Bucs to Promote Alvarez, Dubee, Molleken, Durham

by Charlie Wilmoth on Jun 22, 2009 2:29 AM EDT

The Pirates will promote third baseman Pedro Alvarez, pitchers Michael Dubee and Dustin Molleken, and outfielder Miles Durham from Lynchburg to Class AA Altoona.

The Alvarez promotion comes as a bit of a surprise, given his obvious problems making contact for the Hillcats, but he's improved his OPS each month this year, and he has 14 homers. Kyle Stark's comments about the promotion might suggest that Alvarez has hit a bunch of line drives right at people, or something like that:

"People typically focus on performance when it comes time for promotions, but we focus on the process and the specific things we're trying to accomplish at each level. Pedro has accomplished those things, in our minds. Plus, the performance actually has been better than the superficial numbers have shown for a while now."

I'm not usually a fan of promoting players before they master their level, but if Alvarez is anywhere near as good as he's supposed to be, he should be able to move quickly. It could just be that he struggled with his average at Lynchburg because no one would throw him strikes; if that's the case, he'll either start seeing more strikes as he faces better pitchers, or he'll have to learn to lay off bad pitches.

Dubee thoroughly dominated the Carolina League and has been worthy of a promotion for several weeks now. He ended up with a ridiculous 53:3 K:BB ratio and a 1.45 ERA.

Molleken will be 25 in August and probably isn't much of a prospect, but he has developed slowly due to a ton of injury issues, and has pitched much better in 2009 after struggling with home runs allowed in 2008. Promoting him is probably a good idea; his pitching at Altoona will tell the Pirates whether there's anything here.

Durham is 26, still doesn't have much idea how to control the strike zone, and isn't a prospect.

UPDATE: The Post-Gazette reports that the Bucs have also promoted Chase D'Arnaud to Lynchburg. Fellow shortstop Jordy Mercer is already there, so it's possible D'Arnaud will play third now that Alvarez is gone. The Pirates have also signed three more draft picks: 11th-rounder Aaron Baker, 21st-rounder Phillip Irwin, and 43rd-rounder Ed Fallon. Baker, a first baseman from the University of Oklahoma, should head to State College. Irwin and Fallon are college pitchers.

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Alvarez

can’t wait to see Alverez in a pirate uniform

by norris on Jun 22, 2009 4:49 AM EDT reply actions

Suspicious

I am so suspicious of this Alvarez promotion. Since when is a 800 OPS guy ready to move to the next level? If the problem is that no one is willing to throw him strikes, then how come he strikes out so damned much?

This move makes no sense to me.

by Androgen Jar Jimmy on Jun 22, 2009 5:05 AM EDT reply actions

It’s a conspiracy…..along with 9/11…..that damned George Bush is probably behind this!

"So you think 25 percent of the country is retarded?! Yea. Atleast 25 percent. Well lets so a sample. There are 4 of us an you're retarded. Thats 25 percent." Southpark; Mystery of the Urinal Deuce

by gorillakilla34 on Jun 22, 2009 6:22 AM EDT up reply actions

After seeing Alvarez in person...

I had the impression that he was chasing a little..he was not getting many strikes thrown his way and when he did he simply killed the ball. He hit a home run down the 1B side against Potomac that may well still be in the air. The guy sitting next to me was a season ticket holder and he had never seen one hit that far out.

What is there to be suspicious about? He has been adjusting and I think is ready for the challenge. Unless he just rakes, I imagine he stays with Altoona the rest of the year and possibly starts 2010 with Indy.

by Mick Kraut on Jun 22, 2009 8:25 AM EDT up reply actions

Long Home Runs

People keep mentioning his long home runs. That’s impressive, but also irrelevant. If he can hit a long home run every 50 plate appearances, and then strike out the rest of the time, he’s not really contributing.

If he’s chasing, then doesn’t need to learn to not chase A-pitchers before he can handle not chasing the even more difficult AA-pitchers?

by Androgen Jar Jimmy on Jun 22, 2009 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions

He needs to not chase.

I agree that he needs to not chase balls, and yeah, his strikeouts are alarming.

However, you’re making a mountain out of a molehill. His talent is basically wasted in A ball, facing teams of players that usually won’t pan out. AA is where he needs to be right now, and I imagine he won’t get the call to the Majors (or even AAA) until he starts taking some pitches. A move from A to AA does not signify that the team is rushing him so much as that they want to keep him in an age-appropriate level.

www.sixtyftsixin.com

by Sixty Feet, Six Inches on Jun 22, 2009 11:42 PM EDT up reply actions

I’ll be curious to see who gets moved to Lynchburg. Somebody has to replace these guys.

by WTM on Jun 22, 2009 7:48 AM EDT reply actions

Who are the prime candidates?

