2013 Regular Season Thread

[steelerdude15]

This will be the thread where we post about the regular season.

As for the game today, it sucked that the offense couldn't do anything to help out A.J. He struck out ten and other than a few bad pitches here and there, he was really good. It was nice to see the Pirates fight in the bottom of the ninth with a RBI from Pedro and a steal from Cutch that moved him into scoring position. However, the offense was bad the entire game, but the defense played well. I hope the Pirates will win Wednesday night and with that in mind, Wandy will be starting.

[steelerdude15]

Pirates notebook: Payroll ranks 20th in the majors

According to data obtained by USA Today, the Pirates have a $79.55 million Opening Day payroll — which ranks 20th out of 30 big league teams. However, when portions of salaries that will be paid by other clubs are included, the recalculated total is $66.05 million.

At the end of last season, the payroll for the Pirates' 40-man roster was $61.4 million.

• Tuesday, utility infielder Brandon Inge will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis. Inge is on the 15-day disabled list due to a fractured right shoulder blade, which he sustained when he was hit by a pitch in a spring training game March 14. He tried to play through it for a handful of games, but the pain was too intense. “I wanted to try to show them what I could do, but it was just too much,” Inge said Monday. On March 21, general manager Neal Huntington said Inge's X-ray results were “normal” and the Pirates never revealed the extent of Inge's injury.

Read more: http://triblive.com/sports/pirates/3...#ixzz2PGpwhOLp

Interesting article to read. It seems that each year, more money is being spent on the players... I guess we'll see what happens this season.

[Hindes204]

Opening day, got my Pirates hat out, it will stay out all season regardless of the outcome. As miserable as these bastards have made me over the past 20 years, I'm still with em, all the way till the end.........

[X-Terminator]

Yeah, it's good that Nutting is making more money available, so now the problem shifts to the guy spending that money. I still can't figure out how Neal Huntington still has a job.

[SCSTILLER]

Opening day, got my Pirates hat out, it will stay out all season regardless of the outcome. As miserable as these bastards have made me over the past 20 years, I'm still with em, all the way till the end.........

Same here, actually I wear my Pirates hat year round. When the Pirates aren't in season it is to show my Pittsburgh roots, when they are playing it is to prove that I am not a fair weather fan. When hockey season is on I switch back and forth between my Pirates hat and Penguins hat.

Hopefully, hopefully, this year there is no post All-Star game collapse!

[Boh]

when they are playing it is to prove that I am not a fair weather fan.

Good man. I wear my O's hats through the 12 year drought, and last year while in Philadelphia in the fall I was called fair weather for wearing my cap. Philly fans still butthurt over the 83 world series.

[SCSTILLER]

Good man. I wear my O's hats through the 12 year drought, and last year while in Philadelphia in the fall I was called fair weather for wearing my cap. Philly fans still butthurt over the 83 world series.

I expect nothing less from Philly fans. There is not one thing I like about Philly fans.

[Boh]

O's sure looked good today. Home opener friday, got tickets for saturday.

[X-Terminator]

Bucs get their first W of the season tonight. Great game from Wandy Rodriguez.

[salamander]

Nice win by the Buccos today.

[steelerdude15]

Good win by the Pirates tonight.

[Boh]

Tough loss for Bucs today.

O's take 2 of 3 in Tampa. Sports Holiday in Baltimore Tomorrow

[steeldawg]

Tough loss for Bucs today.

O's take 2 of 3 in Tampa. Sports Holiday in Baltimore Tomorrow

What are you guys feeding chris davis in baltimore?

[Count Steeler]

What are you guys feeding chris davis in baltimore?

Raven pie.

[zulater]

I feel as if the Pirates are being held hostage by their current ownership group.

[X-Terminator]

I feel as if the Pirates are being held hostage by their current ownership group.

Ownership isn't the problem. Nutting is finally starting to make more money available - their payroll is over $75 million this season. It's management that's the problem, meaning Huntington and Coonelly. They are really holding the franchise back with their terrible talent evaluation, acquisitions and development. I guess you can blame Nutting for signing off on it, but he puts a lot of trust - maybe too much trust - in management to make the baseball decisions. It's similar to how the Rooneys and Lemieux/Burkle leave the football and hockey decisions to management. Huntington and Coonelly should have been fired after last season's collapse, but instead, he gave them and Hurdle one more year. If they fail hard again this season, I think Nutting will clean house, because he was pissed after last season and didn't exactly give them a strong vote of confidence before this season began.

[Boh]

What are you guys feeding chris davis in baltimore?

LOL. I was going to bring that up myself, but figured its the pirates thread.


Chris Davis. 3 Games, 11 RBI's , 3 Home runs, 3 Doubles.

o, BTW, 10 homers in his last 10 games, dating back from last season

[steelerdude15]

Ownership isn't the problem. Nutting is finally starting to make more money available - their payroll is over $75 million this season. It's management that's the problem, meaning Huntington and Coonelly. They are really holding the franchise back with their terrible talent evaluation, acquisitions and development. I guess you can blame Nutting for signing off on it, but he puts a lot of trust - maybe too much trust - in management to make the baseball decisions. It's similar to how the Rooneys and Lemieux/Burkle leave the football and hockey decisions to management. Huntington and Coonelly should have been fired after last season's collapse, but instead, he gave them and Hurdle one more year. If they fail hard again this season, I think Nutting will clean house, because he was pissed after last season and didn't exactly give them a strong vote of confidence before this season began.

