Game 69: Pirates at Rockies

Maholm vs. De La Rosa and a man who I use the phrase "Jim Tracy" to describe at three.

Game 68: Pirates at Rockies

Charlie Morton vs. Jason Hammel at eight. Monroe has been designated for assignment, and Pearce called up.

Game 67: Pirates at Rockies

Ohlendorf vs. Marquis and Jim Tracy at nine. If you're not entertained by that, try Wilbur's 2009 draft notes.

Game 66: Pirates at Twins

Duke and Blackburn at one. Until then there's Cutch's first jack.

Game 65: Pirates at Twins

Ian Snell vs. the mound, his teammates, his coaches, Randy Marsh, and the entire world, which includes Francisco Liriano.

Game 64: Pirates at Twins

Maholm vs. Perkins at eight. The Twins are 32-33 and in second place. With the Brewers win yesterday, this is a must-win game for the Bucs.

Off day

Four games out, the Bucs have the day off to rest up for their inevitable World Series surge. Playoff odds at 10%.

Game 63: Tigers at Pirates

Ohlendorf vs. Dontrelle at 1:35. The Bucs are only five games back.

Game 62: Tigers at Pirates

Duke and Galarraga at seven. If the Bucs are inspired by the Pens to run the table with a WS victory, they need a win tonight.

City of Champions

Penguins are awesome.

Game 61: Detroit and Pittsburgh

Porcello and Snell at seven.

The other Detroit and Pittsburgh at eight.

Game 60: Pirates at Braves

Maholm and Vazquez at one.

Reviewing some deals

I just went back over the Pirates' transactions from the hiring of Huntington at the end of the 2007 season. Here are some highlights bitten from Baseball Reference, who borrows this information from Retrosheet.

July 26, 2008(Standings)

Traded Damaso Marte and Xavier Nady to the New York Yankees. Received Daniel McCutchen (minors), Jose Tabata (minors), Jeff Karstens and Ross Ohlendorf.

July 31, 2008 (Standings)

As part of a 3-team trade, traded Jason Bay to the Boston Red Sox. Received Bryan Morris (minors) and Andy LaRoche from the Los Angeles Dodgers and Craig Hansen and Brandon Moss from the Boston Red Sox. In addition, the Boston Red Sox sent Manny Ramirez to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

December 10, 2008

Traded Ronny Paulino to the Philadelphia Phillies. Received Jason Jaramillo (minors).

If buy low, sell high is the idea, these moves make sense. Whatever you think of Nate McLouth, you can't deny that the Pirates did not sell him high. 5 season 1700 at-bats, 801 career OPS. (770 is average.) At his peak, Nate is a much better option than Rob Mackowiak. But he's not Jason Bay good. He could develop into a Jason Bay-like hitter some day, but his track record suggests that's not likely. Nate is already 27.

Nady has eight seasons, 2500 at-bats, and a 792 career OPS. He has delivered that OPS for the Yankees. He's on the DL right now. Late last year, the Yankees declined Marte's $6M option for 2009 and re-signed him to a three-year, $12 million contract with a club option for 2012. He is also on the DL, which is also tough luck. Still, with Ohlendorf pitching well as a regular starter, that trade looks good this morning.

Other borderline-controversial moves since NH took over involved Shawn Chacon (released), Jose Castillo (released), Salomon Torres (traded for Kevin Roberts and Marino Salas), Doug Mientkiewicz ('07 signed, '08 released), Tyler Yates (acquired for Todd Redmond, a soft-throwing AAA starter still in the Braves' system), Matt Morris (released), Jose Bautista (traded for Robinson Diaz), Franquelis Osoria (released), and Chris Duffy (released). Torres had a good season for the Brewers in 2008. And then he retired. The rest of those moves look good.

It's too early to judge the players acquired in the Nate McLouth trade: RHP Charlie Morton, LHP Jeff Locke and outfielder Gorkys Hernandez. But it looks like the Nady deal (which looks good for Pittsburgh) or the Bay deal (what do you think of Andy LaRoche?)

Putting the McLouth deal aside because it's such recent history, I'll say the only guy that has slipped through NH's fingers that I would want back this morning is Jason Bay. Bay is not a perfect player -- his "arm" was not a good match for left field in PNC Park -- but he's close to as good as it gets as a slugger. With the bad economy, he will get four-five years at $13M-$15M in this coming off season. Even though Bay is far and away the best player the Pirates have lost, the haul for Bay looks reasonable and guess what, Bay will be a free agent at the end of the year.

