Psychology & Rebuilding

with regard to your suggested handling of McCutchen. I believe if he is not called up in September and stays in the minors for around 7 weeks at the beginning of next season, he will not be eligible for free agency until after the 2115 season. It is a silly system that gives teams the incentive to keep players who are ready for the majors on the farm but it is what it is.

I understand that Nutting had been buying majority shares since McClatchy bought the team. He was front and center in 2003, but had one less vote than McClatchy since McClatchy had “managing general partner” status. Anyway, my point was that Nutting isnt exactly loaded and from his comments isnt “taking any money out of the team”. If he isnt taking money out of the team, where is the $6 million he spent on the draft coming from as well as the Dominicon facility being built (not to mention the Bradenton facility upgrades). My point is that we are walking a fine line between spending and productivity. If there is any hiccup or prospects not panning out, will Nutting have the capital to keep going? I believe since he has been involved (and been the face of ownership) he has made good hiring decisions. The product on the field is horendous and the park is a side show, but for the first time we at least have some promise. It is just hard to trust an organization with such a bad track record of developing players while having an owner that all of a sudden is throwing money in the right places.

Sorry to be a skeptic, but it is either too good to be true or they are just throwing us true fans a bone while they go back to being the Clippers…..

It would take one much less time to refurbish one’s house than to build it from scratch. So it is with the Bucs. There was no foundation and only now is one beginning to be laid. This was a teardown and it is now being rebuilt , hopefully with an architectural plan (a la hard-throwing pitchers, a few hustling veterans aka Minky, and so on). But with little money and management’s first draft, it will take time and in the short term the Bucs must pick up cheap players that have the mold but not the form (Gates, Meek, Hansen, etc). The balancing act is that Management still must try to fill a few seats and will try to do that by entertaining fans with players like Morgan and Minky and pitchers that can throw 96 mph fastballs, even if they can’t win. All they need is Big Country back to hit some towering homeruns or maybe a Romak!!!! I believe Pearce’s time will come at 1st base next year or maybe even sooner if LaRoche can be traded and McC will be playing CF by mid next year, as has been commented on. And while I am looking at my crystal ball, I think a new manager from our minor leagues will replace Mr. Russell some time next year, which will be worth 5-10 wins. Patience, this is a 3-5 year process – you gotta have faith and besides there is no way to go but up.

Do you really forsee us trading Adam LaRoche? I do not care for someone who has proven to only play for 4 months a season while going through the motions in April and May. What realistic return could we expect? I dont think we could do any better than 5/6 prospect, “mold and no form”, or a bench player. Would a position switch again benefit Pearce? Would he then be a Nady type (first/right field) should we trot out Moss/McClouth/McCutchen? Would that be in the plan and would his glove be good enough for both?

IMHO, I think that JR has been good for the Bucs. While he has the personality of a lab rat, he keeps them hustling (more so than Tracy/McClendon). I think 3 years is realistic (keep them hustling while building) then bring in a proven winner to put them over the top.

“Love him or hate him, Russell will be the skipper for the next 3-5 years.”

I doubt it. One more season, perhaps two.

3 tops (this year + 2). We will have to pony up a few bucks for our next skipper who is a proven MLB winner. No one would want to coach the AAA.5 team we will be trotting out there next year.

I seriously think that Colleti of the Dodgers would take one of the hotest power hitters in the majors and maybe say a decent shortstop to get them to the playoffs. I also believe he is crazy and desperate enough to give up something of value, such as a Loney and a prospect in return. A Loney return makes Pearce a 4th outfielder/backup 1st baseman. The 3 M’s in the outfield (make it 4 with Morgan) works for me and Pearce’s natural position was at first.

As for the manager change, I predict that Brad Fischer, who took over as skipper of the New York-Penn League State College club. Why would the Pirates choose Fischer – Because he has spent the last 29 years coaching at both the Major League and Minor League levels for Oakland. He da man.