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Pirates Cut Pedro Alvarez, Seven Others

The Pirates have cut Pedro Alvarez along with catcher Steve Lerud, second baseman Shelby Ford, and pitchers Daniel McCutchen, Jimmy Barthmaier, Ronald Uviedo, Juan Mateo, and Jeff Sues.

Alvarez will start the year at Class A+ Lynchburg, which is par for the course for a hitter of his standing. (Matt Wieters made his pro debut at Class A+ last year.) Alvarez hit brilliantly this spring despite his lack of experience against pro pitching, so I'd expect him to make it to at least Altoona, and maybe further, by the end of the year.

The other players who were cut were unlikely to make the team. Barthmaier and Daniel McCutchen have perhaps the best chances of contributing this year, but Barthmaier was removed from the running for a rotation job after struggling this spring, and the Pirates appear to be in no rush to add McCutchen to the 40-man roster. Sues and Ford could use a bit of time at AAA, Lerud and Uviedo are a long way from the majors, and Mateo re-signed with the Bucs this offseason as a minor league free agent, and so is not particularly highly regarded despite being a former prospect and pitching pretty well at Altoona last year.

-P- Sorry for my absence the past couple of days. I spent the weekend hiking around Bryce Canyon in Utah and playing poker in Las Vegas. I figured I'd be able to find internet access, but I couldn't. I'm back in San Diego now. Anyway, it doesn't seem that I missed much, except:

-P- The absurd Pirates-Rays comparisons continue. The Pirates are bad and the Rays used to be bad, but surely that doesn't suggest that the Pirates are going to be good anytime soon. Other than that, there just isn't any good reason to make the comparison. There might be in two or three years, but there isn't now.

-P- The Astros' attempt to fix their hole at catcher by signing Pudge Rodriguez is highly unlikely to improve them much--at 37, he doesn't have much left, and his declining home run totals over the past several years bode poorly for his future. If I were running the Astros, I'd probably just suck it up and let J.R. Towles show what he's got once and for all, but that would involve admitting that the Astros aren't a contending team, and that doesn't appear to be an admission the Astros are willing to make. In any case, Rodriguez is a typically uninspiring signing by Ed Wade, even for the low cost of $1.5 million.

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Terrible move. Not that they cut him, of course, because that was bound to happen anyway, but because they did so on the same day of the first televised spring training game. Come on, people, where are your heads? Those of us who can’t be in Florida for spring training would like to catch a glimpse of the real future as much as anyone else.

Pittsburgh Black And Gold -- So new, it still smells like paint!

by JustinM on Mar 17, 2009 8:51 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Totally agree...

I’ve been waiting to see Alvarez since we drafted him. I guess I’ll have to wait and see him at Myrtle Beach.

by Ketcham Bruce on Mar 17, 2009 8:12 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

ok listen

I realize Pudge is 50 years opld but for a million more than jaramillo would that really be that bad of a signing?? come on now. idk why we wouldnt make that signing. even if u say u wouldnt want him, imagine goin to the game and hearing… Now batting for the PIrates, Pudge Rodriguez. Itd be sick.

I GOT MY STREET BUZZ BEFORE I GOT MY PEACH FUZZ

by omar moreno on Mar 17, 2009 9:12 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I'd much rather the PBC took that million dollars . . .

. . . and signed 2-3 16 year old Dominicans with potential.

by WstCstBucco on Mar 17, 2009 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

yeah i guess

but it still would be nice. i realize it might not be the best money spent, but hed pay for himself with tickets and merchandise. even though hes washed up a little bit, he can still play and people will want to see him play

I GOT MY STREET BUZZ BEFORE I GOT MY PEACH FUZZ

by omar moreno on Mar 17, 2009 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I appreciate the talents/legacy of Pudge but I really can’t see his presence selling any more tickets. He seems like the kind of player, fans who are already going to the ball park would appreciate seeing, not someone who is motivating a casual fan in Dormont to head to the park.

I made most of my life decisions at a Foghat concert... I stand by them.

by Chester J Lampwick on Mar 17, 2009 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

The Astros are running themselves into the dirt

They will soon be the retirement village of MLB.

Think about over the hill MIke Hampton throwing to over the hill Pudge….ahhhh

then if Pudge can get up and through down to third to over the hill Aaron Boone….now that would be Magic. They should just dig up Mickey Mantle…he would do better in CF right now than Michael Bourne

10 Quality Starts in a row/Aug. 08 - BUT now we can't hit:(

by .500 Please on Mar 17, 2009 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Bryce Canyon Nation Park is beautiful

I visited almost 10 years ago, and it is probably my favorite place in the contingent US

by DITO on Mar 17, 2009 9:45 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Bucs = Rays

Except Bucs aren’t as young and aren’t as talented at nearly every position. But otherwise, I can hardly tell the difference.

by Bwillits on Mar 17, 2009 2:52 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Pudge

Can you say Benito … as in Santiago?

by thegunner on Mar 17, 2009 3:31 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

How about Bucs equal Brewers?

Chris Duffy is probably going to be the 4th outfielder on the team and the local sports radio post game guy, “Sparky,” had a mini tantrum. Why is he going to make the team? He is a slap hitter. He isn’t good enough to make the Pirates!

by ol Pete on Mar 17, 2009 9:52 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I always liked Duffy but I can’t explain why.

I made most of my life decisions at a Foghat concert... I stand by them.

by Chester J Lampwick on Mar 17, 2009 10:58 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

He is a slap hitter. He isn’t good enough to make the Pirates!

“I call bullshit.”

— Nyjer Morgan

by WTM on Mar 17, 2009 11:15 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Steve Phillips on Pudge

On ESPN Radio: “He’s a perfect fit.”

by Zadoras on Mar 18, 2009 2:11 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

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