You know what that means. If the Pirates are serious about winning, they will re-sign Jason Bay. (laughter)

Seriously, I am inclined to give the Pirates the benefit of the doubt on the McLouth deal and the Sanchez pick. To me, the comparisons to the Dave Littlefield era are not compelling. And I don't see how the Pirates would be a big winner this year or next had NH not made all those moves.

Game 59: Pirates at Braves

Charlie Morton debuts against Jurrjens at seven.

Top 10 Reasons to Like Tony Sanchez

10. Can catch-and-throw and block wild throws without hockey stick.
9. Can save a few bucks by recycling Freddy and Duaner jerseys.
8. Slugged .425, .517, .614 as freshman, sophomore, junior.
7. Understands losing atmosphere from early BC years.
6. Hit .346/.443/.614 this season (unadjusted for Character).
5. Ready to learn pitch calling (entertaining Sanchez interview).
4. Puts overdrafts in later rounds in whole new context.
3. SANORAMA!
2. Give these guys a chance at least. They haven't failed yet.
1. World Series 2011: Gorkys in LCF, Cutch in RCF. 9th player is Glass Doumit, who safely rests inside a protective bubble in foul territory every time the Bucs take the field. Sanchez, tough as nails, catches. For 25 innings straight. Bucs win!

Game 58: Pirates at Braves

Atlanta just went up 4-3 in the seventh.

Tony Sanchez

Something about signability and financial flexibility.

18 HBP last season too. Leans into the plate.

Game 57: Pirates at Braves

Duke vs. Kawakami and the recently departed Nate McLouth at seven.

Game 56: Pirates at Astros

Snell and Felipe Ballgame at two.

Game 55: Pirates at Astros

Maholm and Oswalt at seven.

With Gorkys in LCF and Cutch in RCF, a broad swath of the PNC outfield seats could be removed and that area covered in ice. Push the fence back, and have player #9, Nyjer Morgan, speedily patrol the new warning track on skates.

Game 54: Pirates at Astros

McCutchen II at eight, featuring Mike Hampton and Jeff Karstens.

With a two-man outfield (Nyjer in LCF and Cutch in RCF), where does the ninth player play?

Game 53: McCutchen!

McCutchen vs. McCutchen at 12:35.

McLouth traded

For Gorkys Hernandez, Morton, and Locke. Looks like a pretty nice haul for Neal and the Bucs, bringing an official end to the Frodo and Sam (McLouth and Duffy) Era. We'll miss Nate and wish him the best.

Game 53: Pirates at Mets

This one is a rain out.

Game 52: Mets at Pirates

Santana and Duke at seven.

Game 51: Mets at Pirates

Hernandez and Snell at seven.

Pirates are 22-28 - six games under.

Game 50: Astros at Pirates

Cy Hampton and Paul Maholm this afternoon.

Don't let Hampton's 1.56 WHIP or his 7 HRs allowed in 48 IP fool you. Bunker down in the southwest corner, and prepare the vats of boiling nacho cheese.

Game 49: Astros at Pirates

Rodriguez and Karstens at seven.

Game 48: Astros at Pirates

Moehler and Ohlendorf at seven.

Thursday

No game today. Season is 29% complete. Pirates are 21-26.

As a team, the Pirates are 11th in the NL in OPS. They are hitting .264 / .332 / .401. Freddy Sanchez has 60 hits and a .326 / .362 / .505 line. Nate McLouth leads the team with 8 home runs. Andy LaRoche leads the team with a .370 OBP. Nyjer Morgan has a .362 OBP.

Adam LaRoche is hitting .228 / .321 / .449. Brandon Moss has played in 41 games. He has 133 at-bats and .263 / .310 / .376 performance. Hinske, Monroe, and D. Young have combined about equally for 150 at-bats of .730 OPS.

The rotation has been consistent. Duke and Ohlendorf have been pretty good. Maholm has been solid and Snell has been not so good. Snell strikes some people out (6.79 per 9) but he has also posted a 1.58 WHIP, 7 home runs allowed in 53 innings, and not surprisingly a 1-6 record. Jesse Chavez has been good from the bullpen (4 holds, 1.2 WHIP, 7.65 K/9). Sean Burnett has good numbers too. John Grabow has somehow survived a lot of high-pressure situations with good results.

