Buccos! (Pittsburgh Pirates 2007 Offical Thread)

[mddst34]

Here we go! The only real time a Pirate fan can be excited, from spring training until the end of April. After that, we all know how it goes.

So, another 90-100 loss season? Or do we break even this year? What do you think of the offseason acquisitions? Basically, is there any hope for this club? Ever?

[Wazzup36]

I'm thinking maybe 70 wins, if the rotation can stay healthy. Offensively I like our chances, pitching will be the question mark. I can't wait to see what Walker and McCutchen can do this year if they get called up, there's a lot of potential in our minors, finally. I not sure how I feel about Torres as the closer, but I guess we'll see. Either way should be an exciting year for the bucs! Can't wait to get out to PNC and see some games.

[mjb2124]

I'm thinking 75-78 wins is possible....that is if the starting rotation performs how we all think they can. Although I'm not very high on Maholm so we'll see how that goes.

I also worry about Torres at closer. I'm just not sure he's the type that can be successful throughout a season only pitching 50-60 innings.

One thing of interest to me is how Eldred progresses in RF and at the plate. If he can become a competent RF and can figure out where the strikezone is (which appears to be the case so far this spring), he could be a nice bat for the offense.

McCutcheon is going to be something special IMO. I'm not sold on Walker though. We'll see, but I doubt he gets called up at all since he's still just learning 3B. We might see Andrew in September though.

[mddst34]

Do you guys think Eldred will work out in the OF? He is so big, he cant be that fast, so I am skeptical of his range and then he becoming a liability when he is out there. But they need to get him more ABs if he keeps hitting the way he has in spring training.

I dont really like Maholm either, so we will see about that. Duke should be better overall this year and if Snell gives another 14 wins, then that is great.

Torres has been sucking in spring ball this year as a closer, so I dont know. I am weary about that too.

[psufan]

I was not impressed with the LaRoche Gonzo trade. I was a big fan of Gonzo and feel he will have success in Atlanta. Hopefully the Pirates prove me wrong and win out of a trade for once. I plan on going to see the Curve play a few times early in the season just to see McCutcheon. I'm not feeling optimistic about this year compared to others...67-95

[mjb2124]

psufan - So you think they'll do worse than last year? I can't see that happening. The Pirates problem last year was offense. The bullpen and rotation is at least decent, if not solid. Remember how bad the starting rotation was the 1st half of last year? I really don't think that will happen again.

I liked Gonzo a lot, but I'd trade a reliever for a starting position player almost every time. Also recall that Gonzo was bailed out a lot last year by Roberto Hernandez. That 24-24 save stat is a bit misleading IMO because he was often pulled when things went bad (usually when he'd walk 2-3 batters).

Anyhow, the offense is improved this year, but still isn't great and is why I don't see them going above .500. The Pirates need another bat for that to happen.

I'm usually very pessimistic regarding the Pirates. I thought my 75-78 wins was pretty low considering a lot of totals I've seen on other boards. I've read where some people are stating the Pirates will win 88 games or so.

[DirrtySouth78]

I'm hoping for the best but Realistically I dunno...I figure somewhere around 75-80 will be close....Never know though..Division got better and we really didn't..I don't see Walker till atleast next year cause we already got a log jam for PT with Sanchez,Bautista,Wilson, & Castillo for the 3 Infield positions.....McCutcheon will be nice to watch, but I'd rather them take thier time with him instead of bringing him up too early.....Still gonna be optomistic this year, atleast for now & hope that this is the year we break .500...until reality hits later in the year

[psufan]

I just don't feel as though the offense will improve compared to last year. No one can hit a curve ball to save their life, I'd love to see Sanchez produce the same results as last year, I know I'm going to get a lot of criticism for this and I know Bay is a power hitter but sometimes I feel as though he's out their swinging for the fences when the team only needs a base hit (or bunt). I guess I've been optimistic and hoping they'd do well for so long that I now look at negatives instead of positives. I've always been a Pirates fan and never saw them do well(too young to remember Bond's infamous throw to home). Who is projected to be in the starting rotation? Duke, Snell...?

[mddst34]

Are you talking about the 93 NLCS? Or 92, when Sid freakin Bream beat us and Bonds threw 'home'? Be glad you are too young.

I know the rotaion was supposed to go something like:

Z.Duke
I. Snell
T. Gorzelanny
P. Maholm
T. Armas

But Maholm and Groz havent been doing that well. Armas on the other hand has been solid this spring so I think he has locked the 5th spot in the rotation.

[mjb2124]

Quote: Originally Posted by psufan

I just don't feel as though the offense will improve compared to last year.

I think overall it will be better, but some guys will regress. With LaRoche in the lineup over Casey/Doumit and whomever else Tracy had at 1B last year is an upgrade IMO. I don't expect Sanchez to put up the same numbers he did last year, but I don't think he'll regress that far. I also think Paulino will improve. I expect his BA to drop, but his power numbers to rise. Bay is Bay...not real concerns with him. RF is my biggest concern in the lineup. We'll have to see how that plays out.

Also, Duffy has to hit like he did at the end of last year and not the beginning. Castillo needs to regain the promise he showed a few years ago and not have the fat, lazy guy approach he had last year. Jack Wilson isn't a great hitter so I don't expect much from him.

Who knows though? It's all a crapshoot. I certainly don't expect anything great from the Pirates, but I do expect them to be better than they were.