Pirates Journal

John Sickels put out his top twenty Pirates prospects list and like the Kevin Goldstein list, Sickels gives some nice ratings to some Pirates farmhands.  Topping the list is RHP Gerrit Cole again.  This kid is a stud and it’ll be fun to see him move up the chain.  Number two is Jameson Taillon.  Given an A-, Taillon is working on his other pitches as he moves up the ladder but he should also be fun to watch.

Rounding out the top five are Josh Bell (OF), Starling Marte (OF) and Robbie Grossman (OF).  Grossman showed a lot next year but Bell is the best overall talent of the position players.

Here’s the list of the Top Ten Pirates prospects as determined by Baseball America.

1)  Gerrit Cole  RHP
2)  Jameson Taillon  RHP
3)  Josh Bell  OF
4)  Starling Marte  OF
5)  Luis Heredia  RHP
6)  Kyle McPherson  RHP
7)  Tony Sanchez  C
8)  Robbie Grossman
9)  Stetson Allie  RHP
10)  Jeff Locke  LHP

Earlier in the month, we looked at one of the great Pirates wins.  This time, Baseball’s Greatest Games explores one of the Pirates tougher losses.  Yes, there was a time when the Pirates won three straight division titles and their toughest playoff lost was their last playoff game way back in 1992.  That year, the Braves and Pirates squared off in a best of seven series where the Braves jumped out to a 3-1 lead only to have the Pirates storm back and tie it three games to three.  Then in a pivotal game seven, the drama happened.

The Pirates jumped out to an early one nothing lead while Doug Drabek was throwing a gem.  After eight and a half innings, the Pirates had a 2-0 lead before the Braves rallied to win it in the ninth in dramatic fashion.  Definitely one for the ages and while it was tough Pirates loss, it was definitely one of Baseball Greatest Games.

Another year, another losing season for the Pirates.  That’s why I picked up this brand new DVD from A&E’s Baseball’s Greatest Games.  Things weren’t always that bad and in 1960, the Pirates made an impressive run and went head to head against the Bronx Bombers in the World Series.  Despite being outscored 46-17 in the first six games, the Pirates found themselves in a winner take all game seven in Pittsburgh.

Then the craziness began.  The Pirates went up by four early but the Yankees then scored seven unanswered runs.  In the bottom of the eighth, the Pirates took the lead back with five, then gave up two in the ninth as the Yankees tied the game.  Then what was the first walk off home run to end a World Series (at the time, Joe Carter did it later) by Bill Mazerowski happened.

So if you’re sick of watching Pirates reruns in the first half when they were in first place, you should pick this up and pop in the DVD player.  Plus out of all the games, this is the oldest so it’s cool watching something from over 50 years ago.

We’re knocking on June’s door and the Pirates, while not sitting pretty, aren’t sitting all that bad either.  They’re a decent winning streak away from .500 but they’re only three losses back of the second place Brewers.  And that was all after two straight losses.  When you’re used to your team being out of it by the break, this is a welcome change.

Andrew MCCutchen and Neil Walker are the getting it done on the mound.  Neither is hitting for much average but Walker has 31 RBIs and McCutchen has a team high nine home runs.  The Pirates are third from the bottom in batting average with .235 and they’re second to last in slugging with .358 so hitting has been a weakness.

The pitching hasn’t been all that bad though.  They’re in the top half of the league with a 3.47 ERA although you wonder how long that’ll last because they’re last in strikeouts with 329.  Charlie Morton is still getting it done and Paul Maholm has been effective.  In fact the rotation has definitely been a strength this year with Kevin Correia fourth in ERA with a more then impressive 3.44.

The Pirates finish up their series against the Mets then they head home to take on the Phillies.  Hopefully this team can keep their head above water.

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…

Game 136 Recap-

CC Sabathia(9-0,1.43 era in the NL) pitched a complete game 1 hitter to lead the Milwaukee Brewers over the Pittsburgh Pirates,7-0 at PNC Park Sunday and handing the Pirates their ninth straight defeat. That hit, however, is in dispute. 3b Andy Laroche’s 5th inning infield single was clearly an error as Sabathia fumbled the comebacker, as his Manager Ned Yost calmly explained post game. “He accomplished a no-hitter and wasn’t given what he deserved. That should have been a no-hitter,” Yost said. “That’s a stinking no-hitter we all got cheated from. I feel horrible for CC.”

2b Richie Weeks led off the game with a home run,, while 3b Bill Hall(7th inning 2 run double), 1b Prince Fielder(8th inning single) and CF Gabe Kalper(8th inning 2 run double)had rbi hits late in the game to break open a close game. Fielder, LF Ryan Braun and Hall all had 2 hits apiece while RF Corey Hart had 2 runs. Sabathia struck out 11 and used 117(79 strikes) pitches for the 1 hitter.

RH Keff Karstens(2-4,3.62) pitched well vs a very good lineup in the Brewers, over 6 1/3 innings, he gave up 5 hits and 3 runs with 1 walk. RH Tyler Yates(5.20) and LH Sean Burnett(5.24) both followed and gave up 2 runs apiece.

The story of this game,however, will be the disputed hit. “That’s a joke. That wasn’t even close. Whoever the scorekeeper was absolutely denied major league baseball a nice no-hitter right there,” Yost said. “They threw hit up on the board even before LaRoche hit the bag. That’s a play CC makes easily, throws him out by 10 feet — to me it’s a no-brainer.That’s sad. It really is sad.” The Brewers plan to put together a DVD and sent it MLB in an attempt the get the call reversed. Sabathia was calm about the call postgame,”The ball was still rolling and I probably should have picked it up with my glove. We probably wouldn’t be having this conversation,” Sabathia said. “I think if I pick it up with my glove, I get him.” His Left Fielder Braun said, “”There’s no question that’s a no-hitter.”

Star of the Game-

Sabathia- I am smarter than the official scorer- no dispute here!

Pirates Notes-

Milwaukee is 11-1 with 9 consecutive wins vs the Pirates, including a 5-1 record at PNC Park. Prior to the season they had a 22-43 mark in Pennsylvania…. SS Jack Wilson was pulled in the 9th with finger bruise… Wilson, 2b Freddy Sanchez and RF Brandon Moss all drew walks…Raul Chavez started at C giving Ryan Doumit a day off

Next Game-

Day off Monday, start 3 game series vs Reds at Cincinnati

Baseball Prospectus published a cool interview with Pirates GM Neil Huntington yesterday.  He talks about bringing the Indians model to Pittsburgh as well as the sad state that the Pirates were in (and still are) when he took over the team.  He also talks about the use of statistical analysis used by the team and what kind of numbers he likes to look at to evaluate players.  There’s a lot of good stuff in here.

The Pirates signed Cuban right handed pitcher Yoslan Herrera to a three year, $1.92 million deal.  There’s not a whole lot to work but this BA column talks about his makeup.  It looks like he’ll start the season in Indianapolis and he’s only 25.  It’d be nice if this guy pans out.  The Pirates need all of the arms they can get.