Mondesi returning to the buccos
-
AUSTIN_22:22
- Official BleacherCoach
- Posts: 505
- Joined: November 13th, 2003, 9:59 pm
the thing with tike redman is that he cannot draw a walk to save his life. he could learn eventually but i would like to see the pirates as a winning team before that. it took 3 seasons in the majors for jack wilson to learn to use the strike zone to his advantage.
bay and mackowiak on the other hand are guys i want to see play everyday for the pirates. bay can play anywhere in the outfield and mackowiak can play anywhere except shortstop and catcher. both guys are good young hitters too w/ bay as a doubles type hitter and mackowiak as a power guy. i never thought mackowiak would be a power hitter in the majors when he was with the curve a cpl years ago.
3 guys the pirates need to sign to longish term deals at the end of the year are craig and jack wilson, and kip wells. jack wilson is hitting a bit above his head right now but he is great defensively and plays the game like he is having fun. craig wilson is clearly the best hitting prospect the pirate farm system has produced in quite sometime. kip wells is #1 starter material. littlefield needs to make a statement to the fans by signing these 3 guys on to lead the team for 4 years or so.
alvarez may deserve a shot next year if he performs well at AAA this year but im not sure about him being the CF of the future. he does deserve a chance sometime in the majors b/c he has statistically been one of the best hitting prospects the pirates have.
speaking of hitting prospect, the bucs have 2 catchers in the minor leagues who are hitting the ball quite well right now. JR house leads nashville in w/ 9hr's and 29 rbi's while having a OPS over 1.000. ryan doumit is back from an injury and is excelling with the curve. i would really like kendall to be traded sometime soon so that house or doumit could catch for the bucs next season.
i have also read that the pirates may be interested in drafting a catcher from pine-richland high school, neil walker. i was wondering if anybody knew anything about this guy???
bay and mackowiak on the other hand are guys i want to see play everyday for the pirates. bay can play anywhere in the outfield and mackowiak can play anywhere except shortstop and catcher. both guys are good young hitters too w/ bay as a doubles type hitter and mackowiak as a power guy. i never thought mackowiak would be a power hitter in the majors when he was with the curve a cpl years ago.
3 guys the pirates need to sign to longish term deals at the end of the year are craig and jack wilson, and kip wells. jack wilson is hitting a bit above his head right now but he is great defensively and plays the game like he is having fun. craig wilson is clearly the best hitting prospect the pirate farm system has produced in quite sometime. kip wells is #1 starter material. littlefield needs to make a statement to the fans by signing these 3 guys on to lead the team for 4 years or so.
alvarez may deserve a shot next year if he performs well at AAA this year but im not sure about him being the CF of the future. he does deserve a chance sometime in the majors b/c he has statistically been one of the best hitting prospects the pirates have.
speaking of hitting prospect, the bucs have 2 catchers in the minor leagues who are hitting the ball quite well right now. JR house leads nashville in w/ 9hr's and 29 rbi's while having a OPS over 1.000. ryan doumit is back from an injury and is excelling with the curve. i would really like kendall to be traded sometime soon so that house or doumit could catch for the bucs next season.
i have also read that the pirates may be interested in drafting a catcher from pine-richland high school, neil walker. i was wondering if anybody knew anything about this guy???
Last edited by AUSTIN_22:22 on September 20th, 2011, 12:19 am, edited 1 time in total.
PENN STATE FOOTBALL=
2005 BIG TEN CHAMPIONS
2005 BIG TEN CHAMPIONS
-
thepalerider
- Official BleacherCoach
- Posts: 719
- Joined: March 31st, 2004, 12:55 pm
- Location: Above the gap
- Contact:
Neil Walker could be high school player of the year in the country he is hitting 770 this year with 12 jacks i think. Jack Wilson isnt the answer Freddie Sanchez is the future shortstop, Wilson will never hit about 250, his average will fall this year.
Finally Jr house will not be a big league catcher terrible catcher maybe a good DH.
