The Pirates Losing Streak: Old enough to have sex with.

[pnickers]

In the first two innings last night the Reds bat through the order.  I don't know what they need to do with Morton, but it sure isn't leaving him in the rotation. 

[homesystem]

That was the majority of the discussion on 'Hey Rocco' last night.  The consensus seemed to be send him down to AAA to get his head straight.. but management hasn't stated that they'll do that (yet).  Brad Lincoln isn't far off.

[pnickers]

While skimming the PG today, I ran across a headline stating that he will "remain in the rotation".  Oh well. 

[Tank Decker]

and now he's on the DL

[homesystem]

Yeah, I was just about to post that..

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10148/1061493-100.stm

Only Charlie Morton and the Buccos staff know how serious/real the shoulder thing is.. but at least it'll give him some time to possibly get his head together.
There's some speculation that Brad Lincoln will make his debut on Tuesday.. I wonder if I can figure out a way to make it to that game...

[homesystem]

Depressing Buccos fact for the day (from the Post Gazette's rundown on last night's loss):

"With Derek Lowe rapping a double and scoring twice, opposing pitchers continued to rack up hits -- at a rate where their .250 average surpasses the Pirates' own averages at first base, second, third and left field.

That's .006 or less from topping their totals at shortstop and right field, too. So that's six positions of eight where opposing pitchers have a higher average."

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10149/1061819-63.stm#ixzz0pLD1Mc8g

[Nye]

Depressing Buccos fact for the day (from the Post Gazette's rundown on last night's loss):

"With Derek Lowe rapping a double and scoring twice, opposing pitchers continued to rack up hits -- at a rate where their .250 average surpasses the Pirates' own averages at first base, second, third and left field.

That's .006 or less from topping their totals at shortstop and right field, too. So that's six positions of eight where opposing pitchers have a higher average."

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10149/1061819-63.stm#ixzz0pLD1Mc8g

Looks like the 'ol "bale that breaks the camels back" has struck right on time.

[homesystem]

So, here's why the Buccos won yesterday:

"There was one other factor, as well, on this day: Every player hiked up his socks for an old-school look, upon the advice of utilityman Delwyn Young, with an aim of ending the losing streak and maybe finding some offense.

The offense still was mostly absent -- two runs and seven hits hardly constitute a breakout -- but expect the socks to stay up tonight."

[homesystem]

I've been baffled by this Dana Eveland trade.. but with Donnie Veal having surgery and Charlie Morton's 'shoulder fatigue' it kind of makes sense that they'd want another major-league ready starter.  Also, as much as I hate to say it, I think adding Eveland is a precursor to either Maholm or Duke being traded later in the season.
Which could result in little or no regression in the starting rotation if Eveland pitches halfway decently (a big if).
It could even result in a better rotation in the second half of the season if Lincoln comes up and does ok, Ohlendorf continues to have outings like his last one, and Charlie Morton comes off the DL with his head together and does what he should be able to do.  So, it's nice to think about but probably won't happen.

[pnickers]

The Eveland trade baffles me, even if they do plan on trading Duke or Maholm.  They traded one of their super valuable "prospects" for a guy with a lifetime losing record.  That's not trading for any value whatsoever.  What does Lincoln have to do to prove that he is ready for the Pirates, give up 7 runs in the first inning? 

[homesystem]

Uviedo wasn't exactly a super-valuable prospect.. he was fringe at best, and already profiled as no better than a middle-reliever in the majors.  Rocco has a good take on it, and as usual I'll defer to him:

"The Pirates acquired Dana Eveland, 26, yesterday for AA reliever Ronald Uviedo, 23.  This is another small risk taken by Neal Huntington, and, as usual, I'll reserve judgment on the deal until we get some information on the careers of these two from here moving forward. 

Eveland isn't all that exciting a player statistically (poor BB%, middling K%) and I've heard nothing but underwhelming things about his stuff.  The numbers back those reports up, as his average fastball clocks in at 88.1 mph and rates as a below average pitch. His changeup and curveball rate as a bit above average, but not enough to bring the grade of his overall stuff up to average.  He does get grounders, but guys that pitch to contact shouldn't be walking nearly as many batters as Eveland has (4.74 BB/9 career, 5.44 BB/9 in 2010).  He comes with three seasons of club control after 2010, which is always a plus for bargain hunting GMs like Neal Huntington.

Uviedo is a solid young relief prospect with some issues of his own.  But being a reliever, I don't mind parting ways with him if it means potentially getting lucky with 3 years of a ML starter.  While it's hard for me to understand how the Pirates could trade a 40-man roster piece for a guy that was DFA'd twice this year, I'll give the Pirates GM credit for assuming some risk taking a flier on a guy that has, in spurts, done some good things.

No risk, no reward."  - from the sex training website

It's baffling, but in the end pretty benign as far as potential damage if Eveland just sucks it up and gets DFA'd.  I agree with Rocco that small-market GM's have to take risks like this if they think there's a chance at improving the club for little or no $.  On the surface it looks shitty, though, cause they gave up a prospect for a mediocre-at-best major league player, which smacks of Littlefield/Bonifay.

[homesystem]

Oh, and as far as Lincoln goes, I like all the speculation that he'll be called up to start against Strasburg on Tuesday.  Seriously, though, he can't be far from coming up.

[Tank Decker]

Uviedo wasn't exactly a super-valuable prospect.. he was fringe at best, and already profiled as no better than a middle-reliever in the majors.  Rocco has a good take on it, and as usual I'll defer to him:

"The Pirates acquired Dana Eveland, 26, yesterday for AA reliever Ronald Uviedo, 23.  This is another small risk taken by Neal Huntington, and, as usual, I'll reserve judgment on the deal until we get some information on the careers of these two from here moving forward. 

Eveland isn't all that exciting a player statistically (poor BB%, middling K%) and I've heard nothing but underwhelming things about his stuff.  The numbers back those reports up, as his average fastball clocks in at 88.1 mph and rates as a below average pitch. His changeup and curveball rate as a bit above average, but not enough to bring the grade of his overall stuff up to average.  He does get grounders, but guys that pitch to contact shouldn't be walking nearly as many batters as Eveland has (4.74 BB/9 career, 5.44 BB/9 in 2010).  He comes with three seasons of club control after 2010, which is always a plus for bargain hunting GMs like Neal Huntington.

Uviedo is a solid young relief prospect with some issues of his own.  But being a reliever, I don't mind parting ways with him if it means potentially getting lucky with 3 years of a ML starter.  While it's hard for me to understand how the Pirates could trade a 40-man roster piece for a guy that was DFA'd twice this year, I'll give the Pirates GM credit for assuming some risk taking a flier on a guy that has, in spurts, done some good things.

No risk, no reward."  - from the sex training website

It's baffling, but in the end pretty benign as far as potential damage if Eveland just sucks it up and gets DFA'd.  I agree with Rocco that small-market GM's have to take risks like this if they think there's a chance at improving the club for little or no $.  On the surface it looks shitty, though, cause they gave up a prospect for a mediocre-at-best major league player, which smacks of Littlefield/Bonifay.

actually, late term Littlefay/Bonifield would have traded Uviedo for a 36 year old pitcher making $8 million a season.

[homesystem]

Good point... here's another example from a recent P-G article comparing Iwarmura's failure as a free agent to past free agent signings.. it's a traumatic memory:

Pat Meares is generally the go-to guy when talk turns to bad contracts, and GM Cam Bonifay's most famous mistake doesn't disappoint here. Signed to a four-year, $15 million contract to play shortstop in 1999, the unproductive multimillionaire was moved to second base in 2001 in favor of rookie Jack Wilson, and the two put up remarkably similar low-impact lines. Meares, then 32, hit .211/.244/.304 in his last year in the majors, for an OPS+ of 39.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10155/1063088-63.stm#ixzz0puUJY7RZ

[homesystem]

I guess this is why beer at the ballpark is so expensive these days:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Cent_Beer_Night

[pnickers]

Ten cent beer night is very different from 8 dollar beer night.  Hell, getting a soda will still cost you about $4. 

'Em Nuttings are bums. 

[Tank Decker]

I guess this is why beer at the ballpark is so expensive these days:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Cent_Beer_Night

ahhhh....the good ol' days. Kind of a shame Cleveland gets to lay claim to this ridiculousness

[pnickers]

They are also lucky enough to have had that Browns riot, too.  I think Bob may have been at that one. 

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2001/12/16/browns011216.html

[homesystem]

I remember watching that on tv.. I felt bad for the Browns fans.. it really looked like a bad call.

[homesystem]

I'm really getting tired of hearing about how the Pirates are 'missing a great opportunity' by not bringing up Brad Lincoln to start against Strasburg tomorrow. 
That's just about the stupidest thing I've ever heard.. what's the point?  The game's on MLB network, not even ESPN.. so while it's technically 'nationally televised'.. it really isn't. 
I'm sure that having Brad Lincoln start would make everyone around the country say 'Oh look, the Pirates have prospects too.. maybe they're not so terrible.'
I can understand not having much to talk about, so media people have to drum up whatever they can at this time of year, but there is the MLB draft tonight with the Pirates picking second.. maybe you could talk about that...?

