2015 Pirates

[thedddd]

Not sure how I missed this one but I saw it reading an article about Barmes as an option for the Pirates, pretty cool.
Would be a good defensive help but he has a good team contract with an option year so not sure the Padres will be that willing to move him.

 

[ramburgh]

I would like to see Zobrist and Lind/other first baseman. Maybe Barmes for a substitution for Kang until Mercer is healthy.

A solid SP would be nice also, but not as important as some bats.

Seeing Morel and Rodriguez in the starting line-up together is not a playoff caliber club. Hopefully Hanson is ready and up soon.

 

[psaboy]

Pedro's bat doesn't play at DH, and his glove doesn't play anywhere. He's below replacement level and has zero (at best, or likely negative) trade value.

Yea, I know he is a liability on the field, was just wondering if an AL team would take shot at him for DH

 

[dare2be]

My wife thought that if Pedro was a DH he could get better at hitting since it would be the only thing he would need to focus on. My response was that it would get into his head even more and he would become a worse hitter.

 

[Darkstone42]

My wife thought that if Pedro was a DH he could get better at hitting since it would be the only thing he would need to focus on. My response was that it would get into his head even more and he would become a worse hitter.

There's a DH penalty. Guys don't hit as well as DH's for some reason.

But Pedro could be the opposite. I could see a scenario in which simply having fewer screw-ups to dwell on, he could build his confidence at the plate. Right now, he loses all his confidence every time he makes one of his frequent gaffes in the field. That wouldn't be an issue as a DH.

Or just being a DH could ruin his confidence entirely. Who knows?

 

[dare2be]

Pedro is a thinker. He allows too much to get in his head and that in turn causes him to trip over himself. It has been apparent in his play at third, his hitting, and even after he switched to 1st. He wasn't too bad at first when he started playing there but got progressively worse.

 

[Darkstone42]

Pedro is a thinker. He allows too much to get in his head and that in turn causes him to trip over himself. It has been apparent in his play at third, his hitting, and even after he switched to 1st. He wasn't too bad at first when he started playing there but got progressively worse.

Which is why giving him fewer things to think about could actually help him improve. Unless he thinks too hard on not having that thing to think about, I think.

 

[WVUinVegas]

Guess who has the worst OPS Against in the NL since the break? The Pirates at .879

Just pointing out it's not just the hitting right now

 

[Darkstone42]

Zobrist proved to be an awfully expensive rental. Goodness.

 

[thecrow124]

Zobrist proved to be an awfully expensive rental. Goodness.

The price may have been steep, but even since last trade deadline, that is pretty much where the prices have been. There have been very few exceptions. I would argue that the price of us picking up Aramis was steep, we took on significant money and gave up a guy that will be a major league reliever, all for a couple months of a guy that will retire at seasons end. The price for Hamels is going to be huge in terms of dollars and prospects. It is just how the market is.

 

[Darkstone42]

The Pirates have acquired RHP Joe Blanton from the Royals for cash.

He'll likely slot in for the struggling Guerra, which adds a little bit of depth to their bullpen and another multi-inning option. Nothing flashy, but he profiles well for the Pirates, pitching much better in relief than he did as a starter, posting solid K/9 and BB/9 rates, and showing a ground ball tendency.

I like the move. I hope it's not the end of them, but he fills a need and makes the team better with the added bonus of not costing anything.

 

[redskin4209]

The Pirates have acquired RHP Joe Blanton from the Royals for cash.

I like the move. I hope it's not the end of them, but he fills a need and makes the team better with the added bonus of not costing anything.

I do concur, however if you want to win the WS you have to give up something for that player who is a difference maker. In other words you get what you pay for. This type of mentality is what's keeping our Pirates at a stand still.

 

[steelparrot]

I do concur, however if you want to win the WS you have to give up something for that player who is a difference maker. In other words you get what you pay for. This type of mentality is what's keeping our Pirates at a stand still.

We never make big moves.

 

[steelparrot]

And 2 seconds after I post that we go get Joakim Soria. I guess he will help out Watson in the 8th.

We needed to deepen the pen. Blantons stay might be short.

 

[Darkstone42]

Worley was DFA'd, so that's the role Blanton takes on. Guerra likely the casualty of the Soria acquisition.

Soria's probably the seventh-inning guy now, and Hughes will be damage control almost exclusively, I have to imagine. I do think this strengthens the 'pen.

 

[Darkstone42]

JaCoby Jones to Detroit for Soria.

Solid deal, fair value, and Jones is probably worth more to Detroit than he was to us. Third (at best) among our shortstop prospects with Newman and Tucker definitely ahead of him, and Frazier's breakout maybe even making him the better prospect at the position.

 

[element1286]

Solid deal for Soria.

 

[thedddd]

So far there they haven't had a bad deal. No overspending and get needed parts. The back end of the bullpen is very tough now.

Now with yet another bad outing from Burnett I wonder if they are still looking for a starter?

 

[Darkstone42]

NH said they aren't looking for a starter, but honestly, when do the Pirates ever tip their hand at the trade deadline?

 

[thedddd]

Well I think tonight will be the end of Guerra on the team, Soria can't arrive soon enough.