Eight Questions To Ponder Down The Stretch

mostly because three mill for a year isn’t really that much in the grand scheme of things. That said, I’d still like to see him and Chase split time pretty evenly next year, unless Chase is playing full time in AAA. I still think he’s our shortstop of the future, and 26 bad games in his first taste of the big leagues certainly won’t change my mind. I hope he does well the rest of the year, but I don’t see it as make or break.

this season, and Derrek Lee is just one example. We remember how promising his start was with the Pirates before getting hurt, so we’ll have to see what happens.

I’m not sure why he’s not a realistic option. He was a beast in the minors and although he hasn’t as productive a mlb career as he showed in the minors, he might be just a little slow adjusting. I don’t think he is like LaRoche and can’t play, and I believe he is only a year older than Pedro who has much less track record and is still being counted on as a mid order star for this team. He fields better than d’Arnaud and hits better than Cedeno and we know what Cedeno is already. I think or could hit .265 with 20-25 homeruns if he played everyday. I’d like to see him start and mix d’Arnaud in with him. If you can get 20-25 homeruns from him that will help with no power in the outfield. The Bucs should be better next year but still not contending, I’d like to see what Wood could do over a full season with majority playing time than Cedeno for another year than prob won’t be back the next year anyhow.

I see Neal working the phones moving some prospects for a 1B this offseason

Power? 35 homers between the three of them.

Giants: Cody Ross 10, Schierholtz 9, Burrell & Rowand have combined for 11
—Current 30 HR projects to 37 HR
Tigers: Boesch 16, Austin Jackson 8, Ordonez and Dirks have combined for 10
—Current 34 HR projects to 42 HR
Braves: Heyward 13, Hinkse 10, McLouth 4
—Current 27 HR projects to 33 HR (with McLouth or Bourne)
Indians: Sizemore 10, Choo 8, Brantley 7. Lots of injuries so I’ll add 6 from Kearns and Duncan
—Current 31HR projects to 38HR

If you are projecting the Bucs at 35 and add in conservatively 6HR from Jones in games where he plays OF and not 1B that’s 41 total. Doesn’t stack up too badly against some of the teams in serious playoff races. IF the Pirates can get some power from other positions, a 40ish HR OF wouldn’t be a problem. We all know that the other sources of power are a BIG if. Those teams (sans Tribe) also throw out a Cy Young candidate every 5 days which helps too. 4 out of 12 “contenders” ; not a majority but some proof that you don’t need 55+ from the OF to put up a good fight

I understand and agree 100%. It’s certainly not an ideal situation to be in. I’m aware of the injuries and bad seasons that you mentioned, but it still shows that it’s not impossible to be .500+ with a less than imposing OF due to talent, injuries,and/or under-performance

With all the variables in year to year performance of relievers and all of the inexperience in the guys you listed I think this statement is entirely unsupportable. There are only two guys who would be locks for a spot (and maybe not even Meek) with the Phillies, Yankees, Redsox or the Braves yet we are extraordinarily strong? Veras, McCutcheon, Resop are all just as likely to revert back to their previous established level of performance. Huntington would do well to being in a few arms to compete again next spring.

I think today’s active roster is very close to the one we’ll see opening day 2012. They should get 99% of the playing time, to firm up their roles and cohesiveness, and see if they can develop a winning attitude. Most of the DL’d guys (Lee, Ludwick, Pearce, Maholm, Snyder, Hart) will be gone before ST and Correia and Meek have uncertain value going forward as well. Let them (and Ohlendorf, Paul, and Diaz) sit the rest of the year and try to trade them. We know their capabilities and don’t need to see any more. Alvarez will start 2012 at AAA so let him go somewhere else for instruction. Call up Gorkys and Marte and see if they produce as PR/PH/defense off the bench options. Call up pitchers just to burn innings and prevent career threatening injuries to core staff. Call up a catcher or 2 to enable Fort to replace Doumit in late innings. Goal #1 for the winter: use whatever disposable prospects’ value the Bucs have and money saved by not picking up options to acquire a solid front-line starter. 1B, SS, 3B, C, and OF are not the main problem and free-agent solutions are lacking.

We don’t need power in the outfield, we got Pedro! Go Pedro! Where are the folks who bashed individuals like myself who simply stated he might be a bust. Still hope it pans out, but thinks are not looking good. As far as the power in the outfield, I think Tabata can pick it up. I love Presley’s game, so I want him out there everyday. I think the ability to create extra base hits out of would be singles can certainly help these guys. I would love to start the season with a these three guys, if they are all healthy. Keep Jones and find some guys with pop at the corner infield positions. Oh, we got Pedro never mind! LOL!