Pirates talking Nyjer-Lastings swap

The Washington Nationals offered Lastings Milledge to the Pirates for Nyjer Morgan is a straight-up swap of outfielders. Huntington, the Pirates' general manager, apparently wants Nationals acting GM Mike Rizzo to add a second player before he would consider making the trade. 

However, the Pirates need to bring as many multi-talented young players as possible into the organization. They also need to take some gambles if they are ever going to pull out of their 17-year tailspin. Thus, if I were the GM, I would pull the trigger on this deal. (Pirates Report)

I agree one-hundred percent with what John Perrotto said regarding the possible deal. Milledge, 24, and Morgan, 29, are both very talented ball players that can do a lot for a team. However, Milledge has so much more to offer as an everyday player than what Morgan can bring to the table. He's got both terrific power and speed.

Also, Pittsburgh's farm system includes names like Jose Tabata, Gorkys Hernandez, and Steve Pearce (currently on the 25-man roster). If Milledge wound up to be a total disaster, someone would be able to step in and take his place. Nyjer's one of my favorite Buccos, but I'd take Lastings in a heartbeat.

Ian Snell to TBB: Tell me how my *** tastes

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7.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 17 (!!!) SO in his first start at Triple-A Indianapolis.

We apologize if the title is a little graphic, but with everything surrounding Mr. Ian Snell, we believe it's justified. Snell was demoted to Indy on Thursday, and after just one start, he may have slapped Pirates management silly. We'll have to wait and see if this was a showing of the righty's "true character." 

There are others

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We're not the only ones who feel this way. Go Buccos.

Snell sent packing to Indy

Snell approached management late Wednesday to request a demotion to Class AAA 
Indianapolis because of "too much negativity" in Pittsburgh about his performance, specifically from the fans, media and even independent bloggers. The team obliged yesterday by optioning him to the minors. 

"I want to be a positive person if I'm going to be here. I felt like I was going to be negative if I was going to be here, and I didn't want to ruin this team. I wasn't going to allow them to say what they want. I told them I wanted to go down." 

Snell, 27, has continued to show good stuff even as he put up poor numbers, from a 95-mph fastball to his favored slider. But his rate of first-pitch strikes had dropped to a low 53 percent, his 17.5 pitches per inning were highest of all starters in Major League Baseball and, most tangible, he walked 44 in 80 2/3 innings. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Gee, our bad! We thought we could write stuff like this when you've given up 50 runs in 80 2/3 innings. Snell heads to Indianapolis with a 3-8 record and a 5.38 ERA in the National League. Opponents were hitting .282 against the 5'11 right-hander prior to his "self-proclaimed" demotion.   

We'd love to back you, Ian, but it would help if you could make it past the third inning. 

Highlights from Jesse Chavez's Career

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- Gives up walk-off grand slam to Ryan Braun on September 25th, 2008
- Blows save, loses game in Milwaukee on April 28th, 2009
- Retires just one hitter before losing game in Chicago on May 27th, 2009
- Gives up walk-off two-run shot to Todd Helton on June 20th, 2009

Sweet first name though.

A hero DFA'd

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We'll miss you, Craigy... and we're still proud sponsors. OF/1B Steve Pearce (11 HR, 43 RBI at Triple-A Indy) will take Monroe's place on the 25-man roster. Pearce may see starting time in right field as early as this week.

The Chacattack Comeback... Our favorite player, and the reason we're Pittsburgh Pirates fans, is making his glorious comeback to the majors, one small step at a time. Right-hander Shawn Chacon signed a minor league deal with the Oakland A's earlier this week after playing with the Newark Bears of the independent Atlantic League in May and early June.
 
Chacon, 31, has been out of professional baseball for over a year after a physical altercation with GM Ed Wade last June landed the veteran jobless. He'll make his first Triple-A start tonight for the Sacramento River Cats against the LA Angels affiliate Salt Lake Bees.   

Oh, right.. In Denver, the Bucs will send righty Charlie Morton (acquired in the McLouth-to-Atlanta deal) to face Rockies' starter Jason Hammel at Coors Field. Morton lasted just one inning in his Pirates debut after being pulled from the game with a tight hammy. Game time set 8:10 PM.

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly: Paul Maholm

Last 10 starts from the Pirates' southpaw ace:
  • April 28th @ MIL: 5.1 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 5 BB, 2 SO (ND)
  • May 4th vs. MIL: 7.1 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 SO (ND) 
  • May 9th @ NYM: 5.0 IP, 10 H, 7 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO (L)
  • May 15th vs. COL: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO (ND)
  • May 20th @ WSH: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 7 SO (ND)
  • May 25th @ CHC: 4.0 IP, 7 H, 7 ER, 3 BB, 2 SO (ND)
  • May 31st vs. HOU: 7.0 IP, 8 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO (L)
  • June 6th @ HOU: 7.0 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO (W)
  • June 11th @ ATL: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 8 SO (ND)
  • June 16th @ MIN: 5.0 IP, 14 H (!!!), 8 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO

Totals: 60.2 IP, 73 H, 35 ER, 21 BB, 44 SO. Maholm is 4-3 on the year with a 4.23 ERA and 54 SO/28 BB in 14 starts. Paul is still Pittsburgh's ace, but Zach Duke (7-4, 3.10 ERA) has re-established himself as a top-line starter.

Nyjer (finally) goes yard

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Last night at the Metrodome, Nyjer Morgan belted a bomb off Twins' starter Glen Perkins for his first homer of '09, second of his career. Morgan, now slotted in the two hole behind McCutchen, is hitting .265 with 24 RBI and 15 SB.

Nyjer Morgan 1, Juan Pierre 0 as the rivalry continues. Join us later this week for part three (fielding) of "The Juan Pierre Jr." series.

Fan Poll: Which Bucco will be dealt next?

MLBTR on Buccos trading block

Ben-Nicholson Smith on Rangers, Snell: 
Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the Rangers inquired about Pirates starter Ian Snell. The Pirates haven't had serious talks about dealing Snell to the Rangers or anyone else, since other teams value him as a reliever and the Pirates value him as a starter. 

Smith on Snell, Ad. LaRoche, Grabow: 
The Rockies could have interest in Snell and the Pirates would be looking to get a "decent prospect" in return, despite Snell's tendency to blame others and his poor start to the season... The Giants have interest in Adam LaRoche... The Angels are interested in John Grabow, now that they can't count on Scot Shields or Jose Arredondo.

Tim Dierkes on Red Sox, Wilson: 
The short version: there does not appear to be a match [Pittsburgh, Boston, Jack Wilson]. Kovacevic says the Sox have done research on Wilson, but the Pirates seem to want more than Boston would give up. The Pirates' beat writer implies that the unpopular Nate McLouth trade may cause the Pirates to tread lightly with Wilson. Still, he says the Pirates have also had less intense trade talks with other clubs about their shortstop.

Updates courtesy of MLBTradeRumors.com.
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