My Reaction.

                  The Pirates did not make that one over the top deal that makes them instant World Series contenders. But take a look, Did anybody? I did not see one player that would completely separate a team from the pack.  The Pirates got good value for giving up little in value. Neal Huntington went out and got good pieces that can help this team win this year, but will keep this team in contention for a while.  The critics all along said the Pirates could not give up Starling Marte,Jameson Taillon, and especially not Gerrit Cole. The Pirates did just that. They gave up minimal prospects that were not untouchable.They did not land Shane Victorino or Hunter Pence, but from seeing the returns the Phillies received, it was wise the Pirates did not trade for those guys. Other than that, there were not many other big name players dealt. Chase Headley, Justin Upton, and Shin Soo Choo did not get traded. Obviously other contending teams did not want to part with their top prospects either. The Pirates may not have gotten the "wow factor" but nobody really did.

                   The Pirates brought in a Pitcher that will be a valuable #2 the rest of the way this year and will be around for next year. Wandy Rodriguez is the best acquisition the Pirates made. He was also one of the better pitchers on the market. Ryan Dempster and Zach Greinke were the only pitchers that commanded more attention. The Pirates were able to land Rodriguez for three mid level prospects. The Pirates also went out and got a player in Travis Snider, that could turn into the Pirates future five hole hitter. They gave up a good relief pitcher in Brad Lincoln, although Lincoln has had a very suspect career until this season. Neal Huntington has shown the ability of finding good relief pitchers in his tenure, I assume he will add a few in the offseason. The Pirates also went out and grabbed Gaby Sanchez from the Marlins for Gorkys Hernandez.  Hernandez is a good defensive outfielder, but has very limited offensive skills. He had no role with the Pirates any longer and the Pirates added a former All Star First Basemen in the process with Sanchez. He is having a rough season, but has played well in the past and is under team control for three more seasons.  The 33rd pick in the draft was also dealt to Miami, but the Pirates already hold two top 30 picks. The Pirates made a late move shipping Casey McGehee to the Yankees for veteran reliever Chad Qualls. This deal is not anything exciting, but McGehee no longer had a role on the team with the Sanchez acquisition.

          The Pirates have loaded up for the future. The core group that has led the Pirates to their record to date is in tact. Andrew McCutchen,Neil Walker,Garrett Jones, and Pedro Alvarez are all having successful seasons. Travis Snider and Starling Marte are young guys that will build the core and help now. Barmes and Barajas have been good veterans to hold this thing together. The pitching staff improved with Rodriguez, the other starters need to stay consistent.  The Bullpen is weaker, but is still one of the best in the league. This team will be the same team that has competed with the Reds all year long. Alex Presley,Jose Tabata, and Casey McGehee are not players that should be starting in a pennant race. The Pirates got rid of some dead weight in some regards and have a talented roster coming up next season. Huntington will spend some money on pitching in the offseason, and Gerrit Cole could and should be here next year. This team is young and competing, there is no reason to believe they will not continue to compete next year and beyond.

Trade Deadline: Travis Snider.

               The Pirates went out and got a bat before the 4:00 trade deadline today. Travis Snider comes over from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for Relief Pitcher, Brad Lincoln.  The deal will put Snider as the new Right Fielder to go along with Andrew McCutchen and Starling Marte. The Pirates Outfield will now feature a 25,24,and 23 year old that are all under control for years to come. Travis Snider is not one of the names Pirate fans have been hearing going into today. Shane Victorino, Shin Soo Choo, and Juan Pierre were among a number of different names the Pirates were linked to the past few weeks. Neal Huntingdon went out and got a wild card player and it could pay off in the end.
         Travis Snider is a 24 year old Outfielder from Toronto. He was widely regarded as one of the top prospects in all of baseball for years, but has struggled to make a name for himself with the Blue Jays. He is a former first round pick and is known to have good power. Snider finally broke through this year in 2012. He was hitting very well in AAA and had been moved to the Major League club recently. Snider has 3 Home Runs in 34 MLB At Bats this season. He comes at a relatively good price.  Brad Lincoln seems to be the pitching version of Snider. He too was a former first round pick that took a while to develop. Lincoln seemed that he had finally had things figured out. Lincoln still has a long way to go into establishing himself as anything of value. He could be a closer, he could still be a starter, or stay as a middle reliever. Lincoln was doing a fine job here, but it was the right time to part ways with the former number 4 overall pick.
                What does this all mean moving forward?  The Pirates have their Outfield set for years to come. Snider could be the corner outfield slugger the Pirates have coveted for some time. Shane Victorino for two months obviously was not worth Brad Lincoln, but Snider for a few seasons was enough for Huntington to pull the trigger.  The 2012 Pirates seem to have a set lineup going forward, and could still not be done trading. Kevin Correia could be a trade candidate. Jose Tabata is now an interesting piece. The Pirates rotation has been very unsettled of late. Veterans AJ Burnett and Wandy Rodriquez seem to be good anchors. Jeff Karstens has proven to be reliable as well. Erik Bedard and James McDonald have not been right for a while.  Do the Pirates give Correia another look, or do they package some mid level prospects with Correia and try to nab another starting pitcher?  Do the Pirates look for a Relief Pitcher to sure up the Bullpen?  Jared Hughes' success made Lincoln expendable in my opinion. They could still look for a Lefty to upgrade over Watson. We are coming up on 14 hours.



PS.
My Lineup moving forward....

1. Marte LF
2. Walker 2B
3. McCutchen CF
4. Jones 1B
5. Snider RF
6. Alvarez 3B
7. Barajas C
8. Barmes SS
Bench-McGehee, McKenry,Harrison,Sutton, and Presley.

Starting Rotation-Burnett,Rodriguez,Karstens,McDonald,Bedard.

Relief-Hanrahan,Grilli,Hughes,Watson,Resop, Daniel McCutchen? Bryan Morris?

The Biggest Week of the Year.....I Mean Last Two Decades.

            I am in the "lost generation" of being a Pittsburgh Baseball fan. I am like many others that have been born in the late 1980's and early 90's. We have never, ever seen a good baseball team. We have never really tasted playoff baseball. October is Football season. The night Sid Bream literally and figuratively ended the Pirates success, I was 1 year, 11 months, and 10 days old. As much as I try to remember that infamous night in October of '92, I can't. I was too young to know what it was like. I was not able to taste what winning baseball was like. All I know is that it happened. All any of us know is that the Pirates were fun to watch in the early 90's. They had some marvelous teams in the 1970's, and they pulled off the greatest upset in baseball history in 1960. I know this all happened, and it is wonderful. But what does that do for me? I am just a mere member of the "lost generation." I hear stories of Roberto Clemente,Willie Stargell, and Barry Bonds, but I only know the visions of Derek Bell, Jeromy Burnitz, and Raul Mondesi.

           The reality of postseason baseball is still a dream to me. It can not and will not be a reality until that day comes. Nevertheless, the Pirates are in contention 101 games into the season.  Contention? Actually more like serious players. The Pirates are in the front of the Wild Card race, and sit only three games back in the division, despite the Reds seemingly never losing a game. This is the closest thing to meaningful baseball I have ever come across. This is getting fun to watch.  This is not the 2011 "cool we're not in last for a few months!!" feeling, no this is the "Holy Hell the Pirates might be able to pull this thing off" feeling. The week of July 30th-August 5th will be the biggest week of my, OUR baseball watching lives. These six games mean more to the Pirates than any six games have meant to them in 20 years. The Pirates season and staying power will be tested in these next seven days. The six games will say plenty about the 25 players and Clint Hurdle, but the next two days will say a lot about the management, and how far both parties have come.
         The Pirates are right there. Jerry Meals did not blow a call. Andrew McCutchen is not fading away. Neil Walker, Pedro Alvarez, and Garrett Jones are hitting the baseball. Brad Lincoln,Jason Grilli, and Joel Hanrahan are saving the games. AJ Burnett is pitching like an ace. Wandy Rodriguez is here, not Ryan Ludwick. There are so many reasons to point out that this is 2012, not 2011 all over again. This team is better. This division is weaker. The Pirates can make a serious play moving forward. The deadline is Tuesday, and it will be the last chance for the Bucs to improve their inconsistent offense. They need a bat, and they need it badly. Neal Huntington's smart moves sometimes are overlooked, but he has made some good ones recently. He needs to try to pull off another one.

