State of the Bucs

Joe Rutter has a M.A. Thesis on the state of the Bucs as the annual organizational meetings begin.

There's just a little over a month until the November 19 deadline for submitting the 40-man roster. Pirate fans should be prepared and Pirate fans should participate in the process by paying attention and threatening to get upset if the team looks prepared to cut someone we really ought to keep.

Here's Wilbur Miller's overview of the current situation with the the minors and the 40-man. It doesn't square exactly with the overview provided by Joe Rutter. We have a month or so to learn why the organization might value a Rajai Davis over a Javier Guzman, or where guys like Ray Sadler and Chris Duffy stand, or what the organization expects to get out of the crop of guys - J.J. Davis, Carlos Rivera, etc. - who have yet to deliver on their promise.

Pirate fans can live with disappointment (we're still here, yes?) but we don't need any more Rule 5 surprises. I hope the front office does a good job communicating a rationale for the big decisions they'll make in the next four months.