Pirates To Start Bryan Morris And Jeff Locke At Altoona
by Charlie Wilmoth on Mar 29, 2011 6:56 PM EDT
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Cory Giger reports that Bryan Morris and Jeff Locke will be back at Altoona to start the season. Locke isn't much of a surprise, since the Pirates announced that he had been sent back to Altoona when they demoted him from major-league camp. Those designations - when someone has been assigned to a particular level in minor-league camp - aren't always meaningful, but there was no reason not to take them at their word when they did it to Locke.
The news that Morris, though, would report to Class AA is new information. He started in 16 games there last year and pitched well, so it's a little disappointing that they're sending him back there, but it's probably a combination of the fact that he hasn't spent that much time at Class AA and the fact that, as Kyle Stark told me a couple weeks ago, they want to use some of their rotation time at Indianapolis on guys like Brian Burres who will provide depth at the big-league level. (I'm not sure Burres will be in the Indianapolis rotation, but he's the most obvious example.) Of course, there's the obvious question of why, if it would otherwise be in the best interests of someone like Locke or Morris to have them at Class AAA, you wouldn't just send them there and have guys like Brad Lincoln or Rudy Owens make a spot start or two in the majors if they're needed. It's not as if they would be likely to be significantly worse than Burres anyway. (WTM made a similar argument with regard to position players in the comments here.)
Giger also reports that first baseman Calvin Anderson will be back in Bradenton, where I'm guessing he'll share the position with Aaron Baker. In the article about Morris and Locke, Giger quotes Stark as saying that the Pirates are trying to find space for Matt Hague at Class AAA. That should be easier for them to do now that Josh Fields and Garrett Atkins are gone, and Steve Pearce and John Bowker have made the big-league team. So there seems to be space for Anderson at Altoona. If the Pirates are sending him back to Bradenton, it's probably because they honestly don't think he's ready for Class AA yet, which isn't an unreasonable conclusion given his mediocre numbers at Bradenton last year. But we'll see how things shake out.
UPDATE: Anderson will get at least some at bats in the outfield this year. If that's any kind of permanent move, I really wonder about Anderson's status as a prospect, since I just can't see any way a huge guy like that will ever be an adequate defensive outfielder. It also sounds like the Pirates aren't especially happy with Anderson's defense at first:
"Calvin's upside is going to be dictated by his bat, and so we've got to make sure his bat's playing," Stark said. "First base is hard for him. So the thought process is getting him away from the ball where he can free up a little bit, and the defense doesn't wear on him as much, then maybe the bat plays a little bit more. So it's trying to maximize his potential as much as it is other roster decisions."
Thanks to OnlyBucs.
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i had a feeling Morris would be back at Altoona
but thats funny; didnt a writer just say that Morris was the closest to being ready in Pittsburgh??? hmmmmmm, i wonder whom that was…
pondering
pondering
scratching sack
pondering
by the way, Altoona will be playing near my hometown in both late april and early may...
will try and do reports on the game if i can stay sober long enough
Morris
Morris back to AA really doesn’t surprise me at all. He didn’t finish the season at AA all that well last year and was mainly used in the pen in the playoffs (Walbeck used Tony Watson over Morris in the final series). So starting him in AA seems to be the natural step for Morris.
justin Wilson officially in Indy I suppose
Morris will be in Indy no later than mid-July
Count on it.
by BadAndy on Mar 29, 2011 7:13 PM EDT via mobile reply actions 1 recs
Any word on the rotation?
I see that they start in Erie this year, so I’m gonna try to head up there for a game or two. It will have to be Sat or Sun, which is the 3 and 4 starters. Any word on who those may be?
Putting two and two together, the rotations could look like this (with Justin Wilson being the biggest variable now):
Indy
Owens
Lincoln
Gallagher
Burres
Wilson/Valdez
Dan McCutchen will probably be pitching in relief, but he’d be available to start.
Altoona
Morris
Locke
Thompson
Pribanic
Leach/Wilson
Alderson’s stock obviously isn’t rising, and Nate Baker seems to be headed to Bradenton.
