Tony Sanchez, Starling Marte Headline Altoona Roster

by WTM on Apr 2, 2011 7:13 PM EDT

From the Curve, via Pirates Prospects:

C - Tony Sanchez

1B - Miles Durham

2B - Brock Holt

SS - Jordy Mercer

3B - Jeremy Farrell

OF - Quincy Latimore, Starling Marte, Brad Chalk

Bench - Eric Fryer, Kris Watts, Shelby Ford, Jose Hernandez

SP - Bryan Morris, Jeff Locke, Aaron Pribanic, Brian Leach, Aaron Thompson

Bullpen - Tim Alderson, Tom Boleska, Anthony Claggett, Mike Colla, Michael Dubee, Jared Hughes, Noah Krol

This would mean that Chase d'Arnaud, Justin Wilson, Matt Hague and Josh Harrison made it to AAA. No Diego Moreno. I'd be surprised if he's going to AAA, but who knows. He may be hurt or they just decided not to move him up, which would be a setback. Obviously, Robbie Grossman is headed back to Bradenton, which isn't surprising.

Jose Hernandez is skipping a level, but he's already 25, so it makes sense to challenge him. It'd be disappointing, though, to see non-prospect Brad Chalk play much over him.

UPDATE by Charlie: Moreno has forearm tightness and will stay at Pirate City. Let's hope that doesn't turn out to be anything more serious. Thanks to commenter Woo!

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Comments

This would make the Indy roster something like this:

C: Brown, Toregas
1B: Marte (I think they’ll probably trade him for a pint of Ben & Jerry’s), Hague
IF: Harrison, d’Arnaud, Ciriaco, Friday, Wimberly
OF: Hernandez, Lambo, Presley, Anthony Norman(?)
SP: Owens, Wilson, Burres, Valdez, Gallagher
RP: Watson, Moskos, Thomas, Yates, Wood, D.McCutchen, Leroux, Hansen(?)

DL: Clement, Veal, Ascanio, Hart, Olsen, Lincoln

Harrison, Ciriaco and Wimberly will probably see OF time.

You're entitled to your own opinions. You're not entitled to your own facts.

by WTM on Apr 2, 2011 7:23 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

That’s disappointing for Alderson, but pretty much what I expected.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 2, 2011 7:46 PM EDT reply actions

Question,

If Alderson puts it together in the bullpen, can he fight back into the rotation? He is still fairly young, correct?

"Who is John Galt?"

by Trogluddite on Apr 2, 2011 9:26 PM EDT up reply actions

I would say yes to that.

by Slick1 on Apr 2, 2011 9:37 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m not sure Hernandez vs. Chalk matters much to me, by the way.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 2, 2011 8:03 PM EDT reply actions

I kinda like Hernandez. Not that I think he’s a prospect, but he gets some good whacks at the plate. If I gotta watch an org. guy, I’d rather it wasn’t a slap hitter.

You're entitled to your own opinions. You're not entitled to your own facts.

by WTM on Apr 2, 2011 8:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Plus, maybe he can redeem the name.

You're entitled to your own opinions. You're not entitled to your own facts.

by WTM on Apr 2, 2011 8:53 PM EDT up reply actions

maybe we can trade him to colorado

Jim Tracy might think he’s the same one

by johnnycuff on Apr 3, 2011 11:09 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

seriously, what’s the worst he can do, strikeout 200 times and play lousy defense?

by johnnycuff on Apr 3, 2011 11:10 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I’m excited to see Altoona in NH in June. Hopefully I’ll get to Pawtucket as well to see Indy. Interesting about Alderson but not a surprise.

Yinzers uber alles

by BostonBuc on Apr 2, 2011 8:54 PM EDT reply actions

Going to both. State college is also in burlington this year. Worth it to catch Allie, if he is pitching one of the three.

by NHpiratefan on Apr 2, 2011 9:09 PM EDT up reply actions

i was going to post to see if others were going. Is there anything before June? Where you at the NH game where alderson threw 6 no hit and Pedro ht a homer to rt that was called foul but was fair? Its one of the longest bombs I have ever seen.

Yinzers uber alles

by BostonBuc on Apr 2, 2011 9:17 PM EDT up reply actions

I’ll try to make the day game in Burlington — it’d be the first baseball game for my kid. Need to get him rooting for the Bucs before Red Sox peer pressure kicks in.

Not actually affiliated with whygavs.

by WHYG Zane Smith on Apr 2, 2011 10:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Tim Williams...

also tweeted earlier that he has been informed that Harrison will see regular playing time this season. Hopefully his glove has improved some.

by Slick1 on Apr 2, 2011 9:05 PM EDT reply actions

Does this mean that Mercer is viewed as the better SS prospect than Holt (defensively)?

by Thunder on Apr 2, 2011 9:19 PM EDT reply actions

Probably by a lot. NH told somebody, I think Tim, that they think very highly of Mercer’s glove. Some guy has come up with a defensive metric for minor leaguers. I can’t remember where it’s found or what it’s called, and it’s got some significant problems, but I think it showed Mercer as the best defensive SS in the minors last year. I’m skeptical about that, but I do think he’s really good.

You're entitled to your own opinions. You're not entitled to your own facts.

by WTM on Apr 2, 2011 9:25 PM EDT up reply actions

I'd also say

Holt has the potential bat to make it as a non-SS while Mercer does not seem to.

by Mr. E on Apr 2, 2011 9:29 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm sure Holt will see some time at SS.

