Evan Meek Doesn't Deserve an ASG Nod?

Evan Meek was selected by Charlie Manuel to represent the Pirates in this year's All Star Game next week. Evan Meek has pitched 47 innings, is holding opponents to a line of .175/.229/.253, has struck out 42 batters, and has a WHIP of 0.851. Yet somehow some national writers like to bring up his name when mentioning players that may not deserve an all start spot.

One writer (who doesn't deserve to be linked or named) threw out the fact that Evan Meek has 5 blown saves in 6 opportunities (he actually used incorrect stats, go figure). Well, first things first, Meek isn't a closer. Yet. In his one chance to save a game in the 9th inning this season, he faced 3 batters and got them all out, preserving a win over the Dodgers.

Meek has inherited 16 runners in his 38 appearances. Only 6 have scored. He has not allowed a runner to score in 27 appearances. His WHIP is good for 6th best of relievers with 30IP or more. Meek also has a RE24 of 13.03 which ranks 7th of all relievers. He also has a RAR that is higher than Arthur Rhodes, Matt Capps, and Jose Valverde, all of which are All Stars and aren't being called out by writers that have never seen them pitch.

One writer wrote that the Pirates aren't using Meek when they are ahead. Well with only 30 wins this season through 82 games and one of the worst offenses in all of baseball, it's no wonder he hasn't been given many chances to go out there with a lead. Of his 38 appearances, 27 have been with the Pirates up or down 2 runs or less. 9 times he has allowed that defecit or lead to be dwindled or extended. Seems to me 2 or less runs is a "close game".

Meanwhile, Matt Capps has had the same number of appearances with the Nationals up/down 2 or less and has allowed that lead/defecit to be dwindled/extended 11 times. So while Meek may not be put in situations where he has a lead or is closing out games, he seems to be pitching pretty well. And if you're going to clamor for Strasburg to take Meek's spot, why not clamor for Strasburg to take his teamate's spot instead?

Capps' opponent batting line is .289/.321/.429. His RAR is 5.3. His win probability is -0.65, 4th worst of all 97 relievers with 30IP or more. Yet his selection into the All Star game goes unquestioned. Why? Because he's a "closer" and has accumulated 22 saves, one of the most meaningless stats in all of baseball.

But I guess Meek is an easy target when he plays on a last place team. So rather than look at the roster more in depth, or actually watch the guy pitch, it would be easier to just call out a guy for one of the worst teams in basball who has some above average numbers rather than this guy, this guy, or this guy (who doesn't even qualify for some stats based on plate appearances) when there already is a guy named Brandon Phillips who can play multiple positions.

Meek deserves the spot. There are also much bigger snubs than Strasburg such as Votto and San Diego's league leading pitching staff. Dissing a guy just because he's used in the 6th or 7th inning rather than in the last with a lead is a joke. Hopefully Meek will get a chance to see what Charlie Manuel saw this weekend and these guys can eat their words. Congrats Evan!

Veteran Free Agent Help - Starting Pitching

I was reading Chuck Finder's Q&A today and he made mention that the Pirates should sign a veteran starter to teach the young kids how to carry themselves and pitch. That got me thinking. Why stop there? Why just a starting pitcher? In the right situation, a veteran player can help young guys develop.

Look at the bullpen, for example. Since adding Octavio Dotel, Brendan Donnelly, D.J. Carrasco and, to some extent, Javier Lopez to complement Joel Hanrahan and Evan Meek, the Pirates have a very strong bullpen and 4 veteran relievers to show the pen how to go about their business. Hanrahan and Meek have had very succesful seasons and some credit should be given to the older guys.

So if the Pirates should decide to add a few guys for "veteran leadership" they should probably focus on Starting Pitching, Shortstop, and perhaps catcher. The bullpen may see some turnover at the deadline and will certainly see a few new faces next year. Over the next few days I'll profile a particular position and the free agents available that the Pirates might be able to target.

Starting Pitching

The Pirates have some fairly young starters and no real veteran leadership to turn to. Ross Ohlendorf and Charlie Morton could be Pirates during this youth movement and could probably use a crafty veteran to turn to when they need help.

Kevin Millwood - RHP - Baltimore Orioles - 2011 Age: 36

After 101.2 IP Millwood has a 5.22 ERA, 81K, 31BB, and a 1.515 WHIP. For the most part, those numbers do not look so appealing. However, Millwood has had a tough June. Through April and May he had given up 32 earned runs, 77 hits, and 17 walks over 74 innings. In June alone he gave up 27 earned runs, 46 hits, and 14 walks in 27.2 innings. That's a 8.93 ERA for the month of June after a combined 3.89 in April and May!