           The Pirates are coming off a rather poor week. The 4-3 record against the Cubs and Astros was not anything to write home about. They played poorly and were lucky to even win four games this week. They need to step it up this week. The three games with the Cubs in Wrigley Field are equally as important as the three with the Reds.  The Pirates can no longer play around with struggling teams. The Pirates can not play a dud and go into Cincinnati down 4-5 games. The team understands the giant collapse if 2011 can not happen again, but it is time to put the talk away and let the actions be known. They hold a lot of their fate in their own hands. It is time to prove this team can compete for a full season. The "lost generation" needs it. The rest of Pittsburgh needs it, and the team needs it.

The hump is in sight, time to get over it.

                      The late days of July is where the dream ended last season. It was the proverbial "hump" the Pirates failed to get over that season.  The Pirates added bats like Ryan Ludwick and Derek Lee in hopes they would carry the offense into playoff contention the remainder of the way.  That methodology obviously did not work. The Pirates offense was in trouble last season, but it was the pitching that failed them in 2011. The 2012 Neal Huntingdon learned his lesson and went out and addressed the pitching. Wandy Rodriguez is a veteran lefty that comes at the right price. They gave up average prospects with little hope of them turning into star major leaguers. They also got Houston to take on some salary and he will help form a solid rotation for next year.  Wandy Rodriguez will help sure up a rotation and likely take over for a shaky Kevin Correia.  The pitching seems loaded up and ready to go into August and September and it can carry the Pirates to a lot of wins, as it already has this season.

                The Pirates have not stopped with pitching. The call up of Starling Marte will add a spark to an offense that was humbled against the lowly Cubs. Marte is a fast aggressive outfielder that will breathe some fresh air into the lineup. He will play an exciting brand of baseball and his skill set will remind people of Andrew McCutchen. The comparisons stop there, similar skills, not actual similar game.  It is near impossible to predict how he will play for the rest of the season and beyond, but the hype and anticipation will come into fruition tomorrow night in Houston. The offensive help should not stop there. The Pirates can still stand to upgrade with a Right Fielder, First Basemen, or Shortstop.  Chase Headley, Shane Victorino, and Hunter Pence are all potential trade candidates. There are sure to be more options beyond those three. Will the Pirates be willing to trade prospects to upgrade in two spots?  I believe they will. Gerrit Cole and Luis Heredia seem untouchable. Jameson Taillon is pretty near that level as well. I could see a guy like Alan Hansen being traded. This team is good, but they need another bat. A series with five runs against the fifth place Cubs is pretty telling that they could use one. This team is seriously not far off from getting over the hump, they need to get over.

All in Good Time.

        The trade deadline is ten days away. The likelihood of the Pirates making the blockbuster deal in the next five minutes isn't that high.  The Pirates have no leverage at this point, the sellers do. They can hold out and wait until one hour before the trade deadline, because frankly that is how it works. The Pirates almost assuredly need to make a move, and they will. The management understands the need of making an attempt this season. They need to prove to the fan base they will make a move to win. The much scrutinized era of Bob Nutting's ownership could take a HUGE step in the right direction. The Pittsburgh fan base is starving for a winner, and they are not far away. The Pirates are 12 games above .500, they are looking to be in a neck and neck race with the Cincinnati Reds for the remainder of the season. These are unheard of realities for Pittsburgh baseball. The Pirates are in the thick of playoff contention and may be one or two pieces away from reaching the postseason.

        The Deadline is unpredictable, and it would not be fair to anyone for me to predict who they will get.  In an age of Twitter and trying to break the story first, the Pirates are reportedly "in" on everybody. Seriously, the Pirates are supposedly scouting every single player that could potentially available on July 31. Rightfully so, I must add. The Pirates are over-achievers any way you look at it. There is nothing wrong with it either. They do not have the middle of the order of the Cincinnati Reds. They do not have the World Series experience of the St. Louis Cardinals.  It is what it is. The Pirates are playing well with the same guys they have lost with in the past. It is remarkable what they have done, and I do believe it will change the culture for years to come. They need a bat and they need a starting pitcher, plain and simple. The offense has been tremendous since April ended, but it still can have days where the bats go completely silent.  The Pirates have McCutchen, and his burden is higher than any other player in Baseball.  Neil Walker is streaky, and the Pirates have committed to Pedro Alvarez's poor average in return for his Home Runs.  I am fine with all of that. They need a Left Fielder. Alex Presley is a guy you root for, but his progress is stagnant. He is just an average, speedy outfielder with a rather poor bat.  Jose Tabata will not be right for any sort of meaningful games in August. What does that leave you?  Drew Sutton?  Please No.  Gorkys Hernandez, Pretty, pretty please NO.  They could turn to Starling Marte, the prized AAA prospect. OR they could trade him for Justin Upton or Henter Pence, or Carlos Quienten. At this point, I'd rather have Pence and Upton over Marte. Proven MLB players under contract after this season. The Pirates also need a starting pitcher. AJ Burnett and James McDonald have been great, but in need of some help. Correia has pitched well of late, but could certainly be upgraded.  Bedard is a veteran that started well, but has been awful lately.  They would not mind getting somebody better, though. Jeff Karstens will be around for the duration, I do believe that.  The Pirates can try and make the giant splash with a Cliff Lee,Zach Greinke, or even sell the farm for Felix Hernandez. Those would certainly help the playoff push, but risky long term. I would like a Ryan Dempster if available and the price is right. James Shields from Tampa would be a nice fit.
         The Trade Deadline is unpredictable. Anything can happen the next ten days. The columns and articles screaming for the Pirates to make an addition have been heard loud and clear. They can stop now. The article is not going to make Neal Huntingdon act faster. This is a process, it takes time. The Bucs have often been on the other end of this situation, it is fairly new to be a buyer.  Everything needs to play out still, and the Pirates will start getting serious soon.  The report is that Huntingdon is low balling teams, and frankly that is fine. Why not try and get stuff cheap? The offers will be more realistic as each day passes. The Pirates have a healthy farm system and Gerrit Cole is the only player I would absolutely not trade. Anyone else is fair game in my eyes. Taillon, Heredia,Marte, Hansen,Bell....You name it, I'd rather see an attempt at winning this year than banking on a bunch of "A" prospects down the line. This could be the season, play like it is.

Mark Appel......

                         Through all the All Star stuff, the first place stuff, and the trade deadline stuff.....There is still the issue of signing of first round pick, Mark Appel.  The deadline in which to sign a first round pick is Friday.  The report came out yesterday that Appel was leaning towards returning to Stanford for his Senior season.  I do not think its fair to be critical of a guy returning to play with his college teammates and all that. That is a special experience.  Although it appears he is returning to school for all the wrong reasons.  Appel and his representative, Scott Boras do not seem too pleased with his slotted 8th pick money of 2.9 million.  The Pirates saved enough money on other selections to offer Appel closer to 3.8 million.  The report could be a ploy by Boras to try to squeeze out more money from the Pirates. He may ultimately sign when the deadline rolls around later this week, but things now are unclear.
             The issue of not signing the first round pick would usually be an absolute nightmare for Pirate management.  The on field team has people forgetting about the draft and signing Appel.  I think best case scenario is that he does in fact sign. The Pirates, or any team for that matter, could always use a projected top of the rotation starter.  Appel being in the fold would also make trading a guy like Taillon a little more tolerable.  The Pirates could be lining up to take on making a big trade in the coming weeks and their pitching depth could be the asking price to seal the deal. Appel and the Pirates both stand plenty to gain by him signing. Appel gets 3.8 million and the financial security. The Pirates add another top end pitching prospect and add more depth to their loaded system. It is a win-win for everyone. If Appel does not sign, here is what happens for both parties.  Appel will return for Stanford and throw away a lot of money. He will risk and try to be picked in the first seven picks of next year's draft in hopes of getting more money. The Pirates will receive the 9th pick in the draft no matter what in compensation for losing Appel. The Pirates will have their normal pick as well. That actually seems pretty pretty good to have two picks in next year's draft as it is expected to be better.  The Pirates are not the only team in fear of losing their first round pick as Kevin Gausman of the Orioles may return to LSU.  These guys are throwing a lot of money away. The next few days will be interesting.

