Aug 1 Pirates

[element1286]

Not sure if anyone here follows the minor leagues very closely, but our RF solution may very well be sitting in Indianapolis right now.

Andrew Lambo, remember him? He was the other guy in the James McDonald trade that seemed for 3 years to have stalled out in AA. This year though he has gone nuts to the tune of 21 HR combined between Altoona and Indianapolis, neither park is known for allowing huge home run totals. It's not like he is only hitting homers either, his batting average is hovering right around .300. I definitely do not expect him to keep up the pace he is hitting in AAA, but with what he has shown I do think he would be an upgrade over what we have.

As hard as it is to believe, he is still actually a prospect also, he is only 24, which is amazing because he spent parts of 6 seasons in AA. I am not sure he will be up by Aug 1, I will go out on a limb and say barring injury that he will not be, but if there is no improvement in Snider's play and we don't make a trade to prove, he will be by Aug 31.

Yep, he seems to be going nuts right now. I would imagine he gets a cup of coffee at the very least this year.

 

[26 elroy face]

dont need to swear and especially because someone doesnt agree with you.
what am i making up.

ibanez wont hit 30 this year.
nor will he drive in 90.
he is playing totally relaxed.
under pressure, he will not produce. we is playing for worthless team and worthless atbats. he will fade anyways.

the message is not rental, but core growth and development. acquisition is for core growth not chuck aways.

He hit #19 yesterday. He's a proven veteran who has played and produced in the post season. I see it the other way. I think he would be more productive playing for a team with a stronger lineup in a smaller stadium.

If you want to know what you are making up go back and your post.

 

[element1286]

He hit #19 yesterday. He's a proven veteran who has played and produced in the post season. I see it the other way. I think he would be more productive playing for a team with a stronger lineup in a smaller stadium.

If you want to know what you are making up go back and your post.

.292 OBP, and an HR rate that is completely out of line with his career norms. He is the definition of a guy that is going to regress.

Also, he is as bad as a defensive outfielder as there is in the game.

I have zero interest in him.

 

[thedddd]

I am still wondering about Micheal Young to play 1B and move Jones to RF? Would he command too much as a rental and would he complain about playing First.

Not sure what his DWAR is at 1B but only 80 games career might be not enough to feel comfortable with that bat in the lineup?

 

[element1286]

I am still wondering about Micheal Young to play 1B and move Jones to RF? Would he command too much as a rental and would he complain about playing First.

Not sure what his DWAR is at 1B but only 80 games career might be not enough to feel comfortable with that bat in the lineup?

Meh, if they get him, he shouldn't start, he could be a decent bench bat that can play second and third, and short in a pinch. But yea, there is the problem about him accepting that role.

 

[Paul Fizzle]

Pirates All Day baby

All Day

 

[thedddd]

Meh, if they get him, he shouldn't start, he could be a decent bench bat that can play second and third, and short in a pinch. But yea, there is the problem about him accepting that role.

Good point but like you said off the bench a huge upgrade.

As for very no cost guys out there now if you bring them into AAA to see if any spark happens would be Nady and Francoeur.

 

[26 elroy face]

dont need to swear and especially because someone doesnt agree with you.
what am i making up.

ibanez wont hit 30 this year.
nor will he drive in 90.
he is playing totally relaxed.
under pressure, he will not produce. we is playing for worthless team and worthless atbats. he will fade anyways.

the message is not rental, but core growth and development. acquisition is for core growth not chuck aways.

ibanez homer twice yesterday raising his total to 24. I'm telling you the man is motivated. He's playing for a contract, and if that isn't pressure nothing is.

 

[Illinest]

I have changed my targets a little bit.

