Re: Pittsburgh Pirates

[webba2000]

L'ho letto di sfuggita......devo iniziare a preoccuparmi?

http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081222&content_id=3725690&vkey=news_pit&fext=.jsp&c_id=pit

Secondo me no. Molto meglio così, a fare esperienza e crescere i giovani (in attesa di Pedro) che firmare i vari Morris e compagnia cantante.

[MILANO1946_ultrà]

Sì, ma magari sbaglio, ma tra il rookie e la superstar non c'è quel fitto sottobosco di player utili, non troppo costosi?

[MILANO1946_ultrà]

Da quanto ho letto (e capito) su MLB.COM altri nomi sulla lista della spesa non hanno firmato con i bucs.
Forse il più grosso è Baldelli che ha preferito accasarsi nelle calze rosse.
E i fans iniziano (sempre per quanto riguarda internet) a mugugnare.
Insomma, si prospetta, secondo me, un'annata ben peggiore di quella che ci si dovrebbe aspettare da una squadra "in costruzione".
Peggiore dello scorso anno, secondo me...

[MILANO1946_ultrà]

Ecco le nuove maglie 2009

[Pablets]

Finalmente avete tolto quella schifosa maglia rossastra

[MILANO1946_ultrà]

Meno male 

[MILANO1946_ultrà]

Maholm è dei nostri e arriva un aiuto dai Tampa.
Da MLB.COM


On Friday, the Pirates secured the long-term services of their breakout star pitcher and also signed a fourth outfielder.

After physicals were passed, lefty starter Paul Maholm inked a three-year contract worth $14.5 million with a fourth-year club option for 2012 worth $9.75 million. Veteran outfielder Eric Hinske also signed a one-year deal worth $1.5 million with incentives that could add another $1 million.

Maholm, who avoided arbitration with the signing, emerged as Pittsburgh's ace in 2008, when he went 9-9 with a 3.71 ERA and established career highs in innings pitched (206 1/3), strikeouts (139) and starts (31).

"I'm extremely happy," Maholm said during a press conference at PNC Park. "I couldn't be happier right now to get it done. It's kind of a load off me. Now, it's all about baseball and winning. You don't have to worry about going year-to-year. Some guys prefer it, but for me, this is perfect."

Scheduled to make $3.5 million this season, $4.5 million in 2010 and $5.75 million in 2011, the 26-year-old Maholm has all three arbitration years settled. A year of potential free agency is also covered if the option is exercised. The buyout for 2012 is worth $750,000.

"Both sides were realistic in their expectations," Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said. "Both sides wanted this to happen. His makeup, intelligence and pitch arsenal make us confident we'll feel as good four years from now as we do today."

Over his four seasons with Pittsburgh, Maholm has gone 30-35 with a 4.30 ERA in 96 starts. In 2007, he was 10-15 with a 5.02 ERA and pitched only 177 2/3 innings over 29 starts. He was the Pirates' first-round selection (eighth overall) in the 2003 First-Year Player Draft.

Last offseason, Maholm sought to take his career to the next level and made efforts to get into better shape. He also developed more maturity and his efforts proved successful both on the mound and, ultimately, in his checking account.

"I was upset with myself that I missed starts in '07," Maholm said. "I wanted to make sure I did everything possible to not have that happen again. To me, if you're in the starting five you should expect to go 200 innings. That should be your starting-out goal. To reach it was rewarding, but also made me go into this offseason knowing that I had to work even harder and make sure I came in even better shape and there are never any questions of whether I'm prepared to go out there."

Maholm's contract marks the second multi-year deal handed out by the Pirates this offseason, and the fifth time overall that Huntington has avoided arbitration with players by giving them long-term contracts.

In December, catcher Ryan Doumit signed a three-year contract worth $11.5 million with a two-year club option for 2012-13. Both Maholm and Doumit were arbitration-eligible for the first time this winter.

Outfielder Nate McLouth now remains the lone Pirates player eligible for arbitration.

