It's been a while...

Just as my girlfriend predicted, I neglected to update this blog for several months.

Although my blog remained dormant, my life, thankfully did not.

A few events in the sports world have prompted me to update this blog...

1) Pirates Managerial Search

The Pirates wasted no time firing John Russell at the end of the season. While I don't think Russell was the reason the team lost over 100 games, I'm not sure he was the right manager for the future of the club either.

The biggest problem I have with the whole process is that people seem to want to see Neal Huntington lose his job as a way of ownership showing that losing won't be tolerated.

Neal smartly realized that if the team is not going to contend in 2010 (a fair assumption), it makes no sense to spend an extra $10 million or so to maybe improve their win total to 70 wins. What good does a 70-win season do?

Many teams remain in a hole for years because of this apparent need to show their fans that they are serious about winning. As a result, they sacrifice the future, spend money unwisely in the short run, and remain in a situation where your big league club is underperforming, and you have a less than promising future. Look at the hole the New York Knicks put themselves in attempting to win via overpaid free agents for years.

The Pirates have spent the most money on the amateur draft over the last 3 seasons including 2010 draftees Jameson Taillon and Stetson Allie. Not to mention International signee Luis Heredia. They have a big league roster that has talented young players like Andrew McCutchen, Pedro Alvarez, Neil Walker and Jose Tabata. The 2010 Altoona Curve won the Eastern League championship thanks to contributions from Andrew Lambo, and pitchers like Bryan Morris, Rudy Owens, Justin Wilson and Jeff Locke.

There is talent on the horizon. With likely #1 pick Anthony Rendon on his way in June, and Tony Sanchez on the horizon behind the plate, the future is bright.

While Pirates fans certainly have every right to be frustrated after nearly two decades of sub .500 baseball could, it was a necessary evil for them to get even worse before they could get better. Those enjoying the Pirates run of success in a few years can look to Neal cleaning house and building through a strong minor league system as the impetus behind the success.

Is it clear I'm a Neal Huntington fan?

OK, back to the managerial situation. If the Pirates do need to show that losing won't be tolerated, and somebody's job must be lost as a result of 105 losses, Russell is the obvious candidate to go. Why? Because a manager is not as important to the team's success and future as the general manager.

While I didn't have many issues with how JR managed the bullpen, his propensity to bunt often drove me nuts. Too many times I saw Andrew McCutchen lead off with a double only to see Jose Tabata bunt him over to third base, robbing the Pirates of a potentially large inning.

I was a bit shocked that Wedge took the Mariners job, and it seems no effort was made to even interview John Farrell. It's possible Huntington reached out to Farrell only to be turned down. With only Bannister, Porter and Carlos Tosca left as candidates, none of these names particularly excite me. I'm hoping that more candidates are interviewed within the next couple of weeks.

2) Playoff Baseball/Media coverage

I'm not sure what it is about October baseball that turns supposedly intelligent people into morons, what I've read on Twitter by people who get paid to write about baseball for a living has made my head spin.

While I didn't agree with all of Joe Girardi's decisions, I don't get the backlash against his using a binder which supposedly contains statistical information. Would people really prefer he based his decisions on nothing but gut instinct? The IBB to Murphy in Game 4 was inexcusable. The first 2 IBBs to Josh Hamilton in Game 6 were inexcusable, but I actually read one writer faulting for not using Mariano Rivera in the 9th inning of Game 4 when the Yankees trailed 7-3.

Really?

You'd use your best relief option to protect a 4 run deficit when there's a more important Game 5 the next day?

This writer's brilliant logic was that because the Yankees rallied to win Game 1 while trailing 5 runs in the 8th, they surely could win Game 4. When I pointed out that with a 4 run deficit in the Top of the 9th, their Win Expectancy (found on fangraphs in a matter of a few seconds) was around 1.4%, I was ridiculed for "liking math."

Is this really what we've come to? When intelligence and logic is ridiculed?

