since Bay filed ....how many people here are silly enough to think he was going to give a "hometown discount"?The Red Sox didn't get a"hometown discount".I guess this pretty much means the Bucs were shrewd enough to realize that signing Bay was pretty far-fetched.Although those people drinking the "we should have kept Bay"kool aid have egg on their faces.Last I heard Bay was offered 12-15 million.The Bay kool aid has a bit of an after taste.Even after straining it through a Red Sock.
Arriba -
I didn't say McLain's 1968 was average, I said it was just ABOVE average. Now, it was well above average for sure but not other worldly. You have to put his feat into the context of that time.
The Tigers were by far the best offensive team that year - and they were incredible in his starts, scoring 5.23 runs per game in a year when the average was 3.41.
Out of 41 starts, they were only shut out once, and scored 2 runs or less only 7 times.
If he would have just allowed the league average runs every start, he would have won 29 games.
Now, that said, he did much better than that, but he wasn't even the best pitcher that year.
Luis Tiant had an ERA of 1.60 and FIP of 2.04, and an even lower WHIP of .87.
But Tiant played for the Indians, and they only scored 3.2 runs per game for him and got shutout 4 times. In fact, if Tiant had just pitched league average every start, he would have won only 9 games. So put into that perspective, Tiant going 21-9 is a lot more impressive than McLain going 31-6.
Maz....you are EXACTLY right. There was never a chance the Bucs could have resigned Bay prior to him filing for FA. Why on earth would he take a hometown discount?
And, even given the current economy, he probably hit the perfect storm with the Yankees winning the World Series. At some point, Boston will panic and offer some outrageous amount to him. They cannot slip further out of the Yankees reach, you know. If they Yankees were as smart as they think they are, they would drive up the price on him first. Worst case....they'd get him.
hello (hello)
boy sure is empty (empty)
Well looks like a good time to say goodnight mrs calabash wherever you are.
Well, as slim a chance as there might have been to extend Bay, it's possible they might have been able to do it. Certainly, it seems unlikely now that we see how much he is expecting to get. I still think there's a good chance he re-signs with the Red Sox.
On the next Pirate OF we're going to see next year, Jose Tabata is tearing up the AFL. Another 2 hits tonight to raise his line to .372 / .419 / .513.
Chase D'Arnaud is starting to adjust to the harder competition there - 3 hits tonight, and is hitting .294/.385 in the last 9 games. He really shows promise with a high OBP - has had an OBP of .400 since signing last year.
Speaking of OBP...I heard an interview with Theo Epstein and he says some very interesting things about how to put together a team. Specifically, how important OBP is to a team and why JD Drew is so valuable despite not getting a lot of RBIs.
www.youtube.com/watch
Maz -
1. The Pirates got Moss and Andy for Bay.
2. The Pirates can't (won't) even afford to re-sign their best player.
Think about what that means in the long-term.
Now - who's drinking the Kool-Aid?
Curious, if you go back to read the PG piece on the Bay trade, you'll see they almost didn't trade him because they didn't feel like they were going to get enough.
The crux of it was that they felt (rightly or not) that there was no way they could restock the system and fix the pitching staff unless they did it by trading the high value players they had.
HEAR YE HEAR YE
Next gathering Special Guest
Lou DePaoli
Executive Vice president and Director of Media Marketing
Date: December 5th.