2nd Half Playing Time.

The Pirates are 48-37 heading into the All Star Break. They sit one game above the Cincinnati Reds in the National League Central standings. The Bucs hold the second best record in the National League. So as the saying goes, "If it ain't broke....." Well I am not here to say I could do a better job than Clint Hurdle (Manager of the Year to date IMO) because he has this team playing out of this world. The reality is that the Pirates have a scorching hot offense of late, and it is due to the contributions from everyone. They still rank in the bottom third in Baseball in most offensive categories. They have three firm everyday starters, which is absurd for a first place ballclub. We all know McCutchen is locked in at Center Field. Alvarez and Walker are both red hot and are holding down third and second base without any worries. That leaves us with plenty of other questions. The recent trade rumors have to have any Pirate's fan imagination giddy. Justin Upton, Cole Hamels, Felix Hernandez, and Chase Headley and so on and so forth.  The Pirates are going to add some things, but it is way too early to say who it will be. The next two weeks will say a lot about who the Pirates go after. Here are some interesting playing time battles going into the second half.

Catcher-The catching position in Pittsburgh is actually really stable.  Rod Barajas has been hitting very well and is owed a lot of credit for the pitching staff's improvement.  He is a major league veteran and his impact can not be totally measured by on field performance.  He is important, and I think will receive 70% of the starts moving forward.  Michael McKenry has proven to be a more than adequate backup. Both Catchers have plenty of pop and they have both been hitting well since June. This is the Pirates 7 hitter, and I think it is in good hands with these guys.

First Base-I think this comes down to the platoon situation again. Garrett Jones and Casey McGehee have both been hot. The struggles of Jose Tabata and Alex Presley have allowed Jones to steal some starts in right. The pending trades and possibly the call up of Starling Marte will take away the Jones in RF option.  This may be a straight righty-lefty platoon. Jones has been awful against Lefty pitching all year, but his hot bat against right handed pitching has made him a legitimate third power threat for the Pirates.  Jones needs to play a lot, and I do not see any way around it.  McGehee has been hot of late, but does not have the same power threat as Jones.  These guys are both veterans and can handle the roles they will be reduced to after the deadline.  I'm guessing 65-35 moving forward in favor of Jones.

Shortstop-The Shortstop situation is bleak. The Pirates have mediocre guys like Josh Harrison, Jordy Mercer, and Chase d'Arnaud as options behind incumbent starter, Clint Barmes. Barmes has been hugging the Mendoza line all season long, and sits at .204 going into the break. You have to look at the numbers a little deeper. He had an awful April and May, but hit .250 in the month of June. That is essentially what Clint Barmes is, a .250 hitter. He has been playing a good shortstop, and has gone out and done his job there everyday.  He may not be popular, but the internal alternatives are worse. The trade market for Shortstops is also weak.  Clint will be the 8 hitter and will play nearly 90% of the time the next 3 months.

Left Field-The Pirates have no sure things.  Drew Sutton is hitting like a madman since being acquired and deserves a chance for the time being.  The long haul has to be better than Drew Sutton, we should all know this.  Alex Presley is a speedy spark plug, but is a very mediocre hitter. His speed and hustle keeps him around the lineup.  He will be back and should be a solid 4th outfielder and will be a valuable commodity going forward.  Jose Tabata's issues may not get resolved this season. He could be the odd man out as things go forward. It is a shame that he has fallen off, but he is a liability in the lineup.

Right Field-Starling Marte could be on his way very soon. He is not a giant power hitter, but has McCutchen-like tools. He is not anywhere as near the player as McCutchen, just similar type of style. He could be the starting right fielder for years to come.  Garrett Jones will see time here in the first two weeks before the deadline, and after that it is anybody's guess. Will the Bucs make a splash at the trade deadline? Will it be a big time outfielder?  It just may happen. The deadline affects Presley,Tabata,Jones,Marte, and Sutton. This one will be too early to tell.

3-4-5th starting pitchers-Jeff Karstens,Kevin Correia, and Erik Bedard will continue to be in the rotation, but for how long?  Correia is very shaky and needs to show more consistency to stay around.  Bedard started off great, but has been free falling since.  He may not be 100% healthy and the break can do him well.  He has the best talent of these three pitchers.   Jeff Karstens will be here for the long haul, assuming no injuries.  Karstens is a crafty pitcher that gets the job done.  The Pirates have Brad Lincoln waiting in the wings, and three AAA left handers that are waiting in the wings.  Justin Wilson,Rudy Owens, and Jeff Locke can either be in Pittsburgh, or trade bait.  The Pirates can go out and get another ace type and sure things up, or hope these guys turn it around.  I hope Bedard can turn it around, a lefty is a nice commodity.

Closer-Trade the Hammer, or not?   Jason Grilli and Juan Cruz have been great setup men, and could assume the role as closer if the Pirates are so inclined to trade Hanrahan.  I say the Hammer stays.  He is the Pirates best relief pitcher and is very reliable.  If it came down to this....mid-September in a must win game and a one run lead in the 9th, I want Hanrahan in there over Grilli every time.  Hanrahan needs to be a part of this team going forward, he would be missed a lot more than people realize.

#FreeStarlingMarte?

Is it time for the Pittsburgh Pirates to bring up the superstar-in-waiting Center Fielder, Starling Marte?  I would say, YES!  Starling Marte is in his first stint in AAA and has struggled at times this season, but seems to be coming on strong of late.  Marte is batting .287 with a .344 OBP. He has 9 Home Runs, 49 Runs Batted in, 10 triples, and 15 doubles. The guy also has 16 stolen bases.  Marte has a world of potential and is incredibly athletic. He is doing everything asked of him in the minor leagues and is just a call away from playing Right Field in PNC Park. The general consensus is that this move will happen sooner rather than later.  He is close, there is no denying it.

            The move is corresponding with the absolutely atrocious season being put on by Jose Tabata. Tabata received a contract from the Pirates last season in hopes that he would be putting up, well better numbers that this. Tabata has 11 runs batted in as an everyday starter. His .230 average and .290 OBP is disturbingly low. Tabata's 9 times caught stealing is another alarming stat. His lack of hustle and shaky defense is not endearing himself to the Pittsburgh faithful either. Tabata is a very talented baseball player, and he is still really young (only 2 months older than Marte). Alex Presley is another leadoff type hitter that has had a shaky season, but a few weeks in AAA has done him well. Presley has been doing a fine job in June and now July. He also hustles and is scrappy, and that sort of thing appeals to fans. Tabata may not be 100% healthy, but he is healthy enough to play everyday. He may be best served to spend a few weeks in AAA and regain some confidence, because he is an important part moving forward.
        Back to Marte.  Andrew McCutchen was called up when he was 22 roughly in the same spot of the season, and responded with a .286 average and 22 Stolen Bases.  Jose Tabata was just 21 when he got the call and it too was around this point in the season. Tabata batted .299 with 19 stolen bases in his rookie season. The time is now for Starling Marte. He is doing comparable to Tabata and McCutchen in AAA just before their call ups. Marte's addition is slightly different though. Cutch and Tabata joined last place teams with no hope, and little pressure. This allowed them to ease in and play comfotably.  Starling Marte will essentially be joining a pennant race(too early?). The pressure will be on for Marte to produce more than it was for McCutchen. Marte has the ability and skill set to do a fine job, and could cement a role in the Pittsburgh outfield for years to come. The question is no longer, "Will he get called up this year?" It is now only a matter of when.

