Kind of Moving

Right now I am working on moving posts to The Pittsburgh Sports Tavern.  More info to come as details are worked out.  I plan on double posting initially with a link to the The Tavern for comments and discussion.

Like I said, details are being worked out.  Eventually I plan on redirecting traffic to the Tavern for the BTW address.  If everything works as planned, you'll be able to read quite a few of the Pirates blogs from one location.

Until everything is done, happy off-season.  Expect many posts to come in the future.

Happy Opening Day

With a 6-3 victory over the Cubs,  the 2011 season is finally underway.   In true BTW fashion,  I will post my "Post Opening Day Season Preview" later tonight.  At some point I will also update everyone with what has been happening in my life as well as post the promised 1960 post that I have not forgotten about.

Until the next post...

Last Thought For A While

Why don’t the Pirates move LaRoche to 2nd now?  Akimura was a 3rd baseman, for the better part of his career.  If LaRoche’s ultimate goal is landing at 2nd, why not just start now while Akimura is still in the fold rather than waiting for Pedro Alvarez to be called up.  I think it would be easier to displace what looks to be a 1 year player in Akimura than it would be to mess with LaRoche’s head more.

I understand Andy is playing well, “why mess with that?” would be a common question.  If the idea is to build for the future, let LaRoche takes his bumps now in preparation for the future.

 

AS For The Last Thought":

I haven’t been able to maintain the site the way I would like to.  There is a lot going on in life right now outside of BTW.  Think of this as me closing the doors on BTW, but they are not locked.  Don’t take this as the end.  Someday I may get back to regular posting, but right now I will only say it will be sporadic posts at best.

In the meantime please enjoy the other fine Pirates blogs I have listed to the right and visit the Pirates Tavern, the banner is in the top right of the page as well as the forum link at the top menu bar.  Look for dharr18 in the Tavern, that will be me.  I will likely be spending more time there than I have been recently.

Raise the Jolly Roger will continue to host the live game threads, so I send you his way since he maintains the mailing list.  I will likely be in the game chats regularly.

Also, follow BTW on twitter at http://twitter.com/bucstradewinds.  I will frequently post there and pass on any info I may hear.

It has been a fun 3+ year run.  Hopefully it will continue and start strong again in the future.

For now, fair well and Go Bucs!

BTW Unavailable

Due to a family emergency, BTW will be unattended for the next few days. IF I can find some time to force a post out I will.  In the meantime please visit Raise The Jolly Roger for game day threads.  Also, visit some of the other fine Pirates Blogs listed on the right.

Thanks for your understanding.  Go Bucs.

Walker, Hanrahan, ‘n ‘at

The big news of the day was the injured elbow of Joel Hanrahan.  Hanrahan had been tabbed to be a late inning option for the Pirates going into 2010.  The injury, as described by the Post-Gazette, is a flexor pronator strain in the elbow, also known as golfers or throwers elbow.
According to Sports Injury Clinic:

Golfer elbow is a similar injury to tennis elbow only it affects the inside of the elbow instead. Golfer elbow is more common in throwers and golfers hence the 'nicknames'. Also known as flexor / pronator tendinopathy this elbow pain is seen in tennis players who use a lot of top spin on their forehand shots.

Round 3 of Best Pittsburgh Sports Blog

Sean's Ramblings has started the 3rd round of The Best Pittsburgh Sports Blog Tournament.  Unfortunately, BTW was eliminated in round 2 by Raise The Jolly Roger.  I want to thank everyone who helped with the late push yesterday, it was an extremely close vote.

The Elite 8 round of the Best Pittsburgh Sports Blog Tournament is up and running. Voting for this round ends Friday evening with the Final Four and Championship rounds taking place next week.

As curator of BTW, I am throwing my endorsement to Raise The Jolly Roger, my vote has already been cast.  Good luck Brian.

