Just saw it on ESPN. com I think it is a good pickup for the Pirates!
He will go well with Jason Bay, Xavier Nady, and the others
2007-01-17 10:54:16 · 15 answers · asked by Boondocksaint 4 in Sports ➔ Baseball
Yo jason; I know my Bucco's suck, but they are making improvements very very very slowly!
2007-01-17 11:15:25 · update #1
This trade fills holes for both sides, but at the same time it opens up a new hole. Especially for the Braves who had to give up their second best offensive player for relief help (which they had a already gotten some from the Mariners in Rafael Soriano). Both of which are great young pitchers.
The Pirates got a great hitter in LaRoche. He will bring power to the middle of their lineup, and will be a great player to hit behind Jason Bay (He most likely will hit behind Bay) and it will give Pirates fans a little extra to cheer about.
The Braves now should have a bullpen by adding Gonzales and have a much improved 'pen from the one that struggled last year. Soriano is electric. This is coming firsthand from a Mariners fan who has seen his stuff. I think they found a gem there. Gonzales is a great young gem as well who can battle for the closer role with Soriano.
Overall I would say the Pirates got the better end of the deal, because they finally got another offensive threat besides Jason Bay. The Pirates offense really needed another power hitter. You can argue that the Braves really needed relief help more so than the Pirates offense, but there it is, my opinion.
Can't wait for Spring Training to start...
2007-01-17 11:55:33 · answer #1 · answered by seahawksblitz8 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think the Pirates got the better end of the deal here, but not by a large margin. In LaRoche, the Pirates got a good young hitter who last year hit over 30 homers. That number should go up this year.
The Braves got the closer that they needed desperately last year, but Gonzalez will be 29 next May and missed the last month of the season with elbow problems. A 29 year old pitcher with elbow problems is not someone I would bank on to be the closer for the entire season, and if the Braves do, it could come back to haunt them.
2007-01-17 13:43:12 · answer #2 · answered by jkoons 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, he is a much needed player for the Pirates. They've been trying for him for a few months now. A left handed power hitter who can add 30 plus homers to the Pirates dismal 141 total homers last year is a great boost. Plus he is young and will improve.
It is also a great pick up for the Bravos. There bullpen had close to 30 blown saves last year. Gonzales is a solid left handed closer who will average 25 saves for them.
All around great trade for both teams I think.
2007-01-17 11:15:27 · answer #3 · answered by Mr Mojo Risin 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Argh, I can't believe they traded LaRoche, you guys will like him up in Pittsburgh although I dont think his numbers will be as good but only because he'll be played more and challanged more at the plate. I dont really know much about Gonzales but if the past is any indication it doesn't matter how good he is, for some reason once a closer gets to Atlanta they forget how to pitch!!
2007-01-17 12:06:41 · answer #4 · answered by heyhey95 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Big deal for the Pirates. Gonzo was always injured near the last quarter of the season. LaRoche fills two needs as one player. Power-hitting first baseman and a power left-handed hitter.
This aquisition will truly help Bay's numbers consideribly.
2007-01-17 11:20:01 · answer #5 · answered by broly51985 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Seems like a smart trade for both teams - the Bucs have a lot of relievers, and the Braves have a 1B in waiting in Thorman. As a Pirates fan, I'm glad that they didn't have to give up much more to get a solid lefty power hitter.
2007-01-17 14:14:52 · answer #6 · answered by JerH1 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think, just looking at the pieces involved, it was a fair deal, but it leaves me wondering what a decent team like the Braves is going to do with a hole at a key position. They needed a closer, but who's on first? That's a big spot to trust a rookie with. As for the Pirates, does it really matter if they have a closer?
2007-01-17 14:57:46 · answer #7 · answered by Eho 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Typical Pirates trade. LaRoche is a platoon player who overachieved last season. No way is he worth giving up a young closer. I don't know anything about the minor league guys.
2007-01-17 12:59:09 · answer #8 · answered by jdbreeze1 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Fills needs for both teams very well. I'm not completely sold on Gonzalez, but yet again I'm not expecting a lot from LaRoche his first year in Pit. either.
2007-01-17 10:58:49 · answer #9 · answered by melotrack88 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
submit to in ideas, you hafta provide to get. The braves farm device is loaded with youthful, potential hitting skills. It exchange right into a large pass. Getting a youthful firey closer, to redesign a bad bullpen. The braves could thieve the branch removed from the punk a$$ mets.
2016-10-31 09:42:28 · answer #10 · answered by alyson 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