Grossman?
D’Arnaud?
Owens has to be close…

by Mick Kraut on Jun 22, 2009 8:31 AM EDT up reply actions

wilbur is right

there is NOBODY at Lynchburg to replace Pedro or Durham. Possible solutions…

OF: promote Grossman or demote someone from AA (They’ll now have Tabata, Hernandez, Delaney, Pacheco AND Durham)

3B: promote Huber (tearing up Lynch) and move Hague back to 3B, demote Romak and move Hague, or demote Angel Gonzalez (the guy Pedro is replacing)

also…owens moves up, but somebody out of uviedo, mcswain or justin wilson has to move to the pen to accomodate him…lincoln’s promotion along with dubee and molleken means herron is likely soon for the rotation, and someone has to go to make room for lincoln in Indy’s rotation (probably a DFA for Taubenheim)

by geeves on Jun 22, 2009 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions

Hague

hasn’t played in a week or so
but not listed on the DL

I thought about Huber as a possible promotion to Lynchburg as well.

I also hope Herron gets a chance in the rotation at Altoona.

and Taubenheim isn’t on the 40 man, so he wouldn’t need to be DFA’d.
If they wanted rid of him, they’d just release him.
According to the Indy color commentator, Taubenheim will likely go to the bullpen

by dirtyfrank on Jun 22, 2009 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Chuck Finder reporting...

D’Arnaud moving to Lynchburg. Three college draftees also signed.

http://community.post-gazette.com/blogs/pbc/archive/2009/06/22/official-word-on-alvarez-lincoln-d-arnaud-and-3-signees.aspx

by Thunder on Jun 22, 2009 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks for the update.

Fallon was pretty certain to sign, according to his coach, but I hadn’t heard much either way about Irwin or Baker, so it’s good to get them into the fold.

I’m kind of curious about Baker.

by Vlad on Jun 22, 2009 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Somewhere or other somebody posted that Irwin used to throw in the mid-90s, then had TJ and was gradually increasing his velocity.

by WTM on Jun 22, 2009 6:02 PM EDT up reply actions

What happens to Mercer?

Him and D’Arnaud going to split time? Or will they split time playing 2B and SS?

Also that Altoona lineup has gone from looking like crap to being pretty solid with these moves in the last few weeks.

by Slizeezyc on Jun 22, 2009 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions

I am so excited about Alvarez being called up. I got tickets to the Altoona vs. Erie game weeks ago hoping he would be called up when Altoona comes to town. Is he ready maybe not but atleast I will get to see him!

by g021g0 on Jun 22, 2009 9:25 AM EDT reply actions

I hope they work on putting him at first. His defense is pretty shakey.

"Baseball is better than football. Think about it, eighty degrees, a cold beer and a short-sleeve shirt is better than 30 degrees, a hip flask and six layers of clothes under a lap blanket. Take your pick: suntan or frostbite. " - Thomas Boswell

by Ketcham Bruce on Jun 22, 2009 10:03 AM EDT reply actions

Value

He has more value as a third baseman. If he can learn to play third on a major league level, even if he’s average for a major leaguer, he’s much more valuable than he is as a first baseman.

by Androgen Jar Jimmy on Jun 22, 2009 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions

When I looked at video of him in college...

…he certainly looked like a guy who wasn’t going to stick at third.

Evidently the PD staff disagrees, though.

by Vlad on Jun 22, 2009 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Anything Is Better Than First Base

Well, if it turns out that he can’t handle playing at third base, then let him try left-field or maybe even second base. Even right-field would be better than first base.

by Androgen Jar Jimmy on Jun 22, 2009 12:28 PM EDT up reply actions

If he doesn't have the range/hands for third...

…how’s he going to manage second?

He’s a born 1B. Which is fine. Teams need 1Bs, too.

by Vlad on Jun 22, 2009 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions

It's A Different Skill Set

But I do think it’s a long-shot.

While teams need first basemen too, it’s such an easy position to play that it’s really the ideal spot to stick the older guy who is slowing down but still has a good bat. If you waste that position on a young guy when you don’t need to, you’re costing the team an opportunity to be better.

If he can run, and throw half-way decent, he should be able to be a passable right fielder.

by Androgen Jar Jimmy on Jun 22, 2009 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Or To Put It Another Way

Finding a first-baseman who can hit well is pretty easy. The Pirates suck and even they have a first-baseman who can hit. So for a player to have real value at first, he needs to be much better than everybody else.

Whereas, in a more challenging defensive position, it becomes harder and harder to find a guy who can hit. So a great hitter has more value playing right-field than he does at first base.

If it really turns out that he’s a lead-food klutz, then I guess we have to be happy with him at first base. But there’s no reason to give up on him so early in his career. He should be given a chance to play anything but first base, because first base is where you put a guy when you’ve basically given up on a player’s ability to play defense. It’s not time to give up on Pedro Alvarez yet.

by Androgen Jar Jimmy on Jun 22, 2009 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions

I dunno...