Congratulations

I want to say congratulations to Brian at Raise The Jolly Roger as he is on the verge of reaching the elite 8 in the best Pittsburgh Sports Blog Tournament.  At last check, RTJR was up by 11% on BTW in the "Battle of the Skulls" with only 2 hours to go.

If you haven't cast a vote yet, visit http://seanramblings.blogspot.com/2010/02/2010-pittsburgh-sports-blog-tournament.html to cast your votes for the second round and vote BTW, I'd at least like to make it close.

I will post the link for the 3rd round when it is available tomorrow, make sure you vote for all your favorite Pirates blogs.  I will be voting for RTJR.

It was a fun Cinderella run.  Thanks to all who voted.

Walking:
Once again, for the 4th year,  I am walking in the MDA Stride and Ride event scheduled for February 27th.   I am looking for sponsors.  If you can find it in you heart to donate a little, it does not have to be much as every dollar helps, it would be greatly appreciated.  Please sponsor me in this worthwhile cause.

You can donate online at my MDA page that can be found here:
https://www.joinmda.org/MyStrideRide/MyHomepage/tabid/121966/Participant/dharr18/Default.aspx
Thanks for reading, and thanks for your support.

2nd Annual Best Pittsburgh Sports Blog Tournament – Sweet 16

Sean, from Sean’s Ramblings,  has just put up the Sweet 16 polls.  BTW is matched against Raise The Jolly Roger in the “Battle of the Skulls” in the Ironhead division.  I wish Brian the best of luck, hopefully he will come up just short as BTW’s Cinderella runs continues.  Either way, a Pirates blog will make the Elite 8.

Please vote BTW, but also vote for the other Pirates blogs. 

 

Walking:

Once again, for the 4th year,  I am walking in the MDA Stride and Ride event and  I am looking for sponsors.  If you can find it in you heart to donate a little, it does not have to be much as every dollar helps, it would be greatly appreciated.  Please sponsor me in this worthwhile cause.

You can donate online at my MDA page that can be found here:

https://www.joinmda.org/MyStrideRide/MyHomepage/tabid/121966/Participant/dharr18/Default.aspx

Thanks for reading, and thanks for your support.

Best Pittsburgh Sports Blog Tournament, Round 2

Sean, from Sean’s Ramblings, announce round 2 of the BPSB Tournament “Sweet 16 round will run from Monday, 2/15 at 9:00 AM to Wednesday, 2/17 at 7:00 PM”.  I will have the link up when it is available.

Proof

Since it is another late hour, and I do not want to pull a Matt Clement or Mike Alvarez as I did in my last post, “40 Man – For Starters”, calling Brad Lincoln Mike.  I will refrain from doing my “40 Man – The Corners” post until tomorrow.  Thanks to Bbelford for being my proof editor.  I need it and appreciate it.

BTW Stuns The World

Thanks to everyone who voted in the 2nd Annual Best Pittsburgh Sports Blog Tournament hosted by Sean's Ramblings. In honor of BTW's stunning victory over PSAMP, I am unveiling the new BTW Banner created by Kipper from Pittsburgh Sport Tavern. Thanks Kip.

BTW went up against the awesome power of Pittsburgh Sports And Mini Ponies, one of the best blogs in the area.

Once again, I want to thank all who voted as we ramp up for the "Battle of the Skulls" against fellow Bucco blogger Raise the Jolly Roger.

I am looking forward to the second round.

Tee Ball and Rookie Ball…

Tomorrow, actually in just a few hours, my youngest boys turn 5.  Their names are Alex and Nick.  No, they were not named after the twins in Full House.  I didn’t know that was their names until well after the boys were born.  This morning we (Me, Momma, Nick and Alex) discussed whether they wanted to play tee ball this year like their older brother (7) T.J. did last year.  A resounding yes was heard from both.

Before I go any further and bring this into a Pirates post, I need to say one thing:
Happy Birthday Nicky and Alex.