Complete information to follow
Morning Links
Parker: Late Series losing luster (Not Dave Parker)
www.t-g.com/.../1584775.html
A dream come true for Polcovich
www.auburnpub.com/.../latestnews06.txt
Lackey, Holliday, Bay highlight first day of free agent filings
www.seattlepi.com/.../mlbnews.asp
Big spending, big return for Yankees
washingtontimes.com/.../big-spending-big-return-for-yankees
Indian players make a mark in game of baseball in US
www.thaindian.com/.../indian-players-make-a-mark-in-game-of-baseball-in-us_100270568.html
THE OFFICIALLY UNOFFICIAL PBC BLOGS AND MLB LINKS:
Sandlot Swashbucklers-AFL: Pirates Hitters Spark Winning Rally
mvn.com/.../afl-pirates-hitters-spark-winning-rally.html
Sandlot Swashbucklers--Machi Earns Save #6; Cruz Has The Walk-Off Hit
mvn.com/.../machi-earns-save-6-cruz-has-the-walk-off-hit.html
The Green Weenie--#25 Jeff Sues
oldbucs.blogspot.com/.../25-jeff-sues.html
PBC Home Page--No Pirates eligible for free agency
pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/.../article.jsp
MLB transactions
www.cbssports.com/.../transactions
Bucco Fans--Pittsburgh Pirates Top 50 Prospects: 21 - Daniel McCutchen
www.buccofans.com/.../pittsburgh-pirates-top-50-prospects-21.html
Bucco Fans Wiki--Links to many things
buccofans.wikispaces.com
North Side Notch-A Missed Opportunity
www.northsidenotch.com/.../missed-opportunity.html
Inside Pittsburgh Sports--Iwumara Will Add Some Flair to The Pirate Clubhouse
insidepittsburghsports.com/.../18567
Pirate Winter League Stats
mlb.mlb.com/.../org.jsp
VOTE-This Year in Baseball Awards
mlb.mlb.com/.../index.jsp
The Pirates have a best player? How is that contest judged? By style of sideburns?
Oh goody. Maz started the talk about the Bay trade, so I guess it's open season today on the Bay trade. If I get time, I'll repeat everything I've said before, but the bottom line is what happens to Bay contractwise after going to Boston has little to nothing to do with what happened in Pittsburgh prior to the trade. I have never heard the FO, to their credit, say they traded Bay because they didn't think they could re-sign him. DK in his MM interview this week, while not specifically tying it t Bay, said the FO decided to win with what they had they would have had to have added risky high-priced starting pitching, which scared them to death.
Mark--I did notice after I posted that in describing McLain's 31-6 you didn't just use the term "average," you said "only above average." I disagree, respectfully, that Tiant's pitching that year, great as it was, was "a lot more impressive." I followed McLain's quest that year and it was a lot more impressive to me then and now. 31-6 is 31-6. Do you think the stats factor in the amount of pressure he was under and the mental fortitude it took? I don't. And I'm guessing it was more than Luis was under.
it's like being the smartest kid on the short bus
JLP--I think if/when you change your avi to something other than modified DK pictures (which I hope is a long way off, BTW) we should judge which incarnation was the best/funniest. For me, right now, it would be a close race between your current one and the one with the beret.
We traded Jason Bay?! When did this happen?! What did we get in return?!
Somebody please post the WHOLE LONG STINKING STORY O---N---E M---O---R---E T---I---M---E
Just now, on Mike and Mike, Peter Gammons was talking bout how well some teams have spent money (or not). He said re: PBC:
"Pittsburgh has (spent money well) the last couple of year and maybe it will pay off for them in four years or so"
FOUR YEARS?!?!?!
SOMEBODY GET ME PoH'S NEW AVATAR OR A VERY VERY SHARP STICK
Drew---take it up with maz. Some days he criticizes people for bringing up old stuff, some days he brings up old stuff.
JLP: Avatar - Cats, no doubt, you funny little minx
Drew--if Gammons is right Neal's a gonner under your/my formula.
If M&M said it, it must be true.
Maz? where are you? Maz!!
YOU'RE IN BIG TROUBLE, MISTER
What's a gonner? Sorry, goner.
Arriba and My - Yes and Yes
(Pithy, huh?)
M&M didn't say it, MKT, DK did.
Drew--How Rude!
Actually, it was Peter Gammons on M&M. Not M&M or DK. Bottom line is that they're all simply selling ad space.
Sorry, MKT, not refreshing often enough. Got it.
not rude...pithy. (ps, i type with a lisp)
I have noticed our friends in Iowa are a little moody.
Maybe it's the corn fields that never seem to end.
Maybe it's the howling winds.
Maybe it's because they get 3 sunny days a year.
