No Pirate since Jason Bay, who didn't hit one out, has competed in the MLB Home Run Derby and I'm glad because I don't want to have to watch it. I did when Bay competed, but his night was over quickly.
However, I want to keep all you that missed out, even though you probably found out the second it was over, thanks a lot social media, that the New York Yankees' Robinson Cano bested Boston's Adrian Gonzalez in the finals, 12-11.
Both Cano and Gonzalez knocked 20 out of Chase Field Monday night, but it was Cano with the upper hand in the finals.
Major League home run king Jose Bautista failed to make it out of the first round after hitting just four. St. Louis' Matt Holliday, whose father, Tom, is a native of Uniontown, clubbed five. See, Fayette County produces some fine people.
I do enjoy watching the All-Star game because it is the one out of all the four major sports in North
America where the teams play hard. I know it's kind of a stupid concept by Bud Selig, and he made it on emotion due to the tie in Milwaukee, but it's usually a pretty good game.
I'll give the edge to the National League, 5-4.
That home-field advantage will be key for the Pirates when they reach the World Series.
Hey, it's OK to dream, right?
ALERT:
ReplyDeleteBob Nutting will be on the X (105.9 FM) Morning show at 9:35 this morning.
I better put on my bullshit filter earplugs.
ReplyDeleteNutting: Blah, blah, blah, we will spend money, blah, blah, blah, when the time is right, blah, blah, blah.
Get a Cutch deal done! Soon! Then we'll start believing you!
Lets Go Bucs!
Sharky - please fill us in on his BULL when you have time
ReplyDeleteAll of the sudden B-nut is front and center? Heck, we may even begin seeing the mysterious Bill Nutting now that the team is playing well.
We should write a script for a movie combining the themes of Major League and Angels in the Outfield, with the FO as the main antagonists who get possessed by demons and try to ruin a baseball franchise using Rachel Phelps-like methods.
ReplyDeleteWe can call it "Assholes In the Office"
I'll try to take notes if I'm not busy since I am at work and may be called away from my desk at any time.
ReplyDeleteSharky- Tell work you have important things to tend to. You 'll get to your work when ." the time is right". Till then, you are focused on taking nutting down! :-)
ReplyDeleteBurress- Daquido would be perfect to write such a script!
Unfortunately, I missed most of it. I only caught one part when Darth Nutting said that would rather trade money than a high end prospect for a player. If this is so, why have they not spent real money in free agency for the last 3 off seasons?
ReplyDeleteLet's see him put his money where his mouth is; no pun intended.
ReplyDeleteObviously, this team needs a middle of the lineup bat, at the very least to protect Cutch. Walker is not a big HR guy, he is good as a 5 or 6 hitter as he can drive in runs. However, I always thought he was more suited to be a #2 hitter until his alarming GIDP rate came to the surface.
Jones is not consistent enough to be anything but a platoon player. Most guys on the market would be an upgrade over Vile Overpaid. He is too streaky and thanks only to generous scoring, he doesn't have as many errors to his name as he should
I need to take a look at the players being seriously shopped amd maybe do a quick post mulling the pros and cons and get a discussion going there.
Here are hastily transcribed quotes to add to our Nuthouse collection that I took down while he was on with Tim and Bob this morning.
ReplyDeleteI hear he has a planned stop by NYC to do Letterman and Conan tomorrow night as part of his All-Star Break Bucs above .500 Media tour.
“Neal has all kinds of alternatives and options heading toward the trade deadline”
“There will always be some limitations, given our market size, but those limitations are very small.”
“Increasing payroll, or stretching out on dollars, is preferable and easier than giving up a core prospect that we see as part of our clubs future.”
I listened to the Podcast. Here's the the part about trades and improving the club.
ReplyDelete"Question: Assuming you're able to continue on a winning path here Bob. What do you think is the smart approach for the team to have, in so far as, do you go after somebody to improve the roster right now? What do you do with the Paul Maholm situation, since he has a big contract coming up? How are you and Neil and Frank Coonelly handling that as we look at the trade deadline just a few weeks away?