15 Prospects I have an Eye on....Maybe You Should too.

The Pirates are enjoying a nice stretch at the Major League level, but it is never too early to look at the future. Pittsburgh has stockpiled the minor league system the past few years, and that leaves you with some interesting and talented players to look forward to. I am not claiming to be some major Minor League Baseball talent buff, but some guys numbers stick out more than most.  Obviously there are some prospects I missed. They are still very good and worthy of checking out. They have drafted plenty of High School Pitchers they drafted the past few seasons, and it is hard to evaluate until they really make the climb. I did not forget about Colton Cain, Colton Brewer, and so on and so forth.

1. Gerrit Cole SP 21 AA-Altoona- Gerrit Cole has recently climbed the latter to AA after a sound performance in High-A Bradenton. The former number 1 overall pick's first start was not anything outstanding, but solid.  He is 6-1 with a 2.63 ERA and 75 strikeouts in his 14 starts this season. Gerrit Cole is definitely the prize of the Pirates minor league system. He is on the fast track to the Majors. Gerrit should see AAA next season, and could be in Pittsburgh by mid-season if all things continue to work out. Setbacks do happen, but Cole can be a front end starter for years to come if he stays healthy. He has that kind of talent.


2. Mark Appel SP 20 Unsigned- Mark Appel is not technically a Pirate farm hand, yet.  I think Appel will ultimately sign with Pittsburgh before the deadline.  He has very little to gain by coming back, and the risk is way more than the reward.  Appel has front end talent and could make a similar jump through the minors as Cole has had. I would not rank Appel with Cole and Taillon in talent, but he is not far off. Appel could possibly be in Pittsburgh in 2014 if all works out. Appel is a major part of Pittsburgh's future, it would be pretty bad if he fails to sign.


3. Jameson Taillon SP 20 High A-Bradenton- Jameson Taillon was believed to be Pittsburgh's top prospect going into the season, but has since been jumped by Gerrit Cole.   Taillon has dropped the whole way to number two, so yeah he is still really important.  Taillon has not hit a roadblock in High A, but he isn't breezing through it. Taillon is 4-6  with a 4.10 ERA and 67 strikeouts in 74 innings.  He has had outstanding games, and some real shaky ones this season. Taillon will be in Altoona next year, maybe even the tail end of this year. He did not attend college and would only be wrapping up his Sophomore year if he had. There is no need for concern, he can possibly be in Pittsburgh by 2014, 2015 at the latest. 

4. Luis Heredia SP 17 Shortseason A-State College- Luis Heredia may be the most intriguing prospect Pittsburgh has.  Heredia is a 6-6 right handed pitcher that throws mid 90's. He is 17 years old and is the age of a High School senior.  The kid pitched for the first time this season and only gave up 1 hit through 4 innings.  The scary thing with Heredia he may spend another five season in Minor League Baseball and would only be 22. There is no telling if a kid like this will pan out, but its nice to think he would. The Pirates threw the kid a nice bonus, and he may be as good as advertised.  International pitchers are hit or miss, but imagine if he was a hit like Felix Hernandez....




5. Starling Marte CF 23 AAA Indianpolis- Starling Marte is the one position player that could be knocking on the door very soon. Actually, it seemed as though he may be here by now during Spring Training. Marte has not dominated AAA, and has struggled mightily at times this season. He still very well could be in Pittsburgh this season. Jose Tabata is just awful this season, and other options at Right Field have been inconsistent. The trade deadline will determine Marte's fate.  He will be here next year no matter what, and has a world of potential. He has 16 stolen bases, 36 RBI's and 27 extra base hits in 70 games for the Indianapolis Indians. 


6. Josh Bell RF 19 Low A West Virginia- Josh Bell has been hurt since April 24 and has not played since. He should be playing again soon and hopefully progress is made by the end of the season. Bell was a first round talent that the Pirates over-slotted for last year, and it appears now that it was worth it.  Bell is definitely the most talented and interesting corner outfielder in the organization and could be a Jason Heyward type player down the line. It is hard to say when the kid will make his way to Pittsburgh, but it would be a great sign if he started in High-A next season and not have a repeat start in West Virginia.  

7. Rudy Owens SP 24 AAA Indianapolis- Rudy Owens will be the first in line to receive a promotion to Pittsburgh for whatever the reason. I would say there is not much more Owens has to prove in the minors. He has proven himself at every level, and is having a fantastic AAA season. Owens is 6-2 with a 2.38 ERA in 14 starts. Owens is a left hander and would be a nice addition to the Pittsburgh rotation.  Kevin Correia,Brad Lincoln, and Jeff Karstens are occupying the final two spots in the rotation currently, but moves should be made very soon. Owens will get to pitch in Pittsburgh this year, it is only a matter of when.


8. Tony Sanchez C 24 AAA Indianapolis-Sanchez remains Pittsburgh's only real "prospect" when it comes to Catcher.  Sanchez is close to being labeled as a bust (if you haven't already called him one) as he has not lived up to being the 4th overall pick in the 2009 draft. Sanchez has recently been promoted to AAA, and he has not exactly hit too well.  He was not hitting well in Altoona either.  Sanchez was either flat out overrated or has not lived up to his potential. Still, with the current catching situation in the organization the front office has to be praying Sanchez works out.  Barajas is old and does not have much left, and McKenry is not a starter. The Pirates may have to go out and get somebody, or Sanchez steps up and does what he is supposed to.  He will stay in AAA this year, and will get a chance to make the majors next year.


9. Brock Holt 2B/SS 24 AA Altoona-Brock Holt is emerging as a potential prospect in a very thin middle infield in the Pirates organization.  Jordy Mercer and Chase d'Arnaud do not appear to be major league players and they both sit in AAA, but Holt could be different.  Holt is batting .315 to date and could see a promotion to AAA soon.  Shortstop is Pittsburgh's worst organizational position, and they are begging for one guy in the minors to step up.  Holt could be that guy, I'd like to see how he handles AAA.

10. Wyatt Mathisen C 18 Rookie GCL-Mathisen was Pittsburgh's 3rd pick in the draft and he comes in highly touted. The Pirates were able to sway him from going to the University of Texas and sign. He becomes Pittsburgh's next hope to be the Catcher. He is far from the majors, but should be a guy to keep an eye on. He is absolutely tearing the cover off the ball in the Rookie league for what it is worth.  Maybe he can be in West Virginia next year as a 19 year old, that would be really worth keeping an eye on. 


11. Mel Rojas OF 22 High A Bradenton-Rojas certainly looks the part of a Major League Outfielder. His 6-3 frame projects him nicely and he could be a serious pro prospect as his minor league career progresses. He is hitting just .271 in Bradenton, but that is improvement from his previous minor league seasons. If Rojas can put together a full season, he will be a highly intriguing player in AA next season.


12. Alen Hanson 2B 19 Low A West Virginia-Hanson is having the best season of any Pirate minor league farmhand. Out of nowhere the little second basemen is hitting .323 with 10 Home Runs, 37 RBI's, and 18 stolen bases. He is a young guy so there is no real rush to get him to Bradenton.  His season is a real bright spot because of the aforementioned middle infield struggles this organization possesses.  Hansen's season may be a fluke, but he is firmly on the radar now, and has earned prospect status. 


13. Alex Dickerson 1B/OF 22 High A Bradenton-Dickerson may be the Pirates' best future power hitter in the system.  Dickerson is a polished former college hitter that has driven in 43 runs on the season from the left side of the plate.  His 6-3 235 frame makes him look like a very solid First Base prospect.  Pittsburgh is heavy on pitching, but the real significant batting prospects are few and far between. Dickerson is a guy I have been following closely and hopefully turns out to be better than a Matt Hague or a Steve Pearce.


14.  Barrett Barnes CF 20 Shortseason State College-Barnes was the Pirates supplemental pick and is signed and ready to go in State College. He seems to have a bit of a project label to his name as he needs some work with his swing. That is an odd commodity to have from a college player.  He is still nonetheless loaded with talent.  Barnes joins a crowded system of outfielders, but he may be able to stick out. He is young in his career, but worth tracking for the next few years. 


