More on the Brandon Moss DFA
by Charlie Wilmoth on Mar 30, 2010 4:25 PM EDT
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PrintAs you all know by now, the Pirates designated Brandon Moss for assignment yesterday, making way for two former Marlins--John Raynor, who takes Moss's spot on the bench, and Hayden Penn, who takes Moss' spot on the 40-man roster. Hopefully Moss will clear waivers; I know nobody here really likes him, and I don't really either, but I do think he still has some chance of being helpful, even if that's just in a bench role.
Leaving aside the issue of who Moss was traded for and whether the Pirates got good value, acquiring Moss and starting him was a noble experiment. When he was acquired, most people thought he'd be a fourth outfielder. But there was at least an outside shot that, with a broad base of skills that included some contact ability, some home run power, walks, and defense, he'd get better at one or two of those things and emerge as, say, Nate McLouth without the stolen bases. PECOTA loved him, comparing him to guys like Curtis Granderson, Paul O'Neill, Graig Nettles and Carlos Pena. That was all pretty optimistic, but I don't think the Pirates were wrong to have seen upside there. It didn't work out, but that doesn't mean the Pirates were wrong to make Moss their starting right fielder last year.
There are 28 players left in camp. Of those, one of the cuts will almost certainly be either Erik Kratz or Jason Jaramillo, since the Pirates obviously have no need for two backup catchers. Ramon Vazquez will probably be another. The third will probably be Steve Pearce, unless for some reason the Pirates send Raynor back to Florida. I'd hoped that the Bucs would go with an 11-man pitching staff for a while. Penn is out of options and has to make the team, though, and the other eleven pitchers (Zach Duke, Paul Maholm, Charlie Morton, Ross Ohlendorf and Daniel McCutchen in the rotation; Octavio Dotel, Evan Meek, Brendan Donnelly, Javier Lopez, D.J. Carrasco and Jack Taschner in the 'pen) appear to be set, so that seems unlikely.
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on moss
Moss swings threw a lot of fastballs, that’s not a good sign for a guy who can get into hitters counts.What worse moss clearing waivers or some picking him up?Man it would look bad for NH if his prize prospect in the jason bay trade cleared waivers.
Yes, it would look bad if the prize prospect from the Bay trade cleared waivers.
Fortunately, there’s no chance of LaRoche or Morris being waived any time soon.
+1
and then some…
"I choose to gamble with my life
Twice the risk, four times the prize
Nothing knocks me over"
by lighthouse913 on Mar 30, 2010 8:36 PM EDT up reply actions
really
Morris might just be another temper tantrum away from being gone, and andy is going to the bench in june.
by wishiewashie on Mar 31, 2010 10:02 AM EDT up reply actions
Essentially
He’s treating you like the joke that you are.
I’ll assume by " I know nobody here really likes him" you mean as a ball player. I neither liked or disliked him. I had hopes he would develop into a solid corner outfielder but he didn’t, so I’m not sorry to see him go. I’m glad he wasn’t a shortstop since we’re in short supply in that department. If he was there would be no end to the outrage over “the trade” but since he’s more easily replaceable, no big deal.
As far as the person goes, he seems likeable enough, I hope he does well for himself.
I also hope he clears wavers since it never hurts to have options down in the farm.
“I know nobody here really likes him …”
Not exactly nobody, y’know…
Free your ass and your mind will follow.
Oh, thanks. Thanks a lot. :-P
Free your ass and your mind will follow.
by cocktailsfor2 on Mar 31, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
The Positive Spin I'm Putting on it
is that at least the new management team knows that you have to fish or cut bait – sad to see Moss go, but he clearly wasn’t doing anything for us. Presumably, between the manager, hitting coach, other coaches, and his teammates, there was no glaring, easy fix for his (lack of) hitting. So I don’t think Moss will come back to bite us as the next Barry Bonds.
Arguably, the worse thing to do is keep hanging your hat on a bad situation because it was a decision you made and to let the player go is to lose face. You know, like signing an aging, no-hit, no-glave free agent at a corner infield position, then keep running him out there just because…..
i don't think moss gets claimed
at this late in the game, rosters have to be set by 3:00 sunday. i don’t think anybody will hold a spot for moss. i’m hoping no one gets injured, and moss clears so he goes to indy.
A Rolling Stone can gather all of Moss it wants!
I remember the first couple of games Moss was here being excited to see the 4 tool player that replaced Bay. For whatever reason it just didnt work out. It really is amazing how much more we got out of Xavier Nady and Marte than for the guy who is easily the best Pirate of the last nearly 20 years.
