Results tagged ‘ royals ’
Pirates select three players in Rule 5 draft
The Pirates selected infielder Josh Rodriguez with the first overall pick in the Rule 5 draft on Thursday from the Cleveland Indians.
Rodriquez, who can play shortstop, second base, third base and outfield, has the opportunity to make the Pirates opening day roster for 2011.
It cost the Bucs $50,000 to acquire Rodriguez and must remain on the 25-man roster the entire season or he will be offered back to the Indians.
If the Pirates do not sign an upgrade for shortstop, he could be used as a utility guy.
“It’s an intriguing combination,” Huntington said. “He does a lot of different things well. He just fills a nice need for us right now. We like him as a guy to compete to make our club as a middle-[infield] utility player with upside to potentially become an everyday player.”
Rodriguez batted .293 with 12 homers and 46 RBIs in 86 games with Triple-A Columbus during the 2010 season.
The Pirates did lose right-hander Nathan Adcock by the Kansas City Royals (5th overall).
Adcock was acquired by the Seattle Mariners in the Jack Wilson trade in 2009. He went 11-7 with a 3.38 ERA in 27 games (26 starts) with high Class A in Bradenton, Florida.
“He has an average fastball with the ability to get groundballs, and there is a chance that he’ll stick,” Huntington said. “We knew by not protecting him that there was a pretty good chance of him being selected. We’re disappointed to lose him, but we couldn’t protect them all.”
The Pirates also selected two players in the Triple-A portion of the Rule 5 draft: center fielder Brad Chalk from the Padres’ and Catcher Travis Scott from the Angels.
Chalk spent 2010 with three levels: Class A where he went .191 in 26 games, Double-A where he went 214 in 65 games and Triple-A where he finished the season with a 313 average in 27 games.
“He’s a former high pick that still showed some tools,” Huntington said of Chalk, a second-round choice in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft. “We figured he was worth the acquisition cost.”
Scott was with High A and Double-A for an injury plagued 2010 season where he hit a combined 254 in 37 games.
The Bucs did not select any players in the other levels of the Rule 5 draft.
Bullington traded to the Japan Carp’s
The Royals have released former Pirates first rounder Bryan Bullington so that he can sign with the Hiroshima Carp.
Bullington, 30, was signed first overall in the 2002 draft by the Bucs. He has a 5.62 ERA in 81 2/3 innings for the Pirates, Royals, Indians and Blue Jays.
Bucs rotation Duke-less, rumors on De La Rosa & Greinke
Pirates Beat Reporter Jenifer Langosch’s weekly chat where she discusses the Bucs rotation without Duke, as well as De La Rosa and Greinke rumors. You can read the entire chat transcript here.
With the release of Zach Duke, at this point, how do you see the Pirates’ starting rotation setting up for 2011?
It’s hard to project a 2011 rotation before we know if the Pirates are successful in their pursuits to add at least one starting pitcher this winter. The outcome of those offseason attempts will determine the rotation’s makeup.
That said, three internal candidates appear set: James McDonald, Paul Maholm and Ross Ohlendorf. Other internal candidates include Brad Lincoln, Daniel McCutchen, Charlie Morton, Brian Burres and Jeff Karstens. Kevin Hart may be ready to pitch by the start of the season, but he may fall into a relief role after missing last season.
There are reports that the Pirates are targeting Jorge De La Rosa, who is also being looked at by teams with bigger budgets and who is likely to get upwards of $11 million. What is so attractive about a pitcher who has only shown two seasons of marginally above-average baseball at the age of 29?
This hits precisely on the debates that the Pirates will be having all offseason. It’s no secret that the Pirates need starting pitching help and would prefer to bring in at least one new pitcher instead of relying solely on improvements from their internal options. This isn’t the year to be looking for pitching, however. Outside of Cliff Lee, the options aren’t all that appealing.
It’s because of the lack of depth in the market that you are hearing about the Pirates’ interest in someone like De La Rosa. It’s also because of this depth that you are hearing De La Rosa’s demands are higher than he might really be worth. De La Rosa’s value increases simply by a lack of better options. And my guess is that if he wants to command more than a three-year deal with a salary of at least $11 million a year, some desperate club will give it to him.
