Mid-season report: Pirates

[sweaver]

The Pirates are slogging along again, 32-43, in spite of one of the league's best players in Brian Giles. Why can't they get out of the rut? One reason is an unproductive farm system.

Giles is still one of the best anywhere, and he is the only premium hitter in the lineup. Aramis Ramirez has picked up his average after a slow start, but the power has yet to come around. Veterans Kenny Lofton and Reggie Sanders have added respectibility to the lineup, along with Craig Wilson and Jason Kendall. Randall Simon and Matt Stairs are also over OPS 700, but only just. Jack Wilson is in the 600s, and second base has been papered over with Jeff Reboulet following the injury to Pokey Reese.

The defense has been respectable overall, with trouble spots at 3B and RF, as Ramirez' range has suffered, and Sanders and Stairs have not shown the ability to go get the ball as age advances. Reese, the best defender, is now on the DL.

Kip Wells has turned in a solid half-year of starting, and has 8 no-decisions to show for it. Jeff Suppan and Jeff D'Amico have eaten up innings, but Josh Fogg has been hurt, and Kris Benson has been pitching like he's hurt again. Closer Mike Williams has struggled, and the Bucs may have held onto him one year too long. Joe Beimel has been effective, but Scott Sauerbeck has been wild. Brian Boehringer has been "taterriffic," with 8 homers surrendered in 29 innings.

There are rumors the Pirates would move Giles, and if it would restock the system with youngsters that would be good. There are no high-level prospects ready to step in anywhere. A repeat of the Todd Ritchie trade for three usable pitchers would be helpful. Otherwise, the Pirates will continue to wallow below .500. Swapping out some of the veterans as stretch-drive help for youngsters would be a good strategy for GM Dave Littlefield.

[jstu9]

The Pirates had the goal of reaching .500 this year, and that was pretty much neccessary for Lloyd McClendon (in the last year of his contract) to stay as manager.

But the bullpen has been horrible. The closer, Mike Williams, has been bad. The top setup guy (Boehringer) has had troubles keeping his ERA under 9, and Sauerbeck seems to give up home runs in every key situation.

The rotation has actually been solid... no one is much above average, but no one has been pathetic, though the way Benson is pitching lately, he might be on the latter list soon. I expect Benson will be on the DL soon.

The offense again is just a ragtag group of ok players. One of the best hitters n the team rots on the bench (Craig Wilson) while players like Abe Nunez get key pinch hit at-bats.

Giles gets injured. Kendall stays in his now 2 1/2 year funk. Ramirez can't hit himself out of a paper bag for the first 1 1/2 months. None of the backup types step up. Reese gets injured though incredibly Jeff Reboulet is playing fairly well.

Another long year in Steel town.

The Pirates do have a trio of top pitching prospects. Sean Burnett and John Van Benschoten are pitching well in AA Altoona. Bryan Bullington is in high-A Lynchburg. I expect they will make appearances in the majors fairly soon, though it might be a few years until they make an impact.

The Pirates don't really have a top-flight offensive prospect. Tony Alvarez might be a servicable player. Jose Castillo might be a ok player... etc ... etc... in other words, don't look to the minors for any offensive help. And this is a team that is desperate for anyone to actually hit.

[flashyfish]

It certainly seems like a lot of the young talent the Pirates were counting on failed to deliver. Supposed future stars Lou Collier, Chad Hermansen, Jose Guillen, and Warren Morris all failed. I know Pirate fans thought they had the makings of a great nucleus from that group.

[Ytown Tribe fan]

I'm located right between the two teams, and the Pirates have few fans in the Y'town area anymore (and this is big Steelers country, too).

These guys have been rebuildling for 10 years now, and the fans aren't buying it anymore. The Tribe is rebuilding too, but only for a year or two now -- and the Tribe fans certainly expect some production within a very few years.

For some reason, the Pirates OWN the Tribe in interleague play, and they did two years ago too, when the Tribe was actually trying to win something.

They might as well trade Giles and pretend to rebuild again.

[jstu9]

Aye, the constant rebuilding... <points an accusing finger at Cam Bonifay>

I can see the great 2003 lineup in my head of:

CF Chad Hermansen
C Jason Kendall
LF Brian Giles
1B Ron Wright
3B Aramis Ramirez
RF Jose Guillen
2B Warren Morris
SS Lou Collier

I imagine 25+ HR's from Hermansen, Giles, Wright, Ramirez and Guillen. Great OBP from Hermansen, Kendall, Giles, Wright and morris.... What a team...

Of course Hermansen turned into a basketcase, Wright got injured every other month, Guillen got into the doghouse and then traded, Morris stopped hitting and then went into the doghouse, and Collier was plain released for no reason I ever figured out.

[pathogan]

...without the bullpen imploding on them, i thought Benson would be better, and wells has no luck.they were my sleeper pick.sigh.

[Husier]

Why can't the Pirates give Craig Wilson a shot at 1B and see if he's for real?

Pittsburgh still has the nucleus of a decent team, but needs to find a big bat somewhere. Giles isn't getting any younger, so it may be time to put him on the auction block.

[jstu9]

Because Lloyd McClendon sees Craig Wilson as a slow, big, poor defensive player who strikesout alot instead of seeing him as a decent on-base guy with power.

[gyb13]

then again, maybe he'll get more of a chance with Kevin Young's release.

they need another catcher on the roster, though.

[sweaver]

They just called up Humberto Cota.....

It's funny, because managers usually favor players who are like themselves (weak-hitting middle infielders, or whatever) but the player most like McClendon on the Pirates is Craig Wilson. Except Wilson is better. Maybe that's the problem.

[gyb13]

just saw that on ATM as well...

they better be giving him his chance now - young is gone and wilson is no longer the only backup catcher on the roster.

[jstu9]

Wilson got a decent number of at-bats last year so i expect he will get *more* at-bats but i don't expect he'll ever become a starter under McClendon. They seem to focus on the things he doesn't do well as opposed to the things he does do well.

[bucconut]

Just a couple thoughts :

1) Looks as though Benson isn't going anywhere. Is he hurt, or is it mental ?

2) Much as I like Kenny Lofton on this team, I really hope the Lofton/Ramirez trade to the Cubs goes through. Ramirez seems disinterested, and he can't even make routine throws to first.

3) I'm going to the Pirates/Padres game July 31 (my birthday), will Brian Giles still be there ?

[Skip]

Welcome to NetShrine, b-nut. Head to Icebreakers forum and tell us how you could possibly be a fan of the evil Pirates. (I'm, of course, speaking from the perspective of the 70's Reds, so the only thing worse than you guys is the bleeping Dodgers. )

[sweaver]

I think Benson is hurting still. Or again. I would agree the Bucs should trade Lofton to the Cubs, but would hold the line at Ramirez. As the guys on Pittsburgh Sports Tonight said last night, Aramis is still young, one of the guys you should build around! I think he needs more leadership than McLendon's Don Baylor impression, though.