SB Nation User Blog: Ketcham Bruce

Bucs and Reds swap High A organizations

Ketcham Bruce — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:01:34 -0000

According to the Post-Gazette the Reds, who are moving from the Grapefruit League to the Cactus League, are trading their Sarasota team to the Pirates for their Lynchburg organization. The Pirates will move the new Florida team to Bradenton.

As a relocated Pirates fan who now lives just north of Myrtle Beach, this stinks. I said in an earlier post my wife and I saw several Hillcats games in Myrtle Beach against the Braves High A team. I was excited to see Pedro Alverez last season and was excited to see some of the upcoming prospects coming up from the West Virgina Power. I declare shenanigans !

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09303/1009441-63.stm

Who do you like in the World Series ?

Ketcham Bruce — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 09:20:37 -0000

Now that my least two favorite managers are out of the playoffs, LaRussa and LaTracy (No Pirate fan could live down Tracy going to the World Series two years removed from Pittsburgh ), who do you like for the World Series ? I'd like to see Joe Torre and Manny Ramirez go to New York and sweep the Yankees. I also wouldn't mind seeing an all Los Angles World Series with the Halos winning it all.

Poll

Who do you think will win the Fall Classic ?

Yankees

18 votes

Angles

23 votes

Dodgers

14 votes

Phillies

6 votes

61 votes | Poll has closed

A good article about Benny Distefano

Ketcham Bruce — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 13:54:53 -0000

Our good friend, Dejan, at the Post-Gazette linked this artice in the New York Times about former Bucco Benny Distefano. The article goes into detail how Distefano was the last man to play the catcher position left handed. I remember this game in 1989 because my father and I were watching it. I believe he came in as a replacement for Junior Ortiz I remember my father, a former catcher himself, was very shocked to see the southpaw Distefano set up behind the plate. When I asked why, he said that left handed catchers had trouble fielding bunts and left it at that.

I met Distefano later that year at WMGW in Meadville, PA. He was there for a promotion signing autographs, well, autograph, I was the only one there. A genuinely good guy who couldn't cut it in the majors despite breaking up David Cone's no hitter in 1989 and nearly being decapitated by Darryl Strawberry while playing first base.

Sanchez our lone rep to the All-Star Game... again

Ketcham Bruce — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 18:29:10 -0000

Over on the MLB Pirates site they state that Freddie Sanchez is our representative in the All Star game in St. Louis. I'm not surprised. He's having a good season. This might give Sanchez more national exposure if he plays well and maybe additional team interest. By playing well I'm saying not striking out and maybe a nice defensive play. Maybe even one of his famous fifteen pitch at bats that Joe Buck can say, " Wow, he fouls off another one." over and over again.

Either way, I was kind of hoping for Zack Duke to get the nod, but if wishes were horses, beggars would ride.

Go Bucs !

http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090705&content_id=5706706&vkey=news_pit&fext=.jsp&c_id=pit

Delgado on DL. Quick ! Trade Mario

Ketcham Bruce — Mon, 18 May 2009 00:28:16 -0000

Strike while the iron is hot ! Trade Mario LaRoche to the Metropolitians for prospects while he is still hitting well and Delgado is still injured. We could finally bring up Pearce and let him play full time. Neil Hunington needs to continue to trade high. Who do the Mets have ? The Bucs should pull the trigger unless Omar Minaya wants to give us back Ollie Prez. Oh, how the mighty have fallen since 2004. Go Bucs !

Deja vu all over again at shortstop

Ketcham Bruce — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 14:37:03 -0000

Last year our beloved elder statesman of the infield, Jack Wilson, went down early in the season and Brian Bixler was called up from Triple -A. Now once again, Wilson's down and Bix is up. In 50 games last season he hit .229/ .194/ .423. With the modest start our PBC has gotten to lets hope he doesn't Munson us into last place. Go Bucs !

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09116/965760-100.stm

Pearce and Diaz to Indy

Ketcham Bruce — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 19:31:49 -0000

The PBC has optioned C Robinzon Diaz and OF/1B Steve Pearce to Triple-A Indianapolis. Reassigned INF Anderson Machado to Minor League camp. According to the Post-Gazette Pearce will be working on his first base skills. This is Mario LaRoche's last contract year with the Bucs.

In other news, according to MLB.com the San Francisco Giants have acquired former Pirate speedster / catcher Ronny Paulino from the Phillies for LHP Jack Taschner, then they traded Paulino to the Marlins for Minor League RHP Hector Correa.

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/transactions/

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09087/959070-100.stm

Joe Crede to the Twins, where does that leaves Walker ?

Ketcham Bruce — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 00:57:56 -0000

There was a discussion here about sending Neil Walker to the Twin Cities for Delmon Young. I didn't really want to see that trade in the first place and now that Crede is signed that pretty much puts an end to that debate. I'm really hoping that Neil does well and somehow gets a chance to produce for our club. Although I'm not sure how. Andy LaRoche is suppose to be our third baseman until Pedro Alverez is ready. I think Walker's catching days are over and from what I understand he's not much of an outfielder either. Where now, first base ? Teach him to throw a knuckleball ? Ideas ?

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3923604

This just in !

Ketcham Bruce — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 14:46:17 -0000

According to Jayson Stark over at ESPN as reported by Mr. Sunshine himself, Bob Smizik, the PBC had the worst offseason in the National League. There are two needs we didn't address in the offseason that I think we should have. We really needed another starting pitcher and a right handed power bat. The right handed power bat might come from our own Steve Pearce, who I've always been a mark for,

Free agent pitching is a different matter. There are very few good free agent pitchers still left on the market. Pedro Martinez, whom has been debated about here extensively, and Mark Mulder are the only big names that I'd like to see in black and gold next year.

I don't think the Pirates have had a bad offseason, but a quiet one. We did get some bench players and I'm looking forward to seeing what comes up from Triple A.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/spring2009/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=3902573

Likelihood Singh and Patel make it to the big club ?

Ketcham Bruce — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 14:29:19 -0000

Rinku Singh and Dinesh Patel are training hard and hope to make it to Lynchburg and Altoona soon. What's your take ? How soon do you think, if ever, will it take for them to don the black and gold ?

I'm hoping they make it to at least Lynchburgh within the next two years. I'd like to see them down here in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina when they play the Pelicans. It's a good story , if they can make it.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09039/947730-63.stm

Poll

How long will it take Singh and Patel to get to the big club ?

5 years

14 votes

7 years

10 votes

never

60 votes

other

4 votes

88 votes | Poll has closed