Joel Hanrahan, Pirates Avoid Arbitration, Agree On One-Year Deal
The Pirates have agreed to a one-year deal with Joel Hanrahan. The terms haven't yet been released, as far as I can tell. This means he's not getting an extension, obviously, although there was no real reason to expect he'd get one. Charlie Morton, Jeff Karstens, Evan Meek, Garrett Jones and Casey McGehee still have not agreed to deals.
UPDATE: Keith Law says Hanrahan will be getting $4.1 million.
UPDATE: Charlie Morton has signed as well, for one year and $2.445 million.
4 months ago
Charlie Wilmoth
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Good
Always nice to avoid arbitration and all the mud-slinging that can sometimes come with it. Never know who is going to take offense to what is said.
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.
Perspectives become reality.
Twitter: @shanecglass
by glass0941 on Jan 16, 2012 10:38 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
More from
MLBTR
.
The righty can earn an additional $10K for 40 and 45 games finished and $15K each for 50 and 60 games finished, MLBTR has learned.
________________________________
Free your ass and your mind will follow.
by cocktailsfor2 on Jan 16, 2012 10:41 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
Doesn’t necessarily preclude a long-term deal at some point in the future, of course. Not that I’d put any money on that.
by Vlad on Jan 16, 2012 10:57 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
Excellent.
Glad to see they won’t be taking him to arbitration. I love having him on the team, even if he is an Iowa State fan….
You gotta aim high to fail so big. - Trace Beaulieu
by IAPiratesFan on Jan 16, 2012 10:59 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
it's hard to believe
that this kind of commercial was actually made.
by PuncSpeedChunk on Jan 16, 2012 11:22 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
It's hard to believe
That this product was so wildly successful too
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.
Perspectives become reality.
Twitter: @shanecglass
It's not hard to get rich these days.
Just convince somebody you have something they really need, like bathrobes that don’t fit.
Should the Pirates keep Neal Huntington?
http://www.bucsdugout.com/2011/5/16/2174135/poll-should-huntington-be-retained
by Kosstic518 on Jan 16, 2012 11:58 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
I think everybody is just jealous that
a) they didn’t think of something so obvious, and therefore
2) didn’t make a bajillion dollars off of it.
I know I am.
There was actually another company that marketed this product first
Only they called theirs the “Slanket”, which sounds kinda slimy or skanky or something, so it never took off.
Sometimes, everything is in a name.
Heh.
One of my favorite cartoons is of a guy sitting at a desk, head in his hands, looking sad, and another guy standing behind him, hand on first guy’s shoulder, saying, “No, Bob, I think a fish-shaped cereal was a GREAT idea, but maybe you shouldn’t have called them ‘Crappies.’”
I'm not jealous.
I think its great, I’d never buy one but I think its great the guy was able to sell a ton.
Should the Pirates keep Neal Huntington?
http://www.bucsdugout.com/2011/5/16/2174135/poll-should-huntington-be-retained
So your jealous that you didn't invent the pet rock?
After all that guy made a million dollars off of it
Ovechkin-Leich-Semin: The greatest line in hockey..............................Tee Hee
Proud supporter of the following clubs: Pittsburgh Penguins, Erie Otters, Columbus Crew, Boston Celtics and the best football clubs in the land: Manchester United F.C.
The Manchester United Football Club: Winning countless trophies and making City fans jealous and full of envy since 1902.
by Bradley James McEachern on Jan 16, 2012 9:27 PM EST up reply actions
And Cabbage Patch dolls
and chunks of the Berlin Wall and Tickle-Me Elmo and Tagotchi and Beanie Babies …
You bet I am.
Whenever people throw their hard-earned money at crazes like these is when I think to myself, maybe the Democrats are right, we DON’T pay enough taxes.
They look like cult robes...
But I suppose Snuggie is a more marketable name than “Cult Robe.”
by NastyNate82 on Jan 16, 2012 12:08 PM EST up reply actions
I like Hanrahan . . .
