Things that happen at parties...Puke in a Box...Of course!

Irate Musings - First Round Mess

Pitching wins championships. Hitting apparently gets your team over .500. Seasons with Kevin Young, Adam Hyzdu, Tike Redman, Matt Stairs, Mark Johnson, Abraham Nunez, Craig Wilson, Chris Stynes, Daryle Ward, Tim Laker, Chance Sanford, Doug Strange, Turner Ward, and Emil Brown gets your team high draft picks. This is who the Pirates selected in the First Round:

1994: Mark Farris, SS (11); Left organization in 1998 to play QB at Texas A&M (Pitt beat him in 2002)
1995: Chad Hermansen, SS (10); Traded to Cubs for Darren Lewis (retired day of Trade) 2002
1996: Kris Benson, RHP (1); IR Baltimore, Ty Willingham, Jose Bautista, Matt Peterson 2004
1997: J.J. Davis, OF (6); traded for Antonio Sucre 2004
1998: Clint Johnston, LHP (15) See Below
1999: Bobby Bradley, RHP (8) See Below
2000: Sean Burnett, LHP (19); AAA
2001: John Van Benschoten, RHP (8); AAA
2002: Bryan Bullington, RHP (1); AAA
2003: Paul Maholm, LHP (8); Current Roster
2004: Neil Walker, C (11); AA
2005: Andrew McCutchen, OF (11); AA
2006: Brad Lincoln, RHP (4); AA, Injured

J. J. Davis made my original list of losers then I remembered he was a former No. 1 pick. At least he made it to the show. Clint Johnston was not so lucky. Drafted as a Pitcher from Vanderbilt he was never able to muster up a winning record in the Minors (A) so he shifted his abilities to OF where he eventually fizzled out of baseball in 2005 never getting to AAA.
On that list, the Pirates current downfall can be pinpointed with the start of the 1999 draft. Drafted overall number 8, Bobby Bradley could have been the Pirates No. 1 starter this year and be completely dominate, but he is not. Bradley was drafted out of high school with a 12-1 record, 156 K's and a 0.38 ERA. Very impressive but high school competition is not a trustworthy stick measurement(Michel Therrien reference). His success continued in A, walking 4 and 31 K's. It was 2001 when the impressive curveball which guaranteed him success in the majors literally shredded his elbow. Fast forward 2005, he was diagnosed with a compressed nerve overcompensating other injuries and was released for Zach Duke on the 40 man roster.
This was the start...2000, 2001, 2002, and 2006 the story remains the same. However these picks are still on the team, they have all suffered arm trouble.
Now that Burnette, JVB, and Bullington are in AAA and Tony Aramas, Jr. stinking up the joint it is now time for the organization to hold their breathe with these guys and systematically start them in the majors. They should ride whomever gets hot until they blow out their arms for good and get some return . Only the strong will survive and let's face it. There is only one spot open, we have 3 young band-aid arms, and they have to prove their durability some time. By playing them in a systematic approach, we will able to limit their exposure to other teams, get them experience, limit their innings or rotation appearances and build this franchise around pitching.
The downfall is all three of them get hurt, but if just one succeeds then this team is better for it. Even if they do get hurt, they were going to get hurt anyway. They were already damaged goods. And there are too many for them to play (excellent planning ) if they succeed, they become trade bait or the nucleus of a staff. Just play them!!

With 4 games under .500, it's more interesting to watch young guys make it or literally break it. And it's 10,000 times better than watching freaking Tony Aramas, Jr. go 2 innings every 5 nights!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Another quality start by a Pirates pitcher. All they could manage was three hits. Lose 1-0... This is getting ridiculous!!! Milwaukee is in a smaller market with an equal attendance number than the Pirates. They are spending 20 million more in payroll than the Bucs. The Nuttings and McClathchey have to sell. We'll never have a chance with those bums running things!!!

Brian Jackson is now the biggest name to come out of Brookline. That is so horribly sad and absolutely hysterical all at the same time! You couldn't write that stuff!

Any Derby predictions?

I feel good about the Buc's start. The starting pitching has been very solid. The team ERA is down over one hole run compared to this time last year! That's a tremendous improvement. I'm fired up to see what happens once the bats warm up!