15. Matt Curry 1B 23 AA Altoona-I know, nothing exciting. Curry comes from a college program and is an undersized First Basemen. He may be Steve Pearce all over again, but I still find myself checking his stats when I do my minor league run through. He should be in AAA next year, if not this year. He is batting .291, and could get hot from time to time. I think this is total wishful thinking, but the Pirates need to take any First Base prospect they have somewhat seriously.

Blogging on the Road?

I will make my first adventure to see the Pirates outside of Pittsburgh for the first time of my life this weekend.  I will be heading with a buddy to the "mistake on the lake", otherwise known as Cleveland.  I have been to a few Ballparks in my day, AT&T Park in San Francisco is great.  Comerica Park in Detroit is nice, nothing grand.  I have seen PNC Park about a million and  a half times, and it is still the best.  Progressive Field (It is still the Jake to me) has been on my hit list for sure, and I'll take seeing a Pirate game on the road to do it.  Always fun getting out checking in on some new places.  I'll be tweeting like an annoying bird that wakes you up during a nap all Saturday long, so tune in to that. I plan on making it out of there that night and to the safety of Mario's on Carson Street, because two Pittsburgh fans drinking Great Lakes all afternoon should not stay in Cleveland for the night. Follow up blog, and plenty of pictures will hopefully be in the plan for my return. Lets Go Bucs!!

5 Reasons the 2012 Pirates are for real.

1. Pitching-The pitching for the Pittsburgh Pirates this season has been nothing short of phenomenal. The emergence of James McDonald has to start getting more National attention.  J-Mac has been down right nasty at times this season, and when he is rolling he is one of the best right handers in the National League. He is currently 5th in the ERA race, and can be one of the best strikeout pitchers in the league.  He is proving to be consistent and possesses "Ace" potential.  He may not be lights out all season, but is turning into a horse that Clint Hurdle can rely on.  AJ Burnett and Erik Bedard have done everything asked of them and more.  Burnett has really emerged as a leader and a guy that can be trusted, and Bedard is very consistent. The top three for the Pirates set up well for the rest of the season.  The Bullpen has been outstanding as well.  The three inning combination of Juan Cruz, Jason Grilli, and Joel Hanranhan has been tremendous and has shown no signs it will stop.  Tony Watson and Brad Lincoln have been nice surprises as well.  Obviously there is no way to predict how they will pitch for the remainder of the season.  There is also no way to say it will go foul either, they have been great so far and have carried the team.  The three top starters will be around all year long.  Kevin Correia, Jeff Karstens,Charlie Morton, and Brad Lincoln are all questionable starting pitchers this season. They have had good outings, but nothing to cement their roles.  The Pirates could always look to bring up a Rudy Owens if the time is right. I do not really see the Bucs being in the market for another starting pitcher when trades start happening.  They could look for a more reliable Lefty reliever if the price is right.

2. Efficient Offense?-Yes, I did put a question mark. How does the worst statistical offense in the league somehow have efficient in the same sentence? My theory is simple: How bad can it be if you are in first place? That is the reality of it all. The Pirates do great work with what they have.  The offense started out putrid, and never got that much better.  The past week or so they have been getting it done as well as they have all season. Rod Barajas and Clint Barmes are somewhat coming around. Alex Presley makes things happen one way or another. Neil Walker,Jose Tabata, and Pedro Alvarez are freakishly streaky.  The Pirates are currently enjoying a nice stretch for Neil Walker, maybe it will last. The Bucs have found ways to win without hitting the ball hard. They scratch and claw and the pitching keeps them around. Andrew McCutchen is the only true threat. Everyone else is streaky or just plan mediocre. They can definitely upgrade with an outfielder or first basemen. I bet the Pirates will make some sort of move before July to give the offense a boost.

3. Andrew McCutchen-I think it would be fair to say he is a legitimate MVP candidate at this point.  He is without a question more valuable to the Pirates than any other one player is to their respective team.  The Dodgers can win without Matt Kemp, and they have been doing it.  The Rangers can still smash the ball without Josh Hamilton.  The Pirates could not win without McCutchen. It is that simple. I still do not see why teams actually pitch to the guy. 1. He is THAT good. 2. Nobody else on the team can hit.  He leads the team in all major categories. He is on pace for a 30-30 season, and very well can attain that.  The Pirates success starts and ends with Cutch.  He tailed off a bit last year, but I do not see that happening this season.  He embraces being the face of the franchise, and handles it well.  McCutchen needs to be the guy all season, and I think he will be.

4. Hurdled-The guy will intentionally walk the winning run. He may leave his lefty reliever in to face a tough right handed batter.  He may have his best hitters bunt in questionable situations.  He also wins, and has this team in contention.  Say what you will about Hurdle's quirky style, but it works. It works with this team especially. The 2012 Pirates do not have that much talent. They have a very Pirate-like 30th ranked offense. They find themselves in first place regardless.  Hurdle manages with his gut and his instincts. He is not by the book by any measure. He makes some really strange calls at times, but I have witnessed at least five key wins this season they won by the calls he was making. These Pirates would be towards the bottom with John Russell and most other managers. Clint Hurdle has changed the culture, and made this team believe they can win. It is hard to describe, but Hurdle works well with these Pirates. He needs to keep taking risks and going with his gut. It is working, it needs to be left alone.

5. NL Central-The Cubs are terrible and should leave plenty of wins open for the Pirates. The Astros will fade soon, and could give some more wins up.  This leaves a four team race for first. They are the same four teams as least year, but not quite the same teams.  Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder are gone.  The Brewers have not been playing that well, and the Pirates went in to Milwaukee and took two of three. That was unheard of the past few seasons as the Brewers have owned the Pirates. The tides may have changed, and that is a big curse the Pirates need to get over.  The Bucs have also played well against Cincinnati this season. This division is one of the weaker ones in the league, if not the weakest.  The Cardinals are always a factor, and the Reds have the most talent. It will not be easy to unseat either of those, especially down the stretch.  The Pirates may have learned from last year and may be able to avoid the 10 game losing streak to ruin the whole season.  McCutchen and company can scrap and hang around.  It may only take 85-88 wins for the division, and that is something the Pirates can do.

Mark Appel, come on down.

The Pittsburgh Pirates got a gift to fall right on their laps during Monday's First Round in the MLB Draft.  The consensus top pitcher in the draft, Mark Appel, fell from grace to the eighth pick. The Pirates obviously could not let a talent of that caliber go to waste as they made him their 2012 First Round Pick. Mark Appel joins Gerrit Cole and Jameson Taillon as front end right handed pitching talent.  The prior two first round picks find themselves at High-A Bradenten and seem to be on the fast track to the Majors.  Mark Appel can catch up to the other prized prospects rather quickly.  Appel features a plus fastball that touches in the Mid 90's along with other plus pitches.  His current season at Stanford is on going as they will move on to the Super Regionals this weekend.  His numbers on the year have to catch anyone's attention. He went 10-1 with a 2.27 ERA, 5 Complete Games, and 127 Strikeouts in 119 innings in the very competitive Pac 12 Conference.

        The descend down the draft has to raise some concerns.  The most logical explanation is that Appel's agent, Scott Boras always drives teams away.  The new rules (Which I have yet to fully grasp)  also would suggest for the pitcher to fall.  I can gather that you only can over-slot a player so much money before a penalty were to ensue.  The rules seem a little flawed and simply put, stupid.  All in all I do not believe an injury or off field issues played a factor in Appel dropping.  Some teams and draft experts scout differently. There is no doubt he is a top talent, and the Pirates walk away with a very good pick. Neal Huntingdon does not appear to shy away when staring Boras in the face.  The management is not the most popular among Pirate fans, but they can not really complain with the drafts for the most part. They draft the right guys and throw money into the system there. They may not bring in high end Free Agent talent, but understand this....The Pirates are spending more money on the product than they ever have during this losing streak. It will prove to be beneficial in a few years.  