Naturally, the thought of Morris returning to AA so we can get starts in AAA for Burres and Gallagher just makes me feel warm and fuzzy all over.
You're entitled to your own opinions. You're not entitled to your own facts.
by WTM on Mar 29, 2011 7:21 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
Leach
I’m very curious to see what he does this year.
Naturally, the thought of Morris returning to AA so we can get starts in AAA for Burres and Gallagher just makes me feel warm and fuzzy all over.
Gallagher I can understand, since he’s got some skills and is still only 25 this year. But Burres starting over Morris is just cringe-worthy.
by Vlad on Mar 29, 2011 7:25 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
FWIW, I saw Morris starting a AAA game last week and it wasn’t going well.
You're entitled to your own opinions. You're not entitled to your own facts.
Either way
I don’t see this as a big deal – he hasn’t clearly mastered AA, so there’s no pressing need for him to start in AAA. If he’s lights-out in Altoona for a month, I’m sure they’ll find a place for him in Indy.
looks to me that the FO is promoting pitchers not only through talent but by innings pitched
morris and locke had less innings that both owens and wilson in altoona… owens and wilson get the call to Indy even though some believe wilson may be left behind to work on control issues.
Watson
I would have guessed Watson would get a chance to start somewhere, instead of Gallagher I’d think. I’d guess Wilson is in AAA.
I'm not ready....
to sell Gallagher out yet. HIs biggest issue is command and might be fixable
The Hammer Speaks
Twitter: @hammerspeaks
I agree with that, more or less, but I like Watson better, so I’d give him the rotation spot. If Gallagher can fix his command issues while working in relief then they could think about moving him into the rotation.
Relatedly, Gallagher is actually 7 months younger than Watson. Crazy, huh?
Yep....
aware of that. Gallagher still too young to throw away. Hell he just turned 25 three months ago. Much more upside that McCutchen in my opinion.
The Hammer Speaks
Twitter: @hammerspeaks
If Gallagher can fix his command issues while working in relief then they could think about moving him into the rotation.
The problem there is that bulk innings are the best way to fix bad command, and as a result, he’d have a much better chance of fixing his issues while working as a starter.
yeah
He’s actually had a lot more success in limiting walks when working as a starter. Maybe he just has trouble warming up quickly or something. I could buy that, and I wouldn’t be upset if he was in the rotation at Indy. But I also don’t hold out much hope for him either, and I hope that they keep him on a short leash. I also hope they give Watson a chance to start somewhere, and AAA seems the logical place.
I'm not really sure why a short leash is needed.
Assume Lincoln and Owens are still at AAA when Locke and Morris come up. Who has more potential of the remaining current AAA rotation…Burres, Wilson/Valdez or Gallagher? If Wilson is in then clearly he’s the guy to stay in the rotation ahead of Gallagher, but if Wilson is at AA does Valdez really have more potential than Gallagher? I’m not saying Gallagher is a potential star or anything, but I think he has more upside than Burres or Valdez.
www.stealingfirstbase.com
Gallagher
I’m really glad Gallagher is getting the AAA starts. I think he and Wilson profile as pretty similar pitchers. They both have the ability to miss some bats and the plate, but I still hold out hope that Gallagher will be able to get his control issues straightened out.
As people have mentioned, he’s only 25 and for some further perspective on that, he’s 7 months younger than Lincoln, and only 15 months older than Morris.
I’m not too upset about Morris at AA to start the season. It worked well for him last year when he went back to Hi-A and pitched lights out. I do understand why people could be frustrated with Gallagher and Burres getting starts instead of them. In the end though I think he will move up to AAA relatively early in the year and it won’t really matter at that point. Perhaps the Pirates are more concerned with the health of McDonald or something like that. Who knows?
Good point on McDonald
The Pgh rotation has too many question marks – both health and bare competence – to assume that Burres spends a full month in Indy. If things settle down with the big club, and/or Lincoln looks ready to be the first man promoted, Burres will be quietly sent to the pen in favor of Morris
Expected but depressing....