Maybe it's because they're in Iowa.
Arriba
This is baseball blog, not a wrestler blog so stop posting about poor "Ravishing" Rick Rude who is dead :)
@ Drew: They traded Jason Bay? That's an outrage! When did that happen?
@ My-Key-Tee: I have been meaning to ask you: Is your avatar Dr Jack Kevorkian? That is so cool if it is as I understand he is now the PBC's Director of Organizational Health...
Jose
1
@ JAL: Can we write about posting in a baseball blog? I am thinking we should be posting about posting in a poosting blog... : )
2
oops - make that: posting blog...keyboard malfunction...
3
The Nutting ownership is going to be a topic on the local radio station soon.
I will post the link to the podcast on the afternoon links if it's any good.
We can post about posting if we want to post something that posts a question about posts that are are about posting or the Post Office :)
Demery - your Iowa post was a bit long for a haiku but a beautiful poem nonetheless. Thanks for bringing a bit of culture to this place.
IT'S A CULTURE OF CULTURE!
srsly.
@ Drew: I thought it was more like a Burma Shave ad...
@ JAL: Perhaps a poster could devise a poster showing how posts can be posted using the Post Office or the electronic posting board...
4
Drew and JAL--I thought Drew posted "You're in Big Trouble, Mister" from Full House, so i picked Stephanie's signature phrase. My kids are at the age that I have seen each episode at least 4 times.
@ Drew71
I heard the same comments from Gammons and I didn't get the same takeaway that you did.
What I took away from it was not "they'll finally win in four years" but rather "this team, when its good young players are due to be paid, will be well-positioned to do so because they haven't saddled themselves with onerous and damaging contracts to average players like the previous regimes did with Jason Kendall, Pat Meares, Derek Bell, Kevin Young, etc."
Of course, I could be completely wrong about that, but that was how I interpreted the comment.
BTW--I don't think I'm silly, nor do I have egg on my face.
Arriba, lets be fair, you are as tricky as an esquire. Maz complains about the never ending conversations that I may add you seem to love and maybe why you left that point out about how cheap the nuittings are.
Only if they are eating Post Toasties or providing a post mortem
My guess is MM has trench mouth. I have never heard a more obnoxious human being in my life. I listened to him one time and in that less than five minutes he called a senior fan of sports numerous names and then hung up on him berating him after the hangup by him.
pity the soul who put him back on the air and thank Bob Smizek for his role in bringing to light a reality that minds like his have no place where kids can listen unsupervised.
Morning mates, good tidings
Gammons - 4 years, that is 2013
Expect and hope
Ah, I feel much better
Demery could you pass on anything you hear on the radio? It is highly illegal here to go to radio stations on the blog, the cyber cops are always out there....
there once was a young lad named post
he is here from there coast to coast
let a sleeping dog lie
he will give a shy
hoping he does not boast but is a gracious host
Arriba: Yeah! Tricky. That's you! Must have been all those episodes of Full House...
5
Morning all,
JJ, love your poetry. If we could somehow twist it into iambic pentameter, I'm pretty sure we could get it published. :)
p.s. I'll want a signed copy!
p.p.s. No, I'll want two (one for ebay).
ding, ding, ding...JLP you are correct. Dr Jack is in the house and always ready to supply his unique services to whomever has been pushed to that point by the PBC.
Or maybe you just need to talk it out ;)
(personally, I hope he burns in hell, but that's an OS topic)
Arriba - NOW i get the reference. Serious mrs drew story...she once CALLED ME AT WORK to tell me:
"YOU'RE IN BIG TROUBLE MISTER. YOU'RE IN BIG TROUBLE MISTER!!!" (Click!)
Sorry - Jose - I'm multi tasking this am (actually trying to work and get kids on the bus too) and mistakenly credited JLP for your correct siting of Dr. Jack.
Carry on folks....
How much/long is Cedeno under contract for?
Mark-How does his WAR compare to Jack's?
Does anyone think we should sign Garland for $6/mil?
I thought NH was at one time all hot and bothered by Hermida of the Marlins. It seems he could have been had for a song and a prayer and at 26 would fit the FO MO of business.
Thoughts?
@ My: No worries! I remember a really funny thing about the use of Dr Jack. A number of years ago at the Indy 500, Team Penske was way off the pace and in danger of not qualifying for the 500. At one point during practice, someone got on the PA system and said:
"Dr Kevorkian, Dr Jack Kevorkian; please report to the Penske Pits immediately!"
Classic,
6
@Johnny Ray:
I think Jon Garland is a good pitcher for $6 mil-- he eats innings. Not a great ERA, though. I guess it would depend on who you thought was gonna be in the mix for rotation slots. If Lincoln and McCutchen are both ready, then Garland would probably be a waste of money. So in short-- I don't know for sure, but I'd lean toward a Garland signing.
I just don't get why everyone loves Hermida. When I've seen him, which I admit isn't often, I get the impression that he's got one of those long, timing-dependant swings that pitchers can exploit. But I'm no expert or anything.
Johnny
I think Cedeno is signed through 2010, has arb year in 2011 and can be an FA in 2012
Johnny Ray, SteveP - I'm surprised that the Sox are so happy to get him. His numbers have been falling since his rookie year, with his last two years being pretty unimpressive.
Come on now. Jimmy Anderson ate innings also, that doesn't mean he's worth $6 million a year. Oh wait, that wasn't innings he was eating. Nevermind.
J-Ray,
How dare you bring up actual baseball talking points! You're in big trouble, mister!
Why is it that some folks have a problem with Ronny Cedeno? He's a solid if unspectacular SS, and a credible ML player. .258/.307 aren't great numbers, but an everyday starter with a decent glove for less than half-a-mill is perfect for this still-building team.
I hope that he and Aki develop a good chemistry.
Carry over from yesterday.....
Demery,
"I'm no fan of MM, but I'm no fan of The Drive either. Now no more disagreeing here or people will think we're actually different people."
OK, I hear you.
As I recall from his ESPN days, Madden rarely talked baseball and when he did it was apparent he didn't know what he was talking about so I bet it was refreshing to hear him ask DK good questions this week.
I've been griping for years that we don't have good drive home sports talk radio.
I refused to listen to Madden.
I think Ellis Cannon is a good guy, but I just can't listen to him. - I've never heard anyone use so many words to say so very little. He can fill so much air time and say nothing.
I still refuse to listen to Madden, I've not listened to him even once since he returned to the airwaves.
I agree the Drive is not the best, but I find it OK. At least listenable.
I sure miss the days of Myron Cope being on the radio at night back in the late 70's or early 80's.
I'd listen to Stan Savaran in a heart beat if someone would give him a prime time drive home radio show.
I even liked Thor Tolo.
Despised Paul Alexander's show. - He was always so angry and and I got the sense he didn't like his listeners very much at all.
We are in need of some better sports talk radio at night that is for sure.
Hey...I just saw a cheap, FA 1B that we could sign who would also be able to provide some much needed veteran leadership.
His name is Eric Hinske.
You mentioned J.R. Richard in last nights thread about 1 pitcher....
He was tough but I remember watching a Pirate game on TV back in either 78 or 79 against the Astros in the Astrodome against Richard.
Parker came up and hit a HR to dead centerfield in the dome. Stargell came up and went back to back with another long HR to center. Then Milner came up and hit one off the top of the center field fence for either a double or triple. Back to back to back almost off who was arguabley the best pitcher in baseball at the time.
It was great to watch our Buccos back then.
Not off Richard, but I also remember Frank Taveras hitting an inside the park grand slam in the Astrodome I think in 78. - Maybe 77. - Down the right field line I'm pretty sure.
To answer my own question from last night.....because I am a Pirate fan, if I had to choose 1 pitcher to win a game for me, I'd pick Candelaria.
He would not let me down.
@ Zisk: Yeah! I mean, for a change there was no animosity, no name-calling and no aggro!
Let's get back on track here!
Right:.
