Pirates vs. Phillies, 12 July 2009
by Charlie on Jul 12, 2009 12:30 PM EDT
104 comments
Pittsburgh Pirates at Philadelphia Phillies, Jul 12, 2009 1:35 PM EDT
Virgil Vasquez vs. J.A. Happ, 1:35 PM.
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The First Beer is in the Books
A Magic Hat “Wacko,” described on the label as a beer with beet juice color. I have no idea why you would want that, but it was indeed a very clear pink – you could almost confuse it with a wine cooler. But it was a good, light pilsner. Not bad.
Will be in and out – more work to catch up on.
by Trogluddite on Jul 12, 2009 1:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Buccos line-up
CF Cutch
2 Freddy
LF Jones
C Doumit
RF Young
1 Mario
3 Luigi
SS Angry Jack
P V-Squared
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by UtesFan89 on Jul 12, 2009 1:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I like this line up....
….except I still would have Andy hitting in fron of Adam.
by Brakeman8 on Jul 12, 2009 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
So
it seems like I missed a collapse for the ages last night?
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by UtesFan89 on Jul 12, 2009 1:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
A bigger collapse hasn't been seen
since the German invasion of Russia when the Russkie “armies” disintegrated in place. Or perhaps a better example is when a dying star, in its last gasp of existence, collapse into a black hole of despair whose gravitational pull of depression is so strong that no hope, no glimmer of a better future, can escape.
by Trogluddite on Jul 12, 2009 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well.....
you probably also didn’t realize it cost us the wild card spot. Or at least that was the reaction of a few.
by dtoddwin on Jul 12, 2009 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dang!
Costly loss, that must’ve been.
So, now that we’re out of the WC race, is it time to sit back and watch the race for Harper?
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by UtesFan89 on Jul 12, 2009 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Because
Washington & San Diego are worse than us right now, and really, really bad teams too.
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by UtesFan89 on Jul 12, 2009 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That should be the reaction of the fans
Good teams don’t become good teams from adding one new player. They become good teams from each part playing at or above expectations. As we saw last night (and all of last year), it does no good for the offense to be productive if the pitching can’t be counted on to keep us in the game.
Last night was just symptomatic of how this team finds ways to lose
by Trogluddite on Jul 12, 2009 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
From Troy Renck
Pittsburgh’s Freddy Sanchez is not coming to the Rockies. It makes no sense. Sanchez will, however, be traded. The Giants can swing it if they unload pitcher Jonathan Sanchez and a prospect
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by UtesFan89 on Jul 12, 2009 1:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Saw that. Apparently the Rockies had been after Capps. You would think with Embree going down they may look at both Capps and Grabow.
I’m not a big fan of J.Sanchez, but with Burnett gone and Grabow on the block we could use him in the pen. I would hope if that is the case that we would get another decent p[rospect with him as well for Freddy.
by Brakeman8 on Jul 12, 2009 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I just hope the Rockies didn’t see any highlights of the Capps debacle last night.
by mspirate on Jul 12, 2009 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Please stop putting Jimmy Rollins on base!
by Brakeman8 on Jul 12, 2009 1:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Well, the futures game starts in 10 minutes.
by Brakeman8 on Jul 12, 2009 1:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Despite his no-hitter
I don’t like trading Freddy f/Johny O. Sanchez. Johny O. is 27 and in his fourth year as a pro. In his prior three years, he has averaged a 5.18 ERA, 1.50 WHIP (which I think is bad), and a 2/1 K/BB ratio. He was only freed from the bullpen because Randy Johnson was hurt and I don’t particularly see him starting in Pittsburgh.
Better the Sanchez you know than the Sanchez you don’t know.
by Trogluddite on Jul 12, 2009 1:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think it would depend
on the prospect they were giving up with Jonathan. If he’s a fairly good to good prospect, I’d bite.
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by UtesFan89 on Jul 12, 2009 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
27 pitches
already in the first inning….and another walk. Ugh!
by Brakeman8 on Jul 12, 2009 1:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Grand slam
Just in time to catch the start of the futures game.
by Brakeman8 on Jul 12, 2009 1:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Damn
what a depressing start after the depressing end last night.
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by UtesFan89 on Jul 12, 2009 2:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Wow.
