Punchless Pirates

Well, it finally happened. Lastings Milledge finally cranked a ball out of the ballpark in 2010. Milledge is batting to a clip of .279/.347/.383. He's tied for the team lead for doubles with 16. He's batting .392 with runners in scoring position. Not bad stats, but a single homer almost through April, May, and June is embarassing.

48

That's the total number of home runs hit by Pirates players this season. Good for 28th best in the majors. If you subtract the 7 hit by Aki Iwamura and Jeff Clement, that brings the total down to 41. That number would be good for last in the majors.

For all the talk about how the Pirates need their starters to keep them in games, it should be noted that the offense needs to do their job as well. With a 29th ranked team batting average, a 29th ranked team on base percentage, and a 28th ranked team slugging percentage, it's clear that the offense isn't doing their job. With a team that can't score runs, it's no wonder the Pirates have lost 6 in a row.

Enter Pedro Alvarez. The "savior" has managed 4 hits in 35 at bats (.114 avg), knocked in 5 runs, and managed 3 walks. All this to go with his 17 strikeouts and 0 home runs. If the Pirates are going to be succesful, Pedro may be the key.

In 2009 Pedro hit 27 in 126 games. About 1 every 20 PA. In 2010 he hit 13 homers (1 every 21 PA) before being plucked to join the big club. If you translate his minor league home run per PA to a 600 PA season, it equates to about 30 home runs.

The Pirates haven't had a player hit 30 or more home runs since Jason Bay in 2006 and 2005. This decade, the only Pirates to accomplish such a feat were Jason Bay, Reggie Sanders, Aramis Ramirez, and Brian Giles. The only teamates to both hit 30 this decade were Aramis Ramirez and Brian Giles in 2002.

The closest the Pirates have come to hitting .500 this decade was the 2003 squad which went 75-87. The Pirates hit 163 home runs that year. It's second most this decade to the 2000 team that hit 168 home runs. The same 2000 team that had 4 starters with a 4.80 ERA or worse and an average starters ERA of 5.15. The 2003 team starter ERA average was 4.37.

So while the starters need to pitch well for the Pirates to win, the offense really needs power. Pedro Alvarez, Garrett Jones, Andrew McCutchen and Ryan Doumit will need to carry the team on their shoulders and get some balls out of the park. If Jeff Clement could ever get his average to stick at the majors, he could be another cog as he hit a home run about every 27 at bats this year.

A lot of Pirates fans talk about how it takes Pedro a few weeks to adjust at every level he has been. Until he does adjust, the Pirates won't be winning very many games. So sit down, relax, and wait for it.

Let's Just Look at the Positives

I don't want to focus on the negatives such as Lastings Milledge's poor outfield play or Steven Jackson blowing away the game in the 9th. There are plenty of positives to take from this game.

- Jose Tabata goes 3 for 5. Tabata has been getting some bad luck as of late as he has hit the ball well, but right at people. Today he had some nice hits, including a bunt single, and a rocket right at Josh Hamilton with the bases loaded. Tabata also had a stolen base and scored a run. These kinds of things are what Tabata brings to the table.

- Bobby Crosby has his 4th multi hit game in a row. Crosby ended up with an error that eventually led to the Ranger's first run, but other than that played very well. He had 2 hits including a double to bring his batting average up to .271. If Crosby can keep this up, we may never see Cedeno again!

- Pedro Alvarez is looking more comfortable. Pedro had 2 strike outs but still does not look over matched. He went the other way on a double down the line which ended up scoring two runs in the first. I think it's only a matter of time until Pedro gets locked in and the ball starts leaving the park.

- Jeff Karstens continues to keep the team in the game. In his last 3 starts, he had given up 8 runs over 17.2 innings. That's good for a 4.19 ERA, but considering the numbers that some of the starters have been putting up over the past 15 games, Karstens has been very reliable. Karstens got the no decision after Meek let up 2 in the 7th.

