Not Ready for Prime Time Players

by Illinois Pirate Fan on May 9, 2009 5:25 PM EDT Comment 38 comments

Moss and Hinske: who do they have to kill before Russell stops playing them? Together they are hitting .201 with 0 homeruns and only 7 RBIs in 129 AB. I keep hearing people say that McCutchen, Pearce, and Tabata are not ready for MLB but they can't do worse than these two players. Does management really believe fans will continue coming to PNC to see this group of players? It seems as if Maholm is now a better hitter than he is a pitcher and so we can't count on him to stop the losing streak and Snell has lost 5 mph off his fastball since Russell entered him in the Boston Marathon. Lets face it, other than LaRoche (the elder), McLouth, and Sanchez, there are no bona fide MLB starters on this entire roster. Will somebody who has NH's ear please ask him to either do something quickly or simply contract this team? We are actually worse than we were last year.

0 recs | Comment 38 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Is this LaRoche (the elder) you refer to...

the same LaRoche that is 4-38 in the last 10 games?

by Thunder on May 9, 2009 5:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah man, Adam LaRoche seems to only be a bonafide major league about 2 months out of every season. He tricked everybody into believing he was actually going to put a full year together this season. He may still get 25 HR and 85 RBI, but once again, he will gets stats in August and September when we are 30 games out and it is meaningless. I can’t wait for Mario to get traded because anything is better than the crap he has pulled the last three years. I would take Andy over Adam right now in a heartbeat.

by thelumberco. on May 9, 2009 6:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

None of our games in August or September...

…are any less meaningful than our games right now. So why do you keep beating that drum?

by Vlad on May 10, 2009 10:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Please tell me you are kidding with that statement. I know you’re not that dumb. Are you serious?

by thelumberco. on May 10, 2009 11:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

"I know you’re not that dumb."

grabs popcorn, pulls up a seat

by bucdaddy on May 10, 2009 11:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sure, I'm serious.

If I’m paying my money to go to the game, I care just as much about whether they win if the game is in August as I do if it’s in April. So the game has just as much “meaning” for me and the other spectators regardless of the time of year.

I reject the idea that games during a pennant race are the only ones with “meaning”. That’s a meme spread by media guys from large cities, so they have an excuse to not pay attention to teams like ours, or give our players the time of day during awards voting. Which you apparently bought hook, line, and sinker. Congratulations!

Even if your starting premise were correct, however, your conclusion still doesn’t make any sense. This team was never going to be a contender in 2009. Everyone with half a brain knew that in the first week of spring training. So if games outside of a pennant race are meaningless, then none of our games have had any meaning at all this year – and therefore none are more or less meaningful than any other, as zero is always equal to zero.

by Vlad on May 11, 2009 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t mean to alarm you, but so far this season, the younger LaRoche has a better AVG and OBP than the elder.

Maybe the Pirates should just bench every player who isn’t playing well? The team can consist entirely of Freddy Sanchez, Nyjer Morgan, Nate McLouth and Jason Jaramillo.

Does management really believe fans will continue coming to PNC to see this group of players?

No, but I also don’t think fans will come to see Pearce, Monroe, Young, or an overmatched McCutchen or Tabata (neither is busting down the door to the big leagues yet).

by wickethewok on May 9, 2009 6:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

OK, if it will make you guys feel better...

I’ll agree with your assessment that LaRoche (the elder) sucks. That simply reinforces my argument even more that some drastic action needs to be taken and quickly. This current squad is worse than last year’s team (if that’s possible) and you guys want to “stay the course”? Huh? Things can improve quickly by the judicious signing of a few free agents or the trading of some of our players before the entire league knows their contracts are set to expire and while we still have some leverage. The national Republican party will improve before the Pirates improve.

by Illinois Pirate Fan on May 9, 2009 7:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wow

“Things can improve quickly by the judicious signing of a few free agents or the trading of some of our players before the entire league knows their contracts are set to expire and while we still have some leverage.”

I’m going to cut to the chase here: You’re a fool.

by bucdaddy on May 9, 2009 9:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You and lumber

keep ranting about how the players we have now suck, and your solution is to deal them for all these quality, major league-caliber players other teams have lying around and are just going to give away for guys who suck.

I take back “fool.” You’re a moron.

by bucdaddy on May 9, 2009 9:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Take a look in the mirror, bucdaddy

by thelumberco. on May 9, 2009 9:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hahahahaha

never heard THAT one before.

by bucdaddy on May 9, 2009 9:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You're right, lumber

I’m an idiot for arguing with a moron.

But I stop being an idiot once I stop arguing with you.

You, on the other hand …

by bucdaddy on May 9, 2009 9:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I couldn’t agree with you more Illinois Pirate. Everybody on here just wants to “stay the course”, but changes need to be made. First base and the corner outfield spots are known around baseball as the big-time run producers and RBI men in the lineup. Right now, those two positions are the weakest link in the Pirates’ lineup. Absolutely no production. That can’t happen. I know a lot of the lineup is struggling right now, but not everybody is going 0-for-4 every night like LaRoche and Moss, either, and looking terrible doing it. Our leadoff man is the only guy seemingly that is driving in runs. We are playing baseball in reverse right now. Just think about if we still had last year’s offense (Bay and Nady, although Nady has been hurt) with this year’s pitching. I know it’s easy to look back and say hindsight is 20/20, but it’s just fun to think about.

by thelumberco. on May 9, 2009 7:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

And so are you.

by bucdaddy on May 9, 2009 9:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Here’s a good question: Who’s going to be our All-Star this year?

by thelumberco. on May 9, 2009 7:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The trainer?

by Thunder on May 9, 2009 7:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Paulie M. Aside from today’s batting practice, he’s pitched fairly well. Him or Dukey.

by Ketcham Bruce on May 9, 2009 8:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Probably one of the SPs, would be my guess.

