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First Pitch: The Impact of Losing the Astros
Buster Olney has been doing his top ten lists at ESPN, naming his top rotations, infields, outfields, and so on. The Pirates haven’t been on any list, but I did… Read more
First Pitch: 13 Boom or Bust Players Who Could Make a Difference in 2013
The 2013 roster is starting to take shape. There are still a few off-season questions that remain unanswered. Will the Pirates trade Garrett Jones? Who will win the 5th starter… Read more
First Pitch: Will a Garrett Jones/Gaby Sanchez Platoon Work?
For the third year in a row, the Pittsburgh Pirates are projected to enter the season with a platoon at one of their positions. Right now we’re assuming that will… Read more
First Pitch: The Pirates Payroll and a Realistic View on Salary Dumps
When the Pirates make a move that cuts salary — such as what happened in the Joel Hanrahan trade — you hear the usual “salary dump” cries. Technically the move… Read more
First Pitch: What is the Next Move For the Pirates?
After Jason Grilli was signed, we waited for the other shoe to drop with a Joel Hanrahan trade. Now that the Hanrahan trade is completed, we’re left waiting for another… Read more
First Pitch: Mark Melancon and Remembering When Joel Hanrahan Was a Throw In
There seems to be some debate over whether relief pitcher Mark Melancon is involved in the pending Joel Hanrahan trade. A few outlets are reporting that Melancon is in the… Read more
First Pitch: An Incomplete Observation on an Incomplete Trade
For some reason, the Pirates can’t make a move involving a relief pitcher without the deal dragging on unnecessarily for days. We first heard that Jason Grilli had signed on… Read more
First Pitch: Thoughts on Liriano, Hanrahan, the Rotation, and the Payroll
Some quick hits tonight in the aftermath of the Francisco Liriano deal. I was on the road most of the day today, and had a lot of time to think… Read more
First Pitch: Want to Write For Pirates Prospects?
Now that the 2013 Prospect Guide is complete, I’m starting my focus on the site content in 2013. For information on the book, see the links and notes section below…. Read more
First Pitch: The Minor Leagues Exist For a Reason
The Pirates are often criticized for having a slow approach at promoting prospects through the levels. That’s not accurate criticism. There are plenty of examples where they’ve made aggressive promotions…. Read more
