****PITTSBURGH PIRATES 2007 THREAD**** (1 Viewer)

[The Hank]

Last year for Pirates baseball had its ups and downs, more downs than anything though. Yes, they did finish with a losing record AGAIN, made some bad offseason moves namely Jeromy Burnitz, Maholm and Duke took a small step backwards, and what not. However there also some positives from last season: Freddy Sanchez was the league leader in BA, Sanchez and Bay had All-Star Seasons, not to mention the ASG was in Pittsburgh!, Ronnie Paulino made huge strides last year and looks like a legit backstop for years to come, Ian Snell put himself together and was solid starter, Gorzelanny suprised, and the team is very young.

Very excited about the oncoming season, finished strong last year (37-35 after ASB). Didnt lose anyone notable in the offseason besides Gonzo, but picked up a solid option in LaRoche at first and Tony Armas Jr. who may end up as high as #4 in the rotation!

Where as I'm not trying to be too optimistic, I'm looking at the glass half full! Great young clubhouse is definitely growing up together, you don't hear this too often but I'm thinking... :.500:

Pirates fans, UNITE!, and RAISE THE JOLLY ROGER!

 

[The Hank]

Pirates finish bullpen, cut Hernandez, MatosFriday, March 30, 2007By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-GazetteBRADENTON, Fla. -- The Pirates filled out their bullpen today and are putting the finishing touches on their bench.Jonah Bayliss, John Wasdin and Juan Perez completed the seven-man relief staff. John Grabow was placed on the 15-day disabled list -- he is eligible to return April 7 -- because of an ailing elbow. The rest of the bullpen: Salomon Torres, Matt Capps, Damaso Marte and Shawn Chacon.Utilityman Jose Hernandez and outfielder Luis Matos were given unconditional releases. That left Nate McLouth, Ryan Doumit, Humberto Cota, Brad Eldred, Don Kelly and Jose Castillo as six players for five bench openings, pending a decision on second baseman Freddy Sanchez's status.The only certainty of the group was that Kelly, a Mt. Lebanon and Point Park College, will make the team.Sanchez, out since March 6 because of a sprained right knee, was scheduled to take multiple at-bats in a minor-league game this afternoon at Pirate City.Reliever Dan Kolb, told last night he would not make the team, was reassigned to minor-league camp. But he also was given permission to look around for another spot on a 25-man roster before deciding whether to report.Because Wasdin and Kelly had to have their minor-league contracts purchased, the 40-man roster is full.Wasdin, 34, quietly has had a strong spring in which he allowed one earned run in 10 1/3 innings, including 2 1/3 perfect innings Tuesday against the Boston Red Sox. He first pitched in the majors in 1995 and has made 316 appearances, including nine with the Texas Rangers last season. Bayliss, 26, missed the first three weeks of spring training to a minor leg injury, but he has limited opponents to two earned runs in 6 2/3 innings. He has struck out six. Perez, 28, has not allowed an earned run all spring and established himself a week ago as a lock.Kelly, 27, was one of the most significant surprises of camp, performing well at all infield positions while batting .265. He led the team with 68 at-bats, a clear sign that he was given a long look. He had two triples and a home run.Hernandez, 37, was trying for a third tour with the Pirates after batting .300 with four doubles in 40 at-bats. "I was probably surprised. I thought I did well," Hernandez said. "But I think they're going to go a different direction." Matos, 28, batted .271 with two home runs in 23 games and regularly received praise for sound defense. He spent last season with the Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals.

HERNANDEZ IS CUT!

 

[apalmer]

Pirates finish bullpen, cut Hernandez, MatosFriday, March 30, 2007By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-GazetteBRADENTON, Fla. -- The Pirates filled out their bullpen today and are putting the finishing touches on their bench.Jonah Bayliss, John Wasdin and Juan Perez completed the seven-man relief staff. John Grabow was placed on the 15-day disabled list -- he is eligible to return April 7 -- because of an ailing elbow. The rest of the bullpen: Salomon Torres, Matt Capps, Damaso Marte and Shawn Chacon.Utilityman Jose Hernandez and outfielder Luis Matos were given unconditional releases. That left Nate McLouth, Ryan Doumit, Humberto Cota, Brad Eldred, Don Kelly and Jose Castillo as six players for five bench openings, pending a decision on second baseman Freddy Sanchez's status.The only certainty of the group was that Kelly, a Mt. Lebanon and Point Park College, will make the team.Sanchez, out since March 6 because of a sprained right knee, was scheduled to take multiple at-bats in a minor-league game this afternoon at Pirate City.Reliever Dan Kolb, told last night he would not make the team, was reassigned to minor-league camp. But he also was given permission to look around for another spot on a 25-man roster before deciding whether to report.Because Wasdin and Kelly had to have their minor-league contracts purchased, the 40-man roster is full.Wasdin, 34, quietly has had a strong spring in which he allowed one earned run in 10 1/3 innings, including 2 1/3 perfect innings Tuesday against the Boston Red Sox. He first pitched in the majors in 1995 and has made 316 appearances, including nine with the Texas Rangers last season. Bayliss, 26, missed the first three weeks of spring training to a minor leg injury, but he has limited opponents to two earned runs in 6 2/3 innings. He has struck out six. Perez, 28, has not allowed an earned run all spring and established himself a week ago as a lock.Kelly, 27, was one of the most significant surprises of camp, performing well at all infield positions while batting .265. He led the team with 68 at-bats, a clear sign that he was given a long look. He had two triples and a home run.Hernandez, 37, was trying for a third tour with the Pirates after batting .300 with four doubles in 40 at-bats. "I was probably surprised. I thought I did well," Hernandez said. "But I think they're going to go a different direction." Matos, 28, batted .271 with two home runs in 23 games and regularly received praise for sound defense. He spent last season with the Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals.

HERNANDEZ IS CUT!