Freddy is also a possibility.

by Vlad on May 10, 2009 10:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’ll go with Nate. He’s starting to turn it back on. Of course, he was never really down.

by thelumberco. on May 10, 2009 11:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

OF is a tough peer group.

He’s deserving on the merits, but it’s easy for a CF to get lost in the shuffle, since there are so many viable alternatives.

by Vlad on May 11, 2009 10:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Never claimed to want to stay the course.

In fact…I have a significant problem with management deciding that the starting lineup that went 17-37 was good enough to start this season. The 11-7 start was done with good starting pitching and very little else. And now that pitching seems to be disappearing.

by Thunder on May 9, 2009 7:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

And the biggest problem I have with that approach...

is simply that management is trying to buffalo the fans into thinking that this team (2009 version) has a significant chance to be decent. The talent is NOT here. The 2009 Pirates are a team that is not very talented…and that part of it…I accept and understand. We are building for the future…but keeping players Pearce, Bixler, Cutch, etc.) buried so that other players can perform well below very low expectations(Moss, Monroe, Vasquez, Hinske)…is silly. May as well learn on the job.

by Thunder on May 9, 2009 8:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

Keep running Bixler out there, he looks GREAT!

by bucdaddy on May 9, 2009 9:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bixler will be gone after Monday’s game. He doesn’t matter. Moss, on the other hand, is still our everyday RF for some reason. So, to that I say: Yeah, keep running Moss out there, he looks GREAT!

by thelumberco. on May 9, 2009 9:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't know why, but that's it.

thelumberco., you are hereby forbidden from mentioning or referring to Brandon Moss on this site. I think about 90% of us know perfectly well what your position is and don’t want to read your incredibly repetitive opinions about him anymore. I’m serious. If I even THINK you are referring to Brandon Moss at any point in the future, I will not hesitate to ban you. You are welcome to stick around and talk about other things, and of course other users can talk about Moss, but you can’t. You’re done.

by Charlie on May 10, 2009 12:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No more Moss?

Aw man, it was fun. What if he hits a HR or does something good? Can I join in the jubilation?

by thelumberco. on May 10, 2009 2:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good call Charlie !

by Ketcham Bruce on May 10, 2009 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hooray!

by bucdaddy on May 10, 2009 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And...

Vasquez looks better? Hitting .167 He deserves to play ahead of Bixler??

by Thunder on May 9, 2009 9:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Or

do we need to find out again in August and September whether Bixler is capable of playing short?? Why not now…while Jack was out for 2 weeks. they could have put Bix out there for just about every game…and find out now. Vasquez has provided zippo.

by Thunder on May 9, 2009 9:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Are you talking to me? Jack will be back Tuesday.

by thelumberco. on May 9, 2009 9:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Moreso to bucdaddy...

but the same thing applies.

If there is any thought about trading Jack Wilson…we need to know if Bixler is capable of playing short full time…BEFORE we trade Jack…not 2 months AFTER. Right now…I’m leaning toward not…but Vasquez can’t play it either. That’s why Bix should have been playing full time the last 2 weeks…not less than half the time…which has been the actual case. then we would have a little more basis to judge Bixler on.

So…to make a long story short…if we are going to trade Jack…looks like we need a SS prospect in return.

by Thunder on May 9, 2009 10:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't know what you think

we’re going to get for an injury-prone 31-year-old shortstop with a career OPS+ of 78, but it probably ain’t gonna be much. So even if we find a taker we’re going to be looking at stopgap shortstops for awhile, I’d think, unless we get creative.

But I thought we already had an A-level shortstop prospect. Can’t think of the name, WTM would know.

Oh wait, Charlie has a list: Chase D’Arnaud.

by bucdaddy on May 9, 2009 11:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, I highly doubt that Bixler is the answer at SS. He has done absolutely nothing in each one of his call-ups. He can’t hit or field. He’s a career minor leaguer. Granted, you need to have a replacement if you’re going to get rid of him, but I don’t know if we have a replacement. Maybe Mercer or D’Arnaud, but they won’t be ready for another 3-4 years if at all. Maybe we get a SS prospect in return when we make one of our many trades. It doesn’t look good for the future if we trade Jack.

by thelumberco. on May 9, 2009 11:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, sorry

Got off on a tangent. Your point about Bixler playing every day is, I think, correct, though. Unless, of course, TPTB have already made up their minds about him.

by bucdaddy on May 9, 2009 11:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm convinced...

that the powers that be have made up their minds on Bixler (and had before spring training ended). Which means…short of trading for a regular shortstop…Jack Wilson will be here for a few more years until Mercer, D’Arnaud…or a future 1st round amateur draft choice is ready to play in the majors.

by Thunder on May 9, 2009 11:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs