Firing Up the Ol' Blog

As we come to a close on the first month of 2010 already, I am coming off of my winter break and ready to begin posting again.

A few things happening this week in this blog's world:

I will be attending the Pirates Caravan stop at the Uniontown Mall on Monday evening. I am planning on taking my game used-Adam LaRoche-ground rule double ball with me and get it signed by the players that will be appearing there (Andrew "Clutch" McCutchen, Kevin "Hitman" Hart, Evan "Rule 5" Meek, and John "Monotone" Russell). For those of you out there who know more about this autograph thing more than I do, is it better to be on a new ball, a game used ball, or does it really matter that much?

In addition to the Caravan, I'll be going to PiratesFest this upcoming weekend. Last year's PiratesFest was a success in that I was able to acquire the dugout scorecard from the night of my wife and I had our wedding rehearsal party there AND I found a nice "Amazing Jesus" Bobby Hill BP jersey. This year, I'm just looking to collect some decent autographs and maybe find a jersey.

If you haven't done so, check out the Pirates WFC Blog. Last week they did a live blog of Game 1 from the 1979 World Series. Game 2 should be posted sometime this week.

And lastly, if you recall, the Pirates had a Fan Vote Bobblehead contest on

their website. Paul Maholm ended up winning the contest. In January, I started the Vote for Romulo

campaign on this blog, urging you people, my readers, to stuff the ballot box, partially as a joke, for relief pitcher Romulo Sanchez. Sidenote: it's interesting to me how this year, there is only one bobblehead on the promotion schedule. Anyways, I have a new campaign idea, and this one will hopefully bring some solidarity to Pirate Nation and PNC Park. Details on the new campaign will be coming up this week as well.

Let's Go Bucs!

Photo courtesy of Pittsburgh Pirates

The Young Quote Controversy

"There are a lot of good players over there, and there's a road block every which way you look," Young said. "You come over here, and you have opportunity everywhere you look. So, it's a good thing to come over here and be a part of that." --Delwyn Young 4.17.09 Post-Gazette interview

It seems that the recently acquired Delwyn Young has stirred some up some controversy based on a statement he made the other day during an interview to discuss his trade from the Dodgers to the Pirates.

I don't see what the issue is about this. It's obvious that this team is not one that is set to go out and win championships. The Pirates are lacking many of their top prospects on their 25 man roster. And until those prospects start to come up, they are still in a rebuilding mode. Considering that guys Adam LaRoche, Jack Wilson, Nyger Morgan, and possibly Brandon Moss will probably be gone by the end of the year to make way for the prospects, I feel like Young's statement was pretty accurate. There are at least two outfield positions and probably one or two positions in the infield that are not necessarly secured by one particular player for the next two to three years. He does have a lot of opportunities to play here.

There is nothing wrong with saying that there are pleantly of opportunities to play here in Pittsburgh. Give the kid a break and let us see what he can do. And if you want to crucify someone, start looking at our third baseman.

Don't forget to vote for Romulo

Let's Go Bucs!

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photo credit: Delwyn Young, from MLB.com

Just A Reminder...Vote for Romulo

Write in Romulo!

Voting ends April 30th.

Saturday afternoon baseball returns tomorrow. Check back for updates and pictures from the game.

Several Home Opener pictures are here.

I Still Can't Believe My Eyes

I still cannot believe what I am seeing the the Grapefruit League standings. Ten games into Spring Training games, and the Pittsburgh Pirates are tied for first with a 7-3 record. Their offense has also scored 55 runs this season (5.5 RPG). Opponents have scored 43 runs (4.3 RPG). The fact that the Pirates have been scoring 1.2 runs more per game COULD be a good sign for the upcoming season. It's only 10 games, a very small sample size, but still encouraging.

I know that it's only Spring Training and that most of the pitchers we are facing late in the games are more than likely career minor league pitchers, but who knows. There are a lot of people on this team now that have that "winning culture" attitude them. And that is something the team so badly needed. And if it does not pan out this year, as most people expect, surely the Pirates will be looking forward to the 2010 or 2011 seasons. That's when a lot of these younger guys will be making their presence known at PNC Park. However, I feel that this is finally the year in which the team will make a turn for the better and improve on their 67 wins from last year.

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It looks like Eric Hinske will be getting a lot of playing time this April. Brandon Moss, who was a lock to be a starting right fielder, injured his right thumb yesterday against the Twins. A MRI and all of that good stuff will be done to determine the extent of the injury. here's to hoping that Moss can get through this with some R&R and not have surgery. A major injury like this would be a huge blow to the Pirates upcoming season. I am confident though having Hinske as a back-up.

