random thought of the day

[thecrow124]

If the Pirates were to resign Kevin Correia (and yes I would advocate this), it would be the best FA signing to this point under Neil Huntington. That is sad. However, if he pitches like he has since he was brought back tot he rotation, he would be a steal.

The main reason I would support this deal is because we are going to need pitching. AJ should be back, pitching for a new contract, Karstens will be fine if he can stay healthy, Wandy will be Wandy, maybe. Other than that, what do we really have going into next season? McDonald, he actually makes me scared thinking that he could be in the rotation. Morton quite possibly won't be retained. McPherson has been ok, but not good. Locke has yet to impress me at the major league level. Van Den Hurk has been bad. At some point, we might get to see Cole, but if this team is going to be as bad as I envision next season, I would keep him down for the entire year and bring him and Taillon up together. I know that won't happen, but I am just saying.

We are going to have to sign some FA pitchers, or trade for some. I can't see us trading for 2 major league caliber pitchers, so we will have to sign one at minimum. I can handle Correia, he won't be expensive, and I know what to expect.

Now, how bad is it that I am looking toward next year, even though I am pretty sure we will be worse next year than this.

 

[Illinest]

No.

 

[sychmd]

1. burnett,
2. karstens,
3. wandy,
4/5. McD - not bad as a 4, cole, mcpherson, wilson, leroux, vanderhuk, morton.

i am not opposed to correia, but if it costs more than 3.5, lets spend to bring a much higher ceiling pitcher in. assuming we are healthy, the top 3 are pretty good. if we could bring in a real 2, and have cole or mcD be a 5, that would be great.

our pen will be good, we have the arms, we just need someone to manage them better.

in the field:
LF marte
RF snider/presley/tabata
CF cutch
1B jones/alvarez
2B walker
3B alrarez/jones
C mcK
SS holt/barmes/harrison/mercer/darnaud/kitchen sink

bench: tabata, presley, harrison, holt, sanchez/catcher retread - can hague catch

my point: assuming our very young team shows improvement, we arent as bad as we are playing, but we do need some things.

spend on a real pitcher instead of a correia, bedard, type.
or package some people and send quantity for quality in a trade,

we need a SP, SS, C.

if i had to pick one, i would spend on the pitcher, because burnett has 1-2 yrs depending on how competitive we are and wandy has only 2-3 years.

 

[sychmd]

also possible lineup.
i like how gabe sanchez has looked the last several weeks with patience, going the other way and working counts.
seeing him at first, at least in a platoon with jones.
so we would have sanchez, snider, marte, jones, tabata, presley to play LF, RF, 1B.
that is 3 R and 3 L. hopefully, 3 will step up and be MLB starters, 2 can be great role players, and the other is icing.

 

[thecrow124]

1. burnett,
2. karstens,
3. wandy,
4/5. McD - not bad as a 4, cole, mcpherson, wilson, leroux, vanderhuk, morton.

i am not opposed to correia, but if it costs more than 3.5, lets spend to bring a much higher ceiling pitcher in. assuming we are healthy, the top 3 are pretty good. if we could bring in a real 2, and have cole or mcD be a 5, that would be great.

our pen will be good, we have the arms, we just need someone to manage them better.

in the field:
LF marte
RF snider/presley/tabata
CF cutch
1B jones/alvarez
2B walker
3B alrarez/jones
C mcK
SS holt/barmes/harrison/mercer/darnaud/kitchen sink

bench: tabata, presley, harrison, holt, sanchez/catcher retread - can hague catch

my point: assuming our very young team shows improvement, we arent as bad as we are playing, but we do need some things.

spend on a real pitcher instead of a correia, bedard, type.
or package some people and send quantity for quality in a trade,

we need a SP, SS, C.

if i had to pick one, i would spend on the pitcher, because burnett has 1-2 yrs depending on how competitive we are and wandy has only 2-3 years.

Just a few things I would like to point out.
1. McDonald just flat out scares me right now, as a #5 or out of the bullpen, he just isn't good. I have no idea why, but I am not even sure he will break camp with the major league team if he can't pitch any better than he has been since the AS break.

2. Our defensive alignment is horrible. Alvarez should be at 1B, Walker at 3B, Marte in RF, Cutch in LF, and Tabata in CF. Holt is sufficient at second, and Barmes at SS. McKenry should be catching. Jones, if tendered, should be in a platoon with Marte in RF. Harrison could be the utility guy of MI and OF along with Presley in the OF and Barajajajas as the back-up catcher. That would actually give us our best defensive alignment and our best offensive team.

3. That still leaves us needing 2 SP coming out of ST and 3-5 to call up throughout the season. Cole will not be up until June/July, Morton will still be rehabbing, if he is tendered, McPherson needs more time at AAA, Leroux is not a major league starter, VanDenHurk is not a major league starter, Locke has been horrible in his 2 September call-ups.

All that being said, I don't see us signing any SP, nor do I see Hurdle changing the positions of players to get them in the right spots, so I do not see us even approaching .500 next year.