Like I said, I don't agree with all of Girardi's moves, and some of his moves were definitely costly, but Girardi didn't get shutout by Cliff Lee. Girardi wasn't overmatched by Colby Lewis. The Yankees were outplayed, and there wasn't a whole lot Joe was going to do about that.

The Rangers were a better team over 6 games. It happens.

My brother sent me a link that should be mandatory reading every October courtesy of it's about the money:

http://itsaboutthemoney.net/archives/2010/10/06/larry%E2%80%99s-rational-guide-to-the-post-season/

If we could get every talking head who appears during the postseason to do this, I'd have a lot less to make fun of.

I apologize for the long gap in between posts, and while there will probably be an equally long gap before my next post, I will attempt to post something when I feel captivated to do so.

Go Bucs!

04/27/09 - Pirates 7 - Brewers 3

Yesterday's 17-3 drubbing seems like a distant memory after tonight.

The Pirates ended their 7 game losing streak tonight with a come from behind victory over the Brewers.

Jeff Karstens was a breath of fresh air for the Pirates pitching staff going 6.2 innings, scattering 6 hits and 4 walks allowing only 2 runs. The walk total seems a bit high, but his command was better than the line indicates as Sam Holbrook was inconsistent in calling the knee high fastball away from left handed hitters. Karstens departed in the 7th with the score tied at 2 following a George Kottaras home run to lead off the inning.

Javier Lopez, the team's LOOGY was summoned to face Prince Fielder in the bottom of the 8th and quickly gave up a massive home run to centerfield. Employing a pitcher who is effective against only one type of hitter is a luxury that I don't feel a team like the Pirates can afford. It's one thing if you're in the American League with fewer pitching changes, and have a team with starters that can last deeper into the game, but I feel a LOOGY severely limits any team's bullpen flexibility, especially the Pirates.

Brendan Donnelly, who recorded the final 2 outs of the 8th earned the win following a tremendous rally in the 9th inning against Trevor Hoffman.

In a controversial move, John Russell sent Ronny Cedeno and his .242/.266/.339 batting line to the plate instead of left handed hitting Ryan Church. Cedeno then homered deep to left field igniting the Pirates' rally. I still would have pinch hit with Church, but the move worked tonight.

Following an Andrew McCutchen strike out, Andy LaRoche drilled a base hit to left for his fourth hit in the game - his second four hit game in his last three, and Lastings Milledge doubled to left field. After a Garrett Jones walk, Ryan Doumit broke out of his power slump with a massive grand slam to right field.

DJ Carrasco worked a tidy ninth to end the 7-game losing skid.

The good:
Jeff Karstens
6.2 IP 2 ER. A fine effort that gave the bullpen a much needed rest.

Jeff Clement
A 3 hit night, 3 against a tough left hander including a double to center, a towering home run to right field, and a sharp base hit to left. He seems to be turning around his bad luck, after he had a bunch of hard hit balls converted into outs early in the year. I think showing some patience with Clement will pay off as he has a good approach and the guy's power is completely legit.

Ryan Doumit
Following a tough game yesterday both offensively and defensively in yesterday's 17-3 loss, Doumit broke out with a 3 hit night, including the game winning grand slam.

Andy LaRoche
Andy continues to swing a hot bat racking up 4 hits. Hopefully the power will start to come around, but that's just a small nitpick given his torrid hitting streak.

Tomorrow's game time is 1:05 with Paul Maholm (1-2, 4.74 ERA) and Chris Narveson (1-0, 7.20 ERA) the scheduled starters.

The Pirates look to win(!!!) the series at Miller Park before taking on a wounded Dodger team in LA.

Introduction

If you're reading this, welcome to the site. I originally was reluctant to blog because I feel like it seems like everybody has one lately, but I enjoy writing, and especially enjoy writing about my biggest passion - baseball.

If you're wondering what my rooting allegiances are, allow me to present my convoluted baseball history.