Hot Stove
The left-handed-hitting Hinske batted .247 with 20 home runs and 60 RBIs in 133 games last season with the Rays. The 31-year-old can play both corner outfield positions, first base and third base.

Hinske, who was the 2002 American League Rookie of the Year with the Blue Jays, played in Toronto from 2002-06 and with the Red Sox in 2006-07. With Tampa Bay and Boston, he's appeared in the last two World Series.

"He's a great fit," Huntington said. "He's a blue-collar player, gritty. He's been around a winning environment."

Over his seven-year career, Hinske has batted .254 with 105 homers and 399 RBIs. As Spring Training loomed just two weeks away, he said he had about eight offers from around the league, but the Pirates contacted him a few days after he filed for free agency and pursued his services hard.

Going into camp, Hinske is expected to be a reserve outfielder but could slide into the starting left field spot should Nyjer Morgan not be able to retain his role. His signing could likely spell the end of utility player Doug Mientkiewicz's time in Pittsburgh, since the club now seems loaded with left-handed hitters.

"They were straightforward with me, and I appreciated that," Hinske said. "When I spoke to Neal Huntington, he assured me I'd get an opportunity to get some at-bats and be a big part of the clubhouse. It's been all positive for me. It seems like a pretty good opportunity for me. I'm happy to be a Pirate."

Another move is pending for Pittsburgh to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Hinske.

[MILANO1946_ultrà]

Evvai...prima vittoria contro i World Champs....

[MILANO1946_ultrà]

Adesso non vorrei dire, vabbè che lo ST è sempre una cosa a parte....ma quante ne stiamo vincendo?

[rene144]

Io spero che stiate seguendo la storia di Jose Tabata, sua moglie pregiudicata di 43 anni che ha rapito un neonato e la sua gravidanza di 24 mesi

[mattew88]

Karstens nominato quinto partente.

Jeff Karstens won the job of fifth starter for the Pirates over Virgil Vasquez by default, the Pittsburgh Post Gazzette reported.

Karstens was shelled by the Twins Wednesday, raising his ERA to 6.17, and he clearly was chosen because no better option could be found internally or externally.

"We talked about some things that I needed to work on," Karstens told the newspaper. "But it's my job, and I'm looking forward to it. I'm happy, but I know I have stuff to work on."

[Andy00]

Pirates split squad loses to college team 

Virgil Vasquez struggled for a Pirates split squad of minor leaguers in a 6-4 loss to Manatee Community College on Thursday, just days after he was beaten out for a spot in Pittsburgh’s rotation.

Derek Luciano hit a go-ahead two-run double in the sixth inning as Manatee beat a Pirates squad comprised of minor leaguers. Luciano had three hits and drove in three runs.

Manatee beat the Pirates for the first time in 11 games.

Manatee CC trailed 4-1 before scoring twice in the fifth against Vasquez, who was beaten out by Jeff Karstens this week for the No. 5 spot in the Pirates’ rotation.

In the sixth, Luciano doubled off Dave Davidson to score both runners.

Brad Corley was 2-for-2 with a run scored for the Pirates.

[samoiedo]

Però, come inizio non c'è male. Partita quasi persa per colpa del terzo inning dove è stato l'unico passaggio a vuoto di un boun Maholm nel complesso e per colpa della decina di uomini lasciati sulle basi. Poi d'incanto la grande reazione al 6° ma soprattutto al 9° inning. Da rivedere Andy LaRoche in difesa...Invece Wilson ha cominciato alla grande come l'anno scorso poi si era infortunato alla caviglia e aveva fatica a riprendersi. Male Yates sul monte ma l'anno scorso mi era piaciuto molto, quindi stavolta spero sia stato un episodio...

[Pablets]

Continuate così

[Whatarush]

7 a 4 con un grande Zach Duke e mazze moooolto calde (17 H).
Nate finalmente s'è sbloccato e l'ha fatto alla sua maniera...però la copertina va a Freddy Sanchez e Jack Wilson autori di 4 valide a testa!!!

Com'è questo Ohlendorf che lancia oggi?