Is Anyone Home at PNC Park?

Buccos trade Jason Bay for warm bodies.



Let me sum up the Bay trade as follows. Change for the sake of change is only a good thing, when it's change for good.

We all know the Pirates need pitching, but they didn't receive anyone close to being a safe bet top of the rotation pitcher. The point that everyone is missing here is....the Pirates didn't have to trade Bay or Nady. Since Manny was going into "Operation Shutdown" Boston had no choice but to acquire Bay, therefore the Pirates could have received far greater, and I mean far greater return. Right idea, poor execution.

Will Craig Hasen, Bradon Moss, Andy LARoche, and Bryan Morris make Neal Huntington lucky or will we understand why it's a fact the Cleveland front office was happy to see him go.

Bay trade's projected successful outcome: 15%

Pirates Trade Nady & Marte: Analysis

So the Buccos trade Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte to the NY Yankees. They receive in return outfielder Jose Tabata, and three right handed pitchers Dan McCutchen, Jeff Karstens, and Ross Ohlendorf. This trade has a 15-20% chance of being successful. Jose Tabata was the marquee piece of the deal, but is only in "AA". Plus he projects as a center fielder, the one area where the Pirates seem set. The three pitchers don't seem to have much upside, and might all be better suited for a bullpen role. Ross Ohlendorf did pitch 40 innings of relief this season.

Marte had 1.16 WHIP, and certainly was one of the top 3 available relief pitchers. Nady's stats this season have him at the top of the list of outfielders. Only time will tell, if this trade will end up being set forward or backwards.

Pittsburgh Pirates News Notes & Batting Order

The Pirates are hanging around .500 at the All-Star Break, thanks to a great offense. Here is my take on a lot of things going on with the team.

1st off, John Russell is the worst manager in baseball. Just getting that out of the way first.

Okay, one of the big stories lately has been the Pirates batting the pitcher 8th. The reason they're doing this is because their #1 hitter Nate McLouth is a good RBI guy, producing lots of extra base hits. However I ran their normal batting order of late, up against my formula for creating a batting order.

Pirates' Current Normal Batting Order.
1. McLouth
2. Sánchez /Rivas
3. Doumit
4. Bay
5. Nady
6. LaRoche
7. Bautisa
8. Pitcher
9. Wilson

Here is how it would look if applied to my rules.

1. McLouth
2. Bay
3. Doumit
4. Nady
5. Bautisa
6. LaRoche
7. Sanchez
8. Wilson
9. Pitcher

The shocking thing about my line-up is batting Bay 2nd, but when you think about McLouth & Bay would set the table nice for the following hitters. I almost bent the rules (which is allowed in certain circumstances) and batting Laroche 5th because he's currently on hot streak. However I still want to see another solid week from him.

Now on to the pitching or lack there of. It boggles my mind, the organization can have this few pitchers. They must trade for more pitching asap. If they have to use one more spot starter, I feel they need to give Barthmaier one more chance. His only game was against a buzz saw Tampa line-up, and hopefully he will be more relaxed second time around.

Trades - Now to the topic on everyone's minds. We know the Pirates must bring in pitching, absolutely paramount they do so. This is who I rate in order, they should try to trade.

1. Nady - Having a great year, but too injury prone to rely on for the future.
2. Pearce - Doesn't have the power to be effective in a corner position, trade him now before other teams figure that out.
3. Sanchez - Maybe you can get a team to bite on him.

Jack Wilson, maybe because a lot of teams need a SS, but since there is nobody in the organization right now capable of holding a big league SS job, then trading him would be throwing in the towel.

Pirates Should Trade: Nady & Pearce

The Pirates should trade Xavier Nady - ASAP and minor league Steve Pearce even quicker. We all know the Pirates have major issues in the infield and on the pitching staff, hopefully these players could return some type of help or at least a prospect.

