Jose Bautistata to start at Third for the Pirates!

[Jake]

http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070323&content_id=1855900&vkey=spt2007news&fext=.jsp&c_id=pit

 

He was a guy that we lost in the Rule 5 draft in (I think) '03. We got him back, basically, through the Benson Trade (The Mets traded Huber to the Royals to get him, then included him with Wigginton and some Pitcher for Benson & Kippenger.)

 

I didn't see this coming. I thought they were using him as a way to get Castillo to come into camp in shape, which he did.

 

So, Freddy moves to Second. (I think they were going to play him there anyway!)

 

Castillo has been a disappointment for us. He's supposed to be a guy with a great glove and good bat worth 25 HRs. But, last year was just an all around disaster for him.

[rawaction]

Best possible move for the Pirates. Of course, it would be even better if Castillo could snap out of it, live up to his potential, and then they get rid of Jack Wilson moving Freddy to SS full-time.

[baseball7897]

Is Matt Capps going to be the Pirates closer? I think he could be a really valuable set up man for a contending team.

[Jake]

Is Matt Capps going to be the Pirates closer? I think he could be a really valuable set up man for a contending team.

Torres. He filled in last year when Gonzo went down, which gave us the confidence to trade Gonzo to get LaRoche.

[Derwood]

unfortunately for the Pirates, Jack Wilson has become a fan favorite (for no good reason) and, as such, not starting him would probably alienate the 4 fans they still have. Too bad, since he's a total suckfest

[TruffleShuffle]

I'm more interested in Brad Eldred. If he has learned some plate discipline, he could be a very intriguing power hitter.

[wolf stansson]

unfortunately for the Pirates, Jack Wilson has become a fan favorite (for no good reason) and, as such, not starting him would probably alienate the 4 fans they still have. Too bad, since he's a total suckfest

I'm sure he is a fan favorite like Scott Podsednik is a "fan favorite."

 

Most reasonable fans probably loathe him.

[goonys evil twin]

unfortunately for the Pirates, Jack Wilson has become a fan favorite (for no good reason) and, as such, not starting him would probably alienate the 4 fans they still have. Too bad, since he's a total suckfest

I'm sure he is a fan favorite like Scott Podsednik is a "fan favorite."

 

Most reasonable fans probably loathe him.

 

I know it's no good reason, but I think the biggest reason may be that he was pretty much their entire marketing strategy for a couple years. Everytime I saw a Cubs/Pirates game on extra innings, and it was the Pittsburgh feed, there would be countless ads about the great Jack Wilson.

[Jake]

unfortunately for the Pirates, Jack Wilson has become a fan favorite (for no good reason) and, as such, not starting him would probably alienate the 4 fans they still have. Too bad, since he's a total suckfest

I'm sure he is a fan favorite like Scott Podsednik is a "fan favorite."

 

Most reasonable fans probably loathe him.

Believe it or not, many fans like him. No one likes him hitting second, but we like his game.

 

Pittsburgh is very much still a Steel mill town, even though most of the mills are gone. We like players who give their all.

 

Wilson leaves it all on the field every game. The fans really like that. Kind of like a Steel mill, hard nosed attitude.

[BCVM22]

If my OPS was .686 as a starting shortstop I would want to leave it all on the field too. :wink: