Will the Pittsburgh Pirates make the playoffs this year?

Ummm this is a big no for me but I would love to see them do it.

 

There not even close to the best pitching staff in baseball.

 

Die hard Pirates fan here and I say no. Though I have been pushing the idea with my friends that they should go after Reyes at ss. With their pitching doing as well as it has it would be nice to bring a good bat into one of their weaker spots to try and make a push. Perhaps get a solid hitting vet to play either first base shortstop or right field and show the fans that they(management) care a little now that they are playing good ball.

 

They're not ready yet and are nowhere near the best pitching staff in the NL.

 

There's no way they're even close to being the best pitching staff in the MLB, and this is coming from a big Charlie Morton fan too. Look I'd love to see Pittsburgh win the NL Central but you got to be realistic, they just don't have the talent some of the other teams like the Cardinals and Brewers have.

 

How about a Cleveland vs Pittsburgh World Series?

I hate that MLB has forced me into some Catch-22. I REALLY want small market teams to do well because they have to be PERFECT to compete with the big boys.

But every time a small market team has some success, MLB points to it as a reason to not change the current system.

The way things are, even when small market teams have success, their fan base is so turned off from the years and years of losing that the 2-3 year window of success isn't enough to keep the fans going. I have to image that even with record profits, the current model is going to break in the near future. Television contracts changed the game and it is getting out of hand.

/rant

 

I would enjoy seeing Pittsburgh lose to Atlanta in the NLCS [again] but they have some work to do. I think Charlie Morton is pretty good too. Pretty impressive how effectively he's copied Roy Halladay's delivery on the mound. Not many better guys to emulate. That Nate McClouth trade is looking a lot better for Pittsburgh these days.

 

As my old man says, "The sun doesnt shine on a baseball season until mid-August"......

I'll check back then....but crap bro I would like to see them do it...why not?

 

Not even close.

Best staff in the MLB? They'd be like, 4th in just the NL East alone.

 

I don't know but I sure hope so.

 

Cutch was named to the all-star team tonight during the game, which got a standing ovation.

 

He should have already been there.....It was a joke he wasnt orignally named to go..........

 

That dude is like Jose Reyes..but with heart.

Most exciting baseball player in MLB imo.

 

Yea, he definitely should have been in earlier. One of the best in baseball right now.

 

That is good news. He definitely deserves it. Now if Tommy Hanson would get named to the team all could be right in the NL universe. For the most part.

 

kevin correia got in today

 

I'm sure he's a good pitcher but him over Hanson is a joke. A guy with an ERA of four. Seriously? Was he another stellar Bruce Bochy selection?

 

I'm pretty sure when a pitcher is replaced on the roster the next highest vote getter at that position goes in automatically. The rules changed a few years ago when Joe Torre took a bunch of Yankees that weren't really deserving so the MLB offices stepped in and now the players and coaches vote on who they think should go. But yeah as you can see even having the players and coaches voting doesn't always get the right/most deserving guys in.

 

This is Jeff Karstens we're talking about right? And no he didn't deserve to be on the team as much as anyone nor did Correia especially over someone like Tommy Hanson. Sure the 2.55 ERA looks nice (Hanson's ERA is even better anyway) on the surface but both Karsten's and Correia's advance stats don't match their performance to date and Karsten's other stats besides the ERA (which isn't a great indictor of pitcher performance anyway) aren't All Star level or even close to it. Karsten's WAR is at .1 which means he's barely a replacement level player while Tommy Hanson is at 2.2 and Hanson's other stats (normal and advance are much better than Karsten's).

Karsten is due to a big regession in the 2nd half ERA wise, I mean 17 home runs allowed in less than 100 innings? Yeah I'd chalk up Karsten's ERA to simply luck (his FIP is .467 and xFIP is .382 which are more advance stats used to measure ERA which includes things out of the pitcher's control like defense and ballpark factors). Basically a good way to look at Karsten is to think about what happened with Charlie Morton recently and that's what's going to happen to Karsten, only worse, who doesn't have the stuff or talent as Morton does.

