Pimp Your Pirates!

Home of your relocated 5-time World Series champions

Moderator: Cardinals

User avatar
Cardinals
Posts: 7687
Joined: Sat May 18, 2002 1:00 am
Location: Manch Vegas, CT
Name: John Paul Starkey

Post by Cardinals »

Aye Aye Captain Obvious
12, 14, 15, 17, 22
User avatar
Pirates
Posts: 1444
Joined: Sat Mar 03, 2007 1:00 am
Name: Jake Levine

Post by Pirates »

the next chris carpenter!
User avatar
Cardinals
Posts: 7687
Joined: Sat May 18, 2002 1:00 am
Location: Manch Vegas, CT
Name: John Paul Starkey

Post by Cardinals »

Rich Harden allowed one run and one hit over five innings Friday in a victory over the White Sox.
He struck out five against a White Sox lineup full of the team's best hitters, A.J. Pierzynski excepted. Harden had allowed six runs and 11 hits in six innings, so it's a good sign that he was able to overmatch some hitters today, even if he did walk four in the process.

He's Baaaaaaaaaack
12, 14, 15, 17, 22
User avatar
Mets
Posts: 2267
Joined: Wed May 31, 2006 1:00 am
Location: Atlanta, GA
Name: John Anderson
Contact:

Post by Mets »

Wasn't he back last year?

Do these look familiar from Spring Training 2007?

"Rich Harden allowed one run and two hits in four innings Friday as the A's and Giants played to a 2-2 tie in 10 innings.
Harden enters the regular season with a 1.53 ERA and a 29/4 K/BB ratio in 17 2/3 innings. He seems set to dominate." 3-31-07

"Rich Harden limited the White Sox to one run over five innings to win on Tuesday.
Unfortunately, he only struck out seven batters. That lowest his spring strikeout rate to 16.5 batters per nine innings." 3-20-07

"Rich Harden fanned nine of the 14 batters he faced Thursday against the Rockies.
In 3 2/3 innings, he was charged with one run, that coming in the fourth. Harden has an 18/1 K/BB ratio in 8 2/3 innings this spring." 3-15-07


Don't get me wrong...I'm rooting for him.
2008-2023 Mets: 1,054-1,223...463%
2006-2008 Rockies: 242-244...498%

IBC Total: 1,296-1,467...469%
2022: lost WC
2023: lost WC
User avatar
Cardinals
Posts: 7687
Joined: Sat May 18, 2002 1:00 am
Location: Manch Vegas, CT
Name: John Paul Starkey

Post by Cardinals »

Payday is coming soon for him.
12, 14, 15, 17, 22
User avatar
Cardinals
Posts: 7687
Joined: Sat May 18, 2002 1:00 am
Location: Manch Vegas, CT
Name: John Paul Starkey

Post by Cardinals »

Chris Young went 3-for-3 with a homer, two walks and three runs scored Saturday against the Rockies.
Young is 8-for-10 with two homers, three doubles and four walks in his last three games. The OBP wasn't where it should have been last year, but he's poised for a breakthrough season as a sophomore, even if he's not quite as valuable for fantasy purposes.
12, 14, 15, 17, 22
User avatar
Cardinals
Posts: 7687
Joined: Sat May 18, 2002 1:00 am
Location: Manch Vegas, CT
Name: John Paul Starkey

Post by Cardinals »

339/.431/.625

Chris Young's line in Spring Training.

Price just keeps going up
12, 14, 15, 17, 22
User avatar
Giants
Posts: 3461
Joined: Thu Jan 20, 2005 1:00 am
Name: Jake Hamlin
Contact:

Post by Giants »

Because spring training stats are definitely a reasonable predictor of future success.
User avatar
Cardinals
Posts: 7687
Joined: Sat May 18, 2002 1:00 am
Location: Manch Vegas, CT
Name: John Paul Starkey

Post by Cardinals »

Oliver Perez in his 08 debut:
6 IP 5 H 0 R 1 BB 8 K
12, 14, 15, 17, 22
User avatar
Cardinals
Posts: 7687
Joined: Sat May 18, 2002 1:00 am
Location: Manch Vegas, CT
Name: John Paul Starkey

Post by Cardinals »

Lets all take a minute and sit back and see what the Pirates minor leaguers are up to!

