(UPDATE: This is a FanPost and, I think, a very good one, but not all the opinions expressed herein necessarily reflect the views of the guy who runs Bucs Dugout. So be warned.)

I've been a Pirates fan since the day I was born.  My parents were from western Pennsylvania, and to this day the only good things my biological father has given me are my baseball glove, grandparents and an unabashed love of the Pittsburgh Pirates.  I'm one of the few people I know who would honestly rather listen to the Pirates lose than watch the Steelers win.

Shortly before I was born in 1977 my parents moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  Being so much closer to Philadelphia, I've heard Harry Kalas do Phillies' broadcasts since I can remember. 

I can't begin to explain how honest and incredible a broadcaster Kalas was.  He loved the Phils, much like Myron Cope loved the Steelers, and just like Cope, Kalas always had a way of explaining situations without having to say things out loud. 

I remember a game just after I turned 21 (I know this because I was at a bar when it happened.)  The Phils were leading the Florida Marlins 6-4 in the bottom of the ninth inning.  The Marlins had runners on second and third with two outs.  The Phils intentionally walked a batter to load the bases to get to Preston Wilson, who was batting clean-up.  All the people at the bar were up in arms at the decicion. I heard "what idiot would walk a guy to load the bases for the clean-up hitter!?!" (Philly fans are idiots, by the way.) 

Harry Kalas' call was perfect and calm. "The Phils are gonna load the bases here in the ninth and face the free-swinging Preston Wilson."

So little said, yet so much said at the same time.  Preston Wilson struck out and the game was over.  I think Preston Wilson went on to set a new Major League record for strike outs in a season that year, actually.

I know ESPN has made a fairly big deal out of Kalas' passing, as they should, but I just wanted to share my own memory of Harry Kalas: Philadelphia's most intelligent Phanatic.

I saw that the Indians placed one-time blue chip prospect Andy Marte on waivers to make room for Salas from the Rays.  Marte is still only 25 and I think he's the kind of player the Pirates need to be looking for.  I don't know if he's still got the tools to be an impact player at the Major League level, but NH has to know better than anyone.  Do you think there's any way Marte ends up with the Bucs?

So I saw this photo on the PG (which is uncredited) and this is what I thought, in this specific order:

First I thought:  Wow, that Pedro Alvarez is a handsome dude.

Second I thought:  What kind of weird soccer shirt is that kid wearing? Is that a France jersey?

Third and last I thought to myself: What the hell? Is that kid in the middle sticking his finger up his butt!?!

Vote for Pedro!

Major League Baseball Trade Rumors has a series of write-ups about blocked prospects.  Right now they have a piece up detailing the Steve Pearce situation.  It's mostly stuff we already know and talk about all the time (blocked by LaRoche and behind Nady), but it's nice to see that other people notice.

There's a video up on the Post-Gazette about the first day of camp.  There were a couple of things I found interesting.

First, they show some drills that the catchers work through blocking balls in the dirt.  Ryan Doumit drops down, spreads out and the ball land 8 inches in front of him several times.  Ronnie Paulino does the same drill and he drops down and the ball bounces off him and flies away.  Paulino's the "good" defensive catcher, right?

Second, when the reporters are talking to Bay he says something like "You've heard it all a thousand times" in reference to the notion that the team has the pieces to compete.  His tone of voice makes him sound like he doesn't buy any of it.  He kind of sounds like a dick.

You can watch the video by clicking here.

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Poll

Which would you like to see most in PNC Park

2%

All of these hacks

1 votes

2%

Jeremy Affeldt

1 votes

10%

BH Kim

4 votes

48%

Dallas McPherson

19 votes

15%

Corey Patterson

6 votes

20%

None of these hacks

8 votes

39 votes | Poll has closed

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What are we getting?

I guess the Devil Rays are entertaining 2 options:

1. Take Brian Barton with the first pick.
   
2. Sell the pick to the Padres, who will take Brian Barton.

I'm going to try and keep up with this today.

UPDATE 2:19 PM by Charlie: Nice work here, Bryan and Vlad. The Bucs took reliever Evan Meek, a 24-year-old from Tampa Bay who posts good strikeout rates but has trouble with control. This is the sort of player I thought they'd take - someone who can potentially help the bullpen - although Meek himself wasn't on my radar. The Pirates released Jose Castillo to make room on the roster.

Don't shed any tears for Castillo - who the Pirates weren't going to take to arbitration anyway - or for Barton, who probably would've clogged up space on the roster without contributing much. The Bucs already have a bunch of outfielders, and Barton will be 26 early next season, so his AA numbers aren't really that impressive, and he didn't perform well in a small sample at AAA last year.

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Ken Rosenthal reported a few hours ago that the Reds have reached a preliminary agreement (4yrs/$46m) with free agent closer Francisco Cordero:

The deal, which is pending a physical, is the largest four-year contract ever given to a closer. It includes a club option for a fifth year that can bring the total value of the package to $57 million. That's crazy money to pay a 32 year old power pitching closer, in my opinion. I think when your third best starter is Homer Bailey then there are better ways to spend $46,000,000...