…I look at those broad hips and those big thighs, and I see a guy who’s going to be “running” like Daryle Ward in two or three years.

I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

by Vlad on Jun 22, 2009 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions

He's a 1B.

His bat may have more value at other positions, but it doesn’t matter if his glove is taking that value away. You can’t just stick a horrible fielder anywhere. (See: Adam Dunn.)

As for why they’re keeping him at third, I think management wants its top players to improve their D by keeping them at their toughest defensive positions until they’re forced to move them. Alvarez sucks at third, but he’s still playing there. Tabata still plays in CF. Neither project to stay there at the ML level, but moving left on the defensive spectrum makes it an easier adjustment.

If Alvarez learns how to field adequately, but not as well as Andy LaRoche at third, move him to first. He’ll make playing first look like a breeze. If he actually turns into a good defensive 3B, so much the better, though it does raise the question of what to do with Andy.

I never got this whole “bat relative to position” thing anyway. I don’t care where production is coming from as long as it’s coming. I understand that it’s harder to find better hitters at positions like catcher and shortstop, but that doesn’t matter if the person you stick there for their bat can’t play the position worth a damn.

www.sixtyftsixin.com

by Sixty Feet, Six Inches on Jun 22, 2009 11:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, there’s really no point in even arguing about this, and really, there is no argument. He will either play 1B or 3B in the majors. That’s it. He won’t be playing any other positions.

by mspirate on Jun 23, 2009 12:16 AM EDT up reply actions

Problem is...

with this team…doesn’t look like the offense is going to come from much of anywhere against a left hander.

by Thunder on Jun 23, 2009 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Well, he’s either going to be a third baseman or a first baseman. Talk about other positions is just a wasted breath.

by mspirate on Jun 22, 2009 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions

He would have more value at 3B, but I just don’t think his defense is going to allow him to play 3B at the big league level. I’m not saying he can’t work and get better by the time he’s ready to come up, but more than likely, he’s going to be the next great power-hitting 1B. Besides, we have nobody ready at 1B once LaRoche leaves. Pearce is NOT the answer. Romak is in Double-A, but Alvarez will pass him in the next year. So I think he ends up at 1B.

by mspirate on Jun 22, 2009 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Would I be right in assuming

that it would be just about impossible for Alvarez to be a September call-up this year?

by Suffering Buc on Jun 22, 2009 11:22 AM EDT reply actions

I certainly hope so.

by Vlad on Jun 22, 2009 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions

If He's Gonna Swing At Anything Even Close To The Strike Zone

Then i absolutely hope not.

by Androgen Jar Jimmy on Jun 22, 2009 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions

Locke was originally in the Brave’s offer for Bay that almost went down last year before Coon Dog pulled the plug

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/06/jason-bay-was-nearly-a-brave.html

RIP NATE. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN...MISTER TONY PLUSH!

by GTrain on Jun 22, 2009 1:59 PM EDT reply actions

If the report is true...

…we dodged a bullet on that one. Jones is marginal, Lillibridge has collapsed, and Rodriguez has promise but isn’t hitting at all this year.

by Vlad on Jun 22, 2009 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Ya

I’ll take Andy Laroche and Morris’ potential over that. Although it does worry me about the Nate haul.

RIP NATE. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN...MISTER TONY PLUSH!

by GTrain on Jun 22, 2009 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions

This isn't logical, is it?

It could just be that he struggled with his average at Lynchburg because no one would throw him strikes; if that’s the case, he’ll either start seeing more strikes as he faces better pitchers, or he’ll have to learn to lay off bad pitches.

Emphasis mine. Moving up, it’ seems logical that he’ll face better strikes, as well as more out-of-zone pitches. Doesn’t it? I get the CW, but it just doesn’t sound right.

by azibuck on Jun 22, 2009 2:49 PM EDT reply actions

Platoon Splits

They also scare me. He is opsing .964 against righties and .631 against lefties, even though it obviously is a small sample size. He ks once very 3 ABs against lefties and once every 4 against righties. Homers once every 12 ABs against righties, once every 50 against lefties.

One interesting note, without doing any research at all, it seems he was seeing a lot of lefties relative to the norm. 41.6% of his ABs against lefties, is this the norm? I thought it would be closer to 1/3, even considering late game bullpen manuvering.

by Scranton on Jun 22, 2009 3:17 PM EDT reply actions

It's more than I'd expect...

…but within the range of expected variance for a sample that small.

by Vlad on Jun 22, 2009 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions

'opsing'

Come on Vlad, you should be all over that one.

I can see Andy LaRoche being a pretty steady 3B for the Pirates over the next few years, both defensively and with the bat. Not a world beater, but a very nice complementary piece to Cutch and Alverez.

