Comments on: Pittsburgh Pirates Prospect Watch 7/6/10

By: Randy Linville

Randy Linville — Mon, 21 May 2012 00:13:00 +0000

I hear you and I don’t disagree – Barmes and Barajas might well have been the best outside options available based on their career level performance. But if all the FO is doing is looking at player performance history to determine if they should sign someone, they are doing the owners, the players and the fans a great disservice. I’m pretty sure I could sign players simply based on that. What we need – what they should be doing, what I would think they would be doing – is some kind of projection as to how that past performance combined with their age, the ball park, the expected performance of other players on the team (etc etc) will translate into the coming season. How many veterans have come through Pittsburgh on this FO’s watch only to flame out and become replacement level players that we somehow can’t replace with guys in our own system? If they are using some statistical analysis (or whatever it might be – a Magic 8 Ball, a Ouija board) to project the coming season, it continues to miss badly.

By: Tim Williams

Tim Williams — Sun, 20 May 2012 23:57:00 +0000

Clint Barmes was a 3.1 WAR player last year. He’s been around 2.0 for most of his career. Rod Barajas had a 1.6 WAR last year, and he’s been around a 1 WAR for the last few years. These are hardly replacement level guys.

By: Randy Linville

Randy Linville — Sun, 20 May 2012 23:49:00 +0000

What amazes me is that five years into the tenure of this FO and 25% of the way through the 2012 season, the Pirates rank 14th or worse in the NL in OPS at six positions – C, 1B, 2B, SS, LF and RF. We have a seventh position (pitcher) that I won’t count that we rank 15th in.

The answer to ‘which would you rather have’ posed above is, indeed, none of the above. The answer is this club should have (at worst) replacement level players in the farm system. The fact that they don’t (or the FO doesn’t seem to think they do) is unacceptable.

By: dropkickmurphys

dropkickmurphys — Sun, 20 May 2012 23:12:00 +0000

That and an apparent aversion to power hitters.

By: dropkickmurphys

dropkickmurphys — Sun, 20 May 2012 23:02:00 +0000

My answer is the same as its always been. None of them. The .701 shortstop had the benefit of playing in Coors Field. His defense is spotty. And he cost more than he’s worth. I said it then, its true now.

Same with the .699 OPS catcher. He’s a one trick pony, power hitter, whose defense has also been spotty. He can’t throw out anyone. And apparently has a short term memory issue.

Yes, I agree, we shouldn’t get Lind for the same reasons.

My answer, and the right answer has always been, none of the above.

As I wrote in the off season, this team will fail with or without someone else’s rejects. That being the case, and it is the case, we should go with internal options.

By: Tim Williams

Tim Williams — Sun, 20 May 2012 21:56:00 +0000

Because I think Barmes and Barajas provide positive value at their positions defensively, while Lind can only do one thing, hit homers.

Which would you rather have?

.701 OPS shortstop with good defense
.699 OPS catcher with decent defense
.700-.750 OPS first baseman with no defense

Also, they didn’t have an option at catcher, and they didn’t have an option at shortstop. They’ve got guys who can do what Lind can do.

By: dropkickmurphys

dropkickmurphys — Sun, 20 May 2012 21:43:00 +0000

When you supported both acquisitions.

By: Tim Williams

Tim Williams — Sun, 20 May 2012 17:38:00 +0000

Do you mean before the season, or now?

By: dropkickmurphys

dropkickmurphys — Sun, 20 May 2012 17:37:00 +0000

Not that I think they should go after Lind but how do you knock going after Lind while defending Barmes and Barajas?

By: Randy Linville

Randy Linville — Sun, 20 May 2012 14:56:00 +0000

Problem is that the Pirates are desperate due to a general lack of smarts.