With this move, I cannot see any way that he contributes to the team now this year—no matter how well he throws. This season just became a little less exciting with Wilson likely spending another full year at Indy, (understandable) and Owens and Lincoln being our only shot to see the new promising rotation.
not necessarily
alot of things could change especially if someone like maholm is dealt, or someone in AA breaks through.
remember, morris is already on the MLB roster too.
Correction
I meant Wilson, if he does get moved to Indy, will likely be there at least the whole year due to his walk totals.
Hope the young guys perform well
because our current rotation isn’t easy to watch and is easily the weak point in this team.
by dulciusXasperis on Mar 29, 2011 9:02 PM EDT reply actions
NH has stated that he would like the prospects to arrive in waves...
looks like each farm team has a handful of high ceiling prospects that can move up at or near the same time.
Help is not on the way yet
The assignments are discouraging, since it is hard to jump 2 levels in a season. Management must not feel these guys are ready.
Plus, some of the players in Triple-A to start could be 2012 rookies based on how they did in Double-A (Lambo, D’Arnaud).
Overall, who are we likely to see on the Pirates in 2011 besides Owens, Lincoln, Ciriaco, and Presley?
by Adam Reynolds on Mar 29, 2011 10:23 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Not enough to get out of the cellar.
I was hoping for aggressive placement for Morris, Locke, and maybe Tony Sanchez even with the missed time, and Josh Harrison
by Adam Reynolds on Mar 29, 2011 10:48 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
There is definitely....
the potential for Sanchez to be up in September and then next June. I would say an outside chance of starting 2012 on the ML roster but he’ll have to have a very good first four months this year. Next year’s opening day catcher is a BIG question mark.
The Hammer Speaks
Twitter: @hammerspeaks
I wasn't expecting an aggressive approach with Sanchez...
simply because he missed so much game calling development. I did think they’d be aggressive with Morris but they must not have been too impressed with him this spring.
No scholarships
I don’t think initial placements of AA and AAA pitching prospects matters very much. They can be promoted after a handful of starts, or pitchers can jump levels if they are ready. Throwing quality strikes is pretty much the same at any level (of course you have to remember not to get too excited after a promotion).
Viva Clemente!
Forced off by Baker, Curry and his own weak hitting.
You're entitled to your own opinions. You're not entitled to your own facts.
Thanks – hadn’t seen that. I saw Anderson around a lot at Pirate City, but I don’t think I ever saw him in the field. That will be an interesting experiment – I can’t imagine how he’s ever going to be an outfielder.
by Charlie Wilmoth on Mar 30, 2011 1:52 AM EDT up reply actions
Creature in the OF
Think Adam Dunn, only without all the mobility and grace.
by Tuckshop25 on Mar 30, 2011 8:13 AM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
I lol'd.
Free your ass and your mind will follow.
by cocktailsfor2 on Mar 30, 2011 9:53 AM EDT up reply actions
He's there just so he can get at bats...
They want to continue getting him at bats but not at the expense of the first base prospects. If Anderson’s bat ever comes alive I think he’ll move back to first. If it doesn’t he won’t be around much longer.
If his bat works
he’s a DH. He’ll never be a qualified position player.
My heros have always been Steelers...
Kind of sounds like...
…the Brad Eldred in the outfield experiment.
That one didn’t turn out so well.
Eldred
He hit one off of the Altoona parking garage once. Anybody ever been to Blair County Ballpark to truly appreciate that kind of power? Gotta be 600 feet
way to exaggerate, woo
ive been there. its an impressive blast if it truly happened. now if he hit the roller coaster, that would be something special.
no
It is my understanding the ball still had some air under it when it hit the FAR end of the garage.
That is NOT a pulled shot….and while it was probably not 600 feet, that’s a hell of a long way.
Now, if he had gone “oppo” off the roller coaster…
by insane_sanity on Mar 30, 2011 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Dead Center is like 400ish
The Parking garage is more than 33 yards behind the centerfield wall. That puts it over 500 feet for sure, and the parking garage itself is likely over 100 feet in length, so hitting the back end would be like 600 feet.
