Comments on: First Pitch: How Can the Pirates Catch the Cardinals? http://www.piratesprospects.com/2013/01/first-pitch-how-can-the-pirates-catch-the-cardinals.html Sat, 25 May 2013 03:41:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: Kevin Creagh http://www.piratesprospects.com/2013/01/first-pitch-how-can-the-pirates-catch-the-cardinals.html#comment-24288 Kevin Creagh Wed, 30 Jan 2013 18:10:33 +0000 http://www.piratesprospects.com/?p=46326#comment-24288 The thing about the Cardinals lineup is that they may not appear all that great on paper, but they are a team that is greater than the sum of its parts. They just know how to win, don’t wilt on the stage, that sort of thing. (Yes, not quantifiable).

I have concerns about the mental makeup of some of the Pirates. Some players may have more pure talent than their Cards counterpart, but it does not always translate to the field or over a whole season.

]]> By: beatembuccos21 http://www.piratesprospects.com/2013/01/first-pitch-how-can-the-pirates-catch-the-cardinals.html#comment-24280 beatembuccos21 Wed, 30 Jan 2013 15:09:04 +0000 http://www.piratesprospects.com/?p=46326#comment-24280 Tim/Kevin – do you agree with leadoff? Do you think the 2013 Pirates lineup as it stands now will be stronger than the 2013 Cardinal lineup?

]]> By: Ecbucs http://www.piratesprospects.com/2013/01/first-pitch-how-can-the-pirates-catch-the-cardinals.html#comment-24258 Ecbucs Wed, 30 Jan 2013 01:25:30 +0000 http://www.piratesprospects.com/?p=46326#comment-24258 well the Cards gave up less runs than Bucs last year and gave up less unearned runs than Bucs.

But it looks like you are looking at Cards position players and saying that overall they are not as good as Bucco position players. Not sure that there would be a lot of agreement with that (for example is Pedro better than Freese if you throw in defense?) or Jones better than Clark?

Certainly the 2013 teams aren’t the same but still it is going to take improvement by Bucs and decline from Cards for the Bucs to catch them.

It is great that the Bucs beat the Cards head to head last year but that doesn’t mean the Bucs are better.

At this stage I’m concerned that not having Hanrahan could hurt the Bucs at the end of games. Grilli did get tagged for 6 losses last year, not sure how many of them would be considered blown saves. Anyway I could see the Bucs bullpen not being as efficient as holding down leads as it was last year.

really hoping that Marte blossoms and provides good offense and defense to go with Andrew.

]]> By: leadoff http://www.piratesprospects.com/2013/01/first-pitch-how-can-the-pirates-catch-the-cardinals.html#comment-24257 leadoff Wed, 30 Jan 2013 00:58:18 +0000 http://www.piratesprospects.com/?p=46326#comment-24257 I was speaking of the 2013 teams. There is more to good lineups than runs scored, defense is also important. The difference in runs scored did not stop the Pirates from winning more games head to head last year, despite the Cards having the better overall team in a 162 game schedule. For a couple of months in2012 the Pirates had one of the best teams in baseball.

]]> By: whiteAngus http://www.piratesprospects.com/2013/01/first-pitch-how-can-the-pirates-catch-the-cardinals.html#comment-24255 whiteAngus Tue, 29 Jan 2013 23:43:51 +0000 http://www.piratesprospects.com/?p=46326#comment-24255 if would be better if the Pirates rotation could hold the Cards to less runs.

]]> By: Ecbucs http://www.piratesprospects.com/2013/01/first-pitch-how-can-the-pirates-catch-the-cardinals.html#comment-24240 Ecbucs Tue, 29 Jan 2013 20:38:00 +0000 http://www.piratesprospects.com/?p=46326#comment-24240 You really like the Pirates line up better than the Cards? It would be great if the Bucs can score with Cards (the Cards did 765 runs last year and had an ops of 759).

The Pirates scored 651 runs and had an ops of 699.

]]> By: leadoff http://www.piratesprospects.com/2013/01/first-pitch-how-can-the-pirates-catch-the-cardinals.html#comment-24239 leadoff Tue, 29 Jan 2013 20:29:30 +0000 http://www.piratesprospects.com/?p=46326#comment-24239 Head to head in 1012 the Pirates topped the Cards, so catching them is not the problem, I like our starting lineup over theirs, I like their pitching over ours. Beating the Brewers and the Reds is the problem and the Cubs will be tough on the Pirates next year IMO. The Cards have better pitching, catching and more power in left field, after that??? Some positions might be tossups but some clearly better for the Pirates.

]]> By: MichaelVelaTTU http://www.piratesprospects.com/2013/01/first-pitch-how-can-the-pirates-catch-the-cardinals.html#comment-24236 MichaelVelaTTU Tue, 29 Jan 2013 20:00:57 +0000 http://www.piratesprospects.com/?p=46326#comment-24236 You gotta win to get money

Pirates haven’t been doing a lot of that; therefore, not a lot of money to spend.

What everyone else has been saying is right though. Pitching will win you championships. 2015(’14 too?) will be a magical year for them.

The Pirates have upgraded in every spot this offseason. They should finally break .500 next season. With the talent in the minors that’s about to come up, they’re only going to keep improving.

Martin for Barajas – Big improvement
Marte for Tabata/Presley – Big improvement
Sands/Snider for Tabata/Presley – Jury is still out. Talent is a lot better though.
Burnett, Rodriguez, McDonald, Liriano, Karstens/McPherson. That already looks like a better rotation than last years.

Improvements have been made. It should translate to the record

]]> By: joe g. http://www.piratesprospects.com/2013/01/first-pitch-how-can-the-pirates-catch-the-cardinals.html#comment-24235 joe g. Tue, 29 Jan 2013 18:51:36 +0000 http://www.piratesprospects.com/?p=46326#comment-24235 Plus, we are developing Hell’s Angels. That is he we’ll catch the Cards! : D

]]> By: whiteAngus http://www.piratesprospects.com/2013/01/first-pitch-how-can-the-pirates-catch-the-cardinals.html#comment-24231 whiteAngus Tue, 29 Jan 2013 17:57:57 +0000 http://www.piratesprospects.com/?p=46326#comment-24231 i know brudder. and thanks for the compliment.

anyway, i dont see bourn as helping this team out. marte could be his equal with the glove and their OBP might be around the same. neither one is a good leadoff hitter, IMO.

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