 

It's July 16th right now, come back at the end of the year and let's talk about Jeff Karstens. He pitched a good game, it was against a terrible Houston line up but he pitched a good game none the less. Still, what you don't seem to realize or even acknowledge is that besides his ERA none of his other stats (regular or advance) are any good nor match his low ERA. Let's not even mention his stuff or talent (which isn't good either).

I'm pretty confident he's not going to keep this up. But hey laugh all you want on July 16th, I'll be around when the season ends and we can talk about him more. Hey if he keeps it up I'll be more than happy to admit I'm wrong (it's happened many times before and I always admit it when I am) but I hope if/when Karstens turns back into a pumpkin you'll be here to own up to it too.

Right.... because I don't think Jeff Karstens is very good hurts my credibility?

 

And it looks like they will be adding a GOOD bat in the coming weeks. They also want to add a starting pitcher and reliever. Pence or Pena come on down....crosses fingers.

 

Jeff Karstens absolutely sucks my firend, I had the "luxary" of watching him, when he was on NY....listen I am rooting for the Pirates, I truely am, but if and when that do make the playoffs, the flaws are magnified 10-fold.....

Karstens would get his **** absolutely light up by Boston's lineup.....we are talking 5IP-100+ pitches min.....

 

yeah I think they should definately make a move for Beltran.....especially if NY is going to pay the salary.....you guys have a couple of minor leaguers you could toss their way I am sure....he brings experience, and a steady veteran presence...

 

Exactly right. Look I'm rooting for the Pirates too but people need to be realistic about them. Like you said Karsten's numbers don't match his talent or stuff and all his underlining stats point towards a regression. The only thing that helps the Pirates in the 2nd half is that the NL Central is pretty weak (as is the whole NL in general) so they do have a chance to stay on top. I'd still bet against it but hey I'm rooting for them.

 

In that craptastic division, sure.

 

Thing is in the NL anything can happen, Philly has to be the favorites but their bully is awful, and we know how badly a bully is needed in the playoffs. How is Pitt's bullpen?

 

Honestly the only pitcher I really like on their roster is Hanrahan. Everyone else is pretty average/ordinary and I'm the biggest Charlie Morton fan in the world but he's really just a back end starter and the team is full of them no matter what their stat lines may say.

 

I like Garrett Jones....

 

What exactly do you like about Garrett Jones? If the Pirates can deal him for Willingham or Breslow it would be a big upgrade for them. Although I can't see Billy Beane going for someone like Jones though, I think either guy has more value than that.

 

Oh no I would do that deal in a nanosecond.....I like Jones' swing......I just think he hasnt come all the way into it yet...I mean you are big on the development of a player regardless of age, if he does come into it all the way the guy has power...

 

Garrett Jones has a career SLG % of .449 and an OPS of .773 in 1364 plate appearances at the MLB level and a SLG % of .450 and OPS of .763 in 4181 minor league plate appearances. He's now 30 years old, I'm going to go out on a limb and say he never had much power and isn't likely to develop any in the future. Outside of a few good games in 2009 when he went on a power tear he's been pretty average if that. The bat doesn't play at any corner spot and he just doesn't get on base to be an everyday player not to mention he's a below average defender. And he can't hit LHPing.

So let's recap quickly, he's a poor corner OF/1B defender with (I guess we can call it) average power, no speed, doesn't get on base and can't hit LHPing. Not sure that there's anything to like there. Maybe he could be a pinch hitter off the bench but he's going to be nothing more then the 25th man on a good team if that.

 

He's also 30 years old.

 

Not saying he is the next coming of the Babe, He has a little over 2 years in the bigs, hey sometimes it takes time to develop certain aspects IDK, Granderson couldnt hit LHP even worse than Jones, now what is he doing? I believe he is the best now.....all I am saying is I like his swing, doesnt mean he is good, bad, or will be in the HOF...I am surprised he isnt better, because it isnt a overly flawed swing....