At least while he’s in Indy there’s usually going to be a DH spot for one of them to keep getting ABs. Not like there are a ton of competitors begging to take that spot. I’m sure they’ll both see time in the field and plenty at the plate.

Beyond that I don’t know that he has much of a future here unless he can learn a couple more positions and earn some time off the bench.

Be nice to get maybe a 26 year old failed starter that might convert to the bullpen? Maybe even a lefty?

I’ve said a number of times that the Pirates are now in a position where they no longer have to “give” a player a job. The player must “earn” a job.

Walker has not earned a place on the 25 man roster. His fielding is OK but his hitting is just not cutting it. He should start in AAA. If he plays well, call him up. If not, release/trade him.

Neil Walker is a bust, and it’s time Pirate fans come to this realization. We have our 3B of the future. Away with this clown they call Walker. People want to keep holding out hope and thinking that he’s going to do something because he’s a local kid. Well, I’m sorry, but he may remain in Double and Triple-A the rest of this career.

“Away with this clown they call Walker.”

Neil Walker may not establish himself as a big-league ballplayer, but I think calling him a “clown” at this stage is too strong.

Walker has good athletic ability and should be able to use it more as a utility player down the road if he’s willing to work hard enough at it.

He has played a handful of games in the majors, which is more than you can say for the many #1 draft pick flops all organizations have, including the Pirates and such names as Mark Merchant, Austin Manahan, Clint Johnston and Bobby Bradley that come to mind.

If you mean we have our “3B of the future” in Pedro Alvarez, you’re getting ahead of yourself. We still don’t know about his ability to play the position consistently, and his high K rate at the plate could still be a huge problem.

I still think Andy LaRoche has a prominent role to fill with the team at 2B or 3B for quite a while to come, and I wouldn’t mind seeing Neil Walker as a utilityman-of course the 12-man pitching staffs hurt guys like him trying to find a 25-man roster space.

I’m really skeptical that he can be anything other than a utility guy.

But I’m surprised the Pirates did not let him play third until Pedro comes up.

Obviously, the organization doesn’t think he can play. I suspect he will be gone within a year.

What about…Neil Walker for some other team’s busted first round pick, such as Milledge? Any thoughts on possibilities there?

I was referring to Milledge as another team’s busted pick the Bucs acquired, not as a suggestion. Although I guess I could see that being interpreted as a Walker for Milledge deal (maybe DL would make that deal…at least you know the Bucs win that one!) I’m thinking a kind of a change-of-scenery type deal with two teams. Got any ideas?

I’m hoping, but I’m not holding my breath. I would put money on Lastings with a healthy hand being much more productive than Walker—I saw the projections for Lastings and they seemed low. I’m very new to the more advanced statistics and projections. Does anyone know why Lastings projections are low?