. . . not just because he’s good, but because he has the same birthday as me. I did that especially when I was a kid and I’ve kept on doing it for some reason. I followed him even before he joined my favorite team.
I’m glad Darren Oliver still plays for the same reason and it gave me an irrational reason to root for Ruben Sierra throughout his career.
Does anyone else do that? Probably no one over the age of 12. But, that’s why we’re all here (beause we followed baseball as kids and never stopped). I don’t know too many people who are sports fans that picked it up as adults. It’s kind of like smoking in that regard.
Sort of...
My birthday is the same as Roberto’s (8months after the plane crash), but I guess that’s a bit different. It always keeps him in mind at least once a year, and keeps track for my family how long it’s been since we all lost him.
And I have the same birthday as Ryan Braun (no, not him either, the other one)
by getwonkafied on Jan 16, 2012 4:54 PM EST up reply actions
catherine zeta jones shares my birthdate
Also Phil Rizzuto, Johnny Sain, Mike Crotta, and LARS ANDERSON.
This website couldn't handle it
They would clearly put his first name on the back of his jersey… but how many "S"s?
by SuperBaes on Jan 17, 2012 1:45 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
"Does anyone else do that?"
Well, yes and no. Mine is the same as Darren Daulton, Luis Rivera, Mark Gardner, Luis Sojo, A.J. Burnett, and Michael Restovich, but I can’t say that I followed any of them particularly.
The ones I preferred knowing about were J.R.R. Tolkien, Ray Milland, Jesse White (he was the 1st celebrity I saw when I moved to L.A.), George Martin, John Sturges, Sergio Leone, Bobby Hull (but not really a Blackhawks follower – GO HABS GO), Van Dyke Parks, John Paul Jones (Led Zep bass player / arranger), Ross “The BOSS” Friedman, Lloyd Cole, Danica McKellar… to name too many.
________________________________
Free your ass and your mind will follow.
by cocktailsfor2 on Jan 16, 2012 2:38 PM EST up reply actions
Does anyone else do that?
For some of them. I will admit I had an irrational affection for Frank Catalanotto because of our shared birthday.
If you’re ever really, really bored, it’s kind of fun to go through birthdays and try to draw up the best lineup (or 25-man roster) for guys born on that day. If you’re a huge dork like me, anyway.
Well,
my birthday has to be the worst. Sauer, Reiser, and Bill Mueller. John Smiley and Charlie Root are the pitchers with the most wins. Yuck. Oh, and Fred Pfeffer.
by Wizard of Woz on Jan 16, 2012 4:13 PM EST up reply actions
Don't know about worse
as in baseball players, but I share a b-day w/Pope John Paul II. Of course, Mt. St. Helens blew up on my birthday and the church I was married in was deconsecrated, so I’m not reading to much into sharing the b-day w/the Papist-in-Chief…..
What does that mean?!
I’ve got 3 hall of famers, as well as a super hero named Johnny Lazor and Dots Miller, who was really good in that Tom Hanks movie.
Speaking of John Smiley what ever happened to him?
I know he suffered a career ending injury but it feels like the guy fell off the face of the earth.
Jusy my opinion.
Ovechkin-Leich-Semin: The greatest line in hockey..............................Tee Hee
Proud supporter of the following clubs: Pittsburgh Penguins, Erie Otters, Columbus Crew, Boston Celtics and the best football clubs in the land: Manchester United F.C.
The Manchester United Football Club: Winning countless trophies and making City fans jealous and full of envy since 1902.
by Bradley James McEachern on Jan 16, 2012 9:29 PM EST up reply actions
He actually
became a wildly successful investor. My younger brother goes to Pitt’s Business School and one of his professors knows Smiley. He apparently told the class several anecdotes about how Smiley took his impressive career earnings (~$31M) and turned it into an absolute fortune…well a substantially bigger fortune I guess would be more accurate.
by KentuckyPirate on Jan 17, 2012 6:00 PM EST up reply actions
I’ve got one player with an OPS above .700 (King Kelly, .806), and two pitchers with ERAs below 4 in more than 500 innings (Fred Beebe, 2.86 and Rick Aguilara, 3.57). My team is not looking very good.
by thecheeseisblue on Jan 17, 2012 3:48 AM EST up reply actions
My brother always liked to point out that he shared a birthday with Willie Mays, while I shared one with Tommy Lasorda.
