Tuesday, June 12th, 2007 by Adam Wagner
Random Pirates Pitching Notes
Just a few tidbits that prove the need for a new regime in the Steel City:
-This past winter, the Pirates pursued four starting pitchers: Brian Lawrence (signed with the Rockies), Tomo Okha (signed with the Blue Jays), Jeff Suppan (signed with the Brewers), and Tony Armas, the guy they eventually signed. Armas has been demoted to what should be the white flag role (wait, the bullpen is a white flag in general . . . so is two-fifths of the starting rotation) for not bouncing back from his shoulder injury. Lawrence was designated for assignment on April 18, less than a month into the season after “earning” an 8.91 ERA in 3 starts at AAA Colorado Springs. Guess his shoulder wasn’t healed after all . . . Oh, Tomo Okha also had a shoulder injury. Take a wild guess at what his fate this season has been . . . That’s right, designated for assignment. The only successful guy? Jeff Suppan (7-6, 3.92 ERA), the only one without some type of a shoulder injury. Think Dave Littlefield learned his lesson?
-Jonah Bayliss is gonna be the new closer? What? Um, somebody please look at this guy’s ERA . . . Does Littlefield realize that both Damaso Marte and Dan Kolb have been effective closers at some point in the majors?
- I think we’ll be seeing Daniel Moskos much sooner than later. Perhaps as soon as his minor league season ends or even sooner (think Ryan Wagner and Chad Cordero). This does not justify the pick at all, as it seems to have been made to help the fireable regime (not the Nuttings, unfortunately, but everybody else) keep their jobs, as he is a potential shutdown closer who can get it up to about 95-96. A top of the draft pick is not used to help the team at the time, especially when you’re picking a reliever. They passed up at least four guys who would have been better picks (Mills, Heyward, Parker, Wieters; Wieters isn’t really serious though. That would be a dumb pick because of the Bore-Ass factor.) to take a guy at a position that is supposed to have been their strength so that people that need to be fired can attempt to keep their jobs.
- Moskos’ best pitch is his slider, which is described as “nasty” and “wicked” in many circles. If anyone was watching the draft, Peter Gammons stated that a college slider takes time to translate into a major league slider because the stitching on a college ball is raised higher than that on a major league ball, meaning that the ball breaks much less on the professional level. That’s not a good thing . . .
Hope there’s more positive info next time . . .
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