- Daniel Moskos promoted to AAA Indianapolis. The former 1st round pick did nothing but good things this year at AA Altoona and was certainly deserving. Glad to see "Moskie" make the jump. Let's hope he continues the success and makes his way into Pittsburgh sometime soon.

- Charlie Morton throws a 2 hit complete game. I know it's only game, but Morton threw a gem vs Durham going 9 innings, giving up 2 hits, 1 ER, 1 BB, and 4 K. Great sign for Charlie and hopefully he can build on this.

Something for Nothing

Today it was announced that lefty Dana Eveland would be designated for assignment by the Pittsburgh Pirates. This really doesn't come as a surprise to many as Eveland made 3 appearances in 3 weeks for the Pirates. Eveland had one start and two appearances. He went 9.2 innings giving up 15 hits, 9 earned runs, 5 walks, and 3 strikeouts. Not a very good line.

After the move, Neal Huntington was quoted as saying, "Obviously, we liked him enough to trade for him". Regarding what will happen to Eveland he said "we'll see".

The Pirates traded RP Ronald Uviedo to Toronto after Eveland was DFA'd by the Blue Jays. Uviedo was converted back to a starter after the trade. He has pitched 21 innings (4 starts, 1 appearance) giving up 16 hits, 10 earned runs, 9 walks and 12 strikeouts.

Reading over the PG Plus board, listening to talk radio, and seeing some comments, it seems some fans are enraged over this deal. Sure, the Pirates don't look too good in this deal as they gave up an ok prospect and got 9 plus innings of...nothing. However, Ronald Uviedo is not a sure bet to make the major leagues and his value is as a reliever, not a starter. His strikeouts as a starter have been cut in half in comparison to as a reliever. His K/9 of 5.14 isn't far off from Aaron Pribanic's 4.86. Most people don't see Pribanic as a very good starter at the major league level.

Don't get me wrong, I would love to have Uviedo still in the system but, as a reliever his value is somewhat diminished. The Pirates acquired a starter for a minor league reliever. How many fans celebrated the Kip Wells/Jesse Chavez trade? What about when Terry Mulholland was traded for Mike Fetters and Adrian Burnside? With very few options at the AAA level, the Pirates took a risk and traded for a guy they thought would upgrade their rotation. It just didn't work out.

Unless Uviedo becomes a solid set up man or closer, I don't think this deal is as bad as some people are trying to make it. The Pirates didn't trade away Carlos Marmol, so please stop acting like they did.

The part I'm not happy with is how they dealt with Dana Eveland. He was a Pirate for about 3 weeks and saw the mound 3 times. There were certainly a few times where he could have came in for relief, but obviously management did not believe enough in him to put him in. So if you're not going to use him, why trade for him? Did the scouts not do their work? Did the staff think they could make changes? Was Eveland not making the changes? There are many questions with the way things went down.

This deal didn't bother me that much when it was made because I felt like they were taking a risk to fill a need. After everything was said and done, many Pirates fans have a sour taste in their mouth.

NOW IS THE TIME!

Late last week the Pirates announced they extended the contracts of GM Neal Huntington and manager John Russell through 2011. I think, without a doubt, that Huntington's contract should be extended through next year. John Russell being extended is very frustrating to me. The Pirates have had a lot of turnover under Huntington, but one thing has remained the same under Russell's team: the little things aren't being done.

With all of the call ups and the news that Fredi Gonzalez was fired by the Florida Marlins, the Pirates should be aggressive and let go of Russell. His teams have consistently had fielding blunders, baserunning gaffes, and questionable line ups. The Pirates would be better served to wipe the slate clean and teach these young guys the right way to play baseball.

Honestly, what are you going to lose by firing the manager now when you've called up new guys and have no hope of winning? This isn't football where Andrew McCutchen has had a new offensive coordinator every level. These young Pirates need to learn how to win and they need a manager who can help them win. Ryan Doumit playing first base instead of DHing isn't going to help any team win!

There aren't many managerial candidates that come off the top of the head that would be a sure fire fit in Pittsburgh and Gonzalez is likely to take over in Atlanta when Bobby Cox retires this year, but something needs to be done. I don't know how much longer I can take stories like this, this, and this.

