Craig Wilson Wants to Come Back to Pittsburgh

by Charlie Wilmoth on Nov 9, 2007 8:41 PM EST in News

"I know at this stage of my career, I'm not going to get a contract to be an everyday player, but I'd love to come back here and play off the bench," said Wilson, who tied a major league record by hitting seven pinch-hit homers in 2001. "I always liked it in Pittsburgh and never wanted to leave here."

Everyone knows I love Wilson, and I'd like for him to come back on a minor-league contract, but I don't see how the Pirates (or any team) could possibly give him a major-league deal at this point. Unless his power comes back - and given his shoulder problems, that doesn't seem very likely - he wouldn't make the team on merits. And even if it did come back, the Pirates have plenty of players who are like him but younger. Already they need to open up a spot for Steve Pearce (who could well end up being a better hitter than Wilson in his prime, and who's already a better fielder). Josh Phelps is a year and a half younger than Wilson and did the all-stick-no-D thing off the bench last year as well as Wilson could possibly hope to. And there's Ryan Doumit, too.

The idea that Wilson wants to come back to Pittsburgh is actually kind of sad. When he was useful, the Pirates didn't value him, and his career has fallen off a cliff so quickly that he has to try begging for a job with the team that mistreated and generally wasted him. Maybe he and his family just like Pittsburgh, but I doubt that's it. Given that you're going to be in the major leagues and all, there doesn't seem to be any situation worse than being one of the Pittsburgh Pirates' best hitters and having to sit and watch instead of playing, all because you drink too much Pepsi. I can't imagine there's much to Wilson's desire to come back except desperation.

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Forgetful People

Remeber the long hair? The good times? If Criag would like to take 200 ab's For the Major League minimum....why not? The Phelps types are a dime a dozen, just like AAAA Long Relivers. For P.R. value alone, give him a 2 yr. minimum. As a 25th man?? What the hell. The Bucco's will loose 80 with him or without him. Let's rebuild for real, give first base to Pearce if he's for real, trade Lyndon Laroche, and use Wilson for a backup. If 28 yr old Pearce is nothing but a "younger Craig Wilson".... Trade him for anything and move ahead. There is always a long line of .235 12 HR backup corner men available every year.

Of course I am all in favor of the old school 10 or 11 man pitching staff. In that case, there is always room for a 3rd string catcher/1b/of/PH guy.

I wanted to puke over Shilling's 6 man rotation bullcrap. Dude (Shilling), just tell people that you can only go 4 innings, take Chacon money, and pitch for 3 more years as a mop-up guy.

by Doug Froebel on Nov 9, 2007 9:18 PM EST reply actions

Craig Wilson

For God's sake ... NO.

Can we try to move ahead?

by thegunner on Nov 9, 2007 10:11 PM EST reply actions

Sad

is the word that came to my mind too.

by bucdaddy on Nov 10, 2007 10:51 AM EST reply actions

Craig Wilson can come back to Pittsburgh

any time he wants and buy a ticket to any game just like the rest of us. I'll buy him a beer. We can talk about the futility of the Front Office here during his playing days.

by puget sound pirate on Nov 10, 2007 2:44 PM EST reply actions

Craig Wilson can come back to Pittsburgh

I think Craig would prefer if you bought him a Pepsi....

by sludgeworm on Nov 10, 2007 3:02 PM EST up reply actions

I'd love to have him back.

He was all over the press talking about wanting to come back the offseason after we traded him, too. I think he just likes it here.

Even if the end up cutting the arm off at the shoulder, he's still worth having on the roster just for non-baseball purposes, like that terrible pitcher Veeck used to carry as his 25th man because he played a good violin in the team band.

That said, he might also be a good rebound candidate, depending on the medical reports. He's not all that far removed from being a very productive hitter, and if the surgery fixed things...

by Vlad on Nov 10, 2007 4:12 PM EST reply actions

Absolutely

I'd love to have him on the bench. If I were manager, I'd guarantee he'd play every day -- as a pinch hitter and spot starter. Guaranteed, pinch hit/day so he stays sharp.

by azibuck on Nov 10, 2007 8:56 PM EST reply actions