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How 'bout those Buccos

 
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Brant
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PostPosted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 8:45 pm    Post subject: How 'bout those Buccos Reply with quote

I've been critical of Pirates ownership for not spending money. That doesn't mean I wanted them to spend $4.25 million on an aging, virtually unknown Japanese shortstop coming off knee surgery, while at the same time getting rid of a relatively young relief pitcher who was showing promise at the end of the season:

The Pirates tonight made the first move of what might be a busy offseason, acquiring veteran infielder Akinori Iwamura from the Tampa Bay Rays for reliever Jesse Chavez.
Agreement on the trade was reached in the afternoon, but the teams waited until the evening to announce it because of the need to notify Iwamura in his native Japan.
Iwamura, who will turn 31 in February, has a .281 career average since coming to North America in 2007, but he is coming off a season in which he played only 69 games because of surgery on his left knee. He returned in late August -- much earlier than expectations -- and finished with a .290 average, one home run, 16 doubles, two triples and nine steals in 10 attempts.
Tampa Bay had been under pressure to move Iwamura because his original three-year contract has a clause requiring that his 2010 club option gets exercised or declined within one day after the end of the World Series, which could end tonight. The option is worth $4.25 million, with a $550,000 buyout, and the Rays apparently were not going to take the option.
The Pirates took the option.
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PostPosted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 9:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sometimes I wonder if Pirates ownership is certifiably insane.



...okay, I don't wonder at all. I know.
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 7:52 am    Post subject: Re: How 'bout those Buccos Reply with quote

Brant wrote:
I've
Tampa Bay had been under pressure to move Iwamura because his original three-year contract has a clause requiring that his 2010 club option gets exercised or declined within one day after the end of the World Series, which could end tonight. The option is worth $4.25 million, with a $550,000 buyout, and the Rays apparently were not going to take the option.
The Pirates took the option.


How much was Freddy Sanchez making and what was his batting average?
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 8:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think Sanchez made about $6 million this year, and he's a fairly consistent .300 hitter.
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 10:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

This guy is no freddy sanchez, but he is a big league player. Considering the Bucs don't have any other middle infielder, I'm fine with this move. Jesse Chavez might be a good pitcher down the road. But he would've never met his potential (and been traded if he did) with the Pirates.

They have to put together some sort of big league roster.
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 2:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I just think spending that kind of a coin on a middle infielder who has no power is crazy at this juncture. This seems like something you should do when you're simply missing one piece on a team that can legitimately contend for the playoffs. They already have a player like this at shortstop, a so-so third baseman, an uncertain situation at first base, a potato chip catcher (always hurt), several outfielders who could turn out to be very good or very crappy and an very average pitching staff. All led by a manager who has the charisma of a bag of wet athletic supporters. They lost 99 games this year for a reason. Spending nearly $5 million on a second baseman isn't going to make a big difference. Now, if they go out and spend big bucks on a bopper at first base and a top-shelf corner outfielder, I'll re-evaluate.
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 2:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

All good points. I just think that the money is being blown out of proportion... well, because its only high in comparison to other salaries on the Pirates. For most other teams, $4 mill is the going rate for a bonified average major leaguer. In fact, I'd argue that he's worth twice that! As long as we don't have to play Brian Bixler every again.

Remember, this is baseball. 30 years old is an average age. The knee surgery is a little concerning. We can just hope it doesn't effect his lateral movement. He was a six time gold glover in Japan... ok, that doesn't carry much weight. But still!
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 4:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Today the Buccos sign 29 year old SS, Bobby Crosby. Ok, not all of that is true. They actually signed him yesterday, and announced it today. And he's actually not a SS (anymore)... he is more of a 3B or 1B. Awesome, a corner infielder who hit six homers last year... GREAT. The good news is that it only took $1M to get the former AL Rookie of the Year. I think he can contribute as an off the bench utility men. Really, what do I expect.

I am excited about the other new player... outfielder John Raynor. The Bucs picked him from the Marlins in the Rule 5 draft (don't ask). In 2007, his first full professional season, he was named the South Atlantic League's MVP for batting .333 with 13 home runs, 57 RBIs and 54 steals with Greensboro. He was also named Florida's Minor League Player of the Year. His career average is .299, with 36 home runs over four seasons. In 2008, Baseball America named him the fastest baserunner in the Class AA Southern League.
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 4:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think Crosby hit about .220 last year. Nice. That young fella might be good, but they have to carry him on the major-league roster all year. Of course, with the Pirates, he'll probably be every bit as good as all but a couple of their returning outfielders.
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 4:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Right. Rule 5 is if they don't keep him on the ML roster, they have to give him back to the Marlins and pay half of his remaining salary... or something? We'll see.
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 4:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Bucs also had a 28 year old rookie last year, Jones, I think, how did that work out? Was he the "rookie of the year"?


dick wrote:
Today the Buccos sign 29 year old SS, Bobby Crosby. Ok, not all of that is true. They actually signed him yesterday, and announced it today. And he's actually not a SS (anymore)... he is more of a 3B or 1B. Awesome, a corner infielder who hit six homers last year... GREAT. The good news is that it only took $1M to get the former AL Rookie of the Year. I think he can contribute as an off the bench utility men. Really, what do I expect.

I am excited about the other new player... outfielder John Raynor. The Bucs picked him from the Marlins in the Rule 5 draft (don't ask). In 2007, his first full professional season, he was named the South Atlantic League's MVP for batting .333 with 13 home runs, 57 RBIs and 54 steals with Greensboro. He was also named Florida's Minor League Player of the Year. His career average is .299, with 36 home runs over four seasons. In 2008, Baseball America named him the fastest baserunner in the Class AA Southern League.
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 4:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Jones wasn't Rookie of the Year, but he had a damn good season. Crosby, however, is a proven commodity. And he's proven that as a hitter, he's a pretty good fielder.
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 5:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Brant wrote:
Jones wasn't Rookie of the Year, but he had a damn good season. Crosby, however, is a proven commodity. And he's proven that as a hitter, he's a pretty good fielder.


Who was the rookie of the year?
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 5:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Marlins outfielder Chris Coghlan.
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PostPosted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 8:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here's all you need to know about baseball, and the Kansas City Royals:

Catcher Jason Kendall agrees with Royals
Eds: UPDATES with terms.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Jason Kendall agreed Friday to a $6 million, two-year contract with the Kansas City Royals and is expected to become their everyday catcher.
Kendall is a .290 hitter over his 14-year career. The 35-year-old was an All-Star in 1996, 1998 and 2000 but hit just .241 with two homers and 43 RBIs last season with Milwaukee.
He has 376 career doubles, 177 stolen bases and a .369 on-base percentage in a career that has included stops in Pittsburgh, Oakland and with the Chicago Cubs. Kendall also has been hit by 248 pitches, fifth most all-time.
The Royals did not offer a contract to Miguel Olivo, who led the team last year with 23 home runs. They released backup catcher John Buck on Thursday.

Who in their right mind agrees to pay $3 million a year to a 35-year-old catcher who proved in Pittsburgh that he had no patience with playing for a rebuilding team? And the guy gives every sign of being washed up, as evidenced by his .241 average last year. He's the weakest of singles hitters and was never great defensively. And Kansas City didn't offer a contract to a catcher who his 23 homers last year. Are they freaking insane?
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