It was October of 2009. The Pirates had just finished up a 161-game season in which they lost 99 games. Those 99 losses were good for second most in the league behind the Washington Nationals, who lost 103 games that year. The prize for the worst team was the chance to draft Bryce Harper, who was arguably the most hyped up prospect in the history of the game. While the Nationals had an embarrassingly bad season, things were looking up just a year after they drafted arguably the most hyped up pitching prospect of all time in Steven Strasburg. Also, having the number one pick in 2010 was looking like a pretty sweet deal, and I’m sure a lot of Nationals fans were hoping their team would finish dead last as soon as their playoff hopes were dead.

The Pirates played the Nationals eight times that year. They won five of those games. In a way, those were some of the worst wins in the history of the Pirates franchise. If the Pirates would have just lost two more of those games, they would have had the number one pick and Bryce Harper could very well be a fixture in right field in Pittsburgh right now. Let’s look at those five wins and think “what if”.

May 18: Pirates 12 Nationals 7

The Pirates did trail in this game. After a three run third, the Pirates were feeling good. However, they gave up five runs in the bottom of the fifth and were trailing by two. The Pirates countered that with a five run inning of their own in the top of the sixth. Adam LaRoche drew a walk, Robinzon Diaz was hit by a pitch, and Andy LaRoche bunted to move the runners over. With one out, Jack Wilson and Brandon Moss hit back to back doubles and Delwyn Young singled in another run to give the Pirates the lead back. Garrett Mock was the pitcher. Blame Garrett Mock. The Pirates would lead 9-6 going into the 9th and add three runs in the top and give one up in the bottom to win the game by five runs. Who the hell is Garrett Mock anyway? Blame Garrett Mock.

May 19: Pirates 8 Nationals 5

The Pirates hopped out to a 5-0 lead in this one taking advantage of a horrible start from none other than current Pirates minor leaguer Shairon Martis. The Nationals would take advantage of some poor Pirates pitching and tie the game in the bottom of the ninth, sending it to extra innings. However, with two outs in the top of the 10th, Andy LaRoche hit a double to right field that scored two runners. Everyone in Pittsburgh was hyped up, especially since this was around the time when the Pirates were hoping for big things out of LaRoche. That double was a good sign at the time, but looking back on it, I would have taken a fly out. So thanks Andy for hurting the Pirates even when you did something right for once.  Blame Andy LaRoche.

May 20: Pirates 2 Nationals 1

A rare good performance from two of league’s worst pitching staffs. Paul Maholm pitched six innings and gave up just one run and John Lannan one upped Maholm by going seven innings and giving up a run of his own. With the game nodded up heading to the ninth, none other than Joel Hanrahan entered the game for the Nationals to try and give them a chance to walk it off with just one run in the bottom of the ninth. Hanrahan loaded the bases on three hits from Delwyn Young, Freddy Sanchez, and Nate McLouth. Andy LaRoche stepped to the plate looking to be a hero for the second straight game. Hanrahan had other things in mind, and didn’t even give him the chance to be the hero. Hanrahan threw a wild pitch and Freddy Sanchez scored the eventual winning run. Throw a damn strike, Joel. Shit. Blame Joel Hanrahan.

July 31: Pirates 5 Nationals 4

The Pirates were hosting the Nationals in this late season series and they went into the 4th inning with a 3-1 lead after Andy LaRoche, Lastings Milledge, and Garrett Jones drove in runs. Steve Pearce decided to be a hero and hit a solo home run in the 4th. After that the Pirates got another run in the 7th with another Milledge RBI. The Nationals would battle back and make the game 5-4, but their efforts wouldn’t be enough and the Pirates would hold on for the one run win. Steve Pearce, sweet man. The one day of the year you were actually healthy you decided to screw the Pirates over by hitting a home run. Nice work jag-off. Blame Steve Pearce.

August 1: Pirates 11 Nationals 6

Everybody remembers this game. Andrew McCutchen hit three home runs and put an exclamation point on his rookie year. I’m not even going to think about blaming McCutchen for his three homers, because that was awesome and Pirate fans wouldn’t trade that for much. We’re just going to let this game slide.
So we have four guys to blame here. Garrett Mock, Andy LaRoche, Joel Hanrahan, and Steve Pearce. If just two of those guys would have had the future in mind, the Pirates could have Bryce Harper and things could be looking up for the offense. Instead, we’re stuck with a lineup that’s scoring just over two runs a game this year.

I’m calling you out Garrett, Andy, Joel, and Steve. Bums.

Former Pirate Ryan Doumit is off to a slow start with Minnesota

Now that we are a solid two weeks into the season, let’s take a gander at how some of our ex-Buccos are performing in their new baseball homes.

C/OF Ryan Doumit signed a one-year $3 million contract with the Minnesota Twins to be the primary back-up to catcher Joe Mauer and fill-in at 1B and RF.  After a 4-8 start to the season, the Twins are toiling 5.0 games back in the A.L. Central and Doumit has played in eight games, five at catcher and three in right field.  He is carrying a .219/.242/.219 line with no extra-base hits and one RBI, striking out eight times in 32 at-bats.  The Twins are being careful about how they handle Doumit, as he is the only back-up on the roster for the injury-prone Mauer.  Speedy outfielders Denard Span and Ben Revere create a significant defensive advantage in the cavernous Target Field outfield, and former first baseman Justin Morneau is the primary DH due to doctor concerns over his ability to play the field.  This greatly limits at-bats for Doumit, who has never had more than 431 plate appearances in any of his seven major league seasons.

