2009 Pittsburgh Pirates Season Thread

[J Dogg]

Let's be real for a minute. The Pirates did exactly what they needed to do. They cleaned house and got themselves a fresh start. Every time we've heard rebuilding before now, it's been a half-assed effort. This is an almost 100% roster turnover. The Bucs WEREN'T going to win with what they had, so they did what they NEEDED to do to try and win in the future.

It's an aggressive gamble that will make the FO look like geniuses if it pans out and will get them all fired if it fails.

Stay tuned.

[SteelCityMan786]

Originally Posted by pittsburghp8baller

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?

Dibble suffers from something called "Foot in Mouth." The Nationals are the most dysfunctional franchise in Baseball. Give me a freakin break. Maybe if they decided to trade their big names for guys who could help them win in the future, maybe they could have the outlook the Pirates do.

[J Dogg]

The Nats are a damn joke.

[pittsburghp8baller]

Finally get to see one of these games live, Lets Go Maholm!!!

[T.Richardson]

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

Ohlendorf will take that number 5 spot. Harts kk/bb ratio is pretty awful. he has what 20 walks in 27 innings? IF he doesnt improve, he wont be in the rotation. Ohlendorf is more than capable at the major league level.

Actually Ohlendorf has the second best era on this team. he has a 4.40 era, he outperformed Maholm, Morton, Snell, Vasquez this year so far. HE just isnt pitching deep into games as much, which I think is a small problem, but we'll see, this is his first full season.

[X-Terminator]

Originally Posted by T.Richardson

Ohlendorf will take that number 5 spot. Harts kk/bb ratio is pretty awful. he has what 20 walks in 27 innings? IF he doesnt improve, he wont be in the rotation. Ohlendorf is more than capable at the major league level.

Actually Ohlendorf has the second best era on this team. he has a 4.40 era, he outperformed Maholm, Morton, Snell, Vasquez this year so far. HE just isnt pitching deep into games as much, which I think is a small problem, but we'll see, this is his first full season.

Morton's ERA is 3.72. Don't know where you're getting your info from...

[T.Richardson]

oh yea...my mistake... but I dont think Hart would take Ohlendorf spot on the rotation since he is 9-8, with a respectable era and WHIP.

[X-Terminator]

Originally Posted by T.Richardson

oh yea...my mistake... but I dont think Hart would take Ohlendorf spot on the rotation since he is 9-8, with a respectable era and WHIP.

No, I don't see Hart as the #5 guy in the future...and I don't see Ohlendorf there either, not after next season anyway. Once Tim Alderson is ready, Ohlendorf's days in the rotation will be over, and either Lincoln or Morton will be moved into the #5 spot.

[T.Richardson]

Originally Posted by X-Terminator

No, I don't see Hart as the #5 guy in the future...and I don't see Ohlendorf there either, not after next season anyway. Once Tim Alderson is ready, Ohlendorf's days in the rotation will be over, and either Lincoln or Morton will be moved into the #5 spot.

How would he not be in the rotation in the future? He is the Bucs 3rd best pitcher so far thus far, and has had a better season than Maholm. Alderson is only 20 years old, it'll be at least 2 years before he is called up, and at this point Lincoln has slowly progressed in AAA, I don't think Lincoln will beat out Ohlendorf, and Alderson isn't a lock for the rotations.

Ohlendorf has a better WHIP, and OBA.

Ohlendorf's OBA: .333
Maholm's OBA: .344

Ohlendorfs WHIP: 1.31
Maholms: WHIP: 1.43

Heck, Ohlendorf has done a better job than Maholm in his pitch count.

Ohlendorfs P/IP: 15.31
Maholm's P/IP: 15.78

Im willing to bet Ohlendorfs UZR is better than Maholms this year. So how does Ohlendorf not get into the rotation next year, or in the future, when he has out pitched Maholm, the Bucs "ace"?? I know this is just one year, but I believe Ohlendorf will be in the rotation in the future based on the fact that he is stil young, and can vastly improve his pitching with the help of Kerrigan.

[KeiselPower99]

Thought Id share with yall the Top 10 prospects in the Pirates system.

1. Pedro Alvarez, 3b
Heating up in Double-A, showing why he got a $6 million bonus.
2. Brad Lincoln, rhp
Has put Tommy John surgery behind him, jumped to Triple-A.
3. Tony Sanchez, c
Hitting .341 in pro debut, but Pirates could have done better with No. 4 overall pick.
4. Tim Alderson, rhp
Scouts question his stuff and delivery, don't love him as much as fans do.
5. Jose Tabata, of
Remains an enigma, and questions about his physique and true age linger.
6. Gorkys Hernandez, of
Won't play center with McCutchen in Pittsburgh, and his bat doesn't profile on a corner.
7. Rudy Owens, lhp
28th-round draft-and-follow used solid stuff, savvy to fashion 32-inning scoreless streak.
8. Zack Von Rosenberg, rhp
Unsigned sixth-round pick had borderline first-round talent.
9. Robbie Grossman, of
2008 sixth-rounder who signed for $1 million is having just a so-so first full season.
10. Starling Marte, of
Previously unknown Dominican has hit .345 with 16 steals in first month in low Class A.

Owens was promoted to Lynchburg and had a good game last night.