Venezuelan Winter League
The 2010 Venezuelan Winter League runs from October 12, 2010 to December 30, 2010, with the playoffs starting on January 2nd, 2011. The Pittsburgh Pirates have the following players participating this year:
Gabriel Alvarado
Jose Ascanio
Luis Campos
Ronny Cedeno
Adenson Chourio
Anthony Claggett
Sean Gallagher
Wilfredo Ledezma
Diego Moreno
Fernando Nieve
Jhonathan Ramos
Jose Tabata
Justin Thomas
Here are the 2010 stats, updated weekly every Sunday. (Last Update: 1/5/11)
About Tim Williams
Tim is the owner and editor in chief of Pirates Prospects. He started the site in January 2009, and turned it into his full time job during the 2011 season. Prior to starting Pirates Prospects, Tim worked with AccuScore.com, providing MLB, NHL, and NFL coverage to various national media outlets, including ESPN Insider, USA Today, Yahoo Sports, and the Wall Street Journal. He also writes the annual Prospect Guide, which is sold through the site. Tim moved to Bradenton in 2013, and will be providing live coverage all year of the Bradenton Marauders, GCL Pirates, instructs, mini camp, Spring Training, and lunches at Mixon's Fruit Farms.
July 18, 2012 at 10:31 pm
Gotta agree…Pirates need to lock down James McDonald, Neil Walker and possibly Jeff Karstens. Bedard and Correia will be gone after this year. Next year you could possibly replace them with two of the lefties at AAA. Gerrit Cole likely will see a call up sometime next season. Who knows how Burnett is going to do next season, let alone the second half of this season. Pirates really need to think everything out. No way do I trade Marte…Pirates made the same mistake back in 1990 when they traded Moises Alou. A guy like him could have helped the Pirates immensely after Bonds left Pittsburgh. Do I think Marte’s ready for MLB, I don’t know. What I do know is that Justin Upton, Chase Headley, Carlos Quentin, etc. are not superstar players. They are solid / slightly above average players who are only going to get more costly as time goes on. I would much rather the Pirates rely on players they’ve developed themselves. If there’s any position I think the Pirates need to improve at, it would have to be SS. I wouldn’t mind a Jed Lowrie type player or someone who could get on base consistently at the top of the line-up or even a guy who with two outs could get on base consistently out of the #8 spot in the line-up so that the pitcher could either extended the inning or that the leadoff hitter lead off the next inning.
July 19, 2012 at 8:51 am
At the time Alou was traded, there was much doubt as to his potential. I remember folks comparing him to JESUS Alou. He turned out more like Felipe. Zane Smith won some big games for us. I’d do that trade again.
July 19, 2012 at 8:52 am
I’d love to see Walker get signed. I think the Bucs wanted to wait and see and have Walker completely prove himself. However, they should’ve signed him around Memorial Day. He’d have been REAL cheap then…lol
July 19, 2012 at 10:51 am
Tim, well written article. I read your stuff a good bit and really appreciate your takes on the team. This article finally convinced me that the Pirates shouldn’t make a “big-splash” trade for someone like Upton. The team would benefit more by having money free to sign already-key players like Neil. I think we Pirates’ fans have forgotten that a good second baseman is a rare commodity. Most teams can say they have a “good” outfielder, and more than a few teams can say they have a great one–but only a handful can say they have a 2B who has above-average hitting and defense for the position.
Also, when is Pedro due for a extension/re-signing/arby? I’ve heard nothing about his contract recently.
Twitter: timwilliamsp2
July 19, 2012 at 11:14 am
Actually, I didn’t write this article.
To answer your question about Pedro, he’s due for arbitration in 2014.
July 19, 2012 at 9:08 pm
If it isn’t too expensive, sure. I just think there has been some bad blood between Neil and Huntington, and I wonder if that is going to make it more difficult.
July 19, 2012 at 11:52 am
Haha…I am so sorry! I assumed this was Tim for some reason (I think I had just read the “First Pitch” article from him and the name carried over in my head). The above post is now appropriately edited. I appreciate your writing too (obviously)–actually, that pretty much goes for this whole website’s worth of writing. Always thoughtful and pertinent for baseball.
July 21, 2012 at 4:18 am
I think if there was ever another candidate in baseball for a Tim Wakefield like Team renewable option, it would be Walker