Pittsburgh Pirates starter A.J. Burnett, who will enter the 2013 season in his final year of his five-year, $82 million contract, is mulling over retirement following the 2013 season.
Archive for the ‘Pittsburgh Pirates’ Category
A.J. Burnett May Retire Following 2013 Season
Posted by Darren Kritzer under A.J. Burnett, News And Notes, Pittsburgh Pirates on Mar 27, 2013
A Modest Proposal: Move Jonathan Sanchez’s Strike Zone
Posted by Scott Lewis under Analysis, Pittsburgh Pirates on Mar 26, 2013
This worked out so well for us a couple of weeks ago that I’m going to give it a shot with Jonathan Sanchez. Drew wrote a great piece proposing that the Blue Jays should move Ricky Romero on the pitching rubber, and it actually happened. I’m almost positive that Alex Anthopoulos stopped by Getting Blanked, then phoned John Gibbons and Pete Walker and asked them to try shifting Romero on the mound. Shi Davidi and/or Barry Davis got to break the news and Blue Jays fans screamed with excitement, but Ricky Romero is still a train wreck so…
However, I would like to propose a shift in approach for Jonathan Sanchez, who was named a starter in the Pittsburgh Pirates rotation this morning. I’m note even kidding, check it out:
Sanchez just confirmed he made the team,is in #pirates rotation.
— Tom Singer (@Tom_Singer) March 26, 2013
2013 Pittsburgh Pirates: Awaking the Sleeping Everyman
Posted by Travis Reitsma under Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh Pirates, Preview on Mar 21, 2013
2012 Record: 79-83, 4th NL Central
2012 Pythagorean Record: 78-84
Impact Player: CF Andrew McCutchen
Impact Pitcher: RHP A.J. Burnett
Top Prospect: RHP Gerrit Cole
Significant Acquisitions: C Russell Martin, RHP Mark Melancon, UT Brandon Inge, RHP Kyle Waldrop, LHP Jonathan Sanchez, RHP Mike Zagurski, IF Ivan DeJesus Jr.
Significant Departures: RHP Joel Hanrahan, RHP Chris Resop, C Rod Barajas, UT Drew Sutton
For the second straight year, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ first half was much better than expected. On August 8 of last year, they beat the Diamondbacks and moved to 63-47 and sat just two-and-a-half games behind the eventual NL Central champion Reds. But their success, just as it was the year before, was unsustainable. Pittsburgh finished the year going 16-36 to finish with their 20th consecutive losing season, but still had their best record since 1997.
It finally appears, however, that the Pirates are on the right track. Center fielder Andrew McCutchen emerged as one of the game’s best players and there’s a decent core of young position players that seem to be coming into their own such as third baseman Pedro Alvarez and second baseman Neil Walker. With two of the best pitching prospects in baseball set to make their big league debuts sometime this season, things are looking brighter for Pittsburgh than they have in some time.
The organization took some flack last year after reports came out that Navy SEAL training drills were being run in the extended spring training, which led to some players getting hurt — including some top prospects. The ordeal ended in an investigation by owner Bob Nutting and a promise to stop the drills. The team also whiffed on signing first-round draft pick Mark Appel who was expected to go first-overall but slipped to the Pirates at number-eight. Appel decided to re-enter the draft next year when the team couldn’t offer him close to his asking price.
Pirates Acquire John McDonald From Diamondbacks
Posted by Darren Kritzer under Pittsburgh Pirates, Trades And Signings on Mar 20, 2013
The Pittsburgh Pirates have acquired utility infielder John McDonald from the Arizona Diamondbacks, according to Ken Rosenthal.
With Willie Bloomqvist expected to start at short and Cliff Pennington, who was acquired this off-season from the Athletics, to begin the season as his backup, the D’Backs likely had no room on their 25-man roster for the 14-year veteran.
Pirates to Feature New Logo for 2014
Posted by Scott Lewis under HardBall Talkin', Pittsburgh Pirates on Feb 12, 2013
The Pittsburgh Pirates will hold focus groups with season ticket holders, fans, corporate partners, and suite holders to brainstorm ideas for a new primary logo. The Bucs’ current primary is not the “P” that is displayed on their caps, but it’s actually the logo pictured above that’s been in use since 1997. The red bandana buccaneer logo is displayed on the sleeves of the Pirates’ home, road, and alternate jerseys.
Pirates chief marketing director, Lou DePaoli, reiterated that the “P” will not be affected. “When people see the gold ‘P,’ they know it stands for Pirates,” he said. “It’s something you don’t mess with”. That’s good thinking right there.
Via Trib Live
Pirates Take a Flyer on Jonathan Sanchez
Posted by Scott Lewis under News And Notes, Pittsburgh Pirates on Feb 06, 2013
The list reads like this: Tim Lincecum, Clayton Kershaw, Jonathan Sanchez, Yovani Gallardo, Jake Peavy, and Zack Greinke. One of these things is not like the others. One of things may have appeared to be like the others, but like the others he is no more. The aforementioned crop of names are from a graphic listing the starting pitchers with the highest strikeouts per nine innings from 2006-2012. It appeared on screen before the start of the third inning during a FOX Royals broadcast on April 14th of last season, this may be the last time that Sanchez was mentioned in the same breath as hurlers the likes of Kershaw and Greinke.
Sanchez lasted just 2.2 innings versus the Cleveland Indians that day. He managed to work through the first two innings fairly effectively, before imploding on account of a series of walks, a Jarrod Dyson error, and the Indians hitting him all over the field. Sanchez would hit Shin-Soo Choo with a pitch, too. Choo took exception with Sanchez, but what can you expect from a man who left what little semblance of control he ever had in San Francisco?
Could Francisco Liriano Be Joining the Pirates on a Minor League Deal?
Posted by Scott Lewis under News And Notes, Pittsburgh Pirates on Jan 30, 2013
Just when it appeared that the Francisco Liriano and Pittsburgh Pirates were on the road to formalizing an agreement on a two-year deal, the story may have taken yet another turn. Tom Singer, highlighting the Bucs’ non-roster spring training invitees for MLB.com, notes that Liriano is expected to head to camp with a Minor League deal.
Singer, via MLB.com:
“With the addition of [Kyle] Waldrop, Pittsburgh’s NRI list stands at 18, and there is at least one more on the way: Indications are that Francisco Liriano — when all the roadblocks to formalizing his signing are cleared — will wind up coming to camp on a Minor League deal and an invite.
Bringing in Liriano on a Minor League deal would give the team ample time to figure out how to make room on the 40-man for the veteran lefty, whose participation figures to be delayed due to the broken right arm that complicated his signing.”
Editor
Contributors
Dustin Parkes, Andrew Stoeten, Scott Lewis, Craig Robinson, Matt Klaassen, Eno Sarris, Riley Breckenridge
