The Pittsburgh Pirates
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Re: The Querst in Perpetuity: The Pittsburgh Pirates
If Neil Walker were from Arizona, people would like this trade. IMO of course.
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Re: The Querst in Perpetuity: The Pittsburgh Pirates
Exactly.Gunpowder wrote:If Neil Walker were from Arizona, people would like this trade. IMO of course.
DSG, I like the Don Kelly idea. But Pine-Richland is marginally more blue-collar than Mt. Lebanon, so Kelly could never be a true Pittsburgh Kid like Walker was.
Heard yesterday that Sean Rodriguez might be coming back, which wouldn't surprise me. I still can't believe that Hurdle started Rodriguez at first base in the wild-card game.
Re: The Querst in Perpetuity: The Pittsburgh Pirates
Pine-Richland is at best like a milky collar. It ain't like he's Neil Walkerinzky from Monessen.
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Re: The Querst in Perpetuity: The Pittsburgh Pirates
Like I said, marginally more so than Mt. Lebo.Gunpowder wrote:Pine-Richland is at best like a milky collar. It ain't like he's Neil Walkerinzky from Monessen.
The Pirates need to sign Matt Adams. He's from Central PA, which isn't ideal, but 1) he went to college in Western PA, 2) he's white, and 3) he weighs 260 pounds.
Re: The Querst in Perpetuity: The Pittsburgh Pirates
Important!

Only DSG and I will probably get a laugh out of that, but still worth it.

Only DSG and I will probably get a laugh out of that, but still worth it.
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Re: The Querst in Perpetuity: The Pittsburgh Pirates
I was also going to mention that the Pirates would get a minimum of three near-crying appearances from Leyland as a bonus of signing Kelly.brian wrote:Important!
Only DSG and I will probably get a laugh out of that, but still worth it.
I'm sure Kelly also already says, "yinz", so there is no reason not to bring him in.
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Re: The Querst in Perpetuity: The Pittsburgh Pirates
Hey, we didn't acknowledge Pedro Alvarez. He was non-tendered, so I guess he'll be taking his talents to, um, an American League city, I guess. End of a frustrating era. Never a popular player here, showed just enough promise to tantalize, a disaster at third base and then at first base.
I felt bad for him towards the end. Teammates talked him up, talked about how hard he worked on his defense, but he just isn't a good glove. Having to learn a new position at the highest level is a lot to ask of somebody.
I felt bad for him towards the end. Teammates talked him up, talked about how hard he worked on his defense, but he just isn't a good glove. Having to learn a new position at the highest level is a lot to ask of somebody.
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Re: The Querst in Perpetuity: The Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pirates traded Charlie Morton to Philly for a single-A pitcher. I'm bummed. Morton has always been incredibly frustrating, but he's been one of my favorite Pirates every since he got here. But he was an erratic pitcher with an injury history due a lot of money next season, so it's no surprise that he's gone. The question now is, how are they going to spend the money they just saved?
PiratesFest is going on now. It's a promotional thing they do every year at the Carnegie Science Center to drum up interest in the upcoming season. Coaches and players and broadcasters show up to meet the fans and take photos, etc. No big additions to show off this year. Instead, they jettisoned Neil Walker, one of their most popular players, along with Alvarez and Morton. Not great timing for a party.
PiratesFest is going on now. It's a promotional thing they do every year at the Carnegie Science Center to drum up interest in the upcoming season. Coaches and players and broadcasters show up to meet the fans and take photos, etc. No big additions to show off this year. Instead, they jettisoned Neil Walker, one of their most popular players, along with Alvarez and Morton. Not great timing for a party.
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Re: The Querst in Perpetuity: The Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pirates signed Ryan Vogelsong. This is pretty much the baseball equivalent of 'Gag on that cock, you lemon-stealing whore!'
A timeline: GM Cam Bonifay serves as GM of the Pirates for a few years. Does some good things, does a lot of Pirates things. Somebody goes to a game and hangs a banner: 'Face it: Cam has failed.' That's about as blunt as you can get. A week or two later, the Pirates face it and fire Bonifay.
David Littlefield is hired as Bonifay's replacement in 2001. His first big task is selling off parts before the trade deadline. He deals Jason Schmidt to the Giants for Vogelsong, Armando Rios, and John Vander Wal. Vogelsong pitches two games before hurting his elbow and undergoing Tommy John surgery. Rios plays two games before tearing his ACL. Vander Wal becomes The Other Man in the Derek Bell 'Operation Shutdown' saga.
This all comes back when hearing about Vogelsong's signing. I thought we had moved past this. Ugh.
A timeline: GM Cam Bonifay serves as GM of the Pirates for a few years. Does some good things, does a lot of Pirates things. Somebody goes to a game and hangs a banner: 'Face it: Cam has failed.' That's about as blunt as you can get. A week or two later, the Pirates face it and fire Bonifay.
David Littlefield is hired as Bonifay's replacement in 2001. His first big task is selling off parts before the trade deadline. He deals Jason Schmidt to the Giants for Vogelsong, Armando Rios, and John Vander Wal. Vogelsong pitches two games before hurting his elbow and undergoing Tommy John surgery. Rios plays two games before tearing his ACL. Vander Wal becomes The Other Man in the Derek Bell 'Operation Shutdown' saga.
This all comes back when hearing about Vogelsong's signing. I thought we had moved past this. Ugh.
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Re: The Querst in Perpetuity: The Pittsburgh Pirates
Opening Day!
I don't have a lot of things that excite me in life. So, who thought that it was a good idea to have Opening Day on the same day as Wrestlemania? I want to space out my big events. Why wasn't I consulted? (There's also a Penguins game today that I will probably miss entirely.)
Anyway, baseball! I've been so distracted by other stuff, and I'm not in a baseball mindset yet. I'll probably be excited about the start of the season in three or four days, once I realize that it's a part of my daily routine again.
And part of that lack of excitement might be due to the fact that the Pirates are going to take a step back this year. They certainly aren't going to win 98 games again. St. Louis will still be good. Chicago will be even better. And the Pirates have huge question marks at 3, 4, and 5 in their rotation. That's not a recipe for success. They'll be a good team, but I'm thinking that they'll miss the playoffs. Maybe 84 wins, something like that.
They finalized their roster this morning and added a back-up infielder I had never heard of. Cole Figueroa. Sounds interesting, tho. Math geek and numbers guy. It's easy for me to root for players like this.
Let's go Bucs.
I don't have a lot of things that excite me in life. So, who thought that it was a good idea to have Opening Day on the same day as Wrestlemania? I want to space out my big events. Why wasn't I consulted? (There's also a Penguins game today that I will probably miss entirely.)
Anyway, baseball! I've been so distracted by other stuff, and I'm not in a baseball mindset yet. I'll probably be excited about the start of the season in three or four days, once I realize that it's a part of my daily routine again.
And part of that lack of excitement might be due to the fact that the Pirates are going to take a step back this year. They certainly aren't going to win 98 games again. St. Louis will still be good. Chicago will be even better. And the Pirates have huge question marks at 3, 4, and 5 in their rotation. That's not a recipe for success. They'll be a good team, but I'm thinking that they'll miss the playoffs. Maybe 84 wins, something like that.
They finalized their roster this morning and added a back-up infielder I had never heard of. Cole Figueroa. Sounds interesting, tho. Math geek and numbers guy. It's easy for me to root for players like this.
Let's go Bucs.
Re: The Querst in Perpetuity: The Pittsburgh Pirates
Ok, I'm an instant fan of Cole Figueroa. I first had that argument with my coach in high school. I cited as my reference, Williams TS and Underwood J The Science of Hitting, 1970. Some selected illustrations here: http://regressing.deadspin.com/the-beau ... 1511889371" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
here is one:

here is one:

Who knows? Maybe, you were kidnapped, tied up, taken away and held for ransom.
Those days are gone forever
Over a long time ago
Oh yeah…
Those days are gone forever
Over a long time ago
Oh yeah…
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Re: The Querst in Perpetuity: The Pittsburgh Pirates
Yep. A fringe player confident enough about what he knows to be able to tell a star player, 'Don't listen to the coach. He's full of shit.'howard wrote:Ok, I'm an instant fan of Cole Figueroa.
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Re: The Querst in Perpetuity: The Pittsburgh Pirates
FWIW, Joe Sheehan's newsletter has the Pirates winning the division with 92 wins. The Cubs got better players over the offseason, but they weren't as good as their record last season and were incredibly lucky not to have any significant injuries, especially to their starters. Their bullpen also played above their heads.bapo! wrote:And part of that lack of excitement might be due to the fact that the Pirates are going to take a step back this year. They certainly aren't going to win 98 games again. St. Louis will still be good. Chicago will be even better. And the Pirates have huge question marks at 3, 4, and 5 in their rotation. That's not a recipe for success. They'll be a good team, but I'm thinking that they'll miss the playoffs. Maybe 84 wins, something like that.
They finalized their roster this morning and added a back-up infielder I had never heard of. Cole Figueroa. Sounds interesting, tho. Math geek and numbers guy. It's easy for me to root for players like this.
Let's go Bucs.
The Cubs have a lot of depth in the lineup, but not so much with their rotation, and their bullpen is due to regress this season.
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Re: The Querst in Perpetuity: The Pittsburgh Pirates
Reverse jinx much?Steve of phpBB wrote:FWIW, Joe Sheehan's newsletter has the Pirates winning the division with 92 wins. The Cubs got better players over the offseason, but they weren't as good as their record last season and were incredibly lucky not to have any significant injuries, especially to their starters. Their bullpen also played above their heads.bapo! wrote:And part of that lack of excitement might be due to the fact that the Pirates are going to take a step back this year. They certainly aren't going to win 98 games again. St. Louis will still be good. Chicago will be even better. And the Pirates have huge question marks at 3, 4, and 5 in their rotation. That's not a recipe for success. They'll be a good team, but I'm thinking that they'll miss the playoffs. Maybe 84 wins, something like that.
They finalized their roster this morning and added a back-up infielder I had never heard of. Cole Figueroa. Sounds interesting, tho. Math geek and numbers guy. It's easy for me to root for players like this.
Let's go Bucs.
The Cubs have a lot of depth in the lineup, but not so much with their rotation, and their bullpen is due to regress this season.
One milkshake to bring all the boys to the yard and in the darkness bind them.
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Re: The Querst in Perpetuity: The Pittsburgh Pirates
Shhh.A_B wrote:Reverse jinx much?Steve of phpBB wrote:FWIW, Joe Sheehan's newsletter has the Pirates winning the division with 92 wins. The Cubs got better players over the offseason, but they weren't as good as their record last season and were incredibly lucky not to have any significant injuries, especially to their starters. Their bullpen also played above their heads.bapo! wrote:And part of that lack of excitement might be due to the fact that the Pirates are going to take a step back this year. They certainly aren't going to win 98 games again. St. Louis will still be good. Chicago will be even better. And the Pirates have huge question marks at 3, 4, and 5 in their rotation. That's not a recipe for success. They'll be a good team, but I'm thinking that they'll miss the playoffs. Maybe 84 wins, something like that.
They finalized their roster this morning and added a back-up infielder I had never heard of. Cole Figueroa. Sounds interesting, tho. Math geek and numbers guy. It's easy for me to root for players like this.
Let's go Bucs.
The Cubs have a lot of depth in the lineup, but not so much with their rotation, and their bullpen is due to regress this season.
"He swore fluently, obscenely, and without repeating himself for just over a minute."
Mick Herron, "Down Cemetery Road"
Mick Herron, "Down Cemetery Road"
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Re: The Querst in Perpetuity: The Pittsburgh Pirates
Thanks for that, Steve. I've given baseball almost zero thought since October, so I don't have the most informed opinion right now. But I figure that all of Chicago's young studs are going to be a year older and a year better. And they have that traitor Heyward now. (And I look at St. Louis the same way that I look at the Blackhawks: I'll just assume that they'll be good until proven otherwise. That seems to have worked for many years now.)Steve of phpBB wrote:FWIW, Joe Sheehan's newsletter has the Pirates winning the division with 92 wins. The Cubs got better players over the offseason, but they weren't as good as their record last season and were incredibly lucky not to have any significant injuries, especially to their starters. Their bullpen also played above their heads.
The Cubs have a lot of depth in the lineup, but not so much with their rotation, and their bullpen is due to regress this season.
