Former #1 Pick/Scapegoat Still Going Strong

Danny Moskos.

What comes to mind when you think of that name?

For most Pirates fans it was the tipping point of the lack of spending. Dave Littlefield and company passed on superstar catcher Matt Weiters because of his initial contract demands and because he was represented by none other than Scott Boras.

I remember the exact moment I was when I found out the Pirates passed on Matt Weiters and even wrote a blog about it (on Myspace haha) about how I actually would've preferred Jason Heyward or even Rick Porcello over Matt Weiters.

While Moskos isn't even in the same stratosphere as Heyward, one of the top prospects in all of baseball, or Porcello, #5 starter for the Tigers, he has quietly had a good year in AA. It seems like the fans using him as the scapegoat have become less and less and Moskos may finally be feeling comfortable in the Pirates system.

Moskos was taken 4th overall and was billed as a guy who can throw 91-94 with a major league quality slider as his strikeout pitch and would quickly reach Pittsburgh. Most draft experts, at the time, argued that Moskos was taken as a signability (there's that word again) pick and because he would sign for what MLB slotted for that pick.

In Moskos' first full year in the system he had pretty bad numbers. The Pirates used him as a starter for a good portion of the year, but it took it's toll on his arm and they eventually stuck him in the pen. Moskos accumulated a 7-7 record in 20 starts and 9 appearances with an abysmal 5.59 ERA giving up 73 earned runs, almost as many as his 78 strikeouts!

This season "Moskie", his author name on his blog, again started out poorly, but has turned it on recently. In his last 10 starts he is 6-3 with a 3.47 ERA striking out 35. If not for a 2.2 inning 5 run game on Aug 8, Moskos would be sporting a 2.82 ERA in that time. For the year he is 10-9 with a 3.78 ERA. Moskos, however, continues to let runs in as he has let in 55 ER to his 62 Ks.

Moskos has been starting for most his Pirates career, but Neal Huntington appears to be doing this to stretch out his pitchers' arms. Once Moskos reaches the higher levels, look for his role to be more clearly defined.

While it appears Moskos is still atleast one year, probably two, from Pittsburgh, don't count him out of the Pittsburgh future plans. If Moskos continues to shine, very quietly I might add, he may actually surpass some of the skeptics and be a solid guy out of the bullpen. The Pirates have a dearth of lefty help in their system, so Moskos could be counted on down the road.