Eldred had some insane power.
If only he could ever actually make contact with the ball enough to make it count. He was probably the Pirates prospect I was most disappointed in.
www.stealingfirstbase.com
I dunno
Glass half full: We have enough depth in the minors now where we can send both a Morris and a Locke to AA even though they could go to AAA.
Glass half empty: Morris and Locke aren’t impressing people.
Glass of a Pirate fan: Worrying that maybe Morris and Locke’s fastballs are sitting somewhere in the high 70s now for some mysterious reason.
That is a good point. Maybe they aren’t sharp at this point in time and the Pirates would rather them start at AA and get their stuff going instead of getting them crushed at a level higher.
by Cainyoudigit on Mar 30, 2011 9:58 AM EDT up reply actions
I'm always 100% full
of BS
The glare of the spotlight is harsh, and the pressure that success breeds immense. We revere our heroes, but expect much. And criticism can come as easily as praise.
I don't look at how much is in the glass...
I just drink.
Free your ass and your mind will follow.
by cocktailsfor2 on Mar 30, 2011 6:25 PM EDT up reply actions
give it a rest 'tails,
that glass has been empty for 20 minutes now.
by BlindSquirrel on Mar 30, 2011 9:04 PM EDT up reply actions
What, no refills?
Crap. I should’ve made it a double in the first place.
Free your ass and your mind will follow.
by cocktailsfor2 on Mar 31, 2011 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions
Im looking at it this way
they say the hardest jump is to AA. Locke and Morris have already made that jump, now its about timing and working their stuff to the point that its ready to test MLB’ers. These guys also need to build up that arm strength, Morris was shaky down the stretch and had to move to the pen last season
We have to unify and watch our flag ascend!
No kidding. That article reads like the Curve season actually matters in a record-sense.
Thank you Ned Colletti.
As a nearby resident
I am subjected to his writing every single day. And his radio show. You should have read his story a few months back about how he couldn’t fathom the Pirates not seeing 50-homer seasons from Bautista. The guy was given up on by like his first five teams, and the Jays were well no the way to doing so as well.
Also, he trashed them for firing Matt Walbeck, because he led them to a minor league championship. Who cares?
+1
I go to a lot of AAA Indianapolis games with one of my friends. For me, it’s about watching the prospects closest to the Majors, and I don’t so much care if the team wins. For him, it’s ALL about the Indians winning.
www.stealingfirstbase.com
I'm mos def gonna make it to Indy sometime this summer...
I’ll hafta email ya, and we can bend an elbow & talk baseball.
Free your ass and your mind will follow.
by cocktailsfor2 on Mar 31, 2011 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions
I'm actually glad to see this
and I don’t think we should read too much into it. I’d love to see Morris in the majors this year, but aside from initial assignments, the Pirates have been conservative with promotions, which I take to mean that 1) they have a plan for developing prospects, 2) issues at the major league level aren’t going to make them abandon that plan, and/or 3) they think they’ll get the most value out of prospects by letting them get closer to their peak years before starting their arbitration clocks, provided they aren’t dominating their competition and getting bored. Another benefit of being deliberate with promotions when the team isn’t all that great anyway, is that when those guys do graduate and the team is starting to look like something, then we can think about rushing the younger guys a bit to give a real “wave” of youth at the major league level.
I haven’t heard much negative reporting about either Locke or Morris this spring, so I’d guess that they’re fine and that this was the expected outcome coming into camp.
charity standing orders
It bears repeating...
the gap between the Eastern League and AAA ain’t what it used to be. The Eastern League is full of fairly advanced prospects and decent, older organizational hitters. Locke and Morris will face competition not far removed from Indy, and if they’re dominating and there’s a need, stranger things have happened than a call directly to AA.
That is where all my money would go as well.
I’m just trying to assuage a little by pointing out it ain’t like they’re pitching to a dramatically different level in Altoona, so it’s not like they’re not going to be challenged/are going to have their development delayed overmuch.
by tobynotjason on Apr 1, 2011 12:11 AM EDT up reply actions
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