Minor League Open Thread: 26 July 2010
It's been a while since we've done one of these, but tonight seems like a good night:
Indianapolis plays Charlotte at 7:00. Brian Burres starts.
Altoona plays Erie at 7:05. Jeff Locke, who's been terrific in his first two Class AA starts, will be on the hill.
West Virginia has already started a doubleheader against Hagerstown. Brett Lorin, who must be wondering what he has to do to get out of low Class A, is pitching, and Rogelios Noris has a three-run homer.
State College plays Mahoning Valley at 7:05. Zack Von Rosenberg is the starter.
The GCL Pirates already played; somehow, they scored ten runs on only six hits. Starling Marte, who's rehabbing down there, hit a two-run homer.
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Woo
Starling! Three interesting pitchers on the mound too.
Da'Sean Butler - A Mountaineer Legend
by McCutchenIsTheTruth on Jul 26, 2010 6:37 PM EDT reply actions
Von Rosenberg, Locke, and Lorin?
I hope your not meaning Burress?
Lorin
I think he’s still on a rehab stint? Or maybe they finally just placed him at a level to work his arm strength back up.
I don’t think so. He pitched three times already in the GCL, which I would consider to be his rehab stint, and he has never pitched above low Class A. Maybe they’ll move him there in a start or two, which would be great.
by Charlie Wilmoth on Jul 26, 2010 7:05 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah
I have to assume Bradenton is the next stop if he does well for a couple starts since he seemed to prove his worth at the level already.
Not because of anything tonight.....
But, and I may be in the minority, I would much rather have Burress take the spot start/5th spot than No Relation.
While Burress is pretty awful, he at least has a better chance of keeping the ball in the park from the times I have seen him/No Relation in the Big Leagues.
Obviously, neither of them are any good. But, I am so sick of seeing McCutchen get chances after chances with less-than-average stuff and a propensity to get rocked, errrr, Lincoln’d.
Anyone else?
Also, FWIW, Jeff Locke is dealing thus far…..
by CabreraKilledMyChildhood on Jul 26, 2010 8:03 PM EDT reply actions
Burress
I would have no problem with Burress for the remainder of the year.. I don’t think he pitched as poorly as his numbers indicated, he is 29 and probably has no ceiling. What you see is what you get, but next year, No Thanks..
Thinking of it, maybe a bullpen guy next year?
BTW, who is No Relation?
I can't agree with that, sorry.
Burres is gone at the end of the year either way, but McCutchen is potentially a part of the 2011 team, and we need to take advantage of the opportunity to decide whether or not he belongs on next year’s 40-man.
Looks like Quinton Miller got the start for WV
and got HAMMERED. 7 ER in 2/3 IP, out of the game.
ZVR off to a good start. 3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 3 K, 0 BB, 1 HBP. 5 groundouts, 1 flyout.
Anyone have a good scouting report on Locke?
I don’t know how hard he throws, but from what I remember he sits at 89-91. And I don’t know much about the secondary stuff.
I was literally just going to ask the same question.
From what I have heard, he has a good fastball, sitting about where you said, with the ability to get to 94 when needed. I have also heard he really doesnt have any plus breaking balls or off speed pitches, and they are all basically fringe pitches.
When I saw him in Lynchburg last year, I was really impressed by his control—very few pitches outside of the strike zone. His 98/16 K/BB ratio this year is pretty good evidence of that quality.
BuccoFans
I was looking on BuccoFans renamed Pirates Prospects (looks good).
Here is his detail profile: http://players.piratesprospects.com/2010/02/jeff-locke.html
Yinzers uber alles
Locke 7 k's after 4
ZVR scoreless after 4
by BadAndy on Jul 26, 2010 8:29 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Locke gives up 2 runs in the 6th
Tied at 2
6 IP 5 H 2 ER 0 BB 9 K’s 2 HBP
by BadAndy on Jul 26, 2010 9:07 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
That's a great line
While you don’t like the 2 Run’s a whip under 1 and a 13.5K/9 is great.
