Pirates 2009 Official Thread:For the 17th year...

[The Q]

You know, I forgot about Millege, I guess i'm in denial that a team would give him away like that.

Hopefully the dealings of Doumit and Laroche will net you a 3B and SS of the future.

I'm excited to see what Delwyn Young can do with a full year at 2B. Could be a real sleeper IMO.

[The Q]

Honestly, the Pirates need to take a page out of the Texas playbook and pull their own Danny Gutierrez type trade.

Or if they're gonna move Laroche/Doumit, get Gutierrez from them. Marlon Byrd is a FA after this year as is Blalock, the Rangers could use a versatile bat like Doumit who can play C/1B/LF/RF. Hell they sign him and Hinske and they have the world's greatest utility platoon.

The other under the radar ranger arm i like is Joe Wieland, a 4th rounder last year.

[Master Batter]

IMHO a preview of 2010, position by position.

1B-Garrett Jones or an FA if Jones goes to RF. Steve Pearce is headed back to Indy permanently and Jeff Clement needs to learn how to field any position.

2B-Delwyn Young or Andy LaRoche. Andy would probably be the better defender and moving to 2B is inevitable if he stays with this team with Pedro coming up from the minors quickly. Young is a utility man or stop gap 2B.

SS-Ronny Cedeno until a SS prospect emerges from the minors a few years from now. Bixler is a career minor leaguer and about to be passed in the system by Friday, D'Arnaud or Mercer.

3B-Andy, Neil Walker and sooner rather than later, Pedro Alvarez(if he doesn't become a 1B). Best case scenario for the Pirates is that Walker hits in ST, Andy can handle 2B and Pedro can finish his development at Indy and come up around Memorial Day--to start putting in his 6 years before free agency.

C-Ryan Doumit for as long as it takes Tony Sanchez to progress through the system. Sanchez should start the year in AA, end it in AAA and come to camp in 2011 as the new starter at C.

RF-Brandon Moss or most likely a free agent veteran to hold down the job until Jose Tabata comes up by the trade deadline. Moss can go back to the bench where he belongs.

CF-Andrew "McClutchen" who has a stranglehold on the job until he wants to leave when his free agency is upcoming. He might move to a corner OF position if Gorkys Hernandez can learn to hit someday.

LF-Lastings Milledge as long as he stays being a solid citizen, not the head case he was billed to be.

SP-Zach Duke,Ross Ohlendorf,Paul Maholm and probably Charlie Morton and Daniel McCutchen until Brad Lincoln comes up by mid season to knock one of the last 2 out of their spot. The end of the year might give Pirate fans a quick glimpse of Alderson or Morris if they progress next year. Kevin Hart is a stiff and Karstens is a long reliever.

RP-Matt Capps(ugh!),Joel Hanrahan,Jesse Chavez, Evan Meek and a few lefty free agents to fill some big holes in the pen.

At this minute it looks like a lock that year 18 of losing is a given, but the future,at least from this day, looks brighter.

[The Q]

I think you're better off with Jones in RF and giving Clement a shot at 1B.

I'm not bullish on Garret Jones, he's 28 and had ZERO track record of doing anything like this before this year. He's already in his power nexus and 2009 will be the highlight of his MLB career IMO. I think the Pirates should be trading a guy like this for a SS or more young arms. That way Tabata isn't blocked when he's ready and you let Clement have a shot to develop.

And if Tabata doesnt' develop, RF is open for Doumit when Tony Sanchez is ready.

[Master Batter]

Originally Posted by The Q

I think you're better off with Jones in RF and giving Clement a shot at 1B.

I'm not bullish on Garret Jones, he's 28 and had ZERO track record of doing anything like this before this year. He's already in his power nexus and 2009 will be the highlight of his MLB career IMO. I think the Pirates should be trading a guy like this for a SS or more young arms. That way Tabata isn't blocked when he's ready and you let Clement have a shot to develop.

And if Tabata doesnt' develop, RF is open for Doumit when Tony Sanchez is ready.

My only concern with Doumit is the amount of time he spends on the DL almost every year. I would expect that if Walker can hit big league pitching that he would eventually be moved to RF if Tabata does not develop. I agree that Jones is likely just a flash in the pan, but from what everyone who has seen Clement says, he's almost useless with a glove.

I suppose this is what Huntington wanted; options if some players don't pan out.

[The Q]

I would think playing RF would make it easier on his body and less likely for him to get hurt, rather than C.

[PSUmtj112]

Interesting move getting Aki.

It's not like the Pirates to trade a guy under control for 5 years for a upcoming FA making close to 5 million.

The trade should help solidify 2nd base for a year.

[Master Batter]

Originally Posted by PSUmtj112

Interesting move getting Aki.

