I grew up rooting for the Buccos; Andy Van Slyke, Barry Bonds, Bobby Bo, Jeff King, Jay Bell, Chico Lind, Don Slaught, Spanky LaValliere, Orlando Merced, Al Martin, Turner Ward, Jason Kendall, Brian Giles, Tony Womack, Rob Mackowiack, Jason Bay and Freddy Sanchez.
I wanted to give these young guys a chance to prove themselves. I really did.
I didn't want to say anything negative, I wanted to give them a year to prove themselves.
But after 17 consecutive road losses, I can't keep my mouth shut anymore.
Don't get me wrong, I'm used to extremely pathetic performances from the Pirates, but I haven't seen anything this vile since Smalls' first day at the sandlot. Since Pedro Alvarez is so enamored by a hat that is too big, maybe he should go all the way and purchase Smalls' large brimmed fish hat off Ebay.
In Pittsburgh we are used to the sporting void that takes place from the end of the NHL season until the Steelers begin training camp. And 2010 is no different.
17 straight years of losing and the 18th year in progress, Pirates baseball is a joke. I was born in 1986, and faintly remember the winning teams of the early 90s; but I was still too young to have really enjoyed and soaked in a winning Pirates team. Little did I know I would not see another winning team before I turned 25.
Blame the Nuttings, blame McClatchy, Huntington, Littlefield, Bonifay, whomever you want to blame, go ahead. It's not going to matter. Yes this organization is run by the real-life version of Major Leagues Rachel Phelps, but at this stage it really doesn't matter.
Ok, so you say that the Pirates have the young talent to be competitive by 2014; McCutchen, Alvarez, Walker, Tabata and Lincoln. That is true, they all have talent, which is evident by their quick ascents into the majors. But only one of those aforementioned players has exhibited major league skill in their short time in the bigs; McCutchen. He is going to be an All-Star for years to come, that is pretty much a safe bet. The others, while having talent, still need to show they are capable of playing at the big league level. It is definately too early to judge them, but all I am saying is that, while they have talent, talent alone doesn't necessarily equate to wins for the organization.
Ok, so let's say I'm on board with they young guys on the roster, you say we just need an ownership group to open their wallets and sign free agents. We did that last offseason when we got the now minor leaguer Aki Iwamura for $4.5 million per year. I'd say that shows a willingness to spend money.
They only problem is, even if the Nuttings spend money on players, what player in the prime of his career, who could mesh with these young players and turn this team around, would choose to come to Pittsburgh and waste his most valuable years toiling in mediocrity. Until the Pirates can prove they can win, we will be stuck with year-in-and-year-out signings of the D.J. Carrasco and Bobby Crosbys of the world.
If you are the Pirates and you need to win to potentially draw in free-agents whom your owner are hypothetically willing to open up their banking accounts for, how do you expect to win with the Romeo Crennel emotionless John Russell on the bench. I don't even know if this guy is qualified to be selling white walls with Lou Brown.
Not to mention you top pitchers are Zach Duke and Paul Maholm. Guys who would be very servicable as #3-5 starters. Not the "aces" of the staff. Charlie Morton is supposed to have the best stuff on the staff. Oh yeah? It's kinda hard to see when that 1-9 record and 9.35 ERA is staring you in the face.
So if the Pirates are going to be hard pressed to sign top free agents, the winning is going to have to be produced internally. There's no doubting there should be hope for these young guys to turn this organization around, but without their success, we could be in for another 10 years of losing. Atleast.
It's a wonder that after 17 years of losing and annually drafting players in the Top-15, that it has taken this long for there to be hope with young Pirate draftees.
Let's take a look at the Pirates first round picks from 1994-2010.
1994 - (11) Mark Farris SS - Never made it past Double A
Notable players drafted after Farris: Nomar Garciaparra (12), Paul Konerko (13), Jason Varitek (14)
1995 - (10) Chad Hermansen SS - Second shortstop selected in as many years. Pirates' 1999 Minor League Player of the Year. As useful to the team as Pee-Wee Herman. Traded to Cubs in 2002.
Notable players drafted after Hermansen: Roy Halladay (17), Carlos Beltran (49)
1996 - (1) Kris Benson P - Expected to the be savior of the pitching staff. Thought to be the Pirates' most likely chance of a Cy Young since Doug Drabek. 5 seasons with the team. Best season was 2000, in which he pitched the best game of his career: a 3-hit complete game. Most famous for having the hottest wife in baseball. Anna Benson threatened to sleep with the entire Mets roster if Kris ever cheated on her. She hates PETA, gun control organizations, and Michael Moore.
Notable players drafted after Benson: Jimmy Rollins (46), Roy Oswalt (684), Barry Zito (1586)
1997 - (8) J.J. Davis OF - 19 career Major League hits.
Notable players drafted after Davis: Lance Berkman (16), Jayson Werth (22), Chase Utley (76), Michael Young (149), Tim Hudson (185), Cliff Lee (246)
Yeah I'll say that the 1997 draft was a failure.
