Pirates Optimism Thread

[Jake]

(You knew it was coming, but hoped I'd just shut up!)

 

Five players to be Excited about (In no particular order):

Jason Bay, Freddy Sanchez, Ian Snell, Ronnie Paulino, Adam LaRoche.

 

Two to be optimistic about:

Solly Torres, Matt Caps. Oh, let's make it three: John Grabow. I like our bullpen, especially the back end. (This is why we were able to trade Gonzo. No one wanted to trade Gonzo, but there was the realization that we had to give up something to get LaRoche.) We should win most games when we have the lead after the 7th. The problem, of course, is getting that lead.

 

Let's throw in Damaso Marte here too, as our left handed specialist. I'm not ready to jump on the Dan Kolb bandwagon yet, but it's pretty much a lock he'll make the team.

 

So many question marks after that.

Which Chris Duffy will show up?

Zach Duke has the potential to be a top of the rotation guy. Can he realize that this year?

How will Jose Bautista do as a full time starter for the first time?

Jack Wilson is enigma. He's had one all star year. The glove sucked last year. What will he bring to the team this year?

How will Mahalom, Gorzelany & Armas do? What about Burnett & Youman, startes 6 & 7?

 

The whole world has been waiting for Nady to step up. When we traded Giles, we wanted Nady, not Bay. Funny how that turned out.

 

This team really has a lot of potential. If all of the potential comes through, we could win the whole thing. Now, I know this never happens, and could be said for most teams, but we couldn't say that for the past couple of years of our team.

 

Last year, in September, the Mets came to town needing one win to clinch the division. Many fans from New York drove into see the games. I Was at the Saturday night game. The Mets left without the title. We've added Adam LaRoche to that team in place of Jose Castillo, essentially. (Bautista was playing right, Nady was at first.) I Like that improvement.

 

No, we won't win it all. But, we'll do a hell of a lot better than the prognosticators say we will. No team in the pennant race wanted to come to Pittsburgh at the end of last year. The same will happen this year.

[rocket]

don't tell anyone but i secretly root for the pirates sometimes so jake will be happy

[NewUserName]

I read an article a couple of months ago about "Cinderella teams" The guy went back through history and found 10 such teams and looked at things that all these teams had in common. A couple of things that I remember are young players coming into prime and career years. The one that really got my attention is poor competition. Usually there was a great team getting old or injured and several others who didnt quite have enough.

 

Anyway for some reason the author didnt use this to try and predict a Cinderella team for this year. Maybe he was just letting his audience have some room to think for themselves. I thought of the Pirates. I certainly think that most of the 3 things I mentioned are possible. This isnt me predicting them to win division, but I could see it happening though.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

don't tell anyone but i secretly root for the pirates sometimes so jake will be happy

 

I think it's funnier when Jake's all upset about how much they suck. Plus, it's nice when we're not behind them in the standings.

[tkenm356]

I have a baseball crush on Ian Snell. I wish he was on the Cubs so-so-very bad.

 

That's why I never figured why people didn't consider a Jones+Moore trade for Snell when we were looking to dump Jones and the Bucs were looking for RF & 1B power help.

[Sammy Sofa]

Despite them being in the same division, I would happily root for the Brewers, Reds or Pirates as the NL team the next time they make it to the big show. I think the Bucs have a decent core of players they can start building up from. A team with a stadium that beautiful deserves to have a decent team again, dammit!

 

Oh, right, the fans, too.

[Jake]

Oh, right, the fans, too.

We have the best damn fans in MLB. Proof? We still go to games!

[tkenm356]

Oh, right, the fans, too.

We have the best damn fans in MLB. Proof? We still go to games!

 

I think the Cubs have the Pirates beat on the "fans who go out to the game when they suck" front, no offense.

[indifferent]

Seems like there are two schools of thought regarding baseball teams' prognosis, some who are too bullish on youngsters and some who are too bullish on proven vets (mediocre or not).

 

The Pirates didn't waste foolish money on the Randas and Burnitz's of the world and they made a savvy trade.

 

It all depends upon how the youngsters fare. Either way, they're finally taking a step in the right direction for a small market team. If that's not exciting, I don't know what is.

[A New Era]

Oh, right, the fans, too.

We have the best damn fans in MLB. Proof? We still go to games!

 

I think the Cubs have the Pirates beat on the "fans who go out to the game when they suck" front, no offense.

 

Yeah, last year proved that I think. Well, and that we sucked, too. :)

[Jake]

Seems like there are two schools of thought regarding baseball teams' prognosis, some who are too bullish on youngsters and some who are too bullish on proven vets (mediocre or not).

 

The Pirates didn't waste foolish money on the Randas and Burnitz's of the world and they made a savvy trade.

 

It all depends upon how the youngsters fare. Either way, they're finally taking a step in the right direction for a small market team. If that's not exciting, I don't know what is.

Very true.

The not wasting foolish money actually caught me off guard. We still have $7 million in the budget. I hope we can trade for a power hitting right fielder! (Dunn, anyone?? Maybe we can dump an excess relief pitcher on the reds.)

[Balsa]

I think the Pirates finish above the Reds, and maybe the Astros as well.

[Chris]

Due to fantasy baseball, I will cheer for them on days that Zach Duke pitches.

[BigbadB]

We still have $7 million in the budget. I hope we can trade for a power hitting right fielder! (Dunn, anyone?? Maybe we can dump an excess relief pitcher on the reds.)

 

Well, how about Jacque Jones for Zach Duke? :D

 

I've certainly felt bad for Pirate fans over the years. But, at least they do have some exciting young ballplayers to watch, rather than guys who will never amount to anything.

[Jake]

Well, how about Jacque Jones for Zach Duke? :D

Don't say that, even in jest.

 

I've certainly felt bad for Pirate fans over the years. But, at least they do have some exciting young ballplayers to watch, rather than guys who will never amount to anything.

 

We're actually in some good shape right now for the future. Maybe not this year - we still have some weaknesses - 3B & RF to be sure, and CF, too, probably. And it'd be nice if our SS could hit.

 

Two of those needs will be here from the minors next year - McCutcheon for RF and Neil Walker at third.

 

With the pitching a year older.....