Paul Maholm will start Sunday and Jeff Karstens will pitch Monday at home against Chicago.
Also, closer Matt Capps will return to the roster within the next couple of days.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Pearce out, Gorzelanny back
Tom Gorzelanny is back with the Pirates after a successful stint in Class AAA.
Gorzelanny is in Milwaukee with the Pirates and will start Saturday. He was 3-1 with a 2.06 ERA in seven starts with the Indians. More impressive, he struck out 33 and walked only four. I don't think he will be officially activated until tomorrow.
It looks like Zach Duke will still start tonight's game, Gorzelanny will start Satueday and Jeff Karstens will start Sunday. Paul maholm's next start will be Monday.
Also, Doug Mientkiewicz has been reinstated from the bereavement list and outfielder Steve Pearce was sent back to Class AAA Indianapolis to clear a roster spot.
Gorzelanny is in Milwaukee with the Pirates and will start Saturday. He was 3-1 with a 2.06 ERA in seven starts with the Indians. More impressive, he struck out 33 and walked only four. I don't think he will be officially activated until tomorrow.
It looks like Zach Duke will still start tonight's game, Gorzelanny will start Satueday and Jeff Karstens will start Sunday. Paul maholm's next start will be Monday.
Also, Doug Mientkiewicz has been reinstated from the bereavement list and outfielder Steve Pearce was sent back to Class AAA Indianapolis to clear a roster spot.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Bye bye Joey Bats
Jose Bautista went from starting third baseman at the beginning of this season, to part-time starter halfway through the season, to reserve player, to demoted to the minors and now, gone from the organization all together.
Bautista, who was at Class AAA Indianapolis, was traded Thursday to Toronto for a player to be named later.
Bautista batted .242 with 12 homers and 44 RBI in 107 games with the Pirates this season.
He was a part of the Rule 5 Draft fiasco of 2003 and played for four organizations in 2004 – Baltimore, Kansas City, Tampa Bay and the Mets. He was traded to the Pirates from the Mets in the Kris Benson deal.
It was a quick fall for Bautista, who offensively looked like he has the tools to be a very productive major leaguer.
Bautista's problem this season was that he was exposed as a major liability at third base as soon as the season began. In the first series at home against Chicago, Cubs manager Lou Piniella bunted numerous times Bautista's way with much success. Other teams picked up on this and his problems defensively were a reason Bautista eventually slipped down the depth chart and off the roster.
Bautista, who was at Class AAA Indianapolis, was traded Thursday to Toronto for a player to be named later.
Bautista batted .242 with 12 homers and 44 RBI in 107 games with the Pirates this season.
He was a part of the Rule 5 Draft fiasco of 2003 and played for four organizations in 2004 – Baltimore, Kansas City, Tampa Bay and the Mets. He was traded to the Pirates from the Mets in the Kris Benson deal.
It was a quick fall for Bautista, who offensively looked like he has the tools to be a very productive major leaguer.
Bautista's problem this season was that he was exposed as a major liability at third base as soon as the season began. In the first series at home against Chicago, Cubs manager Lou Piniella bunted numerous times Bautista's way with much success. Other teams picked up on this and his problems defensively were a reason Bautista eventually slipped down the depth chart and off the roster.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Success with draft class
So Neal Huntington did this year what Dave Littlefield couldn't last year – stare down Scott Boras and win.
Huntington and the Pirates management team stuck to their contract offer for Alvarez – a minor-league contract and a $6 million bonus – and won. It's a lot of money, but it shows once again that the Pirates seem to have a commitment to winning not seen in Pittsburgh in years.
If this were Littlefield at the helm, he wouldn't have signed Alvarez, or even drafted him for that matter, and he would have signed injured second-round pick Tanner Scheppers in Alvarez's slot. Scheppers would have got hurt, needed arm surgery, and after six or seven years of rehab and pitching in the minors, Scheppers would have left the organization never to be heard from again.
That was then, this is now.
Boras waited until 11:58 p.m., according to published reports, to accept the deal. Though it went right to the deadline, Huntington didn't panic.
Because they didn't overpay for an injured Scheppers, the Pirates were able to sign other top prospects like high school outfielder Robbie Grossman, a sixth-round pick who signed for $1 million, and Quinton Miller, a high school pitcher who turned down a full ride to North Carolina to sign with Pittsburgh for $900,000.
It will take time to see if these moves pan out, but at least Huntington is showing he has a backbone, unlike the Pirates old GM
Huntington and the Pirates management team stuck to their contract offer for Alvarez – a minor-league contract and a $6 million bonus – and won. It's a lot of money, but it shows once again that the Pirates seem to have a commitment to winning not seen in Pittsburgh in years.
If this were Littlefield at the helm, he wouldn't have signed Alvarez, or even drafted him for that matter, and he would have signed injured second-round pick Tanner Scheppers in Alvarez's slot. Scheppers would have got hurt, needed arm surgery, and after six or seven years of rehab and pitching in the minors, Scheppers would have left the organization never to be heard from again.
That was then, this is now.
Boras waited until 11:58 p.m., according to published reports, to accept the deal. Though it went right to the deadline, Huntington didn't panic.
Because they didn't overpay for an injured Scheppers, the Pirates were able to sign other top prospects like high school outfielder Robbie Grossman, a sixth-round pick who signed for $1 million, and Quinton Miller, a high school pitcher who turned down a full ride to North Carolina to sign with Pittsburgh for $900,000.
It will take time to see if these moves pan out, but at least Huntington is showing he has a backbone, unlike the Pirates old GM
Thursday, August 14, 2008
BAUTISTA OUT, WILSON IN
In one of those writing-on-the-wall moves, the Pirates sent third baseman Jose Bautista to Class AAA after Wednesday's win over Cincinnati.
Bautista A. Hasn't produced since the All-Star break and B. Hasn't seen much playing time since the trading deadline when the Pirates acquired third baseman Andy LaRoche.
Bautista is batting .242 with 12 home runs and 44 RBi for the season. But, he has only 11 at bats this month with no home runs or RBI and only one run scored. Since the All-Star break, Bautista has only two home runs and three RBI.
This will likely be a short-term move for Bautista since the roster can expand Sept. 1. It should, however, be a clear wake-up call that the Pirates aren't going to wait much longer on Bautista becoming a productive every-day player.
Also Wednesday, the Pirates signed fifth-round draft pick Justin Wilson.
Wilson, a lefthanded pitcher from Fresno State, went 9-5 with a 4.14 ERA and had 108 strikeouts this season for the Bulldogs. He was also the winning pitcher in the deciding game of the College World Series.
The Pirates have until midnight Friday night to sign their remaining draft picks, including top pick third baseman Pedro Alvarez and second-round pick pitcher Tanner Scheppers.
Bautista A. Hasn't produced since the All-Star break and B. Hasn't seen much playing time since the trading deadline when the Pirates acquired third baseman Andy LaRoche.
Bautista is batting .242 with 12 home runs and 44 RBi for the season. But, he has only 11 at bats this month with no home runs or RBI and only one run scored. Since the All-Star break, Bautista has only two home runs and three RBI.
This will likely be a short-term move for Bautista since the roster can expand Sept. 1. It should, however, be a clear wake-up call that the Pirates aren't going to wait much longer on Bautista becoming a productive every-day player.
Also Wednesday, the Pirates signed fifth-round draft pick Justin Wilson.
Wilson, a lefthanded pitcher from Fresno State, went 9-5 with a 4.14 ERA and had 108 strikeouts this season for the Bulldogs. He was also the winning pitcher in the deciding game of the College World Series.
The Pirates have until midnight Friday night to sign their remaining draft picks, including top pick third baseman Pedro Alvarez and second-round pick pitcher Tanner Scheppers.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Three days and counting
There are less than three days remaining until Friday's deadline to sign 2008 draft picks and three names should have a lot of interest to local baseball fans.
Neither of the Pirates top two draft picks – third baseman Pedro Alvarez and pitcher Tanner Scheppers – have signed yet. Scheppers threw a bullpen session of about 30 pitches in the bullpen before Tuesday's game with the Reds. The session was to make sure Scheppers is recovered from a shoulder injury he had earlier this season. It appears that the Pirates will make a contract offer within the next day or so.
Alvarez is the one everyone is watching. Both the Pirates and Alvarez's agent – Scott Boras – have been pretty hush-hush about the negotiations. Though this one will likely go into Friday, perhaps late Friday evening, I still see a deal getting done. Though this is an important signing for the Pirates for several reasons, it makes sense for for Alvarez to sign. Another year in college will likely hurt his value, along with another year away from prospect status.
Also, we'll see by Saturday at midnight whether Peters Township's Jordan Jankowski will sign with the Astros or head to college. Jankowski, a 34th-round selection by Houston, has a full scholarship waiting at Miami of Ohio. My hunch is that he is going to school, though that is pure speculation. Usually, players who are drafted that low sign as soon as possible so that they can get out and play that first season. Since Jankowski hasn't signed yet, I'm guessing he'll be playing in the Mid-American Conference for the next three or four years.
Neither of the Pirates top two draft picks – third baseman Pedro Alvarez and pitcher Tanner Scheppers – have signed yet. Scheppers threw a bullpen session of about 30 pitches in the bullpen before Tuesday's game with the Reds. The session was to make sure Scheppers is recovered from a shoulder injury he had earlier this season. It appears that the Pirates will make a contract offer within the next day or so.
Alvarez is the one everyone is watching. Both the Pirates and Alvarez's agent – Scott Boras – have been pretty hush-hush about the negotiations. Though this one will likely go into Friday, perhaps late Friday evening, I still see a deal getting done. Though this is an important signing for the Pirates for several reasons, it makes sense for for Alvarez to sign. Another year in college will likely hurt his value, along with another year away from prospect status.
Also, we'll see by Saturday at midnight whether Peters Township's Jordan Jankowski will sign with the Astros or head to college. Jankowski, a 34th-round selection by Houston, has a full scholarship waiting at Miami of Ohio. My hunch is that he is going to school, though that is pure speculation. Usually, players who are drafted that low sign as soon as possible so that they can get out and play that first season. Since Jankowski hasn't signed yet, I'm guessing he'll be playing in the Mid-American Conference for the next three or four years.
Monday, August 4, 2008
So far, so good, for them
Here are stats for the three players the Pirates traded away over the last 10 days:
Jason Bay (Boston) 4 hits, 11 at-bats (.363 average) 6 runs, 1 home run, three RBI
Xavier Nady (N.Y. Yankees) 10 hits, 26 at-bats (.385 average) 3 doubles, 3 home runs, 10 RBI
Damaso Marte (N.Y. Yankees) 4 games, 3 1/3 innings, 4 hits, 2 runs, 6 strikeouts, 1 walk, 5.40 ERA.
Jason Bay (Boston) 4 hits, 11 at-bats (.363 average) 6 runs, 1 home run, three RBI
Xavier Nady (N.Y. Yankees) 10 hits, 26 at-bats (.385 average) 3 doubles, 3 home runs, 10 RBI
Damaso Marte (N.Y. Yankees) 4 games, 3 1/3 innings, 4 hits, 2 runs, 6 strikeouts, 1 walk, 5.40 ERA.
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