3-20 & 3-17 + Hard Work = Neil's Vision
by Illinois Pirate Fan on Sep 22, 2009 5:19 PM EDT
36 comments
Just think how terrible these guys would be if they weren't trying? Losing 100 games means nothing. What is meaningful is the realization there is no talent on this team. I believe that Neil owes it to the fans to spend some serious money ($25 million saved on salary dumps) during the off-season to acquire some badly-needed free agents and that should start with Rick Ankiel who will not be signed by the Cardinals if they ink Holliday to a contract. Ankiel's left-handed power would look great against the Clemente wall as would his terrific arm which would allow Neil to dump both Pearce and Moss and play Jones at 1B. Next, spend the money to re-sign Grabow and then cut Capps loose. Third, forget about Kerrigan and sign Dave Duncan when he leaves the Cardinals. Hell, sign his son and let him occasionally platoon Jones if that makes the father happy. As bad as Duncan was as a player, he's still better than Moss and Pearce. Next, see if there is any interest in trading Doumit and get what you can. Jaramillo is a much better overall catcher than Doumit. Finally, use some of the salary saved to sign a FA pitcher such as Marquis or Tim Hudson and cut Karstens and Dumatrait lose. We've got everybody's dead-wood from all the shrewd trades made by Neil and they must be let go. Finally, investigate the cost to sign either Joe Crede or Troy Glaus and cut LaRoche loose. He'll never be a hitter.
If something drastic doesn't happen in the off-season then Neil can expect to see more crowds like the 500 that stayed to watch the debacle against the Padres. Of course, if he doesn't sign anybody new then he saves money on bobbleheads next year because other than McCutchen nobody else's face is recognizable by the fans in Pittsburgh.
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If we sign Troy Glaus, John Grabow, Jason Marquis and Rick Ankiel for $25 million in the offseason we clearly have rehired Dave Littlefield.
That quartet is probably worth 1 extra win tops over our current lineup and that value is entirely tied up in Ankiel.
by MrPedriqueIfYoureNasty on Sep 22, 2009 5:32 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
+1
It’s almost like as if IPF wasn’t paying attention when the Pirates were LOSING when following this kind of plan.
Hudson hasn’t been healthy or effective in a few years, Crede MAY RETIRE, Ankiel’s production isn’t good enough to supplant Cutch, Milledge, or Jones, and Glaus would be another Eric Hinske. If the team was out of it by July – which would be highly likely – he would be moved by the trade deadline. In essence, they would pay him millions, only to dump him for someone younger.
And what’s with this whole “forget Joe Kerrigan” stuff? As if Dave Duncan could help make Zach Duke throw an All-Star, or Ross Ohlendorf go from a Triple-A castoff to a legit Major League starter. Oh, wait… KERRIGAN DID THAT!
If you think this team has regressed now, doing everything IPF said sets it back even further.
Wow, way to miss the point.
"Straight ball I hit very much, but curveball, bats are afraid." - Pedro Cerrano
by silencerdu on Sep 25, 2009 6:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Duncan
Well, yeah Kerrigan has done great things, but if by some miracle Duncan wanted to leave the Cards (I don’t know, maybe he catches LaRussa sleeping with his wife) the Bucs would be stupid not to pursue him. Duncan has done the impossible with guys that other good pitching coaches have given up on. And, I can’t think of any pitcher that he failed with that another coach turned around. He is the best at what he does.
by uneasy rider on Oct 9, 2009 8:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Whoever this Neil fellow is, you sure do hate him. You’re talking about O’Donnell, right?
Yawn, these posts aren’t even enjoyable to make fun of anymore…
by wickethewok on Sep 22, 2009 5:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Neil Walker? Maybe?
Perhaps Neil Huntington. Whoever he is. Also according to IPF’s last post, the Pirates are going to attempt to sign Sanos. I wonder if Sanos is someone like Miguel Angel Sano.
by IAPiratesFan on Sep 23, 2009 2:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
There are so many things wrong with this post
that it would save time to point out the things that aren’t bad ideas/statements
1)losing 100 games means nothing (when used in context of this season)
2)Sign Rick Ankiel (maybe a stretch, but it’s not a bad idea really)
3)sign Dave Duncan (I wouldn’t mind this at all, though I see it being hard to accomplish)
That’s all I got.
