How bright is the future?

by BadMaafala on Jul 7, 2008 5:39 PM EDT

I'm new to this site (more of a Steelers fan), but I grew up watching the Pirates. I've been reading the site for a few weeks, and I've seen a number of people saying something like "we still need more pieces", and questioning whether the Pirates could contend with their roster. I confess I'm not a baseball expert and most of my knowledge of the Pirates comes from stats, but when I look at this roster, I see a ridiculously young team with a bunch of ~.300 hitters and a number of very young pitchers who have at least shown that they are capable of a 3.5 to 4.0 ERA. Obviously Gorzelanny and Snell are crapping their pants this year, but they have 5 SP's and a closer under the age of 27. Is it possible that Snell and Gorzo return to form? I don't know enough about how baseball players develop, but is it unreasonable to expect that in a few years the Pirates will have a strong rotation to go with their solid lineup?

I could understand trading Marte, Nady, and maybe even Bay while their stocks are up, but do the Pirates need more than a little more depth?

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YES

The Pirates have a bunch of spare parts, but they just don’t have a true nucleus to build a team around. They have the role players (i.e. Doumit, Sanchez, Snell, McLouth), but they don’t have the true studs in their lineup or pitching staff.

For a good analogy, look at the Penguins. The Penguins have the true studs as a nucleus in Crosby, Malkin, Staal, Fluery, Orpik and then add the spare parts and role players as needed.

The Pirates need to somehow come up with the Crosby, Malkin, Staal and Fluery to do any damage. Right now it appears they have two parts in McCutcheon and Alvarez (assuming he signs). Sheppers could be a third part if he proves out healthy.

Pat Devlin in '08

by Nick7 on Jul 7, 2008 6:16 PM EDT 0 recs

if everyone played to their (previously displayed) potential,

... the Pirates might be in first place right now. they currently have the best outfield in baseball, and a potential superstar in Doumit (who has missed significant time due to injury). in addition to Snell and Gorzo not performing up to expectations, LaRoche and Sanchez have consistently sh!t the bed this year at the plate, Wilson missed a lot of games due to injury (and has shown little power since his return), and 8 games were started by pitchers who clearly should not (yet) be in the major leagues (the since-retired Matt Morris (5), JVB (2), and Barthmeier (1)).

so IF current prospects like McCutchen, Walker, Pearce, and maybe Romak, Moskosm and Lincoln continue to develop, and IF the Pirates make the right moves at the trade deadline, and IF they sign Alvarez, and IF they have a good draft next year… and IF I win the lottery…. (hey, it couldn’t hurt), then they should have a much better team in a few years. until then, we’re in for a lot of pretty depressing baseball.

by humbucker on Jul 7, 2008 6:25 PM EDT 0 recs

haha

So you’re telling me there’s a chance…

Thanks for the perspective.

by BadMaafala on Jul 8, 2008 9:25 AM EDT up 0 recs

yes, Lloyd!

but hopefully better odds than 1 in a million….

by humbucker on Jul 8, 2008 3:07 PM EDT up 0 recs

More like

top 3 outfields in baseball

Boston is still amazing, St. Louis has been amazing this year and both are better defensively IMO.

by Reddrummer9187 on Jul 8, 2008 2:14 PM EDT up 0 recs

pull yourself together, man...

...Pittsburg’s future is bright.

you guys are in the exact same boat the Rangers were in last year. not going anywhere, but with people to move…

so, get Huntington to package some players, maximize your return… and haul in something close to what we got for Doucheixiera last year… a major-league ready player, and three or four guys in A-Ball, or Double-AA.

Saltalamacchia isn’t who Daniels wanted. Daniels wanted Neftali Feliz… a 19 year old kid who was pitching in Low-A… and who is now showing up on a lot of Top 25 Prospect radars. a year after that trade, Neffy is in Double-A… and could very well be with the club next year.

there: in one and a half season… you’ll get to see that true bonafide trade chip who blossomed into a blue-chip prospect… the guys you traded for, you’ll see play… whether they decide to step up and contribute is on their shoulders.

Saltalamacchia, Harrison, Andrus… those guys are all good… they’re not great, and quite honestly have better players in front of them…

but, this goes back to Andrew Friedman’s philosophy… what Charlie was talking about earlier. you shouldn’t trade for need. trade for depth. play the pieces and find the diamonds in the rough.

i don’t know who all the Pirates will sell off… but if Huntington knows his shit, you guys can do a complete 180 a lot more quickly than you might think…

especially if you have guys like Lincoln, Pearce, and Cutch already performing in the minors… with Alvarez, and the other draftees on their way.

by oc on Jul 14, 2008 12:17 AM EDT up 0 recs

another example:

Kenny Lofton… traded for A-Ball prospect Max Ramirez…

...Ramirez this week with the Rangers: 2 blocks at the plate, a game-tying two-run homer on Thursday… and 3 RBI’s today.

Nady himself could probably bring in a better return than that.

believe, Buccos. believe.

by oc on Jul 14, 2008 12:23 AM EDT up 0 recs

If you'd followed the Pirates closely for a while,

you’d know that there is always some hint of optimism…but it is alway misguided. Preseason, the strength of this team was the top of the starting rotation.

by DITO on Jul 8, 2008 10:00 AM EDT 0 recs

I’ve followed them off and on for the past 15 years, but it usually felt like the only plan the team had was high margins. It seems like the management (other than in-game) really has a plan now and is putting themselves in a position where the light could pop on one of these years. Maybe it’s just my Steelers optimism spilling into places it shouldn’t.

by BadMaafala on Jul 8, 2008 10:22 AM EDT up 0 recs