Now, is De La Rosa really worth that money? His best season came in ’09, which is also the only year in which he has thrown more than 130 innings. He’s prone to giving up too many walks and homers, but he could easily be the Pirates’ strikeout leader if inserted into the rotation. Remember, too, that De La Rosa has been pitching in hitter-friendly Coors Field in recent years.
He put up strong numbers in the second half of the year — opponents scored more than three earned runs off him only once in his final 14 starts — but consistency hasn’t been De La Rosa’s trademark through the years. I don’t think there’s any question that the lefty would improve the Pirates’ rotation. However, the Pirates have to ultimately decide if his price tag is really worth the long-term investment.
I’ve been watching and reading a lot of rumors, and one rumor mentioned in passing is how Zack Greinke fits better in a smaller market, and Pittsburgh seems the kind of club he could make a difference with. Any chance we could trade for Greinke?
It’s highly doubtful. There’s no question that the Pirates would love to add Greinke to their rotation. But the cost is probably too high. The Royals are not in a position where they have to deal their ace, so they have the luxury of asking a lot for him. For a pitcher of Greinke’s caliber, that means looking for high-ceiling prospects or young players.
It just doesn’t seem to make sense for the Pirates to give up one of their best prospects for Greinke, who is set to become a free agent after the 2012 season. The Pirates wouldn’t have an issue paying Greinke the $27 million he’s due the next two years, but do you pay that and mortgage some of your best Minor League talents for a potential two-year rental? It doesn’t make long-term sense.
And then there’s this: Greinke has a partial no-trade clause. While it’s believed that Greinke put a lot of big-market clubs on that list, Pittsburgh could always be on it as well.
Hurdle interviewed by Bucs for Managerial position
The Pirates interviewed Clint Hurdle for the vacant managerial job on Thursday afternoon. He was the first to be interviewed in the past three weeks and the eighth to be considered for the job.
Hurdle was unavailable to be interviewed until the Rangers finished their run at the World Series (He is the Rangers Hitting Coach).
Hurdle, 53, was previously the Colorado Rockies manager from 2002 until he was dismissed during the 2009 season. Hurdle lead the Rockies to the World Series in 2007 and finished with a record of 534-625 during the eight seasons as skipper.
Drafted by the Royals in the first round of the 1975 players draft, two years later made his major league debut. Hurdle’s career spanned 12 years and he played five different positions. He spent time in a Royals, Reds, Mets and Cardinals uniform and finished his career with a .259 average.
Hurdle’s managerial career started in 1988 when he managed the Class A St. Lucie Mets. He managed the Double-A and Triple-A teams for a combined four years before being hired by the Rockies’ in 1994 as the organization’s Minor League hitting coordinator. He was then named hitting coach in 1997.
Hurdle is also rumored to be interviewing with the Mets for their open managerial position as well.
The Pirates could make a decision by Friday. Jeff Banister is also still in consideration for the position. He ended the 2010 season as the Pirates bench coach after Gary Varsho was fired. Banister has been in the Pirates organization for the past 25 years.
Macha no longer being considered as Pirates skipper
The Pirates are no longer considering Ken Macha as their potential manager according to Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette.
Ken Macha said General Manager Neal Huntington told him he was no longer under consideration.
“They need to get a young guy in there,” said Macha.
“It would have been nice. I live here in Pittsburgh, I was a Pirate at one time. It would have been nice to be at home and manage my hometown team.”
Of the seven candidates interviewed, Macha is the third name to be taken off the list. Eric Wedge was hired by the Mariners as skipper and John Gibbons is remaining bench coach with the Royals. Bo Porter, Jeff Banister, Dale Sveum and Carlos Tosca are the only remaining candidates that were interviewed for the position.
Despite not being hired by the Pirates, Macha wishes the pirates well and even has an idea for what kind of manager the Bucs need.
“I hope they get it turned around,” he said.
