Tidbits
It was announced at MLB.com yesterday that Angels GM Bill Stoneman is stepping down. The buzz in the biz is that Tony Reagins will be taking over.
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Paul Meyer reported today that the Pirates grabbed ex-Yankee Kevin Thompson off waivers from Oakland. Meyers went on to suggest the Pirates made the move to stock their minor league system.
I'm not so sure.
Considering Xavier Nady and Jason Bay are healthy next year, and assuming Nate McLouth will still be on the roster, that leaves Steven Pearce, Adam Boeve, and Andrew McCutchen in Indy's outfield to open the year so Thompson doesn't fit.
That means Huntington is either planning to drop McCutchen back to AA to begin the year (what I would do) giving center to Thompson at Indy, or is planning on looking Thompson over for the Pirates centerfield job next year (more probable).
Thompson has more tools than Phelps, McLouth, or Morgan do as fourth outfielders go, but he just hasn't been able to put them together and make them work in the organizations he's been in. He was blocked in both Oakland and Yankees systems so it is possible Huntington is thinking Thompson could survive in Pittsburgh.
Plus, Thompson has a relationship with two manager candidates - Trent Jewitt and Torey Lovullo as they both coached him for a short time in the 2005 Futures Game.
Make no mistake about it - other than the fact he's a line drive hitter who sprays the ball well, he's basically a marginal player at best much like Morgan.. or McLouth.. or Phelps.. or anyone else not names Nady or Bay on the Pirates outfield roster.
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"As Frank [Coonelly] has said, as he did his due diligence . . . my name kept popping up from various sources." - Neal Huntington, October 14, 2007
Wow - talk about a load. This cat just can't stop.
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Andrew McCutchen is starting to light it up in the AFL. He's 4 for his last 10 including a two-out rbi trip, trip, triple Monday night as I write this. His first AB Monday was a hard shot to center off 2001 fourth rounder Ricky Nolasco of the Marlins.
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An email today asked me what would it take for the Pirates to win the division in 2008?
Well, assuming Bay and all our starters are 100% healthy, if we signed Torii Hunter to play center, put Bay in left, picked up Bobby Abreu to play right, LaRoche at first, Sanchez at second, Wilson at short, signed Mike Lowell to play third, and brought in Mariano Rivera, Eric Gagne, Curt Schilling, and Francisco Cordero, we could probably buy a division title, even with Paulino catching. hehe
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Josh Fogg - what a guy. I still remember when he went 2-12 or something in Pittsburgh and was removed from the rotation.
Now if you asked me then if I ever expected Fogg to be pitching in the playoffs, I would have said your nuts unless he was relieving. But, there he is with a win.
Didn't Boeve's first year count as a full year? If so, he'd be a 5 yr F.A., right? Signing a 23 y.o. and assigning him to low A in his first full season-typical of the idiots who were running the show.
Thompson will be in AAA most if not all of the season. He's most likely protection for an injury.
Gagne may be on Boston's post season roster, but he sure as heck hasn't done anything worthwhile since they've had him. But, if you're guaranteeing a post season appearance with him, I'll take it! If you're going to upgrade the roster, why not add a lB who can hit his weight the first two months of the season???
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Jake,
After comparing Kevin Thompson and Josh Phelps stats, it is easy to see that Phelps seems to be the better player. More power, higher batting average. For a team so completely devoid of power off the bench, I think it is a questionable call to get rid of Phelps. Phelps played very well during his time here, I think he would be a very solid bench guy for us next year. Do you really think that the Thompson signing is going to push Phelps out the door? If so, it will be the first official bonehead move by Huntington.
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Comment by Jake -- McLouth, Phelps.. McLouth, Phelps.. hmm.. I dunno.. about the same kind of utility guy to me except McLouth can play any OF position and has some speed.
I think Phelps will get his chance just like Thompson and McLouth will and the best two men will go North with the team next year (that is, if nobody else is brought in to challenge this group).
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So you don't think that Thompson was claimed instead of offering Phelps arbitration? That is a relief if true. I can see some similarities between McLouth and Phelps, but Thompson does not look impressive at all. Phelps minor league power numbers are FAR superior to Thompsons. He has hit 20+ HRs 5 times in his minor league career and hit 20 HR at the major league level in 2003.
All said, I just think that it would make way more sense to keep Phelps. Hopefully Huntington will offer him arbitration.
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Jake,
I'm fairly new to your site, about a month, but I must tell you how much I enjoy it.
1) I understand about half of the numbers you throw out, but I do recognize the effort you make in coming up with them. 2) I agree with about half of your comments, but I appreciate that you at least have some sort of rational reasoning. 3) But I really love the comments - you seem to generate a whole of emotion from your readers.
I will look for you around Pirate City next March.
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I know Fogg never posted low ERA's as a Bucco, however, he had one of the best winning percentages of the starters during his time with the team. His career totals are 60 wins and 60 losses, and the majority of those games were pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates - what was the Pirates winning percentage during Fogg's tour of duty? - that's right - not as good as Fogg's!
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