Pirates' Chatter 2005

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Don't I know it....

Their minor league Pitcher of the Year in '04....

http://www.rotowire.com/baseball/player.htm?id=7887

[POJO_Risin]

I like Huff...but I wouldn't give up my best pitching prospect AND another player for him....not when you can use him later in the year to get you an established starter if you need one...or a better bat from a non-contender...

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Another year down the drain for House, just shitty luck for this guy...

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05051/460297.stm

House faces shoulder surgery
Sunday, February 20, 2005

By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

BRADENTON, Fla. -- There was a time when catcher J.R. House was the jewel of the Pirates' system.

Now, at age 25, he could be facing his fourth major surgery in four years and another significant delay to his career.

House learned yesterday from the Pirates' medical staff that he has a dual injury in his right shoulder, a torn labrum and a 30 percent tear of the rotator cuff. He will be examined tomorrow by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala. If Andrews determines surgery is necessary, it will happen Tuesday.

If he has surgery, he likely would miss most or all of the coming season.

"I'm not optimistic it can be avoided," House said. "It's frustrating, but it's out of my hands now."

House hits and throws right-handed, increasing the potential impact of the injury on his career, although position players generally recover more quickly from shoulder surgeries than pitchers.

Team officials did not discuss the injury in detail, but they did express hope that House would rebound again.

"I understand how tough those things are, particularly when they set you back in your progress," manager Lloyd McClendon said. "Hopefully, he can be back out here soon."

House's injury was detected when pitchers and catchers had physicals Friday morning. A magnetic resonance imaging scan revealed the tears, and the news was relayed to House yesterday morning. Unlike the previous day, he did not dress with his teammates, instead preparing for the flight to Alabama tomorrow.

Although House described the injury as chronic, he pinpointed the start of the current trouble to his ninth game in the Dominican Republic's winter league two months ago. He played two additional games there, then returned home to Charleston, W.Va.

"I tried to rehab it on my own, which is something I've done with this shoulder for years," he said. "I figured I had 6-8 weeks before I needed it to be ready for spring training, and it might take care of itself. I kept trying to throw at home and ... it didn't work out."

General manager Dave Littlefield said the Pirates were aware of House's chronic shoulder pain for an extended period of time.

"As it is with a lot of players, you try to manage situations as best you can," Littlefield said. "It's come to the point where it's bothering him enough that we, along with he, feel like he's got some problems."

House, the Pirates' fifth-round pick in the 1999 amateur draft, was regarded so highly that he caused a public stir in Pittsburgh two years later when he wavered between sticking with baseball or honoring a commitment to play quarterback at West Virginia University.

He chose baseball but has never stayed healthy for long, having each of his past five seasons interrupted by injury or illness. That includes three surgeries in 2002, one to repair an abdominal muscle, another for a hernia, another to reconstruct his right elbow.

House played 99 games last season for Class AAA Nashville and hit .288 with 21 doubles, 15 home runs and 49 RBIs. He also had two stints with the Pirates, his first sustained action in the majors, but played sparingly and went 1 for 9.

House, who two years ago became a born-again Christian, said he is leaning heavily on his faith while waiting to learn of his fate.

"When I've had surgeries in the past, I didn't know the Lord, so I didn't know how to handle it," he said. "I have such a different, more positive attitude now. Hopefully, God blesses Dr. Andrews and all goes well."

[POJO_Risin]

There's nothing unlucky about it...

chronic is more like it...

he'll end up doing something somewhere though...if only for a couple of years...

we'll see...

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Can't say I'm surprised, like I said, the guy couldn't stay on the field...

http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050308&content_id=961718&vkey=spt2005news&fext=.jsp&c_id=pit

House's run with Bucs reaches end
Oft-injured catching prospect released Tuesday
By Ed Eagle / MLB.com

BRADENTON, Fla -- J.R. House's once promising career with the Pirates organization came to an abrupt end Tuesday when he was given his unconditional release.
House, 25, was the Pirates' fifth-round selection in the 1999 First-Year Player Draft. He was selected as the organization's top prospect by Baseball America prior to the 2001 and 2002 seasons, and appeared well on his way his way to becoming the Pirates' next star. However, a string of serious injuries continuously sidetracked his development.

