2009 Pittsburgh Pirates Season Thread

[BehindSteelCurtain]

Originally Posted by X-Terminator

Yeah, I accidentally hit the refresh button and it re-posted what I said above.

Anyway, if either Strickland or Diaz turn out to be anything half-decent, the Pirates will have stolen the Red Sox's lunch money in that deal since they turned around and dealt LaRoche just 9 days after getting him.

Highly doubtful. Strickland did pitch part of a no-hitter in his debut. Don't see him being anything special. Diaz has an elite glove but is a slap hitter.

[X-Terminator]

Originally Posted by BehindSteelCurtain

Highly doubtful. Strickland did pitch part of a no-hitter in his debut. Don't see him being anything special. Diaz has an elite glove but is a slap hitter.

Oh I agree, just wishful thinking on my part. I really don't expect either of these guys to amount to much of anything.

[BehindSteelCurtain]

McCutchen 3 HRs thus far

[X-Terminator]

Originally Posted by BehindSteelCurtain

McCutchen 3 HRs thus far

See my sig...

This kid is a stud. No question about it.

[Stang909]

Cutch is now one of three Pirates outfielders to hit 3 homers in a game. The other two, Stargell and Clemente.

[X-Terminator]

Originally Posted by Stang909

Cutch is now one of three Pirates outfielders to hit 3 homers in a game. The other two, Stargell and Clemente.

Yeah, in fact Stargell was the answer to the baseball quiz question tonight at the ballpark - he holds the Pirates record for most total bases in one game with 15. He had 3 HRs, a double and a single. Cutch, BTW, finished with 13 total bases tonight - not too shabby. And to think he's just 22 years old and is going to get better with experience. That's friggin scary.

Great minor league update for tonight:

- Jose Tabata was 3 for 3 in his AAA debut tonight. He was promoted to Indy yesterday.
- Jeff Clement has 2 more hits tonight, both singles. He's 5 for 9 since coming over in the Jack Wilson trade.
- Tim Alderson got the win in his first start for Altoona. He went 5.2 innings, gave up 1 ER on 7 hits and struck out 4.
- Pedro Alvarez was 1 for 1 with a HR...but he walked a staggering FOUR TIMES tonight. That is a great sign because he had been striking out at an alarming rate. Hopefully he keeps showing that kind of plate discipline. He also raised his average to .308 with the Curve with 7 HR and 21 RBI.
- Brett Lorin, one of the pitchers who came over in the Wilson trade, made his low-A debut tonight with West Virginia, and was outstanding - 6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER and 3 K. Got a no-decision, however.
- Tony Sanchez continues to impress. He was 2 for 4 tonight, with a double, RBI and run scored. His average is now .346.

God, this organization is SO loaded with quality talent now. I just hope they all continue to develop very nicely, because if they do...2011 could be a pretty nice season for Bucs fans.

[SteelCityMan786]

Originally Posted by X-Terminator

Yeah, in fact Stargell was the answer to the baseball quiz question tonight at the ballpark - he holds the Pirates record for most total bases in one game with 15. He had 3 HRs, a double and a single. Cutch, BTW, finished with 13 total bases tonight - not too shabby. And to think he's just 22 years old and is going to get better with experience. That's friggin scary.

Great minor league update for tonight:

- Jose Tabata was 3 for 3 in his AAA debut tonight. He was promoted to Indy yesterday.
- Jeff Clement has 2 more hits tonight, both singles. He's 5 for 9 since coming over in the Jack Wilson trade.
- Tim Alderson got the win in his first start for Altoona. He went 5.2 innings, gave up 1 ER on 7 hits and struck out 4.
- Pedro Alvarez was 1 for 1 with a HR...but he walked a staggering FOUR TIMES tonight. That is a great sign because he had been striking out at an alarming rate. Hopefully he keeps showing that kind of plate discipline. He also raised his average to .308 with the Curve with 7 HR and 21 RBI.
- Brett Lorin, one of the pitchers who came over in the Wilson trade, made his low-A debut tonight with West Virginia, and was outstanding - 6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER and 3 K. Got a no-decision, however.
- Tony Sanchez continues to impress. He was 2 for 4 tonight, with a double, RBI and run scored. His average is now .346.

God, this organization is SO loaded with quality talent now. I just hope they all continue to develop very nicely, because if they do...2011 could be a pretty nice season for Bucs fans.

Next year could be the year they bust .500 to if they get enough of these guys developing right and they find away to keep putting prospects into the system through the draft. Just as long as Huntington can lock some guys up that appear to be a good part of their future long term, this could be a team who could challenge for the World Series in the 2010s.

[BehindSteelCurtain]

How about locking up Cutch long term now?

EDIT**Maybe not now, but sometime soon.

[BehindSteelCurtain]

I hope Alvarez can stay over at 3rd. He'll be much more valuable.

I could not have asked more out of Sanchez. He's hitting very well. Would a Russell Martin comparison be accurate?

I expect Pearce to struggle and Clement gets called up to play first. Maybe in a few weeks. I want to see Tabata hit for some more power. Especially if he wants to play a corner OF. Next year will be exciting.

Projected 2010 lineup-eventually...I put the age to show how young they are.

CF- McCutchen-22
LF: Milledge-24
3B: Alvarez-22
1B: Clement-25
RF: Tabata-20
C: Sanchez-22
2B: Young-27
SS: Cedeno-26

I dont expect Sanchez, Tabata, Alvarez to be with the Pirates on Opening Day. My guess is LaRoche, Doumit, Jones get traded during the season and the young guns take over.

1) Zach Duke
2) Paul Maholm
3) Brad Lincoln
4) Charlie Morton
5) Kevin Hart

[pittsburghp8baller]

Originally Posted by BehindSteelCurtain

I hope Alvarez can stay over at 3rd. He'll be much more valuable.

I could not have asked more out of Sanchez. He's hitting very well. Would a Russell Martin comparison be accurate?

I expect Pearce to struggle and Clement gets called up to play first. Maybe in a few weeks. I want to see Tabata hit for some more power. Especially if he wants to play a corner OF. Next year will be exciting.

Projected 2010 lineup-eventually...I put the age to show how young they are.

CF- McCutchen-22
LF: Milledge-24
3B: Alvarez-22
1B: Clement-25
RF: Tabata-20
C: Sanchez-22
2B: Young-27
SS: Cedeno-26

I dont expect Sanchez, Tabata, Alvarez to be with the Pirates on Opening Day. My guess is LaRoche, Doumit, Jones get traded during the season and the young guns take over.

1) Zach Duke
2) Paul Maholm
3) Brad Lincoln
4) Charlie Morton
5) Kevin Hart

Looks like a kick ass Lineup and solid enough rotation to compete.

Since DirectTV wont let me watch the Pirate/Nats game live im watching the encore right now, unbelievable. McCutchen is increbible, whoever said we should lock him up now is compeletly right. We need to pull off a Tampa Bay/Evan Longoria situation. They tied him up quickly and early in his career so they get get him for the next 6 years i believe for extremely cheap

Ron Dibble has spent the entire game bashing the pirates, saying this team is full of AAA players and the Nats should be pounding them. Wait a second? which team only has 32 wins?