It's finally winter, and I finally have some time to update the site. Duckworth and I have been talking about some changes we'd like to make to the site, involving a possible weekly podcast as well as some other ideas being thrown...err kicked (it's football season) around.
Let's go over what has happened since the last post, all the way back in August:
8/3/08 - Freddy Sanchez returns to Pirates - Sanchez returns strong for the last 2 months of the season, the Pirates hope someone will trade fresh meat for him this offseason. The same can also be said for Adam LaRoche and Matt Capps.
8/6/08 - Jeff Karstens nearly no-hits the Diamondbacks - Some thought Karstens was Jesus in a uniform. We thought better. We were right.
8/8/08 - Phil Dumatrait has shoulder surgery - So much for him...maybe.
8/13/08 - Bucs option Jose Bautista to AAA - In a move I didn't like, Bautista was sent down. A platoon with LaRoche probably would've worked out better. In a move I did like, the Pirates would then trade Bautista to Toronto.
8/13/08 - Bucs ink 5th rounder Justin Wilson - Not that he's going to turn out any good (is there any doubt TJ is in his future?), but at least the guy is a proven winner and can gut it out from the left side.
8/14/08 - Bucs sign 6th rounder Robbie Grossman - Never enough talent. Even in the outfield.
8/16/08 - Pedro Alvarez joins the fold - Note the date on this one.
8/22/08 - Pirates option Steve Pearce to AAA - Precarious at best, there was no reason to do this. Then again, there was no reason not to give him playing time with the Pirates either.
8/23/08 - Tom Gorzelanny returns to Pirates - He may be the biggest question mark of 2009. Oliver Perez part 2?!
8/25/08 - Robinzon Diaz is PTBNL - A backup to the backup to the backup (that would be Raul Chavez and Ronny Paulino, and hopefully this year, no backup).
8/28/08 - Pirates, Scott Boras battle over Pedro Alvarez deal - The day of infamy. Probably never before have their been so many scenarios and what-ifs running through Pirate fans' heads.
9/2/08 - Bucs bolster roster with 10 call-ups - Nowhere among them were Andrew McCutchen and Jose Tabata, but some useful faces emerged, including Ross Ohlendorf and Luis Cruz.
9/20/08 - Jim Negrych, Jeff Sues earn Bucs' minor honors - Talk about unlikely, this probably shows more than anything why the Pirates needed to trade Xavier Nady and Jason Bay.
9/21/08 - Jack Wilson's pinch-hit highlights home finale - Hopefully we'll never be put in the position again where a no-hit, decent-field shortstop avoids the disabled list for a standing ovation at the home finale. Pitiful (no offense, Jack).
9/22/08 - Pedro Alvarez, Pirates agree to deal - At long last.
9/23/08 - MRI reveals knee issue for Pirates' Brandon Moss - This would turn out to be serious, and should have a large bearing on spring training.
9/29/08 - Pirates make immediate changes - Firing pitching coach Jeff Andrews may not have been necessary, but Joe Kerrigan is a step in a better direction. Hopefully the Bucs can rehire Andrews for AAA, he's not the problem.
10/1/08 - Voice of the Pirates turns off his mic - I'm not a huge Lanny Frattare fan, but you have to respect a man that has given 100% through all of this.
11/5/08 - Nate McLouth snares first Gold Glove Award - And most certainly his last.
11/7/08 - Chris Duffy leaves Bucs - This on the other hand, will undoubtedly be his last.
11/21/08 - John Van Benschoten parts ways with Bucs - Amicable? YES! I do, however, think Van Benschoten has a future in the bigs, unlike Bryan Bullington.
11/24/08 - Pirates sign two pitchers from India - Hmm...why the hell not?!
And here we are, ready for the Winter Meetings. Bye, bye Jack!
Showing posts with label Steve Pearce. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Steve Pearce. Show all posts
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Trades, Anyone pt. 2
With the trading deadline quickly approaching, let's take a look at some of the Pirates who might be putting on a new uniform in August, and which uniforms that might be. After talking about catcher, let's jump over to first base this time...