My 25-man would be tough. I’d have Bob Lemon starting on Opening Day though, so it’s not that bad. I also have the successful and awesomely named Urban Shocker in my rotation. I’d have Vince Coleman leading off, but my cleanup hitter would likely be Jeff Leonard. Not exactly a potent lineup.
Interesting to note, I just noticed by looking at my birthday (10/12) that the Pirates had a second player named Charlie Morton play for them in 1882.
i believe he is related to our charlie
i seem to recall that being posted when we aquired cholly.
by karreemofwheat on Jan 16, 2012 4:50 PM EST up reply actions
ZOMBIE CHOLLIE
________________________________
Free your ass and your mind will follow.
by cocktailsfor2 on Jan 16, 2012 5:11 PM EST up reply actions
Hmm...
I get Carlos Beltran and Chipper Jones for offense, but to put together a decent pitching staff for the most part I have to go with guys born in the19th century. At least we’ll have the coolest facial hair of any team in the league.
Jerry Rice and Ian Thorpe...
Are two that I know off the top of my head. I did enjoy following Jerry Rice, although I can’t say it was because of my birthday. Thorpe was strange because I watched swim to Olympic gold medals while I was still a junior in high school…even though he is only 1 year older than I am…
sweet! my birth day/month is shared with two HoF'ers plus one probable 1st ballot HoF'er
and also the Moustache of Sadness
May 23
and I’m starting Deacon Phillippe. Sheesh.
I can’t even begin to weave a lineup out of this mess, although Pop-boy Smith and Dummy Hoy obviously have to be in it somewhere:
Jordan Zimmermann, Michael Dunn, John Webb, Kirk Saarloos, Cesar Crespo, Chris Sampson, Scott Dunn, Mike Gonzalez, Jake Robbins, Marshall Boze, Ricky Gutierrez, Ramon Caraballo, Gino Minutelli, Kevin Romine, Nelson Norman, Buck Showalter, Butch Metzger, Pepe Mangual, Reggie Cleveland, Spider Wilhelm, Clyde King, Jerry McCarthy, Lawrence Ritter, Bill Drescher, Frank Mancuso, Lenny Pearson, Augie Galan, Earl Huckleberry, Pat Creeden, Willis Hudlin, Harry Child, Charlie Sullivan, Arch McDonald, Duke Brett, Charlie Niebergall, Frank Kelliher, Lee McElwee, Elmer Leifer, Luke Stuart, Pop-boy Smith, George Payne, Zack Wheat, Buzzy Wares, Ralph McLaurin, Hugh Bradley, Frosty Thomas, Bill Miller, Nap Shea, Jack Taylor, Deacon Phillippe, Algie McBride, Dummy Hoy, Elias Peak, Al Bradley, and Caleb Johnson.
You're screwed.
So many good last names.
Alas, Duke Brett is not George. Or even Ken.
________________________________
Free your ass and your mind will follow.
by cocktailsfor2 on Jan 17, 2012 6:01 AM EST up reply actions
I can’t even begin to weave a lineup out of this mess…
Let me have a go at that:
SP1: Deacon Phillippe®
SP2: Ace Hudlin®
SP3: Brewery Jack Taylor®
SP4: Reggie Cleveland®
SP5: Jordan Zimmermann®
CL: Mike Gonzalez [L]
SU: Chris Sampson®
SU: Michael Dunn [L]
RP: Clyde King®
RP: Kirk Saarloos®
RP: Butch Metzger®
C: Frank Mancuso®
1B: Hugh Bradley®
2B: Ricky Gutierrez®
SS: Nelson Norman [B]
3B: Augie Galan [B]
LF: Zack Wheat [L]
CF: Dummy Hoy [L]
RF (vs. RHP): Algie McBride [L]
RF (vs. LHP): Pepe Mangual®
Bench: Kevin Romine [OF – R], Cesar Crespo [UT – B], Lee McElwee [3B/OF – R], Elias Peak [2B – ?], Bill Dreschler [C – L]
No lefties in the rotation, but otherwise, that balances remarkably well.