Bottom 7th - Cubs now winning 6-5

Hmmmmm...This might be the last inning...
Top of the order for the Bucs to lead off the 7th Inning. This game will be stopped. No Roy Hobbs tonight. My power is flickering here..... catch y'all later.

Top 7th

Grabow in now for the Pirates. Wilson makes a crazy back handed catch, running away from home in 3rd base foul territory. Bautista makes a routine play at 3rd keeping his fielding % perfect. I'll wait for the error now.... Double by Murtis off of Grabow (waiting to use Grablow...) Scores Izturis who singled prior. The run causes Tracey's mind to swell so his ego can be stamped on this game. Bayliss enters to Pitch. I can honestly say this kid scares me. I don't know why but he does a little. It's going to take time for me. Now I know why because he just lost the freaking lead by giving up a double, HR, and another double to Soriano, Floyd, and Lee respectively. Well this game has Tracey all over it. Mismanaged this bullpen. It is really starting to blow outside this game might end soon. Great top of 7th is over with a four spot by the Cubs to take the lead 6-5.

Bottom 6th - Pitcher Change

Rocky Cherry is in now for the Cubs. Pretty cool name. Two forces at 2nd ends this inning.

Bottom 6th

Ramirez makes a nice stop but can't make throw in time from his butt. Rain looks like it coming harder now and I can hear some thunder outside. The real test is that my dog is starting to Pace as she normally does when a big storms hit. Sinlgle to Left plugs in the grass, the field but be getting a little slick. Of coarse Lilly would say it was already slick but his circus antics fielding in the 1st two innings.

Top 6th

Lee leads off with a double. Bautista with the put out. Now lee tries to advance on a passball but Paulino guns him at 3rd. Great mechanics by Paulino on the throw to 3rd base. If you peep a replay of Barrets errorand toss in the 2nd you will notice that he "tapped" the throw which drives most scouts insane. It really is a timing gliche in a fielder to reset their body tempo. Many will say it's just wasted motion. However Paulino just reacted and fired getting the throw out in time.

Bottom 5th

Jacko leads off with a single. This game might fly partly because of the boys in Blue calling rediculous strikes. I hear rain outside but have a feeling some Booming T-Storms might be on the way. As long as it's not tied, we have a legal Game. Two quick outs and a caught stealing end this rally.

Top 5th

It's nice to have the pitcher lead off innings with a strikeout. Oh oh, don't look now but Armas seems to be getting in a groove. 1,2,3 inning. On to the the bottom.

Correction to last post Bottom 4th

Well as I posted Paulino rips one over RF fence for I believe his 2nd HR of the year. That is going to be a big run this game. Duffy has looked locked in so far this year. It sounds like he is really batting with an agenda. He take strike 3 looking. Could be one of the worst called strikes ever seen. Duffy's reply to the blue "That was not even close". I must say, I agree completly with him.

Bottom 4th

Hayzues LaRoche first pitch swinging pops up. The Bucs lost all goodwill in the 1st 3 innings.

Top 4th

Leave it to the Pirates to offensively put this game in tempo. A quick 1,2,3 inning was not what the doctor ordered. Going into the 4th Cubbies make a quick out but Armas insists on handing a free pass. The announcers are commenting on the Cubs impressive $300 million payroll. I guess it easy to spend money when you are planning to sell the team and make it someone elses problem. Estimated value of team is $600 million. Another big goose egg for Armas. I was really expecting him to get touched up after the walk. Hope things stay settled down. I have a feeling the Pirates will help the cause in the bottom half.

Bottom 3rd

Bay grounds out to 3rd after his normal strikeout in the 1st with bases loaded, no outs.

Still top of 3rd

Huge DP to close the top end for the Bucs. I hope Lilly wasn't able to catch his breathe with the few hits the Cubbies picked up in the 3rd. Lilly has to be tiring quickly with all the defense he has been subject tonight.

Cubs vs Bucs

Top of 3rd Inning

The score right now is 2-4 in favor of the Bucs. This looks like it going to be a weird one. Tony Armas and Ted Lilly face off tonight. This is quickly turning into a slugfest, but anything involving Armas usually does turn into a slugfest.