As the Pirates played the Toronto Blue Jays tonight, I began to think of how good Jose Bautista is doing for about the millionth time. I don't blame Neal for dealing him and I am not upset at what he got back, but the fact that he was ours and let him go just bothers me. A similar situation would be having a decent looking girlfriend who has been disappointing in the relationship and dumping her because of the problems at the time. Is it your fault, if after 2 or so years, you find out that she has become a Victoria's Secret underwear model? Not at all. But are you disappointed that it could have been yours if you had stuck with her and worked out the problems? You would be lying if you said no, but you shouldn't blame yourself because you could have never known it would happen.

Now during this break up, you have gotten a new woman who you are happy with. She is not what as amazing as the model, but she makes you happy. However, even though you are currently happy, dreaming about not breaking up with the ex-girlfriend still occurs. How great would it be if you were still with her? Who knows; but if you could, would you go back and never end the relationship because it could be better? Many would say yes, but they fail to realize how everything would change. It’s possible it may work out better for you than the mere “average” joy you experience with your new girl, but it could also end up worse. In case you haven’t noticed, the model represents the Pirates never trading Bautista and the new girl represents the current Pirate team.

 Would you give up guaranteed success for the possibility it could be better even though there is an even greater possibility the relationship ends yet again (free agency) or something even worse occurs (Bautista gets hurt)? Or do you stay happy, denying yourself the chance at something better? Bautista could have put the Bucs in a similar situation to the one they are in now, but that is not a guarantee. Because of Bautista's breakout, the Pirates may have been forced to sign him to a huge deal that kept them from constructing the team the way it currently is. Potential problems in the clubhouse from Bautista or one of the different players that would have likely been on the team may have lead to guys like Morton and McCutchen being lame ducks instead of stars. A slightly better record the past few years could have lead to more John Russell and no Clint Hurdle. Good things that may have happened would be Bautista attracting other free agents, the Pirates get an increase in attendance and pay roll, and other moves that improve the club. Whether good or bad, keeping Bautista would have made the Pirates a different team.

The point of the post is to think. Keeping Bautista doesn’t automatically lead to a better team. If we were to add him to the current team it would, but that is sadly not one of the two choices. In a Bautista breaks out with the Pirates alternate universe, the team would have been vastly different because it would have had different needs and different strengths. They may have traded Bautista by now for prospects. Who knows; but would any of you fellow fans go back and prevent Neal from doing the trade if you could? I wouldn’t. I like the team the way it is and even though it may have worked out better for the Bucs, it could have been much worse and this season is giving my hope even more strength. This team, filled with guts and heart, is doing something a Jose Bautista led team may have never done, and that is compete.  

 PS. I edited it. Spent a little more time. Hope it is more clear. Sorry about previous one

The Pirates early this morning agreed to terms with 16-year-old pitching prospect Luis Heredia of Mexico on a $2.6 million bonus, the biggest payout in franchise history for an international amateur.

http://plus.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/sports-town/pbc-blog/104391-pirates-wrap-up-heredia

Wow. I honestly didn't believe we would actually do it. He got less than I imagined he would. We got him for 2.6 mil which is probably a bargain.