For a lineup, maybe…
McBride/Mangual
Gutierrez
Wheat
Galan
Hoy
Bradley
Mancuso
Norman
[Pitcher]
Well, thanks,
that was helpful at least in one respect: I had confused Butch Metzger with Roger Metzger and thought I was carrying an extra shortstop.
I knew Wheat and Hoy could hit a little. Still, this looks like a sub-.500 team.
Still, this looks like a sub-.500 team.
Yeah, probably, but maybe not a 100-loss team… which for a birthday roster is actually pretty good.
Thinking about it a bit more, I might put Galan at 2B and Gutierrez at 3B, to take some of the strain off of Galan’s arm.
That isn't a bad B-day team...
I’m not sure I could even field a major league team…it would be Clemente, LaValliere, Burleigh Grimes and not much else.
I didn’t know Mike LaValliere only hit 18 home runs in his whole career…sheesh! No wonder Don Slaught seemed like such a Sluggo.
Hopefully we only pay ~4/6th of that contract.
Should the Pirates keep Neal Huntington?
http://www.bucsdugout.com/2011/5/16/2174135/poll-should-huntington-be-retained
Aside
from the obvious 4/6 is actually 2/3 comment, it is stupid to hope that the team falls out of contention three or four months before the season even starts. If you’re going to “hope” for something, hope that the Pirates sign Jorge Soler (possibly a better prospect than we’d get for Hammer anyway), Oswalt (who would anchor a very strong when healthy rotation of Oswalt, Bedard, J-Mac, Morton, Karstens) and trade for Clint Robinson (who might be a high reward 1B type if the Bucs could get him cheap). HOPEFULLY, the Pirates do something like that. Being in a position eight months from now where they are selling off assets is depressing, not something to shoot for.
by KentuckyPirate on Jan 16, 2012 12:13 PM EST up reply actions
But that's
what we’ve been conditioned to believe/expect.
Closers
I feel trading established closers is one of the smartest things the Pirates can do. I would be open to trading him now, at the deadline, or next off-season if the return was right.
by ballparkfranks on Jan 16, 2012 12:51 PM EST up reply actions
Now we have to reduce fractions to the lowest common denominator?
i was told there would be no math on this blog.
All I need are some tasty waves, a cool buzz, and I’m fine.
.
Jeff Spicoli: Wait a minute, there’s no birthday party for me here! Hello, Mr. Hand.
Mr. Hand: What’s the reason for your truancy?
Jeff Spicoli: Just couldn’t make it on time.
Mr. Hand: You couldn’t, or you wouldn’t?
Jeff Spicoli: See, there was a full crowd at the food lines.
Mr. Hand: Food will be eaten on YOUR time. Why are you continuously late for this class, Mr. Spicoli? Why do you shamelessly waste my time like this?
Jeff Spicoli: [long pause, but then with complete truth in his answer] I don’t know.
Mr. Hand: [Mr. Hand goes to blackboard and writes the words ‘I Don’t Know’, then underlines them]
[reciting]
Mr. Hand: I like that. ‘I Don’t Know.’ That’s nice.
[imitating]
Mr. Hand: ‘Mr. Hand, will I pass this class?’ Gee, Mr. Spicoli, I don’t know! You know what I’m going to do? I’m going to leave your words right up here for all my classes to enjoy, giving you full credit of course, Mr. Spicoli.
Jeff Spicoli: All right!
