News Roundup: Bucs Cut Pearce, Diaz

by Charlie on Mar 28, 2009 4:07 PM EDT Comment 19 comments

There's lots of news at the Post-Gazette's blog. Unsurprisingly, Ross Ohlendorf has made the Pirates' rotation. Many projection systems aren't too excited about Ohlendorf's long-term future, but they haven't seen his stuff. Hopefully he becomes more of a pitcher (as opposed to just a thrower) this year, and doesn't wear down over the course of the season.

Also, the Pirates have cut Steve Pearce, Anderson Machado and Robinzon Diaz. I still say Pearce would've been a good addition to the team, but neither his departure nor Machado's are any surprise. Pearce will play first at Indianapolis "with an eye toward seeing if he can handle that role full-time in Pittsburgh," the Post-Gazette reports, which obviously makes no sense given that he could have just been doing that last year, when he played 99 games in the outfield and only 32 at first base. The mothership, on the other hand, describes the reason for the demotion as an absence of consistent playing time at the major league level, which makes even less sense given who's probably going to be starting in the outfield. It seems clear to me that the Pirates can't stand Pearce, which is their prerogative, but it'd be great if they simply explained why instead of making up reasons as they go along.

Diaz's cut means that Jason Jaramillo will be the backup catcher, which is good since he and Diaz are basically the same player, except Jaramillo is a little better at everything.

Andrew McCutchen went 5-for-5 with a homer today.

Finally, Bob Nutting is saying all the right things:

"I really feel like we're just beginning to see the impact of the people we've brought in, with the programs, the process and, above all, the better talent that we now have," Nutting said. "When you look to our long-term future, I'm very excited by it. It's very encouraging."

He spent yesterday at Pirate City meeting with Kyle Stark, his development staff and some scouts, urging them to repeat what he deemed a successful draft last June.

"I told them we can't just do it once. It has to be every June."

That's right. A draft like the one the Pirates had in 2008 needs to happen every year.

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Cutch

AND three doubles.

by bucdaddy on Mar 28, 2009 4:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Quite a homerun I might add, nearly hit a golf cart out beyond center field, about 400 was the estimate of the Phillies announcers on a very strangely windy day as well.

So I agree that the Pirates seem to hold some sort of grudge against Pearce but has he done anything to bear such a grudge? Thinking back I can’t recall any incident in which he hasn’t given it his all or has spoken out against the team or am I just forgetting something?

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

by Chester J Lampwick on Mar 28, 2009 7:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Pearce

I see it as he’s not good enough for the outfield and he’s c-blocked by Mario at first. I hate to see him get traded but I think that might be an option.

by Ketcham Bruce on Mar 28, 2009 7:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

(Sigh)

He can’t, won’t, and doesn’t really want to hit breaking balls.

by azibuck on Mar 29, 2009 12:41 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

the outfield

I am disappointed that Pearce was cut. Even Pearce at below average will still hit better than Morgan at above average. I would hate to see too many ABs given to Hinske or Monroe, I would be surprised if they can perform at MLB average for a whole season, while blocking future players.

Given that Pearce is down, I would keep McCutchen, start him in cf until he shows he can’t. Hopefully that will be never (don’t send him down while he’s still hitting). Move McLouth to one of the corners and put Moss in the other. Keep Morgan as the defensive caddy, Hinske for off the bench. I’d prefer to let Monroe go, but he could stick, but I don’t want him to start ahead fo anyone younger.

by Brian Cartwright on Mar 29, 2009 7:43 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Kyle Bloom

Rotoworld is reporting that the Tigers returned him.

by WTM on Mar 29, 2009 9:45 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

nice post

Isn’t it great to be a Pittsburgh fan..http://fanzak.com/fzrants/Pittsburgh_Loves_Winning_Sports_Teams

by duke9295 on Mar 29, 2009 11:42 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah...

would really like to know what the Pirates have against Steve Pearce?

by rissaldar on Mar 29, 2009 2:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

See

azibuck’s post above.

by Hitman Easler on Mar 29, 2009 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

They don’t like him because Azibuck doesn’t? (-:

by WTM on Mar 29, 2009 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Are you saying

that isn’t reason enough? ;-)

"Gimme an 'F' ! " - Country Joe MacDonald

by cocktailsfor2 on Mar 29, 2009 6:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Back-up Catcher

“Diaz’s cut means that Jason Jaramillo will be the backup catcher, which is good since he and Diaz are basically the same player, except Jaramillo is a little better at everything.”

That’s like saying Nyjer Morgan is a better hitter than Curtus Granderson,,,

by God Loves on Mar 29, 2009 4:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

And this, right here...

…is why it’s a bad idea to try and make decisions exclusively from spring training stats.

by Vlad on Mar 30, 2009 9:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I presume this was prior to Neal Huntington

Jonathan Albaladejo talked to reporters this morning. He said that in 2007 he asked for (and was given) his release from the Pirates because he was going nowhere on their Double-A team. After sitting around for a few weeks at his home in Puerto Rico, Albaladejo was about to sign with a team in the Mexican League when the Nationals called.

He signed with Washington on May 3 and made his major league debut on Sept. 4. After Albaladejo appeared in 14 games, the Nats traded him to the Yankees for RHP Tyler Clippard on Dec. 5, 2007.

He made the Yankees out of spring training last season and it looks like he will again. Meanwhile the Pirates are desperate for decent relief pitchers. Turns out they had somebody all along.
- From Pete Abraham on the Yankees beat
http://yankees.lhblogs.com/

by Pinstripe Pirate on Mar 29, 2009 6:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That was Littlefield. They had some veteran minor leaguers they preferred at Altoona to help with the W/L record so Albaladejo wasn’t even going to make the AA roster.

by WTM on Mar 29, 2009 7:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs