Sunday sit-down chat.

[Darkstone42]

Another good sign today, but take this for what it is worth, Tim Alderson pitched 3 innings in Indianapolis and was outstanding, 1 hit, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts. Lets hope he can continue this throughout the season.

Whatever we can salvage out of him is a bonus now.

It's a shame to be thinking that way given what was originally expected of him.

 

[Illinest]

I am not thinking in terms of 'salvage' when it comes to Alderson. He is the most interesting pitcher in the high minors.

He's the second highest draft pick after Lincoln.
He's tall, puts a good downward plane on the ball, and his velocity is back up to 91-94 on the heater. He formerly had a terrific curveball and it's likely that the bite is back now that he's got velocity again.

The fact that he got advanced to AAA this quickly suggests that the Pirates see something - and I don't think it's a surprise that he got 3 innings either. I think he's getting stretched out.

 

[thecrow124]

I am not thinking in terms of 'salvage' when it comes to Alderson. He is the most interesting pitcher in the high minors.

He's the second highest draft pick after Lincoln.
He's tall, puts a good downward plane on the ball, and his velocity is back up to 91-94 on the heater. He formerly had a terrific curveball and it's likely that the bite is back now that he's got velocity again.

The fact that he got advanced to AAA this quickly suggests that the Pirates see something - and I don't think it's a surprise that he got 3 innings either. I think he's getting stretched out.[/QUOTE]

I agree that him getting promoted means they see more potential in him than we have seen in the past, but I think the 3 innings is because the manager said before the game it was a "bullpen" game since Lincoln got called up. However, I hope you are right and he is going to get stretched out and tried in the rotation again.

 

[26 elroy face]

I didn't see Tabata and Alvarez in Sept of 2010, but they were the reason why I bought the baseball package last season. Talk about disappointment. A fter watching Alvarez for a month I was sick to my stomach. I saw a poor man's Adam LaRoche. A long swing that can't catch up with the hard throwers. He might hit an occasional mistake, but the best he can be is a one tool player. Tabata, he's trying to hold serve to Marte is ready.

 

[Illinest]

Two Sundays later:

McCutchen has cooled off.
Tabata is hitting a bit now.
Alvarez is actually hitting too. Weird.
Presley just ended a 12 game hitting streak but his BA and SLG are still kinda low.
McGehee has been cold.

The starting pitching is still holding up. Burnett in particular has given us a bump.

In the minors Josh Bell is having minor surgery, Marte is working his way toward respectability, Grossman and Sanchez are still struggling.
Taillon is pitching great. Cole is pitching okay but his ERA isn't so good.

 

[thecrow124]

I don't think Taillon is getting challenged at all in Bradenton. This is three straight starts of five plus innings without giving up a run. I don't think they need to move him up yet, but he is forcing their hand. If he continues even close to what he has been doing he will have to be promoted by midseason. Cole hasn't been as dominant, but as i said earlier, it is about pitching every five days for him, not about the final numbers.