It's 11:14 on Tuesday, July 31, 2007, and the Pirates Universe seems to make less sense than ever. And considering where this franchise has been, that's saying something. Where should I start - on the field or off? Let's go with...on the field.
The Buccos dropped yet another one tonight, this one by a 6-4 count to the Cardinals. 24,085 were bribed into the park by a free Roberto Clemente coin and were treated to the Pirates' 14th loss in their past 16.
The lowlight of the game, and possibly the season, was Ronny Paulino's sixth inning, when he managed to make two colossal errors in the same at-bat. If one opponent's at-bat had ever been more symbolic of another team's entire season, it was this one. Paulino misplayed a routine popup by Ryan Ludwick, extending the at-bat. Naturally, the mistake would come back to haunt the Pirates, as Ludwick ultimately parlayed the extended AB into a double. And during the double, Scott Rolen, by all accounts a dead man walking, was safe at home after Paulino dropped the relay throw from Jack Wilson.
How was this symbolic? First, the mere presence of Paulino in the lineup speaks volumes about the organization. He's had a grand total of one quasi-productive season in the big leagues, but is treated with the respect of a vested veteran. His batting average has fallen 73 points from last season (.310 to .237). His OBP has dropped from .360 to .283 (77 points). He's on pace for 162-game totals of 10 HR and 52 RBI. His defense has been horrendous. His effort appears to be virtually non-existent. He's misplayed numerous throws to home plate. And now, he's botching routine pop-ups. Paulino's been so bad, he makes me long for the days of
Keith Osik. But he's in the lineup again and again, when all signs indicate that he should start planning a second career. I call it John Van Benschoten Syndrome. I guess Paulino's unbenchable. For his sake, I'm glad he doesn't play for the Steelers. Mike Tomlin would skewer him everyday in The News.
Wieters was expected to be the top college position player in the draft this year, and I think he's lived up to that. He was pitched around a bit for Georgia Tech, and seemed to be pressing early in the year, getting off to a somewhat slow start. But he heated up as the season progressed, and his numbers still came out strong: .358/.480/.592, with 10 homers and 51 walks. He has switch-hitting pop and excellent strike zone judgment; I don't have doubts about his bat.
That's right: a .358/.480/.592 switch hiter with power and a good eye. But he cost too much. $10 million was the reported asking price for his signing bonus. Why pay up when we could sign Danny Moskos for a mere $2.475 million? That's a difference of about $7.525 million that the Pirates were unwilling to spend.
Or were they unwilling to spend? I guess that's why Tuesday's trade deadline has everyone so confused. The Pirates traded OF Rajai Davis to the Giants for pitcher Matt Morris. Morris is 7-7 with a 4.35 ERA. The Pirates will pay the balance of his $10 million contract this year, and they're also on the hook for $9.5 million next season, plus a $2 million payment at the end of the season. To me, that looks like money that could've been spent on Wieters.
As expected, people are lining up to take shots at the Pirates. ESPN.com's Keith Law described the Morris trade
like this:
Another year, another bizarre acquisition by the Pirates. But while last year's move to get Shawn Chacon was puzzling, acquiring Matt Morris is inexcusable. The last thing the Pirates need is another starter who gives up more than a hit an inning, but they got one in Morris.
And then there's Bob Smizik's "Littlefield reveals his desperation" article. Some of my favorite lines:
With the acquisition yesterday of starting pitcher Matt Morris from the San Francisco Giants, the Pirates told the world they are willing to spend big-time money. Even if it's on the wrong player...
...In his past eight starts, he [Morris] has pitched 45 1/3 innings and allowed 80 hits while compiling an ERA of 7.94...
...It again brings into question, as have so many other moves in the past, whether anyone in the Pirates' organization knows what they're doing.
Maybe Dave Littlefield knows something that we don't, but for some reason I doubt it. I was perplexed by the Izturis trade, and I'm even more lost after the Morris trade. This is an organization that's ready to begin a new, McClatchy-free era in the near future, but the same old drivers are asleep at the general managing wheel during another trade deadline. How do you explain Tuesday? Is Littlefield trying to get some help to win some games and save his job? Are the Pirates simply spending some money just to make it look like they're not pocketing all that revenue-sharing cash? Is there a reason why the Pirates could find no suitable trading partners for chips like Torres, Chacon, Marte, and Wilson?
I don't have the answers, probably because there are no answers. But don't worry, my friends. Only 58 more to go. And with the Pirates sitting at 42-62, that puts their magic number at 21, as in "the Pirates need to win 21 to finish 63-99 and not lose 100".
Suggested reading:
and from the vault:
