Pirates' Season Ends With 6-0 Loss

by Charlie Wilmoth on Oct 4, 2009 4:26 PM EDT

In the Pirates' final game of the year, the Bucs managed to put a staggering fifteen men on base--ten hits, including a triple, plus four walks and a hit batsman--without plating a single one of them. This wasn't a good game by any stretch, but it could have been considerably better. In the fifth inning, Steve Pearce led off with a triple and Andrew McCutchen followed that up with a walk--and then Andy LaRoche came to the plate and swung at about a million pitches outside the strike zone, fouling off most of them before finally striking out swinging. Garrett Jones and Lastings Milledge followed that up with strikeouts of their own.

The Bucs' pitching today was one of those bullpen special days, with Jeff Karstens getting the spot start and pitching only two and a third. Today's bullpen only day didn't work out nearly as well as it did the last time, as Karstens allowed two runs and Donald Veal made a complete mess in the bottom of the fifth.

Brandon Moss got a start and went 1-for-2 with two walks. Good for him, but fortunately for all of us, it sounds like this was a last hurrah of sorts, since he won't be starting much next year. Moss finishes the season with 133 games played and a .236/.303/.364 line. That would be barely acceptable for a Gold Glove shortstop, but for a corner outfielder, well... at least Moss rates as a good defensive player, which means he's a worthwhile bench guy. Beyond that, I think we've seen what we need to see.

One nice thing--well, pretty much the only nice thing--about knowing you're a terrible ballclub is the ability to use playing time as a way of acquiring information. It wasn't automatic that Moss would fail this year. PECOTA (subscription required) said before the season that there would be about a 25% chance of him being as bad or worse than he actually was, and compared him to good players like Curtis Granderson, Paul O'Neill, Jason Kubel, Graig Nettles and Carlos Pena, along with some other guys who weren't nearly as good. The Pirates sensibly used the first couple months of the season to see if they had a Granderson or O'Neill on their hands. It turns out they almost certainly don't, but hey--it's not like the Bucs would have won 90 games with a different right fielder.

Tweet Comment 25 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Second overall pick in the draft

Time to start looking ahead now, I figure (can’t hurt).

I guess the early front runner is Ranaudo?

by Suffering Buc on Oct 4, 2009 4:45 PM EDT reply actions

Too early to tell.

IMO.

by Vlad on Oct 4, 2009 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions

I hopin Pomeranz has a big year at Ole Miss

by BadAndy on Oct 4, 2009 5:18 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Of course, but it does no harm to look ahead.

by Suffering Buc on Oct 4, 2009 5:05 PM EDT reply actions

Eh, yes and no.

It’s easy to get locked into a few choices at this stage in the game, and then end up ignoring late risers, or at least not giving them appropriate consideration.

by Vlad on Oct 4, 2009 5:31 PM EDT up reply actions

I see what you mean.

by Suffering Buc on Oct 4, 2009 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Sure hope Neal is able to sign a stopgap at RF

until Tabata is ready. Maybe a 2 yr stopgap who knows.

by BadAndy on Oct 4, 2009 5:19 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Something wrong with Garrett?

by IAPiratesFan on Oct 4, 2009 5:27 PM EDT up reply actions

I thought GFJ

is the starter at 1st?

by BadAndy on Oct 4, 2009 6:39 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Got a feeling Clement is going to get a shot at that.

by Slick1 on Oct 4, 2009 7:11 PM EDT up reply actions

I previously thought a FA outfielder was a good idea, but at this point I’d rather see some in-house options like Jones, Clement, and yes even Neil Walker for the pre-Pedro period if Andy moves to 2nd. If he can get a great deal on the free agent market then they still should do it though.

by Adam Reynolds on Oct 4, 2009 7:49 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m hoping Clement makes the team next spring.

I don’t want Pearce or Moss in the everyday lineup.

by Suffering Buc on Oct 4, 2009 5:28 PM EDT reply actions

At this point...

…I think Pearce is going to need some luck just to hang onto his roster spot.

Moss is probably safe on the bench, thanks to his glove.

by Vlad on Oct 4, 2009 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions

bar some FA signings

I’d expect to see Pearce on the ML roster. I would expect Clement/Pearce being platooned, and GFJ in RF, unless Clement makes an extremely strong case in Spring Training

by BurgherKing on Oct 5, 2009 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions

I love Moss as a bench player who starts 50 games per year. He belongs on a Major League roster, as long as he’s used in the right capacity.

Pearce has no place on a big league 40-man.

by Suffering Buc on Oct 4, 2009 5:40 PM EDT reply actions

This was my third season posting on Bucs Dugout.

I enjoyed hanging out with you guys and exchanging info and thoughts about our Pittsburgh Pirates.

