When John Russell was told he would not be returning next season, I imagine it went a little something like this...
Showing posts with label Pirates. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pirates. Show all posts
The Axe is Falling
The regular post-season sacrifice of the managers has already begun to take place all around Major League Baseball. The day after the season ended, word came out that the Pirates (John Russell), Brewers (Ken Macha) and Mets (Jerry Manuel, as well as GM Omar Minaya) would not have the same manager to start the 2011 season, joining the Marlins, Mariners, Royals, Diamondbacks and Orioles on the list of teams that fired their manager this season.
When John Russell was told he would not be returning next season, I imagine it went a little something like this...
When John Russell was told he would not be returning next season, I imagine it went a little something like this...
The Gross Underbelly of MLB Finances
Apparently some very confidential financial records for some MLB teams got leaked last week to Deadspin.com. Financial records for the Pirates, Angles, Rays, Mariners, Marlins and Rangers were released to the online sports site causing quite a stir in the sports world last week.
Quite frankly, there are too many documents to look through, and I just don't want to take the time, so I'm going to go with the broad generalization that baseball owners make a boatload of money (even the bad teams), and don't spend nearly enough on their teams. Oh, wait, that just confirms what everybody already knows.
Quite frankly, there are too many documents to look through, and I just don't want to take the time, so I'm going to go with the broad generalization that baseball owners make a boatload of money (even the bad teams), and don't spend nearly enough on their teams. Oh, wait, that just confirms what everybody already knows.
Most Pointless Deal Award
And the award for Most Pointless Deal at the trading deadline goes to....
The Pirates and Diamondback for their 5 player deal involving Chris Snyder, Pedro Ciriaco, D.J. Carrasco, Ryan Church and Bobby Crosby!
Why is this deal pointless, you ask? Because the two teams have won a combined 75 games, which would put them 9 games ahead of the ML-leading Yankess in the win column. Unfortunately, teams cannot simply join forces like the Wonder Twins Zan and Jayna.... and, yes, I had to look up that obscure reference.
This trade is so pointless, I'm not even going to put the players' names in the "labels" list below.
The Pirates and Diamondback for their 5 player deal involving Chris Snyder, Pedro Ciriaco, D.J. Carrasco, Ryan Church and Bobby Crosby!
Why is this deal pointless, you ask? Because the two teams have won a combined 75 games, which would put them 9 games ahead of the ML-leading Yankess in the win column. Unfortunately, teams cannot simply join forces like the Wonder Twins Zan and Jayna.... and, yes, I had to look up that obscure reference.
This trade is so pointless, I'm not even going to put the players' names in the "labels" list below.
Pirates Haven't Had Multi-Run HR in a Month
On June 8th, Pirates 3B Delwyn Young hit a 2-run HR off of Stephen Strasburg. Why do Pirates fans remember this? Because it was all their offense could manage against the young phenom? No. Because it was a milestone home run for Young? No. Because it set a single-season record for most RBIs in a single at bat for a Pirates 3B? Nope. Pirates fans remember it because it was the last multi-run home run the Pirates have hit so far this season.
That's right, folk! The Pirates haven't had a 2, 3 or 4 run home run in a month! It is completely unbeliev.... Wait a minute. This is the Pirates, right? Okay, maybe it's not that unbelievable.
Pirates, Orioles Surprised By All Star Selections
When the All Star teams were named on Sunday, two teams in particular were surprised to get news that they had an All Star on their roster. The Pirates' Evan Meek and the Orioles' Ty Wigginton were named to the All Star roster of their respective clubs.
Meek has put together a solid season for the Pirates, posting a 4-2 record with a 0.92 ERA in 38 appearances and 47 innings. He currently has the best ERA by nearly 2.00, and is second on the team in wins, only 1 behind starting pitcher Paul Maholm. Take just a minute to reread those two sentences, and you'll see why the Pirates are in so much trouble this year.
Wigginton is only going to Anaheim because everyone else on the Orioles is worse than him, and they have to have somebody there.
Meek has put together a solid season for the Pirates, posting a 4-2 record with a 0.92 ERA in 38 appearances and 47 innings. He currently has the best ERA by nearly 2.00, and is second on the team in wins, only 1 behind starting pitcher Paul Maholm. Take just a minute to reread those two sentences, and you'll see why the Pirates are in so much trouble this year.