Locke was quietly putting together a solid season while Morris caught some major helium. Now that Morris has come back to earth, Locke has actually been the better pitcher lately. He seems to be that guy that was touted in the ATL trade and who’s sum may be better than his parts. Even so, he does have good velocity for a lefty, a potential plus curve with alot of break and IIRC a change that could become average to above average. That arsenal, combined with the pitchability and command he seems to possess could make him a very good 2-3 lefty starter in the big leagues.
May not have Morris’s upside or stuff but if you throw in Owens and Wilson too, the quartet (as I’m going to now call them) could certainly produce a #2 and #3 and a #5 when you factor in attrition and all things are said and done. With Lincoln it seems you are missing an Ace to have an average staff, which could be enough with our potentially potent lineup in the coming years.
Da'Sean Butler - A Mountaineer Legend
by McCutchenIsTheTruth on Jul 26, 2010 11:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Saw Locke in Erie Last Night
He looked good although Erie is a weak AA team. Dominant for 5 2/3…then bloop single, HBP, followed by three solid singles back up the middle. Nice fastball (radar gun not working) that he keeps down. Lots of strike calls at the knees. Breaking ball was nothing special but he really didn’t need it. First inning was most impressive. Lead off double (good pitch that the Erie player fisted down the right field line) and a balk call moving the runner to third and the kid did not blink. Three straight strike outs and a 0 on the board. The kid looks good.
Locke is starting to pitch like the Ace the Pirates need
His numbers this year are monster-like. He did very well in A+, and has been awesome at AA. I’m sure much of that is due to teams just not being familiar with him, but none the less he’s been red hot! I’d love to see him continue at this pace in AA this year and start next season at AAA.
If he can continue to pitch at this level, I see him making a debut for Pittsburgh next June-July.
His stats: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?pos=P&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=502046
fyi … when they traded McLouth away I was very heartbroken, and to a degree I still am, mostly because I liked the guy – not because he was a great player. I am very happy to see that we got such a great return.
by Pensburgh Pirates on Jul 27, 2010 2:49 AM EDT reply actions
Heartbroken because they traded a guy that you like....
but, admittedly, don’t think was very good? That is kind of strange…..
In any event, McClouth has been an abysmal failure, whose suckiness has only been outshined by his inability to stay healthy.
If Locke develops into anything, that trade was a clear win for us.
by CabreraKilledMyChildhood on Jul 27, 2010 5:41 AM EDT up reply actions
thought he was decent
He definately gave us his best. I meant more that he wasn’t particularly good, like an All-star. He did the jobs for us, fo sho. Just didn’t see him getting as big of numbers with other teams with better lineups. At pittsburgh he hit 3rd, in atlanta they considered hitting him early in the lineup, but really meant to bat him 7th or 8th, which is where he’d be in a good lineup.
I liked him a lot mostly because he was such a good teammate, a leader in the clubhouse, and blue chip or working class kind of player. I like guys like that, guys who’ll give you their all every day. Guys who’ll roll with the puches, and show up for the big games. Lead by example. I suspect Walker is that kind of player. I hope he’ll have the chance to prove it when the Bucs start winning again.
by Pensburgh Pirates on Jul 27, 2010 8:30 AM EDT up reply actions
a player doesn't have to be the best at his position
to win me over. Hard work means a lot.
by Pensburgh Pirates on Jul 27, 2010 8:31 AM EDT up reply actions
meh
I’ll take talent over perceived work ethic any day.
You don't have to apologize...
…for having an irrational attachment to any player. That’s one of the most important things about being a fan.
yeah i liked McLouth a bunch too
plus he, unlike other people, seemed to (seemed is important, since there arent actual stats) come up with big hits, like the 3 run HR against the Dodgers, and the 3 run HR against the Cards, in the crazy game Jason Michaels won in extra innings with a 2 run HR…
FWIW, I really liked the trade too for us… too bad it hasnt really worked out so far…
Nothing strange about it...
fans admire players who give their all and Nate seemed to be one of those guys.
Yea I gotta 2nd that nate wus dope in tha black n gold, def one of my favorite pirate players of tha last 5 years
by PirateInThaBay707 on Jul 27, 2010 3:39 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

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