No Meek All-Star Selection

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A happy, happy boy. As he should be...

The rundown on your Pirates representative: 
Standard - 4-3, 1.11 ERA, 40 G, 1 SV/6 SVO, 48.2 IP, 32 H, 12 R, 6 ER, 2 HR, 14 BB, 45 SO
8.32 K/9, 2.59 BB/9, 3.21 K/BB, .189 OPP-AVG, 0.95 WHIP

Sabermetrics - 3.26 SIERA, 2.72 FIP, 0.587 WXRL 17.1 VORP

Splits - 0.44 ERA vs. LHP, 1.61 vs. RHP, 0.73 ERA at home, 1.50 ERA away, 0.60 ERA during 11 G in April, 1.17 ERA during 13 games in May, 1.32 ERA during 12 games in June, and through 4 games in July, 1.93 ERA

On the leaderboard
  • 1st on Pirates in ERA, VORP
  • 4th in MLB with IP Relief
  • 3rd in MLB with ERA, Relief
  • 1st in NL with ERA, relief

Centerfielder Andrew McCutchen is going to be a multi-year All-Star, but with the season reliever Evan Meek is having - Phillies manager Charlie Manuel couldn't pass up the opportunity him onto the roster. Meek can touch 98 MPH with his fastball, and has a plus-curve that's making his former organization, the Rays, question their decision to let him go. The right-hander was picked up as a Rule-5 draftee in 2008, and was retained by Pittsburgh when they traded cash coordinations to Tampa Bay. 

Say what you will about management, but good thing they did.

Toronto's Bautista: English for UN-AMERICAN

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Averages for three full-seasons with Pittsburgh -
In 503 AB, 15 HR, 56 RBI, .242/.329/.413/.733 (OPS)

2010 first-half with Toronto (88 games) - 
In 366 AB, 24 HR, 56 RBI, .237/.361/.543/.903

That's + 0.32 OBP, + .133 SLG, and + .170 OPS...

Canada's new b@$tard. Homerun Derby at 8 o'clock p.m. ET.

bold stats leads Majors

Behr: This blurb goes out to all the homies

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Hey y'all -

It's been over a month since I've written on here, and things have changed for Pittsburgh...? No, sadly, they really haven't. Back on June 5th, the Bucs were in midst of a 12-game losing streak. Fast forward to now,  the club's stuck in last place and 18 games back of the Cincinnati Reds (I know people, the Reds). The 'youth movement' is far from fully developed, and who knows what shape the team will be in come April of 2011. 

If you haven't heard all the chirpin' from TBB's twitter account (@TheBurghBlues), I've been interning with Baseball Prospectus for about a month now. All I can say is that it's been an absolute blast. I've learned so much from writers John Perrotto and Kevin Goldstein, and can't thank them enough for giving me this opportunity. I'm predominantly working on stat research and article editing - two dream tasks - but I happily take care of whatever is asked of me. Ah yes, the life of an intern. 

I'm not sure when we'll see a triumphant "return to TBB." To be honest, I'm not sure if we will see it. I'm heading off to Syracuse in the fall to study Sport Management, and the rest of my summer's pretty much booked with BP work. Do not fret, young Jedi - you can feel my presence in almost all the Baseball Pro articles, and that twitter account will never stop buzzin. 

Thanks for all the support over the years. I wouldn't be where I am if it wasn't for all the homies out there. That's right, this blurb goes out to all the homies.

- Jesse "Smokey" Behr

P.S. I've been appointed to run the Baseball Prospectus Facebook page. PLEASE join (click on the above link) and show your support for both me and BP. Thank you!

P.P.S. (Looks below) The best tag there is!

A Mustache-Worn Winning Streak?

I'm a believer that what's truly plagued the Pittsburgh Pirates for the last decade is the absence of a winning streak. Not just four or five wins strung together, I'm talking ten certified victories. 

In an effort to get on some sort of roll, the Buccos (led by veteran players like Bobby Crosby) are staging team various activities that have the baseball world falling flat on their butts:

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Team high-socks

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Team mustaches

We'll be seeing much more goofiness out of these boys soon enough.

Ubaldo and Charlie

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Jimenez in 10 starts for Colorado: 0.88 ERA, 9-1, 71.1 IP, 2.54 K/BB, .176 OPP-AVG

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Morton in 10 starts for Pittsburgh: 9.35 ERA, 1-9, 43.1 IP, 2.54 K/BB .326 OPP-AVG

Ubaldo's certainly the best, while Charlie Morton's arguably the worst pitcher in the National League. Pirates management will likely have to move Morton down, but the Rockies' Dominican ace isn't leaving Denver anytime soon.

*leads Majors

Kevin Hart and The Replacements

ph_453954.jpgIt's a visit no baseball player wants to make. Unfortunately for right-hander Kevin Hart, Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Alabama has made an appointment. Hart, acquired from Chicago last July as part of the Gorzelanny-Grabow deal, has a right shoulder labrum tear that could potentially end his 2010 campaign. While Dr. Patrick DeMeo (the Pirates team physician) is suggesting season-ending surgery, Hart will take the trip to Dr. Andrews' office for a second opinion. 