For that to happen, Macha said, the team needs a manager whose philosophy pervades the entire organization.
“Tony La Russa is a stickler on details,” he said as an example. “You’re going to play good defense. You’re going to hustle every ball out. He likes guys that can hit home runs.”
Gibbons withdrawls, Pena added to candidate list?
The Kansas City Star reported on Thursday that John Gibbons has withdrawal his name from the Pirates’ managerial Candidates. He will remain as the Royals bench coach.
There has been no reason why Gibbons has withdrawn but, according to Rob Biertempfel of the Trib, he has not been contacted by the Pirates since his interview on October 11th.
“I haven’t heard a word since my interview,” said Gibbons.
Gibbons was surprised the Pirates’ were interested in him as a potential manager of the Bucs.
“It came out of the blue,” said Gibbons. “I’d read that John Russell got let go, so I knew there was an opening. I was kind of hoping I’d get considered.”
“They have some good, young talent,” Gibbons said. “The future looks bright.”
Yankees’ bench coach, Tony Pena, is a likely candidate for the managerial job according to sources. He is ineligible to interview until after the playoff run is over (The Yankees are currently down 3-2 to the Rangers).
Since John Russell was fired on October 4th, the Pirates interviewed seven candidates in 10 days for the position.
The list includes: John Gibbons, Dale Sveum, Carlos Tosca, Jeff Banister, Bo Porter and Ken Macha. Eric Wedge was also interviewed but signed as the Mariners new skipper.
There have not been any interviews in the past week. General Manager Neal Huntington told the trib on Wednesday: “The managerial search is an ongoing process. We continue to do due diligence on candidates and are considering additional interviews.”
John Gibbons interviews with Pirates
On Monday, John Gibbons, the current bench coach for the Kansas City Royals, interviewed with the Bucs for the managerial job.
“Gibby” spent four seasons as the Manager of the Toronto Blue Jays from 2004-2008. In 2006, Gibbsons’ and the Blue Jays finished the season in second place (87-75) –the first time placing higher than third since 1993. He was fired in June of 2008 and finished with a record of 305-305.
Gibbons has had several controversies with players (Dave Bush in 2005, Shea Hillenbrand and Ted Lilly in 2006 and Frank Thomas in 2008) while serving as the Blue Jays Manager.
Gibby, 48, was selected by the Mets in the 24th round of the 1980 Draft. He retired in 1990 due to injuries with a .220 average, 11 home runs and two RBI.
Rob Dibble: To female fans “There’s no talking in baseball!”
I’m sure by now, everyone has heard about what a big idiot Rob Dibble (Washington Nationals’ Analyst) is. If you didn’t hear about what he said about “Female Fans” here is exactly what he said on-air during the Nationals vs Marlins game on August 12th.
Those ladies right behind there, they haven’t stopped talking the whole game,” Rob Dibble said in the sixth inning of Wednesday night’s Nats broadcast. “They have some conversation going on. Right here,” he said, circling the offenders. “There must be a sale tomorrow going on here or something….Their husbands are going man, don’t bring your wife next time.”
“All right Bob, now they’re back there, they’re eating ice cream and talking at the same time,” Dibble noted in the top of the eighth.
“I just got an e-mail that said there’s a lot of women who come to the games — while their husbands are the ones at home — because they love this game,” Carpenter noted, briefly touching base with the 21st century. “Tread carefully, Mr. Dibble.”
“My wife loves to come to the game, but they’re right there, still talking,” Dibble countered.
This. Makes. Me. So. Angry!
After outrage from female fans and females that work in the business, Dibble did “apologize” saying this:
My mother was and continues to be my biggest fan. She has been there since I was eight years old playing Little League in Southington, Connecticut, shouting encouragement from the stands.
I’ll never forget 20 years ago during the NCLS; I thought I was on the top of my game, having played in my first All-Star game earlier that summer. But my mom said to me, “Rob you’ve got a good arsenal, but you still need a strikeout pitch.”
Mom was right, of course, and she remains as insightful a student of the game as I have ever known.
