Pirates Journal

Jeff Karstens pursuit of a rotation spot hit a speed bump yesterday as the Pirates were pummelled by the Twins 12-8. Karstens was tagged for five runs on ten hits and two walks with one strikeout in 5 2/3 innings.  The good news is, he got his innings.  The bad news is, it set the stage for a twelve run attack by the Twins.  Matt Capps was also hit hard and he was tagged for four runs in just one third of an inning. 

Jim Negrych went two for three with three RBIs.  Jack Wilson belted his first homer of the spring with a two run shot in the third while Quincy Latimore went two for two with a triple, an RBI and two runs.

This is the worst part of the spring season.  The guys want to head north, the games still don’t mean anything, but opening day is right around the corner.

Paul Maholm gets the start this afternoon.  It’s an afternoon game against the Red Sox.

Anytime you’re in mid-March and you have a starter go five innings, it’s a good thing.  That’s what Zach Duke did yesterday in the Pirates 4-3 win over the Twins.  He gave up two runs on five hits and a walk with four strikeouts.  The pen did a nice job but oddly, there were no more strikeouts.  Jason Davis didn’t give up a hit in his two innings but he did walk two batters.

Andrew McCutchen went two for five with an RBI.  Jeff Salazar singled, drove in a run and scored.  The RBI was his thirteenth of the spring.  All six Pirates hits were singles but they helped themselves out with five walks.

Speaking of Salazar, there’ s a good story on him and his declining chances of making the big league club.   The signings of Craig Monroe and Eric Hinske sealed his fate depiste a decent spring.  Still, having him tucked away at Triple A isn’t a bad thing.

The Pirates have the day off today.  Tomorrow, it’s the Red Sox.

I just got done watching this game and despite the Pirates outhitting the Rays 13-5, they were outscored 6-4 in their loss to the Rays. Craig Monroe and Robinzon Diaz led the way with a pair of hits a piece and Monroe drove in two of the Pirates four runs.  Andy LaRoche also had a nice game and he went one for one with two walks and a run.

Eleven walks isn’t going to cut it and that’s what the pitching staff gave up tonight.  Brian Slocum walked four in his one inning and David Davison gave up three runs in just 1/3 of an inning.  Paul Maholm had a solid start though and that’s encouraging.  He gave up one walk and two hits with four strikeouts in 4 2/3 shutout innings.

Tomorrow, we have a night game against the Yankees (also on MLB.TV).  Virgil Vasquez gets the start and the Yankees will throw CC Sabathia.

First off, thanks to Jay for providing some solid Pirates content for the 2008 season.  Jay is now writing about his favorite team, the New York Mets, over at the Tom Seaver Fan Club.  In the meantime, I’m making my comeback to come cover my favorite team (man, can they break your heart though).

In the meantime, the Pirates sit at 10-5 near the top of the Grapefruit League standings.  Not too shabby but it’s spring and unfortunately the games don’t count.  They salvaged a tie yesterday against the Rays.  Tom Gorzellany had a mediocre start and he gave up two runs and five hits in three innings but he pen work was solid outside of Sean Burnett, who gave up four runs in his single frame.  Jeff Karstens was particularly impressive with three shutout inings with a strikeout.

Pedro Alvarez had the big hit with a three run blast.  Andy LaRoche and Garrett Jones also went yard in the 7-7 tie.  Jones finished the game two for two.

It’s a rematch of the Rays and Pirates tonight.  Paul Maholm gets the start and Denny Bautista, Sean Burnett, Craig Hansen, Donnie Veal and Chris Bootcheck should all see some work.

The Pirates offseason started at MIDSEASON as GM Neil Huntington traded 3 veteran players in LF Jason Bay, RP Damaso Marte and RF Xavier Nady mid summer. The team has some veterans that are still marketable in 2b Freddy Sanchez,SS Jack Wilson and 1b Adam Laroche. All star CF Nate McLouth is also asked about by several clubs. The team needs pitching and the best way to do that is have both Tom Gorzelanny and Ian Snell return to 2007 form.(23-22, 3.82 to 13-21,5.91 in 2008)

Off season Targets/Moves-

1- Starting pitching- Could use a veteran arm to balance out of the growing pains of Snell, Gorzelanny and Zach Duke. Paul Maholm(9-9,3.71) was among the top 15 pitchers in the NL last year.

2- Power-Need to replace the home runs from Bay and Nady, look for Steve Pearce to hit 15-20 with 450-500s at bats. They need both Laroche brothers to pick it up. A solid major league power bat would help.