Just picking up where they left off last night.
Now let’s not trade this power house team away…
by IAPiratesFan on Jul 12, 2009 2:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Futures
Just posted the likely US pitching line-up for the game and Lincoln’s scheduled to be the 10th pitcher going…in other words, only if someone doesn’t make it through their inning.
by mak_DC on Jul 12, 2009 2:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
At least Karstens seems to be fitting in well as a long reliever.
charity standing orders
by BadMaafala on Jul 12, 2009 3:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I see last night’s collapse has us at what may be an all time low level of interest in this game.
by Brakeman8 on Jul 12, 2009 3:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
First post, been following threads for a few weeks. Time to bring Gorzo back after the break. Vasquez is done.
by NHpiratefan on Jul 12, 2009 3:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Attention
There’s been a Donnie Veal sighting!
Warming in the pen.
by Brakeman8 on Jul 12, 2009 3:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I thought it was funny that the Pirates’ website had a headline that read, “Pirates bringing Veal back to solidify bullpen”.
charity standing orders
by BadMaafala on Jul 12, 2009 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It certainly solidifies that “we don’t stand a chance in this game” position.
by Brakeman8 on Jul 12, 2009 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nice K
of Howard by Veal. Maybe he should have closed last night.
by Brakeman8 on Jul 12, 2009 3:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I guess Veal didn’t do too badly, the first two outs were hard hit but striking out Howard is nice.
by RobotRock on Jul 12, 2009 3:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Definitely Cutch's fault
But, when Freddy sees him running, why not take the pitch and see if he gets into scoring position? Why swing there?
by dtoddwin on Jul 12, 2009 3:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Garrett Jones=MVP
4 home runs in 20 at bats against lefties.
by dtoddwin on Jul 12, 2009 3:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Damn....
you really wish Cutch and Freddy didn’t screw up last inning.
by dtoddwin on Jul 12, 2009 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yep
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by UtesFan89 on Jul 12, 2009 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Holy...
Garrett Jones might be living up to JR’s excitement?!
by pittbluedevil on Jul 12, 2009 3:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
MVP
42 at bats, 5 homers, 1.131 OPS………It may just be a hot stretch, but his approach at the plate looks very good. And he’s killing good lefties.
by dtoddwin on Jul 12, 2009 3:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The book is coming into focus on him, though
And it won’t be long until opposing pitchers hear about it. Don’t throw him fastballs, especially low. Those are what he’s hammering.
by matskralc on Jul 12, 2009 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Except for.......
the high fastball that he hammered off Blanton and the curve that he smashed last week. You may also have noticed that he just hit three in a row off the same team, in his 13 or 14 at bat of the series. HOw many at bats do the Phillies need to get their book? Why such a hater?
by dtoddwin on Jul 12, 2009 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wasn't it Chris Duffy...?
It took teams a couple of months or something to get the book on him, and then he just fell off of the face of the earth?
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by UtesFan89 on Jul 12, 2009 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Three in a row off the same team?
Wow, nobody’s ever done that before. And he hit one off a breaking pitch last week? Impressive.
28-year-olds can hit pretty well in AAA because all they have to do is sit on fastballs. AAA pitchers are usually in AAA because they can’t throw breaking pitches for strikes. A 28-year-old in his fifth AAA season will likely develop the “skill” of not swinging at breaking pitches, and will sit around and for fastballs.
Major league pitchers can throw breaking pitches for strikes, and Jones is going to start running out of time to sit on fastballs and golf them over the wall Xavier Nady-style.
I thought it was funny that Greg Brown the other night kept saying “we’ve been teased before by guys like Brad Eldred and Mark Johnson” when talking about Garrett Jones, as if Jones was somehow not cut from the same cloth.
by matskralc on Jul 12, 2009 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes, we should probably bench him and let Moss play more…because no one has a book on him….he’s younger, so he must be better!
by Brakeman8 on Jul 12, 2009 4:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Easy, now….
;-)
Free your ass and your mind will follow.
by cocktailsfor2 on Jul 12, 2009 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Just asking the question.....
You say that soon the book will be coming into focus. How long exactly does that take? The Phillies pitched to him 13 times. He homered in his first at bat and his last. How many exactly does it take for them to realize not to throw him low fastballs as you suggest? Was JC Romero not at the first two games? Did he miss the pitchers meeting today going over the hitters? Just curious.