Likewise, my wife not only comes to every Nats game, but also scores every pitch, and genuinely feels it when her team makes an error or loses the game.
My 21-year-old daughter, who against my wishes, wears her Coco Crisp Red Sox Jersey to Yankee Stadium, does it to show pride and respect for her team.
That’s the great thing about baseball. No matter who you are or where you’re from, you can – and should – have a passion for the game and for the celebration of the game by its legions of fans in the stands. Those are the values I learned in Southington, and they are part of who I am today.
The game of baseball transcends race, sex, ethnicity, and economic status. Everyone can be a fan of this game and that’s why it remains our national pastime.
As a former player and a current broadcaster, I love baseball. Encouraging new fans and building upon our audience is essential to the future of the game. That’s why I host a national baseball radio show five days a week.
And it’s why I volunteer my time at various clinics and seminars throughout the year, to help bring baseball into the lives of new fans.
The other night I made an off-handed comment, the meaning of which may have been misconstrued beyond what was said. If any fan of this great game took offense, then he or she should know that this was neither my intention nor my history in the game.
I have had the privilege of knowing a great many fans of all backgrounds who are students of the game. Many of baseball’s most insightful fans, television viewers, and callers to my radio show are women.
And just like my mom in 1990, they know what they’re talking about.
I can’t help but bring this issue up and put my two sense in. Guys just don’t understand the issue woman have in the sports world. I have been a sports gal my whole entire life. Growing up I played softball and soccer year round. I also tried other sports but failed. (Gymnastics, Tennis, Track, Volleyball, etc.)
More importantly, I have LOVED watching Baseball, (my passion) football, hockey, soccer, tennis, golf. You name it, I watch it. Nothing compares to my love and passion for the game of baseball though. The most frustrating thing is that Rob Dibble said what most guys think. I know there are some guys out there that respect women in the industry. But sadly, a lot don’t.
I have a season ticket to the Pirates. I have only missed a handfull of games this season. I go early and watch both teams take batting pratice and warm-up. Out of 162 games, I’m at 150 of them. (That’s not even including road trips to other stadiums) I go to the game by myself. Most of my friends don’t really love baseball the way I do and to be honest I hate more than anything sitting next to someone who is talking and playing on their phone and not paying attention to the game. If I didn’t love this game, why on earth would I spend and arm and a leg for my seat? Why would I make it to at least 150 games a year? Why would I go to games alone if I didn’t understand the game of baseball?
It never fails, every game I get asked at least once what player I’m dating. Okay, maybe I get it a little. I sit a few rows behind the Pirates dugout, I’m alone, I’m a girl. And don’t get me wrong, it’s a compliment to be considered a ”baseball wife” but I’m not! Nor would I ever be! (No offense to the players.) Why can’t I just be a baseball fan, watching the game I love? I’m assumed to be either a wife/girlfriend or a Pro-Ho. (which I would never be either)
Normally, it’s men that ask the question. Then its followed by a few quiz style questions. ”Oh Yeah? Well, then who is the best hitter on the Padres? or, how long has Pedro been a Pirate? or, Who’s pitching against the Pirates tonight?” These are just a few of the questions I have to answer every single game. (Which I do, correctly. Then they feel like an idiot and I walk away.)
Then there are woman at games, that can be just as rude. (Aren’t we suppose to support each other?) Just because I’m an attractive girl doesn’t mean i’m going after your ballplayer or that I go to games just to try to snag one up. I know there are girls out there like that. Call me crazy but I want more out of my life than that.
To the women who are girlfriends, or wives. I hope to not have offended you. Some of the players are really great guys. Some of the ones I have gotten the oppurtunity to talk to and meet were really cool. And yes, I will admit that some of the players are very handsome and look very good in their uniform. But I’m not that kind of gal and I don’t want that kind of life. Some of the wives do great things with charity events and I have nothing but respect for that.
I just get so frustrated because I want to work in the industry. I want to be a part of this great, great game that I love. I hope that one day women like myself won’t be quizzed or assumed to be a girlfriend or a pro-ho.
