A Look at the Standings

by Charlie Wilmoth on May 12, 2008 7:11 PM EDT

The Pirates have allowed more runs than any team in the National League. If you'd told me before the season started that was going to happen, I wouldn't have been surprised.

I would have been surprised, though, that the Bucs would be tied for third in the NL in runs scored. That's remarkable, and it says a lot about how fantastic Nate McLouth, Xavier Nady and Ryan Doumit -- and, to a far lesser extent, Jason Bay -- have been. Offensively, the entire infield has been a black hole.

Actually, this team looks a little like the 2003 Bucs, who were like the 1927 Yankees in comparison to other Pirate teams of the early 21st century. The 2003 team scored a downright respectable number of runs with great performances from their catcher (Jason Kendall) and outfielders (Brian Giles, Reggie Sanders, Matt Stairs, Craig Wilson, Kenny Lofton, Jason Bay) but a dreadful infield.

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Comments

JVB back to Indy.

by Hitman Easler on May 12, 2008 7:58 PM EDT reply actions

Got it. Thanks.

by Charlie Wilmoth on May 12, 2008 9:00 PM EDT up reply actions

If this move is accurate...

Probably will see Romulo Sanchez called up.

Salas, Chavez and Brian Rogers are also possibilities…but would have to be added to the 40 man roster first. While this isn’t a problem in and of itself, with only 38 on the 40 man roster, it would mean exposing them to waivers if sent back down. I don’t believe any of them have options remaining.

by Thunder on May 12, 2008 8:34 PM EDT reply actions

I’d hope they’d call up the best pitcher, and I don’t think Sanchez is the best pitcher. But you may be right.

I’m not sure about Salas and Chavez’s options, but they’re all at or nearing the age when you pretty much have to take chances with them. I’m not sure why Chavez wouldn’t have options, though—why does JVB, who was drafted in 2001, have them, but Chavez, who was drafted in ‘02 as a draft and follow, not?

by Charlie Wilmoth on May 12, 2008 9:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Options

are based on the 40 man roster. The first 3 years are considered options, you can go up and down unlimited times. The 4th year, to get sent down, you have to go through waivers.

If I recall correctly, JVB was on the 40 man in 2004. He lost 2005 to injury (60 day DL) and 2006 (I believe that his minor league appearances were considered on rehab from 60 day DL). So 2007 would have been his 2nd year, and this year is his 3rd.

Salas MIGHT have 1 option left. He was definitely on ML 40 man rosters during the years of 2006 (Baltimore) and 2007 (Milwaukee, when they picked him up on waivers). I can’t find for sure whether he was in 2005.

Chavez, I was wrong about. I know he was signed at least once as a minor league free agent, but can’t find any indications he was on the Rangers 40 man roster. I thought he had been, and thought I recalled someone mentioning over the winter that he was out of options.

Rogers probably has 1 left, he was on the Pirates roster in 2006 and 2007. I can’t find that he was on the Tigers roster in 2005.

That’s what I get for posting too quickly.

by Thunder on May 12, 2008 10:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Right. I thought it was entirely based on the 40-man roster, but I couldn’t remember Chavez ever having been on a 40-man, so I wasn’t sure what you were talking about. I wondered if somehow number of years spent in the minors also factored in, but I guess not.

by Charlie Wilmoth on May 12, 2008 10:23 PM EDT up reply actions

The free agent thing is what threw me too...

because I knew Chavez was signed as a minor league free agent at least 1 time.

60 day DL gets you major league pay…but doesn’t count against the 40 man roster, or for options (if you are on it the entire season). The rehab assignment in 2006 is why JVB had an option this year. And if I remember right (and I have been wrong once tonight), there was some confusion last fall whether he still had 1 option because of that assignment.

by Thunder on May 12, 2008 10:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Wait a minute

I, too, am surprised and pleased with the Bucco offense this year. But I’ve got to take issue with you on one thing: when you say “to a far lesser extent” about Jason Bay’s performance. McLouth’s OPS+ is 166, Nady’s is 146, Doumit’s is 143, and Bay’s is 140. Doumit, Nady and Bay are virtually having the same seasons at the plate. Given that Doumit’s BABIP is .345, Nady’s is .383, and Bay’s is .312, I’d say that he’s likely to end the season with better numbers than Doumit or Nady.

As an aside, McLouth’s BABIP is only .310. His hot start looks like it might be more than just a hot start.

by sisyphus on May 12, 2008 11:44 PM EDT reply actions

I think he meant value relative to position.

Since Bay is a LF, his fellow LFs have a higher cumulative line than Doumit’s fellow Cs.

Still a very good season for him so far, though.

by Vlad on May 13, 2008 7:43 AM EDT up reply actions

Thanks for the statistical support,

because I have been observing for a while that McLouth has made a ton of good-looking outs this year (he crushes a ball or two that get caught almost every game).

by DITO on May 13, 2008 10:29 AM EDT up reply actions