Walking Again

Once again I am walking in the MDA Stride and Ride event.  I am looking for sponsors.  If you can find it in you heart to donate a little, it does not have to be much every dollar helps, please sponsor me in this worthwhile cause.

You can donate online at my MDA page that can be found here:

https://www.joinmda.org/MyStrideRide/MyHomepage/tabid/121966/Participant/dharr18/Default.aspx

Thanks for reading, and thanks for your support.

 

BTW Slide Note:

I should get back to normal posting tonight after I finish updating my link lists.

 

ALSO...

 

On a personal note, Sean's Ramblings is running the annual Pittsburgh Sports Blogger Tournament.  Please vote BTW.  Once again I am an low seed.  Once again, I am going against one of the top blogs in the area.  I need all the help I can get.  Vote here, and vote BTW.

http://seanramblings.blogspot.com/2010/02/best-pittsburgh-sports-blog-tournament.html

Show the Burgh small market blogs can win....lol

Pittsburgh Sports Blogger Tourney Part Duex

Sean at Sean’s Ramblings is running the second annual Pittsburgh Sports Blogger contest:

The first round of the tournament begins tomorrow (Wednesday) with voting ending on Friday at 5:00. The second round through the Championship will continue over the next few weeks.

The bracket and the voting will be available on my blog starting at 9:00 AM.

Please support BTW in this event.  Last year we were embarrassed and run out of the tourney like the winner of a play-in game for the NCAA Tournament.  Let’s shock the ‘Burgh and take down the big guys.

Ok, I’ll settle for a competitive showing since my site has the lowest payroll in the tourney…

Another Short Hiatus

Sorry for the lack of posts the last few days, this is not going to be the disappearing act again.  Three sick kids, an overnight outage for work and the wife having some medical tests later today have kept me derailed from BTW.  Hopefully things will be back to normal by Thursday.

In the meantime, enjoy a dual woot-off.

www.woot.com and kids.woot.com

I’ll be making some minor changes to the site over the next week, so don’t freak out if the page looks horrible every once in a while.  I am also working on getting the Mall back online as well.

What Is Coming On BTW?

In addition to trade rumors and free agent rumors, this offseason I will take a look back at 2009 player by player from the 40 man roster as well as a look into their future.  I will be trying to get a new look back look forward every other day starting November 14th. 

I’ll start with the 25 man roster and work my way through the rest of the 40 man.  After the look back look forward for the 40 man, I’ll take a look at a few interesting prospects Pirates fans can look forward to seeing.

You may wonder why I will start November 14th?  Personal reasons, but I will share them.  I will be in training this week at work with a few hours of homework each night.  Hopefully I will be Red Hat Certified after this week of training.

What Is Next?

With the trade for Akinori Iwamura out of the way, second base seems to be set for 2010.  This trade is so far to the polar opposite of what Huntington has done so far in his tenure, it leads to a few questions…

1) What move is next?

Knowing that Alvarez is not far away.  There are still questions about 1B, RF and SS.  Garret Jones will likely fill either RF or 1B.  Jeff Clement is sitting on the Indy roster waiting for a chance at 1B.   Steve Pearce has relegated himself to bench duty or more seasoning in AAA with his offensive (in more ways than one) showing at the end of 2009.  Brandon Moss has proven to be a 4th outfielder on a bad team, canon fodder on a good team.  Where does Huntington look?

A name that stuck out to me as being “bought out” is Jermaine Dye.  I know I have been hyping him as a target for years now, but at 35 he is an excellent bridge to Jose Tabata’s reign in right for the Pirates.  Dye would fill a nice power hole in the middle of the order and bring some pretty decent defense in right to PNC.  A potential lineup that starts with McCutchen and Iwamura that leads to a combination of Jones, Dye, Alvarez, Doumit and Milledge…  That lineup has the feel of one that could carry a light hitting short stop without problem.

