Steve Pearce

by rogero on Mar 6, 2008 9:54 PM EST

Rotoworld: Steven Pearce's third homer of the spring was a two-run shot off Dustin McGowan in the Pirates' 8-7 win over the Blue Jays on Thursday. Pearce is probably going to need a Xavier Nady or Jason Bay trade to make the Pirates, but he's good enough to make at least Nady expendable. He's the first player to three homers this spring.

They're right. The Pirates have to trade Nady and give RF to Pearce. Luckily the Mets are facing the prospect of going with Church and Endy Chavez on the corners for at least the first month. Take anything they'll give. Say, John Niese or Eddie Kunz. Or anything.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of the managing editor (Charlie) or SB Nation. FanPosts are written by Bucs Dugout readers.

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Niese is OK.

Kunz is kipple.

by Vlad on Mar 6, 2008 10:04 PM EST reply actions

Kunz

Kunz has lots of potential--a 95 mph sinker and hard slider--who did nothing in his first short stint in low A last year. He's a buy low opportunity. I would want something else--anyone who might someday get to put on a big league uniform--to trade Nady to open up a spot for Pearce, that being the main point of the deal.

It's too bad you can't trade draft choices.

by rogero on Mar 7, 2008 1:52 PM EST up reply actions

IMO

All minor-league relievers are kipple, unless they're real hammers that strike out like 12 per nine. The fail rate is just too high, and the potential upside isn't as high as with a position player or an arm who can start.

Your mileage may vary, of course.

by Vlad on Mar 10, 2008 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Let's not get crazy

I think we're all convinced that Steve Pearce is ready for the majors, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. I know it's not the same thing, but does anyone remember the way Brad Eldred's spring went last year?

by bryanzane on Mar 6, 2008 10:51 PM EST reply actions

Or

Mark Johnson circa 1997.

by bolton on Mar 7, 2008 3:28 AM EST up reply actions

Pearce

I agree. Break him in easy.

by em3 on Mar 7, 2008 3:08 PM EST up reply actions

The big difference...

...is that Pearce has had a much better pro career than either of those guys. Johnson was pretty much just a AAAA bat. Eldred had good tools, but with his terrible pitch recognition and poor contact rate, it didn't take a rocket scientist to see that he'd struggle in the bigs.

Pearce's profile is much more solid, and as a result, it's correspondingly more likely that his success this spring is representative of his true level of ability.

by Vlad on Mar 10, 2008 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Bad examples

Eldred always had massive issues making contact, such that he was never considered a top prospect due to the likelihood that major league pitchers would exploit the holes in his swing. Anybody who thought his ST #s "proved" that he was over the contact issues was engaging in fantasy.

People forget that Johnson didn't win a job in ST, he won it with a pretty good 2006 season in the majors, although it was out of line with his weak minor league track record.

If Pearce makes the team, it shouldn't and won't be just because he has a good ST. It's nice to see, but what he's done so far in the minors and majors is far more meaningful than 50-odd ST ABs. If you look at his entire track record, he's not comparable to Eldred or Johnson.

by WTM on Mar 7, 2008 12:36 PM EST reply actions

Steve Pearce

can hit at any level of this game. For my money, he is potentially the best hitter to come out of this system in years.

by RichieHebner on Mar 7, 2008 12:49 PM EST reply actions

Pearce

What Richie said. Wake up people, we've got a top prospect on our hands. Sickels ranks him #29 among hitters, right after Jordan Schafer, and refers to him as a darkhorse candidate for Rookie of the Year. Of course, he was assuming the Pirates would be smart enough to play him.

I wasn't basing anything on a few ST ABs, but rather his whole minor league track record and the way he handled himself in Sept. I suggest everyone take another peak at what he did last year; the numbers are amazing. He's 25, tanned and ready. It's time to find out if he's capable of being a middle of the order hitter for the next 8-10 years.

The Pirates challenged him by saying they expected to send him back to AAA. 3 HRs in 18 ABs is Pearce's answer so far. I hope they're paying attention.

by rogero on Mar 7, 2008 1:45 PM EST up reply actions