Brakeman8
May 20, 2008 May 30, 2012 51 7598
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Redlegs vs Buccos 5/30/12 o'flow
by Brakeman8 on May 30, 2012 8:48 PM EDT
on Bucs Dugout
Let's Go Bucs, Let's Go Bucs, Let's Go Bucs, Let's Go Bucs, Beat The Reds, Let's Go Bucs, Let's Go Bucs, Let's Go Bucs, Let's Go Bucs, Let's Go Bucs, Let's Go Bucs, Beat The Reds, Let's Go Bucs, Let's Go Bucs, Let's Go Bucs, Let's Go Bucs, Let's Go Bucs, Let's Go Bucs, Beat The Reds, Let's Go Bucs, Let's Go Bucs, Let's Go Bucs, Let's Go Bucs, Let's Go Bucs, Let's Go Bucs, Beat The Reds, Let's Go Bucs, Let's Go Bucs, Let's Go Bucs, Let's Go Bucs, Let's Go Bucs, Let's Go Bucs, Beat The Reds, Let's Go Bucs, Let's Go Bucs!
Did the Pirates let another cleanup hitter get away?
by Brakeman8 on Apr 6, 2012 12:32 PM EDT
on Bucs Dugout
Rotoworld is reporting Jeff Keppinger is the designated hitter and batting cleanup for the Tampa Bay Rays in Friday's opener.
Keppinger admitted he has never batted cleanup before, not even in high school or college. Manager Joe Maddon is doing what he should, maximizing his platoon players as Keppinger has an .852 career OPS against left-handed pitching. The Rays are squaring off against CC Sabathia.
Keppinger certainly isn't a slugger and never will be confused as a star player, but he certainly has put together a nice career as a utility player.
First Ciriaco, now Bixler
Both following in Bautista's footsteps.
Another NH bullpen option???
Looks like he put together a pretty good year last season. Still has the big K numbers and maybe finally found some control.
Padres get Quentin for two minor league arms
Interesting deal. Looks like the Padres didn't give up a lot. Wonder what Petco will do to Quentin's numbers.
We have a rumor about Paulie
Could he be staying within the division???
Some thoughts about First Base
by Brakeman8 on Dec 13, 2011 10:20 PM EST
on Bucs Dugout
When did first base become such a mystical defensive position? Back in the day, it seemed like any corner outfielder could come in and play first. All you have to do is catch the ball and step on the bag, right? Heck, even guys who played third base or even catcher could slide over and handle first. Let's look at some guys who have played 1B for the Pirates. Let's start in 1972...and move through to 2012.
Willie Stargell, Bob Robertson, Vic Davalillo, Al Oliver, Ed Kirkpatrick, Dave Parker, Bill Robinson, Jim Fergosi, Ken Macha, Bobby Tolan, Doe Boylard, John Milner, Manny Sanguillen, (1980) Kurt Bevacqua, Bill Madlock, Jason Thompson, Gary Alexander, Willie Montanez, Richie Hebner, Eddie Vargas, Brian Harper, Lee Mazzilli, Gene Tenace, Benny Distefano, Jim Morrison, Bill Almon, Sid Bream, Tony Pena, Bobby Bonilla, Mike Diaz, Darnell Coles, Andy Van Slyke, Orestes Destrade, Dave Hostetler, Randy Milligan, Ken Oberkfell, Gary Redus, Jeff King, Glenn Wilson, (1990) Carmelo Martinez, Lloyd McClendon, Orlando Merced, Tom Prince, Gary Varsho, John Wehner, Kevin Young, Rich Aude, Tom Foley, Ben Shelton, Brian Hunter, Lance Parrish, Mark Johnson, Freddy Garcia, Keith Osik, Mark Smith, Dale Sveum, Eddie Williams, Tim Laker, Doug Strange, Brant Brown, (2000) Mike Benjamin, Ivan Cruz, Alex Hernandez, Alex Ramirez, John Vander Wal, Andy Barkett, Adam Hyzdu, Rob Mackowiak, Craig Wilson, Carlos Rivera, Randall Simon, Matt Stairs, Daryle Ward, Brad Eldred, Ty Wigginton, Sean Casey, Ryan Doumit, Jose Hernandez, Xavier Nady, Joe Randa, Adam LaRoche, Steve Pearce, Josh Phelps, Chris Gomez, Doug Mientkiewicz, Eric Hinske, Garrett Jones, (2010) John Bowker, Jeff Clement, Bobby Crosby, Andy LaRoche, Lyle Overbay, Brandon Wood, Derrek Lee and we can probably add Casey McGehee and Nick Evans to the list this year.