Wigginton is only going to Anaheim because everyone else on the Orioles is worse than him, and they have to have somebody there.
Pirates Considering Spring Training Move
The Pittsburgh Pirates are considering moving their spring training for next year to the African country of Somalia, and will be exploring starting it's own professional baseball league in the country. In a statement released to BasesLoadedBalk, the front office claims that the move is based on several solid reasons.
Pittsburgh management is also considering extending invitations to the Cubs, Royals, Mariners, Orioles, and Nationals to join their African baseball league.
- McKechnie Park is old. We have been playing in that facility for 38 years, and it hasn't been renovated since 1993.
- Nobody even knows where Bradenton is. Seriously, can you tell me how to get to Bradenton without looking it up on your GPS?
- The country of Somalia is known for its great respect for pirates. We want to play in a place where we will be respected for once. Have you ever seen any pirates in Pittsburgh? Didn't think so.
- Finally, we think we have a legitimate chance to contend in a sub-Saharan African professional baseball league.
He Just Said What Everyone Else Was Thinking
In the midst of what will be their 18th losing season in a row - that's right, there are high school graduates in Pittsburgh who have no idea what an 82 win season looks like - the Pittsburgh Pirates extended the contracts of their GM Neal Huntington and President Frank Coonelly. Now, I'm all in favor of giving people chances to better the team, and I realize that 18 years of losing doesn't change over night; however, that's not where we are going with this right now.
After extending Huntington and Coonelly, the Pirates fired 24-year old Andrew Kurtz for criticizing the extensions. Who is Andrew Kurtz, you may ask? Assistant to the GM? No. Errand-boy for the President? Not a chance. Bat boy? Nope. Kurtz was JALAPEÑO HANNA THE RACING PIEROGI!!!!
The other pierogi's - Chester Cheese, Sauerkraut Sal and Oliver Onion - declined comment on the matter for fear that Randall Simon will be brought back by management to take control of the situation. And by "take control of the situation," they could be referring to his unfortunate assault on the Brewers racer, or the fact that he just might eat them... all.... in one sitting....
After extending Huntington and Coonelly, the Pirates fired 24-year old Andrew Kurtz for criticizing the extensions. Who is Andrew Kurtz, you may ask? Assistant to the GM? No. Errand-boy for the President? Not a chance. Bat boy? Nope. Kurtz was JALAPEÑO HANNA THE RACING PIEROGI!!!!
The other pierogi's - Chester Cheese, Sauerkraut Sal and Oliver Onion - declined comment on the matter for fear that Randall Simon will be brought back by management to take control of the situation. And by "take control of the situation," they could be referring to his unfortunate assault on the Brewers racer, or the fact that he just might eat them... all.... in one sitting....
Pirates Fashionably Late to Prospect Party
In a year when top prospects are making their debut all over the place, the Pittsburgh Pirates didn't want to be left out. Feeling left behind with the call-ups of Strasburg in Washington, Castro in Chicago, Stanton in Florida, Heyward in Atlanta and Santana in Cleveland, the Pirates decided that they no longer wanted to be in the news as the team that Strasburg debuted against and blew away with 14 K's.
Consequently, they called up their top prospect Pedro Alvarez from Triple-A Indianapolis. Alvarez is reportedly a power hitting 3B who was the 2008 #2 overall pick. Before his promotion, Alvarez ranked 3rd in the International League in RBI's (53) and fourth in home runs (13). Of course, none of that matters because those stats don't carry over. Regardless, with his 0 HR's and 0 RBI's as a Pirate this season, Alvarez already ranks among the team leaders in those categories.
Consequently, they called up their top prospect Pedro Alvarez from Triple-A Indianapolis. Alvarez is reportedly a power hitting 3B who was the 2008 #2 overall pick. Before his promotion, Alvarez ranked 3rd in the International League in RBI's (53) and fourth in home runs (13). Of course, none of that matters because those stats don't carry over. Regardless, with his 0 HR's and 0 RBI's as a Pirate this season, Alvarez already ranks among the team leaders in those categories.
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