Pirates

[jack daniel]

Pirates tried to get Beltran, even made a "serious push" to sign him past this season. But he refused to waive his no trade to come here.

[voncap]

Alvarez's hitting approach really is a puzzle. We were all taught in the first or second year of playing organized ball to make the pitcher throw strikes. Alvarez was either never taught this simple fundamental or he is a hard head who doesn't listen. He swings at way too many first and second pitches out of the strike zone. The guy gets in a ridiculous amount of 0-1 and 0-2 counts. He won't be successful in big leagues continuing to do that.

Wehner even mentioned it during one of Alvarez's at bats in last night's broadcast. If you are going to swing at the first pitch it better be across the plate. If a hitter is going to swing at a 1-0 pitch, it better be a pitch he can drive somewhere.

One of the biggest problems with the Pirates offense, is there is no help on the way. Other than Alvarez, the FO has gone 'all-in' with pitching. Of the Pirates current top ten prospects, 8 of the 10 are pitchers, and only one of the those ten is playing above AA this season. I would bet that if you looked at the next ten prospects you would see similar numbers. Throw Cole into the mix next year and with the year McPherson is putting together it is possible next year's top ten prospects could all be pitchers. If the current big league staff continues to be as successful as they are now, where are all these pitching prospects going? I don't have much understanding of Rule 5 eligibility, but in two or three years many of these prospects are going to be Rule 5 eligible. What happens then? All this pitching talk doesn't even take into consideration Ohlendorf and Lincoln.

The above is one of the reasons I have no problem with the FO trading a pitching prospect or two to bring in some immediate and long term offense help.

[deliverance]

The Phillies will acquire Pence later tonight. It looks like the Bucs struck out on the big names.

[Crimson's Ghost]

It is totally different for the Phillies and Pirates.

Phillies can afford to give up their 2009 First Round pick and another Top guy, where as Pittsburgh can't really be giving up two top prospects. I was as big as a voice as anyone to get Hunter Pence, but at the end of the day, that was not going to happen. The Phillies farm system is so they can add to their Major League team through trades, Pittsburgh's farm system is the franchises' entire existence. Two different worlds.

Either way, last night was 1 game. Felt like the Bucs lost 200-3, but it was 10-3. They are still right in the mix, and they have the Cubs and Padres ahead of them, at home. I bet by next Saturday this team can be in First place again. Remember the Cards and Brewers got to play the Cubs and Astros this week, where the Pirates got the two best teams in the National League. Seems like things are fading, but they aren't.


I personally don't see this team as a playoff team, but the Cardinals and Brewers have not started to run away with this thing yet. Keep playing like you can win it, who knows what will happen.

[Crimson's Ghost]

It is totally different for the Phillies and Pirates.

Phillies can afford to give up their 2009 First Round pick and another Top guy, where as Pittsburgh can't really be giving up two top prospects. I was as big as a voice as anyone to get Hunter Pence, but at the end of the day, that was not going to happen. The Phillies farm system is so they can add to their Major League team through trades, Pittsburgh's farm system is the franchises' entire existence. Two different worlds.

Either way, last night was 1 game. Felt like the Bucs lost 200-3, but it was 10-3. They are still right in the mix, and they have the Cubs and Padres ahead of them, at home. I bet by next Saturday this team can be in First place again. Remember the Cards and Brewers got to play the Cubs and Astros this week, where the Pirates got the two best teams in the National League. Seems like things are fading, but they aren't.


I personally don't see this team as a playoff team, but the Cardinals and Brewers have not started to run away with this thing yet. Keep playing like you can win it, who knows what will happen.

[jack daniel]

You pout it perfectly Crimson, we got easy games on the horizon and right now Brew Crew and Cards are playing their easy games. We got to win in Philly either today or tomorrow, then go home and go at least 5-2 vs Cubs and Pads which should be very doable. Do I think we'll win the division? No. But do I think we can hang in the race until the end of September? Yes I do, and especially with the Cards trading Rasmus in my opinion their the best team in the division and that trade made them worse.

[deliverance]

I totally agree that it's different for the Phillies and Pirates. That's obvious. However, the Pirates needed to make a move whereas the Phillies didn't. The Pirates have overachieved this season and would have been in better position for a serious playoff run if they had acquired a guy like Pence. You can't blame them for not giving up their future for it, though.

[Crimson's Ghost]

I believe the Phillies needed to make a deal though. I understand they have the best record in Baseball, but that means nothing in October. The National League is going to come down to San Fran and Philly again this season. The Philly offense is not all that great, and worse from last season. They are missing Jason Werth, and even with Werth, the Giants proved they could win the National League with an awful offense, because their pitching is so good. I believe they just took 2 of 3 in Philly if I'm not mistaking. So the Phillies needed another stable bat to combat the Beltran move made by their top competition and also it kept Pence out of Atlanta as well.


The Pirates needed the deal more than anyone, but at the end of the day I didn't believe it would happen.

BJ Upton is out there, he's young and athletic. Fits in with what Hurdle likes to do. Solid Bat in the 5-6 Hole, maybe even the 2 spot. Bucs have Tabata and Presley, but I don't see Presley in the long term, tough to keep to Corner Outfielders that might combine for 12 Home Runs a season, if lucky.

I'd welcome Francouer and Melky Cabrera if at all possible as well.

Jason Kubel would be nice, Casey Kotchman has been mentioned. Ludwick has not been tied to Pittsburgh, but I think that would be a great move. Pretty cold on Willingham and Crisp from Oakland personally.

Huntington has 26 hours to make something happen. Better be more than a setup guy.

[bleacherbum]

From the rumor mill "twitter" sounds like the Upton and Kubel deals have grown very quite. Been rumors about Carlos Pena and Derrek Lee heating up

[davesandstorm]

All I want for Christmas in July is a new first baseman.