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2009 vs 2010: The offense
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The Pirates won only 62 games in 2009, meaning they will need a significant jump simply to sniff a .500 season. Where will that major improvement come from? Let’s find out. First, the offense. -
Is Garrett Jones for real?
2 Comments.Garrett Jones arrived in Pittsburgh with a bang last summer, blasting ten home runs in his first 19 games. Many people, such as me, said it would never last. But Jones just kept hitting, finishing the season with a .293/.372/.567 line in 358 plate appearances. What will happen in 2010? Is Garrett Jones for real?
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Revisiting the Nate McLouth trade
11 Comments.I understand why the Nate McLouth trade incensed many Pirate fans. McLouth was a quality player and a fan favorite. He was one of my favorites, too. But once we get past the emotional reaction, we see that the trade of McLouth, along with the subsequent acquisition of Lastings Milledge, did not exactly hurt the Pirates.
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2009 vs 2010: The offense »
February 24, 2010 12:00 am
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Is Garrett Jones for real? »
February 22, 2010 12:15 am
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Revisiting the Nate McLouth trade »
February 15, 2010 10:45 pm
Pittsburgh Lumber Co.
What caused the second-half collapse in 2009?
The Pirates performed at a historically poor level after the trade deadline in 2009. Fans have criticized the front office for making few changes to that roster heading into the upcoming season. But GM Neal Huntington targeted the true weaknesses, and upgraded virtually all of them.
A quarter-century as a Pirates fan
I have spent the past 25 years cheering on the Pirates. From the days of Rafael Belliard and Jose Lind to Jack Wilson and Andrew McCutchen, it has been mostly an experience of disappointment and heartbreak. But I would not trade the memories for anything in the world. Join me as I do my best to recap the past quarter-century.
Read moreAndrew McCutchen vs. Justin Upton: A contract analysis
Justin Upton signed a six-year, $51.25 million contract extension with the Diamondbacks last week. Andrew McCutchen is at a similar career point as the Diamondbacks’ young phenom, so it is reasonable for us to speculate how a potential McCutchen extension would compare to Upton’s freshly signed deal.
Optimizing the Pirates’ lineup
Adjustments to the batting order generally make very little difference over the course of 162 games. What matters is who is in the lineup, not the order in which they bat. That being said, every single run counts. Join me as I attempt to determine the Pirates ideal batting order for 2010.
Pirates plate discipline in 2009
Patience is an issue that the Pirates have seemed to struggle with at the plate for years. Unfortunately, it did not get much better in 2009. A number of the team’s hitters battled free-swinging tendencies, and the numbers confirm this.
Is Bob Nutting pocketing profits?
If you don’t trust Bob Nutting, that’s fine. I’m not sure I completely trust him myself. But let’s knock him for things we know for certain, not for commonly accepted “realities” that are unsubstantiated and, honestly, don’t make a whole lot of sense.
Mental toughness
In January, the Pirates hired Bernie Holliday away from West Point to be the team’s mental health conditioning coordinator. He will begin working with the organization’s minor league players. Read this interview with Holliday.
Hanrahan may return by opening day
The opening of spring training brought news of an elbow injury for Joel Hanrahan. However, an MRI and a subsequent trip to Dr. James Andrews left Hanrahan with some good news.
2010 Pittsburgh Sports Blog Championship
Where is Jose Tabata’s power?
Top prospect lists
Baseball America and Project Prospect released their top 100 prospects lists today. See how the Pirates fared.
Hart leading candidate for final rotation spot
Rob Biertempfel reports that management is encouraged by Kevin Hart’s offseason adjustments. At this point, Hart appears to be the front-runner in the battle for final rotation spot.