[homesystem]

Good news from the draft (assuming 'em Nuttings pony up 6-8 million):

"It's clear Taillon is a tremendously talented pitcher. He has most of what you look for in an elite level pitching prospect and he's somebody who can work his way quickly through a team's minor league system because of the quality of his stuff. While he's not a sure thing and has some things to work on, Taillon represents an opportunity for some team to add a potential true No. 1 starter into its stockpile of prospects."

What I want to know is why don't they bring Taillon up to start against Strasburg tonight?  Why do they keep wasting these opportunities??

[newefezziwig]

Good news from the draft (assuming 'em Nuttings pony up 6-8 million):

"It's clear Taillon is a tremendously talented pitcher. He has most of what you look for in an elite level pitching prospect and he's somebody who can work his way quickly through a team's minor league system because of the quality of his stuff. While he's not a sure thing and has some things to work on, Taillon represents an opportunity for some team to add a potential true No. 1 starter into its stockpile of prospects."

What I want to know is why don't they bring Taillon up to start against Strasburg tonight?  Why do they keep wasting these opportunities??

Strasburg must be some hot shit.. they did a big story on NPR about him today.

[Tank Decker]

Good news from the draft (assuming 'em Nuttings pony up 6-8 million):

"It's clear Taillon is a tremendously talented pitcher. He has most of what you look for in an elite level pitching prospect and he's somebody who can work his way quickly through a team's minor league system because of the quality of his stuff. While he's not a sure thing and has some things to work on, Taillon represents an opportunity for some team to add a potential true No. 1 starter into its stockpile of prospects."

What I want to know is why don't they bring Taillon up to start against Strasburg tonight?  Why do they keep wasting these opportunities??

I like the pick...risky, but this is what a team like the Bucs has to do so pitchers like Maholm and Duke aren't considered the aces of the staff. I was listening to Pittsburgh sports talk radio last night and this was one of those damned if you do, damned if you don't picks. Some yinzer numbnut even said that Huntington should be fired on the spot for drafting this dude. Whatever. Enjoy Dana Eveland, Jeff Karstens & Brian Burres.

I know that this is rampant speculation, but drafting Tallion could be similar to the Steelers drafting Roethlissaulter after years and years of mediocre to bad QBs.

[Nye]

Good news from the draft (assuming 'em Nuttings pony up 6-8 million):

"It's clear Taillon is a tremendously talented pitcher. He has most of what you look for in an elite level pitching prospect and he's somebody who can work his way quickly through a team's minor league system because of the quality of his stuff. While he's not a sure thing and has some things to work on, Taillon represents an opportunity for some team to add a potential true No. 1 starter into its stockpile of prospects."

What I want to know is why don't they bring Taillon up to start against Strasburg tonight?  Why do they keep wasting these opportunities??

I like the pick...risky, but this is what a team like the Bucs has to do so pitchers like Maholm and Duke aren't considered the aces of the staff. I was listening to Pittsburgh sports talk radio last night and this was one of those damned if you do, damned if you don't picks. Some yinzer numbnut even said that Huntington should be fired on the spot for drafting this dude. Whatever. Enjoy Dana Eveland, Jeff Karstens & Brian Burres.

I know that this is rampant speculation, but drafting Tallion could be similar to the Steelers drafting Roethlissaulter after years and years of mediocre to bad QBs.

Yins talkin baht Rapistberger?

[homesystem]

Good news from the draft (assuming 'em Nuttings pony up 6-8 million):

"It's clear Taillon is a tremendously talented pitcher. He has most of what you look for in an elite level pitching prospect and he's somebody who can work his way quickly through a team's minor league system because of the quality of his stuff. While he's not a sure thing and has some things to work on, Taillon represents an opportunity for some team to add a potential true No. 1 starter into its stockpile of prospects."

What I want to know is why don't they bring Taillon up to start against Strasburg tonight?  Why do they keep wasting these opportunities??

Strasburg must be some hot shit.. they did a big story on NPR about him today.

He is hot shit.  Hot steamin' shit.  It's the best thing that's happened to the Pirates in the past 10 years that they get to be the opposing team in his first start.  Too bad they're wasting the opportunity.

[pnickers]

And if anyone had MLB network they could watch it.  I doubt it will be on FSN as well. 

[homesystem]

It's supposed to be on FSN too- they've been advertising it and it's listed.  I'm not sure how that works.. maybe Pirates coverage on FSN is just too inconsequential for MLB to care.

[Bull]

Pirates Baseball. ZZZzzzZZZzzz.

[Tank Decker]

Pirates Baseball. ZZZzzzZZZzzz.

go back to Jamaica hippie

[pnickers]

I really hope that he got dreadlock hair extensions.