Metsgrrl sums it up perfectly:
I wonder if Rob Dibble knows how many times women get looked at funny for keeping score. I wonder if Rob Dibble wonders how hard it is for female fans to have to continually defend their love of baseball as being about the game, and not about cute guys in tight uniforms. I wonder if Rob Dibble thought about what any teenage girls who were watching the game… and heard that. He just gave fuel to the fire of every sexist clod out there who thinks that women are dumb and can’t understand baseball and can’t possibly be at the game because they want to be. No one ever looks at a man and thinks “he must be here with his girlfriend”. It is hard enough to have a conversation with a guy at a game who assumes you are there because you are with a guy.
Here are some more comments:
Did you hear that, guys? Don’t bring your wife to baseball games! She might talk through the whole thing, which she probably doesn’t understand anyway, and like, spend all your money and stuff!
Thanks for the warning, Rob. It’s a good thing all the MALE corporate jerkoffs I see at Wrigley yakking on their Blackberries talk about nothing but OBP and the minor league draft, right? Hey, it’s a good thing they don’t let women work outside the home or drive cars or anything-imagine how much they’d have to talk about then.
Ultimately, though, I couldn’t ignore it. The fact is that this is my life. I am a woman who is a baseball fan. No, wait. I’m more than that. I am a woman who is a baseball writer. I’m a woman who is a baseball writer who runs the best and most successful Orioles blog on the internet. I am recognized by both local and out-of-town sports media as a knowledgeable source on the Baltimore Orioles.I am a woman who, if seated behind home plate at a Nationals game, would get circled by Rob Dibble and called out for gossiping about an upcoming sale while the men were trying to watch baseball.
Around the Ballparks 07/28
- The Indians traded Jhonny Peralta to the Tigers for LHP Giovanna Soto.
- The Angels Joel Pineiro will be out six to eight weeks (strained left oblique) He was a late scratch on Wed after sustaining a left oblique strain while warming up in the bullpen.
Noteable players on the DL this season (with abdominal or oblique injuries)
MIL – Yovanni Gallardo (RHP)
TEX – Tommy Hunter (RHP)
SD – Mat Latos (RHP)
TEX – Cliff Lee (LHP)
BAL – Brian Roberts (2B)
SD – Mike Adams (RHP)
SF – Jeremy Affeldt (LHP)
NYM – Rod Barajas (C)
PHI – Shane Victorino (CF)
- Derek Lee rejected a trade to the Angeles yesterday. Lee “agonized” over the decision about whether to accept the trade but he decided his family came first.
“When the trade was presented to me, I felt for me and my family the best thing to do was to stay here,” Lee said after the Cubs’ 8-1 loss to the Astros. “That was a decision we made. Jim and I had a great conversation about it. That was the decision.”
“It just shows the kind of guy he is,” pitcher Randy Wells said. “He’s a great guy, great teammate and a valuable asset. Without a guy like him on your team, you never know where you’re going to be, and not just on the field but in the clubhouse. He’s the guy everybody looks up to and he walks in the room and everybody perks up. As far as where we’re at right now, that’s huge that he stays.”
- The Nationals have placed Stephen Strasburg on the 15-day disabled list for shoulder stiffness.
“They’re taking every precaution with me,” he said. “It’s doing great already. [I'm] making big strides … and when the time comes, I’m going to be ready to go.”
- The Giants have won 17 of their last 21 games and Buster Posey extended his hitting streak to 21 games.
- Giants closer Brian Wilson was fined $1,000 for his orange cleats. They are the flashy (but cool in my opinion) he wore at the All-Star Game. Marlins Manager Rodriques complained about the cleats, calling them “a little too bright, too flashy.” During pregame Brian colored in 50 percent of the cleat black with a sharpie.
“I’m going to keep wearing them, but I’ve changed them to 50 percent black for the guidelines, and you guys can attest to that,” said Wilson, holding up one shoe. “I’ve got pretty good eyes. I can eyeball 50 percent. I don’t think they’re going to be nit-picky about 53 percent not black. I’m making an effort.”