So it won’t be any big disaster if Pedro ends up playing 1B. And if his bat is anywhere near that of Miguel Cabrera or Jim Thome, we’ll be all be happy enough, eh?

by RDV across the sea on Jun 22, 2009 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Odd splits

Alvarez is batting .275 with a .925 OPS in night games. And he has a .140 BA and .446 OPS during night games.

Reverse vampire?

Another odd split is Jose Tabata batting .083 with a .344 OPS with the bases empty, but .375 with a .891 OPS with runners on.

Note to self: Don’t bat him leadoff.

by TravisDW on Jun 22, 2009 4:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Oops

That should be “he has a .140 BA and .446 OPS during day games”

by TravisDW on Jun 22, 2009 4:59 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm not in need of a grammar tutorial

I’m a lawyer, I read and write for a living. I hope I wouldn’t have my choice of words scrutinized when I’m writing about my hobbies.

by Scranton on Jun 22, 2009 4:49 PM EDT reply actions

Sorry.

Running joke from a previous post. Didn’t mean to offend.

by RDV across the sea on Jun 22, 2009 5:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Easy Madlock...

If anyone should get blasted for their typing and grammar skills it’s me. Everyone is pretty cool here. There’s just a running joke about Vlad being anal when it comes to grammar. Nice to have you on board and I warn you, you’ll need a thicker skin for this blog because I guarantee that there will be posts to get your blood boiling and they’ll have nothing to do with grammar lessons…lol!

by Slick1 on Jun 22, 2009 9:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes indeed. This blog will make being a lawyer seem like a walk in the park. Get prepared!

by mspirate on Jun 22, 2009 10:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Lawyers are typically prepared

AND offer citation.

Take note.

Free your ass and your mind will follow.

by cocktailsfor2 on Jun 22, 2009 10:31 PM EDT up reply actions

I don’t know if he’s prepared for you, cocktails.

by mspirate on Jun 23, 2009 12:55 AM EDT up reply actions

That was

meant for you, mspirate.

Free your ass and your mind will follow.

by cocktailsfor2 on Jun 23, 2009 8:48 AM EDT up reply actions

I know.

by mspirate on Jun 23, 2009 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions

maTlock

while we’re being annoying

RIP NATE. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN...MISTER TONY PLUSH!

by GTrain on Jun 23, 2009 10:07 AM EDT up reply actions

Madlock:

Matlock:

MatLACK:

Free your ass and your mind will follow.

by cocktailsfor2 on Jun 23, 2009 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions

Pretty sure the reference was to TV lawyer Matlock.

RIP NATE. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN...MISTER TONY PLUSH!

by GTrain on Jun 23, 2009 12:28 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah.

Free your ass and your mind will follow.

by cocktailsfor2 on Jun 23, 2009 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Alvarez got interview tips from Crash Davis in the Carolina League!

From altoonacurve.com interview with him:

“I’m just glad to be here,” the personable New York native said. “I’ll take it one day at a time, try to help the team, and focus on what I have in front of me.”

by IAPiratesFan on Jun 23, 2009 12:32 AM EDT reply actions

I don’t get bothered easily, and I wasn’t even bothered. I remember the “grammar thread”, I’ve been reading here for a while and post periodically. I just wanted to pre-empt being talked down to, cause that does annoy me. And, if I remember correctly, there were some much harsher responses to the original grammar thread.

by Scranton on Jun 23, 2009 7:59 AM EDT reply actions

Strike three

1. Lawyer
2. Bad grammar
3. Doesn’t know how to use reply button.

by azibuck on Jun 23, 2009 9:18 AM EDT up reply actions

Clever

by Scranton on Jun 23, 2009 9:32 AM EDT up reply actions

Alvarez and Durham

I saw Lynchburg play just last weekend in Kinston, NC against the Indians franchise. Pedro autographed my Hillcats hat for me, so I’m glad I went to the game. Pedro looked inconsistent. He had hit two homers the night before, but went 0-4 the day we were there; I would not say any of them was a good at-bat. His issue with errors is what really worries me. He had the most of anyone on the Lynchburg team and on the day I saw him we were sitting field level right behind first base and I almost caught one of his errant throws. Not too good!

I don’t know much about Miles Durham, but he played RF the day we went to the game and he has got a freakin’ cannon for an arm! His offensive numbers didn’t look bad, but he is a bit old to still be tooling around A or AA leagues. But, damn, what an arm.

That’s my two cents.

by napoleangunner on Jun 23, 2009 12:12 PM EDT reply actions

I know someone who works for Erie

…as the director of entertainment. Goofy job title, I know, but I asked him to score my family some tickets to see the Curve. I’m rather excited. I kinda hope Alvarez knocks the ball into Lake Erie.