________________________________
Free your ass and your mind will follow.
by cocktailsfor2 on Jan 16, 2012 2:16 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I bet you were an extra in the movie, C42.
Or at least you were peeping through the fence at Phoebe Cates coming out of the pool.
The latter.
SCHWING!
________________________________
Free your ass and your mind will follow.
by cocktailsfor2 on Jan 16, 2012 5:01 PM EST up reply actions
Uh, I hate to disagree, but
Denise Williams (or what’s her name from Starship Troopers) in a pool with whoever the other gal was in Wild Things…. or
There’s an oddball suspense move called Femme Fatale, with Antonio Bandaras. The scene where the criminals steal the jewels is well worth watching again…and again…. and again…. and …. I’ll be in my bunk.
What does that mean?!
by Trogluddite on Jan 16, 2012 10:00 PM EST up reply actions
I never said I wanted the Pirates to fall out of contention, and I do hope they sign Soler. I don't want them signing Oswalt unless I know for sure (barring injury) he is going to be dealt at the deadline.
I want them to trade Hanrahan either way. Closers and relievers in general are extremely overvalued by many teams in the league and its an inefficiency that Huntington should capitalize on as quickly as possible.
Should the Pirates keep Neal Huntington?
http://www.bucsdugout.com/2011/5/16/2174135/poll-should-huntington-be-retained
So you're saying
that if the Pirates are 6 games up at the deadline, all of the right players are contributing, Pedro is mashing at 3B and McGehee returned to 2010 form and is playing well at 1B, you would still advocate the team dealing their All-Star closer?
by KentuckyPirate on Jan 16, 2012 4:04 PM EST up reply actions
even if we're 6 games up at the deadline?
i think you would have to be buyers. you want the pirates to be like other teams yet you are willing to sell when youre winning???
i confussed
Let's get ridiculous for a second.
A team in a pennant race loses their closer and doesn’t have an obvious replacement. They offer their top TWO prospects for Hanrahan. Do you say no?
depends, as you said, i guess
not all top 2 prospects are the same…
by BurgherKing on Jan 17, 2012 12:30 AM EST up reply actions
Also depends
whether I think I have a guy who can step right in an save 85-90 percent of my games. Meek and Resop might fit the bill. Then I deal away.
thats a tough one
i understand what youre saying but the pirates have to keep the hammer. if youre that close to winning, you gotta buy, not sell.
by white angus on Jan 17, 2012 11:49 AM EST up reply actions
Yes I would, all relievers and especially closers are overrated
Also 0% chance we lead at the deadline by 6 games.
Should the Pirates keep Neal Huntington?
http://www.bucsdugout.com/2011/5/16/2174135/poll-should-huntington-be-retained
by Kosstic518 on Jan 16, 2012 7:10 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
The chances
that it happens are irrelevant. Also, even if relievers are overrated, that doesn’t mean that they aren’t important. If the 2012 Pirates are, through some series of events, legitimately and sustainably in contention, it would be almost impossible to defend trading their best relief pitcher.
by KentuckyPirate on Jan 16, 2012 8:54 PM EST up reply actions
I never said they weren't important, you said that.
I would trade not as important relievers for more important prospects.
I don’t care what they can and can’t defend, the public’s mentality can be swung instantly with even the most modest success as shown by the Pirates 2011 lucky run.
Should the Pirates keep Neal Huntington?
http://www.bucsdugout.com/2011/5/16/2174135/poll-should-huntington-be-retained
I'm not talking about 2011
I think you could make a pretty strong case that selling at the deadline would have been the smarter tactical move given the smoke and mirrors style of winning the Pirates had seen up until that point. Having said that, the increased ticket sales/revenue that came from the team winning made it difficult for the team to sell off a team that was, at least technically speaking, in contention at the trade deadline.