3- Trades-Team could move a Sanchez or Wilson, but they do not have ready made replacements in the system. Brian Bixler(hit .157 with 108 ABs). However, the SS trade market is strong and Wilson has been long rumored to be moved. Detroit is a solid option. The could also trade closer Matt Capps(21 saves) or set up man John Grabow(6-3,2.84)

Free Agent Targets-

1- SP Paul Byrd- Veteran RH would be a good 4-5th starter here and would welcome NL lineups after playing in the AL for the past couple of seasons.

2- OF Raul Ibanez- Solid pro bat who could man a corner spot for a reasonable rate. Hit .293 with 23 homers and 110 rbi.

3- 1b -OF Adam Dunn- Walk and homer machine would be a good fit here. Would work if they traded Adam Laroche, but would he sign with a losing organization after leaving Cincinnati?

FA starts today(Nov 14).. updates to Follow…

NL Post Season Awards-

NL MVP-

Ryan Howard-Phillies-48 Homers and a big presence for the World Champs…. Greats stats on a winning team and carried the O with 2b Chase Utley slumping power numbers wise…. GREAT Subway ads!!!

NL CY YOUNG-

Brad Lidge- Phillies-Those laughing check his stat line…You trying pitching in that ball park and go 54 for 54 in saves… Great turnaround story after he was banished from Houston….. Linecum has stats but does it on bad team, Sabathia was in the NL for 3 months and the Phillies topped the Mets giving Lidge an edge over Johan Santana

NL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR-

C Geovany Soto-Cubs-Vital player for the best team in the NL during the regular season… Great bat and power stats plus worked well with a diverse pitching staff…Fixture for years to come in the Windy City

2009 NL TEAM TO WATCH-

New York Mets-Have lost playoff spots on the last day the previous two seasons, have cash with a new stadium plus loons like me screaming at them to produce….to quote AL Davis-JUST WIN, BABY!!!…. Need a LF(Raul Ibanez? Manny Ramirez?), SP(Derek Lowe?), 2b(Orlando Hudson?) , set -up man(Juan Cruz?) and closer(Brian Fuentes?)… Would GM Omar Minaya trade CF Carlos Beltran(Red Sox?) or SS Jose Reyes?…. Must add 2 starting pitchers with Pedro Martinez and Oliver Perez free agents

Well, I had 1 on the WS teams right— the Phillies— Better than most!

Hats off to both teams. As a fan of two teams(Red Sox and Mets) that came up short, every Phillies and Rays fans should enjoy this! I think this will be an exciting series and either club can win with some breaks. Lets breakdown the series….

American League Champion Tampa Rays

Strengths-Deep, balanced starting rotation with 4 solid starters…..Very good team defense(ALCS aside)… 2 red hot hitters in 3b Evan Longoria and CF BJ Upton…. 4-5 strong bullpen arms…. GREAT home team…. Excellent Manager in Joe Maddon

WeaknessesAverage team power….No true closer…Ace Scott Kazmir is hit or miss, poor control and could pitch into the 8th or last 8 batters…very young team… club strikes out a lot

National League Champions: Philadelphia Phillies-

Strengths-Excellent team power…. Best right side of the infield in MLB in 1b Ryan Howard and 2b Chase Utley…Top flight ace in Cole Hamels… Best bullpen top to bottom in MLB, led by closer Brad Lidge(zero blown saves)… good team speed…team is well equipped to play AL style with ex- AL DH Matt Stairs on the bench

Weaknesses-Not much out of the 3-4 spots in rotation…. average defensive team…. team strikes out a ton…have been off for almost a week… Losing culture of Philadelphia

Pick– I like the Phillies here. Tampa beat a depleted Boston club basically because Mark Kotsay left 20 runners on base. If Mike Lowell plays, the Rays are watching Fox tonight. These teams have advantages that cancel out(Rays starters vs Philies pen) but one thing should scare Rays fans— although he is a lefty, Rookie closer David Price will face Utley and Howard in a big spot. I don’t like that matchup for the Rays plus Lidge has had the best season of any closer in the sport.

Phillies in 6…

Man is it tough being a Pirates fan.  It’s been forever since we’ve had a .500 season and even the minor league system had a tough time.  And that’s both on and off the field because while the Pirates may have gotten the crown jewel of the draft, it almost looked like we weren’t going to get him and just as the bad, our second pick never even signed.

Still, there were some bright spots.  Jim Negrych was the best hitter and despite making a position change, he really shined.  He hit .359 and belted 41 doubles.  Anthony Watson was the best hitter and he despite going 8-12, he did have just a 3.56 ERA.

Brad Lincoln started his comeback this season and while his numbers weren’t great, it was just nice to see him on the mound.  And Neil Walker, a guy who hasn’t gotten as much play recently, had a slot start but continued to show some improvement after being moved from catcher to third.