Finally Jr house will not be a big league catcher terrible catcher maybe a good DH.
Last edited by thepalerider on September 20th, 2011, 12:19 am, edited 1 time in total.
Palerider, I agree with some of your points. In re to Alvarez: he just recently turned 25. He is the youngest outfielder on the Pirates 40 man roster. I don't really agree with your comparison to Hermanson. Hermanson was primarily projected as a power hitter. It didn't take major league pitching long to find a hole in his swing (interpretation; career over). Alvarez is considered more of a "for average" hitter, and a much better defensive player than Hermanson. Yes Alvarez has been in the minors five or six years, but considering he has been promoted almost every year to the next level indicates he is improving. I will say attitude (it would have to improve to be considered poor) is the primary reason that he may never make it.
I to am enjoying the performances of the Wilson's and a few of the other Pirates who are having good seasons so far, but we should be cautiously optimistic. Let's hope they are still having that success at the end of the season, too.
IMO, here are a few things that we can expect in the future. Jack Wilson will not continue to hit .340. If he does, he will have priced himself right out of a Pirate uniform. He may have already done that with his All-Star level of play so far this season. I think Castillo will be the SS of the future. Remember that is his original position and the Pirates moved him to second base just last year before they traded for Hill and Sanchez. It is great to see Craig Wilson finally getting his shot and having success, but as soon as he goes into the slightest slump, Mac will have him on the bench. Mac has shown an unwillingness to play him in the past and I think as soon as he gets the chance he will sit him on the bench again. Tike Redman is only an asset to the Pirates if he can hit lead off. He is an average defensive centerfielder but the Pirates can accept that if he produces as a lead off hitter.
I agree with Palerider on the Pirates pitching. Unless one of the current starting pitchers gets injured (or traded) don't expect to see Burtnett or VanBen' called up before September though. Early season struggles by both show they can use one more season in the minors. To whet your appetite, think about the pitching future; Wells, Perez, Vogelsong, Burtnett, VanBenschoten, Bullington, Bradley, Snell, D. Williams, Fogg, Stewart, Malholm, Duke. Now if they can just find a good everyday third baseman.
The next current Curve position player you will see in a Pirate uniform will be Ryan Doumit. Possibly the only current Curve position player you may ever see in a Pirate uniform.
I to am enjoying the performances of the Wilson's and a few of the other Pirates who are having good seasons so far, but we should be cautiously optimistic. Let's hope they are still having that success at the end of the season, too.
IMO, here are a few things that we can expect in the future. Jack Wilson will not continue to hit .340. If he does, he will have priced himself right out of a Pirate uniform. He may have already done that with his All-Star level of play so far this season. I think Castillo will be the SS of the future. Remember that is his original position and the Pirates moved him to second base just last year before they traded for Hill and Sanchez. It is great to see Craig Wilson finally getting his shot and having success, but as soon as he goes into the slightest slump, Mac will have him on the bench. Mac has shown an unwillingness to play him in the past and I think as soon as he gets the chance he will sit him on the bench again. Tike Redman is only an asset to the Pirates if he can hit lead off. He is an average defensive centerfielder but the Pirates can accept that if he produces as a lead off hitter.
I agree with Palerider on the Pirates pitching. Unless one of the current starting pitchers gets injured (or traded) don't expect to see Burtnett or VanBen' called up before September though. Early season struggles by both show they can use one more season in the minors. To whet your appetite, think about the pitching future; Wells, Perez, Vogelsong, Burtnett, VanBenschoten, Bullington, Bradley, Snell, D. Williams, Fogg, Stewart, Malholm, Duke. Now if they can just find a good everyday third baseman.
The next current Curve position player you will see in a Pirate uniform will be Ryan Doumit. Possibly the only current Curve position player you may ever see in a Pirate uniform.
Last edited by voncap on September 20th, 2011, 12:19 am, edited 1 time in total.
The easiest thing to do in sports is hustle.
