This offseason, the Pirates spent about $14MM to add Akinori Iwamura, Octavio Dotel, Ryan Church, Brendan Donnelly, Bobby Crosby, D.J. Carrasco (non-guaranteed), and Javier Lopez. They shedded one decent-sized salary in Matt Capps, but re-invested in a veteran bullpen. Team president Frank Coonelly chatted with fans yesterday at MLB.com; let's take a look.
- Asked about Bryce Harper, Coonelly said the Pirates are scouting the much-hyped potential draft pick but he "is clearly nowhere nearly as developed as Stephen Strasburg was this time last year." In a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article, Chuck Finder clarified that GM Neal Huntington was not saying Saturday that Harper ranked "No. 9, No. 10 or worse on their draft board." Reading Huntington's specific quotes, he didn't actually reveal much about the Pirates' draft plans.
- Coonelly feels it's likely the Pirates head to Spring Training with the current group, but they'll be "keeping tabs on certain free agents who might be a fit if their financial demands soften." Maybe they'd bring in another fifth starter candidate?
- Coonelly said Church was a better fit for the Pirates than Rick Ankiel, because the Pirates were not willing to guarantee Ankiel a starting job.
- The Pirates' massive overhaul is over, as Coonelly stated, "We do not anticipate an exodus of players off the roster at this year's Trade Deadline."
I hope they’re good… I really do.. I just highly doubt it. Just don’t be an embarrassment….
I hope they’re good… I really do.. I just highly doubt it. Just don’t be an embarrassment….
In a crappy division anyone could get hot and stick around all year. This could be the buckeyes year.
The Pirates are more improved then anyone else in the division, and did it using shrewd cost-effective signings. I am admittedly biased, but also admit that injuries can always rearrange the division hierarchy.
I see the NL Central as 1. Cards, 2. Brewers, 3. Pirates, 4. Cubs, 5. Reds, 6. Astros.
1. Cards. 2. Brewers. 3. Cubs 4. Buccos 5. Reds 6. Astros
However I think 2-4 and maybe cincy will be very close.
brewers are not finishing 2nd, it will be going
1.cardinals 2 battle between reds and cubs 3 reds or cubs more likely cubs, 4 brewers 5 buccos 6th stros
How many years have we been saying “this could be the year the Reds breakout?”. This certainly won’t be the year.
I have been (incorrectly) picking the Reds for second or third the past few years. I agree that this isn’t the year, not with Volquez missing most if not all of the season recovering from Tommy John surgery.
The Pirates are more improved then anyone else in the division, and did it using shrewd cost-effective signings. I am admittedly biased, but also admit that injuries can always rearrange the division hierarchy.
I see the NL Central as 1. Cards, 2. Brewers, 3. Pirates, 4. Cubs, 5. Reds, 6. Astros.
In a crappy division anyone could get hot and stick around all year. This could be the buckeyes year.
Seems kind of obvious to say that a 17 year-old High School catcher is less polished than a once-in-a-decade college pitcher was. Nice to have that clarified. Either way, the Pirates shouldn’t have to worry about alienating their fan base and selecting another Bryan Bullington over Harper at #2, as it’s likely Harper goes #1 to Washington.
Was going to say the same thing. The comparison between the two is silly.
What he should be comparing is Harper to the Upton’s (or any other recent can’t miss HS hitting prodigy).
Well I think the point is this: $15m to Strasburg, a polished “once-in-a-lifetime” talent w/ the #1 pick vs. “The Natural” Bryce Harper – the highschool junior-turned-juco player
No doubt Harper will be looking for that kind of money, but without the pedigree of Strasburg
The only thing that makes me curious about the Nationals drafting Harper – do they want to deal with another Scott Boras client? After the Strasburg fiasco, one would ponder over that. But it’s more than likely the Nats will take the best available talent, which at this point is Harper.
I wouldn’t mind the Pirates still signing a rotation candidate, but I don’t think there’s much left. Maybe Noah Lowry on a minor league deal?
