Pittsburgh Pirates 2009 Organization Evaluation
June 15th 2009 20:33
As explained here, this is the first of many Organization Evaluations to come.
Doumit's high value depends on him staying both healthy and at the catcher position. While Robinson Diaz has been a valuable player for the Pirates this season, it took him six years to get out of A-ball. As well, he does not have a history of being able to take a walk or hit for power.
At this point, Adam LaRoche is what he is; this makes him expendable. Freddy Sanchez's unsustainable hot hitting this year should make him a great sell-high candidate at the trade deadline, assuming he does not start to slump before then. Andy LaRoche still has a high upside, but Pedro Alvarez, the best prospect in the system, will be pushing him in a couple of years (or sooner). Unfortunately, one of them may have to move over to 1B. Jack Wilson's time in Pittsburgh is (hopefully) coming to an end. It remains to be seen who will replace him in the long-run.
Nyjer Morgan has become a fan favorite and, thus, overrated. Andrew McCutcheon no longer has the power potential he once had, so he may not become a superstar, but should still be a well-above-average player. The Pirates minors has a handful of decent outfield prospects, including Gorkys Hernandez, Robbie Grossman, and Jose Tabata. The Pirates should be happy if at least one of them pans out.
Not much in this world has been more disappointing than the routine of Pirates' pitching prospects' rise and subsequent crash. Duke, Snell, Gorzelanny, and Burnett are the guys still on the team to experience this, but previous victims include Oliver Perez, Bryan Bullington, John Van BenSchoten(sp?), Kris Benson, etc.
Duke has been solid so far this year, but no one should bet on that lasting. Snell needs to regain his ability to strike hitters out. Gorzelanny would help the team by just returning to the rotation from the bullpen. Now Pirates' closer Matt Capps has been experiencing some early-season struggles.
The Pirates have quite a few talented arms in the organization, but they will need a high success rate on those arms developing or will need to reach outside of the organization before having a pitching staff capable of playing in October.
Doumit's high value depends on him staying both healthy and at the catcher position. While Robinson Diaz has been a valuable player for the Pirates this season, it took him six years to get out of A-ball. As well, he does not have a history of being able to take a walk or hit for power.
At this point, Adam LaRoche is what he is; this makes him expendable. Freddy Sanchez's unsustainable hot hitting this year should make him a great sell-high candidate at the trade deadline, assuming he does not start to slump before then. Andy LaRoche still has a high upside, but Pedro Alvarez, the best prospect in the system, will be pushing him in a couple of years (or sooner). Unfortunately, one of them may have to move over to 1B. Jack Wilson's time in Pittsburgh is (hopefully) coming to an end. It remains to be seen who will replace him in the long-run.
Nyjer Morgan has become a fan favorite and, thus, overrated. Andrew McCutcheon no longer has the power potential he once had, so he may not become a superstar, but should still be a well-above-average player. The Pirates minors has a handful of decent outfield prospects, including Gorkys Hernandez, Robbie Grossman, and Jose Tabata. The Pirates should be happy if at least one of them pans out.
Not much in this world has been more disappointing than the routine of Pirates' pitching prospects' rise and subsequent crash. Duke, Snell, Gorzelanny, and Burnett are the guys still on the team to experience this, but previous victims include Oliver Perez, Bryan Bullington, John Van BenSchoten(sp?), Kris Benson, etc.
Duke has been solid so far this year, but no one should bet on that lasting. Snell needs to regain his ability to strike hitters out. Gorzelanny would help the team by just returning to the rotation from the bullpen. Now Pirates' closer Matt Capps has been experiencing some early-season struggles.
The Pirates have quite a few talented arms in the organization, but they will need a high success rate on those arms developing or will need to reach outside of the organization before having a pitching staff capable of playing in October.
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