Pirates Designate Bryan Bullington for Assignment

by Charlie on Jul 3, 2008 6:28 PM EDT

Now here is something you wait until the end of business right before a three-day weekend to do:

To clear space for [Chris] Duffy on the 40-man roster, right-hander Bryan Bullington was designated for assignment.

Bullington, as you all know, was the top pick in the 2002 draft. Judged by that standard, his pro career has been a spectacular failure. In the low minors, he didn't have the solid stuff he had shown before being drafted, generally throwing his fastball in the high 80s. Since beating up on South Atlantic League hitters in eight games during his first pro season, he hasn't had a single stop where his stats and stuff indicated he was likely to be any more than the last guy out of a big-league bullpen. There was literally nothing to recommend him other than his draft position. Meanwhile, other top-20 picks in that draft include B.J. Upton, Prince Fielder, Jeremy Hermida, James Loney, Scott Kazmir, Nick Swisher, Cole Hamels, Jeff Francis, Zach Greinke...

Obviously, it isn't Bullington's fault he was taken first. I wish him well. But what I wouldn't do for a do-over.

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Shows you what Management thinks of BB

They could have put Capps on the 60 day DL (He’s projected to be out 8 weeks which is effectively 60 days) and freed up a roster space for Duffy.

Huntington would rather cut BB on the rare chance Capps is ready early.

The “Killer B’s” really were killer for the PBC.

by WstCstBucco on Jul 3, 2008 6:43 PM EDT 0 recs

Labrum surgery

It really is close to a career killer. Not that Bullington looked all that impressive beforehand, but the Pirates have had a number of pitching prospects have it in recent years-Bullington, JVB, Alex Hart, Sergio Silva, and Jason Quarles off the top of my head-and not one bounced back successfully. Dave Williams had one passable year a couple years after the surgery, but he was terrible after that and appears to be out of baseball now.

by WTM on Jul 3, 2008 7:02 PM EDT 0 recs

Didn't Bobby Bradley have Labrum surgery?

Williams was once considered a positive data point in the evidence showing that the new surgical techniques could deal with shoulder injuries.

Steve Z

by steve_z on Jul 3, 2008 7:11 PM EDT up 0 recs

Bobby Bradley

had both elbow and shoulder surgeries, if I remember correctly.

This is a good example of why we should consider Sean Burnett somewhat of a successful draft choice, IMHO. For a HS pitcher drafted in the second half of the first round to even make it to the bigs is quite an accomplishment, and I don`t have to look up old draft lists to confirm this. I`m certainly hoping that Burnett can at least be a dependable reliever for the team for another year or two.

We shouldn`t lump guys like Bradley and Burnett in with college guys drafted near the top of the first round like Bullington, JVB, Lincoln, and Moskos.

by patthatt on Jul 4, 2008 1:47 AM EDT up 0 recs

Bradley...

...had both elbow and shoulder issues, but the thing that really killed his pitching career was a nerve problem that made his pitching hand go numb. If not for that, he probably still would’ve made it.

by Vlad on Jul 4, 2008 9:45 PM EDT up 0 recs

WTM

Dave Williams is in Japan playing for the Yokohama BayStars of Japan`s Central League. It might be more correct to say that he is on the team`s organizational roster. He has pitched in only 2 games-a total of 5 innings-so far this season. Big surprise, huh? He has pitched well in a couple of farm games recently, so I expect him to get another game or two with the top team before his shoulder explodes.

I was stunned when the BayStars gave him a contract worth the equivalent of $700,000. See, there are stupid baseball people the world over.

I`m planning to do a long diary at the end of September on former Buccos in Japan.

by patthatt on Jul 4, 2008 1:37 AM EDT up 0 recs

Do the Pirates really think

Duffy OR Morgan will ever be a starter for the Pirates? Frankly, one or both should be gone at the end of the season, unless BOTH Nady and Bay are gone and we don’t get outfielders in return.

by Thunder on Jul 3, 2008 7:45 PM EDT 0 recs

ESPN Column...

by Jason Stark is reporting that the Rays are “especially interested” in Jason Bay. If Bay goes I think Nady will be right behind him. You may get the answer to your question soon enough. IMO though I don’t think anyone in the Pirates new brass feel that Morgan or Duffy will be starters. I think they hope Duffy can show enough of his old form to ship him off. I think we’ll be seeing McCutchen in CF next year so Duffy would be a back up at best.

by Slick1 on Jul 3, 2008 9:23 PM EDT up 0 recs