Pirates Split Atlanta

Mondesis House had this great shot of Bill Guerin at the Rowdy BBQ on Rt. 51.  GO PENS!

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Neil plainly said it’s not about being mediocre in the video from April 15, 2009. I love the part about the parade.

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When asked about topics of the Pirates, I seem to be the one with the differing opinion.  Neil Huntington and his team have looked very differently at the monumental task of building a winner in Pittsburgh.  It has been an awful big pill for most fans to swallow.

Although on the job only a short time, NH has taken much criticism.  Each and every move is second guessed by the fans.  Without question, it is a difficult place to be the GM of the local ballclub.  Fans are sick of seeing their stars head out of town.  Fans are tired of losing.

The support shown the team is strong despite all of the losing.  There is an undying legion of fans, or the Armada as the Pirate broadcasters call it.  They are vocal and can’t seem to get an answer on why their ‘stars’ are being shipped away.

If  those fans would look at the moves made by the front office,  I feel you have your answer.  This new GM knows what he is doing.  A plan is in place.  Does Neil need a better speech writer, he certainly does.  Calling McLouth a core player was regrettable.

But I see his calling of McLouth part of the core as true at the time he said it.  Trading McLouth was a decision he deemed necessary.  Did it upset Pirates fans?  Yes it did.  Many fans felt they had been suckered.

It couldn’t be farther from the truth.  The Pirates knew it would be viewed in a negative light.  And they still did it.  That is called having brass balls. And I go on the record as saying that is what seperates this front office from those of the past.

In the pursuit of having a winner, they made a difficult decision.  I appreciate that a great deal.  On the same night the hockey club attempts to reach the pinnacle of the sport, the Pirates are firmly focused on making those same steps to success.  But it is insanely difficult to make moves because the organization has not engendered the trust of the fanbase.

I entirely understand and empathize for those fans who feel let down by the team.  Although I wil stand behind the team as doing what it feels is the right decision in pursuit of improving the team.

I would mention a few examples of just how much this team has improved, but you know what I am talking about.  The readers of Rumbunter get it.  Many of you make unpopular decisions on a daily basis.

The difference?  The Pirates makes unpopular moves and it is public record.  A dart board if you will for years to come.  I feel that most of the decisions have already proven to improve the club.  NH has done a stellar job thus far and I predict in less than two weeks the club will be back at .500.  Yes .500.

And that’s just not good enough.

I will still enjoy it, but will never be satisfied with it and I know NH and his team won’t be either.

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From Jayson Starks column…• Pitt Stop: We’ve heard mixed reviews around baseball on the package the Pirates got back for Nate McLouth. But one scout who has seen a lot of all three players thinks all three could be stars.

“I really like [left-hander Jeff] Locke,” he said. “To me, he has a chance to be Jon Lester. And if [right-hander Charlie] Morton just throws strike one, he’ll win 15-16 games a year, if not more. And one thing no one can dispute is that [outfielder] Gorkys Hernandez has five tools. Those tools still need a lot of work. But he can be a top-of-the-order guy who can give you power and produce runs. And he can run and throw and play some kind of center field. So to me, that was a deal where both teams got what they wanted and needed.”

Pirates try something different is a good perspective on the draft.

We received many emails yesterday pointing out just how close the Pirates were to sweeping the Braves.  Yes it was so close…  Do you think Bobby Cox would like to rethink the ‘stra-tegery’ he used yesterday afternoon?

Donnie Veal had 1.2 IP last night for AAA Indy.  Two walks and two strikeouts.  Former Auburn Tiger, Chris Bootcheck got his ninth save with two strikeouts as the Tribe won over Norfolk. BOOTCHECK HAS 36K and 4BB this year.  [Bootcheck AAA page] Virgil Vasquez got knocked around for seven earned runs in five innings in spite of throwing 64 of his 87 pitches for strikes.  (We still need pitching help.)

All the news on Daniel Moskos, Jose Tabata, and various scapegoats for the Curve being a franchise worst 21 games under .500 are covered in the Altoona Mirror.  Brad Lincoln has moved up to third in the EL with a 1.95ERA.  Tabata took batting practice yesterday..whew.

Crucial interleague stretch, yeh, I think its a critical series for the Pirates to make the push.  Ian Snell is on the bump tonight against 20-year old Rick Porcello (6-4; 3.98ERA)

Sat: Pirates (Zach Duke, 6-4, 3.07) vs. Tigers (Armando Galarraga, 3-6, 5.19), 7:05 p.m

Sun:Pirates (Ross Ohlendorf, 5-5, 4.82) vs. Tigers (Dontrelle Willis, 1-3, 6.60), 1:35 p.m