I’m looking forward to more of the same in 2010.

by patthatt on Oct 4, 2009 6:44 PM EDT reply actions

You say that like you won’t be here every day until February.

by JRoth95 on Oct 5, 2009 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Sad the season is over

Even though there was little to cheer about, watching the young guys was always fun. Look forward to next season with more of the “future” coming into the bigs.

by dulciusEXasperis on Oct 4, 2009 6:44 PM EDT reply actions

Moss and Pearce

I have no problem with Moss being a 4th or 5th OF on this team. He has played pretty good defense, does have the ability to hit a home run now and then and even seems to do well as a PH.

I would not write Pearce off just yet. His line vs LHP is pretty solid. Note that Jones line vs LHP was not very good. I could certainly see a pretty potent platoon at 1B with those too.

I also would not yet be ready to hand any spot on the roster to Clement. He has bad knees and apparently still needs a lot of work to be a major league 1B. He also did not hit well overall at AAA this year.

I do like that there is at least talk of LaRoche moving to 2B to make room for Pedro at 3B. I just hope Pedro can play a good 3B at the major league level. Even more reasons why the Pittsburgh brass needs to do all they can to convince Perry Hill to stay…at least 1 more season. That may be the biggest signing we have all offseason.

by Brakeman8 on Oct 4, 2009 9:55 PM EDT reply actions

…and before the spelling police nail me, yes it should be “those two.” Oops.

by Brakeman8 on Oct 4, 2009 9:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Agree

The Bucs were actually good defensively compared to the rest of the league, and Perry Hill probably had a lot to do with that. It’s kinda scary to think what the team’s record would have been otherwise ! I hope Buc’s brass recognizes this and pays Perry enough to keep him.

by michaelbro8 on Oct 5, 2009 6:24 PM EDT up reply actions

I promised myself

I wouldn’t cry (sniffle)

I’m no good at farewells…

Nevermind though I will be lurking during the offseason.

by BlindSquirrel on Oct 4, 2009 10:30 PM EDT reply actions

doumit at first?

Just a thought. i think that he could make it through a whole season at first. and have jones play right field. with j.j. behind the plate. It would take a lot of work on doumit’s part. but i think that it might be the best option offensively.

hey from what i read about clement’s defense doumit could probably play first as well as clement does

by buccosfan on Oct 5, 2009 3:37 AM EDT reply actions

moves

fire russell,he stinks.trade doumit for some power

by the superduperstar!!!!!! on Oct 5, 2009 12:48 PM EDT reply actions

Donnie Veal's Purpose

After watching 19 rather painful appearances & witness the incredible bloating 2.33 WHIP, I really wasn’t sure what Veal’s purpose on this club was until I saw Sunday’s game.

And if you ask me, I think it was his final destiny to give up those 4 runs in the 5th yesterday & ultimately secure the #2 overall pick for us next year. Although it was another poor presentation, that was by far your most meaninful performance to date, so thank you for the #2 pick Donnie & a job well done! I wish you all the best in Fall Ball, and really hope you find that control you’ve been looking for.

As far as JR goes, I haven’t lost faith in him just yet. Apparently Coonelly hasn’t either, since he’s been quoted as being open to an extension. I find that a little disturbing though, because I’d much rather see someone like an Andy Van Slyke or Wally Backman running the club. We all know that’s not going to happen in 2010, but anything can happen in 2011 I suppose.

Bucco hope springs eternal.

by HoakyPoak on Oct 5, 2009 2:03 PM EDT reply actions

The Manager

Jim Tracy+Pirates roster=complete misery; Jim Tracy+Rockies roster=Playoffs. Kind of like Micawber’s Law for baseball. Given the Pirates’ offensive struggles this season, I say bring back Harry the Hat Walker.

Can’t see Ozzie Guillen in Pgh. Like the idea of Andy Van Slyke (bet Pat Lackey would like it too!) but would it be a good idea to match a guy learning to manage with a team learning to play? Just asking. Didn’t we try that w/McLendon? Maybe in a year or two.

Lino Donoso

by Lino Donoso on Oct 5, 2009 6:40 PM EDT reply actions

Van Slyke kind of scares me, to be honest.

He seems like the type who would manage from the gut, rather than from the head.

I bet he’s fiery, though.

by Vlad on Oct 5, 2009 7:00 PM EDT up reply actions

If we were going to bring in someone with a past connection to the team...

…we could do a lot worse than Pete Mackanin. He’s been an interim manager twice, and put up a pretty good record both times. We were 55-81 under Lloyd in 2005 (.404), and the team went 12-14 under Mackanin after Lloyd was fired (.462). The Pirates dropped him for Jim Tracy, who went 67-95 the next year (.414). Similarly, the Reds were 31-51 under Jerry Narron in 2007 (.378) until he got fired, and that team went 41-39 under Mackanin the rest of the way (.513). The Reds dropped him for Dusty Baker, and Baker went 74-88 the next season (.457).

He may not be fiery enough for us, however.

by Vlad on Oct 5, 2009 7:07 PM EDT up reply actions