Pirates vs. Astros, 8 September 2008
by Charlie Wilmoth on Sep 8, 2008 6:00 PM EDT
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PrintPittsburgh Pirates at Houston Astros, Sep 8, 2008 8:05 PM EDT
Ian Snell vs. Alberto Arias, 8:05 PM.
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Starting Line Up
1. Nyjer Morgan LF.
2. Freddy Sanchez 2B.
3. Nate McLouth CF.
4. Ryan Doumit C.
5. Adam LaRoche 1B.
6. Brandon Moss RF.
7. Andy LaRoche 3B.
8. Luis Cruz SS.
9. Snell.
Why?
I once felt this way, and adamently so. I wanted Pearce come hell or high water to play. Well , Mr. Pearce has pretty much underwhelmed so far. This point in time, I would consider Morgan and Pearce marginal prospects at best. Hope to be proven wrong.
by Hitman Easler on Sep 8, 2008 7:52 PM EDT up reply actions
More on Nyjer
Get used to it. Both he and Pearce are being sent to play winter ball.
Seems like confirmation he’s sitll considered a prospect. PBC is still in love with Omar Moreno (lifetime OPS+ 79) and Matty Alou (most HR in 1 yr. = 7) type players, even though the game has moved past this.
Devil's advocate
From an objective stand point, Morgan is as valuable to this organization as Pearce.
by Hitman Easler on Sep 8, 2008 8:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Hmm
Last year, 25 y.o. Steve Pearce was playing A ball. Last year, 28 y.o. Nyjer Morgan was failing to impress in over 100 AB in Pittsburgh. He’s failed to impress in another 100 AB this year, while Pearce is still in the 60’s.
A 28 y.o should do better in AAA than a .721 OPS. He should be raking — .900+. And it’s embarassing that the ML coaches are just now having to teach him how to slide.
Steve Pearce hit 31 HR last year in the minors (admittedly his 2008 has been worse). Nyjer Morgan has only hit more than 1 HR in a year once in the minors (4 at Hickory way back in 2004).
WCB...
We root for the same thing here…………..from your postings……..I take it you are a relatively young guy . I don’t give a damn about sabernetrics. I played college ball and one year in the minors.
I don’t care how old either of the guys are, so far, I have seen Morgan contribute to more wins than Pearce. That is the bottom line.
I want Pearce to succeed more than anyone, but he needs to prove it on the field in the show, not the minors. He was Babe Ruth in the minors for a year, but can’t scratch in 150 AB’s in the show?
by Hitman Easler on Sep 8, 2008 8:26 PM EDT up reply actions
One thing we know...
is that the SS will bat 8th the rest of the season. It certainly sounds that the only way Jack Wilson plays the rest of the season is as a PH, with his index finger broken…he isn’t going to be throwing any time soon. It will be Cruz and Bixler the rest of the way.
So as not to pick on mats
what exactly has Pearce shown you that warrants unlimited starts on a major league team ?
by Hitman Easler on Sep 8, 2008 7:54 PM EDT up reply actions
Same question
What is it about Nyjer Morgan — 28 y.o., under .600 OPS, and 6 SB in 11 attempts — warrants regular playing time at a corner OF spot?
Nothing about him does...
Now quote me Pearce’s stats….I am no Morgan advocate…….just perplexed at the Pearce lovefest.
by Hitman Easler on Sep 8, 2008 8:04 PM EDT up reply actions
See up-thread
Pearce — 31 HR’s in 2007. 25 y.o. right now
Morgan — 1 HR in 2008, 1 HR in 2007, 1 HR in 2006, 1 HR in 2005. 28 y.o. right now.
How many HR’s do you need from your corner outfielders? Unless he changes his name to Ichiro, Morgan is a bum. Pearce may turn out to be a bum, but the jury’s still way out on him. That’s why you play Pearce.
That’s it.
Bottom line...
neither have done shit in the show…………….so why the outrage over Morgan playing over Pearce?
by Hitman Easler on Sep 8, 2008 8:28 PM EDT up reply actions
I just hope some GM out there has a hard-on
as much as some people do for Morgan & Pearce and offers more than a steaming pile of shit for their services during the winter meetings.
I can sort of see the intrigue in Morgan, considering the PBC saying they would love to have a two centerfielder outfield in the future, with Morgan holding the spot till McCutchen is ready for MLB action.
I can sort of see the desire to get Pearce in the line up every day after his meteoric rise through the minors in 2007. What happened to Pearce in 2008? Did the pixie dust finally wear off or did the scouting report finally catch up with him in AAA?
Looking at Morgan & Pearce’s stats at Indy this year, their OPS’s are really close, Morgan having a better OBP while Pearce has a better slugging percentage.
Evidentally Pearce must have pissed in JR’s Cheerio’s or he would be out there every day. It would appear that Morgan has been a ‘good soldier’ while Pearce has not listened to the sermon preached from the pulpit on high.
by ElliottBayBucco on Sep 8, 2008 8:15 PM EDT up reply actions
I think
the fact that he didn’t put up very good numbers in AAA is why he isn’t in there every day. Righty today, Morgan in. Lefty yesterday, Pearce in. Looks like they may be in a platoon now.