-
deliverance
- Official BleacherCoach
- Posts: 4036
- Joined: August 27th, 2003, 6:23 pm
UNTIL THE PIRATES SPEND SOME MONEY, THEY WILL NEVER WIN. ITS AS SIMPLE AS THAT.
Last edited by deliverance on September 20th, 2011, 12:19 am, edited 1 time in total.
Deliverance, what is your definition of WIN? I think the Pirates can become a winning ball club (above .500) without becoming a big spender. Other teams have shown you can win in a small market. Not necessarily a League or World Series Championship, but a team that wins more games than they lose every year is realistic.
What do you suggest they spend their money on? Some more Derek Bell and Raul Mondesi types. In today's baseball financial world, they will never be able to afford the likes of Andy Petite or Mike Maddux. I would agree they need to do a better job of spending money to keep their "better" players, but they have to be careful they don't lock themselves into bad contracts in the process.
What do you suggest they spend their money on? Some more Derek Bell and Raul Mondesi types. In today's baseball financial world, they will never be able to afford the likes of Andy Petite or Mike Maddux. I would agree they need to do a better job of spending money to keep their "better" players, but they have to be careful they don't lock themselves into bad contracts in the process.
Last edited by voncap on September 20th, 2011, 12:19 am, edited 1 time in total.
The easiest thing to do in sports is hustle.
-
deliverance
- Official BleacherCoach
- Posts: 4036
- Joined: August 27th, 2003, 6:23 pm
My definition of winning is making the playoffs. Also, can you tell me who Mike Maddux is? I'm guessing you mean Greg Maddux. But anyway, it just seems to me that when they get a good player, they get rid of him. They need to spend some money on veteran players that are leaders. Then have the younger players play around them. But they just won't spend the money on the veteran leadership.
Last edited by deliverance on September 20th, 2011, 12:19 am, edited 1 time in total.
That is a reseasonable definition of winning. I would just like to see them contend for a playoff spot on a regular basis.
You don't remember Mike Maddux, that H-o-F outfielder that played some years ago for the Phillies. Went brain dead on that one. Yes meant Greg Maddux. I agree they are letting some players get away they should be keeping and trying to build around.
It appears to me they are working towards your idea only in inverse. The last few years they have had way too many holes. They have tried to plug all those holes with veteran signees every year. There isn't enough money in the Yankee's budget to plug all the holes the Pirates had the last few years. They are now starting to fill some of those holes with some young players (which they have to find a way to keep). Next year or most likely in two years when these young players have established themselves as everyday players, the Pirates, rather than signing six or seven questionable veteran free agents, should be able to pool those resources and look to sign one or two better than average vet's to provide leadership and production.
IMO the Pirates are on the right track. They have made some decisions that as a fan look like bad moves, but only time will tell. I am reasonable enough to know not every trade or free agent signing is going to workout in the Pirates favor. They may not produce a World Series Champion with this approach (one can hope), but they should be able to put a team on the field that can be a contender.
You don't remember Mike Maddux, that H-o-F outfielder that played some years ago for the Phillies. Went brain dead on that one. Yes meant Greg Maddux. I agree they are letting some players get away they should be keeping and trying to build around.
It appears to me they are working towards your idea only in inverse. The last few years they have had way too many holes. They have tried to plug all those holes with veteran signees every year. There isn't enough money in the Yankee's budget to plug all the holes the Pirates had the last few years. They are now starting to fill some of those holes with some young players (which they have to find a way to keep). Next year or most likely in two years when these young players have established themselves as everyday players, the Pirates, rather than signing six or seven questionable veteran free agents, should be able to pool those resources and look to sign one or two better than average vet's to provide leadership and production.
IMO the Pirates are on the right track. They have made some decisions that as a fan look like bad moves, but only time will tell. I am reasonable enough to know not every trade or free agent signing is going to workout in the Pirates favor. They may not produce a World Series Champion with this approach (one can hope), but they should be able to put a team on the field that can be a contender.
The easiest thing to do in sports is hustle.