Show me a guy whos afraid to look bad, and I'll show you a guy you can beat every time. -Lou Brock
by Green_Wave on Sep 22, 2009 5:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The Hudson thing might be OK as well.
Though I’d be surprised if the Braves didn’t pick up his option, as well as he’s pitched since coming back.
by Vlad on Sep 23, 2009 9:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
IPF has replaced gunner as.......
the most annoying, clueless poster in Bucs Dugout.
Just go to the PBC Blog aleady.
by BadAndy on Sep 22, 2009 6:33 PM EDT via mobile reply actions 1 recs
IPF -
you’ve really gone off the deep end, sir.
First off, which “salary dump(s)” are you referring to? The ones that were refuted in an earlier post of yours?
As for the attendance of 500, well, let’s see…a couple of last place teams playing in September. Were you expecting something else?
Sign Crede or Glaus? And who would you sign to play the 100 + games a year they can’t play because of injury?
Re-signing Grabow is a good idea, unless he goes as a Type A, in which case we’d lose picks…and having Grabow has nothing to do with Capps. Are you suggesting we insert Grabes as the closer?
Like I said – you’ve really gone off the deep end with this one.
Free your ass and your mind will follow.
by cocktailsfor2 on Sep 22, 2009 6:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
You've got a lot of nerve complaining about "salary dumps"...
…when you spent Neil’s first year as a GM excoriating him for not immediately trading everything that wasn’t nailed down.
I can go back and find some quotes, if you’d like.
by Vlad on Sep 23, 2009 9:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He doesn't have a problem with flip-flopping at all...
It’s so boring reading posters whose sole purpose in life is to hate on everything the front office does. And for the record, I’ve tried this approach with him before and it doesn’t work. When facts are thrown at him (or his own comments from the past are used against him) he’ll simply ignore your.
by Slick1 on Sep 23, 2009 11:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's still a useful reminder...
…for outside observers reading the thread.
I do not understand why Duke continues to remain in the rotation because he is not a MLB quality pitcher. How much time does management need to see this? He gives up way too many hits and strikes out far too few batters.
[…]
Neil needs to completely blow up this team and start over. Play the young guys and dump the vets. Please!!!!!!!!!! -IPF, August 22, 2008
Or is anybody else beginning to worry that maybe NH will try to field the same team in 2009 that he did in 2008? After all this time and talking all he’s done is obtain a new backup catcher, infielder and Rule 5 pitcher. He couldn’t work out a package deal for Wilson, Sanchez, and Adam LaRoche? Doesnt the name Trader Bobby Layne mean anything to him? I don’t think I can take another season with the same stiffs we had last year. I am a realist and do not expect a division winner but I’d like to see some new names that would at least give me hope and not have to watch the same lineup that almost lost 100 games last year. Am I expecting too much? -IPF, December 14, 2008
Etc.
by Vlad on Sep 23, 2009 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hillarious!
You could do this all day if you had the time, there are many more. Well, you had better bookmark this post for next season’s tirade!
by Slick1 on Sep 23, 2009 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm glad you straightened that out
that you were referring to IPF, and not me, since it was my post you were responding to…
Free your ass and your mind will follow.
by cocktailsfor2 on Sep 23, 2009 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Vlad, thanks for looking that all up; I was starting to think IPF was just trolling…. and your post proves it.
Thanks again,
Paul
by lighthouse913 on Sep 23, 2009 1:53 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
Hahahahahaha
I really hope this is a joke.
by thefutureisnear on Sep 22, 2009 7:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I'm not sure which excites me more
The .225/.289/.414, or the upcoming back surgery.
by biggyv on Sep 22, 2009 9:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Craaaazy
I know people want to see improvement, especially given the last 6 weeks of play, but all of those suggested free agent signings would have been great—about 3-5 years ago. IPF mentions that 100 losses mean nothing, but all of these suggestions look exactly like knee-jerk reactions to a very bad year by a very bad (and raw) team. Another equally important aspect (though often overlooked) is that those players have to WANT to come here. It takes two to sign.