The Draft approaches...

The 2012 First Year Player Draft will take place on Monday June 4.  The Draft can be a best friend or a terrible enemy for a team like the Pirates. Obviously the former would be the ideal situation.  The Pirates have used the draft lately to flood the system with young power arms to add outstanding pitching depth to the organization and hopefully it translates well.  The Pirates method of over slotting highly rated High School guys is still in the wait and see process. They have depth and talent, but it is still in the lower ends of the system.  The 2012 Draft is a great opportunity for the Pirates to address some offensive issues.  Now this will not help the current team's putrid offense, but it should help improve the future state of the offense. The Pirates throughout the system have pretty bad offenses, and only a few bats to get excited about.  Starling Marte and Josh Bell are two guys that have to give Pittsburgh baseball enthusiasts hope. After that, we are talking about Tony Sanchez,Mel Rojas, Alen Hansen, Alex Dickerson, and Robbie Grossman as the next few waves of Pirate offensive help.  So essentially, not much to get excited about.  The Pirates system actually does have quite a few Outfielders with potential, but just about the entire infield situation is bleak.  The Pirates could draft a Shortstop and he could instantly be the best in the organization.  Neal Huntingdon could look First Base, because Alex Dickerson and Matt Curry are far from sure things and there is nothing in the majors for the future either.  They could also look to a Catcher because Tony Sanchez isn't exactly living up to a top 5 pick as he spends another year in AA Altoona.  This all means the Pirates could go a lot of different ways with their picks.  Gerrit Cole and Jameson Taillon are the the two most intriguing pieces to the Pirates future.  They appear to be on the same pace and could very well be pitching in PNC Park by 2014. The landscape of that team is hard to predict, but in a perfect world Andrew McCutchen is playing at an All Star/MVP level. Pedro Alvarez will be driving in runs and hitting bombs in the Allegheny.  Jose Tabata and Starling Marte will be manning the other Outfield positions and a roster filled with guys in-house and hopefully a free agent bat that is actually productive. Along with Taillon and Cole pitching like Strasburg. (Read: Perfect World scenario)   So what can the 2012 Draft do to help 2014? Does this draft factor into the 2014 team, or does it help a little further down the line?  It is hard to predict things, because the one thing I have learned about Baseball....It is very hard to predict.  So what should the Pirates be looking for during Monday's First Round with the 8th overall pick and beyond. The Pirates have shown the are not afraid to take guys and dangle money in front of "unsignable" High School prospects.  Here is a list of 10 guys that are possibles with that Number 8 pick.....No real order, just ten prospects.

1. Mike Zunino Catcher Florida-This would likely put Tony Sanchez in a tough spot.  Zunino is a polished Catcher from a powerhouse program.  He would project out to be a middle of the lineup type of guy, something the Pirates always need.  I'm not sure how likely it will be to see him around at this point, because he is rated very highly. Stranger things have happened, but if he is around I just don't see the Bucs passing on him.  He can move up through the system quickly.

2. Carlos Correa Shortstop Puerto Rico- OK, this is the one guy the Pirates would absolutely love to take. The organization is paper thin in the middle infield. Correa is about as sure as anything for a High School Shortstop. Scouts believe he has the offensive tools along with a very polished set of defensive skills.  The Pirates would not see him immediately, but if he produces could move up the charts very well.  As I said earlier, the Pirates have very few minor league bats to get excited about, he is a guy that would excite you.

3. Max Fried LHP California HS-The Pirates have some prized righties in the Minors, how about adding a Lefty?  Fried is a tall lanky left hander with a  good fastball. He could the Pirate version of Cole Hamels down the line. The Pirates have a legitimate chance on Fried with the 8th pick, but will they continue to draft pitching?  It is hard to imagine the Pirates don't add a marquee bat, but I wouldn't be too upset if they select Fried.

4. Albert Amora OF Florida HS-Amora is an athletic outfielder that has all the tools to project out as an elite Major League Outfielder. He stands at 6-2 which may translate him being a solid power hitter down the line.  He should be around at the 8th pick and would be a great addition.  The Pirates have Mel Rojas and Josh Bell currently in the A ranks. It is not absolutely necessary to take an Outfielder, but if he is the best available...take him.

5. Courtney Hawkins OF Texas HS-Hawkins is another High School Outfielder but is not in the same mold as Amora.  Hawkins will be more of a power hitter. He his athleticism, but his offensive game would put him more in the middle of the lineup, and likely a corner outfielder.  The Pirates situation with a High School Outfielder is the same as I already mentioned. He would be nice, but I would prefer Amora to Hawkins.

6. Deven Marrero SS Arizona State-The Pirates have been linked to Marrero because of the Shortstop troubles. Is he really the answer to them?  Marrero is a true shortstop that would be able to field right away.  He is a solid hitter, but hasn't had the best of seasons. That doesn't always mean anything, but still the Pirates can not botch this pick.  Marrero would still be an upgrade to most of the middle infielders in the system. He can be in Pittsburgh rather quick. He may be the answer, but his interest has fallen as the draft process has gone on.

7. Richie Shaffer 1B/3B Clemson-Shaffer is the best college power hitter in the draft. I think the Pirates should give him a serious look. Shaffer could be the Pirates answer to a power hitter of the future. He could play at third, but it seems scouts see him at first.  College players typically move up the latter quicker than high school players.  Shaffer would be a welcomed addition as the Pirates do not have anything set in stone for First Base for the foreseeable future.

8. Stephen Piscotty 3B Stanford-Piscotty is another college corner infielder that the Pirates should consider. Piscotty has a good power streak, but can also hit for average.  He could potentially move Alvarez to First Base because he is athletic and talented over at third.  Piscotty will be around when the Pirates pick, so is certainly a name to watch for.

9. Gavin Cecchini SS Louisiana HS-He is not the best Shortstop in the draft, but he could turn out to be a good professional.  Cecchini would fill a void, but may be more of a project than Pittsburgh is willing to take on. He has good baseball pedigree, so the Bucs may take a look.

10. Kyle Zimmer RHP San Francisco-While the Bucs have their Right Handed pitcher of the future, it never hurts to have another. Zimmer would be hard to pass on if he is around at 8. Zimmer has everything you  would want as a college righty, and could join Cole and Taillon and be about the same age with the same progression likely.

The reality of it all.....

       The Pirates are having an OK season, but will it be anything more than that?  I sincerely doubt it. The fact of the matter is, the Pirates have the worst offense in Baseball. They have exactly one position player minor league talent that may be ready this season.  They have a few good bats, and roughly two dozen AAA hitters that are all interchangeable parts. Is a fire sale coming?  Maybe, but not in the sense of what is usually means for the Pirates.  If you take a look down on the farm, its no secret the Pirates have plenty of pitching depth teamed up with a few promising hitters.  Take a look at the current roster, the four best bats happen to be twenty-six years old or younger.  That is where it all begins.

            The reality of it all is this: The Pirates time to turn it around is very close, but it is not this year. Andrew McCutchen, Starling Marte, and Jose Tabata look to be the three catalysts in the outfield for years to come. Marte will be here soon, and has the potential to be another McCutchen. That is just a scary thought having two of those guys roaming PNC Park's outfield.  Pedro Alvarez will be the corner stone of this lineup whether people would like to admit it or not. He is 30 Home Run guy waiting to happen, and possibly in the process of it happening this season.  Neil Walker should be an easy sign if they so chose, and he will be a consistent hitter that you can virtually bat him anywhere in the order.  That leaves you without a First Basemen, Shortstop, and a Catcher. How will the Pirates address that problem? The answer obviously isn't signing lower level free agents as they are finding out this season, but rather trade some of their good AAA pitching prospects for some good AAA hitting prospects.  The Pirates are absolutely loaded in the lower ends of organization with pitching. Those guys will not take very long to get here. Gerrit Cole and Jameson Taillon will be here by 2014, and will make a huge splash. Other guys like Luis Heredia, Clay Holmes, Colton Cain, and Stetson Allie are also progressing nicely. James McDonald and Charlie Morton and some stop gap veterans can hold things together until these guys are ready.  The influx of A talent makes AAA guys like Jeff Locke, Rudy Owens, and Justin Wilson expendable. The Pirates also should throw in Joel Hanranhan to the trade mix, and the Pirates can bring a few solid returns. The past trade deadlines have seen the Pirates having a fire sale of all their good players, but now all the Pirates good players are young and factor into the future. The Pirates have a plan and if you look at it, it is not hard to see. The Nutter and Huntingdon haters can scream all they want, but for once I see a light at the end of the tunnel. I hope some other people do too.