Homer Bailey (AAA) 2-1, 1.42 ERA, 19 IP, 13K/3BB, .209 BAA
Adam Lind (AAA) .360/.411/.640, 3 HR, 5 BB/ 7 K
Carlos Rosa (AA) 1-1, 1.73 ERA, 14 IP, 10K/2BB, .226 BAA
Warner Madrigal (AA) 0-0, 0.00 ERA 4 saves, 6 IP, 7K/1BB, .111 BAA
Pablo Sandoval (HiA) .500/.528/.941, 3 HR, 2BB/7K
Lars Anderson (HiA) .286/.375/.551, 3 HR, 7BB/12 K -- Coming alive after a slow start
Juan Francisco (HiA) .365/.365/.673, 3 HR, 0BB/13 K -- Needs to learn some patience but will beast when he does
Justin Miller (A) 1-1, 0.63 ERA, 14 IP, 12K/5BB, .236 BAA -- Nice professional debut so far.
Nick Noonan (A) .314/.308/.431, 0BB/13K -- Patience will come

McCutchen's game is in progress where he belted his third HR of the year in AAA, the average is starting to come around for him and the thing scouts questioned most (power) is coming around as well with his third dinger of the short year so far.
12, 14, 15, 17, 22
User avatar
Cardinals
Posts: 7687
Joined: Sat May 18, 2002 1:00 am
Location: Manch Vegas, CT
Name: John Paul Starkey

Post by Cardinals »

Justin Miller was having a good season, but something didn't feel right.

Miller straightened things out on Sunday, combining with two relievers on a two-hitter as the Great Lakes Loons blanked the Peoria Chiefs, 2-0, at Dow Diamond.

A change in his delivery resulted in the best start of the 20-year-old right-hander's career as he gave up two singles and struck out five over six innings.

"I felt a little better, strike zone-wise," Miller said. "I didn't walk anybody. I felt a lot better locating the ball. My alignment was off a little before. Today, I was opening up a little better. It was allowing me to throw strikes."

Selected by the Dodgers in the sixth round of the 2007 Draft, Miller (2-1) has allowed five runs -- one earned -- over 20 1/3 innings for an 0.44 ERA. He learned to battle through early command issues in the first start in which he did not issue a walk.

"The start of the inning, I had a real problem of getting into long counts," he said. "It was a struggle, but I was trying to get back in the zone, just trying to get back and throw a good pitch."

Miller credits Great Lakes pitching coach -- and former Major Leaguer -- Danny Darwin for helping him with his mechanics. The work paid dividends against the Chiefs, although Miller felt he could have been even better.

"I was kind of at angle where I was trying to get my hips through," he explained. "[Darwin] told me what I was doing wrong, getting my alignment right. He sat up there and preached it. I feel like I know what I'm doing now.

"It was more mechanical than mental. I still feel like I wasn't completely consistent. I threw a lot more balls than I wanted to. But every time I got behind, I just made them hit the ball and the defense made the plays behind me."

Miller has a four-pitch repertoire but found his changeup especially effective in getting out left-handed batters. He also felt this start is a definite confidence boost.

"I have to admit that once you get more confident, you can feel a lot more relaxed," he added.
12, 14, 15, 17, 22
User avatar
Cardinals
Posts: 7687
Joined: Sat May 18, 2002 1:00 am
Location: Manch Vegas, CT
Name: John Paul Starkey

Post by Cardinals »

The 2005 first-round pick disappointed many with a .258/.327/.383 line at Double-A last year, but scouts still were completely in love with the tools and remained very high on McCutchen. Look out, because here comes the power, and here comes the patience. They often go hand in handógood hitters only swing at good pitches, and good things happenóand with McCutchen that's evidenced by a .294/.375/.576 line so far in 21 games for Indianapolis, including 14 of his 25 hits going for extra bases, with five home runs. Last year, he might have been a bit rushed, but this year, heís well on his way to being a solid Rookie of the Year candidate in 2009.




Fowlerís .273/.367/.397 line at High-A Modesto last year belied the fact that he was just getting into a groove before a broken hand cost him the final two-thirds of the season. Healthy and pushed up to Double-A, Fowler is off to a .304/.375/.519 in 21 games for Tulsa. If thereís one lesson to be taken from this list, it is, in general, that big-time tools usually play... eventually. When it comes to tools, Fowler is loadedótall, skinny, and still holding on to plenty of projection, Fowler could give the Rockies a very desirable power/speed option in center by 2009.
12, 14, 15, 17, 22
User avatar
Cardinals
Posts: 7687
Joined: Sat May 18, 2002 1:00 am
Location: Manch Vegas, CT
Name: John Paul Starkey

Post by Cardinals »