As for your smart ass comment about the breaking balls, I was just responding to your comment insinuating that he hit only low fastballs.
by dtoddwin on Jul 12, 2009 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed. You know, fans could be supportive of a guy that is actual giving the team some production. Instead of saying, “Well, it’s only a matter of time until somebody gets the book on him”, you could say, “Way to go Jones! Great hit! Hope it continues!” Why all the freakin’ negativity all the time? A guy has come up and given a pathetic offensive team a much needed boost. Maybe this is just a hot streak, but maybe he just hasn’t been given a fair chance in his career as well. Even if it is a hot streak, let’s ride it out and root for the guy instead of being negative all the time.
by mspirate on Jul 12, 2009 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Personally
I’m glad to see him doing well.
And I have no problem with him playing while he’s hot (as long as he’s not the one taking at-bats away from Moss).
As for being negative… being a sports fan has made me that (to an extreme?). Unfortunate, but true.
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by UtesFan89 on Jul 12, 2009 5:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I hope he hits a million home runs this year. That doesn’t mean I think it’s the least bit likely.
by matskralc on Jul 12, 2009 10:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I understand that, and we’re all Pirate fans so it’s easy to be negative, I guess, but let’s just give this guy a chance. I’m sure Jones has been told his entire career that he won’t amount to anything more than a bench player in the big leagues. He’s probably been told what he can’t do more than what he can do. Like I said, maybe it is just a hot streak, but the at-bats he’s putting together, especially against LHP, are very impressive and he doesn’t seem to chase bad pitches. Let’s just be positive, ride this thing out and hope this guy’s stick is legit and can be a piece for the next few years. I’m not saying that will be the case, but I will be positive about it. The guy has legit power and he can run like the wind for a man his size. It’s refreshing to see a guy from our Triple-A team get called up and actually produce. Other guys (Bixler and Pearce) in recent years have gotten the call-up and wilted on the big stage. Maybe for once, we have found a guy that just hasn’t gotten a fair shot and his time is now.
by mspirate on Jul 12, 2009 11:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
“… I’m sure Jones has been told his entire career that he won’t amount to anything more than a bench player in the big leagues.”
You know absolutely nothing of the kind.
You also have a tendency to post things like, "I’ll bet Cutch is just telling these guys, ‘Gee, if you’d have run faster, I’d have gotten a triple,’ " or "I’m sure Jack is saying ‘blah blah blah,’ "
You use these sayings as one “interprets” what a dog or baby is “thinking.”
You have no idea what these people are saying or not saying.
And as to your critique of others’ “run-on” sentences: you repeatedly ignore replies to your posts (by other BD posters, not me, please note) to use paragraphs in your own posts. Yet you have the temerity to call someone else out?
Free your ass and your mind will follow.
by cocktailsfor2 on Jul 12, 2009 11:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No I don’t know what people are saying or what people are thinking, you’re right, but it’s been 10 years since this guy was drafted and he has been in and out of the minor leagues with the Braves, Twins and now the Pirates. I’m pretty sure nobody has been telling him that he was going to be an everyday player, and a productive one at that, ten years after he got drafted.
And as far as the paragraphs thing goes? I’m sorry. Crucify me. I forget. Anything else you want to nitpick at there, cocktails?
by mspirate on Jul 13, 2009 1:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Please read above - it was NOT me who asked you to use paragraphs.
Not really a matter of nitpicking, mspirate, just pointing out something that other posters made mention of you doing something you had called out other posters for doing. Perhaps you missed them asking you to do so.
Free your ass and your mind will follow.
by cocktailsfor2 on Jul 13, 2009 9:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Giving him a chance?
No problem.
Sitting and proclaiming him the power hitter we haven’t had since (insert name here)… I’d give it some more time. (Not saying you’re doing this, but I’ve seen it mentioned in places.)
I’ll admit, I love the fact he’s coming to play and hitting the ball. And I have no problem with him playing, especially when there’s no other option. I just feel Moss should be playing often too, and it occasionally frustrates me that Moss keeps finding himself on the bench while Jones (and more directly, Young) keep getting at bats.