Bob Nutting: Yeah no, and I think that we're going to have not only the trade deadline, but as Neil said a couple of times "this will be a year that there is also activities and transactions that happen in August after the formal deadline." But Neil is charged with and is seriously taking a look at all kinds of alternatives and options and is in a position, which is wonderful to be in, to have that flexability to pursue lots of different alternatives and potential deals. What he needs to do is, obviously there will always be some limitations just given the market size, but our limitations really aren't very significant. The most important one for me is that we can not mortgage the future of the club. We can not give up very, very high potential prospects and talent inside the organization that we worked so hard to build and those are the trades that are going to be much more difficult, because we need to continue to stock pile talent inside the organization, so we have that depth and that sustainability of the success we're seeing right now on the field.
Question: But is increasing the payroll something you're willing to do if you think you have a ligitament shot at the wild card, or the pennant or even at .500?
Bob Nutting: Absolutely, for the right fix. Neil and I have talked, frankly increasing payroll or stretching on dollars is easier to do than giving up a core prospect or piece of the future of the club. The dynamic that Neil is going to have to balance out is what real deals are out there, what real players are out there and how can he make the pieces fit together so that we have a cohesive team."
Well there you have it, word for word and I do mean word for word, so if it doesn't make sense don't blame me.
Here's the link to the podcast.
http://www.1059thex.com/cc-common/podcast/single_page.html?podcast=interviews&selected_podcast=20110712093308.mp3
IMO, it sounds like the only way we're getting help is if Neil finds a great deal that doesn't involve any prospects or core players. Oh and Maholm will be traded in August instead of the end of July. Rather loud SIGH!! ):
Steelfan,
ReplyDeleteIf your last paragraph comes true (I'm still in the camp that trades don't necessarily have to happen AND Maholm is dealt for prospects in August), I will ask to join as a card carrying ANTI member.
I will also be first in line with a pitchfork in hand on Federal Street.
*Yawn* Looks and sounds exactly like what he said to Vinnie Richichi yesterday, although Vinnie strikes me as such a pandering slob no matter who he's interviewing. I would have liked it if he would have spent less time complimenting Bob Nutting and more time asking questions, but that's just me.
ReplyDeleteSteelfan--
Your assertion about only finding help if it involves a great deal...well, it sounds about right. But honestly, that's probably OK. I'd imagine there are more than a few teams out there that might unload a guy for "payroll flexibility," i.e. cash and a mid-level prospect.
The point I'm making is this: as of right now, it does not seem like there's any real elite trade bait out there. What is out there is limited - guys like Pence, Beltran (to a degree), ARam (though he has said he would not accept a trade, that doesn't mean the chance to go to Philly, Boston, or somewhere like that won't sway him), etc. This is a seller's market, it seems.
I'm not Dan; I'm not throwing in the towel. But it seems like the true difference makers are going to cost a ton to get. That's why you might see one of these "bargain deals" coming, because the Pirates don't really have the horses or organizational depth to secure a premium talent.
I would have been happy if Bob Nutting would have simply said, Paul Maholm isn't going anywhere. He's an important part of our team now and in the future. IMO, if the
ReplyDelete"limitations really aren't very significant", then it shouldn't be a problem keeping Maholm.
Also, I don't know if I'm in the camp, but I agree that trades don't necessarily have to happen, given the success of this team as currently constructed. However, I was thinking that Pedro would come back and I was hoping that he would put up numbers similar to last year when he did. Now that doesn't appear to be the case, I wouldn't mind if they could find some power somewhere. Heck, even a player being blocked in another organzation, that has big power numbers in AAA, could help out.
"I'm not Dan; I'm not throwing in the towel. But it seems like the true difference makers are going to cost a ton to get. That's why you might see one of these "bargain deals" coming, because the Pirates don't really have the horses or organizational depth to secure a premium talent."
ReplyDeleteThen they have to look past the true difference makers and find the hidden gem. A Brian Giles type player would be a nice pick-up. This is where Neil needs to shine and find that player A guy who's just waiting for the right opportunity to explode onto the scene like Giles did when he came to the Pirates from the Indians for Ricardo Rincon (Which would qualify as a "bargain deal" IMO).