Collectively, the team has a 1.38 WHIP and 5.67 K/9. This WHIP is league-average (8th of 16) and translates into a .750 OPS against (10th of 16). And this K/9 is dead last in the NL. Arr ... the Pirates bring the junk.

Game 47: Pirates at Cubs

Duke and Zambrano this afternoon.

Game 46: Pirates at Cubs

Snell and Marshall at 8.

Pirates will try to score another 10 runs.

Game 45: Pirates at Cubs

The Pirates parade into Wrigley to start a three-game series. Bring your own lawn chair.

Maholm and Dempster at 8. Bucs are 20-24; Cubs are 21-21 after losing 7 in a row.

Game 44: Pirates at White Sox

Karstens and Buehrle at two. One of these days, a scraggly, mangy RUN will come scratching at the Beer Fort's back door.

Game 43: Pirates at White Sox

Ohlendorf and Richard at seven.

In other news, we raise our glass to the speedy recovery of James Harrison III, another reminder that dogs bite.

Game 42: Pirates at White Sox

Duke and Floyd at eight. The White Sox are 17-23, despite having no 2002-2003 Bucs in their bullpen. The Bucs are a sweep away from .500.

Meanwhile, all hail Brad Lincoln and his shutout.

Game 41: Pirates at Nationals

Snell and Stammen at seven. The Bucs are 19-21, have won five straight, and are out of the basement.

Game 40: Pirates at Nationals

Maholm and Lannan at seven. Good chance we see Kip and Julian tonight.

Game 39: Pirates at Nationals

Karstens vs. 5-0 rookie phenom Shairon Martis at seven.

The Nats' bullpen is two young guys, Colome, and four former 2002-2003 Bucs: Beimel, Tavarez, Villone and Wells.

Game 38: Pirates at Nationals

Ohlendorf vs. Detwiler and the hapless Nats at seven.

Busy night here, fortifying the west wall of the Beer Fort with the airlifted surprise from the seventh inning.

Game 37: Rockies at Pirates

Duke and Jimenez underway, scoreless after two.

Game 36: Rockies at Pirates

Cook and Snell like later on.

After last night, I am digging into the heavy weapons I was hoping to save for, I don't know, July or August. It's May 16 and Red Alert already.

Game 35: Rockies at Pirates

Game in progress. Maholm and de la Rosa. No score after 5 1/2.

Not long ago, I had a little lie-down after a long afternoon re-inforcing the southwest wall of the beer fort with wine boxes. Don't know where the time goes ...

Whoa -- RBI Craig Monroe. Pirates lead 1-0.

Game 34: Cardinals at Pirates

Boggs and Karstens at seven.

Pirates are 14-19 after losing 8 of their last 10.

Game 33: Cardinals at Pirates

Pineiro and Ohlendorf at seven.

Game 32: Cardinals at Pirates

Wellemeyer and Duke at seven.

Game 31: Generals at Globetrotters

Snell and Hernandez at one.

Game 30: Pirates at Mets

Maholm and Maine at one.

Pirates have scored more than the other teams (125 to 121) but are five games under .500. Either the coaching has not been so good or more likely, the Pirates have run up the score on some bad bullpens in blowout victories. Probably some of both. For sure we've seen the coaches jeopardize the pitcher's next start to get another inning, with bad results, as in the case of Ian Snell. That's a pretty classic example of inefficiently handling your resources. On the other hand, the resources have not been all that impressive and it's hard to understand how they have outscored the other teams in 29 games.

The Pirates are 12-17 and sharing the basement with Houston.

Game 29: Pirates at Mets

Karstens and Niese at seven. If things get out of hand, consider "Can we induce learned helplessness?" for edutainment.

Game 28: Pirates at Cardinals

Ohlendorf and Wellemeyer today. Bucs are knocking on the cellar door.

Game 27: Pirates at Cardinals

Zach Duke and Mitchell Boggs at eight. A perfectly healthy but recovering Ankiel patiently awaits his head-first assault on the beer fort.

Game 26: Brewers at Pirates

Snell and Suppan as the beer fort smolders.

Game 25: Brewers at Pirates

Gallardo and Maholm at seven.

Pirates have been shut out three of the last four games. Gallardo threw eight scoreless against them last Wednesday; Maholm was hit hard by the Brewers last Tuesday. Despite nine earnies in his last eleven and one-third innings, Maholm is 3-0 with a 3.09 ERA.

Game 24: Reds at Pirates

Cueto and Karstens at 1:30.