There it is, 40 years of guys who have played 1B for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Of those, only Stargell, Robertson, Thompson and maybe Kevin Young stand out as regulars. It just amazes me that in the 70s and 80s we could take a guy like Willie Stargell or a John Milner and make them play 1B. Heck we did it with Lee Mazzilli and Gary Redus in the 80s, but about midway through the 90s, suddenly the vast majority of the 1B time was given to guys who were brought up and groomed to be first basemen. Now suddenly, "We can't use Jones at first base, he's a butcher at first." Or when we see a guy like say...Josh Willingahm on the market we think, "No, we can use him at first base." Really? Why not? We won division titles with Orlando Merced at 1B in the 90s? And I'm not really talking about the offensive production. I know Merced and Bonds, Bonilla, Van Slyke and great pitching around him. I get that things change, but I guess I just don't get the concern over working with a guy to learn the position.
Or maybe I just wanted to make a post where I could include Adam Hyzdu.
Or maybe I'm bored....bring on spring training.
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The 25 man as it stands?
by Brakeman8 on Dec 13, 2011 12:51 AM EST
on Bucs Dugout
Now that the winter meetngs are over and the non tender deadline has passed, this is what we are looking at.
C: Barajas, McKenry
INF: Jones, Walker, Barmes, Alvarez, McGehee, Evans, Nunez (Rule 5)
OF: McCutchen, Tabata, Presley, McLouth
SP: Bedard, Morton, Karstens, MacDonald, Correia
Pen: Hanrahan, Meek, Resop, Grilli, McCutchen, Watson, Moskos.
The left handed relievers are iffy and unless Alvarez comes around we still don't have a legit #4 hitter, but otherwise this team is shaping up nicely. Still lots of time until ST.
Beer Makers to Get A Ram
They may not suck as much as we had hoped.
They also added former Giants 1B Travis Ishikawa.
Angels NOT shopping a 1B???
Can you picture Trumbo at 3B?
Pirates in on international free agents
The pitchers sound interesting.
Rockies sign R.Hernandez 2 yrs $6.5
Kinda makes the Barajas signing look less good now. The Rockies had the advantage of knowing for sure that he was no longer a type A free agent.
Trade Pedro?
So, MLBTR says Rockies' beat writer Troy E. Renck thinks Colorado will look at trading for a third baseman this off season. Their main target is David Wright, but he also lists Chase Headley and Pedro Alvarez as other plan B targets. Thoughts?
Diaz deal complete
Bucs get Rule 5 pitcher from the Braves.
D.Lee, Ludwick and the Elias Rankings
Lee and Ludwick are both Type B free agents. I still would like to see the PIrates attempt to bring Lee back for 2012 as we really have no option other than Jones. I don't see the need to bring Ludwick back with Cutch, Tabata, Presley and Jones all able to be brought back.
MLBTR Pirates' draft signing round up
Good one stop for links and info about the Pirates record-setting draft signings.
Bucs - Clubs o'flow 8/2
by Brakeman8 on Aug 2, 2011 8:52 PM EDT
on Bucs Dugout
For those sticking around to see if we can get as many hits as the Cubs have runs.
For those sticking around to see if we can get as many hits as the Cubs have runs.
For those sticking around to see if we can get as many hits as the Cubs have runs.
For those sticking around to see if we can get as many hits as the Cubs have runs.
For those sticking around to see if we can get as many hits as the Cubs have runs.
Bucs - Baby Bears o'flow 8/1
by Brakeman8 on Aug 1, 2011 8:21 PM EDT
on Bucs Dugout
Welcome to Pittsburgh, Derrek Lee. Welcome to Pittsburgh Derrek Lee. Welcome to Pittsburgh, Derrek Lee. Welcome to Pittsburgh, Derrek Lee. Welcome to Pittsburgh Derrek Lee. Welcome to Pittsburgh, Derrek Lee. Welcome to Pittsburgh, Derrek Lee. Welcome to Pittsburgh Derrek Lee. Welcome to Pittsburgh, Derrek Lee. Welcome to Pittsburgh, Derrek Lee. Welcome to Pittsburgh Derrek Lee. Welcome to Pittsburgh, Derrek Lee. Welcome to Pittsburgh, Derrek Lee. Welcome to Pittsburgh Derrek Lee. Welcome to Pittsburgh, Derrek Lee. Welcome to Pittsburgh, Derrek Lee. Welcome to Pittsburgh Derrek Lee. Welcome to Pittsburgh, Derrek Lee. Welcome to Pittsburgh, Derrek Lee. Welcome to Pittsburgh Derrek Lee. Welcome to Pittsburgh, Derrek Lee.
