Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
January 19, 2004
Mini Camp Evaluation

The Pittsburgh Pirates have finished their mini camp. Robert Dvorchak evaluates the team:


The roster still has three gaping holes in it for a closer, a power bat (preferably left-handed) and perhaps a starter or pitching help from the left side. Thus far, the financial flexibility that was promised after last season's trades has produced third baseman Chris Stynes. But, last year, some key ingredients weren't added until well into spring training.

"We have to deliver the goods," Littlefield said.

Expectations are low.


Dave Littlefield is trying to stay on plan, however:

Littlefield said his plan for emerging from this grim predicament remains unchanged. He expects to cobble together a team with what he has and with one-year contracts for stopgap players in the short term, and stock and develop players in the minor-league system to provide the core players needed in the long term.

He did a good job last year of adding those pieces late in the process, but the Pirates were never really competitive last year. I suspect they won't be competitive again this year. McClendon remains optimistic, however:

It is McClendon who will have to play this downsized hand when pitchers and catchers report a month from now. For his part, he is miffed at the conventional wisdom.

"I choose to find a way to get it done," he said during five days of workouts designed to give the club a feel for where everybody is in terms of health and conditioning. "If you argue for your limitations, that's just what you become. Sure, we have our challenges. Most teams do. We'll be talking about this in July. This isn't gloom and doom. This ain't the end for this franchise."


The right attitude. On paper the Pirates don't look like they can win. They probably can't. But luck plays a big part in baseball. A couple of hot veterans, a youngster exceeding expectations, and you at least have an exciting team in Pittsburgh. We'll see who Littlefield can acquire, and who he turns into more prospects as the season progresses.


Posted by David Pinto at 10:06 AM | Team Evaluation | TrackBack (0)
Comments

The Pirates have two major disadvantages coming into this year.

(1) They really didn't commit to rebuilding when they should have. While the Indians committed in a big way back in July 2002, the Pirates thought they could maintain a reasonably contending team well into 2003. By then others - particularly Texas - were also beginning to rebuild. What the Pirates could have reaped by committing even 6 months earlier could have made a big difference for their prospects this year.

(2) Pretty much all the other teams in the NL Central had excellent off season acquisitions. While the AL East grabbed the headlines and makes it seem like the owner with the deepest pockets will win, the NL Central gets my pick for the most improved. By mainly treading water, the Pirates probably lost 5-7 games in the standings. Then again, with the unbalanced schedule, it could be closer to 10-12.

Posted by: Dave at January 20, 2004 04:35 AM