The Pirates need to hold their manager accountable and look in another direction. Here are a few guys that could work:

Eric Wedge - 7 Seasons
Career Record: 561-573

The 2007 Manager of the Year should be familiar to Huntington as he was the manager of the Cleveland Indians when Huntington was an employee there. Wedge is familiar working with young players as he had 25 different rookies in his first year as the manager of the Indians. He improved the Indians by 12 and 13 games from his first year to his third. His fourth year, the Indians pitching staff was terrible and finished 78-84, but he won the division the next year at 96-66. Wedge's next two years were disappointing and some of his best players, like C.C. Sabathia were traded away. Wedge was let go on September 30 2009.

Wedge was respected by his players in Cleveland as Grady Seizmore said on the day of his firing, "Eric had all the qualities you want. You don't want to lose a man like Eric. He's respected by his peers, his players, everybody in the game".

Wedge has a second interview with the Baltimore Orioles, so this could be a moot point in a few weeks. Wedge's experience with young players and respect from his players would be a welcome addition to the Pirates.

Ken Macha - 6 Seasons
Career Record: 478-402

Macha is currently the manager of the Milwaukee Brewers, but he has been rumored to be on the hot seat for a while as they currently have a 30-40 record. Some say the problems in Milwaukee seem to be pitching, and not Macha's doing. That being said, it seems like a lot of Milwaukee fans are calling for his head and I wonder if he will be let go if things stay sour.

Ken Macha coached a young Oakland team and never finished below .500 in any of his 4 season there, begining in 2003. Macha was fired in 2006 after losing in the ALCS to the Detroit Tigers. Macha was hired by the Brewers after the 2008 season and coached the Brewers to a 80-82 record last year, his first sub .500 record.

Macha is from Monroeville, went to Pitt, played for the Pirates ('74-'78), and in 2005 was even rumored to have been in talks to become the Pirates new manager. Obviously Macha has strong ties to the city and understands the organization's past. Pittsburghers love their own, so Macha could be a PR boost for an organization that has had some poor PR lately. Of course, this all contingent on if the Brewers stick with him for another year or not.

Chip Hale - 6 Minor League Seasons
Career Minor League Record: 392-305

Chip Hale is currently the Third Base coach of the New York Mets and former 2006 Pacific Coast League Manager of the Year. Before joining the Mets Hale was on Bob Melvin's staff in Arizona. Hale has been described as "thoughtful" and a "baseball guy". Jerry Manuel said about Hale, "Chip learned from Tom Kelly in Minnesota, where everything is about fundamentals, fundamentals and fundamentals". The Pirates are in dire need of the fundamentals. He's viewed as a guy who could eventually end up managing a club down the road. If the Pirates choose not to pay for a name manager, Hale could be an up and coming name they could choose to go with.

06/22 NOTEBOOK

- I missed the game tonight. I was out celebrating the girlfriend's new job. We went to The Sharp Edge Bistro in Sewickley. Let me just start by saying, I never plan on visiting that place again. For starters, the hostess was sleeping!! Or just laying her head down. It doesn't matter, either way, bad first impression. Next, they employ a wait staff made up of zombies. They had no emotions, didn't know any specials, didn't TELL you any specials, and looked like they hated their lives. Bad service seems typical in Sewickley as I got it at Monticello's (of all places!) in Sewickley a few years ago. The beers were probably 5x more expensive than any other place I've ever been to. Don't get me wrong, they have all kinds of beers that other places don't have and the mystery brew at $3.75 was a bargain (IPA of some sort tonight, score!), but when you charge me $4.50 for a Yeungling, then you're overpriced. I'll stick with The Bottleshop Cafe, even though their wait staff is pretty poor too.

- Anyways, I was able to follow comments on twitter and saw that the Pirates optioned 2B Aki Iwamura to Triple A Indy. He is scheduled to report on Friday. My sources tell me that he enjoyed the sushi at Jimmy Wan's so much that he knew he had to make it back to Pittsburgh for that wonderful sushi!