Maybe, just maybe, we can get over the hump.  Still, the weather is still decent enough to get out and play some ball with the kids.  I got a new baseball bat from Baseball Rampage and my oldest son got some new catchers gear because that’s probably where he’ll be playing next year.  I always seem to my shopping at the end of the season because by then you know what’s good and what isn’t.

Philadelphia Phillies vs the Los Angeles Dodgers

Series Keys-

1- Home field- Both teams won all 4 games at their stadiums,  Philly has the extra home game.

2- Bullpen- Phillies have a closer that was perfect in save situations with all star Brad Lidge. Dodgers have Jonathan Broxton(14 saves,13 holds, 8 blown saves), who took over mid season for the injured Takashi Saito. Relief corps very similiar outside of this HUGE advantage.

 3- Star power- Phillies stars 2b Chase Utley and 1b Ryan Howard have slump issues. Utley’s power numbers have gone south since his red hot 1st half(25 homers,69 rbi vs 8 & 35) while Howard struggled in the opening series.(.182 avg,1 rbi)

4- Manny Ramirez- MVP of Dodgers after quitting in Boston. Hidden factor helping Phillies in the fact that Manager Charlie Manuel was with Ramirez in Cleveland and the two remain very close. 

5- Team speed- Both clubs have players that run and are among the top 5 in the NL. (Philly 3rd,LA 4th) SS Jimmy Rollins and CF Shane Victorino led the Phillies while OFs Juan Pierre, Matt Kemp and even C Russell Martin top the LA thieves. Keep in mind SS Rafael Furcal missed over 120 games and has 259 career steals. Pressure on both clubs catchers and staffs to keep the running game under control.

Wildcard players-

Dodgers RF Andre Ether(who has take  off since Ramirez joined LA) and ex Dodger Jayson Werth for Philadephia. Will both be challenged as alternatives to stars killing the opposition.

Pick- I liked the Phillies going into the Postseason to come out of the NL. The Cubs folded under pressure, I do not see the talented Phillies doing the same. Phillies in 6. 

Philadelphia Phillies vs Milwaukee Brewers

Phillies

Strengths- Excellent offense even with LF Pat Burrell’s back acting up… 2b Chase Utley and 1b Ryan Howard form the best right side of the infield in baseball… good speed with SS Jimmy Rollins and Cf Shane Victorino…. 4 solid ML starters, led by LH Cole Hamels and veteran RH Jamie Moyer… excellent, deep bullpen led by Brad Lidge(41 for 41 in save opportunities)

Weaknesses- Team strikes out…. average defense…. ballpark is a sandbox…. Burrell’s back might put Howard at 1b all game with walks

Something to Think about.Phillies punished the Brewers September 11-14 (outscoring them 26-10) and that led to the firing of Manager Ned Yost. Philly hit .299 with 9 homers vs the Brew Crew, while Milwaukee went .206 with 8 homers

Milwaukee Brewers-

Strengths- CC Sabathia…… excellent young talent and athleticism…. great power out of the 3-4 holes with LF Ryan Braun and 1b Prince Fielder… Premier defensive CF Mike Cameron… underrated stars at RF(Corey Hart) and SS(JJ Hardy)…. team likes new manager Dale Sveum… solid closer in Salomon Torres

Weaknesses-Starting pitching is in disarray after Sabathia…. Bullpen is not strong in the 6th and 7th innings… Errors in the infield with all 4 regulars getting 15+ each…. Team Ks a ton with 5 starters all at 115+

Pick

Phillies in 5- Most balanced team in NL too much for an injured and beaten up Brewers staff

Los Angeles Dodgers vs Chicago Cubs-

Los Angeles Dodgers-

Strengths-Good starters led by playoff veteran Derek Lowe…Improved offense with the Manny Ramirez trade… Good speed with CF Matt Kemp and OF Juan Pierre plus the possible return of SS Rafael Furcal…good bullpen set up core…Calming influence in manager Joe Torre…Best C in NL in Russell Martin

Weaknesses- Even with Ramirez, not much power…. Do not have an elite closer even with Saito back from injury… 3b and 2b not a strength

Chicago Cubs-

Strengths-Good starting pitching… Top 8-9th relief tandem in power arms Carlos Marmol and closer Kerry Wood… Good team power with 5 players at 20+ homers…deep, versatile bench with platoons at 2b and CF…Lou Pinella knows how to run a team…Rookie of the year in C Geovany Soto

Weaknesses-History!!! Carry the hopes of the city on their back…. Carlos Zambrano is a bit nuts…. Team strikes out with 4 guys over 100… average defensive team

Pick-

Cubs in 5- Strong end of the pen the difference