Pirates Reportedly Acquire Derrek Lee For Aaron Baker
Well, he has to be better than Lyle Overbay. The Pirates would get Lee and cash, while the Orioles would get a Class low A hitter.
Lee is hitting .321 (17-for-53) with 3 HRs and 13 RBI since the All-Star break but is just .248/.306/.409 for the season.
UPDATE by Charlie: I suppose this is fine, as long as the Class A player isn't anyone terribly interesting, which I doubt. Given the prices other teams are paying right now for players better than this, I can't blame the Pirates for aiming a bit lower.
UPDATE 10:47 PM: Dan Connolly has a whole series of tweets on this. Connelly says the return is a Low-A player, which has people in the comments speculating that it's someone from State College. That's one possibility, I guess, but a lot of people say "Low-A" when they're referring to West Virginia's level, and a lot of the State College guys aren't eligible to be traded yet. Either way, there isn't a lot of interesting hitting at those levels, so I suppose that's good.
... All this assumes, of course, that Connolly's information is right and the return has been agreed upon, which might not be the case.
UPDATE 10:58 PM: More details: the Orioles are sending a bit of cash, and the minor-leaguer is "not expected to be a top prospect."
UPDATE 11:02 PM: I'll be on 104.7 with David Todd at about 11:10 to discuss this.
UPDATE: 11:10 PM: The Pirates have apparently traded Aaron Baker for Derrek Lee. I'm fine with this. It's a decent deal from Baltimore's perspective, too, but Baker isn't worth worrying about. He's nearly 24 and is still in Class A+, and his strikeouts and lack of any truly outstanding hitting tools keep him from being a great prospect. I don't think I've ever even had him in one of my top 30s. Matt Curry is a much better first-base prospect. This isn't a great deal, by any means, but it's an upgrade for a reasonable cost, and those haven't been easy to find this trading season. I would expect Lyle Overbay to be gone when Lee reports.
Bucs miss out on Uehara
He goes to Texas for Chris Davis and Tommy Hunter
Ryan Ludwick about to be dealt???
The San Diego Union-Tribune is reporting that "a trade could be going down." However, Jon Heyman of SI.com reported this morning that the Phillies, Braves, Reds and Indians were all pursuing the 33-year-old outfielder. No mention of the Pirates. I doubt the Indians are still in play after making the deal for Fukudome.
Olney spculates Giambi for the Bucs. Oh, Lord!
Ya, know if he could field even just a little bit he would certainly be an interesting rental on the cheap.
Tigers/Royals trading within the division???
Wilson Betemit could be headed to the motor city.
Is the first big domino about to fall?
The Atlanta JC thinks the Braves are about to make a move. I hope for their sake that it's better than the one they made a couple years ago at this time for a certain "gold glove" center fielder.
Pirates looking at Uehara
Would be a great set up guy for Hanrahan.
J Rod heading back to Cleveland
Pauls Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer thinks so.
Ian Snell calls it a career
by Brakeman8 on Mar 15, 2011 3:52 PM EDT
on Bucs Dugout
MLB Trade Rumors is reporting that former Pirates pitcher Ian Snell has retired. St. Louis sent Snell to its minor league camp and he instead elected to retir. Snell, 29, had signed a minor league contract with the Cardinals in January after being let go by the Mariners.
Snell's best season was 2007 with Pittsburgh, when he posted a 3.76 ERA in 208 innings. That performance earned him a three-year, $8.6MM extension. He became a headcase and quickly lost effectiveness by the time the ink dried.
Jose Bautista: 6 years, $78 million???
by Brakeman8 on Feb 16, 2011 11:05 PM EST
on Bucs Dugout
So, MLB Trade Rumors says that the Toronto Blue Jays and Jose Bautista are close to a contract extension that could be as long as 6 years and as much as $78 million. First, it boggles my mind that the Cardinals just offered Albert Pujols around $80 million and Jose Bautista may be getting that same kind of money. We all know Jose Bautista and the story behind him (where is Robinzon Diaz now anyway???). My question is are the Blue Jays nuts??? Or, is this a good deal for them???
Armando Galarraga DFA
by Brakeman8 on Jan 18, 2011 3:15 PM EST
on Bucs Dugout
The Detroit Tigers today designated pitcher Armando Galarraga for assignment. This, just one day after reaching an agreement on a new 2.3 million dollar deal for 2011. It was kicked around on this site about possibly trading for Galarraga, but do you think there is a chance he gets passed over by the AL clubs and the Pirates will have a shot a claiming him? And, if so, would they? Or should they? The Tigers had to make room on the roster for Brad Penny.
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