I know I'll probably get slammed for this, but does anyone think the 2007 Pirates can at least compete into the month of September? They showed signs of coming around under Jim Tracy in the 2nd half last year, and much like the Tigers in '04 and '05, they have young pitching who has taken their lumps, but may be in a position to take a step forward this coming season. They have a legit power hitter in the middle of the lineup in Bay, speed at the top with Duffy, and solid hitters such as Sanchez, Jack Wilson, Paulino, and Nady throughout. The talk is they want to get a lefty bat with decent pop to add as well. Don't get me wrong, I by no means am thinking World Series or even playoffs really...I just would like to think they can at least stay competitive into the later months, and hopefully break their string of losing seasons. Thoughts?
2006-12-01 04:09:01 · 17 answers · asked by Xax Haus 3 in Sports ➔ Baseball
I think you all are overstating my question. Does everyone think above .500 is out of the question? Remember, I wrote stay in contention and break the string of losing seasons. And also said by no means am I talking World Series or even playoffs... Last season hanging around .500 in the NL kept you in contention til about the last 2 weeks. So something like 82-80 is that far out of the question?
2006-12-01 04:55:35 · update #1
Thanks for the responses...Red, the Pirates non tendered Burnitz (thank god) so he's gone. Hopefully they'll find a better way to spend $6 million this season!
2006-12-01 06:24:12 · update #2
The Pirates' '07 success is dependent on 2 big factors: (1) Who they add this offseason, and (2) whether most of the young players they're relying on perform up to their potential.
1) Additions. They need (A) a veteran right-handed pitcher, since the 4 guys assured of a rotations spot (Duke, Snell, Maholm, and Gorzellany) collectively only have about 5 years of major league experience. They need a consistent veteran to help smooth out the inconsistency. (B) A left-handed power hitter. With the layout of PNC Park, there's a distinct advantage to being a lefty and the Pirates have not built their offense to take advantage of that.
2) Young guys: As noted above, 4/5 of the rotation is composed of guys with less than 2 years of experience. In addition, their center fielder (Chris Duffy), catcher (Ronny Paulino) and at least one infielder (Jose Bautista or Jose Castillo) have high potential but have not proven themselves yet. The Pirates need all of those guys to perform near the top of their potential to be competitive.
2006-12-01 06:39:47 · answer #1 · answered by JerH1 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I am a life long suffering Pirate fan, the Pirates need Mark Cuban to buy the team and spend some money. They have some good young players and they need some veteran experience on the team and I dont mean guys who have seen their best days come and gone, Guys that have been in pennant races and know how to win. But the way these owners are throwing away good money I dont know how the Pirates can get someone like that.
2006-12-01 14:05:38 · answer #2 · answered by imdwalrus65 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Pirates are a streaky team, that's what you get with such young guys,They are in the toughest Division in Baseball NL Central to play 500 would be stretching it a bit. But they did do right by getting Jim Tracy as manager he is better than Loyd McClendon.
2006-12-01 08:52:45 · answer #3 · answered by Ricky Lee 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Anything is possible.
The Pirates have a pretty good team, and they play in a very weak division, as evident by the Cardinals winning the World Series when they would've finished 3rd in every other division (and 4th in the AL East or Central).
I'd say the Pirates have their best shot in 2007 than they've had since the days of Leyland, Bonds, Bonilla and Van Slyke.
2006-12-01 05:47:26 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Out of those communities you've the %. the Tigers, they have different perfect expertise contained in the MLB they purely by no ability bonded and jelled like a crew. once they have a 12 months and some extra lower than their belts they are going to will the AL time-honored in 09. too a lot expertise prior to the different communities for next 12 months they could't bypass that many communities
2016-11-30 00:32:55 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Pirates finishing over .500 isn't out of the question. It's also not something I'd predict at this time though.
I mean you got some journeymen on that team with Burnitz and Nady....I'd trade them in a heartbeat for younger talent.
It all depends on your young pitchers...they definitey have talent. And they showed promise this season a couple times.
2006-12-01 06:21:08 · answer #6 · answered by Js_5 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I certainly hope so. I feel for Pittsburg fans, I know what they are going through.
The Tigers got lucky by getting Dave Dombrowski as our GM.
If it wasn't for Dombrowski there is no way The Tigers would have re-surfaced to a contending team.
And no 80-82 wins isnt too much to ask for. That was all I was hoping for in sprng training of '06.
If The Tigers can turn it around, I have faith Pittsburg can too.
2006-12-01 06:37:34 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Not a chance dude, c'mon. Sanchez and Bay, the rest of the team isnt that great. Nady is a solid player (im a mets fan, hate that we traded him) that I like a lot, but Wilson, Duffy, Paulino, they're average at best, and the pitching is not very good at all.
2006-12-01 04:25:48 · answer #8 · answered by J-Far 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I would like to see that happen because I like Pittsburgh and always have since 1960 World Series but not with Jim Tracy as the manager. Let's get rid of him and hire Dave Clark as the manager
2006-12-01 09:11:43 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
no way
they play in a division full of up and coming teams, including the reds and the astros
and dont forget that the world series champions are in that division
so give the pirates a couple more years, and i believe that theyll make a run, but next year is to soon to get any serious postseason thoughts for them
2006-12-01 04:16:29 · answer #10 · answered by k dawg 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