Screw the general baseball thread, this deserves its own for history...Pirates!

Agreed on McCutchen. As a current Ogden employee, I have been outspoken in my unhappiness with the way they run the organization. I even said as such, although my disappointment was scaled back A LOT, when I had a chance to meet Bob Nutting when he toured our shop a few years back.

But, I am a forgiving kind. I don't expect them to throw away their money irresponsibly just to put up a few more wins on any given season. However, the time has come to prove they are willing to fund a competitive team. The core is here. And the window is open for the next few seasons at least to make a run for it with some young players. But to do that, they need to add to this team. Maybe a good No. 1 starter, or even a nice bat.

Either way, the time has come to make a push for this, because Milwaukee and Saint Louis are going to do something by the trade deadline. Staying put isn't going to get a championship, just a nice little team. The core players like McCutchen and Walker need wrapped up when their time comes, and they need to at least get into discussions with some larger free agents to round this team out.

If they do that, then I forgive them for what appears to be a pure money grab for the past few seasons. Just prove to me you are trying, and I can accept failure if that's what happens. Hell, I'm happy just being competitive this season. Anything else would be icing on the cake, but you have to start somewhere. It's the failure because you didn't even try that I can't stand.

 

Let me elaborate a bit... this is a group of players, PROVIDED they can show signs that 2011 isn't a fluke and 2012 is just as successful, that the Pirate fans won't want to see cast aside so quickly. The attendance bumps are putting extra revenue in the team's pockets. Turn around and spend that money wisely and see what happens.

I remember Kansas City had that one-year bump where the Royals almost won the AL Central. What did they do in the offseason? Didn't they grab Juan Gonzalez?? And of course they picked up Benito Santiago. Ya, not wisely spent money, guys.

 

Honestly, outside of McCutchen and maybe Walker, the offense is pretty terrible and there's not really much there that's worth keeping long term. I'm speaking about those currently playing.

As for pitching, they're definitely pitching over their heads. They have some good 3-5 starters, but they still lack for an actual 1 or 2 starter. Their bullpen is very solid, though.

 

That is a pretty fair assessment. Tabata could be something, but he can't get healthy. I still think Alvarez is the key long term and that is not a good thing given how out of shape he was for spring training and how badly he played before getting hurt.

 

As an FYI, with arbitration and what not, McCutchen isn't a free agent until around 2015, if I'm doing the math right. Even if they want to be cheap, the Pirates don't really have to make a decision on him until July 2014. Is there any indication he's going to go for a Longoria-type deal? (I was going to say a Tulo-deal, except that contract didn't really save the Rockies anything.)

 

In 2014, who do you think will be a better centerfielder than him? I'm guessing it will be a short list.

 

Not a chance he would do a Longoria-type deal at this point. The comparison really doesn't hold up at all. Longoria had been in the majors a very short time (a week or two?) when he signed that deal. McCutchen has already proven what he can do in the majors.

 

You bastards jinxed them.

 

I would still be surprised if the Pirates are able to get much at the deadline (not much to offer at the upper-level of the minors).

However, they are facing a Rule 5 crunch come next year, so perhaps some of those guys could get dealt.

A Carlos Pena/Ryan Ludwick type might be a nice addition.

 

http://calltothepen.com/2011/07/26/carlos-pena-will-almost-surely-be-traded/