Pirates are 12-11, have won 5 of the last 10, and are tied up in second with Chicago and Cincinnati, a half-game ahead of the 12-12 Brewers.

Game 23: Reds at Pirates

Owings and Ohlendorf at 7.

Game 22: Reds at Pirates

Arroyo and Duke at 7. Storms more numerous this evening.

Game 21: Pirates at Brewers

Snell and Gallardo at one. Winning in Milwaukee is HARD.

Game 20: Pirates at Brewers

Maholm and Bush at 8.

Game 19: Pirates at Brewers

Karstens and Looper at eight. The Bucs have lost 15 straight at Miller Park and have run out of hiding places for the vigorish.

The 11-7 Bucs are in second place, and just 1.5 games out.

Game 18: Pirates at Padres

Ohlendorf and Peavy at 4 our time.

Bucs did major damage to the San Diego beer forts with last night's 10-1 win.

NFL Draft day 2

Steelers just took an OL, Kraig Urbik of Wisconsin, with their second pick of the draft. DL -> OL -> looks right to me.

Game 17: Pirates at Padres

Duke and Hill starting now. Craig Monroe batting third as McLouth rests again. Meek has been called up to replace Hansen, who will have more time to practice his staring on the DL.

Ziggy Hood

Steelers take Biggest Player Available DT Evander "Ziggy" Hood with their first pick. Ziggy's "fast off the line, blades through the gap and quickly locates the ball carrier" and "deftly uses an assortment of rush moves to put consistent pressure on quarterbacks in the pocket." Highlight reel here.

NFL draft

NFL draft going on. I would take an offensive lineman with my first pick. Then maybe a defensive lineman. Or vice versa.

Penguins up 4-3 in the 3rd.

Game 16: Pirates at Padres

Snell and Correia soon enough.

Spike

Spike Vrusho on the start of the season.

Living the dream

In fifteen games, the Pirates have scored 20 more than they've allowed.

No game today. They play at San Diego this weekend and then at Milwaukee to close the month.

Game 15: Marlins at Pirates

Maholm vs. Ronny (pulling Nolasco's strings) at 12:35.

Doumit will miss 8-10 weeks after having metal added to his right hand. Nyarrgh.

Game 14: Marlins at Pirates

Karstens and Sanchez on Ronny Ballgame's birthday.

The 7-6 Bucs are one game out.

Game 13: Marlins at Pirates

Ohlendorf vs. Andrew Miller and Ronny Ballgame. RBG has led the Marlins to an 11-1 record, and is by some measures an early favorite for NL MVP.

Game 12: Braves at Pirates

Duke and Vazquez in an hour. The 6-5 Bucs are 1 game out of first.

Game 11: Braves at Pirates

Snell and Jo-Jo Reyes starting soon. You have opportunity everywhere you look.

Game 10: Braves at Pirates

Jurrjens and Maholm and hopefully no Randy Marsh at 7.

Pirates are 4-5. The Cards are 8-3 and own first. The Braves are 5-4.

Game 9: Astros at Pirates

Day game. Ortiz and Karstens at 12:30.

Game 8: Astros at Pirates

Mike Hampton (?!) and Ross Ohlendorf at 7.

Pirates are 4-3 after seven games.

R.I.P. Kalas and Fidrych

Deep inside the beer fort, we pour some out for two HW favorites, now outta here - Harry Kalas and Mark Fidrych. As kids, Rowdy and I talked to the wiffleball, Fidrych-style.

Game 7: Astros at Pirates

Home opener.

Moehler and Duke at 1:30.

Game 6: Pirates at Reds

10-2 victories and Wiggy-style baserunning will do a lot to make this team look competitive.

This afternoon it is Snell and Harang at 1pm.

I will bunker down behind a wall of Miller High Life and attempt to decoy the marauders. You know -- let Joey Votto drive Ryan Freel's truck into that end of the beer fort.

Gmae 5: Pirates at Reds

Maholm and Cueto at 1.

Game 5: Pirates at Reds

7pm, Karstens, Cueto, and thunderstorms in the forecast.

Bucs are 2-2.

Game 4: Pirates at Cardinals

First place again. The hated Cubs have the day off, so the Pirates could leave St. Louis in sole possession of first place with a win. It's early but it counts, and as a fan, you have to enjoy the season while it's good.

Ohlendorf and Carpenter in a day game, starting around 1:30pm.