Chase Utley - Play him at 1B, move Jones to RF.
or
Norichika Aoki - use him to spell any of the three right-handed outfielders (but primarily Tabata)

Utley is a primo target and we'd have to compete with people who are looking for an upgrade at 2b. I think that our need for a 1b might make us less desirable from Utley's perspective but I bet Amaro would like the idea. It would save some wear on Utley's knees. Of course Utley's numbers aren't that great relative to what you'd like to get from 1b but they're a heck of a lot better than what we've been getting.
Aoki is an easier target. I can't imagine that there'd be too much bidding for his rights but he gets on base a lot and hardly ever strikes out so he'd be a great fit. Even if Tabata keeps hitting like he has, we'd still benefit from having Aoki on the roster as he'd allow us to cycle all four outfielders and get rest days for McC and Marte without having to resort to an abomination of a lineup. Then he (or whoever is getting a rest day) would be available for pinch-hitting duties and we wouldn't have to turn as many games over to the mckenry/barmes/inge trio.

 

[element1286]

I can't see the Phil's trading Utley without a big return, and I don't see getting him and putting him at first when he is a gold glove second basemen.

Really like Aoki idea.

 

[damien232307]

Just left the communist leader err ESPN message boards. Hope more of our Pirate faithful follow here.

 

[element1286]

Just left the communist leader err ESPN message boards. Hope more of our Pirate faithful follow here.

Welcome, most on here are ESPN refugees as well, although from several years back.

 

[damien232307]

I doubt the Brewers would trade him. Price control and a guy they can build around next year. I would really hope we pony up the money for Alex Rios. A right handed middle of the order bat. I doubt we have to give an elite prospect if we take the salary on and it bides time for Polanco to mature in the minors.

 

[steelparrot]

Welcome to the board

About all us came from espn after one change or another to the forums.

Just read that we are one of the teams looking at Garza. I hope we just stay the course and hold on to our top prospects. To keep this train rolling in the right direction, we need 1-3 prospects to show up in Pitt every year.

 

[element1286]

Welcome to the board

About all us came from espn after one change or another to the forums.

Just read that we are one of the teams looking at Garza. I hope we just stay the course and hold on to our top prospects. To keep this train rolling in the right direction, we need 1-3 prospects to show up in Pitt every year.

Agreed keep the prospects, if you cam him for some of the lottery tickets guys, I'm down. But I don't see that happening.

 

[Illinest]

Aoki is actually an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year. I forget how that happened but it is true.

 

[damien232307]

Aoki is actually an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year. I forget how that happened but it is true.

Thanks for letting me know that. Then he would be a nice guy to go after. You put him at the top with Marte and Cutch and we have hands down the best defensive outfield and I would be pleased to upgrade that black hole in right. Can't imagine you would have to give up a ton. I would be happy with that but I want nothing to do with Schierholtz. His numbers are way out of whack and he is due for a major regression. Let him go somewhere else.

 

[Etrius24]

Element

How long has it been since Utley has been a top defensive second baseman? I am a huge fan of his.. but he is not 24 years old anymore.

Utley is 34 years old gone by... He has not been able to stay healthy and play a full season since 2009.. His game high since then is 115 games. He has gone from a 100 RBI guy who was 8+ games WAR to a guy who for the last 2 years has been 2.9 games WAR

The Phillies might well want a kings ransom for a player like Utley, but it would be insane to give up anything significant for a declining player on the wrong side of 30 who makes a ton of money... Utley has been in steady decline for the past 4 years...

I would not trade Cole for him... Not at this point.

I can remember when I thought this guy was incredible... but he is getting long in the tooth.

 

[SFNL]

The Aug 1st Pirates will be 1st place in the division.... Incredible.

 

[sychmd]

The Aug 1st Pirates will be 1st place in the division.... Incredible.

in first place and no changes from outside the organization.

when i first started this 5/13, we lost burnett for a month, wandy for a month, grilli is out, walker has been in and out, karstens never came back, neither has mcD.

11 starting pitchers and all doing well with more promise from many of them.

as we all know, RF and 1B are tough, but the attitudes, chemistry and decent production from gabby/jones and tabata have been passable.
mercer has really improved since last year and barmes, without playing everyday, seems to be a better player with rest and spot starts. last 30 days barmes hitting 275 and obp 353. that is our 8 hitter. look at the other teams and what their lineups look top to bottom. it is a pitchers year and we have the best starters ERA and second best BP ERA and best BP in my view because they are used the most and in tight games more than any other team and we are deep in the BP.

who wants to predict 9/1 position/status?