You can replace Dye in RF with Clement at 1B and still have an intriguing lineup, but Jones at first is a more natural position for him.  Remember also, Jones is unproven, he had one half of a great season.  Adding the proven Dye in RF give the Pirates a backup at 1B in Clement.  It also gives Tabata at least one more season of seasoning in AAA.

Is it possible this team is a big bat away from respectability?

2) Have the Pirates turned the corner from rebuilding to building?

Iwamura is a nice complimentary player that rounds out a good team.  What he means to the Pirates is yet to be determined by the rest of the off season moves.  This should be a fun offseason to see what lies in the future for the Pirates and their fans.

What does the blueprint hold for the next moves by the Pirates?

3) Who will be Iwmura’s DP partner?

Will it be Cedeno?  A returning Wilson?  Someone as yet undetermined.  Time will tell, but I don’t think Cedeno has a lock on the position.

 

I’m looking forward to some comments on these questions, as I really haven’t answered any of them.

 

Also, in the next day or so, I will be posting my offseason plans for BTW.  Rest assure, The Winds are blowing again.

 

BTW, I hate the Yankee$.

BTW Hiatus

As if you had not realized, BTW is once again in a hiatus.  Unfortunately, due to some personal and professional issues or problems, I have been forced to put something on the back burner.  It is very unfortunate I have to do this with BTW.  I will be back, but this time I am not making promises as to when.  It seems like when I make a promise, something else goes haywire.

 

Until I return, Let's Go Bucs!!!!

 

If anything major happens or I get a juicy scoop, I will try to make my way to a PC to make a comment.

 

Drop any comments in this thread, I will try to read and reply as time allows.

Look Of Defeat

After Freddy Sanchez missed a ground ball in the 6th, the Pirates players had the look of a defeated team, even before the Brewers took  the lead.  Anyone who says a streak has no impact on a team needs only to watch that one play to change their minds.

Enduring 16 straight losses at Milwaukee has this team in a tizzy.

Just imagine what a 16 year streak feels like for the team.

 

BTW News:

BTW is once again posting.  I now have a new netbook that should allow me to get back to regular posting once again.  Sorry for the MIA, but BTW is back.  I just finished installing the blogging client I use and finished setting up the machine.  I have plenty of thoughts to share, so expect many posts in the next few days and the return of Game Day Threads.

BTW News, Pirates 2009, New Young Buc

Ahhh!

Yesterday, my youngest son had surgery to remove adenoids and to have tubes put in his ears.  Everything went well and he is doing very well.  As a parent you have a tendency to be distracted when your child is about to have an operation, no matter how minor.  Just the thought of your child going under is a scary proposition, no matter how many times you have been through it.  Needless to say, holding him in the recovery room made a huge weight be lifted from my mind.

 

Pirates 2009:

While sitting in recovery holding Nicky as he slept, my mind started wandering back to baseball and the Pirates.  The 4-3 start to the 2009 season is a good thing, like that is breaking news. 

My biggest interest going forward is what will happen first.

You see, I have a belief that it is easier to stay above .500 than it is to get back to .500.  When trying to recover lost ground, teams always seem to press because of a tangible goal of .500.  When a team gets close, then fails, the pressure keeps building.

Failing to reach .500 for a young team, such as the Pirates, seems to always have a snowball affect, more like an avalanche.  When they get close but come a win or two away from the mark, as we have seen a few times in the last 16 years, the team seems to always have that losing streak right then.

A team that is over .500 can endure a losing streak and still not worry of a tangible goal they are failing to achieve, as long as they stay above .500.

So what I am looking for is what happens first.  Do the Pirates have a long winning streak or long losing streak?  If they can attain a long winning streak first, that will go a long way towards breaking the 16 year spiral we as fans have endured.