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I am trying to decide whether or not I want to purchase one of the new jerseys for the upcoming season. If I do get one, I know it'll probably end up being either the home or away jersey. Then, I don't know whether I should get #55 or #58 on it. Or, should I just wear the Bobby Hill BP jersey I bought a few years back at PirateFest?

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A lot of debate over the decision as to whether or not the Buccos should bring in Pedro Martinez as a back of the rotation guy. Sure he'd bring in some more fans and he could end up regaining some of his form from previous years, but is it worth the financial risk? Would he even sign with the Pirates? It was said that Pedro could go for 2-3 million. The Pirates could pay slightly higher than that to try and get him. I don't know if it is worth the risk. A good discussion can be found on the Unofficial Pirates Message Board.

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Japan is going to mow through the WBC. No doubt in my mind. Expect the Netherlands to be a surprise.

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All is quiet now, but expect another large push for the Vote for Romulo campaign in the upcoming weeks. The deadline to vote is April 30th.

Let's Go Bucs
Vote for Romulo!

"The Flying Dutchman" Endorses Romulo

Not as good as the previous post, however, seeing that inspired me.

More Propaganda

Thanks to Pirate Revolution & WHYGAVS.

Catching Up

I've been pretty busy with work the past few days, so I haven't really had the time to sit down, review Pirates news, and write. So I'm going to go through some news and get caught up with what has been going on.

TJ Beam Claimed Off Waivers By Blue Jays
-- Just as I predicted, Beam was picked up by the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday. No big surprise because I think Beam has the potential to be a decent pitcher. Nothing spectacular, however, nothing horrible either. Best of luck to TJ Beam

Andy LaRoche Tweaks Swing
--According to pirates.com, Andy LaRoche went to hitting coach Don Long's place in the winter to work on some swing mechanics. LaRoche had an awful August and September last season after coming over the the Pirates from the Dodgers. If this kid is going to be our everyday 3rd baseman, he really needs to step it up and live up to that top tier prospect tag he had while in the Dodgers system. Unless Ramon Vasquez or Neil Walker have a great Spring Training, LaRoche will be on 3rd.

Just over 6 days until pitchers and catchers report.

Lets Go Bucs!
Vote for Romulo!

A Vote for Romulo Campaign update

Over the past few days, I have been feeling really down. Not because I hate my job sometimes or because my wife has been really busy. No, those things don't get me down, because I know that once summer comes, I will be on vacation for 3 months and in a few weeks, my wife will be done with the conference she is planning.

You see, the reason why I'm down is because of the sudden lack of support from the Vote for Romulo campaign. The VFR campaign began as a joke back on Sunday January 25, 2009 while I was at PirateFest. I made a visit to the Trib kiosk to place my vote for the Pirates fan voted bobblehead and to lie through my teeth to the Trib representative about how I occasionally buy the Trib on Sundays and eventually shoot down his "special offer" for a subscription. I put Romulo Sanchez down on the line, simply as a joke. As I walked around PirateFest for another hour or so, I was thinking to myself, "Wouldn't it be awesome to start a campaign to get a Romulo Sanchez bobblehead and see how many people would buy into it." And, I had recently had an interest in starting a blog about the Pirates...as I was inspired by various other Pirates blogs, and my good friend, The Unemployed Asshole. And so it started with a little post that evening.

That Monday, BucDugout.com picked up the story on the campaign.

On Tuesday, it was The Green Weenie.

Wednesday, WHYGAVS.

And then...much to my delight...Thursday morning on the PBC Blog on the Post-Gazette website, Dejan linked to WHYGAVS and the story of the Vote for Romulo bobblehead. I emailed Dejan the day before about getting this blog on the list of blogs on that site, but couldn't due to missing one key qualification...I wasn't a year old in blogger.

Then, as quickly as the momentum built up, it seemed to come crashing down. All of a sudden, people on the PBC blog started to post "Why vote for Romulo? We should be voting for any of the '90-'92 Pirates." Then it just got worse from there.

Honus Wagner.

One of the greatest players, not only in Pittsburgh Pirates history, but in all of Major League Baseball history. I mean, Dejan clearly laid out Honus' track record:

3,415 hits
.391 OBP
.327 average
.857 OPS

Plus, numerous other accolades. He is honored with a statue outside the home plate rotunda at PNC Park. He's in the Hall of Fame. His baseball card is worth HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of dollars.