Because I'm from Hamilton, Ontario, about 50 miles from the Rogers Centre (home of the Toronto Blue Jays) you'd expect me to be a Blue Jays fan. Wrong.

Here's the story. I grew up in a household and family of New York Yankee fans. My mom grew up watching Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris long before the Toronto Blue Jays existed. My dad's uncle - whose shoe shine shop my dad worked at - was also a New York fan and in turn, turned all his nephews into Yankee fans.

But my upbringing leads me to Pittsburgh. My mom's aunt lived in Erie, PA, and much of my childhood was spent taking weekend trips around Lake Erie to visit her. There was rarely a trip that didn't involve heading south to Pittsburgh and taking in a Pirates game at Three Rivers. My earliest baseball memories involve watching baseball at Three Rivers, and can remember my disappointment vividly when Sid Bream narrowly beat Barry Bonds' throw to beat the Pirates in Game 7 of the 1992 NLCS. For proof, here is my baseball card taken in 1991 at Three Rivers Stadium:



In case you haven't heard, this is the last time the Pirates were any good. While I never stopped visiting Pittsburgh, and have always liked the Pirates, my allegiances have taken many twists and turns.

As mentioned previously, my parents are Yankee fans. In the mid-late 90s it was the in thing to be a Yankee fan, and given that everybody in my family liked the Yankees, it was the easy thing for me to do.

But around that time, something happened. I was 13 years old in 2000 and I was beginning to take my own baseball more seriously. I was (and still am) a pitcher, and was instantly mesmerized by Pedro Martinez. There was something about Pedro that was special. Every game was a big event with the potential for something extremely special to happen. Being a pitcher, I could truly appreciate his greatness. But it wasn't just his ability to dominate the best hitting era of all time with a slight 5'10 180 pound frame that was incredible. Pedro was the total package. Charisma, arrogance, swagger, humour, he had it all.



This led me to the Red Sox, and in 2002 when I finally got the MLB Extra Innings package, I was able to watch every Pedro start, which in turn, turned me on to the Red Sox.

I remain a loyal Red Sox fan to this day, but I will admit things haven't been the same since Pedro departed for the Mets in the Winter of 2004. I have seen the players and characters that I love leave one by one, to the point where only 3 players from my beloved 2004 Championship remain with the team.

I have followed Pedro to the Mets and Phillies, but I have never adopted these teams as I adopted the Red Sox. My Pedro fandom has led me to many great experiences, including watching his Game 2 World Series start in 2009 from a seat at Yankee Stadium. I am a Pedro fan above all else, and am anxiously awaiting his return to a Major League field in 2010.

Through this, my fondness for the Pirates has never dissipated. Watching the failures of front office and management from afar broke my heart. The city of Pittsburgh, and the loyal fans deserved better.

Last summer, when showing my girlfriend around Pittsburgh, we went to PNC Park to watch the Pirates play the Phillies. Being a Pedro fan above all else, I wore my Phillies Martinez jersey to the game. But something felt off. Pedro wasn't pitching, I was watching Joe Blanton and Cole Hamels pitch, and I really wanted the Pirates to win. I decided it was time for me to really rekindle my love for the Pirates, no matter how poor their record is.

Being a believer in Sabermetrics, I have enjoyed seeing what Neal Huntington has done with the team. I believe that for the first time in nearly two decades there is reason for optimism in the Burgh. When I listen to Huntington speak, I feel confident knowing that he has a sensible plan and it is only a matter of time before the Pirates experience a serious revival.

So while Pedro Martinez is in the twilight of his illustrious career, I look forward to watching another Pedro revitalize my Pirates for years to come.

This blog will be a baseball blog with a focus on the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. Pedro Martinez will continue to be a much discussed topic on this blog, and expect for me to mix in anecdotes about my own baseball. (Which by the way if you're interested you can follow here: http://theibl.ca and http://www.hamiltonthunderbirds.org)

Thanks again for visiting.