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by UtesFan89 on Jul 13, 2009 12:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, I understand where you’re coming from. This statement isn’t directed specifically at you because there are a lot of people, including myself, that think Moss should probably play more, but I think it’s time we get over the whole Moss debate. It’s clear that the Pirate coaches and management have made up their minds about Moss and he’s not going to be anymore than a platoon player from here on out, especially with Milledge waiting in the wings to be our everyday LF in the near future. It’s just wasted breath, in my opinion, to keep campaigning for Moss to get more playing time when it’s clear that it’s not going to happen.
by mspirate on Jul 13, 2009 2:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jones has earned his at bats
Moss has been given every chance and he’ll continue to get his chances. He plays against most righties, and most pitchers are righties. If he shows more good at bats like on his homer, he’s going to get more and more. Management wants him to succeed and play right field.
Since he’s a very good fielder, he’s going to be the preferred option there. It’s up to him to take it.
by MarkInDallas on Jul 13, 2009 3:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't think.....
it’s likely that he’ll hit a million either, good point.
by dtoddwin on Jul 13, 2009 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Also curious....
do you think he shouldn’t be playing? Or are you just saying he’s having a hot streak that isn’t going to last? (And I certainly agree that it isn’t going to last at this level.)
by dtoddwin on Jul 12, 2009 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t really care if he’s playing. I prefer the playing time go to somebody who has a chance to be a contributing factor on the next good Pirates team. The problem is there really aren’t any outfielders around on the major league squad who fit that description.
A cursory glance at Jones’ track record makes me doubt he’ll be one of those contributors as well. Moss is looking increasingly disappointing, although he is at least only 25 and his minor league career is a better body of work. Whenever Milledge is ready, I would hope and expect to see him become a regular in the OF, with Moss picking up the bulk of the 3rd OF at bats. I’m not all that interested in The Drive For 75 this season that playing Jones or Young is be a part of, but I don’t think this is a mismanagement foul on the level of Craig Wilson, either. These guys are killing time until a real prospect is ready for the spot. They’re not really blocking anybody.
Long answer: he’s on a fluky hot streak and I’m tired of seeing yinzers fall for this time and time again.
by matskralc on Jul 12, 2009 10:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Any other outfielders. McCutchen obviously will contribute. I hereby renew my call to Charlie for an edit button around here!!
by matskralc on Jul 12, 2009 10:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, Charlie should ediorial me then....
Are you saying, although he’s 28 and done well in his 45 at bats, he has no history of being successful so he souldn’t play? Again I ask you the question of when performance trumps projection?
I don’t know the answer but I wonder why you don’t address it when I’ve asked ten times. Is it 200 at bats, 600 at bats…… tell me when you reevaluate so I know.
And why at 28 is he at $650K in three years not possibly part of the next good team? If he sucks I agree, if he doesn’t what is the problem?
by dtoddwin on Jul 13, 2009 1:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, first, it’d be plate appearances I’d look at, not at bats. Walks count, too.
Second, the 4100+ he had in the minor leagues carry a lot more weight than his 121 (not 45) in the major leagues.
At age 28, there’s no room for projection left. A player is what he is. And Garrett Jones is a AAAA outfielder.
$650K in 3 years isn’t a problem if he doesn’t suck. Problem is, he’ll suck.
by matskralc on Jul 13, 2009 7:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Right.....
that makes sense. So he would suck, by definition, before his 45 at bats with the Pirates thus far because of his history. Has he sucked so far?
Tell me. Has he sucked? Because your infallible crystal ball is certainly always right, correct?
by dtoddwin on Jul 13, 2009 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You must be Jones' cousin or something.
You’re taking this awfully personally.
Allow me to simply repeat myself from only-slightly higher up the thread here: Long answer: he’s on a fluky hot streak and I’m tired of seeing yinzers fall for this time and time again.
by matskralc on Jul 13, 2009 5:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not personally,
sorry. Didn’t meant to make it sound that way.
Vlad and I had a discussion about the topic under the topic of lineup dreams today if you want to check it out.
by dtoddwin on Jul 13, 2009 7:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
And Rally Killer
ends it with a weak bouncer back to the pitcher. Not with a bang, but a wimper.
by Brakeman8 on Jul 12, 2009 4:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Man
Adam has been terrible all of July. I bet the yinzers want him traded now, because that’s what you do…trade players when they have no value.
by ryebr3ad on Jul 12, 2009 4:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
And....
