The Last Place Pirates
By Bill • May 6th, 2008 • Category: News & Opinion
So the Pirates find themselves in last place. To date, they have played and looked like a last place team. They lead the league in errors, the starting pitchers are giving up early runs, and the clutch hits are not coming when needed.
Let’s take a look at where we stand to date. Ryan Doumit is our starting catcher. He’s hitting over .340 and has taken over the clean-up spot in the batting order. While his RBI total is low, he’s hitting and getting on base. On a team in need of all the offense it can get, Doumit is producing with the bat. He’s defense is coming around, and I’m guessing he’s starting to call most of the games himself. Ronny Paulino makes for an excellent back-up catcher. And if the Yankees get desperate to replace an aging and injured Jorge Posada, he will be prove to be an excellent trade chip.
Our outfielders have also been productive. Enough can’t be said about the April Nate McLouth just turned in. He’s going to prove to be an every-day major league player, and I think will man left field for the next 6 years in Pittsburgh.
Jason Bay looks healthy. He’s getting on base. We know his flaws; he watches way too many fastballs and can’t hit a two-strike breaking pitch and his arm is not going to scare anyone trying to score from 3rd. But he tracks down balls in the outfield and has the green light on the base paths. Him and Xavier Nady, showing he’s capable of being an everyday player himself, should be able to bring us 4 quality prospects into the system when they are traded in July.
Now our infielders. Ugh. I’d argue that Jose Bautista is playing exactly how the Pirates imagined, and hoped, he’d play. He’s doing just enough not to get benched, fielding the position well enough, and showing recent signs of being able to hit. But let’s be honest, the position is Neil Walker’s next year. The Bucco’s should start giving Bautista time at 2nd and the outfield so he’s ready for the utility role next year.
I totally disagree with giving Adam LaRoche as much playing time as he was given. Most of it out of the clean-up spot. Yippee, it’s May, now he’s allowed to start hitting. If he was able to put the ball in play last month, the Pirates would be in contention in the weak NL Central. But no, we ran him out there daily and he didn’t produce.
And how about our middle infielders? I’m guessing even if Pedro Alvarez is there when the Pirates pick second in the upcoming draft, they will pass on him and draft high school shortstop Tim Beckham. The lack of depth is eye-popping. Luis Rivas couldn’t hold down the fort, Brian Bixler proved he’s not the answer, and now we’ve got a 36-year old castoff filling in. Jack Wilson can’t come back fast enough. I’m not sure what is up with Freddy Sanchez, so I can’t really comment positively or negatively.
The starting rotation has also been a disappointment. Matt Morris has already been let go, Tom Gorzelanny looks hurt and is getting skipped in the rotation, and Snell, Maholm and Duke are hot and cold. The bullpen has been adequate in the close games, but having three lefties in the bullpen, and 4 in the starting rotation, is a little much. Shipping out Grabow or Marte for a decent return should be our first move.
I think the Pirates have a plan, I really do. An outfield of McLouth, McCutcheon and Pearce, with Walker at 3rd is going to be here sooner than later. It all depends on what the Pirates can get in return for Bay, Nady, Wilson, Marte, Grabow and maybe Paulino, LaRoche, and Snell. I look for them to hold down last place for much of the remaining of the year, and then deal starters for prospects.
How about grabbing Jacque Jones and sending Nyjer down to AAA to get some playing time?
Bill is a contributing writer who was born April 1977 and has lived in Maryland, Alaska and Pennsylvania. He has been employed with the same organization for the past 7 years after working for the PBC at both Three Rivers and PNC Park. He's married with a one-year old daughter.
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Walker had better show he can break through the Mendoza line at AAA before anyone pencils him in for next year. And what has happened with Pearce? Not bashing like he did last season.
Problems abound, solutions are minimal. The eternal trade for prospects will never get us there. Major league ready, or at worst, blocked MLB backups is the only way to go if we\’re going to trade.
LaRoche is just too bad in April to consider keeping him. No need to rush Marte or Grabow out of town, although Grabow will never have higher value. We should deal Bay first, if there are any takers.
Nice to get a fresh approach posted w/o all the everyday negativity.
Ditto On Walker. He cannot be annointed our future third baseman until he can play the position and swing the bat of a legitimate third baseman.
Tim Beckham is a SS from Griffin H.S. in Georgia, Not NC
Thanks Drufan11. I knew he was a high school shortstop, but the notes I was looking at from a mock draft site had him listed as a college SS. My bad. Thanks for reading.
Another item to look at is Shelby Ford at Altoona. I can’t wait to move Fred-ex from 2B and possibly back to third for a while before trading him. I think one can see that the peak has been reached and we are in the downhill mode. We can only hope he plateaus for a while. In addition I think he was born with a foot issue, or one leg was longer or something that could impact him as he ages.
So, in addition to the guys you mention I am also excited about Ford, Delaney, Corley and Boone. Lets also hope Lincoln sails through after this season; we can’t get a solid right hander soon enough!
Oh, by the way, it is election day here in Indiana, so in that spirit here is a little election on who you would prefer as an owner of the Pirates:
Dan Marino
Michael Keaton
Mark Cuban
Jimmy Buffett (The Parrot might draw him in)
A combined ownership group of the above
Brett, you came up with some good choices.
Marino can\’t get away from the diet ads long enough to worry with something as straining as the Bucs.
Keaton\’s a good choice. Local guy who has an interest and isn\’t afraid to speak out.
Cuban……if only. A guy who\’d make it interesting on the field and in the seats. Never gonna happen though.
Buffett…..smart business man. No nonsense concerning a buck. He\’d make it interesting in the seats too.
Since you bought up politics…..our lame duck prez?
There is another Beckham who is a college SS expected to go in the first round or so. It’s a little confusing I’m sure.
Freddie back to 3rd? Isn’t he having trouble making throws to first?
First question- Ownership of the buccos? Nuttings won\’t sell with the instant atm machine known as the Pirates keeping them heavily in black plus they don\’t have to worry about media criticism. 2nd Question- Prospects in the system that might help the Buccos?- Andrew McCutchen, Luis Munoz, Jose De Los Santos (SS - in Hickory i think) the rest are future bench fillers - Neil Walker, Delaney, Shelby Ford, Corley, and Boone. Third question - What should we do with the assets we have ? TRADE them as soon as possible we need 19-22 year old AA or higher prospects to build these team with Cutch , Munoz, and some of the pitchers (Maholm, Gorzelanny after they dl and fix his shoulder.)
does anybody know how many more years of service time mclouth has?
Looking at his # of games played in the majors and minors, it looks like he is close to 2.5 years, with about 3.25 at the end of the year.
If they starters would perform to their potential, this time might stay close through the summer, at least make it interesting.
The bullpen is pitching real well. They have more offense on this team than they had for years. After LaRoche warms up, they will only become better. If these starters can keep the games close through 6 or 7 innings, they have a chance to at least have one foot in the door.
And that will only help increase the value of these players come July. I\’m interested to see what type of deals this new regime will go after. Will they go for all pitchers and maybe next season trade away Snell, Maholm, Gorzy, and Duke for more offense?
They need to draft the best player available and not what they need most. Hopefully, the scouts can get it right this year. Money isn\’t an issue this year, right?