I’m also not talking about being unable to defend it against the yinzer public opinion, I’m saying that to trade away an elite ML relief pitcher for potentially more valuable prospects from a legitimately contending team is difficult to defend just from a tactical standpoint. What I was saying above is that if the Pirates appear to be sustainably in contention (by this I mean they are getting serious contributions from the right young players, all of the peripherals seem to be in line, young players appear to have made necessary adjustments, etc.) at the deadline, selling off their best relief pitcher just because he might get them two B prospects would not be smart. At some point, and I’m not trying to beat anti-FO drum here, “now” has to be the time to try and win and not just to build for the future. If the Pirates can contend today (which may appear unlikely as we sit here on January 17th but could look different in July if Cutch, Tabata, Presley, Alvarez, Walker, J-Mac, Morton and McGehee all make improvements on their game) it would be a bad decision to weaken that team so that the team in 2015 might be stronger.
by KentuckyPirate on Jan 17, 2012 8:27 AM EST up reply actions
I disagree that we are anywhere close to competing in 2012.
We won 72 games last year. Our starting pitching is very weak, and will remain so until we get some help from the minor leagues.
I’m not counting on all of those players you listed playing well at the same time and nobody getting hurt/nothing going wrong.
I also would weaken the 2012 or 2013 team in favor of the 2015 team, as we have a better chance of having a stronger core in 2015.
Should the Pirates keep Neal Huntington?
http://www.bucsdugout.com/2011/5/16/2174135/poll-should-huntington-be-retained
disagree about having a better chance of having a stronger core in 2015
that means we expect guys like Cole, Taillon, Bell, Grossman, etc to be successful. this is the same issue you gave for the Cutch, Tabata, Presley, Alvarez, etc……………
now a mix of both of the groups could be special, which is probably what you were saying in the first place. if so, nevermind.
>:-D
by white angus on Jan 17, 2012 12:11 PM EST up reply actions
Exactly what I was saying.
I’ll take the blended core. A number of those guys from the first list will still be around.
Should the Pirates keep Neal Huntington?
http://www.bucsdugout.com/2011/5/16/2174135/poll-should-huntington-be-retained
I'm not saying
that I expect them to contend, only that it’s not out of the question for them to contend. I would rather not go too far down this hypothetical rabbit hole but IF the Pirates are fortunate enough to become a truly competitive team this year (which I think could happen if the players I mention above all play better this year) then they should not sell just to improve a future club. If they can’t compete because we see things like Petey’s gawd-awful 2011, then trading Hammer could be a great move. My only point is that it’s certainly not a situation that I’m hoping for in January.
by KentuckyPirate on Jan 17, 2012 2:23 PM EST up reply actions
Well I also hope the Pirates are great this year
But there is a huge difference between hope and reality. My scenario plays out in most people’s minds with a 90%+ chance of probability. Personally I think it is 100%, but I can understand how people don’t want to commit to defeat in January. I personally see nothing wrong with facing the facts.
Should the Pirates keep Neal Huntington?
http://www.bucsdugout.com/2011/5/16/2174135/poll-should-huntington-be-retained
So Dennis Eckersley and Bruce Sutter are overrated
Ovechkin-Leich-Semin: The greatest line in hockey..............................Tee Hee
Proud supporter of the following clubs: Pittsburgh Penguins, Erie Otters, Columbus Crew, Boston Celtics and the best football clubs in the land: Manchester United F.C.
The Manchester United Football Club: Winning countless trophies and making City fans jealous and full of envy since 1902.
by Bradley James McEachern on Jan 16, 2012 9:32 PM EST up reply actions
As a releiver
absolutely. Look at his career.
’75-86 as a starter 46.7 WAR Wits some peak years of 5.7, 4.8 and 4.7
’87-98 as a closer 20.4 WAR With a peak of 3.5 in his first year closing
by Wizard of Woz on Jan 17, 2012 9:50 AM EST up reply actions
Oops
The above refers to Eckersley.
Also, he had 10 years as a starter equal or better than his best year as a reliever. His best year as a reliever was his first year, and he pitched 35 more innings that year than any other as a reliever. That year he also only had 16 saves, and 2 starts. In his best year as a reliever he was used more as a swingman than in the traditional closer role.
by Wizard of Woz on Jan 17, 2012 9:55 AM EST up reply actions
That's a bad use of WAR.
