Regardless of what the guy’s problems are, it’s been evident from the beginning of last season that this guy just doesn’t have the mentality to be an effective starting pitcher in the big leagues. How long do we have to continue to run him out there every fifth day and watch the exact same thing happen? He can’t throw strikes, he’s terribly inefficient and he doesn’t belong in a major league rotation. Does he have to get to 10 or 15 losses before he’s pulled from the rotation? If the Pirates are serious about turning this thing around and winning again in a couple of years, they have to get rid of Snell or at least pull him out of the rotation.

is that we have options to fill in for him if we would send him down. Gorzo, Karstens, Vasquez may not have the upside of Ian, but they could do no worse. How long is Ian going to be run out there because of his “upside”.

There is the standard arguement that we are not going to compete so just run him out there. I say BS. We need to get him straight. He obviously hasnt gotten it straight in 15 starts. We sent Gorzo down, so why no send Ian down? I don’t understand why they are so tentative to pull the trigger with this guy? The FO talks about accountability and production. When Moss was slumping, we pulled him. When Monroe dogged it, he got cut. Last year when Gorzo was out of shape and struggling – they demoted him. All Ian has done this year is throw everyone under the bus and underachieve. Kerrigan hasnt reached him or coached him up. I think this kid needs to go down to AAA for a few starts and start trusting his stuff again.

If Ian is going to be a part of the future, we need him to get straight. We dont need another Kip Wells.

Kip Wells was underachieving before his life threatning medical condition. If his condition were that bad and truly life-threatning, then he should have retired. Last time I checked he was pitching for the Nats and I still heard from their broadcasters about his potential…..

I don’t argue that Snell is one of our five best starters. My arguement is that he should be sent down to get some success and maybe start trusting his stuff. We aren’t going to compete this year, so why not hold his place with a fill-in while he gets it right under less pressure circumstances? If he is going to be a long term option and truly be a part of our future – he has to perform better. All other non-performers or under performers have been demoted or benched (whether or not they are deemed part of our future). Why is Ian the exception?

1. Kip Wells had the potential when he was drafted 16th overall in 1998. He was never on the DL for Pittsburgh except for his last year with the club ‘06 when we traded him to the Rangers for Jesse Chavez.. His record over his tenure with the Pirates ’02-’05 (I did not count ’06 because of his limited tenure with the PBC) was 35-53 with an ERA over 4. His numbers hardly define “upside”. You cannot quantify his nibbling at the corners when there was no evidence of his “life threatning injury”. If you want to quantify all of ’05 (for which we have no evidence statistically of when the injury occurred) I will give you that, but at that point he was going to be what he was going to be based on his 6 years of major league track record (47-51/4.38ERA). All of this is making the point that he never reached upside and this is exactly the same path/reasoning the PBC is putting forth for Snell (33-46/4.75ERA).

2. My suggestion that we demote Snell has nothing to do with psychology and I have no idea how that was inferred from my post. Demoting Snell sends a message that he is accountable to produce. 2-8 with a 5.36ERA with an almost 1/1 BB/SO ratio is not production. The whole point of demotion is to let Snell know that we want him to have success (which he is not seeing at the MLB level) and get back to basics. It is about approach not psychology. If we want him to be part of our future and realize his upside, then we need the best Ian Snell there is and in my opinion we have a better chance of getting that from a demotion to AAA where he can get back to basics.

It’s not like Snell is inept. He is madeningly frustrating (ala Kip Wells). Since he hasnt been demoted (ala Tom Gorzo), upper management may think he can work it out with at the Major League level. Joe Kerrigan is the best, but Snell still cant seem to find his groove. I am frustrated with managements approach to Snell. I am not in the front office or a scout – just some random internet poster – but when do you make a player accountable? We can tout quality start or run support, but at the end of the day he is 2-8 with a 5.36 ERA AND it’s not like he is rookie.

I really think Matt Capps and Ian Snell are very similar in terms of their capabilites. I wouldn’t want Capps going through the order two or three times. Snell may have more natural ability, but Capps is willing to challenge hitters at all times and has fantastic command, two things Snell is apparently lacking.

Capps’ willingness to throw his slider more often these days is going to lead to great results in my opinion. If he will throw it when he’s behind in the count or when he needs to get a strikeout I think he can become a top level closer.

The reason other teams want Snell as a potential setup man is that is probably what he should be. Not on our team. We need to do everything possible to see if he can be a productive starter. But many contenders with starters in place probably would love to have him as a setup man. And I bet that is what he ends up being…..and a good one.

Gorzo and Snell?? Other than Snell had a longer term contract. Gorzo pitched like dog meat…and got sent down. Snell pitches like dog meat and hangs around. Both had or have options.

Again…we see where Pirates management has preached accountability…yet continues to handle situations in an inconsistent way. Moss slumps…benched…Morgan slumps…sits about once every 2 weeks. Are there that many fragile egos on the Pirates roster that can’t deal with trying to field the best lineup to give the team a chance to win?? Play the bench guys, even if it costs you a chance to win the game?? Don’t start your best 5 starting pitchers??

Play favorites?? By all means…keep Snell in the rotation…continue to play a guy that doesn’t hit his weight against lefties. Yep, JR, play favorites instead of who gives you the best chance to win. Then look at the 95-100 losses at the end of the season and say…we should have had a better record but we didn’t get the job done. That’s what got the last manager fired.

Snell is running out of time:

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/s_630963.html

Of course Snell blames 3 pitching coaches in 4 years on his struggles. When is this guy ever going to take responsiblity? Even the article mentions that his bullpen sessions are not translating over to the field. I didnt know Kerrigan stood behind him on the mound screwing with his mechanics pitch to pitch or telling him to fall apart when there is an error behind him. Snell needs to quit bitchin’ to the media.

have athletes that throw everyone under the bus? If you dont perform at your job for which you are paid a salary and blamed your boss, co-workers and previous administration for your lack of productivity – how would you be viewed? My point is that I expect people to take personal responsibility for their productioin – whether on the playing field or the boardroom. I have no tolerance for people who dont produce but blame their lack of success on other people. Yes – I would rather have Ian say, “I sucked tonight and I am going to try to get better”. If I lose a deal, that is how I react – not blame my competition, upper management, politics and karma – even if they all played a role.

is that he is owed a guaranteed couple more milliion $ this year, and reportedly $4.25 million for next.

The good news is that the underachieving, royal pain in the arse is Indy’s problem for the time being.

Since Snell somehow convinced himself through his convoluted thinking that he belonged on the Puerto Rico team for the WBC, perhaps he should just prepare himself for a winter stint playing ball down there.

If he returns to Pittsburgh, it will be because of a bunch of injuries, or a September recall to act as filler while we finish out the string.

I’d be very surprised to see him in a Pirate uniform to start 2010.