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MLB Network rips apart Pirates 2011 season
Incase you missed Hot Stove from Wednesday night, or perhaps you don’t get the channel, here is what the analysts from MLB Network had to say about the Pirates 2011 season (P.S. It’s not pretty).
Matt Yallof: “The Pirates. Every single year. It seems to get worse. 57 wins last year. That seems difficult to do.”
Bill Ripken: “You wonder what direction they’re heading in. Our friend Clint Hurdle is taking over this club. I think he’s going to bring an attitude and a positive mentality to this club. But for me, I look at the pitching staff. In all these years that they’ve finished down to the bottom of baseball, I’m wanting to know where that number one is. We mentioned [Steven] Strasburg when we talk about the Nationals. Now, he blew out his elbow and he got hurt. But when you draft, you draft a number one. You draft some cheddar. When I look at the Pittsburgh Pirates rotation, I’m kind of wondering, ‘where’s the heat’? I’m not saying heats everything because you can pitch to spots and you can locate. When everybody on your staff is throwing 91, 92, then you drop down below 90, throwing 86, 88. There’s not that one guy that actually wows me. [Charlie] Morton throws the hardest. When you’re looking at 93 topping out, I’m wanting to know, ‘where the heat is?’ If you didn’t draft it, and you go out and you pick out other guys that are kind of throwing the same, ‘where’s the heat?’ I want somebody in that rotation that’s going to make somebody swing and miss at a fastball and maybe get yourself out of a jam instead of giving up big innings.”
Pirates projected rotation (according to MLB Network)
James McDonald (4-6, 4.02 ERA in 2010)
Paul Maholm (9-15, 5.10 ERA in 2010)
Kevin Correia (10-10 5.40 ERA in 2010)
Scott Olsen (4-8, 5.56 ERA in 2010)
Ross Ohlendorf (1-11, 4.07 ERA in 2010)
Mitch Williams: “There has to be a guy on every staff that at some point in the game, can reach back and throw the ball 95, 96. If you’ve got two outs and the bases loaded, two strikes on a hitter, you have got to have that guy that can blow that hitter up. Pittsburgh does not have that guy. They have guys that throw hitting speed.”
Matt Yallof: “You know what, they’ve had their chances to draft guys of note and guys that do what you’re taking about but they’ve missed. They’ve had high draft picks over and over. That hurts. Look at the guys they’ve passed on. They’ve missed those type of guys.”
Pitchers drafted in first round by Pirates since 2002:
2006:
Drafted – Right hand pitcher Brad Lincoln
Missed on – Left hand pitcher Clayton Kershaw, right hand pitcher Tim Lincecum, Right hand pitcher Matt Scherzer
2003:
Drafted – Left hand pitcher Paul Maholm
Missed on – Left hand pitcher John Danks, Right hand pitcher Chad Billingsley
2002:
Drafted – right hand pitcher Brian Bullington
Missed on – Right hand pitcher Zach Greinke, left hand pitcher Cole Hamels
(*As a note: Kevin McClatchy and Dave Littlefield were the General Managers during this time. Since Neal Huntington took over as GM in September of 2007, the drafting and minor league system has done a complete 180. Huntington really hasn’t gotten enough credit for what he has done so far and how much better the organization is heading.)
Harold Reynolds: “That’s the easy stuff they’ve missed on. Those are the number one picks. It’s the guys in the fifth round, six round, that your scouting is suggesting and going after. They’ve done a nice job with some players that have come up as of late (Williams: “position players”). But they’ve really missed it on the pitching.”
Ripken: “That term that comes into baseball now: Sign ability. Some of that might be their hands are tied a little bit but boy when you see that list and some of those players they’ve passed up on, wow! They’d look a lot different.”
Reynolds: “If you look back at the ‘we are family pirates’ they were international. They were: Puerto Rico, Dominican, they may not have had the funds back then but they went in those countries and developed players. I still think they had the market cornered. That’s when everybody wanted to be a pirate.”
Williams: “They won the World Series with the ugliest hats in the history of baseball.”
