Jake

BRADENTON, Fla. -- The terms of the Pirates' agreement with free-agent outfielder Ryan Church -- still not a signed contract -- is for one year and a guaranteed $1.5 million, plus as much as $1.32 million in performance bonuses. The bonuses: $75,000 each for 350, 375 and 400 plate appearances, $125,000 each for 425, 450 and 475 plate appearances, and $180,000 each for 500, 550, 575 and 600 plate appearances. Just ran into Neal Huntington here a little bit ago, and he had not heard back about Church's physical, which took place in Pittsburgh. http://community.post-gazette.com/blogs/pbc/archive/2010/01/12/church-one-year-1-5m-guaranteed.aspx

The more interesting effect of this is Ankiel. His last known potential suitor just signed someone else. This is good for us. We have Tabata who will probably get called up during the year. In the meantime, Church will push a couple of people for playing time. No one is handed a job, no one is blocking Tabata. It means guys who were on our bench last year have more competition for jobs. Probably means bye bye brandon moss. Anyone who thinks this is supposed to be a game changing signing must still think Littlefield is running the team.

Sure. Pick on the cripples.

Hardball times has an article on "exiled prospects" now with the Pirates. Two of 'em are past Cubs prospects - Cedeno and Veal http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/blog_article/pittsburgh-land-of-exiled-prospects/

I'm not sure if you're being serious or not.

Elaborate, please.

Meh. First of all, I don't think it's going to happen. Second, if it happens, he won't be handed the closers role, he'll have competition.

http://www.bucsdugout.com/

Washington is a small market? In what universe ? I meant lower end payroll See offer to Teixera last year.

Washington is a small market? In what universe ?

This is why he was non-tendered. Capps' people figured someone would, and he's right. Neal Huntington wouldn't overpay. Offering Arbitration is a guarantee of overpaying. The Pirates & Capps were still talking early this week, although there is no optimism.

We get no love.

i made this point last page and then completely forgot about it. you're right, it's fine as long as iwamura plays average or better this year. if he plays awful then it's a bad move, but you can't really predict that. Just to expand on this point a bit.... It's not just Iwamura over DY at 2b, but DY over a guy who shouldn't be in the majors on the bench. We'll gain another win or two w/ DY on the bench as he hit .316 as a pinch hitter. Even f he drops down to .280, That's still more than we got last year, and one or two game winning hits we didn't have last year. On another note, the team really is under different ownership and management for the past two-three years. The big difference, of course, is Neal Huntington Vs. Dave Littlefield. DL has a strategy of bringing in players close to the majors. He folowed this in his draft strategy as well as his trade strategy. The problem is the strategy was flawed in that there wasn't enough diversity of experience within the system, and, the strategy was poorly executed (See Danny Moskos vs. Matt Weiters.) This left Huntington with a barron minor league system. I think there were maybe four guys who could make it to the majors in the whole system. One is Brian Bixler. 'Nuff said. (Cutch, Walker, Lincoln are the others. There are a couple of A middle infielders left over that could make an impact too.) NH, on the other hand, looks at the system as a whole. Both in terms of who was drafted and who was traded for. The guys he traded for are all over the system. Some years away from the majors. DL would never make that trade. The long and short is, we're now able to trade a guy like Jesse Chavez because we have both Joel Hanrahan and Even Meek, who are basically three of the same type of pitcher. I think the most telling thing is the Lynchburgh Single A title. That was won with mostly prospects, not guys who will never make it and should be playing a level higher anyway, as was done under DL. Plus the money - Now that Nutting is running the team, more money is being spent. Much more on the draft ($7mil this year, $9mil last year.) More in the later rounds - NH is drafting HS guys who many expect to go to school and is over paying them. Most are NOT going to make it, but if enough do, it's worth the money. NH is spending money in Latin America - DL ignored this. Still, Major League payroll is low, and Nutting has said that when the team is ready to compete, he'll write the check. I'll believe this when I see it. So, while we lost more games this past year than three years ago, I'm a LOT more optimistic today. Is Iwamura the guy who's going to be a difference maker? No. But, he does make the team better, we can afford him, and he's not being overpaid. These are cautiously optimistic times in Pittsburgh. Which is more than I could say at any point since I've been posting here.

We have some pride. The reality is, Delwyn Young is not an everyday major league 2B. OK, this argument could be made about some other guys on the team too. But, allegedly, we have guys in the minors who realistically could make a push for those jobs this year. We have absolutely no one for the middle infield with more than a remote chance of being an everyday player this year. Ronny Cedeno says hi. 1) The implication was about players in the minors. 2) Cedeno is NOT a lock to be the starting SS next year.

We have some pride. The reality is, Delwyn Young is not an everyday major league 2B. OK, this argument could be made about some other guys on the team too. But, allegedly, we have guys in the minors who realistically could make a push for those jobs this year. We have absolutely no one for the middle infield with more than a remote chance of being an everyday player this year.

You guys underate him. He's very good with the glove, and will hit close to .300, with a lot of doubles. His main problem these days is staying healthy.

Close, yes. He has little shot to break spring training with the major league club. And, for that matter, he still needs to make the Indy team (our AAA) Having said that, if he starts the year @ Indy and plays like he did the last two months @ Altoona (AA), he'll be up June 15th, or so, or however long they feel then need to wait to keep him from being a Super 2.

Cutch will still bat leadoff. Speculation.... 4/1 Cutch Anki Jones Doumit Milledge LaRoche Moss/Ankiel/Clemmons? Cedeno 7/1 Cutch Anki Pedro Jones Doumit Tabata Milledge Cedeno

Very true - We traded a rookie making minimum for a guy making 10x more who we might only keep for a year.

First, Delwyn Young. He's not an everyday player, especially @ 2b. His defense is not there, and his batting average took a nose dive once he became an everyday player. He's good off the bench. Ankiel - They'll kick the tires, but they won't overpay.

Is this game going to be played ?

Post gazette is showing Gorzo throwing for you guys. Was there a change ?

If anyone cares.... We're pitching the bullpen today. Last time we did this, Karstens went 3, Veal went 2, Chavez went 2, I forget the rest and really don't care to look it up. Veal got the win. Karstens is supposed to go longer than three today, and will be followed by Veal. After that, who knows.

yes.

Is this thing on ?