7
Woz,
I'm fine with Cedeno there, too. Don't know what the fuss is...
That game where Parker, Stargell, and Milner hit HR, HR, and 3B off J.R. Richard was July 11th, 1979. - Just looked it up.
Bucs won 5-1, Kison was the winner, Richard the loser.
It was Parker and Stargells 16th HR's each that season.
NuHo, love your avi, but is that strategic cropping or an air brush job?-)
"How much/long is Cedeno under contract for?"
Dude, Cesar "The Next Roberto Clemente" Cedeno retired back in 1986.
Wozzle,
I'm Spartacus!
Drew,
I am very afraid of Mrs. Drew.
@ Hostage: My head tells me to go with Harvey Haddix if I had to win a game, but my heart says: Bob Moose.
Can't explain it, but for some reason he always seemed to win the ones that meant the most. Not that Candelaria is a bad choice. When he was on he was awesome.
8
off to a meeting carry on
@ JAL: Another non-baseball post!! Shame!
9
H - you should be.
- John Candelaria
Jose:
MMMMMMMMMMMMM000000000000000SSSSSSSSSSSSSEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
IT'S A CULTURE OF CANDELARIA!!
My office overlooks the Yankees parade that is starting in a few minutes. I don't know what is more annoying, the millions (literally) of people outside who don't have to work while I'm stuck at my computer, or the fact that Yankees fans are excited about a purchased championship. Big deal? Anyone with that payroll could have brought together CC, Burnett, A-Roid and the rest. I don't see the satisfaction in it(although I must admit some jealousy).
Following a team with no chance to ever win the WS, now THAT is satisfying!!
If you don't mind me asking......what was it that you did that resulted in the threatening phone call from Mrs. Drew you received at work?
It must have been a doozy.
I just want to make sure I don't ever do what ever it was that you did.
The Rangers said they will not be pursuing Blalock and will most likely not be able to keep Byrd either.
I know...
But it would be nice to have some stable bats in the lineup rather than hoping for miracles, well....not miracles...but....you get my point.
Jose,
I gave serious consideration to Bruce Kison too.
Always liked Kison.
H - not at all but can't do it in public forum. seriously. email?
Wait 10 minutes and then send me an email through the my blog login.
I'm dying to know so I can make sure I never do whatever it was you did.
;-)
will do.
- the candy man
Arriba Wilver said
Amazing... how I put ONE post about an old subject and it gets complaints and others post day after day ad nauseum on a subject.I was wondering what other stuff "I was bringing up".I realize there are no absolutes and no one I know is totally without hypocrisy.Some feel guilty.I don't.And no I was not singling anyone out.
My apologies Arriba Wilver.
In the meantime, I'll tell you the biggest screw up I ever made that angered Mrs. Hostage.
Back in 2002 we bought a new house and the closing was scheduled 2 months out so we had plenty of time to pack our belongings.
Each weekend we did a room or two.
Back at that time Mrs. Hostage use to get her quarterly bonuses from work in the form of American Express gift cards.
She had saved $400 worth and had put them in this decorative little tin can we had received gourmet popcorn in once that I kept in my home office.
As I was packing up my home office, I forgot those gift cards where in there and I thought "why have I been keeping these stupid little tin cans, I'm throwing them away because I don't want them cluttering up the new place".
She came in my office a few days later and said, "Hey where is the tin can with my bonus money"?
I went white as a ghost.
Thankfully, her company recorded the serial numbers and they were able to reissue new cards to her and I was able to actually survive the harrowing ordeal.
But man that was a long night until she confirmed her company and AMEX could reissue.
please, do not mention 'one game on the line' and bob MOOOOOOOOOOOSe. it's still breakfast time here on the left side.
buc pitcher for season: moose was awesome.
starter and pen for one game: I'm going with blass as starter and then teke to set up guisti.
ahhh...that FA hinske and all those rings....will sucker someone else undoubtedly.
Whydidn't I
_____________________________
Regardless of what happens with these two, the Bucs solved the 1-2-3 spots in the order and need a 4 hitter, I don't know if either of these guys are capable of hitting in that slot.