It's not like the Pirates to trade a guy under control for 5 years for a upcoming FA making close to 5 million.

The trade should help solidify 2nd base for a year.

If Aki likes Pittsburgh and Neal can get him to re-up, then the position is solidified for the foreseeable future. If he doesn't re-up, Andy moves to 2nd and Pedro stays at 3B. It also allows D'Arnaud,Mercer,Cunningham and Ford time to shake out who are the prospects and who are the pretenders. If Aki has a good year and won't re-up, then Neal gets a good bargaining chip.

I think there will be more guys like Chavez on the 2nd tier FA market this offseason and within the Bucs financial reach. I also think that with all the minor league pitching talent that the team has acquired the last 2 years, that the majority will not end up as starters when they reach the bigs and will be better relievers than Chavez long term. At least I hope so....

I like this trade and I hope Neal's not through improving the big league team without mortgaging the future.

[PSUmtj112]

Originally Posted by Master Batter

If Aki likes Pittsburgh and Neal can get him to re-up, then the position is solidified for the foreseeable future. If he doesn't re-up, Andy moves to 2nd and Pedro stays at 3B. It also allows D'Arnaud,Mercer,Cunningham and Ford time to shake out who are the prospects and who are the pretenders. If Aki has a good year and won't re-up, then Neal gets a good bargaining chip.

I think there will be more guys like Chavez on the 2nd tier FA market this offseason and within the Bucs financial reach. I also think that with all the minor league pitching talent that the team has acquired the last 2 years, that the majority will not end up as starters when they reach the bigs and will be better relievers than Chavez long term. At least I hope so....

I like this trade and I hope Neal's not through improving the big league team without mortgaging the future.

I like the trade too, but much like yourself I hope it is not an isolated move.

I've heard talk that the Pirates plan to go hard after Rick Ankiel for RF. I believe Ankiel is represented by Boras, so it should be interesting.

[PSUmtj112]

I also posted this in MLB forum too.

In essence the Pirates traded Sanchez and Chavez for Aki and Tim Alderson.

That's a great deal.

[Master Batter]

Originally Posted by PSUmtj112

I like the trade too, but much like yourself I hope it is not an isolated move.

I've heard talk that the Pirates plan to go hard after Rick Ankiel for RF. I believe Ankiel is represented by Boras, so it should be interesting.

I think Ankiel will be overvalued by Boras and will be put out of the Bucs price range. He would be a nice signing but I fear he would block Tabata, which I think would be a mistake. I still like Milledge and I think he should be an everyday LF until he definitely proves otherwise. Assuming they all pan out, I think an OF of Milledge,McCutchen and Tabata is pretty sweet.

[Diamondeye]

Originally Posted by Master Batter

Assuming they all pan out, I think an OF of Milledge,McCutchen and Tabata is pretty sweet.

Based on speed and defense, I like the propsects of it too. Not much power, though.

Perhaps, an '85 Cardinals type lineup predicated on speed and gap power is what Huntington has in mind.

In Alvarez and McCutcheon, inparticular, the Pirates have two superstars in the making and they absolutely cannot afford to drop the ball by failing to build a solid team around them.

17 years and counting.......

[Master Batter]

Originally Posted by Diamondeye

Based on speed and defense, I like the propsects of it too. Not much power, though.

Perhaps, an '85 Cardinals type lineup predicated on speed and gap power is what Huntington has in mind.

In Alvarez and McCutcheon, inparticular, the Pirates have two superstars in the making and they absolutely cannot afford to drop the ball by failing to build a solid team around them.

17 years and counting.......

I think McCutchen will be good for 20 to 25 HR's and will eventually move down the lineup to the #3 spot. If Jones keeps hitting like last year and Alvarez is everything he's cracked up to be, and Doumit can stay off the DL, the power on this team will be OK at best. I know that's a lot of if's, but this team is full of guys with if's in their description.

[Diamondeye]

Originally Posted by Master Batter

If Jones keeps hitting like last year and Alvarez is everything he's cracked up to be, and Doumit can stay off the DL, the power on this team will be OK at best.

Personally, I am not sold on Jones. As Q pointed out, he has a very limited track record and seems very Craig Wilson-esque to me. He can hit it a long way, but has some holes in his swing.

Doumit could be a solid run producer IF he could ever stay healthy, but it has been well established that the guy is incapable of that. He ALWAYS gets hurt.

[The Q]

Originally Posted by Diamondeye

Personally, I am not sold on Jones. As Q pointed out, he has a very limited track record and seems very Craig Wilson-esque to me. He can hit it a long way, but has some holes in his swing.

Doumit could be a solid run producer IF he could ever stay healthy, but it has been well established that the guy is incapable of that. He ALWAYS gets hurt.

Jones is the quintessential sell high guy. Get some pitching or a MIF back for him.