Rosa got off to great start last year, but he got hit hard after he was moved up to Double-A. Returned to the level with the Royalsí new Texas League affiliate, Rosa is off to another great start, pitching eight one-hit innings on Friday to lower his ERA to 1.61 in 28 innings while allowing just 17 hits and five walks. Rosaís fastball has slightly above-average velocity and movement, and he flashes a plus slider and solid changeup as well, giving him a solid three-pitch mix. The Royals system have produced some impressive big hitters of late, but with Rosa and a few others on the way up, it looks like the pitchers are starting to come as well.
12, 14, 15, 17, 22
User avatar
Cardinals
Posts: 7687
Joined: Sat May 18, 2002 1:00 am
Location: Manch Vegas, CT
Name: John Paul Starkey

Post by Cardinals »

Bailey, 21, has been on a roll all season, but his seven-inning, 10-strikeout outing last night against Toledo put an exclamation point on his season to date. He allowed three runs on five hitsóincluding a two-run homer to Erick Almonteóand two walks. Louisville manager Rick Sweet told The (Louisville) Courier-Journal:

"His stuff has just been electric coming out of his hands. All of his stuff is coming out of his hands better. Fastball, slider, curveball change-up; all of his pitches are better . . . Heís in much more control of what heís trying to do."
12, 14, 15, 17, 22
User avatar
Cardinals
Posts: 7687
Joined: Sat May 18, 2002 1:00 am
Location: Manch Vegas, CT
Name: John Paul Starkey

Post by Cardinals »

whatís not to like about a switch-hitting catcher? Sure heís a little fat, and doesnít receive very well at all, but he cuts down the running game and is making a bid for a quick move up to Double-A with a .453/.500/.895 line after 21 games that includes 15 doubles and seven home runs. He's way underrated in my book.
12, 14, 15, 17, 22
User avatar
Yankees
Posts: 4249
Joined: Fri Jan 31, 2003 1:00 am
Location: Fulshear, TX
Name: Brett Zalaski
Contact:

Post by Yankees »

His lack of having a name?
User avatar
Cardinals
Posts: 7687
Joined: Sat May 18, 2002 1:00 am
Location: Manch Vegas, CT
Name: John Paul Starkey

Post by Cardinals »

Pablo Sandoval
12, 14, 15, 17, 22
User avatar
Cardinals
Posts: 7687
Joined: Sat May 18, 2002 1:00 am
Location: Manch Vegas, CT
Name: John Paul Starkey

Post by Cardinals »

2007 fifth-round pick Connor Graham struck out nine in 7 2/3 scoreless innings for low Single-A Asheville on Friday.
Graham is 4-2 with a 2.25 ERA and a 32/14 K/BB ratio in 32 innings. He's a better bet to make it as a reliever than as a starter, but with his fastball-slider combination, he's an intriguing prospect.
12, 14, 15, 17, 22
User avatar
Cardinals
Posts: 7687
Joined: Sat May 18, 2002 1:00 am
Location: Manch Vegas, CT
Name: John Paul Starkey

Post by Cardinals »

The Scoop: A 2004 Tommy John surgery survivor, Rosa has a 93-95 mph fastball and a sharp curveball, and Texas League hitters were helpless against them this week. Last year, Rosa had the stuff but not the results; he had a 3.60 ERA with a pedestrian 85 strikeouts in 120 innings in four games with high Class A Wilmington and 21 more with Northwest Arkansas. This year, the results are catching up to his talent. Through six games, Rosa has a 1.32 ERA and a 32-5 K-BB ratio. It's early, of course, but it's the essence of player development when a pitcher like Rosa with excellent raw pitch quality makes the necessary improvements that lead to better on-field performance.



The Scoop: Just try to find a category in which McCutchen does not excel. The Indianapolis leadoff man is batting .296/.392/.546 on the season with 32 hits, 15 extra-base hits (six homers, nine doubles) and 20 runs scored, ranking second in the IL in all three categories. Still not impressed? Keep in mind that McCutchen was walked more times (15) than he has struck out (14), and that his slugging percentage ranks fifth in the league. An ideal leadoff man and a rangy center fielder, McCutchen is definitely a keeper.