- In all seriousness, I hope Aki can get healthy and get back together. His first 3 years in the leage he had a WAR (Wins Above Replacement) of 2.2, 1.5, and 1.2. In Pittsburgh? -1.1. The Pirates will not be able to get much for someone hitting .182/.292/.267 this year, but hopefully he can build his stock somewhat and/or be insurance in case something would happen to Neil Walker, Andy Laroche, or Pedro Alvarez (*knock on wood*).

- Dejan Kovacevic is reporting Bradenton Marauders Catcher and top prospect Tony Sanchez was hit in the face by a pitch and was taken to to the hospital. DK wrote, according to Neal Huntington "there are two small fractures in the left jaw, the doctors think. But then again, there might not be, he added. It's a fluid thing". Many Pirates fans have been wondering what else Sanchez has to prove at High A, so I hope Sanchez can get back soon and continue his ascent in the system.

- Hayden Penn had another solid start in Triple A Indianapolis going 6 innings, striking out 9, walking 3, and letting in one unearned run. Penn has not allowed an earned run in his last 3 starts, striking out 18 over 18 innings. I'd say the only cause for concern would be the 7 walks in that span. With Ross Ohlendorf struggling, Zach Duke injured, and Charlie Morton still not back on track, Penn could get a look in Pittsburgh again.

- Altoona Lefty Daniel Moskos nabbed another save tonight for the Curve. "Moskie" is having an incredible year for the Curve and a promotion has to be iminent. Over 31 innings he has struck out 30, walked 9, and has an opponent batting average of .191. He also hasn't given up a home run all year. I'm hoping to see him in Indianapolis within the next few weeks. I really don't know what else he has to show at Double A.

- Don't look now but 1B Calvin Anderson is batting a line of .285/.356/.439! Over his last 10 games he has 12 hits, 3 home runs, 3 walks, and 9 strikeouts. He has 8 home runs and 13 doubles over 65 games. He's probably the closest thing to a power hitter the Pirates have in the system besides Matt Clement, so I'll definately be keeping an eye on the 6'7 monster.

- Dovydas Neverauskas made his debut for the GCL Pirates today going 2 1/3 innings allowing 2 runs, 2 hits, 1 walk and 2 strikeouts. He was the first Lithuanian player to ever sign with a major league team. Check out this interview from a year ago.

Thoughts on the Pirates 2010 Draft

Well, it's been a few weeks since the 2010 MLB Draft and what an interesting one it was for the Pirates. They picked #2 overall and chose prep pitcher Jameson Taillon after C/OF Bryce Harper. It was well documented that the Pirates were choosing between Taillon and SS/3B prospect Manny Machado.

The draft saw a lot of first round talent fall into the Second Round and the Pirates capitalized by selecting Stetson Allie, a prep pitcher who can hit 100mph and was thought to be a first round pick. The rounds after were mostly filled with right handed pitchers, a good mix being prep pitchers, and very few position players.

If you're a draft fantatic like me, be sure to follow Wilbur Miller's player profiles and the Pirates 2010 draft page to get scouting reports and track which players sign.

The success of the Pirates draft will ultimately hang on if they sign Taillon and Allie, but there are some other players worth going over slot for. Here are the players the Pirates need to focus on:

1. Jameson Taillon - RHP - The Woodlands, TX (HS)

The Obvious: He was their #1 pick, he hits 98mph, breaking ball is major league ready, he projects to be a top of the rotation starter.

The Problem: He seems perfectly fine honoring his commitment and going to play for the Rice Owls. Taillon seems to have a lot of leverage, but some have speculated that Stetson Allie was taken as an insurance pick in case Taillon didn't sign. He's also represented by the Hendricks brothers, who are just as bad as Scott Boras.

