The world's oldest Blogger, Bob Smizik, implied today that the Pirates best course of action would be to stand pat at the trade deadline and that the return of Kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkdro, Tabata, and Doumit from the DL would be enough to overcome the team’s lack of production at the plate.
To that I say: Bullshit!
Alvarez may be a legitimate power hitter one day, but right now he is more a liability than an asset to the team. Even his “magical” rookie campaign last season, that had Mr. Sunshine waxing poetic and comparing his batting prowess to Roberto Clemente, was really nothing all that special. His WAR was a ‘perfect’ 0.0
For those unaccustomed to the WAR stat, it stand for Wins Above Replacement. The concept is to rank the value of a player’s impact on the team winning games, in comparison to what the average AAA replacement would bring to the table.
Kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkdro’s offensive #s in 2010 would designate him as giving the Pirates 1.4 extra wins from the offensive side, but he was bad enough in the field that his defensive WAR was -1.4, so he was basically a total wash. A team of 0.0 WAR players would, statistically speaking, have a record of 52-110. So I guess John Russel had a whole team of Kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkdros and got them to perform 5 wins better than they should have by the numbers.
And this year Kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkdro has managed to somehow go even lower, dipping into negative WAR numbers at -0.6 So that is one of the “bats” your battlin’ Bucs are ready to be “saved by” according to Mr. Smizik.
I’ll admit that if Doumit can stay healthy, he will certainly be an upgrade from McKenry behind the plate and in the lineup. He is hardly a certified offensive stud, but in this group of hitters he is probably going to be hitting in one of the power spots (4/5/6) out of necessity.
Tabata can hit for average, but like the rest of the team as a whole, provides absolutely zero home run capabilities. I’m not saying that they are lacking in power, but Andrew McCutchen (9.9%) and Garrett Jones (9.2%) are the only two hitters with an Extra Base Hit Percentage above the league average of (7.1%). They need at least one, if not two, more players in the corners (outfield and infield) who at least provide the threat of taking the ball deep when they step up to the plate.
These are not unfounded grumblings and miserable misgivings of a cynical crank. They are cold, hard statistical truths. So Mr. Smizik, Mr. Huntington, Mr. Coonelly, and Mr. Nutting: please don’t try to sell us down the creek once again by suggesting that the return of a few injured Bucs are going to be enough to upgrade this lineup to a competitive level. Bring in some damn bats. The time is now.
I'll nitpick the premise of this article a bit. After having read Bob's portion of the discussion, I don't see him implying the Pirates stand pat AT ALL. Honestly, all he says is, "it doesn’t guarantee anything and it doesn’t mean the Pirates will not look elsewhere for more help as the deadline approaches. But it’s not unreasonable to suggest they might not have to."
ReplyDeleteThat doesn't seem to me that he's advocating making no moves. In this instance, it seems like you're trying to make something out of nothing.
Sure, that's what smizik says today. Next week he'll probably be saying they need to add a bat. The guy flip flops like the big slimy Pike I caught a couple of weeks ago. Which is why I stopped paying attention to his Pirates posts and switched to Dejan's blog for Pirates info. I find Dejan to be much more consistent in his viewpoints, whether I agree with them or not.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I doubt the Pirates will add anything other than Xavier Paul\Brandon wood type players, so I don't see much help coming. I'm still interested to see what they do with Maholm. A contender isn't going to give up any important players for him, which means if they do trade him it will be for more problem prospects. Can't imagine that will sit well with the coaching staff, players and the new found fanbase. And of course there's always that chance they'll trade The Hammer and Correia too, especially if the Bucs fall out of contention (heck , even if they don't fall out of contention I wouldn't be a bit surprised if the FO moves all three of those players for prospects).
My bad, I jumped the gun. Re-read the article and caught the paragraphs about not finding bats better than Pedro, Doumit, or Tabata. The key there, though, was that Bob said they couldn't improve much "at those positions," assuming those guys came back and hit like they're "supposed" to hit.
ReplyDeleteHe wasn't exactly advocating not making a move, I think he was, in effect, narrowing down where a move could be made. I've stated all along, as have others, that RF and 1B are the positions that don't seem to have internal options for improvement. A guy like Michael Cuddyer fits that bill, and lo and behold, the Pirates were mentioned as one of the teams interested in him by ESPN's Rumor Central.
In addition, Cuddyer has shown the ability to play 3B, which helps the team if Pedro in fact doesn't hit this season.