Also, I’m very optimistic about the team this coming year. If they only had an ace pitcher, I would be more confident, but their lineup looks good and their rotation should be solid but unspectacular. I think the Cards will win the division, and either the Cubs or Brewers come in second with the Pirates in third. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Randy Wolf regress and have an ERA in the 4’s, same with Doug Davis. And Carlos Gomez can’t hit his way out of a wet paper bag, but they still have Braun and Fielder.
If Ross Ohlendorf throws like he did the 2nd half of last year…I think Ohlendorf and Maholm at the top of the rotation is very solid. Filling that out w/ Morton, Duke, and ________ (with the 5th spot having some viable options for the first time in years) works very well for me! They added some veterans to the ‘pen as well.
Over 162 games, the name of the game is “consistency”. We haven’t had it for years, and need it. The guys that will be on the field have been there long enough…time to show some consistency and it could be a very interesting season!
My hope for the Bucs in 2010 is a 2007 Rays type season, where we have a young team that goes out, plays hard, and shows a spark for a potential playoff run in 2011, a la the Rays in 08. Hopefully some players will step up this year and it will be a fun, exciting team to watch.
shedded? It’s simply “shed”.
well i guess pedro alvarez didnt have any good buzz
You know it’s funny the Pirates have added more players than anyone this off-season. Not just players major league players(with the possible exception of Carrasco) let me say it better, players people actually heard off, but no one has even mentioned this, not even MLB Network, it’s supposed to be all about baseball but they never talk about the Pirates, I could understand last year but now they have too.
I think the Pirates are going to have an amazing season, Jones and Milledge will have 20+ homers, Jones might even have 30+. McCutchen will show everyone that he was the rightful Rookie of the Year, when he wins the Batting Title. Obviously our Bullpen will be better, but I think our Rotation will be surprisingly good.
I’m sure some of you won’t agree but this is how I feel, especially being from Pittsburgh seeing how close, comfortable and confident the players are, the Pirates are a tight group now, similar to the Twins and Rays.
So here is my projections for the NL Central:
1.Cardinals(92-70) (Central Title)
2.Pirates (85-77) (Wildcard)
3.Reds (79-83)
4.Brewers (77-85)
5.Cubs (75-87)
6.Astros (65-97)
You will not find a bigger Pirate fan then me. You will not find a bigger Andrew McCutchen fan then me. Saying that McCutchen will win the batting title and the Bucs winning the division is unrealistic. I love McCutchen. That being said he is not a high AVG hitter. I see him hitting . 300 but to win a title he would need to hit a minimum of. 330. As for there wins I see 76 with next year being when they jump into contention.
Three teams from the NL West won more than 85 games last year, same with the NL East. Hell, the Central had 4 teams that were in a few games of 500 or above.
85 Wins seems a little low.
stko1103, I think you are about 1 or 2 years ahead of yourself with that prediction.
Let me compare the Pirates to the 2008 Milwaukee Brewers.
The Brewers had Braun, Cameron, Fielder, Hardy and Hart as their offensive cornerstones. The Pirates will have Alvarez, McCutchen, Jones, Doumit, and Milledge. All five of the Pirates players are not a sure thing, but if Jones can hit 30-35 HRs, Alvarez can hit 25 (rookie year), and McCutchen and Milledge with 15-20, I think the offenses could be about even. (I like the Brewers offense more because Doumit is fragile, Cutch and Jones will probably regress, and idk how Alvarez will do). But the offense could definitely be playoff-caliber.
Pitching wise, the Brewers had CC, Sheets, Bush, Suppan, and Parra. The Pirates have Ohlendorf, Duke, and Maholm who can perform better than the Brewers’ ladder 3, but are still unsure about whether Morton or Brad Lincoln can be a solid #2 pitcher, and be close to what Sheets was, and they would still have to trade for an “ace”.