Yallof: “Last winning season: 1992. It’s really hard to believe.”
Notable Transactions (by MLB Network)
Additions:
First baseman – Lyle Overbay
Outfielder – Matt Diaz
Right hand pitcher – Kevin Correia
Left hand pitcher – Scott Olsen
Subtractions:
Left hand pitcher – Zach Duke
Right hand pitcher – Chan Ho Park
Outfielder – Lastings Milledge
Park signs with the Orix Buffaloes
Chan Ho Park will be finishing his career in Japan, as he signs with the Orix Buffaloes, according to Yonhap News Agency (Park earlier this year said he would like to retire in his native Korea).
After struggling with the Yankees during the first half of the 2010 season (he posted a 5.60 ERA), he was designated for assignment. The Pirates claimed the veteran off waivers and he finished the season with a 2-2 record and a respectable 3.49 ERA.
Park leaves the states with the most major league wins by a Korean born pitcher at 124. He passed Hideo Nomo on October 1st.
In 17 major league seasons with eight different teams, Park had a 4.36 ERA, 1,715 strike outs, 10 complete games and three shutouts.
Talks with Park cool off
Talks between Chan Ho Park and the Pirates have seemed to have cooled off.
Park, who is now a free agent, has been listening to offers from other teams and the right handed reliever does not appear to be at the top of the Pirates list.
“There hasn’t been a ton of dialogue,” Neal Huntington said on Tuesday. “With the quality of person that he is and what he did with us, [you] absolutely have to keep an open mind to it. But I’d say things are not imminent at all.”
The Pirates claimed Park off waivers in August. He posted a 3.49 ERA with 23 strikeouts and seven walks in 28 1/3 innings.
Chan Ho Park could be back in a Bucco Uniform
The Pirates are interested in bringing Veteran pitcher Chan Ho Park back in a Bucco uniform. There has been talk between General Manager Neal Huntington and Park’s agent.
“We’ve expressed some interest and he has expressed some interest,” Huntington said. “But again, it’s got to be the right fit for him, and it has to be the right fit for us. We’re working through what that might be or may not be.”
Park was designated for assignment by the New York Yankees on July 31, 2010 after allowing 11 earned runs in 28.1 innings pitched. He pitched much better for the Pirates though, just five earned runs in 23.1 innings. (Park also picked up his 124th win on October 1st –becoming the most winningest Asian born pitcher in major league history)
Park –who has spent 17 seasons in the big leagues– would be a huge asset for the Pirates young arms in the bullpen. If the Bucs re-sign him, it would not only to be a relief pitcher, but a mentor as well.
Towards the end of the season the Pirates players grew to like Park and celebrated with him on the field (and in the clubhouse) after he picked up his 124th win.
Park had this to say on the final day of the regular season:
“It’s a good team with a good future,” Park said. “If I play for this team next year, a .500 or winning record is going to be a big goal for this team. I want to be a part of that and have that. We have so much talent here.”
Pirates make roster moves
The Pirates made several roster moves on Wednesday.
- Wil Ledezma signed a one-year deal with the Bucs, avoiding arbitration.
- The Pirates’ outrighted Sean Gallagher, Brandon Moss and Justin Thomas to Triple-A Indy and were removed from the 40-man roster.
- Ross Ohlendorf, Jose Ascanio and Steve Pearce were taken off the 60-day Disabled list and added to the 40-man roster.
- Jeff Clement was removed from the 60-day Disabled list and outrighted to Triple-A Indy.
- Chan Ho Park was removed from the 40-man roster and is a free agent.
Park would consider re-joining the Bucs in ’11
Chan Ho Park is still undecided if he wants to return to the majors next year for his 18th season. There are many factors that would determine if he wants to pitch again in 2011.
“I have to think about it and talk about it with my family,” Park said. “I don’t know. I hope so. I’m not sure exactly where.”
What does Park think about the Pirates’ organization and would be consider coming back for the ’11 season?
“It’s a good team with a good future,” Park said. “If I play for this team next year, a .500 or winning record is going to be a big goal for this team. I want to be a part of that and have that. We have so much talent here.”