Me? I've been consistent in hoping for Carlos Pena. Derrek Lee was mentioned in DK's chat today. The most important thing, in my view, is to get Overbay out of the line-up. Diaz has no power, but at least he's getting on base and hitting lefties. If it means finding a better RF to move Jones full-time to 1B, or finding a 1B so Jones can re-platoon with Diaz, something needs to be done.
Steelfan--
ReplyDeleteThat's because Bob doesn't appear to actually have these things called "sources" or "tips." It's more like he just posts his opinion on stuff. Which, honestly? How is that ANY different than what is done here?
If Diaz and Jones continue to hit off-hand pitchers well, that is a viable platoon as long as there is somebody else in there with a big stick. Pena would be a good alternative, Cuddyer as well. I would have also been interested in trying to acquire Jason Kubel, but his injury status is up in the air.
ReplyDeleteAs far as those players returning. Doumit has proven to be a streaky career hitter with moderate power and piss poor defense. Tabata is a good slap hitter with little power and I SWEAR he lost a step. Kdro hasn't proven that he is a viable middle of the lineup force yet and MLB pitchers seem to know how get him out.
" How is that ANY different than what is done here?"
ReplyDeleteWe don't flip flop here, that's the difference.
I still like Smizik, I just like Dejan better. Personal preference and all 'at.
Getting Cuddy would be awesome, don't see it happening though. The Twins still think they're in contention and I'm not hearing any talk of trades (other than improving the club)coming from their sources. He's also a free agent after this year, so he would be a short term rental and we would probably have to give up important members of our bullpen to get him (that's where they need help the most). Also, Cuddy plays Right, 1st and 3rd, so if by some stroke of luck we do acquire him, maybe we can clone him and that would solve all three of those problems.
Burress--
ReplyDeletePedro has 524 AB at the ML level, which is probably a little less than he would have in one full season in the bigs. I'm still more than willing to think he'll play his way out of this slump.
Tabata has little power, true, but in my mind he gets on base enough (.351 OBP this season) and makes enough things happen (14 SB) that he's still valuable to this team. Everything you said about Doumit is true, but any guy that even has a prayer of hitting the ball out of the park needs to be in this line-up.
But I agree with you, if they can get a guy with some pop at another position, you can live with those issues. Of course, the biggest variable is Pedro; if he hits like he did last year, that solves a lot of these problems. Whether he will is yet to be seen, but as I say above, I'm not ready to assume he's a bust.
I think Pedro COULD be that guy, I am just saying that right now it hasn't consistently happened at the MLB level. Based on where he was when he went on the DL, I have lost a bit of confidence in him.
ReplyDeleteI like Tabata's ability to get on base and he is certainly a good MLB bat. But my point was that he isn't going to solve the power outage.
If we could bat Doumit and put Fort McKenry behind the plate, that would be ideal. Doumit can't field any other position either.
Steelfan--
ReplyDeleteI much prefer DK myself, for the reasons I listed above. You know, the fact that he actually provides new information and content, and acts as a news source.
I am cracking up reading SmizBlog now, though, as PP90 is attacking people for criticizing a hypothetical Astros move similar to the Pirates trading away Bay. I didn't realize that once you were labeled a "Pro," you had to accept everything the Pirates have done as wonderful.
I have called out Smizass before for being the biggest flip-flopper this side of the big fish in the main case display at Wholey's.
ReplyDeleteI recall several instances that Smizass said "stand pat" over the past few weeks.
If someone can be acquired without giving up the farm, why not do it to go for the division this year??
I am truly afraid this team reminds me of KC in 2003 (?), where they had a winning season, sandwiched around many losing ones.
Roger--
ReplyDeleteI could be mistaken, but I thought Smizik was saying that the Pirates didn't need to make a trade in the first two weeks of June because the trade market hadn't really shaken itself out yet. I could be wrong, but that was my interpretation of his comments.
Considering the fact that there have been somewhere around fewer than five trades since Opening Day, I don't think the Pirates were alone in "standing pat" at that time.
Speaking of DK, he mentioned in his chat today that he does fully expect the Pirates to make a trade to upgrade the team.
SeanAY --- you are mistaken. Smizass has said to stand pat because Alvarez, Tabata, Doumit, etc. were coming back.
ReplyDeleteAt least he isnt screaming that annoying WHO WOULD YOU GET, AND WHO WOULD YOU GIVE UP bullshit..
Roger--
ReplyDeleteI suppose we just interpreted the same statement different ways. My explanation is above.
The MLB non-waiver trade deadline is fast approaching (July 31, 2011 4 p.m. ET). Oh the drama! Who will we keep, who will we trade, who will we acquire? It's your serve Neal, please don't drop the ball.