After an abysmal spring training, Hart hasn't faired much better pitching for the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians. In five games, four starts, he's 1-0 with a 6.75 ERA. He's struggled with his command, walking 11 in comparison to 19 strikeouts. 

Poppa Neal Huntington has taken pride in his general managing approach, specifically in his re-construction of the organization's depth. However, that depth has seemingly evaporated. Ross Ohlendorf's slowly healing from back spasms, while Charlie Morton (.374 OPP-AVG) and Daniel McCutchen (.352 OPP-AVG) have been annihilated thus far. 

At Indy, there isn't much to choose from. Southpaw Donnie Veal (3.22 ERA) and top prospect Brad Lincoln (18 SO/9 BB) are still progressing. The last option is Bran "Blade" Burres, but can we really expect him to hurl another shutout?

As the case has been for a few years now, there are a handful of untouched pitchers floating along in the sea of free agency. Huntington has said time and time again that he 'won't spend money just to spend money.' But when the month of April ends, and your club still holds the worst ERA in the majors, then will you turn on your word? Here are five starting pitching options for the Bucs, all of whom are both available and capable of coming to the Burgh:

1. Pedro Martinez - Oh, where is the Pedroburgh of yesteryear? Pedro has made it very clear that he still wants to pitch - whether that be for a contender or a cellar-squad. With the Phillies last season (nine starts), Martinez was 5-1 with a 3.63 ERA. He's certainly not blowing batters away anymore, but his 7.64 K/9 is still very impressive. 

2. Jarrod Washburn - Baseball's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of 2009. Washburn was 8-6 with a 2.64 ERA in 20 appearances for the Mariners. Opponents were hitting a mere .233 off of the southpaw before he was traded to Detroit. While with the Tigers, Jarrod suffered horribly in eight starts (1-3, 7.33 ERA), and sadly ended the year on the DL. He's only 35, and a career 4.10 ERA would be a welcome addition to a staff ERA of 6.71.

3. Braden Looper - Loops spent time with two different teams from the NL Central, Cardinals and Brewers, and was part of a World Series Marlins team in 2003. He was converted into a starter while with St. Louis, throwing a total of 568 2/3 innings since 2007.

4. Noah Lowry - You know the Pirates love their left-handers, so having three in their rotation would be nothing new (think Duke, Maholm and Gorzy). Lowry hasn't been completely healthy since 2007, but posted good career numbers while with San Francisco - 4.03 ERA, 618.1 IP, .259 OPP-AVG, 6.11 K/9.

5. Bartolo Colon - He won 21 games with the LA Angels of Anaheim in 2005, pretty neat.

22-Straight: Can it get any worse?

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This is a final - Milwaukee Brewers 17, Pittsburgh Pirates 3. This was the Bucs' 22nd consecutive loss at Miller Park. And they've been outscored by the Brew Crew 53-4.

While I'm speechless, writer Dejan Kovacevic has it covered here. My site's attitude and "theme" has been criticized ever since its creation, but the Pirates themselves are defending everything this blog stands for. Unfortunately, that's so wrong.

Maybe I'll do some analyzing tomorrow. I don't know. I'm too depressed. This is depressing. The Pittsburgh Pirates are depressing.

Oh, and in regards to this article's title - I guess it can. Will it be 23-straight tomorrow? Strangely, I know I'll keep watching. But will you?

The Grim Reaper says

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Patience is a Pirates Virtue: Jeff Clement

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Neal Huntington's most notable trait as a general manager is his reluctancy to be patient with nearly every player he places on the Bucs' roster. A good example of this could be found in Pittsburgh's starting first baseman, Jeff Clement. While we're only three weeks into the Major League season, Clement's horrific start is hard to ignore:

15 G, 8 H in 46 AB, .174/.220/.326/.546 (OPS)
4 R, 1 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 3 BB to 13 K

This combined, with a tough spring, shows that it hasn't been a smooth beginning for the former USC Trojan. Neal has other options if he does indeed to make a change. Ryan Church could man right-field and Garrett Jones could head back over to first. Or, even though it's not John Russell's cup-of-tea, Ryan Doumit and Jason Jaramillo could be part of some type of platoon. Doumit would get starts behind the dish, in right, or at first.

A high-risk, high-reward move Neal could make would be to re-call Steve Pearce, who has been sensational thus far at Triple-A Indianapolis (.417/.507/.733). The risk - Pearce hasn't shown much success when with Pittsburgh, but every scout in baseball knows that there's raw power behind his bat.

My suggestion to Mr. Huntington is to give Clement 'till the end of the month. IF he hasn't shown progress (remember - there's varying degrees to that word when you're talking about a Pirate), try something new. Jeff definitely has baseball talent, but there's no reason to wear this organization's talent anymore. And mind, for that matter.

UPDATE 8:31 PM: Clement just struck out on a 92-MPH fastball from Gallardo. At least he worked the count to 3-2?

Hell on Earth

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Will the Brew Crew make it 22-straight against the Bucs? Southpaw Zach Duke (2-1, 4.13 ERA) takes on Milwaukee's ace Yovani Gallardo (1-2, 4.30 ERA) tonight at 8:00 PM EST. The Pirates have yet to make a decision on Tuesday night's starter, but Paul Maholm will take the hill on Wednesday. 

I would say 'this is going to be an ugly series,' but that goes without saying - aren't they all?