Jason
The Hanging Curve
I could live with a platoon,
let Moss get some time in RF as well as LF.
by ElliottBayBucco on Sep 8, 2008 8:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Well...
if Pearce is only going to face lefties…he isn’t going to play a whole lot…unless he faces the Pirates.
Rightfully so...
He looks like trash against a righthanded slider.
by Hitman Easler on Sep 8, 2008 8:48 PM EDT up reply actions
ugh
speaking of looking bad against a righty with a slider…
Jason
The Hanging Curve
As much as I hate to hear that Jack Wilson is hurt,
I really want to see Bixler & Cruz and how they perform the rest of the way.
yeah, throwing hard too
94b-97
Jason
The Hanging Curve
Evidently...
the Astros broadcasters haven’t been told about Jack. They are referring to his finger as bruised…they don’t know it is broken.
What is this with Arias?
Before tonight 5 K in 13.2 innings with Astros this season. He’s got 6 in 3 IP tonight.
Nothing in his major or minor league record
indicates he should be able to do this.
Thunder
are you being rhetorical, or you really asking for answers as to why the Bucs are making this idiot look like Seaver?
by Hitman Easler on Sep 8, 2008 8:46 PM EDT up reply actions
nice base hit
now don’t slide past second
Jason
The Hanging Curve
How about that... some more
stupidity from Morgan??
if you are not supposed to make the first out at third
what do they say about the first out at home?
Jason
The Hanging Curve
that was
the dumbest play I have ever seen. Why on earth?? The replay showed Berkman was holding the ball before he even got to 3rd!!!
Brian from Raise the Jolly Roger!
by Raise the Jolly Roger on Sep 8, 2008 8:58 PM EDT up reply actions
i will give it to
him for having the balls…and he made it close
but how dare you try to take a third base and get thrown out
Jason
The Hanging Curve
Balls?
I don’t give a crap about balls. I give a crap about talent and intelligence, two things Nyjer Morgan is woefully void of.
Hell...
Berkman had the ball when Morgan was halfway to third. I’ve never seen anyone outrun a baseball.
Evidently...
he also thinks speed trumps brains…and a good throwing arm.
Well...
it’s already cost us 1 run. We should now have the bases loaded with 1 out…instead of 2…eliminates the sacrifice fly.
So Morgan costs the Pirates 2 runs
because the Astros would not have turned 2 on the ground ball Moss hit to Berkman.
nice play
Luigi LaRoche
Jason
The Hanging Curve
dude
Sanchez has 7 walks in the last 11 games…including today
Jason
The Hanging Curve
Implosion coming??
guy hits a PH HR on his first pitch in the Majors…and has never seen Snell pitch before…then 2 more hits in a row.
yeah
come on one more out
Brian from Raise the Jolly Roger!
by Raise the Jolly Roger on Sep 8, 2008 9:29 PM EDT up reply actions
ESPN:
Actually found this in my fantasy baseball news….
The Indians recalled Bullington from Triple-A Buffalo Monday, the Associated Press reports.
Spin: Manager Eric Wedge said Bullington will start one of the day/night doubleheader games against the Royals Saturday. Bullington has not been spectacular in Buffalo (1-3, 4.75 ERA), so he is not worth starting.
Brian from Raise the Jolly Roger!
by Raise the Jolly Roger on Sep 8, 2008 9:27 PM EDT reply actions
Morgan came real close
to screwing that up. A few inches from getting hit with the grounder. It worked to our benefit…but either a bad hop…or the 2B taking one step forward…and it’s an out.
Not being critical
just….wow….you really hate Morgan.
Brian from Raise the Jolly Roger!
by Raise the Jolly Roger on Sep 8, 2008 9:41 PM EDT reply actions
No...he is probably a nice guy...
but as a baseball player…he sucks. I can think of several players in the Pirates system that should be playing every day LONG before Morgan. When he shows some actual baseball skills…other than running fast in a straight line…he will get some respect from me. When he keeps making stupid decisions…no…I can’t support him.
In the last two weeks...
we’ve seen him overslide bases several times…throw to the wrong base and laugh about it…forget what the count is and bunt with 2 strikes…and tonight’s little screwup. That’s more mental screwups than we’ve seen most of our position players make ALL season.
i agree with all of the above
but he actually has been hitting in this latest stint, mental screwups (maddening as they are) are coachable, i guess, and we DO have no speed. With Cutch/Nate/Moss/Tabata/others in the system he has no business starting but I think it makes sense to try and shape him into a bench player—a role in which he could be valuable on a good team. How that experiment is going…..well not too well based on tonight and many other outings, but I think it’s worth a shot. I’m not a huge Pearce fan but they should AT LEAST split, with Pearce getting more chances
Brian from Raise the Jolly Roger!
by Raise the Jolly Roger on Sep 8, 2008 9:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Well...
when Pearce is only playing against lefties…which is the obvious trend the last couple of weeks…he’s not going to be playing very much. In fact…I will bet that tomorrow is the only game of the 4 game series that Pearce starts. Wolf is a lefty, going tomorrow. Moehler and Oswalt are righties…so I’m sure Morgan will start those.
