Writing this while watching Pirates-Dodgers on ESPN.com on a 60 second auto refresh I came to a conclusion. I don't know whether I am ready for a good baseball team in Pittsburgh, and I don't think the Pirates are either. Instead of making the decision to build the team with quality young players, they did what they always do. They went out and spent money on mediocre aging players to try to temporarily fill holes in the line-up. They spent $6M on a 36 year old closer (Octavio Dotel) and $5.3M on a 30 year old back-up shortstop (Bobby Crosby). By they way, they are their 2 highest paid players.
The correct way to build a team ,the way the Tampa Bay Rays were able to build an AL Pennant winning team, is with youth and a good farm system. The Pirates have neither.
There is only 1 marquee player in their farm system, 3B Pedro Alvarez. (Expect him to be called up shortly after June 1 if not earlier) Other than that, they do not have a player worth putting hope into the future with. Every year the Pirates make trades to try to get "prospects" and they seem to miss every time. Jeff Karstens was supposed to be a great prospect of a pitcher from the Yankees. In his second start with the Pirates he threw a 1 or 2 hitter. He is now in the minors.
Lets take a look at the other big problem, age. The pirates roster looks like a Dave Matthews Band crowd.
Player ages:
1B - Jeff Clement (26)
2B - Akinori Iwamura (31)
2B - Delwyn Young (27)
SS - Ronny Cedeno (27)
SS - Bobby Crosby (30)
3B - Andy Laroche (26)
OF- Garrett Jones (28)
OF - Lastings Milledge (25)
OF - Andrew McCutchen (23)
OF - Ryan Church (31)
C - Ryan Doumit (29)
Only Milledge and McCutchen are under the age of 26!! If you are building a franchise, you need young talent. Players start coming into their prime at 26, 27, 28. All of these players are peaking or have peaked. The only saving grace is if their starting rotation can pull it together this year and throw all season like they did in the first few months of 2009.
Player ages:
SP - Zach Duke (26)
SP - Paul Maholm (27)
SP - Ross Ohlendorf (27)
SP - Charlie Morton (26)
SP - Daneil McCutchen (27)
Duke, Maholm and Ohlendorf have had time to throw and develop. If they can continue to grow and improve, the Buccos have a shot at 81 wins this year.
Record: 2-1
Remaining wins for .500: 79
One other thing about this season is Garrett Jones. I am not convinced yet. As I pointed out above, he is an aging player. He just spent 6-8 years in the minors for a reason. His power came on as he got called up last year.
Current Stats
3 games:
.273 avg; 3 HRs; 6 RBI
.429 OBP
1.091 SLG
1.519 OPS
Off to a great start, but he went 0-3 today with 2 walks. Pitchers will start to throw around him due to lack of protection in the line-up.
Amount I am drinking the juice...10 %
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