According to CBS, http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/transactions, the legendary Doug Mientkiewicz  has signed a minor league contract with LA. It's hard to belive that this time last year Dougie's possible returm was the subject of so much speculation. It seems like progress that signing a guy like this no longer generates much interest. Eye chart got hurt in mid-April, and ended up only making 19 plate appearances for the year. Hopefully next season will be kinder to the scrappy veteran.

David Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News is speculating  (http://www.philly.com/dailynews/sports/20091112_Phillies_like_the_third-base_market.html) that Phillies GM Rueban Amaro Jr. has talked to the Pirates about a trade for Andy LaRoche.  I would be curious to see what Amaro would be willing to offer, but, to me, it does not appear to be a good time to trade Luigi. Neil Walker is not, and will probably never be, ready to start at the major league level. Pedro Alvarez will most likely start the year at Indy, so there is, at this time, no internal replacement for LaRoche. Most importantly, I think trading Andy now would be selling low. He developed last year, and it looks like he still has untapped potential.  

According to the Pirates website http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091103&content_id=7614836&vkey=news_pit&fext=.jsp&c_id=pit Iwamura is now a Pirate, and Jesse Chavez is not. This is probably not a move that brings the Bucs any closer to contending, but it stablizes a position where the in-house options are limited. If Iwamura can stay healthy, and that is a big if, he should be able to help out the pitching staff (Zach Duke should be happy with this). Another bonus; DY can go back to the bench role for which he seems more fitted. We will miss Chavez, but overall I think it's an upgrade.

I believe that the Pirates will be good one day.

I believe that Neal Huntington is on the right path.

I believe that Charlie Morton will make the McLouth trade look great.

I believe that Neal raked the Yankees over the coals with the Nady/ Marte trade.

I believe that Andy LaRoche will be an above average major league second basemen.

I believe that given enough talent John Russell will do fine as a major league manager.

I believe that Lastings Milledge will make the Morgan/ Burnett trade a steal.

I believe that Garrett Jones will hit 30 homeruns next year.

I believe that Cutch will be an all-star for years to come.

I believe that Hanrahan will be a quality closer.

I believe that Ross Ohlendorf will win 15 games next year.

I believe that a year from now we will have witnessed a measurable improvement at the major league level; 70 plus wins.

I believe that Pedro Alvarez will make an impressive major league debut next year.

I believe that what Neal has done over the last two years is discernibly from what the Pirates did for the previous fifteen; therefore I believe that the national media, that pays little attention to what the Pirates are actually trying to do, should shut their pie holes.

I believe that many Pirates fans will come back like they did at the of the 1988 season, when they see a young team gain momentum.

I believe that Cedeno will be a serviceable major league shortstop.

I believe that Duke and Maholm will both win 15 games in a season while wearing a Pirates uniform.

I believe that one day we will not have to give nick-names like “Wreck Specs” and “Black Hole” to Pirates players.

I believe that Jesse Chavez is becoming a quality set-up guy.

I believe that there is no other place on Earth I would rather be than PNC Park.

I believe I will witness the Pirates win their 6th world championship.

The Bible says “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” I choose to hope and believe because the Pirates have, and will always be, my favorite team. I have followed them closely since 1982, and I will never give up on them. Much of what I have stated above may not come to pass, but given the choice of being optimistic or pessimistic; I choose to believe that the Bucs will be good one day. This is a belief I will never give up on.   

The legend of Ronnie Ballgame continues. He was traded from the Phils to Giants, and then from the Giants to the Marlins in one day. He's hit over .350 against left handers in his career so the Marlins plan to use him against south paws. But that same plan did not really work here last seaon when he hit .212. My question is whether he can rake south paws when he's not playing everyday. Also, he had a lousy spring hitting .194 with the Phils, where he was unable to unseat Chris Coste as Carlos Ruiz's back up. Can't say I miss the lackadaisical Paulino, though I did see him hit a majestic moonshot into the bushes in center against the Reds in 2007. He better make the most out of this chance with Marlins.

According to Dejan, Denny Bautista and his 6.10 ERA in 35 appearances were not offered arbitration. I don't quite understand why the Bucs didn't use Bautistas roster spot to protect Kyle Bloom or Jamie Romack. I don't think losing Bloom will end up being to big of a deal, but why not hold on to him? Hopefully because they are planning to sign another free-agent, to a major league contract, to fill the roster spot. Mark Texiera is still available.

Apperantly evil still reigns; According to sportsline.com, C.C. Sabathia has agreed to a seven year, $160 million contract, the richest contract in MLB history for a pitcher. The Yanks outbid the Red Sox and Angels. Now that the K-Rods and Sabathias are falling into place maybe we will see more moves, and maybe the Bucs will start signing the likes of Paul Byrd (no talk about him in a while though huh?) and David Eckstein. I can't wait! 

Ed Wade said this about Mike Hampton; "I don't think there's any reason based on the performance at the end of the season, based on the medical information that we gathered ... for us to feel that he's not going to be able to go out there every fifth day and answer the bell for us."

Ed Wade also says; "From the footage I've watched, Bigfoot appears to be real."

"From what Donald Rumsfeld told me the insurgency in Iraq is in its death throes"

"From the tapes we've watched Carl Pavano could win next years Cy Young award"

"Based on the Zapruter film I think Plexico Burress was shot by Lee Harvey Oswald"

"From the charts I have looked at, I really think it's a great time to buy Enron stock"

"Based on the tapes I have looked at Matt Millen was a great GM"

"The reports we have indicate smoking is good for pregant women"

"Based on the reports from my drug dealer this is great ecstacy" 

Dejan is back and he wrote a great article about a Pirates tryout in the Dominican Republic. It is a nice feel good story. I like the article for two reasons; (1) it gives insight into what the Bucs are doing on the island, and internationally; (2) I have taken several classes on Latin American history and geography, and the article gives a nice snapshot about life and baseball in the D.R.

The Bucs have a long way to go before they will be a competitive major league franchise, and I think the 2009 season is going to be a long one for us, but this story and the recent international signings are giving more me hope that Pirates are on the right track. Lastly I just wanted to say how glad I am that Dejan is back, he is a tremendous writer.

The Colorado Rockies have tabbed Jim Tracy as their bench coach. Will Tracy advise Rockies manager Clint Hurdle on how to try and recreate the 2004 LA Dodgers in Colorado?  Jim Tracy was pretty bad in the Burgh, but bad managers always seem to resurface as malor league coaches. Tracy was bench coach under Felipe Alou in Montreal and with Davey Johnson in LA from 1999-2001. After watching the Bucs fall apart in late 2007 under his leadership, its hard to envision him getting another chance to manage in the majors.