WAR is notorously hard on relief pitchers, mostly because they don’t pitch enough innings to build up much WAR value.
But their usually low WAR totals doesn’t mean good relief pitchers don’t have value to a team. A good bullpen can make a team’s season.
by Midnight Moose on Jan 18, 2012 3:32 AM EST up reply actions
WAR is notorously hard on relief pitchers, mostly because they don’t pitch enough innings to build up much WAR value.
Which is the same reason that they don’t have much real-world value, IMO.
The average closer's salary
in today’s market is somewhere around $9M-$10M/year. So, I’d say that most GMs think they have real-world value.
While I agree that middle relievers are a fungible lot, and usually aren’t going to be paid the big bucks (unless Ed Wade lands another GM gig), good shut-down set-up men and closers generally get paid over and above what their WAR totals say they should. Because most GM realize the value in being able to “shorten” almost any game their team is leading, by virtue of being able to prevent the opponents from scoring late.
by Midnight Moose on Jan 18, 2012 3:14 PM EST up reply actions
good shut-down set-up men and closers generally get paid over and above what their WAR totals say they should
I think that’s more of an example of the inefficiency of the market, though I understand and recognize the point you’re trying to make.
I also see the lack of innings and batters faced greatly reducing their value. WAR is notoriously harsh on platoon hitters as well, because it is a counting stat, and those who get less opportunity, as a whole, will have lower WAR. I see a close just like a platoon guy, a specialty guy, who is useless (or at least unused) for a disproportionally high percentage of ABs. Even Mariano River had only 233 batters faced last year. How much credit could your really give a guy who only had 233 plate appearances? Best reliever is like best bench guy to me. They are necessary, but are such a small cog in the wheel that I have trouble justifying the money and recognition that they get.
by Wizard of Woz on Jan 19, 2012 9:25 AM EST up reply actions
Yes
Less overrated than current MLB relievers, but they pitched so many more innings than the average reliever does today. As WoW posted, a great chunk of Eckersley’s value came from starting, not relieving.
Should the Pirates keep Neal Huntington?
http://www.bucsdugout.com/2011/5/16/2174135/poll-should-huntington-be-retained
now that morton has Avoided arbitration
we can get jones a contract and worry about players that arent on the roster
by tbote123 on Jan 16, 2012 1:49 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Not surprised at all about what Hanrahan signed for. I AM surprised that Morton got almost $2.5M.
So, I guess now, the going rate for an Arb-1 starting pitcher with one decent season is $2.5M. Karstens is an Arb-2 with a better season than anything Morton has had. Do I hear $4-5M for him?? And are the Pirates willing to give that to him?
They have to be willing to give it to him if that’s what Karstens asks for and the arbitration panel agrees. The Pirates have no choice in the matter.
Other than to trade him. Also, does anyone see Neal Huntington being willing to pay Hanrahan ~$7M in 2013? Or possibly Karstens?
white angus
Let’s try:
Because the Pirates will be bad for the 20th straight season, Hanrahan will be dealt by the end of July.
how do you feel about lars anderson????
by karreemofwheat on Jan 16, 2012 7:08 PM EST up reply actions
Kudos to Kareem
if he was able to out him after only 4 comments.
by Wizard of Woz on Jan 17, 2012 3:47 PM EST up reply actions
Let's get 'em all signed,
get ’em to Bradenton, and get the season started.
Neal got a glimpse of 2 or 3 years down the road this morning...
and I doubt he liked it.
Andre Ethier signed to avoid arbitration. At $10.95M plus performance bonuses for one season.
I'd be listening to phone calls at the deadline regarding Cutch
Obviously not moving him unless the return is stellar, but I’d still be listening.
Should the Pirates keep Neal Huntington?
http://www.bucsdugout.com/2011/5/16/2174135/poll-should-huntington-be-retained
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