@ Hostage: Kison was wicked good in money games.
10
To Whomever Might Care re: Blalock:
I dunno... I think it'd take a heck of a lot of money to get him here. While he can still hit, can he even play anywhere in the field anymore? Doesn't he get hurt a lot? I don't get the idea of shelling out a lot of money for an almost purely offensive player. If he'd come cheap or reasonable-priced, that's a different story. Does he cost draft picks?
But let's say that Jones flops next season. Yeah, I suppose it would be nice to have Blalock being able to pick up that slack offensively. But I'd just as soon try Clement or Alvarez there. Just seems like too much to pay just to have Garrett Jones insurance.
Blalock is a pretty good player and probably has a few good offensive years left in him, but for the PBC right now... I dunno.
A listing of FAs.I hope this wasn't already posted.If it was sorry.
www.mlbtraderumors.com/.../2010-mlb-free-a.html
Hostage -
Just read the saga of you and tossing out Mrs. Hostage's bonus gift cards.
Sounds like you are the anti-Nutting in more ways than one. He won't spend and you literally throw away money.
Steve,
Adam Laroche is a better option than Blalock.
What about that Bonds guy to play some RF? He's a defensive liability...but he might be able to add some stability to the cleanup spot?
<--- Runs before the storm of tomatoes comes hailing down
===========================
I disagree. Don't you know that ol' Robert and Ogden sit on the porch of their Wheeling, WV platantio..err...home and light up cuban cigars using crisp $100 bills?
Money...beee-ewww-tiful money.....
I know it's not going to happen or matter to anyone, but if Hank Blalock has a good year....
I'll remind everyone.
Maybe I'll do a daily update on Hank Blalock throughout the season.
Sound good?
You know who is the anti-nutting?
Sam Cooke...
"If I don't find me a honey to help me spend my money, I'm gonna have to blow this town."
Ahhhh....
Soo gooood.
I noticed that we could get back most of the guys we traded away, if we want to!
Hmm, lets see, if we get Nady back, that means we got a whole bunch of good players and only traded Marte away,
Hmm, lets see if we get Adam LaRoach back, that means we traded him for nothing and got him back for nothing.
Hmm, Hinske, Na, I don't even want to think about it, one of Neal's worst dumpster diving attempts.
Hmm, Mike Gonzolos, If we get Gonzo back and Adam LaRoach back, we would have given up nothing and still have both.
Hmm, Jack Wilson, If we get him back, we would have gotten a bunch of players from the Mariners and given up nothing.
Hmm, Jason Bay, if we get him back we would have gotten a bunch of players and given up nothing.
Trades, Trades, Trades, what will happen in the next episode of Pittsburgh's number one soap opera "As Neal Deals".
Why Didn't I -
LOL. And now you have me wondering if Cuban cigars are still illegal in the USA.
21
______________________
He could very well be if we start him off with our A team in Bradendon until it warms up here, like maby June.
I don't know about any of you, but I had a sigh of relief at the end of the Mrs. NuHo story. I know all too well that these things are never forgotten and are only brought up when they know that they're in the wrong and they need a good diversion.
Why Didn't I get to see Roberto?
I'm with you there.Don't get me going on Motown too.
Yet another example of why marijuana should be legal...
Tim Lincecum busted for smoking pot.
sports.espn.go.com/.../story
So that makes the entire NBA, Michael Phelps, 'Tone, and now Lincecum...
yet it's illegal. And alcohol and tobacco are fine as long as you're 18 (or 19 in this great Garden State) or 21. Has anyone ever noticed how the world is quite backwards sometimes?
"Blalock is a pretty good player"
This sentiment cracks me up.
Blalock has been unable to play anywhere near a complete season since 2006 due to ongoing problems with varies injuries and last season he slumped to .234 / .277 / .459.
Not only that, his shoulder injuries prevent him from being able to play 3B anymore. At this point he is simply a 1B / DH.
Oft injured and .234 / .277 sure isn't "very good" in my book.
