Comments on: 2011 Pittsburgh Pirates Draft Signing Deadline Preview

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 02:36:00 +0000

A little better reading comprehension would eliminate about 1/2 your commnts directed to me. I did not at any poit say we should do what the Cubs do. The Pirates have made one above average free agent position signing in I don’t know how many years and that was a minor league deal for Jones. Name anyone else who hasn’t flopped. Everyone knows Reyes isn’t coming to Pitt, just like Fielder and Pujos. I’m not dumb, how ’bout you?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 20:09:00 +0000

Yes, understand about DET. I was just saying that in general, in recent years, they have snapped up high bonus guys like Porcello/Turner/Castellanos.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 20:01:00 +0000

Kevin: for the record, the Tigers first pick was in the 2nd round.

I agree with you on the Yankees and Boston — but Detroit could have been the wild card.

By: Ian Rothermund

Ian Rothermund — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 17:20:00 +0000

Yeah, because that’s the only reason big name free agents don’t come to Pittsburgh, are you dumb? People like Diaz and Overbay sign with Pittsburgh because other people won’t, not just because the F.O. won’t pony up the cash. Reyes won’t come to Pittsburgh, A) because they probably won’t or wouldn’t offer as much as New York or L.A., and B) because it’s the Pirates, and they’re more than just one player away, and C) because it’s Pittsburgh, not New York or L.A.. Maybe you should try making logical decisions and actually thinking critically about all of the moving pieces involved. If you were the G.M., we’d probably look like a ghetto Cubs organization, blowing money on free agents just to lose 95 games. We still wouldn’t get the kinds of players Chicago does because of our market. Looking at our relative size to other cities and financial means we’re limited to compared to other teams in the league, we should be asking ourselves what Tampa Bay would do, not what the Cubs would do with their broken system of spending entirely too much money on players that don’t contribute to the ultimate goal; winning.

By: Ian Rothermund

Ian Rothermund — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 16:31:00 +0000

Seems a bit impetuous; like the opinions of a football fan demanding instantaneous success at the highest levels. This was Sanchez’s first full year in the minors, he’s still considered a great defensive prospect regardless, and after only a little over half a season in A ball, was immediately moved to AA, in summation; let’s see how he does next year. I say start him in Altoona, move him to Indy if he’s doing well. Owens is a control lefty and has been the minor league pitcher of the franchise the last two years, this is his first in AAA, also, let’s see how he does next season, hell, let’s see how he does in September call-ups. As for Allie, he’s still only 19, or 20 maybe, this is his first season, and he still throws in the high 90′s with a great slider. Maybe he does project as more of a closer type.

I would also agree with the release of those players mentioned above. I have to strongly disagree with the decision to hold on to Paul Maholm, as it’s incredibly unlikely he will be as productive next year, and spare me the innings eater cliche, he’s just not all that good. I think I may agree with the idea of Bell being a more valuable sign than Cole, however, if we continue getting the pitching prospects we have been, soon we’re going to have more than enough in the minors to structure various trades for batting prospects. When you’re looking at the potential for Morton, McDonald, Cole, Taillon, and whoever at #5, as the starting rotation in a couple years, there’s not a lot of room for all of those “high ceiling,” “overslot” draft signs at the top levels; this equals trade bait.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 15:34:00 +0000

I still say that if Bell doesn’t sign its not a total loss….We would get a 2nd round pick next year which would give us a minimum of 3 picks in the top 2 rounds, free agent compensation picks not withstanding. With next years draft having a hard slotting system it will be easier to sign your picks, therefore we could get a couple nice looking picks in the system. Next years draft is looking like it could turn out to be a prep hitter heavy draft, so that could work in our favor.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 15:34:00 +0000

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 14:07:00 +0000

Who the Pirates sign greatly depends on the draft budget. If the team has $18M or more set aside for this draft class, then the team ought to have the money available for Cole, Bell and the high-ceiling later round picks. The preference of Pirates fans should be obvious. But, it’s not our money. And the Pirates should not pay Brown or Watts or whomever millions of dollars over market value just to get those players signed. So, it’s still a tough situation for Huntington and Coonelly. They have to use their money wisely.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 12:33:00 +0000

I mentioned this on Bucco Talk this past Saturday….
If a person steps back and looks at Josh Bell, they will see a guy without the arm to play RF or the range to play CF. He’s a LF long-term, so there goes some defensive value.

Yes, he would be the best power hitter in the system, but he is still 18. He has a very gangly look about him in the draft videos.

Bell is a great talent and would be my #5 prospect if he signs, but he’s not a generational talent like Harper. The max I would spend is $4.5M and even that would make me queasy. And definitely no ML contract if that is a requirement.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 12:30:00 +0000

If Boras was trying to tell the big market teams to draft Bell, they didn’t get the message. He lasted all the way thru a huge 1st round and supplemental round to get to the Pirates with the 61st pick.

The Cubs don’t overspend in the draft anyway. It’s the Yanks, Red Sox, and Tigers among the big market teams that also spend big in the draft.