Reasons for trading Nady: When healthy Nady offers good offensive numbers, the problem is he's rarely healthy. He could be a great 4th outfielder / pitch hitter on a contending team. Since he has good numbers so far this season, teams will be interested.

Reasons for trading Pearce: He was thought by many to be a top hitting prospect with power. However they should deal him now, before teams realize he's not a power hitter - only 8 HR's in 251 at bats at "AAA" this year.

Matt Morris to the Pirates: Littlefield Clueless

Dave Little(brain)field gave the Giants an offer they just couldn't refuse for pitcher Matt Morris. The Pirates sent Rajai Davis and a player to be named later, to the Giants for Morris, who makes $10 million this year, $9.5m next, with a club option and $1m buyout. It’s reported the Pirates will pick up the remainder of his contract, which basically means the Pirates now owe Morris at least $15m for the next year and a half.

Morris is 7-7 so far this year, with a 4.35 ERA. His 4.81 K’s per 9IP is the lowest of his career and opponents are batting .300 off him. Morris was 3-8 the last half of last season. I can offer no reasonable or non-reasonable explaination for this move, and can only begin to think of better ways to spend $15 million.

Pittsburgh Pirates - Trade the whole team if you could

The 2007 Pirates are a perfect example a bad team gone bad. The Pirates are now a NL worst 42-61, and on their current pace they could challenge for the worst team in baseball. Everything that could have well this year has gone bad. Adam LaRoche, the pitching staff, Jason Bay, Ronny Paulino, they all have underperformed.

The Pirates might in the worst shape in MLB.

They currently have no one of any real value or no one they could get market value for. For example you probably couldn't get equal value for Jason Bay or Ian Snell in a trade. Which is a real problem when you need to totally rebuild your franchise. If they could find someone for Ryan NoMit, that would be one less person, Shawn Chacon, keeps your fingers crossed, and maybe Xavier Nady could bring at less someone with potential.

Its official a total demolition of the team is needed, however you can’t do that unless you have something in your farm system to bring up. Neil Walker as right now is the only guy in the system producing enough to get excited about. Walker needs more time defensively as he already has committed 24 errors. Other than him no one is making me excited in the minors.

The Pirates can’t infuse talent into the team from within, and don’t have the means to attract talent with trades, and surely don’t have the will to acquire players through free agency. So it looks like a bad situation getting worst, and more years of losing to follow.

Blow'in Up the Bucs? Jack Wilson on the Trade Block

Could David Littlefield blow up the team? The Pirates GM might make a series of major moves before the trading deadline. Littlefield's job is in great jeopardy, I say he should have been gone a long time ago, but he's almost force to do something major.

With the acquisition of Cesar Izturis (07:$4.15M, 08:$5.45M ), Jack Wilson is surely on the trade block. Wilson has these numbers on his contract 07:$5.25M, 08:$6.5M, 09:$7.25M, and surely any trade would see the Pirates taking on some of that bill. Izturis has a $300,000 buyout for 2008. Brian Bixler could be a option for 2008, but despite his good hitting numbers in AAA, his team leading stirke totals is worrisome. If I was the GM I would have to say for the right price, everyone on this team in available.

Pirates could have Alex Rios, Fire Littlefield Now

Something tells me the Littlefield administration is like that of the Clinton Administration, and we really won’t know half the damage till years after he is gone. Did Littlefield ever have the option to go after Puerto Rican right fielder Alex Rios of the Toronto Blue Jays. Who busted on the national scene recently with his performance in the All-Star Game Home Run Derby. Rios probably would love to come to Pittsburgh and follow in the footstep of the greatest right fielder ever #21 Clemente. You have got to be kidding me!!!! Half-way thru writing this post how the Pirates got to trade for Rios, at any cost. I come across this.

“The Jays tried to trade Rios for Paul Maholm a year ago. Fortunately for them, the Pirates turned down the offer”

Source: ESPN Insider

Can we PLEASE FIRE DAVE LITTLEFIELD TODAY!!!!