When they do trade him, they’ll bitch and moan about how great Adam was and how the Pirates didn’t get enough for him and that he was the best defensive 1B in baseball. Is it just me or does it seem like the yinzers like players better when they leave town than when they’re here?
by IAPiratesFan on Jul 12, 2009 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I really want to know the people on here that are seriously going to miss Adam LaRoche when/if he’s traded.
by mspirate on Jul 12, 2009 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Of course i would like to see La roche get the boot, but what can NH expect to get in return?
If he showed he can do more than K and ground out, i am sure the Pirates could have gotten a very decent return, maybe along with another player, and agreeing to pick up some of his ridiculous salary.
That said, he has been useless this month, of all times the team needed him to produce, to enhance his value.
Since pawning him off is not going to be a good thing, then just put him on the bench, give him a start or 2 a week, and use him as a late inning defensive replacement, and a pinch hitter.
Ya know the same job Moss should have had since the beginning of may.
by tom p on Jul 12, 2009 8:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Trade the guy for a couple bags of sunflower seeds. I don’t care. We’re not going to get a lot in return for him anyway (unless he gets packaged with Sanchez or somebody else) so just take what you can get and move on. I’m ready to see Jones at 1B and the outfield of Milledge, McCutchen, and Moss/Young.
by mspirate on Jul 12, 2009 11:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Anyone have
a link to a box score or something for the Futures Game today?
Who do the Pirates have in it, again?
by pittbluedevil on Jul 12, 2009 4:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
rain delay
on espn 2 showing last years game with cutch in it
by 1STstate bucco on Jul 12, 2009 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lincoln & Alvarez
in a rain delay right now though.
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by UtesFan89 on Jul 12, 2009 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
As for Jones, I’d play him each day until his OPS got below a certain point, around .800 or something similar. If he continues to defy expectations and ends above a certain mark, then we have a stopgap.
by Gorkys n' Beans on Jul 12, 2009 5:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Why a stopgap....
If he produces? I keep asking the question, and I’m not sure I have a good answer, but at what point does performance merit playing time? 200 at bats, one season, when does what you are actually doing on the field trump what is “expected” of you.
Look I realize as much as anyone that this is unlikely to last. I just want to know, particularly because of the power component—as opposed to average like Redman, Duffy, Morgan, etc.,—when do you reevaluate and recalibrate expectations?
by dtoddwin on Jul 12, 2009 5:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I like to set the bench mark
at 250 to 300 at bats., but that’s just me
by Green_Wave on Jul 12, 2009 5:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
At worst
he seems to have proven he can be an adequate stopgap after Mario’s inevitable trade. That gives him the rest of this year and, most likely, all of next season to establish himself as something more. It would seem that he can at least be a quality bat off the bench for the upcoming magical 2011 season, and if he continues to produce b/w now and then, he could establish himself as the everyday 1B. Unless we land a really high upside, major league ready 1B prospect in a trade, I don’t see anyone on our roster that will stop him from getting enough AB’s to show management what they have with him.
by los angeles bucco of anaheim on Jul 12, 2009 6:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I would cut bait at the first signs of him really playing terribly, but with what our roster is now there is little reason to not give him the shot to be the next McLouth/Morgan late bloomer type for us. He passes the eye test with some power, a nice looking swing, and a little bit of speed. Absolute best case scenario, we cash in a sustained hot streak for some young value ala Morgan.
by Gorkys n' Beans on Jul 12, 2009 6:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
So if he goes a few games without a hit
you would just cut him and let someone else give him a chance to find what has made him so good for the first 3 months (between minors and majors)?
There’s been no sign that he’s a flash in the pan. He’s getting good at bats almost every time. He’s not just getting lucky or hitting against poor competition. He’s laying off the out of the zone breaking stuff, and seems to have very good pitch recognition and plate discipline.
He looks the ball right onto the bat, unlike LaChoke or Moss who pull their head off the ball half the time.