Millwood has pitched in Atlanta, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Texas, and Baltimore over the course of 14 seasons. He has been a pretty reliable starter, pitching less than 30 games just 3 times since his rookie season. Although Millwood had one of his most successful seasons in Cleveland, he has been more successful in the NL sporting a 3.89 ERA vs his 4.32 ERA in the AL. Looking at just the NL Central, he sports a sub 4.00 ERA against the Cubs, Astros, and Cardinals. Combining all teams but the Pirates, Millwood is 28-15 4.09 ERA vs the NL Central.

If his season continues to go the way it has, I wonder if he will want to come to a team like the Pirates after playing for a similar team in Baltimore. He is making $12 million this year and would probably command something similar, being a Boras client and all. It's somewhat unlikely the Pirates will turn to Millwood given his price tag, but perhaps they should take a chance. He would be my #1 choice.

Jamie Moyer - RHP - Philadelphia Phillies - 2011 Age: 116

There really isn't much to say about Moyer, besides the fact that he will be 48 and not 116. He has been in the game for a long time and every time you think he's done, he comes back. He won't go away! He debuted in 1986 for crying out loud. Yes, the Pirates should look towards offering him a contract. Will Moyer accept? Extremely doubtful. Why waste a year here after finally winning a World Series in 2008? I just can't see it happening and only make mention of him because Finder did. No chance!

Jorge de la Rosa - LHP - Colorado Rockies - 2011 Age: 30

De la Rosa has a career ERA of 5.13, averages about 20 HR a season, and has a 4.7 BB/9. All these signs point to a big fat no. However, de la Rosa's numbers appear to be trending upward. His K:BB and GO/AO ratios have been going up while his ERA and WHIP have all been going down since 2007. Home runs are still a problem for him, but when you play in Colorado, that seems to happen.

He tore a tendon in his finger in late April, but appears to have recovered and should return to action soon. De la Rosa is making $5.6 million this year and is definately due for a raise, especially if he continues his upward trend. De la Rosa isn't a house hold name, so the Pirates will not have to break the bank, but I'd expect close to $8-$10 million, depending on how the rest of his year goes. De la Rosa may not be a crafty veteran like a Millwood or Moyer, but he definately has some value if neither of those two would come to Pittsburgh.

Javier Vazquez - RHP - New York Yankees - 2011 Age: 34

Vazquez is having the worst year of his career since his rookie campaign. A 5.16 ERA and the lowest K:BB ratio of his career are not helping. But he still holds value. Vazquez may not be the man he was...uh, just last year, but he's been around the league and, barring any language barrier, can definately show this staff what it takes to be a winner. He has a 4.02 ERA vs the NL, which is almost an entire run better than his AL ERA. Perhaps the Pirates can squeeze that one good year out of him, get what they need out of him, and let him ride off.

Vazquez has allowed 3 runs or less in 8 of his last 10 starts, so perhaps he is on the upswing after 5 bad starts to begin the season. It will be a good idea to see if this success continues for the rest of the season as he has look much improved.

Over the past 5 years, Vazquez has received at least $11 million a season. I think in order for him to come to the Pirates, he would have to want similar, if not more, money. New York has a shot at the World Series this year and Vazquez has yet to win one. If he wins one, I wonder if he would welcome a contract to a team like the Pirates. If not, well... I wouldn't count on 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.

2008 Pirates Draft: One Year Later

While the 2009 MLB draft has come and gone, perhaps it might be a good idea to take a look at the Pirates 2008 draft.

- Wilbur Miller's 2008 Draft Signed/Unsigned



Most Notable signings: Pedro Alvarez, Robbie Grossman, Quinton Miller

Pedro Alvarez



Taking the player that most scouts viewed as the top player (and hardest to sign) was a must for Neal Huntington’s first draft. After a long and drawn out process, Alvarez was signed in August 2008 and started his ascent in the Pirates system this spring. Alvarez was started out in High A Lynchburg where he hit 14 home runs and 55 RBI in 66 games. While a .247 average and 70 strike outs won’t get most prospects called up, Alvarez hit well towards the end of his tenure there and was definitely deserving. Alvarez has continued hitting well with a .343 average through 45 games. Alvarez’s power stroke has continued to show as he has 9 home runs, 14 doubles, and 28 RBI in that time. Huntington has already stated Alvarez won’t join bash brother Jose Tabata in AAA Indianapolis, but look for Alvarez to make the move at some point in 2010 with a possible Major League call up.