What Will Happen: The Pirates need to sign Taillon. They have nobody in the system like this and with Alvarez, Tabata, and Lincoln all playing for the parent club, the Pirates need another sure prospect in the system. The Hendricks brothers will not make it a walk in the park. Neal Huntington and his team are not master negotiatiors and the Hedricks brothers played games with Nationals GM Jim Bowden. The Pirates will probably have to set a new franchise record for a bonus, probably somewhere around $8 million. This deal will get done out of necessity.

2. Stetson Allie - RHP - Olmsted Falls, OH (HS)

The Obvious: Allie was rated #8 by Baseball America before the draft. He has consistently hit 100mph. He has the build to be a power pitcher down the road.

The Problem: He has reportedly asked for $3 million or more, which scared teams off. His father went on 93.7 The Fan and tried to squash those rumors. He also seemed to lack stamina, which could push him into a reliever role.

What Will Happen: The rest of the Pirates draft isn't necessarily a "Who's Who" of prospects, so the Pirates should be aggressive in signing their first 2 picks. Even if Allie fails as a starter and is pushed to a relief role, it will be worth it as the Pirates just don't have a guy like him right now. The risk is worth the reward!

3. Zachary Weiss - RHP - Irvine, CA (HS)

The Obvious: Wiess was ranked #132 by Baseball America and throws 90-93 mph. He has some inconsistencies and and control issues, but those can be taken care of in the minors. Keith Law noted that Weiss has a "funky" delivery which causes deception in some of his pitches.

The Problem: He has a commitment to UCLA and needs to develop more command of his pitches. He could be better served by going to college and improving his stock.

What Will Happen: Weiss doesn't appear to be a potential ace down the line. He may not even be a #2 or #3. However, the Pirates will need quality arms in the system and Weiss is exactly that. Weiss could be a back of the rotation starter, a reliable bullpen arm, or simply trade bait to pitching starved teams. Either way, I hope a deal with Weiss gets done.

4. Brandon Pierce - RHP - Gunter, TX (HS)

The Obvious: Pierce had a 17.1 K/9 rate his senior year and throws 93-94 MPH. He struck out double digit batters in 7 of his 14 starts.

The Problem: Pierce committed to Nebraska and was quoted as saying: "What we've told Nebraska is that unless it's life-changing money -- first to third round money -- I will be in college".

What Will Happen: If the Pirates miss on Allie and/or a few other prep pitchers like Weiss, Dace Kime, and others, they could turn to Pierce. However, I don't know if the Pirates are willing to offer "life-changing money" to Pierce when they have other targets. Watching what happens to Pierce throughout the summer will be interesting.

5. Zackary Powers - SS - Seffner, FL (HS)

The Obvious: The Pirates took a total of 4 infielders in the draft. The Pirates need to create competition at the lower levels there and Powers' could help that. He hit .467 his junior year and .411 his senior year.

The Problem: He committed to the University of Florida and it seems like he will be staying there. He also has had pitch recognition issues and projects as a 3B in college.

What Will Happen: Powers will most likely end up in college. The Pirates could offer him a decent deal and pay for his tuition like they've done in the past, but they shouldn't shoot for the moon and offer a seven figure bonus like they have guys like Robbie Grossman. Ultimately, I think Powers will enjoy the college life and try to build on his draft stock down south.


Honorable Mentions: OF Mel Rojas, Jr., 1B Matt Curry, SS Andrew Maggi

The Pirates' main focus should be be on their first 2 picks. They need to make a splash and get them under contract. After that, it's anyone's guess which way they'll go as they covered the bases with high school arms.

My only issue with the Pirates is that there are very few middle infield prospects out of this group, but I can see why they chose so many high school arms, as there was a great stock of them. An organization like the Pirates needs a constant flow of pitching in their system. We've seen in the past what happens when their isn't a crop of pitching at AAA. It's also happening now as the only options at AAA Indianapolis are Daniel McCutchen, Brian Burres, and Hayden Penn.

Back to the Grind!!

Well, I've decided to restart the blog. Be sure to follow me on twitter at @4everrebuilding. I'll probably get some posts written this week and start full force next week. Check out some of my older posts though. ENJOY!