MLB Baseball Playoff Races 2007

The MLB All-Star break is officially here, and now things about to get interesting in baseball playoff chase. Will your team be buyers or sellers at the trading deadline? Does your team have a chance to make the Post-Season? Here is a look at who’s in, out, and living dangerously.

Who’s Still Liv’in - AL

American League – East

Boston (53-34) – 10 game lead, they are playoff bound.
NY Yankees (42-43) – It’s not looking good, but they have too many stars to say the’re dead so soon.

American League – Central

Detroit (52-34) – It will be one of baseball’s best races done the stretch with Cleveland.
Cleveland (52-36) – Looking like a playoff team. Great at the Jake.
Minnesota (45- 43) – Wild Card still with-in reach.

American League – West

LA Angels (53- 35) – Look for a big trade to make them post-season ready.
Seattle (49-36) – Hot on Cleveland’s heals for the WC.
Oakland (44- 44) – They have a chance for the WC because of their pitching.

There is always Next Year….

Baltimore (38-49) – Big MTex could return home soon.
Tampa Bay (34-53) – Why doesn’t MLB move this team.
Chicago Sox (39-47) – Biggest 07 Disappointment?
Kansas City (38-50) - Ryan Shealy 3HR, .221BA, Gordon – .232BA their young phenoms aren’t doing any phenomenating.
Texas (38-50) – Should get something good for Gagne.

Who’s Still Liv’in - NL

National League – East

NY Mets (48-39) - The Braves are getting closer.
Atlanta (47-42) - Could be very exciting down the stretch
Philadelphia (44-44) - 5-13 in 1 run games

National League – Central

Milwaukee (49-39) - I find it interesting once Selig sells the team they get better.
Chicago Cubs (44-43) – Have the talent to push Brewers.
St. Louis (40-45) – On the thinnest ice possible, should be thankful it’s the Brewers & Cubs they have to chase.

National League – West

San Diego (49-38) - Very good all-around team.LA Dodgers (49-40) – Fighting till the finish
Arizona (47- 43) – Won’t go a way

Hopeless - NL

Florida (42-47) Washington (36-52) – Like so many Expos teams before them.
Pittsburgh (40-48) – 2nd only to Matt Millen in the front office.
Houston (39-50)
Cincinnati (36-52) - Jr. on the Block
Colorado (44-44) – any other division they have chance.
San Francisco (38-48) – Barry you Cheat & Lie!!

Pittsburgh Pirates Needs & Pirate Mark Teixeira Trade Rumors

As I mention on a recent show the Pirates are 4 players and an owner away from competing. Here are the 4 above average players the Pirates need asap.

1. Top of rotation starting pitcher
2. Center fielder who hits over .280
3. A shut-down below 2.40 ERA arm in the bullpen (closer or not)4. An above average infielder at any position (1b, 2b, 3b, ss).

Since the Rangers are looking to deal Mark Teixeria, we're leading the charge for the Teixeira to Pittsburgh rumors. Mark Teixeria's family is from the Natrona Heights area and moved to Maryland just before he was born. Last I heard his grandparents and other family members still live in the area. Teixeria is 27 and has one year left on a contract that is paying him around $9 million a year. The Rangers might be up for a trade in involving, Texas native Zach Duke & struggling first baseman Adam LaRoche. Teixeria might enjoy the short porch in right and might be at least tempted to sign on for a say a $12-13 million a year extension for a few years, which probably has no chance with Nutting at the helm. More than likely the scenarios would play out like this:

Pirates are in contention next year, and they go for it keeping Teixeria,Pirates trade Teixeria after the 2008 All-Star game for key players, or (probably the most likely, ) Teixeria gets injured in Pittsburgh plays only 30 games batting .210 with 1 HR. Then is traded for a low value (couple of prospects) goes to NY and hits 60 HRs the following year.

But continuing with my Pirates theme.....It's worth a try, what's the worst that could happen, we actually have a winning season?