Robbie Grossman

Grossman was a lock to go to Texas before the draft; that is until the Pirates decided to throw $1million his way and pay his college tuition. Grossman was billed as a 5 tool player, which the Pirates appeared to be lacking at the time in their system. Grossman made his way into the system soon enough to get a few games in at the Gulf Coast level, but didn’t do much, batting .188 with an RBI and a stolen base in 21 plate appearances. Grossman has done pretty well for a 19 year old this year at Low A West Virginia batting .275 and 31 stolen bases through 97 games. Grossman appears to show his age with a gaudy 133 strike out total, but has done well getting on base with 60 walks. Grossman has yet to flash much power only hitting 5 home runs and 19 doubles in his first year. Look for Grossman to improve on those numbers once he gets more acclimated to pro ball. While it hasn’t been a huge start to his pro career, Grossman has set himself up for a solid 2010.

Quinton Miller



When the Pirates initially drafted Miller they seemed like a long shot to sign him. I was actually shocked when I heard he somehow got signed. The Pirates ponied up $900k and stole him from his commitment to UNC. Miller was rated the #158 prospect by Baseball America and the top prospect in New Jersey. He started his pro career this year out in State college, but only pitched 7 innings over 2 starts there giving up 10 hits, 3 runs, 3 walks, and 4 strike outs. I guess the Pirates saw enough in him to promote him to West Virginia. He has had an up and down time there spotting a 5.59 ERA through 8 starts. He is averaging 9 hits/9 inn and 5.6K/9inn. Miller, like Grossman, should improve as he learns to become a better pitcher. Miller does have one weird stat about him though. In 2 day game starts he’s given up a total of 11 earned runs (0-1 12.38 ERA). In 6 night game starts he has given up only 12 earned runs (2-2 3.72 ERA). With such a small sample size to go off, hold off on your opinions on Miller. He will be 20 years old next year and it could be a very pivotal year for the bonus baby, especially with the crop of young guys from the 2009 draft nipping at his heels.



Most notable players unsigned: Tanner Scheppers, Patrick Palmeiro, Zachary Wilson

Tanner Scheppers

Scheppers was a top 10 prospect before he suffered a stress fracture, dropping his stock considerably. The Pirates took a chance on him and he ended up wanting top 10 money, rather than what the Pirates considered a reasonable offer. Scheppers was taken by the Texas Rangers with their supplemental first round pick. Scheppers has been rumored to be injured and continues to ask for the moon when it comes to his signing bonus. Scheppers has worked out for Japanese scouts and has been given a clean bill of health. It doesn’t appear that Scheppers signed with Texas this year either, so look for him to play internationally for a year or two and try to work out a deal with an MLB team. There was this little tidbit that says Scheppers can “hold out for as long as he wants”. I’m not sure how that works, or if it’s even true, but it sounds like Scheppers really wants to get big bucks and show he can be the dominant player people thought he was before the injury. I loved the videos I saw of Scheppers and I wish him all the luck in his pursuit. I just wish he would’ve signed with the Pirates when they drafted him!

Patrick Palmeiro

The Pirates took a flyer on power hitting son of Rafael Palmeiro. The Pirates made an effort to sign Palmeiro, but he ultimately chose not to sign. It was tough to dig up info on him, but it appears he’s playing at Grayson County Junior College. You can check up on him more here.

Zachary Wilson

Wilson was a player that was highly regarded, especially in terms of power, but possibly fell to the 26th round because he is a Scott Boras client. I couldn’t dig up any information on how the Pirates approached him, but he eventually didn’t sign and went to Arizona State. Wilson hit 0 home runs in 26 games. He also batted .275 with 6 walks and 18 strike outs. 0 home runs in 26 games is a shocking number when scouts talk about him being a power hitter, but it could be due to him being a freshman. He hit only 5 his senior year in HS, but look for him to develop some power once he hits the weight room a little more.



Biggest surprises: Jarek Cunningham, Chase D’Arnaud, Brian Leach

Jarek Cunningham

Cunningham wasn’t expected to sign with the Pirates right from high school, but did and was a pleasant surprise in the Gulf Coast League. Due to the bevy of shortstops taken by the Pirates in the 2008 draft, he split time between SS and 3B. In 43 games he batted .318 with 5 HR and 22 RBI. It’s a wonder if he will stay at 3B as he had 8 errors in 26 games. Unfortunately Cunningham tore his ACL and has lost the 2009 season. 2010 will be a big year for Cunningham. He will turn 20 and is a highly regarded prospect in the Pirates system. Time will tell if Cunninham can handle the pressure and continue to build on one of the most solid debuts of any 2008 Pirates draft pick.