And I wouldn’t give up on Mercer’s bat just yet but he does need to show something this season.

by Slick1 on Apr 2, 2011 9:37 PM EDT up reply actions

I hope the Pirates are trusting

their eyes, not a metric. I am not a pure luddite, but I think relying too much on statistics leads you to the point where you point out that the weather at the beach is perfect while missing the tsunami bearing down on you.

There’s a saying that old age and treachery (or experience, take your pick) beat youth and book learning every time. If I were Neal Huntington, I’d be more interested in what Bill Mazeroski or Gene Alley tells me about a prospective shortstop’s skills than some computer generated spreadsheet.

I am not saying metrics should be thrown out the window, just that they have limits.

"Who is John Galt?"

by Trogluddite on Apr 2, 2011 9:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Huntington...

emphasizes metrics and scouting.

by Slick1 on Apr 2, 2011 9:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Do we have any

read on how good our new scouting/player development team is?

"Who is John Galt?"

by Trogluddite on Apr 2, 2011 9:38 PM EDT up reply actions

The Pirates have their own metrics for defense in the minors. I don’t know what they say about Mercer, but I know the Pirates don’t rely primarily on stats.

You're entitled to your own opinions. You're not entitled to your own facts.

by WTM on Apr 2, 2011 9:54 PM EDT up reply actions

agreed

by white angus on Apr 3, 2011 8:46 AM EDT up reply actions

“I am not a pure luddite, …”

Who are you, and what have you done with my pal Troggs?

Free your ass and your mind will follow.

by cocktailsfor2 on Apr 3, 2011 8:58 AM EDT up reply actions

Kyle Stark was curiously muted about Mercer’s defense when I asked him about it, but he did think that Mercer could handle the position as a major leaguer.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 2, 2011 9:44 PM EDT up reply actions

The metric is Brian Cartwright's OLIVER

I fanshotted it here. Subscription only, I think, and I don’t know what his methods are.

I think Andrelton Simmons graded out as the best defensive shortstop in the minors, but Mercer had been excellent for three years, so Cartwright had more confidence that that represented his true talent.

Not actually affiliated with whygavs.

by WHYG Zane Smith on Apr 2, 2011 10:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Total Zone

Rally calculates TZ for minor leaguers, too. It’s available at BB-Ref, though the 2010 results aren’t there yet. Mercer rates very well by this metric, too – about +10 per 150 games at both SS and 3B.

by epoc on Apr 2, 2011 10:58 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m sure Brian could discuss what he thinks about Holt vs Mercer. He was on BD the other day…and I’m willing to bet, knowing Brian, that he at least lurks here. Of course, it has been over 30 years since I used to play baseball with him in Southmont, so I don’t mean to speak for him.

by Thunder on Apr 2, 2011 11:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Mercer v. Holt

I haven’t seen Mercer, but I saw a lot of Brock Holt at Bradenton last year. He’s not much of a SS, in my opinion. Coming off a pretty serious knee injury, he’d probably be pretty horrible there right now.

I’m not sure he’s going to be any better than Mercer with the bat, either. Last year’s .351 BA was a fluke, in my opinion. He doesn’t have great speed and he doesn’t hit the ball that hard; he controls the zone fairly well, but not nearly well enough to play at the upper levels without any power. Just my opinion. (Not that I’m a huge Mercer fan or anything.)

by epoc on Apr 2, 2011 11:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Aaron Thompson has more upside than Alderson? I don’t see it. Hughes should also be at AAA imo.

by Mr. E on Apr 2, 2011 9:22 PM EDT reply actions

With the way Alderson has looked...

the last couple of years I have more upside than de does. That said if he puts things together I’m sure he’d be moved back into the starting rotation.

by Slick1 on Apr 2, 2011 9:36 PM EDT up reply actions

off topic

Beltre just hit a Grand Slam off Lackey to blow open the Sox game. TX is a hitting machine.

Yinzers uber alles

by BostonBuc on Apr 2, 2011 9:49 PM EDT reply actions

Moreno

Is injured.

by aso513 on Apr 3, 2011 11:10 AM EDT reply actions

Forearm tightness

per the Altoona Mirror

by Woo! on Apr 3, 2011 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions

Uh oh . . . .

Forearm tightness is often a precursor to . . . . . . . . .

You're entitled to your own opinions. You're not entitled to your own facts.

by WTM on Apr 3, 2011 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions

bobby hill we need a diagnosis!

by karreemofwheat on Apr 3, 2011 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Paging Dr. James Andrews

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.

by glass0941 on Apr 3, 2011 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Shhhhh!!

You're entitled to your own opinions. You're not entitled to your own facts.

by WTM on Apr 3, 2011 7:04 PM EDT up reply actions

@I thought Omar retired a long time ago@

Players who should be in the Hall of Fame: Pat TIllman, Dwight White, Donnie Shell, L.C. Greenwood, Ray Guy, Steve Tasker, Jack Butler, Greg Llyod, Andy Russel, Cris Carter, Kevin Greene, Curtis Martin, Willie Roaf, Andre Reed and Jerry Kramer
"Baseball is like church. Many attend, but few understand." Wes Westrum
Canal Street Chronicles resident Steelers Fan

by WVPiratesfan on Apr 3, 2011 9:53 PM EDT up reply actions