1998 - (15) Clint Johnston 1B - Wikipedia doesn't even have anything about him.
Notable players drafted after Johnston : Brad Lidge (17), C.C. Sabathia (20), Adam Dunn (50), Barry Zito (83), Matt Holliday (210), Mark Teixeira (265), Ryan Braun (691)
1999 - (8) Bobby Bradley P - No stats found
Notable players drafted after Bradley: Barry Zito (9), Ben Sheets (10), Alex Rios (19), Carl Crawford (52), John Lackey (68), Justin Morneau (89), Shane Victorino (194)
Some guy name Pujols was taken in the 13th round with the 402nd pick. Has to be in the running with the Yankees buying Babe Ruth from rival Boston for only $100,000 as the biggest steal in baseball history.
2000 - (19) Sean Burnett P - Pirates' Minor League Player of the Year 2001, 2002. Carolina League Top Prospect 2002. Debuted in Pittsburgh in 2004, went 5-5 with 5.02 ERA. Missed entire 2005 season because of arm surgeries. Traded to Washington in 2009. Career 8-12 record, 4.22 ERA and 136 K.
Notable players drafted after Burnett: Grady Sizemore (75), Cliff Lee (105), Mewelde Moore (109), Brandon Webb (249), Jason Bay (645), Ian Kinsler (879), Michael Vick (887).
2001 - (8) John Van Benschoten P - Name longer than MLB career. During junior year in college, led NCAA with 31 HRs. Of course the Pirates turned him into a pitcher. Has all-time MLB record for highest career ERA with over 75 innings pitched. Career 2-13 record, 9.20 ERA and 65K.
Notable players drafted after Benfranklinschoten: David Wright (38), Ryan Howard (140), Adam Bostick (182).
2002 - (1) Bryan Bullington P - Pitched a total of 18.3 innings for the Pirates. Has amassed a career record of 0-6 with a 5.57 ERA.
Notable players drafted after Bullington: B.J. Upton (2), Zack Greinke (6), Prince Fielder (7), Scott Kazmir (15), Cole Hamels (17), Matt Cain (25).
Yeah we missed the boat when it came to first round pitchers in '02. We should of atleast taken a flyer on the mayor from Cincinnati.
2003 - (8) Paul Maholm P - Servicable pitcher for the Pirates since 2005. Doesn't quite fit the billing of a first rounder, nor a top-end starter. 42-48 career record, 4.27 ERA. He did, however, strikeout Billy Crystal, so that's something.
Notable player drafted after Maholm: Chad Billingsley (24), Carlos Quentin (29), David Aardsma (22).
2004 - (11) Neil Walker C - Pittsburgh native finally made what appears to be a permanent leap to the bigs. Currently concussed.
Notable players drafted after Walker: Billy Butler (14), Huston Street (40), Dustin Pedroia (65).
2005 - (14) Andrew McCutchen OF - Presumably the Pirates' 2010 All-Star representative. Should be the first of many All-Star appearences for the young center fielder. The only bright spot on the Pirates' roster from opening day til now. Can't complain about this pick, looks like the Buccos did something right for once.
Notable players drafted after McCutchen: Jacoby Ellsbury (23), Matt Garza (25), Clay Buchholz (42).
2006 - Brad Lincoln P - Made his Major League debut the day after Nationals' phenom beat the Pirates. Currently owns a 0-2 record, 6.00 ERA with only 8 Ks.
Notable player drafted after Lincoln: Clayton Kershaw (7), Tim Lincecum (10), Joba Chamberlain (41).
Lincecum's 2 Cy Young's would be nice.
2007 - (4) Daniel Moskos P - The infamous too cheap to sign the best prospect available draft. Pirates passed on Matt Weiters because they felt Moskos was easier and cheaper to sign. Promoted to Triple-A Indianapolis on June 24. 17 saves at Double-A Altoona.
Notable players drafted after Moskos: Weiters (5), Jason Heyward (14), Rick Porcello (27).
2008 - (2) Pedro Alvarez 3B - Almost weren't able to sign the former Vandy star. Went to the 11th hour, but the Pirates' brass finally manned up and signed Alvarez to the highest signing bonus in team history. Is being groomed to be, along with McCutchen, to be the face of this organization. Only time will tell if he lives up to all of his hype. Let's hope so.
Notable players drafted after Alvarez: Buster Posey (5), Gordon Beckham (8), Justin Smoak (11).
2009 - (4) Tony Sanchez C - Named to the All-Star Future's Game and then in typical Pirates/Clippers curse gets beaned in the face and breaks his cheekbone.
2010 - Jameson Taillon - Compared to fellow Texan pitchers Josh Beckett and Roger Clemens. Will most likely pitch for Boston. Actually Canadian. Highest drafted Canadian citizen in MLB history. His committment to play for Rice University might hamper the Pirates' chances of signing him. Once again we come to the idea that no matter how much money you offer someone, they might not want to spend their time wasting away for a perennial loser.
Steelers' report to training camp on July 30.
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