So basically, this year will be more about finding out what we have and what we need, the next offseason will be about finding replacements for the holes in our team, whether that is internally or via free agency doesn’t matter. And then we still would need either the money or the pieces to make a trade for an ace. So 1, 2, maybe 3 years, and then I think the Pirates can burst out.
ok ill give you that, i did go way out there with my predictions, the whole point of that was show my bucco fan pride lol.. this is what i really think…
1.Cardinals-95-67
2.Reds-85-77
3.Cubs-82-80
4.Pirates-79-83
5.Brewers-72-90
6.Assholes(oops!)I mean Astros- 64-98
*I really think that the Reds will be the Twins of last year!
*The reason I think the Astros will be terrible is because they will most likely trade Carlos Lee. Lance Berkman won’t be healty and even if he is he wont be the same player.
*As for the Pirates, I think they will be over .500 at the all- star break, with McCutchen, Jones, Milledge and Ohlendorf all as all stars. Then after the break they will continue to play .500 ball till the end of the season, then stumble at the end.
*and I agree with your last paragraph, this will be the feeling out year, then every year after they will be where the Brewers and Twins are now.
But if they happen to go out and impress everyone and get over 80 wins, I will not be surprised at all, and to be honest if they lose under 70 games I will be shocked!
no matter what though it will be a good season
Man you guys are dillusional. Im a huge buccos fan but Im also a realist. Yeah we improved our pen but the fact of the matter is there are way too many question marks. Dotel hasnt closed in a while, although i do believe he will have a solid year. Carassco and Bass eat up a ton of innings but consitancy is the name of the game and Im not sure either can last all year again. Meek and Hanrahan are both projects that could go either way. Our offense should take a bit of a hit this year despite what you all seem to think. Its great to be optimistic but theres even more question marks here. Cutch is a stud, but theres a chance of a sophmore slump. Cutch put some muscle mass on during the winter which should add to his power but when players who change their body type over an off-season its typical for that player to break down the second half of the year… lets hope not. Jones can really hit the ball but he has major problems hitting high and inside fastballs, MLB pitchers will know that now so again hopefully Jones will adjust. I question Milledge’s work ethic and consistancy with his bat and in the field. Aki has to be able stay healthy and rebound off of last years injury problems. Andy LaRouche could go either way– but hes merely a placeholder for Alvarez at 3rd. Expect LaRouche to be moved shortly after Alvarez gets called up. Doumit has the same outlook as Aki does… he can be extremely effective if he stays healthy.
Now our defense will take a big hit this year which will ultimately cost us games. Alvarez is going to be horrid defensively at the corner and Jones is a major liability defensively. Doumit is a terrible defensive catcher which is why Kerrigan wants a new everyday catcher. Cedeno is flat out bad at SS and Crosby will only occassionally make a flashy doubleplay. Milledge got better as the season went along in left so hopefully he keeps improving, Cutch is solid and will only get better as he learns the ML game and that leaves our horrid defense in RF. Dont tell me Church will be a solid defender because he has been declining for the past few seasons, or we still Jones in right and again he will be terrible defensively.
I would expect atleast one more run a game with our speedy lineup, but there isnt much depth off the bench. If Cutch goes down then we have no CF at all. If Doumit goes down then Jones has no protection same with moving Cutch to the 3rd spot.
In all honesty fellas, expect at best 75 wins this year, but good signs for the future with Tabata Alvarez and Lincoln working their way up. Again guys these are all “Ifs” and you never know with prospects.
The Pirates won’t be winning any NL Central title in 2010, but I bet they are playing meaningful baseball up around .500 come August, and with the same players that were here in Spring Training. That in itself is a victory for Pittsburgh baseball fans. Lots of “Ifs” but I love where this team is going.
Who are the Buckeyes? is that an new Ohio team (The Buckeye state)?
The name “Bucs” is short for “Buccaneers”, which is another word for “Pirates”.
– How in the world does somebody see a correlation between “Buckeyes” and “Pirates”?