Game 3: Pirates at Cardinals

Duke and Wellemeyer and no Andy LaRoche at 8.

Game 2: Pirates at Cardinals

Snell and Lohse at 8.

First place

Woo-hoo Only very minor damage to the beer fort, so far as I can see.

Game 1: Pirates at Cardinals

First place on the line this afternoon. Maholm and Wainwright at 4:15.

HW 2009 Readers' Poll #3

Which three position players will lead the Pirates in PA?

HW 2009 Readers' Poll #2

From DK's PBC blog, I copy the pitchers:

Starting pitchers: Paul Maholm, Zach Duke, Ian Snell, Ross Ohlendorf, Jeff Karstens

Relievers: Matt Capps, John Grabow, Tyler Yates, Sean Burnett, Craig Hansen, Donnie Veal, Jesse Chavez

Q. Which starter will finish the season with the most innings? Which reliever?

HW 2009 Readers' Poll

Deeply entombed in the heavily fortified HW beer fort, we're more than ready to weather out the imminent losing. While the 2009 losing should be epic, in a setting-the-record-for-the-worst-team-ever kind of way, we're hopeful that by September we'll emerge with a breathtaking new lease on life, as some of the kids bum rush the show. For now though, it's 2009 prediction time, so please humor us in the comments:

1. How many games will the Pirates win in 2009?
2. When will the 82nd loss occur?
3. Any other predictions?

I'll start:
1. 62. On paper the team looks awful. Awful pitching in particular.
2. August 30th
3. Andy LaRoche is going to break out offensively. Half of the Opening Day team will stink and be sent down or released.

Cutch

McCutchen sent down, Dejan reports. At times we've struggled with Neal's struggles. Now we just don't get why McCutchen needs to learn how to bunt better for struggle-insurance:

"We still have to work on the base-stealing, on the bunting, so that, when he does struggle, he can pull that third baseman in and find his way on base."

All that said, I appreciate Neal's efforts to strategize for 2016 more than 2009.

Getting beat down

Xavier Nady, who played for the Pirates from 2006 to 2008:

When you first got here, what was the most eye-opening aspect of playing with the Yankees?

"For me, it's just the tradition of winning. And in the city, there's a lot of emphasis on winning. When you throw on that Yankees uniform, you're expected to play the game right. Coming from different organizations like Pittsburgh, it was just kind of like, over and over getting beat down. When I came over to Yankee Stadium, it was just an honor to put on that uniform. It was a dream come true."

Ouch. Full interview, by Marc Carig for the New Jersey Star-Ledger, here.

Ronny Ballgame, Marlin

Ronny has been traded twice in a few hours, and will now be calling games from the Marlins' bench. Bad news for the Bucs that RBG will be staying in the NL, as his deep familiarity with the Bucs' signs and ability to steal these at will from the bench could be the difference between 66 and 68 wins.

In other news, Chuck Finder reports that proud father hurt and gullible 20-year-old Jose Tabata honestly believed his 43-year-old wife to be pregnant, and that the snatched baby was his. We raise our glass to this Honest Tabata, and wish him the best in getting through this trying ordeal.

550 feet

This Pedro Alvarez piece from Jayson Stark is a welcome distraction from Cougargate.

Slowly back away from the baby

Confusing, eyebrow-raising news from Bradenton. Basically, 20-year-old Jose Tabata is married to a 43-year-old woman who has many aliases, has been convicted of arson, fraud, and theft, and has just been accused of taking someone else's baby.

60-Prevent-Slot-Hook-And-Go

John Stallworth named part-owner, reports Ed Bouchette.

Operation Meltdown

Rob Biertempfel twists the knife, revisiting the free agents.

From the mothership, Nyjer's .173/.211/.250 line doesn't seem to stand in the way of Nyjer being named the team's starting left fielder.

Awesome with a capital A

Pour some out for the late Vince Lascheid. PPG obit here.

Gorzelaaanny

Roster cuts send Gorzo to Indy to work on a more consistent delivery, Chuck Finder reports. Neil Walker also sent down due to the "ugly business side." As opposed to the even uglier baseball side?

Green alternate uniforms

Dan Rooney, ambassador to Ireland.

The Branch Rickey Pirates

Steve Treder for THT strums the lyre about Branch Rickey's 1950-1951 Bucs.

Taking root

When I first settled in to read this John Perrotto story on the state of the minor-league system, I mis-read the title and thought the system was "talking rot."