I want to note that the Pirates' regular first-baseman is John Jaso. (Michael Morse will start against left-handers.) He's never played first base before. This is the second year in a row that they're experimenting at first base. The Pedro Alvarez experiment didn't work out so well. Hopefully, this year will be better. Also, Jaso is a white guy with dreadlocks. For that reason, even if he plays adequate defense and hits .320, he will never be a fan favorite in Pittsburgh.
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Re: The Querst in Perpetuity: The Pittsburgh Pirates
If only the Cubs had the resources to make a deal for pitching later this year when they decide they need additional arms...
Re: The Querst in Perpetuity: The Pittsburgh Pirates
I felt aswirl with warm secretions.
Re: The Querst in Perpetuity: The Pittsburgh Pirates
Big game tonight! Who's watching?
I felt aswirl with warm secretions.
Re: The Querst in Perpetuity: The Pittsburgh Pirates
rass wrote:Big game tonight! Who's watching?
Im across the street...but watching basketball at a crazy Cleveland bar. Close?
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Re: The Querst in Perpetuity: The Pittsburgh Pirates
Man, you guys have had a rough time lately.
"He swore fluently, obscenely, and without repeating himself for just over a minute."
Mick Herron, "Down Cemetery Road"
Mick Herron, "Down Cemetery Road"
Re: The Querst in Perpetuity: The Pittsburgh Pirates
thanks steve
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Re: The Querst in Perpetuity: The Pittsburgh Pirates
Yeah, not exactly a brilliant observation on my part. Ranks up there with "It's raining," and "My, you're tall" and "So this is it, we're going to die."
"He swore fluently, obscenely, and without repeating himself for just over a minute."
Mick Herron, "Down Cemetery Road"
Mick Herron, "Down Cemetery Road"
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Re: The Querst in Perpetuity: The Pittsburgh Pirates
Yeah, it looks somewhat serious. But you never know until the investigation actually happens.rass wrote:shit...
Maybe he did it to retaliate for the slide that broke his leg last year?
"He swore fluently, obscenely, and without repeating himself for just over a minute."
Mick Herron, "Down Cemetery Road"
Mick Herron, "Down Cemetery Road"
Re: The Querst in Perpetuity: The Pittsburgh Pirates
stabbed in the chest
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Re: The Querst in Perpetuity: The Pittsburgh Pirates
Yeah, WTF guys.
"He swore fluently, obscenely, and without repeating himself for just over a minute."
Mick Herron, "Down Cemetery Road"
Mick Herron, "Down Cemetery Road"
Re: The Querst in Perpetuity: The Pittsburgh Pirates
Athletes in Chicago have a history of getting away with rape though so I wouldn't worry too much.
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Re: The Querst in Perpetuity: The Pittsburgh Pirates
What am I missing? I thought this was bumped because of the HR barrage to lose last night's game.brian wrote:Athletes in Chicago have a history of getting away with rape though so I wouldn't worry too much.
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Re: The Querst in Perpetuity: The Pittsburgh Pirates
Oops. My bad.A_B wrote:What am I missing? I thought this was bumped because of the HR barrage to lose last night's game.brian wrote:Athletes in Chicago have a history of getting away with rape though so I wouldn't worry too much.
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Re: The Querst in Perpetuity: The Pittsburgh Pirates
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Re: The Querst in Perpetuity: The Pittsburgh Pirates
That's a hurter.
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Re: The Querst in Perpetuity: The Pittsburgh Pirates
Thought that this thread was bumped because a McCutchen trade happened. It's only a matter of days now, right?
Re: The Querst in Perpetuity: The Pittsburgh Pirates
I always think he's younger than he is. I didn't realize Cabrera is only three years older.
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Re: The Querst in Perpetuity: The Pittsburgh Pirates
Purposely not following that.
Gonna be a hurter.
Gonna be a hurter.
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Re: The Querst in Perpetuity: The Pittsburgh Pirates
The team that deals for Cutch is going to be really telling and there's like an 80% chance this will be the right move but I get it. He seems awesome.
Re: The Querst in Perpetuity: The Pittsburgh Pirates
Cutch for Ellsbury sounds totally fair to me and I'm surprised nobody has ever proposed it before.
Re: The Querst in Perpetuity: The Pittsburgh Pirates
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Re: The Querst in Perpetuity: The Pittsburgh Pirates
What is this, Minority Report? How can he commit a crime in THE FUTURE!
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