“The fact that he thinks these shoes throw 97-100 with cut might be a little far-fetched,” Wilson said. “I guess we should probably have these checked for performance-enhancing cleats.”
- The Orioles hire Buck Showalter as their manager -MLB
- The Royals traded OF Scott Podsednik to the Dodgers for two minor leaguers, Lucas May (C) and Elisaul Pimentel (RHP)
- The Rangers placed Ian Kinsler on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left groin. The club called up (1B/OF) Mitch Moreland from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
- Ben Sheets in out for the remainder of the season with a torn flexor tendon in his right elbow.
“He’ll be missed both on the field and off the field,” Geren said. “He’s been a great teammate for a lot of the young guys. A lot of them looked up to him for his competitiveness and, off the field, he was just a pleasant guy to be around.”
“The whole year’s been frustrating,” Sheets said. “From where I was before spring, it’s never really taken any jumps you always hear about. To say I felt good for extended periods of time would be false. I felt good here and there — a couple innings here, a couple innings there, but nothing sustained throughout the year.”
- Dan Uggla hit his 143rd Career Home Run, ties Mike Lowell for Marlins franchise leading record. It is his sixth homerun in his last six games.
- Cardinals are 39-10 this season after scoring in the first inning.
- The Chicago White Sox are 17-1 at home since June 9th.
- Roy Halladay pitched his eigth complete game of the season. He gave up 6H, 1ER, 9K, 114 pitches. The Phillies have won seven straight games and 10 straight victories at home.
Doc (Last 5 home Starts) 4-0, 0.43 ERA, 38/4 K/BB, 0.83 WHIP
- The Tigers have lost nine straight road games.
- Joey Votto (last eight games) .471 AVG, .853 SLG, 4HR, 10RBI
News and Notes
Just a few news and notes from last night before I head to the ballpark this afternoon. =)
- Starting pitching comparison (through 19 starts)
D. Gooden (NYM) G. Maddux (ATL) J. Johnson (FLA)
YEAR: 1985 1995 2010
RECORD: 12-3 12-1 10-3
ERA: 1.78 1.71 1.62
Josh Johnson hasn’t given up more than 3 + ER since May 8th.
- Reds, Edison Volquez took the mound yesterday for the first time since June 1, 2009. (Rehab process and suspension for violating MLB’s performance enhancing drug policy.)
He went 6.0 IP, 3H, R, ER, 2BB, 9K, WP- (1-0)
- HotStove- Dodgers could look to move Matt Kemp
- Baseball should retire Roberto Clemente’s No. 21. -StarTelegram
- Pirates went 10 for 21 with RISP in last nights game vs Houston (12-6 W) It was the first time the bucs have had 10 hits with RISP since Aug 9, 2005 at Colorado.
- Ever wonder what the Pirates visitors clubhouse looks like? @alysonfooter (media for the Houston Astros) took a video. It’s pretty cool. Check it out here
- AJ Burnett embarrassed after cutting hands during clubhouse tantrum -MLBFanhouse
Burnett (since June 1st) 8 Starts:
RECORD: 1-6
ERA: 8.10 (Highest ERA in MLB since June 5th)
IP/START: 4.2
OPP AVG: .306
HR ALLOWED: 10
- Wainwright carries cards, stays perfect at home -ESPN
Wainwright this season at home:
10 starts, 10-0, 1.31 ERA, .193 opp avg
- Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe Torre undecided about managing next year -ESPN
- Red Sox, Lowell: Sox won’t release me -ESPN
- Which Pirates pitchers are getting taken advantage of most by basestealers? Here are the Stats: Throwing out runners 101 -BucsBits
- Royals Eric Hosmer has been promoted to Double-A. He hit .354, 29(2B), 6(3B), 7HR, 51 RBI in High-A.
- Post All-Star break blog about Erik Kratz and his choice to stay with the Pirates -Isthisthingon
- Jeff Bagwell reflects after his first game at hitting coach -twitvid
Happy 70th Birthday to Joe Torre!!!!
Kristy Robinson
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