Like MDBuc said, it least he’s an outfielder which takes away some of the sting in all of this. I’m daydreaming about our future outfield of Milledge, Cutch, and Tabata with Garrett Jones at First.
That’s right I SAID IT!!!
Not to diminish Bay, but Brian Giles was a lot better.
by Charlie Wilmoth on Mar 30, 2010 10:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Jason Kendall had a longer and better peak with us, as well.
by Adam Reynolds on Mar 31, 2010 12:38 AM EDT up reply actions
Depending on whether...
…you count only what the player did with the Pirates or the player’s entire body of work, you could potentially also make a case for Aramis Ramirez, who’s certainly had a nice career since we sent him to Chicago.
(But yes, despite this, Bay was very good.)
Unless my math is off...
20 years goes back to 1990. There is absolutely no way that Bay is even in the same discussion as Barry Bonds. Not even close. After that, as Charlie pointed out Giles was better and I can make an argument for Kendall as well. Not trying to belittle Bay because I liked him a lot but we should not turn him into the legend he wasn’t simply because he was traded.
Penn
Is it possiblt that with only a couple starts in may that the Pirates might also ship McCutchen to AAA and leave in the pen to make the spot starts in April? That would leave Pearce on the team with Raynor. Just a thought.
Wow, I should really look at what my fingers type before I post it. Wow.
How about…is it possible that with only a couple starts until May, the Pirates might also ship McCutchen to AAA and leave Penn in the bullpen to make the spot starts in April? That would leave Pearce on the team with Raynor? Just a (slightly clearer) thought.
i thinks its possible
neal does lose credibility with players though, not that he cares.
by karreemofwheat on Mar 30, 2010 11:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Kareem, do you think Brakeman is referring to Andrew and not No Relation?
by CptnAwesome on Mar 30, 2010 11:31 PM EDT up reply actions
I know they were trying to stretch out Carrasco a little bit this week. I guess it is possible that they COULD piggyback him with Penn for the April 11th start. But that would pretty much require the rest of the starters to not get hammered several games before and after the start, or leave the Pirates with a fairly short bullpen.
I doubt they’d think that far out of the box JUST to hold off a decision on Raynor a week or two. Either he’s gonna make the team and be here till June (and possibly longer) or he’ll go back to the Marlins this weekend.
I still see no way RV makes the roster. Just a question whether it’s Pearce, Raynor or both that make the roster. Only way both make it is an 11 pitching man staff. They will need a move when Hanrahan comes back…which, coincidently, would be just about the time the 5th starter is needed.
timetable?
I believe the rule on waivers is that a team has to claim him within 3 business days. I believe he was officially put on waivers yesterday at about 2 pm meaning he has until Thursday afternoon to be claimed…is this correct?
by FusilliJerry88 on Mar 30, 2010 11:06 PM EDT reply actions
Was Moss already waived?
I thought they’d just designated him for assignment, which allows them to kick the can down the road for up to ten days.
Here is the best description I have seen on waivers.
If outright waivers were filed yesterday, we would know tomorrow (Wednesday afternoon). (I don’t think recall waivers are an option here, because it would mean Moss is still on the 40 man roster.) If unconditional release waivers are being filed, the CBA doesn’t require they be filed until day 8 of the 10 days.
Vazquez would more likely fall under the unconditional release waivers if he is designated.
One note…waivers cannot be filed on weekends. With the roster deadline of Sunday at 3 pm, anyone getting waived before Sunday to fix the 25 man roster must have the waivers filed by Friday at 2 pm at latest. And of course, we do have to make 40 man roster moves as well. If they designate someone for assignment, that buys a little time to file waivers ONLY if they are going to release someone. I don’t see Vazquez getting outrighted to Indy.
Moss
I think too many folks extrapolated his Opening Day homer in Japan for the Sox into something that could make him a second division starter. Unfortunately for the Bucs, that hasn’t been the case. I hope no one else claims him and he spends the summer in Indy.
bay trade sets buccos back even further
not only did NH get nothing for BAY, in the process helped big market BOSTON unload premadonna MANNY & get something in return when they have the deep pockets to deal w/ egomaniacs. so it was a MASSIVE lose/lose for pirates & small market teams….
Pre-Madonna, Boston's big star...
…was Jim Rice, not Manny. Her first single (“Everybody”) came out in April of 1982 – Manny was only nine years old at that time.
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