Pirates eye free agent Duchscherer

I am certainly not surprised no one picked up Karstens, although I bet a lot of teams would've considered him if he weren't a Super 2.  The Bucs aren't the only ones that think about money most of the time.

GGG...that's a very good point about the inconsistency of pitchers.  There are definitely exceptions, but a majority of arms probably do fall into that category.  It's a crapshoot.

Also, I'd be thrilled if we somehow acquired Duscherer.  Had the pleasure of meeting him at a charity golf event here in town a few years back.  Super cool cat.  If he's healthy, he could be a steal.  I like the idea of using him as a reliever, as well.  Although, I'm not sure how he'd feel about that.

Thanks for posting that Dejan.  It made me wonder if that isn't what Chris Duffy was going thru when he was with the Pirates.

He wants to start.

From prior thread :

Hitting the ball hard ?

Are you kidding me.

I come from the Wee Willie Keeler school of "hit 'em where they ain't".

I saw Rod Carew get into the Hall of Fame hitting the ball softly.

Squaring the ball up is great, it's where it lands that matters.

You can line out just as easily as get a dunk hit with less result.

Re: LEDESMA EATS HIS HAT

Was there anything in that story about him flossing with his shoelaces?

I guess he earned his stripes.

Re : Duchscherer

Sounds like what Chris Duffy went through.  The fans weren't too easy on him.

Baseball Fan

From last thread--if he was injured he should have stayed on DL--do you really not know that a pitcher coming off the DL does not come back as sharp as he was before.  Takes time to get things back to normal.

DMAC,  I understand your feeling about the use, but my collegiate dictionary defines malcontent as :  marked by a restless moody dissatisfaction with an existing state of affairs.

I still will take a team load of guys who feel this way about not playing enough.  nothing derogatory intended.  Who wants any player who is happy riding the pine.

A 4.62 ERA isn't very sharp to begin with.

Great article DK.  I've said it before and it may sound strange, but the fact is that there is less of a national spotlight on the Pirates.  That means that the Pirates could be the best team for Duscherer, Greene et al.  For better or worse, I believe they would be under less pressure.  Why should the Pirates take on this burden?  Because we could get super players within a tight budget.  Just a thought.

There's cheaper players (e.g. Ledezma) out there TripleG.  

It even feels like Xmas....you know all the threads.Like a gift to an asylum that is starving for some news.Of course maybe all this is an appetizer to the real meal Dec 7-10.

If the guy wants to start, let him start.  If it has to be in AAA, so be it.  He hasn't been on a mound since 2008, so he most likely end up starting for some AAA team.

But the guy has talent.  Do what you can to sign him and give him his shot.  

I'm not just saying cheap players by any stretch.  I'm saying "value".

I see posts are getting deleted.

Mods on patrol.  And that is a good thing.

DK - yep, I appreciate the heads-up and the link though.  It's a good catch and great article.

I just noticed that the MLB Network is doing a segment on their nightly show Hot Stove called "30 Clubs, 30 Recaps" where they focus on a different club each night.  I don't kinow if I missed it already, but does anyone know if they already did a Pirates segment and if not when it is scheduled to air?

GGG

Good point.  Pay for value. As we all know, the Pirate's have a low payroll but that is as it should be for what they have on the team, mostly 1st and 2nd year players not even in arbit.    They have a string FA"s   for which they value wasn't near the money spent.

Justin= Hidden ACE CLOSER.   HUGE HUGE HUGE.  I didn't think this guy was on the Pirates radar.  OMG.. YESSS!!!

NH do what needs to be done. This guy is worth overpaying, because you don't want the Cards or Brewers or Astros getting him.    

does he want to start or has it been reported that he prefers to start? Although they are verry different statements, everything is negotiatable in life.

Baseball- Signing this guy instantly becomes a No 1 or 2 on the staff.  I wouldn't mind seeing Hart exiled to the pen.  

At the same time, closing may be better for his arm, like Kerry Wood.  While I'm not a physician, I would think 60-70 appearances would take there toll.

As someone who has battled this kind of depression in my life, I can tell you it's one of the hardest battles you will ever fight.  When you can't see hope, or light, when all you see is the bad...it can be incredibly hard to just live each day.

When you're talking about a ML pitcher, who MUST have his mind clear to be anywhere close to effective, it literally destroys your livelihood.

Here's hoping the Pirates have what it takes to give him a chance, because I think he could be a heck of a find and they definitely can use the SP help.

BTW:  Any talk on the Rick Ankiel/Dan Uggla fronts?  Are the Pirates even considering Uggla now that we signed the guy from TB?  (Can't spell his last name LOL)

I like it!  I thought about this guy too when I read the Crasnick article.

He is what he is. But I think he could be an interesting piece in the bullpen.  And if a starter gets hurt or struggles, he would be pretty good insurance.  It's not like he will become the next Chris Carpenter. But I think it is worth the shot.  And I am optimistic (there goes that word again) that we have plenty of payroll flexibility to sign him.

that dude spend 8 years in the minors...

joer

Only talk on Ankiel is that he one of the players the pirates are looking at as possible signee.  Uggla not an FA and heard nothing trade posibility

JAL/DK,

Anyone other than Duchscherer that the Pirates are looking at, someone we might not know about?

They like to keep the payroll flexibility.

TripleG,

The Pirates were the second team the mlb network covered.  They are covering teams from worst to first.

