Pittsburgh chases more diversity!

[Skipperron]

Well, the Pirates great saviour, Pedro Alvarez has signed and now all the accolades are pouring in. Several articles have been written about how they are so happy that he has signed and telling Pedro how he is the player Pittsburgh has been waiting for good enough to lead them and make them a winning team. Give me a break.

Also love how many have said he was at the mercy of Boras and that is why he did not sign. And yet, when asked about it, he said he was the one balking at signing and saying he just wanted a fair time to negotiate. What was all those months between the deadline and when you were picked, Pedro?? Everyone else seemed to have plenty of time to sign, to get it done.

I hope he breaks his leg. I will never pull for him and his phoney family values and "hard work ethic".Edited by: Skipperron

 

[LabMan]

One step closer to putting "a tan everyman"face on the Pirates!

 

[Van_Slyke_CF]

Let`s try to think positively.

Pedro Alvarez probably won`t arrive in Pittsburgh til sometime in 2010. But, hopefully by then, worthless OF Nyjeria Morgan and wacko starting pitcher Ian Snell will be gone.

Probably we will only have Alvarez and McCutchen on the roster as players with "permanent tans."Edited by: Van_Slyke_CF

 

[Don Wassall]

One step closer to putting "a tan everyman"face on the Pirates!

How much longer until the buccaneer on the team logo is modernized to sport the tan everyman look? Maybe he can look like a cross between Tiger Woods and Barack Obama.

 

[LabMan]

True enough Don,in the not too distant future "American" baesball,and the population base of all cities will resemble the left side of the Yankee infield......er,90% of the Yankee roster...er,the Mets roster,....er the Angels roster.


On a brighter note, the Oakland A's started 9 White American players last Wednesday against the Texas Rangers,it was a joy to watch!

 

[Skipperron]

Let`s try to think positively.

Pedro Alvarez probably won`t arrive in Pittsburgh til sometime in 2010. But, hopefully by then, worthless OF Nyjeria Morgan and wacko starting pitcher Ian Snell will be gone.

Probably we will only have Alvarez and McCutchen on the roster as players with "permanent tans."

Don't forget Jose Tabata, the player obtained from the Yankees. He is being envisioned as our rightfielder. So even if Brandon Moss gets to play there next year they still expect Tabata to play there in 2010 and Moss would become a 4th outfielder. Seems that is all white outfielders are ever intended to be anyway, 4th outfielders.

 

[Skipperron]

2010:

1B Walker

2B ?

SS Mercer

3B Alvarez

LF McLouth

CF McCutchen

RF Tabata

C Doumit


This is the lineup envisioned in an article today for 2010.

 

[Skipperron]

And even scarier, Huntington has said he will sign free agents this year and is looking for power, at any position, starting pitcher and bullpen help.

So he wants to get power? Was that not what we already had in Bay and Nady, who both wanted to stay?

But when anyteam goes to the free agent market it always seems like the first players looked at are black or hispanic ones. In fact in the article Huntington said he would get these players from free agents and Latin America.

 

[Don Wassall]

Pirates in the Caribbean: Mining for diamonds


http://postgazette.com/pg/08335/931514-63.stm

 

[Skipperron]

On the Pirates board that I am on they have posted that article and are gushing over the prospects of finally filling up our roster with foreign (i.e. dark and not american) players. It is sickening. And now they have posted the second part of the article.

It is really troubling. Why this rush to sign foreign players? I surmise that since black American players supposedly are not interested in baseball they feel the need to bring in more diverse minorities. We have to get players of color no matter where they are from.

 

[OldSchoolBoy75]

The last time I ever really followed baseball as a whole was in the early '90s. Once they adopted the motto of "South Of The Border Or Bust!" I lost interest and faith in the game for the most part.

 

[Skipperron]

Since the end of the season, the Pirates have now added 19 new players. Of those 19 only 3 are white players. The worst of the lot are the two Indian "players" and the South African "player".

 

[PhillyBirds]

Tell me about it.

The Phillies are currently interested in signing Chan ho Park and Raul Ibanez(!!!

) as their first two offseason acquisitions. With Ruben Amaro Jr. at the helm in Philadelphia, the white-friendly World Series team will definitely be a thing of the past. I'm not looking forward to this...

A dazzling defensive effort by Ibanez...

Edited by: PhillyBirds

 

[Van_Slyke_CF]

Skipperron: I hate to break the bad news to you, but the pitcher the Pirates picked up in the Rule V draft today, Donald Veal from the Cubs, is black. Because of the Rule V rules, he'll very probably start the season with the team as a lefty out of the pen-if he can even get the ball over the plate-at the cost of a more deserving pitcher making the team.