Steelfan--
ReplyDeleteI dunno, you guys shredded Frank Coonelly a few months ago when he said the team had no desire to trade Paul Maholm...lol
Yeah, with Pedro staying down, they definitely need some power from outside the organization. But the power they need will be tough to find. I just don't see any "major" trade being made.
Honestly, a guy like Giambi might be most likely at this point. For what he's getting paid ($1M for the whole season), the fact that he's a part-timer and isn't doing ALL that well (.988 OPS, but with only 100 PA)...I think they could get him for straight cash, homie. Straight cash and a rag-arm like Morris, maybe.
Thanks for the transcript fellas.... As laughable as it was.
ReplyDeleteAnd What is this this new catch phrase " stretching on dollars" freak'in mean?
"I dunno, you guys shredded Frank Coonelly a few months ago when he said the team had no desire to trade Paul Maholm...lol"
ReplyDeleteWell Sean, my memory must be completely shot, because I don't remember shredding FC for wanting to keep Maholm and if I did it was probably because I don't believe a thing the guy says. Regardless, things have changed quite a bit since then and I wouldn't mess with the starting pitching right now is all I'm saying. There's no guarantee that Lincoln or Ohlendorf can replace him and IMO it would send the wrong message to the fans and players if he is traded.
Now, if he is being shopped around and they do end up trading him, it better be for equal return not problem prospects or former prospects/career minor leaguers. I guess I could live with that, but if was up to me I would keep him, because IMO he gives us a better chance of winning the division this year than Lincoln or Ohlendorf.
Paul Maholm stats through Sunday
GP 19
GS 19
CG 1
SHO 1
IP 121.2
H 101
R 45
ER 40
HR 7
BB 42
SO 75
W 6
L 9
P/GS 94.9
WHIP 1.18(15th in NL)
BAA .227
ERA 2.96(8th in NL)
Well, I was being somewhat tongue in cheek. "Shredded" isn't exactly the word. Perhaps, "prepared to shred."
ReplyDeleteFrom the post, "The Lying Liar Speaks."
Finally, the Lying Liar was very clear about the organizations intentions with veteran lefty Paul Maholm, with whom they have a 1 year club option remaining on his contract at $9 million dollars: “We have no intentions to move Paul”
I’ll just keep that one tucked away in my hat until the trade deadline and see if once again we can nail the liar to the wall."
However, it didn't stop Sharky and Roger from taking shots at me:
roger roger said...
@SeanAY:
Why do you and other defend Coonelly so damn much??
I DO care what he says, because he has yet to tell the truth. He is an embarrassment to the planet, let alone the Pirates."
Sharky said...
Roger,
I guess some people have been lied to so much by the and previous versions of the Pirates front office that they expect it. They only want to hear good news, even if it is a flat out lie. I don't appreciate the lying and would respond better to the truth.
Maybe guys like SeanAy "can't handle the truth".
So anyway, it was a tongue-in-cheek comment about the Maholm situation. I forgot that Sharky and Roger had ripped me, as they often do. But that was the fun part of the research lol.
And if they don't trade Maholm, I want an apology, capisce?
If you call that being "ripped" you must have a very delicate disposition.
ReplyDeleteYou definitely fall into this definition of a Nutter that I posted on Smizblog.
"A Nutter is someone who defends every ridiculous comment made by FC or blows it off as no big deal."
Sometime I'll really have to lay into you so you know the real definition of being shredded or ripped into.
Sharky--
ReplyDeleteNo, it wasn't "ripping," but I really enjoy the fact that your first response is to insult me and threaten me with some sort of verbal tirade.
To prove...what, exactly?
You're not with arguing with.
Sean he brings nothing to the table. That is all he ever does is insult people who don't agree with him. That's exactly what he did to me on the Smizik blog. I had never addressed him and then he started attacking me daily with his childish taunts and incorrect information. He isn't worth the time of day.
ReplyDeleteDog
Dog.
Dog,
ReplyDeleteYou and Sharky are both at fault. You both need to grow up.
I read Smizik's blog several times a week and I remember you. Didn't you get banned?