Why disgrace...yes I said DISGRACE such an important ball player with a freaking bobblehead? last year, Tom Gorzelanny had a bobblehead that was giving the middle finger!

You know what will happen with a Honus Wagner bobblehead? Every 9-15 year old kid at that ballpark will say "This isn't (insert popular or current Pirates or other player name here). I'm breaking this thing apart!" I can guarantee there will be hundreds of Honus Wagner pieces laying around PNC Park by the time Matt Capps throws his final pitch against the Dodgers and picks up his 60th save of the year.

What worth is a Manny Sanguillen signature going to have on a Honus Wagner bobblehead? NONE.

What worth will a Romulo Sanchez signature have on a Romulo Sanchez bobblehead? Well...a little more than nothing.

Maybe, just maybe with the love and support of Pirate Nation, Romulo Sanchez will have a year like none other. Maybe, just maybe, we can make him the most sought after reliever after the 2009 season.

Honor the players that DESERVE to be honored with a bobblehead...the current ones.

Honor the greats where they deserve to be honored...in the Hall of Fame, as a retired number, as a statue towering over fans as they enter or walk around the ballpark. Not as a goofy looking bobblehead.

All of that being said, I must thank all of my continued supporters in the Vote for Romulo campaign. Including my two newest supporters, Raise the Jolly Roger and Bucs Trade Winds.

It seems that the battle lines have been drawn in the sand. You have until April 30th to make it happen.

Now, more than ever, Lets Go Bucs...Lets Go Romulo!

Coup d'état

And so it begins. Posters on the PBC blog have started to resist the Vote for Romulo campaign. Dejan has even joined the bandwagon to have a Honus Wagner bobblehead as the fan vote bobblehead.

Why would you take a man who had one of the gretest careers in baseball history and honor him with a goofy looking bobblehead? I don't feel as if a bobblehead is the best way to honor such a historic player. Bobbleheads should be reserved for current players. Historic and important players should be saved for retired numbers and statues.

I encourage you to continue to vote for Romulo.

Let's Go Bucs

We've Made It to The Show

It has taken less than a week for the Vote for Romulo campaing to reach the big time. We have made it to the OFFICIAL PBC Blog on the website of the Post-Gazette. In his daily Morning Links post, Dejan posted a link to the WHYGAVS post featuring the Vote for Romulo Campaign.

I know you must be asking yourself, why didn't DK link to your site, Eron? Well I can answer that for you. I emailed Dejan the other day asking for the requirements to have this blog listed on the PG website. I met all but one of the requirements...I haven't been posting for at least one year. At some point today, I will post those email conversations.

Anyhow, I have to thank Pete from WHYGAVS for picking up this story. I'd also like to thank The Green Weenie, The Unemployed Asshole, and any other bloggers or message board writers that may have picked up this story and are helping to spread the word.

Of course, spreading the word isn't good enough. The Pirates faithful NEED to vote several times a day, everyday.

Lets Go Bucs!
Lets Go Romulo!

Bobble Bobble Bobble

WHYGAVS has joined the campaign trail to vote for the Romulo Sanchez bobblehead. This is one of the more popular blogs that follow the Pittsburgh Pirates. Thanks to Pete for helping to spread the word!

Lets Go Bucs! Lets Go Romulo!

Campaign Update

The Green Weenie has thrown its hat in the race to support the Vote for Romulo Campaign. Be sure to check out the blog.

Lets Go Bucs!

Propaganda

I know that it's a little outdated but if it worked of Obama, then it'll have to work for Romulo.



Let's Go Bucs!

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photo credit: obamaicon.me

Word is Spreading

Thanks to the fine folks at Bucs Dugout.com. The word about my Vote for Romulo campaign is spreading. It's also in the comments section of this morning's PBC Blog.

Let's Go Bucs!

VOTE ROMULO!!!

Bobbleheads...they are a staple at PNC Park. Any season where less than12 bobbleheads are given away is considered a bad PR season and almost a guarantee to have record low attendance at the ballpark.

However, this year, I expect the largest turn out EVER for a bobblehead night. On Friday, September 25, the Pirates will be giving away a bobblehead that the fans get to choose.

My shelf is full of bobbleheads featuring well known and respected players. It's time to give the no name bullpen pitchers some credit. That is why I am beginning my grassroots campaign right here, right now to have the Romulo Sanchez bobblehead.

Click here to write in Romulo Sanchez as the 2009 Fans Vote Bobblehead. You have until April 30th.

Let's Go Bucs!

Edit: I've created a Facebook Group. Join and spread the word!
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photo credit: Romulo Sanchez - pirates.com