Chase D’Arnaud

It’s hard to call D’Arnaud a surprise when he’s a 4th round pick, but D’Arnaud has separated himself from the other shortstops taken along with him and appears to be moving along nicely through the system. He batted .286 with 1 HR and 28 RBI in his first pro season with State College. He started the year out with West Virginia, but has since moved on to Lynchburg, where he has a respectable .279 batting average through 33 games along with 3 HR and 22 RBI drawing 20 walks and only striking out 21 times. D’Arnaud has been playing solid defense at SS and 2B while SS prospect Jordy Mercer gets a good look at SS. While D’Arnaud’s numbers aren’t eye popping, he has stayed consistent and could find himself with the major league club at some point.

Brian Leach




It took a lot of searching but I may have found the only good pitching prospect in the Pirates 2008 draft that has actually produced. Leach was picked in the 25th round and throws 94, although some scouts believe his velocity could increase with time. As a starter Leach has a 3.03 ERA in 7 starts with 18 strike outs and only 9 walks. It appears Leach has been used in middle/long relief as well and has an even better 2.74 ERA, 47 strikeouts and 23 walks in 20 appearances totaling 49.1 innings. Leach is now 23 years old and at Low A so if he can improve a level and his performance each year we may see him at the big league level sometime, especially with Huntington’s love affair with flame throwers. Leach could be showing signs of fatigue as he has given up 14 runs in his past 22.2 innings (spanning 5 games). There is a cluster of starters at WV so it’s unknown whether Leach will be a reliever or a starter. He’s had plenty of 4-6 inning “relief” appearances, including a 6 inning appearance with Rudy Owens (who only pitched 3 innings) on July 28 where he gave up the only hit in a shut out of Charleston. Perhaps 2010 Leach will have a more defined role and we will know more, but he has some fairly impressive stats and could turn out to be one of the better pitchers from this draft class.



Disappointments: Wes Freeman, Justin Wilson, Name a Pitcher

Wes Freeman

Freeman was called a 5 tool prospect and at 19 still has a lot to show, however his .213 batting average in Bradenton is a shocker. His 13 home runs, however, leave some semblance of hope. 2010 could be a defining year for Freeman. Can he put his 2009 batting average behind him and work on showing why he was a 5 tool player coming out of high school? Freeman needs to get out of Bradenton next year like fellow 2008 pick Grossman. It appears most Pirates prospects are striking out a lot (47 in 43 games for Freeman) so hopefully this will be addressed in the near future. It’s way too early to give up on Freeman, especially at only 19, but a .213 batting average at Rookie Level can be really detrimental.

Justin Wilson

Wilson irked some Pirates fans by demanding a huge, unwarranted bonus, but eventually signed. He has continued to irk some Pirates fans by being completely terrible for a good part of the year at Lynchburg. Wilson will turn 22 tomorrow and has sported a 4.83 ERA striking out 72 and walking 48 in 23 starts. Wilson has gone on a hot streak lately giving up only 2 runs in his past 5 starts (27.1 innings). I may be being too hard on Wilson since he appeared to be a reach for the Pirates in the 5th round and he has turned it on recently, but the fact that he wanted way too much money (some rumored $1mil, he eventually signed for slot) and that it delayed his pro debut almost solidified his spot on this list. His poor start to his career has him here, but if his past handful of starts is a sign of him learning how to pitch, Wilson could turn into a #5 starter some day, however I wouldn’t expect it.

Pitching

Again, it’s very early but besides Leach and Miller, go through the list of pitchers taken in the draft and tell me which ones have looked successful? I’m having a hard time finding any. Ultimately, time will tell and the Pirates did a much better job in 2009 of getting pitching, but this class looks like a Dave Littlefield draft when it comes to pitchers (with Miller being the lone exception). I really don’t expect many to improve and you could actually see 0 pitchers from this class make it to the big leagues; however your best bets may be Miller, Leach, Wilson, or perhaps someone left off this list.



2008 Draft One Year Later Thoughts

While it is WAY too early to tell what the draft class will look like, it appears the Pirates got a few good prospects to work with in Grossman, Miller, D’Arnaud and Leach and a possible can’t miss prospect with Alvarez. Some other players to look out for include Jarek Cunningham, Matt Hague and power hitting/giant first baseman Calvin Anderson. The Pirates got a few toolsy prospects in Grossman and Wes Freeman that are only 19 in their first full year of pro ball. The only thing missing from the draft was a few pitchers that might get a look as prospects. Miller isn’t a sure thing and Wilson may be a fringe prospect, so I hope somebody steps up from this class and comes out of nowhere, ala Rudy Owens from 2007. This draft was a good first step for the new Pirates regime and it looks they took an even bigger step in 2009. Ultimately I think this was a solid draft compared to the Littlefield years where signable players and college seniors were taken like they were going out of style. Huntington has shaken up baseball by offering way above slot for guys taken later in the draft, let’s just hope this is the draft we look back at where it all started!