Hank Blalock WAS a "pretty good player" a few years ago.
Today he is nothing more than a reclamation project.
I don't think the PBC can afford risking the little bit of payroll they are willing to spend on an injury risk .234 hitter.
Hank Blalock! We gotta get him. Pittsburgh's the perfect place for him to revive his career. Out lineup would look as follows:
1. McCutchen CF
2. Iwamura 2B
3. Milledge LF
4. Jones RF
5. Blalock 1B
6. Doumit C
7. LaRoche 3B
8. Cedeno SS
9. P
Looks a little bit more respectable doesn't it?
In the late 80s, I watched a Pittsburgh TV reunion on QEX. They told a story of how, I think it was, Adam Lynch led off the 6 o'clock news after the Bob Moose wild pitch with "What a $#!££¥ way to lose a game!"
NH,
I don't see why it would hurt to take a chance on Blalock for $3 or $4 million a year. Players have come back from injuries, he'd fit in well with the short porch in right.
============================
Ryan Doumit.
Jeff Francouer and Bill Hall had pretty good seasons back in 2006 too and just like Blalock their performance has declined since then.
I wonder if the "I love Blalock" camp thinks Francouer and Hall are "pretty good players" too?
If so, our standards have sure slipped around here.
Also NuHo,
It's amazing what a change of scenery can do for a player i.e. Adam LaRoche last year. Boston's looking to do the same with Jeremy Hermida. Blalock in a "buy low" guy.
What the Sam Hell does Ryan Doumit have to do with Blalock?????
Is that the best you can do???
H - email sent
G - great line re: H being the anti-Nutting
WN - not for $3-4 million. He may be work take-a-flier money, but i dont think he'll sign for take-a-flier money. No problem with Blalock at the veteran minimum, but i think that will never happen.
WNels,
A change of scenery hasn't helped Jeff Francouer recapture the same success he had in 2006 in Atlanta.
Actually, I'm sure there must be a few examples about the change of scenery thing because everyone always says that, but I would challenge you to show me a few examples of where a player had good success, then had 3 bad years, went to a new club and all of a sudden was good again 4 seasons later.
boy are you all gonna HATE my next Candy avatar.
wait for it.
Out for the afternoon. Carry on.
that was a fast change.
bye now
NuHo,
There's examples to prove both of our sides. I'm just a glass half-full kinda guy and your a glass half-empty kinda guy.
Please list a few that fit this classification.
1) Was good and productive.
2) Had 3 bad / injury years.
3) Went to a new club.
4) Got good again.
Thanks.
====================================
You said that "I don't think the PBC can afford risking the little bit of payroll they are willing to spend on an injury risk .234 hitter."
I'm simply pointing out the fact that (other than me and a few others) most on here support Ryan Doumit being on this team, yet when Hank Blalock gets brought up, those same people say it wouldn't be a smart signing. At least Hank has had a history of staying healthy (although with a histiry of injury too), whereas Doumit has had 1 season (1...1...I'll spell it...O-N-E) season of playing over 100 games.
Tis all.
On Cedeno -
Here's why I don't think Cedeno is good for the Pirates...
Here are Cedeno's defensive UZR/150 numbers in his career when he has played more than a small number of games:
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2006 with Cubs...134 games...-2.0 UZR/150
2009 with Mariners/Pirates...82 games...-3.6 UZR/150
Total games at SS in career....287 games... -5.6 UZR/150
Jack Wilson UZR/150 numbers...
2008 ... 80 games... +16.7 UZR/150
2009 ... 105 games... +20.4 UZR/150
We all know that defense is the most important aspect for a shortstop to have. It is proven that the difference between the best defender and worst defender on any corner position is around 20 runs per year. But for shortstop and centerfielder, the difference between best and worst is around 40 runs per year. That's why you go for defense up the middle and offense on the corners.
Wins (WAR) are calculated at 10 runs per win - in other words, if you either score or save 10 runs, the team expected win total increases by 1. So 40 runs = 4 more wins.