ReplyDeleteSmizik's favorite type of footwear is flip-flops.
ReplyDeleteWhat happened to the talk of bringing Matt Hague up to play 1st?
All this actual talk of baseball has to be confuing to the Tavern. All they know how to do is bitch about this blog and Smizik's.
Twins "General Manager Bill Smith says he isn't planning to make any trades right now. The Twins general manager would rather wait for the return of injured players such as Jason Kubel, Justin Morneau, Kevin Slowey, Delmon Young and Denard Span from the disabled list.
ReplyDelete"Of the group, all of them except Morneau and maybe Kubel are expected to back in the near future," Smith said. "Those are the best additions we could make."
The Tavern's Pirates page has 1565 threads, one of which is devoted to blasting Smizik's blog etc.
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering how that's all that's talked about over there, as the illustrious one Sharky says.
Maybe someone shouldn't speak in absolutes and he'd then make a tad more sense...
Here Sharky, I'll start your anticipated reply for you so you can just copy/paste it to save time:
"Grumble, hate, grumble. Nonsense, nonsense. Get out of your Mom's basement"
More news and notes from the team that we want to fleece.
ReplyDelete"•An MRI on Jason Kubel (sprained mid-left foot) revealed no ligament damage, but had a little swelling and a little bone bruise. "We're going to back off a few days," Twins trainer Rick McWane said. "We're up against the All-Star Break so I would imagine he's going to take it easy the next few days and then wrap him up after the break and see where we are."
"Cuddyer a winner
The Twins' record when Cuddyer gets a hit, over the 11 years he has been with the club, has been 425-303. In games in which he gets an RBI, their record is 245-105.
The Twins' record when Cuddyer just plays in a game is 579-497, a winning percentage of .538.
Cuddyer has driven in 10 runs in his past five games, accounting for 34 percent of the Twins' runs in that span (10 of 29).
Cuddyer, who was 2-for-4 Wednesday, is batting .405, including six home runs, 22 RBI and 18 runs scored since June 9"
And check out these Twins highlights (featuring Cuddyer) from mondays game.
http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=16606775&topic_id=8879108&c_id=min
yes, what anonymous said at 3:00pm.
ReplyDeleteTake the time to read the forum -- not everyone agrees and the ones on there who don't ... are usually willing to have a conversation and not just spew same statements over and over.
Try looking at the Steeler section - there is more disagreement there than you can shake a stick at.
And, for people who complain about Bob so much - you guys sure post enough over there. Funny how everyone loved him when he ripped the Pirates. When he shows any "objectivity" - now he is a flip-flopper.
Maybe he is actually just trying to look at all sides of an argument. Something a lot of people there DON'T do
Moneytalks
Hey Moneytalks:
ReplyDeleteNice goof by you today.
I just read Smizblog, and you put a post in there that I said make a BIG move.
But one problem: I didnt post there today !
And you quoted me from here.
Now if I can remember the rules of the Tavern, one isnt allowed to follow a poster from one thread to another, let alone one blog to another.
If you are going to troll like that, make sure I post there, so not to make yourself look more foolish than you already are.
I can just imagine the look on the faces of the eople on the Smizblog when you referenced me, when I didnt post there. Too funny !
The tavern & kipper are lemmings suckeling at the nutting tit. There is no opinion allowed except pro nutting/fo opinions
ReplyDeleteStand pat, nutters.... Live in free agent fear!!!!
Stockpile zip popping teens for "5 years" from now!
Looking at both sides & flip floping are very different money- nutter
ReplyDeleteSince those Tavern Kipper lemmings have nothing better to do than come in here and complain bitch and whine, I think they should be roundly ignored from now on.
ReplyDeleteHoly sheep shit, check out this article by Kovacevic in today's Trib.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/columnists/s_745780.html
Speachless 0:
This is Dog. I would love to debate with you idiot non pirate fans. I am not some over the top pro.I'm just a very knowledgable baseball fan. If you''re men you can let bygones be bygones and allow me to educate you.
ReplyDeleteDog
Welcome Dog, we are all for debate and discussion here. My first question to you, since it has become the topic de jour around these parts: with all your knowledge, what would you have the Pirates do at the trade deadline this year? Looking forward to your response. And for the record, we are huge Pirate fans, just not fans of the ownership and mangement.
ReplyDeleteHey Dog (if it is really you). Why don't you admit that you are philmickelson (along with about 5 to 10 other names) on Smizblog?
ReplyDelete