If he continues doing those things, there’s no reason he won’t continue to excel.
by MarkInDallas on Jul 12, 2009 10:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think age has a lot to do with it. For some reason, people think 28 is old. Look, 28 isn’t young, but it isn’t close to being old, either. People think even if he does produce, he will only be a stopgap or a fill-in because he’s 28 and that’s two years away from the dreaded old age of 30. By the way, the best hitter in the game today? Albert Pujols. Age? 30, and that guy isn’t close to slowing down. He’s in the middle of his prime. Maybe that was a bad example because there’s only one Albert Pujols and the guy is a machine, but I’m just sayin’. There are a lot of great players still playing at a high level that are in their mid-30’s. IF Garrett Jones (again, big if) continues to hit and show that he belongs, I really think he could be our 1B for the next few years (assuming Pedro Alvarez isn’t moved over there). If not, he can be a good bench guy or if worse comes to worse, we cut the guy and move on.
by mspirate on Jul 12, 2009 11:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed
if he continues to hit.
I’m not ready to declare that he’s been hitting well enough long enough to be anointed “1st baseman of the future” just yet.
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by UtesFan89 on Jul 13, 2009 12:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No need to anoint
Of course, he’s bound to have some adjustment period when there are scouting reports on him. But truthfully, has anyone seen a weakness yet? The guy has been spotting pitches very well. He’s got a much better eye than LaChoke. He’s hitting lefties and righties both.
He could have a weakness inside high, but if you come in too much he lays off and make a mistake over the plate and he belts it. I have a feeling he’s going to see a lot more breaking stuff and off speed stuff.
The encouraging thing is his swing isn’t long like LaRoche’s either. LaChoke has the slowest and longest swing I’ve seen.
by MarkInDallas on Jul 13, 2009 3:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes. Those down-and-in pitches that Jones hit out against LHP this weekend are pitches that Adam LaRoche 1)swings and misses at 2) hits to the 1B 3) or hits to the 2B. No way LaRoche does anything with those same pitches.
by mspirate on Jul 13, 2009 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The thing that kills me about Moss
Is that it’s not like anyone thought he was going to be a real contributor, even in the first flush of the Bay trade. So why this constant drumbeat of “give Moss more time”? Best case is that he’s a good 4th outfielder. There is no way that he is a starter for a championship team. The Pirates control him for 5 more years, so it’s not as if there’s a risk that we’ll lose him without ever “discovering” his true talent.
He’ll be here as long as he’s cheap and a tolerable spare OF. He’s not being “blocked” by GJones or Young or anyone. If he’s our starting RF in 2011 or 2012, then the Pirates will be a bad team – who cares?
by JRoth95 on Jul 12, 2009 10:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I'm pretty sure people out there
at least had some hopes for a 24-year old OF.
While his numbers aren’t All-Star worthy, he has turned things around since the beginning of the season (which I’ll admit was horrible). He’s tripled his HR numbers in the past couple of weeks (from 1 to 3… small jump, I know) and has flashed some doubles power. I don’t know… maybe he’s destined to be a platoon OF for his career (not that that’s a bad thing, if he can hit RHPs well). But I think, with the fact that he seems to be heating up a bit, maybe he should get a couple of games against LHPs as well… just to see what he can do.
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RIP Nick Adenhart. 4/9/09
by UtesFan89 on Jul 13, 2009 12:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Moss against LHP
I don’t completely understand why Moss has been tagged as unable to hit lefties. This year he has a .250 BA against LHP vs. .255 against RHP. Given, neither of those are good, but that’s not much of a disparity, and it’s typical to have at least some disparity b/w the two, otherwise managers wouldn’t be so hell bent on bringing in lefty relievers to face lefty hitters and vice versa.. Last year he actually hit significantly better against lefties (.267 against LHP vs. 239 against RHP).
I don’t get to see many games, so is it that he doesn’t make solid contact when facing lefties, or has JR just made an assumption that he struggles more against LHP than RHP with no statistical backing?
by los angeles bucco of anaheim on Jul 13, 2009 2:26 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
In Garrett Jones' defense...
…the translation of his 2009 AAA numbers is almost exactly the same OPS as Adam LaRoche’s current line. (Pearce’s is slightly better than both, for what it’s worth).
by Gorkys n' Beans on Jul 13, 2009 10:54 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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