 

[Skipperron]

Van_Slyke_CF (Lord, I miss Andy Van Slyke) Veal has been bad the last two seasons but Pirate fans are all a twitter over the latest color mixture. They feel he is extremely talented and that he will be a big plus. And they are also happy that the Pirates took 3 hispanics with their minor league draft picks. Heck, they were picked from the South American summer leagues. NO OTHER TEAM PICKS FROM THERE. Just goes to show how much Huntington is trying to prove he is diversity oriented.Edited by: Skipperron

 

[LabMan]

MLB channel replayed a 1991 game between the Pirates and the Cubs with Bonds in left field, at approx. 180 lbs,Van Slyke in center,and Bonilla in right,played at the old three rivers stadium,who could have thought we would miss the good old days of 1991?Edited by: LabMan

 

[Van_Slyke_CF]

LabMan: Did you see the news about fat arse Pedro Alvarez? I guess he's been using part of his $6 million bonus for Big Macs and Twinkies.

Your reference above about a game in '91 with Bonds, Van Slyke, and Bonilla in the OF makes me remember how much we have suffered since that October 1992 NLCS loss in Atlanta.

Nothing goes right for us. Dave Littlfield refused to draft Matt Wieters in 2007 because of his asking price and agent. Now Wieters is perhaps the best hitting prosect in the minors. Then our new management goes out and drafts the injured lard butt, Pedro Alvarez. They gave into his contract demands in the end, and now look at him in Florida.

I'll guarantee you, LabMan, that Alvarez will be hurt so often that the treatment he gets during his few years in Pittsburgh down the road will be as bad as the much-deserved trashings that Dave Parker got in the early '80s.

Let's hope for continued progress in 2009 from guys like McClouth and Doumit, breakout seasons from others like Andy LaRoche and Brandon Moss, major progress from some of our young pitchers, mix in a ton of luck, and get a decent season.

 

[LabMan]

I did hear about the shape Alvarez has gotten himself into,and much luck will be needed to make 09 worth anything at all,V/S.


I always pull for the Bucs,and the players that you mentioned makes it much easierEdited by: LabMan

 

[LabMan]

Pirate fest,over the last three days drew over 15,000 fans,in the dead of winter,with many people out work,and the financial picture in Pittsburgh worsening,folks were herded into the convention center,paying a $10.00 fee to be told that the "battllin buccos",they of the 67 and 95 record,in 08,would put the same team on the field in 09!


Well,maybe the word "herded"was incorrect,they attended of their own free will!,but surely some wanted to hear of the signing,or signings of some or the terrific White American players that the U.S.,and the Pittsburgh area has to offer,no,the only player signed in the off season was Ramon Vasquez,a utility infielder.

 

[Van_Slyke_CF]

LabMan and Skipperron:

From piratereport.com:

The Pirates Caravan just stopped in Warren, Ohio and Nyjer Morgan was err...on display. Listen to this:

"Nyjer Morgan has one of those 1,000-watt smiles that can light up a room. Thus, it was no surprise the outfielder was a big hit Thursday afternoon when the Pittsburgh Pirates' winter caravan made a stop.... Morgan easily mingled with the guests and flashed that smile over and over while posing for pictures."

PUKE

"The Pirates are hoping Morgan's personality translates onto the field this upcoming season and makes him an effective leadoff hitter. The Pirates say left field is Morgan's spot to lose in spring training."

GOD HELP US

 

[LabMan]

VanSlyke,


I find it interesting that no White player on the Pirates,or any other team,gets credit for smiling,they have to play hard and well,to make the team and to keep their jobs,your guy Andy,loved to play the game and smiled all of the time,funny,I never heard his smile mentioned.


Sean Casey,one of the nicest guys in the game smiled all of the time,but i don't remember anyone in in the "caste' media giving him any credit at all,oh,they said he was "the Mayor"of baseball,but clearly a 1,000 watt-smile trumps all.


The center field position will be Nate McLouth's to lose in 09,and we all will be pulling for him,if he hits a downturn in fielding,or hitting,maybe he can turn on a big smile,and things will improve for him,but will the sports writers even notice?

 

[Skipperron]

And the Pirates cannot find a way to sign Doug Mientkiewicz for the bench, one of the more positive stories from last season, but we get all excited and sign Craig Monroe. He never was much and now is washed up. But he will more than likely make the Pirates. Since I last posted we have added one white player fand 6 more hispanics. And they are about to sign another junk pitcher, Juan Gonzalez. This is ridiculous.

 

[PhillyBirds]

I think the addition of Eric Hinske was a steal, though. He's got 20 HR power out of a platoon situation and is extremely versatile. Plus, he holds a special place in my heart for striking out to end the World Series.

Seriously, Hinske's a good player. I'd take him.

 

[Europe]

Well,maybe the word "herded"was incorrect,they attended of their own free will!,but surely some wanted to hear of the signing,or signings of some or the terrific White American players that the U.S.,and the Pittsburgh area has to offer,no,the only player signed in the off season was Ramon Vasquez,a utility infielder.

All foreign players should be banned. If people want to watch Dominicans or Koreans,let them go there.

 

[Van_Slyke_CF]

I like the signing of Eric Hinske.

I'd also like to see the team give Adam Dunn some big money and get his big bat in LF-his defensive shortcomings notwithstanding.