As for players so far, here are a few things I have noticed:

• Brandon Moss seems to be a little faster than last year, I have been impressed with the speed he has shown so far.  While not blazing speed, he has been impressive none the less.
• Staying with Moss, he has yet to earn a RBI.  A somewhat distressing fact.
• Was I wrong on Nyjer Morgan?  He has been a catalyst for this team with the bat and with his speed and toughness.  He is doing a lot of little things right that have plagued him in the past.  A couple example are breaking up a double play to keep the inning going just prior to Doumit's grand slam.  Another example was taking out the catcher on an excellent hip check from his youth.  While he didn't need to make contact, the play was closer than it appeared as the ball was on it's way home.
• Freddy Sanchez and Jack Wilson both look like they want to stay in Pittsburgh.  Each has been fantastic, maybe no more so than the fantastic double play they turned against the Reds.
• Zach Duke looks as if he has turned back the clock, or at least hit the same point that Maholm did a year and a half ago.  He seems to be trusting his pitches again and is pitching to all parts of the plate.
• With Maholm, Duke and Ohlendorf all pitching well, getting Snell to stay in a groove rather than grooving too many pitches will be a big hurdle for Russell and Kerrigan to clear.  If Snell finds himself again, the bullpen may not be an issue as they will not be used often.

I fear the warm and fuzzy sensation I have been having about the Pirates, too many times in has turned into a stomach virus the last 16 years.

 

New Young Buc:

The Pirates have acquired Delwyn Young from the Dodgers for two PTBNL.  Look for Luis Cruz to be demoted after Young arrives in Pittsburgh.  Young will likely be used as a utility player who can play outfield and most infield positions save 1B.

BTW Take:

Cruz was on the roster due to Bixler becoming a prospect again in spring training.   This move allows the Pirates to have a bat on the bench, rather than just a glove.  It doesn't make perfect sense, since Young has not played 2B in two years. 

Looking Ahead Is Interesting

The Pirates web site is running an article about Brian Bixler, Perry Hill calls him the most improved player on the team.  Hill has worked with Bixler this spring on getting into better position and shortening his arm movement on throws.  From what little I have seen of Bixler this spring, he is starting to look like the guy I saw in college games.

When the Pirates drafted him in the second round, I was quite happy.  I have always though he was the better prospect between he and Brent Lillibridge who was traded in the Adam LaRoche deal.

I have had discussions at The Buccos Forum about whether Bixler would be a good MLB shortstop.  I say he will be, most players struggle on their first trip to the majors.  One of the responses I received was that is true with the bat, but it shouldn’t be with the glove.

While that is somewhat true, Bixler developed some bad habits since turning pro.  Somewhere he picked up the idea it was better to get rid of the ball quick rather than having the good form he showed in college.  That bad habit led to many throws with his weight on his back foot, causing the ball to sail, thus so many throwing errors.

Reading the article had me thinking about what the Pirates may look like towards the end of 2009, especially after September call-ups.  Barring injury, the entire infield could have a distinctly different look as well as an overhaul in the outfield. 

Bixler and Ford could be playing up the middle. 

Pearce could be manning first, or Andy could be moved across the diamond to take the place of big brother.

Walker or Alvarez could be playing third, or either may have a first baseman's mitt on.   I fully expect Alvarez to destroy A ball pitching and be in Altoona quickly.  The way he has looked this spring, he could make Indy by July.

Tabata and McCutchen could be manning the corners in the outfield.

Bottom line, by the end of 2009, we could be seeing the Pirates team for the next three or more years taking the field.

That makes this 2009 season even more interesting in my book.

Which lead to the poll on the right asking, “Which Pirate will be the first to be traded?”

 

BTW March Madness:

The time is coming for March Madness. As in past years, BTW is running a March Madness Pool. I am working on a gift certificate deal that will go to the winner of the bracket.  More details to come, but it will be at least a $20 gift certificate if things pan out.  Join other BTW readers, The Buccos Forum regulars and random bloggers from around the interweb in an intense battle for March Madness Supremacy!!!

Here is the Link:

http://tournament.fantasysports.yahoo.com/t1/register/joinprivategroup_assign_te...

IF it requests a password: pirates