Gerrit Cole: What does it all mean?

The Pittsburgh Pirates had the dubious task of choosing number one overall in the 2011 First Year Player Draft. In a year where there was no Stephen Strasburg or Bryce Harper, the league's doormat had to select one player that will allow them to avoid being a punchline, yet be an effective player for the franchise down the road. All things considered, the Pittsburgh Pirates selected Gerrit Cole a Right handed starter from UCLA.  The guy has the tools and makeup to be a front line ace for years to come.  With any top pick minus a clear cut number one guy of course there is scrutiny surrounding the choice.  Cole undoubtedly has the tantalizingly "stuff" that this organization obviously saw him to be the best choice.  The guy throws upwards of 98 MPH with a hard slider and a change up that improved over the course of his time as a Bruin.  He seems like a worthy player of the number one pick, and at that I have no problem with the pick, but like always his career will be linked to the number two pick Danny Hultzen of Seattle and sixth pick Anthony Rendon of Washington.  However he pans out, its a nice thing to see the Pittsburgh Pirates not shy away from big time talent and continue to draft the "best player available".  The Pirates being such a futile franchise for so long, it became a little outrageous that they were ducking away from the best players. The new regime under Huntingdon has been a refreshing change for that very reason.  The Pittsburgh Pirates have determined a plan on how they are going to win, and they are going the route of strong drafting.
        Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, and Roy Oswalt. The Philadelphia Phillies bought a dream rotation.  The put a rotation together in one year that is hardly rivaled by any other team in the league.  They are one of the few teams in baseball that can acquire such talent through free agency and trading.  Other teams can groom home grown talent, and make one splash in the trading market, than there are teams like Pittsburgh.  For the Pirates to ever match a rotation like that it has to come from within, and already the Pirates are aligning their weapons and will soon be ready to unleash them in Pittsburgh.   Gerrit Cole, last year's number two overall pick Jameson Taillon, and big time international signing Luis Heredia.  These are the potential "Big 3".  Drafting Gerrit Cole simply means that the Pirates are modeling themselves of some very successful small market teams of the past, most notably the Oakland Athletics framework of Mulder,Hudson, and Zito. This is how it needs to be done for a small market club, they are never going to see any sort significant free agent signing.
       Any skeptic of the Pittsburgh Pirate has the right to remain skeptical.  The franchise has not had a winning season in a couple seasons, to be generous.  The old management would draft "cheap" players like, Bryan Bullington,Daniel Moskos, and John Van Benschoten but this management has done quite the opposite.  They have gone after such talents like Pedro Alvarez, Jameson Taillon, and now Gerrit Cole.  They also take chances in later rounds, and the chances have been pricey, but should pay dividends down the line.  Once again the Pirates went after a deemed "unsignable" prospect in Josh Bell.    He went as far as to tell teams to not draft him as he seems pretty well committed to play at the University of Texas.  He is regarded as a top 20 player in this draft,and you have to love the gamble the Pirates took(They receive a compensation pick next season if he fails to sign,meaning the Pirates will add a top 60 pick likely just for drafting a player that won't sign this year).  As the saying goes, "everyone has a price", and you hope he does have a price, because he may pan out better than many of the first round picks.  The Pirates aggressive style has to be commendable, at the very least.  The skeptics of this franchise aren't going away, they still have not won.  They still have a small payroll, and not every prospect is playing how they should. Still, it is improving, you would have to be blind to not realize that.  The approach is better, by far.  And the overall mood in Pittsburgh is undoubtedly positive since the Pirates have been playing good ball, and you have to hope this team right here is the foundation for winning teams to come.

Halladay   Lee    Oswalt   Hamels











Cole  Taillon    Heredia.......Someday guys, Someday.