Which means replacing the worst defensive shortstop with the best defensive shortstop should turn a team that is 18 games below 500 into a team that is only 10 games below 500.
Here is the defensive leaderboard for shortstop:
www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx
So, you see Jack is best in the league, and Ronny is in the lower third. The difference between Jack's runs saved defensively and Ronny's is around 23 over 150 games, which means the Pirates would lose 2.3 more games with Ronny Cedeno than with Jack if you assume that Cedeno and Jack are about the same offensively.
Now, 2.3 games might not seem like a lot, but that's how you get better. It's the same difference if you exchanged Adam LaRoche (2.4) with Ryan Howard (4.8)! Who wouldn't do that?
It seems like many people are searching for one player that is going to make a huge difference in wins immediately, and ignoring the fact that one player on their own makes a very small difference.
Albert Pujols was worth 8.4 WAR this year. Steve Pearce was worth -.4. So substituting Steve Pearce with Albert Pujols only gives you 9 more wins over the season.
Or, you can substitute Delwyn Young with Iwamura (+2 wins), Jack Wilson for Ronny Cedeno (+2 wins), healthy Doumit for Jaramillo (+3 wins), and Marlon Byrd for Brandon Moss (+2.5 wins).
Doing those little things, and you accomplish the same thing as if you switched Pearce with Pujols and kept the rest of last year's lineup.
"A change of scenery hasn't helped Jeff Francouer recapture the same success he had in 2006 in Atlanta."
Not at all. He only hit .311 with 10 HR's and 41 RBI's in 75 games.
Do you know how to read?
I just clicked over to read the Lincecum story and then went to the ESPN home page. Once there, I'm greeted with a pic of the Yankees raising the trophy with the tag line "Conquering Heroes" and I felt like punching my monitor.
They aren't heroes...they're freaking mercenaries willing to sell themselves to the highest bidder.
Upper 60s to low 70s for the next 4 days.Life in the midwest is good.I'm hoping for mid 70s even.We may have a lot of corn,but I'm going to be grilling in short sleeves through Monday.
@why didn't I
BEING A PIRATES FAN! out here we have medical mj, I think all I would have to do is tell my doc is the pain and suffering of 17 years and I could med-up for 2010.
Holy cow....who knew that women's soccer was such a contact sport?
espn.go.com/.../clip
I think that the Steelers just found Hines Ward's replacement. This girl would definitely continue the tradition as the dirtiest player in the game.
I think all I would have to do is tell my doc is the pain and suffering of 17 years and I could med-up for 2010.
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Reason for prescription: Pirate Fan
AHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
Whoa - that soccer chick needs to be suspended. Crazy.
Reminds me of when I was on the soccer team in high school. A guy on our team was famous for fouling players, and then flopping to make it look like he was fouled himself.
One time he was playing goalie and we were getting killed in a tournament. The ball was bounding in towards him and the other team was always trying to intimidate him by rushing right up in his face when he caught the ball. He stepped up as he caught the ball and lifted his knee right into the opposing player's crotch and the guy went down like a stone.
The opponent was red carded.
Ants have marched
1&2&3&4 hut
leadoff- I liked your post but disagree with your Bay statement. We actually got nothing in the Bay deal.
Stevie Pegues- I am in 100% agreement with you as far as Alvarez and Clements go.
WNel- I don't like Milledge in 3 hole.
My lineup for the Pirates June 2010
1) Iwwy Pop 2b
2) Mr. 5 Tool lf
3) Cutch cf
4) The Legend rf
5) Pedro 3b
6) Clements 1b
7) TheJarman c
8) Jack's Back ss
9) Duke p
**Clements will be a platoon with the Legend at 1b with the RF either Moss/Pierce/Blalock/ budget OF d'jour
Doumit will be gone by July
If FO signs a real RF then the Legend is at 1b and Clements is in AAA
Mark- I was a big fan of the WAR equator until it said that Albert Pujols is only worth 8 more wins than Steve Pierce, lol
How long does Alvarez need to be in AAA so he doesn't lose a year of control?