Joe Posnanski on the Rule 5 Draft

There's a long history of Branch Rickey and the early-1950s Pirates buried in here. I can't even imagine what fans would say if shenanigans like these happened on the Pirates today. Rickey makes Neal Huntington's rebuilding plan look positively conservative. The Pirates played some awfully bad baseball in the early '50s, but they did get Roberto Clemente, Dick Groat and Elroy Face because Rickey wasn't afraid to pass out roster spots to young players with potential.

almost 2 years ago Charlie Wilmoth 7 comments 0 recs |

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If the Pirates really like John Raynor,

then I’m sure he’ll be able to develop an ouchie or two during the year to get him through the season in Pittsburgh with the max # of days in Indy to rehab.

I still think it’s a shame MLB doesn’t have at least 26-man rosters to accomodate the extra pitcher or two in the ‘pen without screwin’ a position player out of a job, but Bud Selig hasn’t contacted me on the matter yet.

"There is no human problem which could not be solved if people would simply do as I advise."

Gore Vidal

by patthatt on Mar 8, 2010 9:27 AM EST reply actions

Bud told me the other day

that he’d lost your number.

Speaking of Rickey, my copy of Dollar Sign on the Muscle arrived the other day, and since I’m gonna be in a sitting or supine position for at least 3 or 4 more days, I should be able to plow through it. The first 50-60 pages are very good.