Matos Head North? Naw...

Did you read this little tidbit at the Post-Gazette today?

"It would appear that Luis Matos will have a hard time not making the Pirates' 25-man roster out of spring training . . Asked yesterday how Matos might fit in with the team's needs on the bench, general manager Dave Littlefield said that one of those needs will be "a right-handed hitting outfielder who also can play center field" to back up Chris Duffy." [link]

Let's see, there is Bay, Sanchez, Wilson, Nady, LaRoche, Paulino, Duffy, and Castillo. That makes 8 toward a 13-man bench. Then let's add Cota, Doumit, McLouth, Bautista, Hernandez, and Matos.

Hmm.. that's 14.

So who doesn't head North if Matos breaks camp with the Bucs? Nate McLouth? Ryan Doumit? Our backup catcher Cota? Jose Hernandez? Jose Bautista?

Nobody, that's who.

It's silly to think Littlefield is even entertaining Matos. I mean, are we supposed to believe Littlefield is going to dump a young player for Matos who has never played a full season in his seven year career?

Oh, that makes sense.

Perhaps we should throw away our backup catcher Cota and let Ryan Doumit catch if Paulino goes down for an extended period of time? You know what they say about catcher's in their sophomore year? It's called the break down year.

What a nightmare that would be watching Doumit catch 80+ games. Oh man. Sure, we could have no-arm Diaz in AAA who doesn't even know the staff. Gee, flip a coin - Diaz or Doumit.

What a mess.

Is there any possible way Hernandez doesn't break camp with the Pirates? No - none. We all know he heads north with the team. Besides, we don't have a reasonable backup solution for first base or shortstop without him. Plus, Hernandez can play either outfield corner, albeit right field is a bit of a stretch for him.

Since Littlefield ran after Bautista like he was his long lost puppy dog in the Benson trade, I doubt seriously he's going anywhere anytime soon.

Does McLouth or Doumit have any options left? If they do, I suppose Littlefield could send one of them packing to Indy until Matos breaks something, as he always does. But I don't see that happening. Maybe a trade of one of them?

Mmmaaybe. But seriously, who would even want them?

That means Matos is the least desirable player and won't make the team. I'm guessing what we are hearing is either organizational PR to get his head aligned with the idea that we need him sooo bad, he has to stay with us when we tell him to report to Indy and prove he can stay healthy, or more fodder to sell papers.

It makes no sense at all.

Why do Pirate fans have to suffer through all these ridiculous melodramas involving below average players? I have better things to do like reading Dejan's Penguins Q & A.

Oh wait.. I meant Pirates Q & A. It's so easy to get confused since all he has talked about lately has been the Pens. Geez.. you'd think there would be at least one decent baseball story in Bradenton.