Pirates Cove VII (2012)

so, we get no-hit to clinch a non-winning season, then our closer gives up a one-run lead(to 2 2011 Pirates - Paul and Ludwick) to clinch our 20th losing season in a row.

Solid finish, Buccos. Solid finish.
 
Last game of the year, boys.

lineup is:

Marte
Presley
Cutch
Jones
Alvarez
Jhay
Barmes
Barajas
Burnett

put Walker in for Jhay and replace the killer B's in the 7 and 8 spot and i like it for our opening day lineup next season.

here's to hoping.

FYI: hitting coach Ritchie leaving for GW. can only mean good things for the offense.
 
I hope that is indeed a blessing. This offense only really shines when Pedro is a threat. His inconsistency was a killer.

I really hope Tabata comes back next year with his head removed from his colon. Presley is a good bench guy, and Tabata has the potential to be a cornerstone type of player. Marte-Cutch-Tabata SHOULD be a feared outfield.

Consistency from the pitching staff over the long haul is going to be what I think everyone will be looking for next year. McDonald, Burnett, Karstens, and Rodriguez is a solid top 4. There are, however, two big "Ifs":

1. If Charlie Morton comes back healthy and in is 2011 form...
2. And if JMac avoids yet another mid-season meltdown...
then they will have a hell of a rotation.

Who knows, maybe we see G.C. pitch some next year as well. I at least hope to see he and Taillon pitching AAA.


Opening day next year, I'm hoping for:

Marte LF
Tabata RF
Cutch CF
Jones 1B
Walker 2B
Alvarez 3B
AnyonebutBarmes SS
Tony Sanchez C
McDonald P
 
I wouldn't be surprised to see Cole sometime by midseason next year. He was already up at AAA by years end wasn't he? I'm sure he'll be starting there next year. Taillon was at AA I think in his last couple starts. Personally I hope they give Cole a whole year at AAA and maybe give him a September callup. I saw him play against Akron this year and I will say, just from the pop of his pitches in the catchers mitt, you could tell he had velocity out the yin-yang. But he was done by the 4th or 5th because he was going 3-2 to almost everybody. He needs to find some control before he gets to the Show. I hope Taillon starts at AA so I can see him pitch in Akron at some point during the year.

I agree with Crusaders, also, Tabata needs to get over whatever it was that had him stuck in the mud the entire season. I dunno if it was his hamstring and he was afraid of aggravating or what, but he flat out looked lazy most of the season.

Gotta push conditioning on these guys over the offseason. Anything to help them last an entire season without falling on their face next year. And they absolutely MUST find CONSISTENCY. Alvarez, Cutch, Jones, McDonald, all had stretches playing out of their freaking minds, and then had long stretches where they couldn't hit a beach ball with a tennis racket if their lives depended on it. Hopefully Walker can recover from what I thought I heard was a herniated disc.

Looked at the Free Agents to be on MLB Trade Rumors, and first, I don't see Barmes, which makes me think it's a 2 year deal? Yikes. And in any case, there's no one on there that really seems like they're worth getting excited over. Bartlett or Yuni Betancourt may be the best names on that list. Same goes for catcher. Is Sanchez ready? He only hit .233 at AAA last year. I think he's still a year away.
 
Yeah, Cole spent the end of the season in AAA.

I think Sanchez is close to being ready. I'm hoping he impresses in the Spring.
 
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