Here we go with my top 50 prospects after the draft

1. Bryce Harper  A  OF Washington Nationals               26. Tony Sanchez B+ Pittsburgh Pirates

2. Pedro Alvarez   A  3B Pittsburgh Pirates                     27. Logan Morrison B+ 1B Florida Marlins

3. Jeremy Hellickson  A  RHP Tamba Bay Rays           28. Freddie Freeman B+ 1B Atlanta Braves

4. Dom Brown   A-  OF Philidelphia Phillies                   29. Nicholas Weglarz B+ OF Cleveland Indians

5. Desomond Jennings A- OF Tampa Bay Rays           30. Arodys Vizcaino B+ RHP Atlanta Braves

6. Mike Moustakas  A-  3B Kansas CIty Royals              31. Aaron Hicks B+ OF Minnesota Twins

7. Mike Trout   A-  OF LA Angels                                        32. Aroldis Chapman B+ LHP Cincinatti Reds

8. Julio Teheran   A- RHP Atlanta Braves                        33. Tyler Matzek B+ LHP Colorado Rockies

9. Mike Montgomery  A-  LHP Kansas City Royals        34. Manny Machado B+ SS Baltimore Orioles

10. Dustin Ackley  A-  2B Seattle Mariners                      35. Michael Taylor B+ OF Oakland Athletics

11. Simon Castro  A-  RHP San Diego Padres             36. Jacob Turner B+ RHP Detroit Tigers

12. Lonnie Chisenhall A-  3B Cleveland Indians          37. Jaff Decker B+ OF San Diego Padres

13. Wil Myers  A- C Kansas City Royals                         38. John Singleton B+ 1B Philidelphia Phillies

14. Jameson Taillon A-  RHP Pittsburgh Pirates        39. Randall Delgado B+ RHP Atlanta Braves 

15. Jesus Montero A-  C New York Yankees                40. Drew Pomeranz B+ LHP Cleveland Indians

16. Madison Bumgarner B+ LHP San Fran Giants     41. Brett Jackson B+ OF Chicago Cubs

17. Martin Perez  B+ LHP Texas Rangers                    42. Bryan Morris B+ RHP Pittsburgh Pirates

18. Micheal Pineda B+ RHP Seattle Mariners             43. Grant Green B+ SS Oakland Athletics

19. Wilmer Flores B+ 3B New York Mets                      44. Kyle Drabek B+ RHP Toronto Blue Jays

20. Mike Minor  B+ LHP Atlanta Braves                         45. Yasmani Grandal B C Cincinatti Reds

21. Eric Hosmer  B+ 1B Kansas City Royals               46. Christian Friedrich B LHP Colorado Rockies

22. Jordan Lyles  B+ RHP Houstan Astros                  47. Derek Norris B C Washington Nationals

23. Kyle Gibson  B+ RHP Minnesota Twins                 48. John Lamb B LHP Kansas City Royals

24. Casey Kelly  B+ RHP Boston Red Sox                   49. Christian Colon B SS Kansas City royals

25. Nick Franklin B+ SS Seattle Mariners                     50. Matthew Moore B LHP Tampa Bay Rays

Royals, Braves, Rays, Indians, Pirates, and Mariners all have a number of top guys who are top 50 guys. Royals have the most. Their system has got to be the top system. 

Some HM: Ryan Westmoreland, Alex White, Tim Beckham, Dan Hudson, Chirs Sale, Josh Sale,  Josh Vitters, Shelby Miller, Ryan Kallish.

I know it is early, but if you had to make a top prospects list right now, what would it look like? To make it more interesting, you can include all of the recent draft picks and guys who just got called up like Tabata, Lincoln, and even Walker(though he probably isn't one anymore). You can make it however long you want to. I am also going to give them grades much like John Sickels does on his blog. My top 15 would look like this:

1. Pedro Alvarez  A

2. Jameson Taillon A-

3. Tony Sanchez B+

4. Bryan Morris B+

5. Neil Walker B+

6. Stetson Allie B

7. Jose Tabata B

8. Brad Lincoln B

9. Zach Von Rosenberg B-

10. Jeff Locke B-

11. Starling Marte B-

12. Justin Wilson B-

13. Chase D'arnaud C+ or B-

14. Nathan Adcock C+

15. Danny Moskos :) C+

Andy Sieler is letting each person answer three drat questions that he will answer on his blog MLB BONUS BABY. He is one of the better people to look to when the draft comes around and will provide you with whatever you want to know about the draft prospects. I suggest everyone from here goes to his blog MLB Bonus Baby and fills it with questions they want to know about our Pirates.

GO BUCS GO BUCS GO BUCS GO BUCS GO BUCS GO BUCS GO BUCS GO BUCS GO BUCS GO BUCS GO BUCS

Gerrit Cole of UCLA will be taking on Sonny Gray from Vanderbilt on Friday. This is possibly going to be the best college pitching match up of the year between the two guys many believe are going to be competing to be the number one pick of the 2011 draft. This matchup should be something to watch if you have the chance. Is there anyone that is going to this game? I would really like to hear how these two kids do in this pitching match up of two potential stars.