Offensive Help?

      The Pittsburgh Pirates are dead last in runs scored in Major league Baseball. Is there help on the way?  Can they improve the lineup? At this point in time, I'm not sure if the Pirates have any options to make things better.  The Pirates pitching has been great.  The starters have turned in great efforts and some unsung heroes in the Bullpen have kept this team hovering around .500.  That is great for now, but how long until the pitching falters? The offense needs to give this team some breathing room and have the ability to steal some wins on offense alone.
               Andrew McCutchen has been the three hitter all season long, and has done fairly well. He is batting above .300, but the problem with him is his lack of power numbers.  The three spot in the batting order is designed to drive in runs, and is expected to have some Home Runs. McCutchen only has seven extra base hits. The lack of runs batted in may be attributed to the rest of the lineup.  The reality is that McCutchen's Isolated Power numbers are awful for a middle of the lineup guy, he is essentially a leadoff hitter forced into his current position. The rest of the offense is based off of that.  This team does not have a legit power threat. Neil Walker is heating up since a terrible start, but he too is more of two or six hitter, that finds himself batting four and five. Walker's isolated power is also bad, and he only has two extra base hits.  The Pirates are getting no power offense from power spots in the lineup. Pedro Alvarez is heating up, but he is not ready to be thrust into a major role just yet.  His biggest thing appears to be confidence, and he is gaining it slowly.  Alvarez is going to be that guy in the future, but it is hard to say he will respond to batting clean up right now. Garrett Jones is Garrett Jones. Everyone should know by now what to expect from him.  He will finish with close to 20 Home Runs, and 60 some RBI's.  Thats a nice source of power, but it should not be a primary source. The fact of the matter is the Pirates have three leadoff hitters in McCutchen,Tabata, and Presley. They carry two spots of dead weight with Clint Barmes and Rod Barajas, and two predictable guys like Neil Walker and Garrett Jones.  The wildcard is Pedro Alvarez. He can control a lot of the Pirates success this year and for years to come. He will have to do it in a smaller role, but the Pirates will take all they can get from him now.
              The question really is, How does the offense score runs this season?  The question is much simpler than the answer. The Pirates higher levels of the minors are not littered with much of anything. Starling Marte is in the same mold of the current Pirates outfield. He is an intriguing prospect with a world of talent. So can he help? The Pirates can bring him up, which they almost assuredly will this season.  Tabata and McCutchen are locked up, so its hard to imagine they will be going anywhere. Presley is having a good season, so it is hard to pick where Marte fits. They could always trade him and hope for something big in return. The Starling Marte scenario is a cloudy one, and I do not think anyone knows where the Pirates organization will go with it.  The Pirates are a talented minor league group in lower levels, but not deep at all up top. There is no telling where the offense will come from, but if the Pirates see a repeat of last year they will need to add a few sticks. The Pirates best and only real asset that could bring back anything is Joel Hanrahan. I doubt Pittsburgh wants to trade their best pitcher if they are in contention, but if they are out of it and it can bring in a good return.  They should do it.  It is only May, and there is a lot of baseball left, things always play themselves out.

Opening Day with D6 Sports Network

The great American spectacle that is Opening Day has come and gone.  The D6 Sports Network took our traveling caravan down to the lots of PNC Park to behold the pregame festivities. Here is what we saw.

Pittsburgh is a Baseball town-  There is plenty that can be contested with that statement, but I think there is finally proof.  Pittsburgh is a sports crazed town, to say the least. The ultra popular Steelers are a hit from coast to coast, and the Penguins are the NHL's showcase team. That often puts the Pirates in the shadows and in a really tough spot.  They are labeled "The City of Champions...and The Pirates." The Pirates have 19 consecutive losing seasons, it iss not an ideal way to draw in fans, yet on a day in early April the largest crowd ever in PNC Park's history commenced.  The buzz around town was real and positive. The younger generation of Pirate fans have yet to see a winner, but they saw four months with a rag tag group last summer. The Pirates may not compete this year, they may not duplicate next year's success, they can be out of it by May, BUT nobody is thinking that way.  The Pirate fan base is alive and kicking. It is a new era, and a new way to watch the Bucs. The emergence of twitter is a new way to watch the games with Pirate fans and is a great way to stay informed with some good sarcasm. The party atmosphere of Pittsburgh brings a unique feel that other teams may not see.  Pittsburgh Baseball is an event every weekend from here until late September, make an appearance.  You will not regret it.

There is a Rivalry- The Phillies have been one of the most successful teams in baseball in recent memory.  They have a payroll that drowns out that of Pittsburgh. Philadelphia has a dedicated fan base, and the Phillies have that town captivated all Summer long.  They also travel well, really well.  Philadelphia fans were all over Pittsburgh this weekend.  Although it was not like year's past. The Pittsburgh Pirate nation has a new found sense of confidence.  The parking lots were filled with Pittsburgh fans not donning Steeler jerseys or Clemente jerseys, but rather McCutchen, Walker, Tabata, and Hanrahan jerseys. The Pirate "P" was prominent everywhere you looked. The neighbors from the East were not a dominating force as they were in the past years.  The Pirates went neck and neck with Doc Halladay and the Phillies on Opening Day, and used dramatic fashion to take two from Philadelphia the rest of the weekend. The Pirates do not have the star power, the payroll, or playoff experience but they have grit to hang. Pittsburgh fans do not have bragging rights just yet, but as of now they lead the season series 2-1.

Optimism is Everything- Anything worth talking about has critics obviously.  The Pirates still have no guarantee that they will be anything worth talking about this year, and of course people know it.  The loyal fan base has seen everything crumble in their faces before.  The Pirates still do not have a payroll, a threatening line up, or rotation.  They still have better days ahead that might not be this season.   The Pirates are going to change the Pittsburgh sports landscape.  The success of the early 1990's will be duplicated again.  The best way to approach it is to be positive, and believe.  Clint Hurdle is a great manager. He is a winner, and is a character.  Andrew McCutchen is one of the best players in the league.  There are plenty of scrappy Pittsburgh players that are fun to root for.  It would be a great thing to see people take on supporting the Pirates the way the Penguins get supported.  The game is becoming youthful again.  It is trendy to watch the Bucs, and go to the games. Its an affordable night out with fellow Pittsburghers.  Pirates Baseball is turning into something that it has never been in my lifetime.  It is actually cool to be a Pirates fan these days, something that nobody could have dreamed of five years ago. Check out a game this year, and you will get the feeling too.

Pittsburgh Pirates Top 10 Prospects. August 20th edition.

The Pirates are spending money......on the draft.  But hey it is something!  Right?  Well anyways, the Pirates Minor League system has never been anything to write home about.  Littlefield set them so far back, and Huntington is doing a nice job of stockpiling talent to bring it back.  He might as well keep the overslot method of paying young High School kids and getting them into the system early. The talent is adding up, and the players are  in the system 3-4 more years than they would be. This year showed that if this thing is done right, Pittsburgh can only go up.  The young players now are getting extensions, and the minor league system is getting better.  The plan is in place, now we all get to see if it plays out as planned.

And here is my Top 10 Pirates prospects.

1. Jameson Taillon. 19. RHP. West Virginia Power(Low-A) Season Stats-2-3 4.52 ERA 80K-17BB. Projected Level '12-High A Bradenten Projected Year of Arrival-2015, 2014 at earliest.