Former Pirates SS Ronny Cedeno is also being used sparingly in his first season with the New York Mets (one-year, $1.25m).  Cedeno has seen time at second base, shortstop, and also at third base in the absence of David Wright last week.  He has hit .250/.438/.333 in 12 at-bats and has been used primarily as a defensive replacement.  With SS Ruben Tejada and 2B Daniel Murphy getting most of the playing time in the middle of the diamond, Cedeno may have to tap into the super-utility role to get more than 300 at-bats in 2012.  The Mets have been been a pleasant surprise thus far, at 7-5 and in second place behind the Washington Nationals in what shapes up to be a competitive N.L. East.

1B Lyle Overbay is hitting .222/.300/.500 in 18 at-bats for the Arizona Diamondbacks.  As the backup to 1B Paul Goldschmidt, Overbay could see playing time against tough right-handers and could contribute solid power numbers in Chase Field.  Overbay – who stroked 52 doubles with Milwaukee in 2004 – is a perfect fit for the wide open right-centerfield gap in the D-Backs stadium.  He hit just .227 in 352 at-bats with the Bucs prior to being released in 2011.

Ronny Cedeno is in his first season with the New York Mets

OF Matt Diaz was signed to a two-year $4.25 million contract by the Pirates prior to 2011 and expected to provide some pop off the bench after 20 homers in just under 600 at-bats for the Atlanta Braves in 2009-2010.  He failed to hit any longballs for the Bucs, and was traded back to Atlanta on August 31 last season.  Back in his comfort zone with the Braves, Diaz already has one homerun and has drove in four runs as the forth outfielder.  He is carrying a .278/.364/.500 line thus far in nine games.

OF Ryan Ludwick was one of the Pirates big trade deadline acquisitions last season, toiling to the finish line for the Bucs.  Signed to a one-year $2.5 million deal with Cincinnati this winter, Ludwick has paid dividends for the Reds, leading them in RBI with nine through 10 games in 2012.  He has for the time being earned the starting left field job over Chris Heisey and seems to have regained the power stroke he had with St. Louis during his 2007-2010 run with the Cardinals.  Ludwick gave the Pirates a .232 average in 112 expensive at-bats after being acquired from the San Diego Padres last July 31.

Although he is now three years removed from his time in Pittsburgh, it is interesting to note that 1B Adam LaRoche – a notorious slow starter – has been a key cog in the 10-3 start for the surprising Washington Nationals in 2012.  Through 13 games as the starting first baseman, LaRoche is hitting .314 and has drove in a team-leading 13 RBI in 51 at-bats.  While his Pirates career never materialized as the team expected, LaRoche is a hard guy to cheer against.  Seeing him get off to such a great start makes us all wonder what he could have accomplished had he put together a full season in Pittsburgh.

SP Paul Maholm spent his first seven major league seasons with the Pirates, accumulating 53 wins for some horrendous teams.  Signed by the Chicago Cubs to a one-year $4.25 million contract in the offseason, Maholm has not had a great start to his Wrigley career.  In two starts for the Cubs, he has a 13.50 ERA and has been tagged for the loss in both games.  Maholm has started against the Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals thus far, two of the better hitting teams in the National League, so it may just be a case of bad timing for the southpaw.  Playing for the rebuilding Cubs and on a one-year deal, Maholm could be a prime trade deadline candidate for pitching hungry contenders.  Similar to LaRoche, Bucs fans may find it hard to root against Maholm, who dedicated significant time to charity programs and seemed to thoroughly enjoy his time in Pittsburgh.  Is there any doubt he will save his best game of the season for the first time he faces off against the Bucs?

Although certifiably nuts, RP Jose Veras gave the Pirates a solid season out of the bullpen in 2011.  Traded to the Brewers for Casey McGehee this past December, Veras has inherited the setup role to closer John Axford with Milwaukee.  In five games thus far, he has a 2.08 ERA and has averaged a strike out per inning.  The Brewers are off to a slow start after their best season in the National League in 2011, but a Veras/Axford back of the bullpen could have some dominant moments this summer.

There are numerous ex-Pirates scattered throughout the minor leagues after spending spring training with their new clubs.  Players such as INF Brandon Wood (Colorado), INF Steve Pearce (Yankees by way of the Twins), SS Pedro Ciriaco (Boston), C Jason Jaramillo (Milwaukee by way of the Cubs), and OF Xavier Paul (Washington) are all starting their 2012 seasons at AAA.  Former OF John Bowker has found a home with the Yomiuri Giants of the Nippon Professional Baseball League after being released by the Philadelphia Phillies this offseason.

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Brandon Wood was outrighted to AAA leaving Pedro Ciriaco and Chase d'Arnaud as the two shortstops on the Bucs 40-man roster

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