Adam LaRoche 1B
-Why he will be traded: Adam "0-for-April" LaRoche, much like Ronny Paulino, has also wore out his welcome. LaRoche presents a very large conundrum, however, for the Pirates. Do they sell low in the middle of the season, knowing he hits so well the second half of the year, or do they sell high at the end of the season, and still probably not get much for him because of his now legendary first-half slump? The Braves were able to get a high-end pitcher from the Bucs in the form of Mike Gonzalez because LaRoche, at that time, did not have the track record he does now. Conventional wisdom would say that the best place for an Adam LaRoche-type player would be an American League version of the Pirates, that is some team with the DH that can afford to sit LaRoche quite a bit the first half of the season. However, with the second half tear that he is capable of, maybe a contender will take a shot at him, hoping to once again pawn him off in the winter. Regardless, it's obvious the Bucs cannot win with LaRoche at first.
-5 teams to trade to:
1. Oakland Athletics - Daric Barton needs to be replaced, and LaRoche would be an ok stopgap until Barton is ready for full-time play again.
2. Texas Rangers - Perhaps I'm just hoping the AL West doesn't pay attention to what the Pirates do the first half of the season, but I still think LaRoche has a better second half in him than Chris Shelton and Hank Blalock combined.
3. Seattle Mariners - Another AL West team who needs help at 1b, the Mariners recently cut Richie Sexson, and could have LaRoche for next season too.
4. San Francisco Giants - McCovey Cove needs a left handed bat with some power.
5. Chicago White Sox - A platoon of Paul Konerko and LaRoche could be quite a boost for the Sox offense.
-Why he won't be traded: LaRoche is a tough sell. The Pirates would have to convince teams that he's worth a decent prospect, and that he can be playable in the first half of 2009. Also, there's nobody behind him in the Pirates' system. Management seems content to have Steve Pearce in the outfield, and Jason Delaney is still at least a year away, if he's even a legitimate prospect.
Adam LaRoche 1B
-Why he will be traded: Adam "0-for-April" LaRoche, much like Ronny Paulino, has also wore out his welcome. LaRoche presents a very large conundrum, however, for the Pirates. Do they sell low in the middle of the season, knowing he hits so well the second half of the year, or do they sell high at the end of the season, and still probably not get much for him because of his now legendary first-half slump? The Braves were able to get a high-end pitcher from the Bucs in the form of Mike Gonzalez because LaRoche, at that time, did not have the track record he does now. Conventional wisdom would say that the best place for an Adam LaRoche-type player would be an American League version of the Pirates, that is some team with the DH that can afford to sit LaRoche quite a bit the first half of the season. However, with the second half tear that he is capable of, maybe a contender will take a shot at him, hoping to once again pawn him off in the winter. Regardless, it's obvious the Bucs cannot win with LaRoche at first.
-5 teams to trade to:
1. Oakland Athletics - Daric Barton needs to be replaced, and LaRoche would be an ok stopgap until Barton is ready for full-time play again.
2. Texas Rangers - Perhaps I'm just hoping the AL West doesn't pay attention to what the Pirates do the first half of the season, but I still think LaRoche has a better second half in him than Chris Shelton and Hank Blalock combined.
3. Seattle Mariners - Another AL West team who needs help at 1b, the Mariners recently cut Richie Sexson, and could have LaRoche for next season too.
4. San Francisco Giants - McCovey Cove needs a left handed bat with some power.
5. Chicago White Sox - A platoon of Paul Konerko and LaRoche could be quite a boost for the Sox offense.
-Why he won't be traded: LaRoche is a tough sell. The Pirates would have to convince teams that he's worth a decent prospect, and that he can be playable in the first half of 2009. Also, there's nobody behind him in the Pirates' system. Management seems content to have Steve Pearce in the outfield, and Jason Delaney is still at least a year away, if he's even a legitimate prospect.
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