Bucs Dugout: FanShots

VV, Hacker, Lerud Off 40 Man

2009-11-06T21:07:57Z

VV, Hacker, Lerud Off 40 Man

Down to 36 with Meek and Ascanio needig to be added...

Kevin Polcovich honored

2009-11-06T19:29:46Z

Kevin Polcovich honored

The former Pirates shortstop is being inducted into his high school's Hall of Fame.

My Thoughts on the Iwamura Trade

2009-11-05T03:16:31Z

My Thoughts on the Iwamura Trade

A lot of people overreacted to this trade. There are some pros and some cons that likely are mostly balanced. You can argue that it's slightly tipped towards being good or bad, but it's not a big deal in either direction.

Rich Hill Is A Free Agent

2009-11-04T03:20:36Z

Rich Hill Is A Free Agent

Make sense for the Bucs to try and take a minor-league flyer on him?

Anyone for Brian Buscher

2009-11-03T18:41:09Z

Anyone for Brian Buscher

Link via mlbtraderumors.com

If Andy LaRoche is moving to second, we need a replacement at 3rd. No one seems to be sold on Neil Walker as the replacement, and Brian Buscher has just been outrighted by the Twins. He can hit AAA pitching (minor league stats here: Link ) His K/BB ratios in the minors are excellent, although in limited action, the major leage stats are average.

I don't know much about him, save the stats. Any thoughts?

Atlanta's Offseason Needs May included Trading for Matt Capps

2009-11-03T16:18:31Z

Atlanta's Offseason Needs May included Trading for Matt Capps

Kelly Johnson for Matt Capps?

Shortstop – Jack Wilson, Pittsburgh and Seattle Wilson won’t win a Gold Glove this year. Just like ...

2009-11-02T15:53:04Z

Shortstop – Jack Wilson, Pittsburgh and Seattle
Wilson won’t win a Gold Glove this year. Just like Mark Teixeira didn’t win one last year. He split time between leagues, and the Gold Glove voters don’t know which league to put him in. Not so with The Fielding Bible Awards. Jack Wilson was the best shortstop in baseball last year. Period. We don’t care which league he played in. He led all shortstops in Run Saved by a wide margin (27 runs saved to Brendan Ryan’s 19) and has taken over the MLB lead for most Runs Saved over the last three years (51). Mr. Wilson is the Fielding Bible Award winner at shortstop for 2009.

The Fielding Bible - 2009 Awards

Trent Jewett Returns to International League

2009-10-31T19:01:38Z

Trent Jewett Returns to International League

Longtime Pirates AAA manager Trent Jewett has been promoted from Class A+ Potomac to the Nats' AAA affiliate in Syracuse, so he'll be managing against Indianapolis next year.

Freddy Sanchez re-ups with Giants

2009-10-31T00:11:10Z

Freddy Sanchez re-ups with Giants

Freddy Sanchez comes to agreement with the San Francisco Giants on a two-year, $12 million contract.

Pirates name Carlos Garcia 1B coach/Infield Instructor

2009-10-30T20:42:24Z

Pirates name Carlos Garcia 1B coach/Infield Instructor

Promoted from within as he had been serving as the minor league infield coordinator. Has some past major league experience with the Mariners.

Pirates Claim Justin Thomas off Waivers from M's

2009-10-29T22:57:59Z

Pirates Claim Justin Thomas off Waivers from M's

Anyone know anything about Thomas other than that he's a LH relief pitcher?

Pirates to Move High-A Affiliate to Florida State League

2009-10-28T19:04:54Z

Pirates to Move High-A Affiliate to Florida State League

I guess convenience won out for the Pirates in this case. One doesn't attach much to winning in the lower minors, but given that all hope for Bucs fans seems to stem from the players who were part of a championship in Lynchburg, I wouldn't have minded the High-A affiliate staying there.

UPDATE by Charlie: The Pirates' A+ affiliate will move from Lynchburg in the Carolina League to Bradenton in the Florida State League. This is a natural move for the Pirates for all kinds of reasons, obviously. There's been a trend toward regionalizing farm systems--trying to get all of one's affiliates as close to the big-league city as possible. But because of the way the Class A+ leagues are aligned (there's one based around the Carolinas, one in Florida and another in California), there wasn't a way for the Pirates to get a team closer to Pittsburgh. Lynchburg is pretty remote. So for the Bucs to have a second team in Bradenton, where they have Spring Training, makes sense.

It'd be natural to call them the "Bradenton Pirates." Their rookie-league team, also in Bradenton, is already called the Pirates, but the Reds had two teams in Florida last year called the Reds, so there's precedent.

So, just to clear up any confusion, it will be

Indianapolis Indians (AAA)
Altoona Curve (AA)
Bradenton ???? (A+)
West Virginia Power (A)
State College Spikes (A- short season)
Bradenton/GCL Pirates (rookie)

Two teams in Bradenton, and my guess is that both will be called the Pirates.