Here is a really interesting article by the Trib about Nutting:

Ex-Pirates owner Lustig: Nutting ‘too rational’

One of the Pirates' former silent partners is speaking out.

A minority owner for nearly two decades before relinquishing his share last fall, Jay Lustig credited principal owner Bob Nutting for cleaning up the franchise's finances but said he is too “rational” to turn the club into a consistent winner.

“If you are a small-market franchise, if you want to win, you have to be willing to lose ... money,” said Lustig, 58, a Rostraver money manager and businessman who also is board chairman of Adfitech Inc. “(Nutting's) problem is he is a rational owner in an irrational business.

“People say he is a cheap owner, but nothing is further from the truth. He allocates the money properly. He wants to make enough money to keep us from going into the red. He is running the business rationally, trying to make money. No small-market teams that win make money.”

Nutting said Tuesday night that he likes and respects Lustig.

Read more: http://triblive.com/sports/pirates/3...#ixzz2PYVEslwg

[steelerdude15]

Anyways, it seems that the Pirates pitching has been excellent by our starters and bullpen. Its just that in the two games they've lost, there has been barely any offense. They had rallies in both the first and third games, but came up short in both games. Then, looking at the second game against the Cubs, they had offense. I really hope Marte can turn into the hitter he is predicted to become. That would be a huge boost for this team. That would be great if we could have two All Star outfielders.

I also agree about management causing a lot of the problems. Huntington is the one who is signing and bringing in all these free agents who well, aren't great at hitting. Barmes was brought in soley for his defense, Barajas wasn't that great to begin with and got worse throughout last year, and lets not bring up the disaster of Akinori Iwamura in 2010. The two best pick ups by far were A.J. and Wandy. Also, I bet Gerrit Cole is going to be a beast when he comes up. So, Huntington has made some good decisions, but I feel has made more bad decisions since he's been GM. I want everyone to remember, Huntington DID NOT draft Cutch and Walker.

[Boh]

Chris Davis just hit a grand slam, 4 homers in 4 games. 16 RBI's. not a bad start

making history

[steelpride12]

1-3 sigh. I know the offense will pick up and they're playing a championship contending Dodgers team, but ouch. 6 runs in 4 games.

[Hindes204]

The offense is playing terrible, 6 runs in 4 games isn't going to get you anywhere

[steelpride12]

Pirates are about 3 innings away from being 1-5. Well at least they won't get our hopes up early this season.

[X-Terminator]

To be honest, they started 3-7 last season and weren't good offensively. But this season has been far, FAR worse than at any point during their worst offense stretch last season. With their difficult schedule, it's entirely possible they don't win more than 3 or 4 games this month if they don't get their offense going.

[Craic]

To be honest, they started 3-7 last season and weren't good offensively. But this season has been far, FAR worse than at any point during their worst offense stretch last season. With their difficult schedule, it's entirely possible they don't win more than 3 or 4 games this month if they don't get their offense going.

This is what I get for clicking on a link at the bottom of the page and not checking what forum it's in first.

Me---> What are you talking about X-term? The Steelers didn't start out 3-7, and they were pretty decent offensively! And what do you mean THIS SEASON? It hasn't started yet!!!

Then I decided to look at the top of the page and double-check the subforum.

[salamander]

This is what I get for clicking on a link at the bottom of the page and not checking what forum it's in first.

Me---> What are you talking about X-term? The Steelers didn't start out 3-7, and they were pretty decent offensively! And what do you mean THIS SEASON? It hasn't started yet!!!

Then I decided to look at the top of the page and double-check the subforum.

Good job.

[steelerdude15]

Well, tonight is the beginning of their series with the D-backs. I really hope they can get a win tonight. The pitcher they're starting against tonight had a bad start, so lets hope the Pirates can get some hits and score tonight.

[steelerdude15]

Nice to see the Pirates win their first series of the year, even though they were completely blown out this afternoon. I don't know if anyone has been paying attention, but Marte is killing it so far this year. It would be amazing if he can be the outfielder that the Pirates want him to become. Just imagine if Cutch and Marte both hit over .300 this year and were amazing in the outfield. That would be fantastic!

[X-Terminator]

I'm still trying to figure out how Jonathan Sanchez made the rotation, but Gerrit Cole didn't.

Oh yeah...Neal Huntington made that decision.

Nevermind.

[steelerdude15]

I'm still trying to figure out how Jonathan Sanchez made the rotation, but Gerrit Cole didn't.

Oh yeah...Neal Huntington made that decision.

Nevermind.

I remember that Gerrit was really upset when he found out he wasn't going to make it. I'm sure he will be on the team sometime this season.