Since 2002, House has undergone reconstructive elbow surgery and surgeries to repair tears in his labrum, rotator cuff, and abdominal muscle and suffered a hernia. The labrum and rotator cuff procedures, which were performed in February by renowned surgeon Dr. James Andrews, are expected to sideline House for the entire 2005 season. His inability to play this year and the fact that he would be out of options next season led to his release.

"It's certainly an unfortunate story because, at times, we had high hopes for J.R., but at this point in time we don't see him making the team," said Pirates GM Dave Littlefield.

"With any player there is a clock that starts when a player is on the [40-man] roster, and there is an option status that is a function of every player's career path and the timing of it."

As per the basic agreement between the teams and Players Association, any player released before March 16 must be paid just one-sixth of his salary. After that date, waived players receive at least 45 percent of their salary. With House scheduled to make at not near the Major League minimum of $316,000 if he spent the season on the 60-day DL, the Pirates saved approximately $263,000 by releasing him Tuesday.

Despite the financial benefits to the team, Littlefield said the move was not motivated by money.

"It's really an issue of us feeling he is not going to make the team," said Littlefield. "You have to achieve throughout your minor league career regardless of where you were drafted or how much of a bonus you signed for or whatever you did in high school or college. At some point in time, you've got to get it done to be able to prove that you are going to be a Major League player."

House, who appeared in six big league games with Pittsburgh during the past two seasons, was shocked by the news of his release.

"It was out of the blue," said House. "They told me in the meeting that through all of the injuries and everything that they didn't see me as being a part of the organization anymore. That's tough to take for your ego to be told that. I understand where they are coming from. It's up to me to get healthy and put a good product on the field to where other people will be interested in me."

House, obviously cognizant of how his career has gone off path in recent years, has done his best to remain upbeat despite the numerous setbacks.

"I'm on the top, and then I'm on the bottom where I'm released. I've experienced both sides of it," said House. "It definitely makes you grow as a person. I'm just looking forward to getting better again and playing in the big leagues."

If House clears waivers, which is likely considering his injury situation, he will essentially become a free agent. He hopes to be back on the field in time to play winter ball.

"I'm looking forward to that. But I really wish I would have been able to play baseball with the Pittsburgh Pirates," said House. "It is really where my heart has been."

A career in football is also an option for the former scholastic gridiron star who was heavily recruited by West Virginia University among other Division I football programs.

"If I get to the point where I'm just not good enough to play baseball and I can't make it, then definitely [football is an option]," said House.

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Major scare today, looks like he's gonna be OK though...

http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050308&content_id=961604&vkey=spt2005news&fext=.jsp&c_id=pit

Bay out at least a week
Second-year outfielder hurt diving for line drive
By Ed Eagle / MLB.com

BRADENTON, Fla - Pirates left fielder Jason Bay will be out at least one week after suffering a bone bruise on his left wrist.
Bay, the defending National League Rookie of the Year, jammed his left wrist while attempting to make a diving grab on a sinking liner by Reds slugger Adam Dunn. After lying on the ground momentarily, Bay conferred with manager Lloyd McClendon and the training staff before walked off the diamond.

An MRI and X-ray performed immediately after the game revealed no fractures or ligament damage in the wrist. However, the bone bruise is expected to keep Bay out of the lineup for seven to 14 days.

Bay, who hit .282 with 26 home runs and 82 RBIs in 2004 on his way to becoming the first Pirate and Canadian-born player to take top rookie honors, is expected to be ready for the start of the season. Bay missed the first month of the 2004 campaign while recovering from shoulder surgery.

[Va Beach VH Fan]

This could get interesting if they're busted on this...

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/sports/pirateslive/s_311357.html

Bucs' spending could result in violation of CBA

By Joe Rutter
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Wednesday, March 9, 2005

BRADENTON, Fla. -- If the Pirates violated the spirit of baseball's collective bargaining agreement by using revenue sharing money to pay off debt, the players' association will know about it within a few weeks.
Mike Weiner, general counsel for the players' association, said Tuesday that all owners receiving revenue sharing money must file a letter of certification to the commissioner's office by April 1. The letter details how those funds were spent.

The Pirates received $13.3 million in revenue sharing last season, an increase from $6.4 million in 2003.