Jameson Taillon is in his first professional season.  He has had mixed success, and is not getting a serious work load. Taillon rarely pitches past 5 innings. His K-BB rate is solid, but he has given up 9 Home Runs in just under 80 innings. His Fastball is upper 90's and is an ideal front line starter, and a potential ace in a few shorts years. He is 19 and a just a year removed from high school, his high ERA does not seem to bother the organization as he will likely move to High A ball next season.


2. Gerrit Cole. 20. RHP. Not Assigned. Season Stats (college). 6-8 3.31 119K-24 BB.
Projected Level '12-High A Bradenten  Projected Year of Arrival-2014.

Gerrit Cole is not far behind Taillon, if he even is at all. His upside is unbelievable, and also could be a future ace.  His Fastball is upper 90's, among other plus pitches.  His college stats are a little alarming though.  There is no doubt that this guy is a future top of the line starter, but the fact his college ERA was the highest in the UCLA rotation is troubling. Obviously the Pittsburgh front office felt that this was not a big problem down the line.  He should start in High A next year, and if he advances quick enough, he could be in Altoona for a few months next year.

3. Starling Marte. 22. CF. Altoona Curve. Season Stats -.328 11HR 47 RBI 21SB
Projected Level '12-AAA, MLB by midseason.Projected Year of Arrival-2012 very likely. 2013 for sure.

Starling Marte is an exceptional talent that has very high value for the Pirates. With the recent extension of Jose Tabata, they simply are stating that at least 2 spots in the Outfield are filled at least through the 2015 season.  So where does Marte fit in?  His power numbers have gotten better through the years, but isn't your typical corner outfield prospect.  There are some that believe he has enough athleticism to unseat McCutchen in Center. Either way, he will start next season in AAA as a 23 year old. He has a chance of being moved to bring in a power bat or a starting pitcher, but him with McCutchen and Tabata will provide the most athletic and exciting outfield in the league by far.  The future is bright for Starling Marte.


4. Luis Heredia. 17. RHP. Gulf Coast Pirates. Season Stats- 1-1 4.28 ERA  22K-19BB 27 IP.
Projected Level '12-GCL Pirates/Short Season A State College. Projected Year of Arrival-2016

This may be the most intriguing prospect the Pirates have had in a while.  He just turned 17 years old last week, and he throws 95 with his fastball. You do not run into kids that can throw that hard, this young, too often.  That is why the Pirates spent a large amount to bring him into the system.  The big thing with Heredia is to not rush him.  He should still be in high school this year, so the big thing is to not overwork him.  He will spend a few years in the minors, but will still be really young upon making it to the majors.  I know the Pirates would love to see him turn into a Felix Hernandez, a very prominent Latin pitcher that has been outstanding for Seattle.  If the Pirates get anything close to what he is, this kid will be worth every single penny.


5. Josh Bell. 19. RF/LF. Not Assigned. Season Stats (high school)- .552 14 HR 48 BB's 19 SB's.
Projected Level '12-Low-A West Virginia. Projected Year of Arrival-2015.

Josh Bell has the role of being the highest paid rookie drafted outside the first round ever.  The Pirates dished out 5 million dollars for this guy's bonus to lure him away from the University of Texas.  Bell is rated very highly, and if it had not been for him saying he was 100% committed to going to Texas, he easily would have been a top 15 pick. The risk is high giving a second round pick this much money, but the consensus is that he is going to be a solid hitter and will be the prized position player in the Pirates system.  He is a switch hitter, and has drawn comparisons to Jason Heyward.   Heyward made it through the minors rather quickly, it would be huge if Bell is as advanced as he was. Either way, his career will be followed closely.

6. Stetson Allie. 20. RHP. State College Spikes Season Stats- 0-2 7.33 ERA 25K-25BB. 23 IP.
Projected Level '12-Low A West Virginia. Projected Year of Arrival-2015.

Stetson Allie is also an overslot second round selection with first round ability.   He was lured away from his North Carolina commitment with a large signing bonus, and for good reason. Allie is a known flame thrower, reaching 100 on occasion with his fastball. He is having a rough go at it during his first professional season and it is obvious he is not nearly as far along as Jameson Taillon.  His command is not there yet, and he is still in the minors to develop off pitches.  This should only be his freshmen season at North Carolina, so he is ahead of the game in that regard.  He is being tried as a starter, but with his hard fastball its easy to see why some people believe he will be a closer at some point.  His development will take longer than Taillon and Cole, but he has the same strong arm as they do.

7.  Colton Cain. 20. LHP. West Virginia Power. Season Stats- 6-8 3.64 ERA 81K-31BB.106 IP.
Projected Level '12-High A Bradenten. Projected Year of Arrival-2015

Colton Cain has been having a very successful season in Low A ball this year.  His ERA is solid, and he has responded rather well to his workload.  His last five appearances have been out of the bullpen, showing the organization is trying to lessen the amount of innings he throws this season. He throws low 90's and has a nice curveball and changeup to go with it.  He is the best lefty in the system at the lower levels, and ideally would fit in with the four hard throwing righties higher on the list.   He should progressively move up the latter assuming no injuries.  He should fare well in Bradenten next season.

8. Robbie Grossman. 21. CF. Bradenten Marauders. Season Stats- .291 12 HR 53 RBI 100BB 113 Runs. Projected Level '12-AA Altoona. Projected Year of Arrival-2014.

Grossman is having an exceptional season, and is quietly turning into a very solid prospect. His season in which he was walked 100 times and scored 100 runs is the first of its kind in the minors since 2004, when Nick Swisher did it.  The knock on Grossman is that he strikes out a lot, but the on base production is great.  He still finds himself low man on the totem pole of Pirates outfielders.  Marte seems the next in line to emerage at the big league level, and former prospects/minor leaguers, Alex Presley and Gorkys Hernandez will still be ahead of him. But as long as he continues to develop as a hitter, it will be a good problem to have.


9. Tony Sanchez. 23. C. Altoona Curve. Season Stats-.235 4 HR 41 RBI
Projected Level '12-Altoona Projected year of Arrival-2013

Tony Sanchez has not looked like the number four overall pick this season.  Not by a long shot.  After batting over .300 his first two professional seasons, Sanchez has seemingly hit a wall this year.   He has never played this long of a season, but his struggles have been evident all year long. He only has 17 extra base hits this season.  Still, Sanchez is the top rated catcher in the system, and it would be foolish to write him off entirely.  I do not think he is ever going to be a Joe Maurer, batting champion type catcher, but he certainly can be more than just a serviceable guy as well.  The Pirates need him to show he can hit better, because it looks like he may have to repeat in Altoona next year, and that is not a good thing. Doumit and Snyder are not getting any younger.  Sanchez needs to be ready to go sooner rather than later.

10. Matt Curry. 23. 1B. Altoona Curve. Season Stats(A/AA combined)-.290 14 HR 70RBI .490 Slugg.
Projected Level '12-AA Altoona. Projected Year of Arrival-2014.

Matt Curry has been very impressive this year in his first full professional season.  The Pirates boldly moved him to Altoona after a hot start in A ball.  He started slowly in AA, but recently has shown signs of life.  He is a doubles machine, and has solid power.  He comes from a top notch college program in TCU.  He will likely begin in Altoona next season, and will be more acquainted to AA pitching. He has the ability to move up to AAA next season, provide it that he hits.  I think he may be a solid pro at some point, but he also has signs of turning into a Steve Pearce.  And by that I mean, an undersized First Basemen from a good college team that hits extremely well in the minors, but struggles in the majors.  I certainly hope that isn't the case, but right now he is the best first base prospect in the system.

This List leaves out some solid players, and borderline prospects....
in AAA Rudy Owens,Jeff Locke, Matt Hague, and Gorkys Hernandez are all capable prospects and may see time during September call ups.  The Bucs also have more overslot HS pitchers with power arms in the lower ends of A, and Alex Dickerson, the third round pick of the Bucs may be a better First Basemen than Curry down the line.