Partial credit goes to Louisville RHP Homer Bailey (Reds), who struck out 10 Toledo batters Wednesday in a seven-inning gem. But he served up a home run in that start, and two others in his start last Friday, meaning his 1-1, 4.85 record over 13 innings doesn't quite warrant a higher ranking. The 21-year-old flamethrower struck out 16 over his two starts, though, while walking five and allowing 11 hits

Catcher Pablo Sandoval, 21, was a Futures Gamer last year, and the Giants always have believed in him as a hitter. We started to lose faith two years ago when he shifted off playing catcher, but he's started hitting for more power the last two seasons while returning to a spot behind the plate. One scout who saw him last week said Sandoval is squaring up a lot of balls right now, which is reflected in his statsóhis 23 extra-base hits for high Class A San Jose leads the minor leagues, and his .867 slugging percentage ranks second. And he had a monster week:.481/.531/.963 (13-for-27), with eight runs, five doubles, a triple, two homers and nine RBIs.
12, 14, 15, 17, 22
User avatar
Cardinals
Posts: 7687
Joined: Sat May 18, 2002 1:00 am
Location: Manch Vegas, CT
Name: John Paul Starkey

Post by Cardinals »

Pirates wrote:Top prospect. He has the stuff, and he's about to put it all together.
Athletics wrote:I'm bookmarking this post for when Gavin Floyd has an ERA of 6.50 at the end of April..
12, 14, 15, 17, 22
User avatar
Cardinals
Posts: 7687
Joined: Sat May 18, 2002 1:00 am
Location: Manch Vegas, CT
Name: John Paul Starkey

Post by Cardinals »

Tommy Hunter, RHP, 54th overall, $585,000 bonus
The only college pitcher selected early, the Rangers have challenged him with a full-season assignment at High-A Bakersfield, and heís responded fairly well to it, with a 3.95 ERA. He makes up for giving up 48 hits in 43 1/3 innings by walking only five. He provides a unique physical presence on the mound--standing six-foot-three and tipping the scales at somewhere between 250 and 260 pounds--but heís not a pure power pitcher. He adds and subtracts from his fastball, which generally sits in the 88-94 mph range with a lot of sink and he pounds the strike zone with it, as well as a solid curveball. His ceiling isnít tremendous, but he has what it takes to be a back-of-the-rotation starter.
12, 14, 15, 17, 22
User avatar
Phillies
Posts: 2918
Joined: Mon Apr 01, 2002 1:00 am
Name: Nick Perry

Post by Phillies »

haha! guess you were right about gavin floyd, so far. i can only imagine if the phils didnt trade him and gio for the latino heat. wed have a solid #4 and nick swisher... sigh.
User avatar
Giants
Posts: 3461
Joined: Thu Jan 20, 2005 1:00 am
Name: Jake Hamlin
Contact:

Post by Giants »

Pirates wrote:
Pirates wrote:Top prospect. He has the stuff, and he's about to put it all together.
Athletics wrote:I'm bookmarking this post for when Gavin Floyd has an ERA of 6.50 at the end of April..
I suppose the moral of the story is that Ed Wade just can't develop pitching. Good thing he's not going to get a chance to ruin Bastardo.
User avatar
Cardinals
Posts: 7687
Joined: Sat May 18, 2002 1:00 am
Location: Manch Vegas, CT
Name: John Paul Starkey

Post by Cardinals »

2007 first-round pick Daniel Moskos threw 6 2/3 scoreless innings for Single-A Lynchburg on Thursday.
The decision to make Moskos a starter is looking like a good one so far. He's fanned only 20 in 36 1/3 innings, but he's also walked just eight and he's been an extreme groundball pitcher, getting more than three outs on the ground for every one through the air.
12, 14, 15, 17, 22
User avatar
Cardinals
Posts: 7687
Joined: Sat May 18, 2002 1:00 am
Location: Manch Vegas, CT
Name: John Paul Starkey

Post by Cardinals »

The most intriguing player in this group is Sandoval, a 21-year-old switch-hitting catcher who signed out of Venezuela in 2003. Last year with San Jose, Sandoval (pictured at right) batted .287/.312/.476 in 423 plate appearances. But the most interesting part of Sandovalís story is that he played mostly first base last year. Sandoval last spent regular time at catcher in 2004 with short-season Salem-Keizer, where he spent 33 games behind the dish.

Heís now batting .415/.473/.728 in 165 plate appearances. Whether he has developed true power or if itís just a Cal League-aided illusion, Sandoval has the potential to keep his batting average upñthough not above .400, of courseñbecause of his contact-hitting ability. Last year Sandoval ranked second among qualified Cal League hitters in strikeouts per plate appearance (12.3 percent). He was second in that same category in 2005 in the short-season Northwest League (10.1 percent) and third in 2004 in the Rookie-level Arizona League (8.9 percent).

So howís he doing behind the plate? Itís way too early to tell much, but Sandoval has thrown out 12 out 20 basestealers (60 percent), the best mark in the Cal League.
12, 14, 15, 17, 22
Post Reply

Return to “Redbird Roost”