The basic agreement states that teams must use revenue sharing money to "improve its performance on the field." But Pirates managing general partner Kevin McClatchy admitted in a December newspaper article that not all of the money his team received was put back into the system.

"We're also trying to get the team back afloat to balance the ship with our debt," said McClatchy, who claimed in 2003 that the franchise had lost $30 million since the opening of PNC Park. "We lost a significant amount of money there in a short amount of time."

The basic agreement also states the commissioner's office may impose penalties on clubs that violate the revenue sharing agreement.

Weiner declined comment on McClatchy's remarks, but said if the Pirates violated the revenue sharing rules, it will be detailed in the forthcoming letter of certification.

"We have regular discussions with the commissioner's office about whether there is regular compliance," Weiner said.

Weiner said the commissioner's office shares the letter of certification with the players' association.

Weiner was one of several officials that attended the union's annual spring training meeting with Pirates players. Executive director Donald Fehr was not available for comment.

Players were briefed on the new steroid-testing policy that is being implemented this year, the CBA that is set to expire after the 2006 season, licensing issues and the possibility of a World Cup tournament being played next spring.

Fehr also updated the Pirates on the labor discord in the NHL and how it might relate to future union negotiations with ownership.

"It's too early to tell how that is going to play out and impact us," Weiner said.

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Woohoo, 9-2 Brewers !!!!!

One game down, already in the cellar !!!!

The bastards...

Oh dear departed Pope John Paul II, can you throw some guidance down here and finally tell these knuckleheads in PNC Park that McClendon has to go ???

I didn't get to watch the game live, I'll watch it delayed here in a few minutes, but this guy has got everyone scratching their collective heads now...

The idiot starts Tike Fucking Redman in the #3 spot in the batting order...

That's right, I said #3....

Not Bay, or Wilson, or Ward, Wigginton, or even Lawton for that matter....

Then after Ollie Perez is shaky in the 1st five innings, they're down 4-1, and Santiago triples with 2 outs....

So what does 'ol Lloyd do ?? Let's Ollie hit !!!!

And good 'ol Tike is kicking balls around center field like he's fucking Pele....

This has to be year for McClendon to go, IT HAS TO BE....

[High Life Man]

I see VA has already jumped on the Brewer bandwagon. It's not too late for the rest of ya...

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Dude, the press is just HAMMERING the Bucs after only one game....

I mean everywhere, Post-Gazette, Tribune-Review, Beaver County Times, message boards, talk shows, EVERYWHERE....

The main consensus was that all the talk about improvement was basically bullshit after witnessing that sad display on Opening Day....

It doesn't take much after 12 straight losing years, as I'm sure you know, as the other team with 12 straight losing years....

I like the Brewers lineup, have for a few years now actually...

If they can get some horses to work with Sheets, they'd get over the .500 hump....

I don't see the Bucs getting close to that, their starting pitching will kill them...

Ollie will get his wins, he's just too nasty most of the time... I don't think one start in April is going to phase him too much...

But I see Kip Wells struggling again, and probably on the trade block by July...

Josh Fogg is a poor man's Tom Glavine in terms of velocity, but without any accuracy.... Maybe 10 wins from him, if he's lucky...

Mark Redman looks like a left handed version of Fogg... Throws high 80's, he was getting pounded all spring training long... The A's must be pissing their pants for only giving up Redman and Rhodes for Kendall... Another "maybe" 10 wins....

Their #5, Dave Williams, won it strictly by default, meaning he sucked the least... Vogelsong got lit up again in spring training.... And they got scared at the last minute and didn't give the job to top prospect Zach Duke, saying they didn't want to rush him.... What the fuck could it hurt ??

Sorry to say, this team may be looking towards 100 losses, maybe that will finally kick McClendon and his sorry-ass staff out the door....

Aaaah, baseball's back....

[Va Beach VH Fan]

And the beat goes on towards 100 losses, 10-2 to the Brew Crew again...

And as I predicted, Wells got lit up....

[High Life Man]

Yay!

And we get to play you guys 3 more times next week.

Woo hoo! The march to the World Series has begun! :D

[ALinChainz]

Didn't the Bucs have a slew of minor leaguers fail steroid tests?

[Va Beach VH Fan]

3 of them, all of them scrubs....

[High Life Man]

Woo hoo!

I wish we could play the Pirates more often.