First of the "Big 4" promoted
Posted: May 25th, 2010, 1:18 pm
Steve Pearce turned his ankle last night. And the Pirates have brought up one of the so called "Big 4"
Neil Walker the Pine-Richland product has been called up and will see his first extensive meaningful stint in the Bigs.
A former 1st round pick, He never really panned out. He came in as a Catcher, but the organization saw him more as an Infielder, and his new position became 3B. Now in his 6th season as a Minor Leaguer he had to find more ways to get on the field. He plays LF and 2B as well as 3B. He is definitely going to get his AB's up here. He is the least heralded of the top prospects behind, Alvarez,Lincoln,and Tabata. But he is a former 1st round pick a "Pittsburgh kid", and still only 24 years old. He was easily the best player on AAA Indy so far. He was hitting 330ish with about 6 Homers a ton of doubles and 30+ RBI's. Would have been called upearlier, but due to lack of hustle Pearce was chosen instead. I hope thats not a concern once he gets to the 'Burgh. Hopefully he makes a big splash and dominoes fall after him.
My Hopeful Lineup in a Month.
1.Tabata RF
2.LaRoche 2B
3.McCutchen CF
4.Jones 1B
5.Alvarez 3B
6.Doumit C
7. Milledge LF
8.Cedeno SS
Bench
Walker
Pearce
Jaramillo
Church
D.Young
Rotation
Duke
Maholm
Ohlendorf
Lincoln
Karstens
and Hopefully Meek replaces Dotel at Closer.
I think the Bucs farm system is improving and that is only going to make the Pirates better.
The Big 4 is knocking at the door. But further down the line in Altoona and High A Bradenten the Prospects are still shining.
10 other guys to keep an eye on down on the farm.....
AAA SS Argenis Diaz. Pickup from the Adam LaRoche to Boston deal. only 23 weak bat but strong defender. Cant be too far behind Ronny Cedeno.
AA 3B Josh Harris. Only 22. Lacks power and isnt very big but has a real good average. Got him from the Cubs from the Grabow deal.
AA LH SP. Rudy Owens 22. Home grown farmhand. He was absolutely dominant last year in High A. Doing a nice job for Curve. 3-2 with a 3.35 ERA. Maybe will get the call to AAA when Lincoln joins the Bucs.
AA LH RP. Danny Moskos. Yess the guy we drafted over Orioles current Catcher Matt Wieters. haha great pick Littlefield. But hey he is a shut down closer this year in Altoona 1-0 10 saves and an under 2 ERA. I'm sure he'll be moving up the latter soon
AA RH SP Bryan Morris. through 8 starts in A and one in Altoona he is 4-0 with a 0.72 ERA. Dominant. The gem of the deal from the JBay trade. I'd like to see him in the Burgh soon.
A CF.Starling Marte 21 from the Dominican. The Pirates are really really high on this guy. He's currently on the shelf for a few months,but considered a "5 tool" prospect.
A SS Brock Holt 21 out of Baseball factory Rice. Hitting the cover off the ball at a .329 clip.
A C Tony Sanchez 22. Little criticism for the Pirates for drafting this guy in the top 5. But he has surprised a lot of people and he may make it easier for the Pirates to trade Doumit depending on how he develops. Having a pretty season offensively.
A LH SP 22. Jeff Locke. Well Atlanta got McLouth whose barely hitting .200. We got Morton who is the worst starter in the Bigs and a AA OF who is doing nothing. Looks like Locke is the only good player from the deal 5-2 with a 2.72 ERA. Hey not bad if you ask me.
A RH SP 22. Nathan Adcock. Got him in the Jack Wilson to Seattle deal. He also is another dominant Pitcher in the Pirates High A team.. 5-2 with a 2.50 ERA.
I like our younger pitchers, I think Sanchez is going to be a good player. And we got the 2nd pick in this years draft.....Maybe the Nats wont take Bryce Harper.....
Neil Walker the Pine-Richland product has been called up and will see his first extensive meaningful stint in the Bigs.
A former 1st round pick, He never really panned out. He came in as a Catcher, but the organization saw him more as an Infielder, and his new position became 3B. Now in his 6th season as a Minor Leaguer he had to find more ways to get on the field. He plays LF and 2B as well as 3B. He is definitely going to get his AB's up here. He is the least heralded of the top prospects behind, Alvarez,Lincoln,and Tabata. But he is a former 1st round pick a "Pittsburgh kid", and still only 24 years old. He was easily the best player on AAA Indy so far. He was hitting 330ish with about 6 Homers a ton of doubles and 30+ RBI's. Would have been called upearlier, but due to lack of hustle Pearce was chosen instead. I hope thats not a concern once he gets to the 'Burgh. Hopefully he makes a big splash and dominoes fall after him.
My Hopeful Lineup in a Month.
1.Tabata RF
2.LaRoche 2B
3.McCutchen CF
4.Jones 1B
5.Alvarez 3B
6.Doumit C
7. Milledge LF
8.Cedeno SS
Bench
Walker
Pearce
Jaramillo
Church
D.Young
Rotation
Duke
Maholm
Ohlendorf
Lincoln
Karstens
and Hopefully Meek replaces Dotel at Closer.
I think the Bucs farm system is improving and that is only going to make the Pirates better.
The Big 4 is knocking at the door. But further down the line in Altoona and High A Bradenten the Prospects are still shining.
10 other guys to keep an eye on down on the farm.....
AAA SS Argenis Diaz. Pickup from the Adam LaRoche to Boston deal. only 23 weak bat but strong defender. Cant be too far behind Ronny Cedeno.
AA 3B Josh Harris. Only 22. Lacks power and isnt very big but has a real good average. Got him from the Cubs from the Grabow deal.
AA LH SP. Rudy Owens 22. Home grown farmhand. He was absolutely dominant last year in High A. Doing a nice job for Curve. 3-2 with a 3.35 ERA. Maybe will get the call to AAA when Lincoln joins the Bucs.
AA LH RP. Danny Moskos. Yess the guy we drafted over Orioles current Catcher Matt Wieters. haha great pick Littlefield. But hey he is a shut down closer this year in Altoona 1-0 10 saves and an under 2 ERA. I'm sure he'll be moving up the latter soon
AA RH SP Bryan Morris. through 8 starts in A and one in Altoona he is 4-0 with a 0.72 ERA. Dominant. The gem of the deal from the JBay trade. I'd like to see him in the Burgh soon.
A CF.Starling Marte 21 from the Dominican. The Pirates are really really high on this guy. He's currently on the shelf for a few months,but considered a "5 tool" prospect.
A SS Brock Holt 21 out of Baseball factory Rice. Hitting the cover off the ball at a .329 clip.
A C Tony Sanchez 22. Little criticism for the Pirates for drafting this guy in the top 5. But he has surprised a lot of people and he may make it easier for the Pirates to trade Doumit depending on how he develops. Having a pretty season offensively.
A LH SP 22. Jeff Locke. Well Atlanta got McLouth whose barely hitting .200. We got Morton who is the worst starter in the Bigs and a AA OF who is doing nothing. Looks like Locke is the only good player from the deal 5-2 with a 2.72 ERA. Hey not bad if you ask me.
A RH SP 22. Nathan Adcock. Got him in the Jack Wilson to Seattle deal. He also is another dominant Pitcher in the Pirates High A team.. 5-2 with a 2.50 ERA.
I like our younger pitchers, I think Sanchez is going to be a good player. And we got the 2nd pick in this years draft.....Maybe the Nats wont take Bryce Harper.....