Looking Ahead to 2010

This will probably be one of my rare off-season posts for quite some time...probably until PiratesFest in January. I don't find much to be excited about early in the off-season, especially nothing that would excite me enough to sit down and write on this wretched blog. If I'm going to waste hours upon hours of time in front of my desktop computer, I'd rather waste it ripping CDs and organizing my digital music (legal and illegal) collection.

Only two really noteworthy things have happened, in my opinion, this off-season: 1. Jesse Chavez was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays for Akinori Iwamura, a second baseman and 2. Jeff Karstens was designated for assignment and replaced by Seattle Mariners pitcher Chris Jakubauskas, whom I will be referring to as "Jaku" from here on out.

For as much as I was a mark for Jesse Chavez, the trade with the Rays was good for the Pirates, only because the team was in dire need of a second baseman. I felt Delwyn Young was decent at second, but he's much better as a bench player. There is no way Andy LaRoche, who finally was coming into his own this past season at third, would have been good enough for second. I predict 2010 will be LaRoche's big break out year. He will be our third baseman of the future too.

I was also disappointed to see Karstens go. I understand the reasoning behind it, and from what I've read, Jaku will be a suitable replacement for him.

Well...there really isn't much else for me to say right now. I suppose I'll be back in 2010, unless something huuuuuuuuuge happens between now and then. Have a great holiday season!

Let's Go Bucs!

Spring Training Game 1: Phillies @ Pirates

The Pirates hosted the World Champion Philadelphia Phillies this afternoon in Bradenton. Buccos topped the Phils 8-2 in a rather impressive pitching and offensive showing. I know, it was a lot of minor league players and relief pitchers...no superstars batting 3-4 times a game, so on and so on.

Mind you, I only listened to the game from the 8th inning on, so most of my opinions will be based off of what I read on the box score.

Chris Bootcheck seemed to pitch well. That's about it.

Matt Capps had some difficulties and was the only pitcher of the 9 Pirates that went out on the mound to walk batters. It was like a flashback to Opening Day last year in Atlanta. He'll get his control issues figured out though.

Romulo allowed the first run of the day for the Pirates. Still no real harm as the Pirates would come back to score in the bottom of the 3rd.

Shelby Ford. Remember that name, because one day, I think he's going to be a GREAT baseball player. He cracked a 3 run homer in the bottom of the 4th, the first and only of the game. Plus, doesn't Shelby Ford sound like such a great baseball name?

Evan Meek sounded solid today. Jesse Chavez...not so much.

I know this is a very small sample size, however, I do feel pretty encouraged by what I have seen and heard today.

Tim Neverett sounds like a stereotypical baseball/sports broadcaster. I think he fills Lanny's shoes rather nicely...except for he doesn't quite have the passion that Lanny had.

It'll be interesting to see how the extended ST plays out.

Pirates improve to 1-0 on the season.

Let's Go Bucs!
Vote for Romulo