The Florida State League plays as a more favorable environment for pitchers than the Carolina League. Some folks have complained, here and elsewhere, about it being tough to get a good read on prospects as a result of a move from a neutral league. There is a legitimate complaint here, but the FSL isn't nearly as extreme an environment as, say, some of the hitter-friendly ballparks in the Mountain West and California that really do wreak havoc on prospects. The pitcher-friendliness of the FSL is something we'll have to keep an eye on, but I don't think it's that big a deal. Of course, it remains to be seen how Bradenton's park will play in the summer.

Unfortunately, cincinnati.com points out that the Sarasota Reds drew less than 1,000 per game last year, way less than the Hillcats, who drew over 2,000.

Thanks to WHYGAVS. And condolences to Tim at Bucco Fans, who did all kinds of good work in Lynchburg this year.

UPDATE 4:11 PM: Cincinnati.com is the only source reporting this. If it's happening, I don't know why no Pittsburgh sources have reported it.

UPDATE 12:30 AM: Lynchburg's paper has an item on this, describing it as "likely." As Cincinnati.com suggested, this isn't official yet, but I bet it will be soon.

Pirates reliever Yates requests free agency

2009-10-26T20:39:31Z

Pirates reliever Yates requests free agency

Per Rob Biertempfel at the Trib, Tyler Yates has been released. The team put him on waivers, and after clearing he elected to become a free agent. The move leaves us with 38 filled spots on the 40-man roster, plus two players (Meek and Ascanio) on the 60-day DL.

The player for whom Yates was acquired two years ago, soft-tossing righty SP Todd Redmond, spent 2009 with the Braves' AAA affiliate in Gwinnett, posting a 4.41 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, and 6.6 K/9.

Wagner Mateo

2009-10-25T15:25:10Z

Wagner Mateo

Given that for whatever reason, Sano ended up a Twin (place your blame where you see fit), the Pirates have about $2 million left over from the international signing period budget. As of now, that's getting rolled over to next year's draft/international budget, but perhaps this year's former international #2 deserves a look. Could be a steal.

You Must Be Kidding...Who is This Genius?

2009-10-23T16:34:12Z

You Must Be Kidding...Who is This Genius?

The Giants have an $8-M option on Sanchez for ’10, which will probably be picked up. In fact, it should be. He is a fine defensive infielder who produced an excellent 6.7 UZR and 7.4 UZR/150 at the position in ’09. Even with his clear deficiencies on offense (no power, poor walk rate), he is likely to be worth those dollars because of his fielding. Indeed, despite grading out 2.3 runs below average with the bat overall in ’09, he still put up 2.2 WAR. He is definitely overrated on offense because of his batting crown, but he can pick it and earn live up to his option.

New monument for 'Suitcase' to be unveiled Saturday at West Hill Cemetery

2009-10-22T20:26:25Z

New monument for 'Suitcase' to be unveiled Saturday at West Hill Cemetery

Any readers from Georgia may be interested in attending an event 11 a.m. this Saturday in Dalton, where the city will be dedicating a new monument in honor of ex-Pirate Harry "Suitcase" Simpson in West Hill Cemetery. Simpson, a former Negro League player and an All-Star with the Royals in 1956, lived in Dalton and began his professional career there. Appropriately enough, the monument will be located on Suitcase Simpson Drive.

Andrew McCutchen #3, Jose Tabata #13 on BA International League Top Prospects List

2009-10-14T18:37:47Z

Andrew McCutchen #3, Jose Tabata #13 on BA International League Top Prospects List

Matt Wieters is #1, and Tommy Hanson is #2. Strange to see so many players who played a bunch in the majors still described as prospects.

By the way, it's definitely apples to oranges, but I'd take McCutchen over Hanson every day and twice on Sunday. Hanson had a great year and is likely to be very good going forward, but I think his tendency to leave the ball up in the zone will hold him back somewhat. I don't see much of anything to dislike about McCutchen.

Pedro Alvarez #1, Brad Lincoln #10, Jose Tabata #15 on BA Eastern League Prospects List

2009-10-09T19:57:13Z

Pedro Alvarez #1, Brad Lincoln #10, Jose Tabata #15 on BA Eastern League Prospects List

Baltimore Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz would have been number one had he qualified for the list.

Alvarez #3, d'Arnaud #13 in BA Top 20 Carolina League Prospects

2009-10-06T20:17:11Z

Alvarez #3, d'Arnaud #13 in BA Top 20 Carolina League Prospects

Pedro Alvarez and Chase d'Arnaud were the two Lynchburg Hillcat selections on Baseball America's Top 20 Carolina League prospects. With an eight-team league, landing multiple prospects on this list isn't as difficult as it is in some other leagues--the 2006 Hillcats had three players (Neil Walker, Brett Lillibridge and Brian Bixler), and the 2004 Hillcats had four (Zach Duke, Tom Gorzelanny, Brad Eldred and Rajai Davis). Still, Alvarez and d'Arnaud are the first Hillcats to gain Top 20 recognition since Shelby Ford in 2007.

Andrew McCutchen named NL Rookie of the year...

2009-10-06T03:03:26Z

Andrew McCutchen named NL Rookie of the year...

FanGraphs posted its 2009 awards today and McClutchen was named the NL Rookie of the Year. He probably won't win the real award but it's nice to see him get some credit from reputable publications.