Around the Minors, 5/2

I really can’t see him batting anywhere other than 3rd. His hands and bat-speed are elite, in my eyes, and I only expect him to hit more and more over the fence, as opposed to simply ‘to the fence’. Plus, if you have him 3rd, followed by Jones/Alvarez, it is tough not to pitch to him, especially fast balls. Think Utley in front of Howard, etc.

Plus, I assume that the Bucs want their best player, with high OBP, right in front of its two biggest sluggers.

If Tabata proves he can handle lead-off duties, and Andy continues his patient approach at the plate, I see them being at the head of the order.

that I think are pretty near locks to be in the lineup on Opening Day 2012 are Cutch and Alvarez, with Sanchez working his way into the lineup.

Many people keep obsessing about Jose Tabata, but his lack of power so far makes me worry that he may only be Lastings Milledge with a little better average at the plate.

Jones and LaRoche will hopefully be key cogs in the everyday lineup for a few more years, but I’m still skeptical.

If the team continues to build the farm system, a number of the prospects we have now and in the next couple of years could be traded to help the team at the MLB level.

And considering the fact that many of our good prospects are HS pitchers from last year, we can be assured that not a few of them will never even see PNC Park, except as spectators.

I still believe we are headed in the right direction with building the club from the draft, international signings, and working hard to develop that talent.

We’ve got a long way to go, though, and we need the Nuttings to sell the team in a couple of years, too.

Milledge and Clement both look overmatched at the plate. Obv Pearce isn’t a great prospect, but maybe we can catch lightning in a bottle two years in a row (Garrett Jones Part 2).

Of course, there’s always the possibility that the Pirates pick up someone in a trade for Doumit, Iwamura, Duke or Maholm who winds up in the lineup down the line. It’s a tough projection to make.

What makes you think at this point that Gorkys Hernandez will be a viable RF option in a year or two?

Jordy Mercer has been moved to 3B. I don’t think the team envisions him as an everyday SS in the majors.

Tony Sanchez batting 5th?

I think people will be surprised at the turnover in Pittsburgh over the next two years.

Barring injury, pencil in Cutch and Alvarez. The rest is a crapshoot.

And, Morton a bit too low.

The pitching is still suspect in my eyes. I believe we really need the young Class A guys from the 2009 draft to hit more than they miss. But, even if they hit, they are still 3 years away at the least, most likely.

Too old, not enough Ks, bad peripherals coming into this season.

He’s 25, so he was a bit old for Altoona. But he’s striking out guys at a pretty good rate and keeping the walks down. Tough to say.

??? Are we going to have two Andrew McCutchens at the top of our order come June?

But I am going to say Tabata. I say that because Tabata has essentially done the same thing since he has been with the Bucs, for better or worse. He has hit for average – everywhere, he hasn’t hit for power, he hasn’t struck out, and, this year – he has added the ability to steal bags and not be caught (atleast thus far). People have said that he won’t get called up until they see power, but I disagree. I think they think the power will come regardless of where he is getting at-bats, if it ever comes. His defense is ready, his arm is ready, and, I think if he hits Triple-A like he has hit at other levels for another month or two, he is coming up.

Pedro could join him at the same time, but I would imagine they want him to cut the K’s down, continue to reshape his body, continue progress at 3B, and, they want to see if there is a logical way to bring him up position-wise.

So, I will go with Jose….

He is having a bad outing tonight, but I said it last year with him and will stick by it. The kid will go on to win a few CY Young awards in his career. He has unreal stuff and only imagine he will get better.

Seems like a good time to steal third. :)

With 12 steals in 13 chances….plus, 2 HRs.

We bring him up as soon as we can and still avoid Super 2 stuff. Does anyone know what date that would be?

They are able to play him everyday. Too young to promote and play only half of the time and cost him developmental AB’s. I dont think they are ready to sit Clement or Milledge yet. Once they get to the point where they fill those guys have had enough of a shot, I think first shot would go to Pearce and Walker, and not until after those guys get a chance does Tabata come up.

As for Arb concerns, Early/Mid June usually clears you of Super 2 concerns, but I dont think that is what they are waiting for with Tabata at all.

I think he basically just sucks….