NYPiratefan - Dang... I missed it.  Did you catch it?  How was the coverage?  Anything interesting?

TripleG,

I did watch it.  The guys were not too harsh considering.  They liked the new ownerships plan but said it was going to take some time.  They followed that with saying the team will eventually have to spend some money.  Honestly, you did not miss much.

Harold Reynolds has a man crush on Andrew McCutchen

I felt that it would be out of order to post this previously, but, given the story regarding Justin Duchscherer's clinical depression, it seems appropriate now. I have recently published a book titled "Blessed with Bipolar." The book's website is www.bipolarman.org

Interesting about Marvel going to Disney.   I wonder if Universal will have to take out the Marvel-related rides, like Spiderman and the Incredible Hulk?  

I don't know if anyone else caught this last night, but Dennis Dixon's dad was sporting an old-school Pirates' Pill Box cap last night in Baltimore, in addition to the Steelers gear.  

I'm not going to get too excited but I'd love to see a healthy Duchscherer here.  My dad saw him pitch a few times in Oakland in 2008 and really liked his stuff.  

Hmm

Thought I posted to Joe R that Dejan recently wrote that the pirate's talked to Blalock's agent.

This would be a great pickup , the only problem is IT WONT HAPPEN, After the SANO FIASCO, I am from the SHOW ME STATE OF MISSOURI FROM HERE ON OUT WITH THE BUCS...God as much as I love football, basketball, nothing like BASEBALL...

You did JAL.

Where would Blalock play?  1B if Clement doesn't work out?

Dejan

I guess it was there and then gone but couldn't have broken any rules because it did was mention your article --weird.

Duchscherer would be a great fit for the Bucs.  He's similar to Tim Hudson if starting, or could maybe work as a closer if that's a better role for his situation.

I'm not getting my hopes up, because this is the Pirates after all.  But Duke would be a much better fit than some of the other rumored names like Hank Blalock, who doesn't even have more promise for next season than Jeff Clement IMO.

Jow r

Yes, 1st is a possibility with Jones in right.  As things stand now if Clement doesn't work out then Jones would be at 1st.

Same here JAL

New ownership?

He would have to come at a discount.

Baseball fan

Yes, you did have a new ownership post which gone as is my response about the Cubs having new ownership and Marvel being sold to Disney, which Dmac saw.  

gpoing up the posts sems everything betwen 9:13 and 9:43 is missing--a half hour.

I was responding to the post about the Pirates "new" ownership.

@JAL,  I think there are more missing than just in that time frame.

All,  If the Pirates have financial flex, why not offer some guarenteed skins to Duchscherer?  Maybe 1 year plus a mutual 1 year option with some incentives.  A bit of an overpay.

What do you think it would take?

Baseball Fan

I realize that now  missed it at the time--

Even with the financial flexibility, the Pirates will shop in the bargain bin again.  They find it hard to sign anybody that is better than what they have.

Mr. Hadar: From last thread. thanks for the all things Iowa update. No problem figuring out the UNI stuff from the U of I stuff, thanks.

DMAC: What is this news about Disney?

Someone asked in a previous post if depression is what Duffy was going through when he was here.  It was also stated that the fans were pretty hard on him. If it was true depression, and it wasn't known by the vans at that time, then don't folks think that it would go better in this situation now that the facts are known before the player arrives here?

Radio

Just that Disney is purchasing Marvel Comics

With that i am out for the night

Good night to all and to all a good night

JAL -

I, too, had a post disappear. It was pretty innocuous so I have been puzzled why it's gone. I saw your one about Blalock and that's gone.

At one point I saw the comments total drop from 35 to 28 and they were never restored. Someone said posts disappeared earlier today on another thread. Since DK hasn't said anything about deleting some and the ones missing are not outside the guide, must be a technical snafu.

Radio Wave...I hadn't heard anything about it until JAL posted it something about it in a now-missing post.  But here's a link from Marvel's site...

marvel.com/.../comicstories.9360.Disney_to_Acquire_Marvel_Entertainment

How that got by my radar, I don't know...I love both Disney and a lot of the Marvel characters.  :-)

So sign with a team  in the Pirates, that will lose between 125 and 135 games next year and will never again in anyone player's or reader's lifetime break .500. Maybe not the best way to help your depression

@DMac: Re: Marvel. I read this summer that Universal was in deep trouble with not only with Marvel going to Disney but with the deal the made with Stephen Spielberg that matures this year or next. I apologize I don't remeber all the details and am at work so I can't look it up at the moment. I will say, I took the family to Disney for 10 days this summer and we spent 2 days at Universal Studios. As expensive as Disney may be, it's a far better value than wasting a single $1 at Universal. For more travel tips check out my blog whereisdavetakingthosesnotnoselittlebratsthisyear.com

JLP...I knew about Universal in deep with the Spielberg deal.  And I totally agree with you about the difference between the Disney and Universal parks.  I've been to both the CA and the FL parks and I have to say the Universal Florida was very disappointing for me...of course we had just spent 2 days at Disney World, but still...we did the same thing in Southern CA and never felt that type of let down.

One thing I want to do this coming spring is get to the Wide World of Sports complex when I there for ST and catch a game there.  I've heard it's a beautiful facility.  (that's me trying to tie it to baseball *grin*)

with this team there plan still has too many ifs. Justin will  probably play in the Nl central but probably for someone like the Cards we will not spend enough to get him ankiel or blalock. when the decent players do hit arby aka mccutcheon i doubt we keep him