General Manager Neal Huntington said they have discussed him returning.
“We’ve talked about it,” Huntington said. “We’ll certainly talk this offseason, but at this point in time, he’s not expressed a definitive interest in coming back to us, nor have we expressed a definitive opportunity to have him come back. But out of respect to each other, we’re keeping the door open.”
“He seems like a quality guy and a guy that the players rally around,” Huntington said. “They genuinely like him. He was candid in that he didn’t know what he was getting into when he came to the Pirates, but to his credit, he’s come in here and he’s wanted to be an asset. He’s wanted to help us and he really has.”
Park has a 1.93 ERA in his past 21 appearances with the Pirates.
Park surpasses Nomo for most wins by Asian-born pitcher
The Pirates had another reason to celebrate on Friday night in Miami. Not only did the Pirates defeat the Marlins 5-1, Chan Ho Park picked up the victory –his 124th– passing Nomo for the most wins by an Asian-born pitcher in major league history.
“One hundred, twenty-four is not great for the Major Leagues, but it’s very special,” said the South Korean native, who entered Friday tied with Japan’s Hideo Nomo with 123 wins. “It makes me think about 17 years ago, when I first came [to America]. I think about the people who brought me here and helped me. I’ve met a lot of special people through my career, and today, that means a lot.”
Upon entering the clubhouse, Park was doused with beer and celebrated with the Pirates team. He was given the lineup card and game used ball and Park even decided to keep everything, from his socks to his underwear –which was soaked in beer– as a memento of the milestone moment.
“Obviously, that means much, much more than a couple of weeks ago when I had the last win,” said Park, who tied Nomo back on Sept. 12. “Honestly, I thought it was going to be tough to get another one this season. Now that I’ve made it, it’s very special. It’s great for my family. And it’s very special for my fans in Korea.”
Even players of the team were excited and happy to share this moment with Park.
“To be a part of that was quite a highlight of my baseball career so far,” said Daniel McCutchen, who pitched the first four innings on Friday. “He came in and dominated. He’s the story of the day. That’s a huge accomplishment for him and his country.”
Dominated, he did. Park pitched three innings not allowing a hit or run and struck out six.
“He wanted it,” Russell said. “He was locked in. We were trying to get him that extra one and it was awesome. He threw the ball great tonight. I can’t be more proud of him.”
Two long balls help Pirates defeat fish 5-1
The Pirates defeated the Fish 5-1 on Friday night. And with just two games remaining on the season, the Bucs aren’t finishing the season without a fight.
The Pirates finished the month of September 12-14 with a team batting average of .255. They scored a season-high 123 runs, as well as season-high doubles (53) and triples (7). The pitching staff’s ERA was the second lowest of the season (4.38) and picked up a season-high 12 wins striking out 180 batters.
Record aside; we are seeing a lot of good things coming from the team.
On Friday night, three of the five runs scored came from the long ball. Pedro Alvarez hit a line drive monster in the second inning tying the game at one and extending his hitting streak to 11-games.
“He hit that ball hard,” Russell said. “He really did.”
Alvarez now has 64 RBI since he was called up on June 16th –the most of any Major League Rookie.
Chris Snyder hit a two-run homer in the sixth, giving the Pirates a 3-1 lead –breaking his 0-for-18 streak.
Daniel McCutchen –who started in place of Paul Maholm–, pitched four innings allowing one run on five hits, walked one and struck out two.
“September wasn’t all that great, so to end on a positive note is good,” McCutchen said. “I know they’re a very aggressive ballclub and needed to stay out of the middle of the plate. For the most part, I did that. When I needed the big out, I got it.”
Chan Ho Park pitched three innings allowing neither runs nor hits and struck out six. He picked up the win –his 124th– passing Nomo for most wins by an Asian born pitcher.
The Pirates pick up their 17 win on the road this season. One more victory keeps them from tying the Mets for the worst record by a club playing 81 road games.
I missed the game due to yet another wedding. Thankfully i tivoed it and watched it when I got home. Here is a picture of me all dolled up.
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Kristy Robinson
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