What's worse
Is that Moss will sit tomorrow, not Morgan.
What has Pearce shown you....
that screams “play me against any pitcher?”?
by Hitman Easler on Sep 8, 2008 10:04 PM EDT up reply actions
that would be last year, not this year
by ElliottBayBucco on Sep 8, 2008 10:05 PM EDT up reply actions
the both performed average in the minors
by ElliottBayBucco on Sep 8, 2008 10:08 PM EDT up reply actions
This is just false.
Morgan is a career .723 OPS in the minors. Despite being one sometimes TWO years too old for every level he’s played at, he’s utterly failed to impress. Number of great years Morgan’s had in the minors: zero.
Pearce is a career .880 OPS in the minors. He has been slightly over age at some of his stops, but nearly as much as Morgan. Number of great years Pearce’s had in the minors: one, with partial credit for a pretty good 2006, too.
In the minors
When he delivers in the bigs…….ring me up
by Hitman Easler on Sep 8, 2008 10:06 PM EDT up reply actions
150 plus ABs
no HR…………minimal, being genrerous, RBIs………
Look, I am no Morgan fan, but you guys love for Pearce is off the charts……….he had his opportunity last year to show a spark………he stunk.
Sent him back down to AAA……..he underwhelmed.
Until I see further proof that he is as great as many think he is, color me skeptical.
by Hitman Easler on Sep 8, 2008 10:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Well...
doesn’t Morgan deserve the same treatment then…a trip to AAA.
Yes....
But I am not gonna have a stroke when he starts over Pearce.
by Hitman Easler on Sep 8, 2008 10:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Let's stick to what people actually say
Nobody here “loves” Pearce.
We hate Morgan and realize he is utterly worthless and has zero chance of ever contributing to a winner in Pittsrbugh.
Big difference.
Uhm.....
says alot about Pittsburgh, I am afraid.
by Hitman Easler on Sep 8, 2008 10:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Let's see...THIS year
Morgan .240 BA, OPS .595
Pearce .242 BA, OPS .658
At least equal…anyway. Playing time sure doesn’t show that though.
OPS at Indy
Morgan .721
Pearce .729
This year
by ElliottBayBucco on Sep 8, 2008 10:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Baseball age at Indy
Pearce: 25
Morgan: 27
People that continue to refuse to acknowledge the significance of this just astound me.
I keep forgetting that after the age of 25,
all baseball players should be put out to pasture.
by ElliottBayBucco on Sep 8, 2008 10:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Evidentally, the front office sees something,
and the guys calling the shots in the dugout see something and for all we know, there might be a team or two that sees something there and there is absolutely nothing we can do about it but bitch and moan.
by ElliottBayBucco on Sep 8, 2008 10:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Your absolute reliance on age
continues to astound me. Bottom line……….are either of them winning baseball players? Jury still out. As a former player, I am much more impressed with Morgan’s intangibles, although I think neither one of them will amount to much.
by Hitman Easler on Sep 8, 2008 10:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Cutch at Indy this year...
OPS of .769 at age 21.
Should be ahead of Morgan and Pearce…but Pirates are too worried about when he becomes eligible for arbitration.
Exactly! Sooner have Morgan and/or Pearce
in a throw away season than burn a year of McCutchen on 2008.
by ElliottBayBucco on Sep 8, 2008 10:19 PM EDT up reply actions
Which of course means...
Cutch won’t be in a Pirates uniform until September 2009…since next year will be another throwaway season. He has to be added to the roster at the end of next season anyway…so they will wait until September to add him to the 40 man roster. Unless, of course, he hits .450 in ST, and at Indy.
They could 'Evan Longoria' him,
calling him up after April if his performance in Indy warrants it.
by ElliottBayBucco on Sep 8, 2008 10:24 PM EDT up reply actions
Because...
then they’d be worried about him becoming a “super two”.
You can't spell fundamentals
without mental…in other words…players need to think.
Dusty Baker
FYI Dusty Baker allowed Volquez to throw 119 pitches in 5.2 innings tonight. I guess he forgot about Prior and Wood. The Reds might have more young talent than the Pirates, but Dusty Baker is unequivocably the worst manager in baseball.
OW
Brian from Raise the Jolly Roger!
by Raise the Jolly Roger on Sep 8, 2008 10:06 PM EDT reply actions
they really want Volquez to get 20 wins at all costs,
just hope it isn’t his future.
by ElliottBayBucco on Sep 8, 2008 10:11 PM EDT reply actions
Based on Dusty Baker's past...
it probably will be at the cost of the future of Volquez.
Well neither one of them impressed there
But Berkman sure did get nailed…….
Brian from Raise the Jolly Roger!
by Raise the Jolly Roger on Sep 8, 2008 10:11 PM EDT reply actions
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