The idea to spend money (on the big league club at least) for all small market teams should be done in ONLY two instances: to re-sign and keep their home grown stars (i.e. McCutch) or when the team is near competing to try and get that last piece. The bogus free agent signings of Jeremy Burnitz and Pat Meares and Derek Bell can easily be replicated by signing Rick Ankiel, Pat Meares, and Troy Glaus.
by NastyNate82 on Sep 22, 2009 9:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Frustration understood...
..but you’ve gotta understand the majority of moves you suggest will not only make the Pirates older, but not much more competitive next year.
Do you really think if Huntington found this blog, agreed with you, and went out and made every move you suggest that the Pirates would compete for the NL Central next year?
The Ankiel signing, which I take you heard from the Dejan article, is about the only competent move the Pirates will look at. He seems to fit Huntington’s MO of taking risks on guys after down seasons. His PED history is worrisome, but for the right price is a signing that would seem to fit.
As far as cutting Pearce, Moss, LaRoche forget about it. Especially LaRoche.
by jlk9697 on Sep 22, 2009 10:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Exactly.
Another equally important aspect (though often overlooked) is that those players have to WANT to come here. It takes two to sign.
Very true. I read all over the damn place that the Pirates should have signed some free agent pitchers or some free agent hitters the previous off season to bulk up the line-up. I seem to remember that Johnny Estrada wouldn’t even come to the Pirates before the 08 season and instead signed with the Nationals. If they couldn’t even get Estrada to come to Pittsburgh back when they had Bay, Nady, McLouth, Wilson, Sanchez and those other guys, then how the hell are they supposed to get those other guys to play here?
Simple, they’d have to overpay for them. At which point we’d be right back where we were before the 2006 season. Throwing money away on guys past their primes when that money could be better spent some place else, like the 2010 draft or on international scouting and signings. I’d much rather see weird videos like this up at youtube than depressing articles from Charlie like this.
by IAPiratesFan on Sep 23, 2009 1:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Where to start, where to start....
Maybe at the insane Crede-LaRoche thing; or maybe the Glaus isn’t just yet an invalid thing; or maybe the idea that Chris Duncan has more value than Brandon Moss……
NO, none of these will work.
What I would like to discuss with you IPF, is probably better suited for the Discovery Health channel (as to the cause of why you are you), and if vocalized here on BucsDugout might actually get me perma-banned.
So I will only ask you, AGAIN, why do you come on to this site and keep posting, when you have obviously never read (or maybe learned) anything on (or from) this site?
by lighthouse913 on Sep 23, 2009 12:33 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Great Post!
So basically cut all these young chumps loose for these aging, injury prone, upside veterans? Please shoot Neil Huntington an email immediately, be sure to include the idea of bringing back Tony Armas
by Sage18 on Sep 23, 2009 1:41 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Even now being 56 years old, I’m sure if IPF were GM he’d bring Armas back….. After all, his OPSplus was 90 for the FOUR games he played with us back in 1976. So he must be SO MUCH more valuable now… ….and if you menat his son, I’d bet IPF would go for that also—— afterall, Ken Griffey and Ken Griffey, Jr. once hit BACK TO BACK home runs…..
by lighthouse913 on Sep 23, 2009 2:14 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
dang typos—- and if you neant his son --small mobile keyboards…..
by lighthouse913 on Sep 23, 2009 2:19 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
It's Neal, Not Neil
But I must admit that the misspelling is the closest to anything that made sense from the post…
by God Loves on Sep 23, 2009 7:37 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
It's funny that...
…he hasn’t returned to say anything since his initial post. Wonder why?
I'm getting hard on myself, sitting in my easy chair.
by stynyr on Sep 24, 2009 10:43 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
make that....
she hasn’t returned…
I'm getting hard on myself, sitting in my easy chair.
by stynyr on Sep 24, 2009 10:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No, he's a guy.
The picture’s either his daughter or granddaughter, IIRC.
by Vlad on Sep 24, 2009 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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