Steel City Stories

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Steel City Stories

A 2007 Pittsburgh Pirates Dynasty

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MVP 07 with KG's rosters

NOTE: Used fantasy draft prior to season

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2007: Is this the year?

March 30, 2007

PITTSBURGH- Let me begin this first article of the year by introducing myself. I'm Andy Bronson, and it is definitely a pleasure to cover the Pirates for you during this 2007 season. But now, on to baseball.

With Opening Day creeping ever closer, the big story that has been covered by every reporter and beat writer for every Major League Baseball team is the story of the 2006 Comprehensive Draft. You all know by now that after quandries between players and owners, the MLB and MLBPA had decided to toss every player into a huge draft pool, and thanks to a lucky coin flip, the Bucs were able to take the #1 overall pick. In a somewhat ceremonious scene, the broad smile of Johan Santana is still etched into our collective memories, waiting for him to don the white Pirates vest and hurl a fastball into an eagerly waiting mitt.

For those of you in the Pittsburgh area who have been too busy following the Penguins all winter-into-spring, here's a look at the freshly drafted, revamped roster for your Pirates.

SP Johan Santana #27

SP Brandon Backe #41

SP Gustavo Chacin #39

SP Scott Mathieson #44

SP Mike Hampton #32

RP Kerry Wood #34

RP Valerio de los Santos #18

RP Brian Fuentes #30

RP Ramon Ramirez #16

SU Mike MacDougal #47

CP Francisco Rodriguez #37

The Pirates have a very strong starting five, opting for a lefty-righty-lefty-righty-lefty rotation, but their long relief corps is very shaky. Kerry Wood is perpetually plagued by injury and Valerio has danced around several minor league teams, but has done enough in the winter leagues and in Spring Training to earn a spot on the Big Club. Fuentes and Ramirez are the two middle relievers, both imports from Colorado. They both had ERAs in the 3.40 range- pretty good for playing 81 games at Coors Field. Mike MacDougal seemed to resurrect his career after being traded from Kansas City to the Chicago White Sox last year, and GM Dave Littlefield believes that he's worth the risk. "Mike certainly impressed our scouts last year," explained Littlefield. "When we saw him available in the eighth round of the draft, we just couldn't say no."

And it appears that the Pirates finally have a reliable closer, as they drafted K-Rod, Francisco Rodriguez, in the third round. Now for the position players:

C Henry Blanco #24

C A.J. Pierzynski #22

1B Mark Teixiera #23

2B Orlando Hudson #3

2B Damian Easley #7

2B Bernie Castro #19

3B Freddy Sanchez #12

SS Jack Wilson #2

SS D'Angelo Jimenez #6

LF David Dellucci #11

LF Ruben Sierra #45

CF Rocco Baldelli #5

CF Shin-Soo Choo #25

RF Delmon Young #26

The Pirates were wise enough to bring back two of their staple players, 2006 NL Batting Champ Sanchez, and shortstop icon Jack Wilson. A huge question for GM Littlefield was why they didn't decide to retain All-Star left fielder Jason Bay. "Jason is an extremely good ballplayer and an amazing talent, but we were looking to focus on our pitching staff in the Draft, and by the time we got around to looking at our outfielders, Jason was gone."

The Pirates have definitely gotten younger in both the pitching staff and in the field. The oldest positional players are Ruben Sierra (39) and Damian Easley (35). The oldest on the pitching staff are Mike Hampton and Valerio de los Santos (32). The Pirates are certainly hoping that by staying young but stocking up on talented youngsters, they will be able to bring home their first World Championship since the days of Pops Stargell and Dave Parker in 1979.

Another interesting note is that manager Jim Tracy has set a new dress code for the Pirates. All players will wear high socks with black fielding gloves and use black bats, in an effort to boost team unity.

But win or lose, this new season, with all the roster restructuring, will be an interesting one. Only time will tell if this is THE year for the Pirates.

Andy Bronson is a reporter for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and fMLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

[apridham]

Like your format. i'll be watching.

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Pittsburgh Pirates (0-0) vs. Houston Astros (0-0)

April 4, 2007

Pirates first baseman Mark Teixeira lunges for a hard hit grounder against the Astros last night. The Pirates won, 4-0.

Johan Goes The Distance In Win

Houston Schill-Shocked at The Juicebox

HOUSTON-- Absolute brilliance. Now can't you see why Johan Santana was the #1 overall draft pick? The Bucs southpaw gave up only one hit, yes ONE HIT, in a 4-0 winner. Manager Jim Tracy allowed him to go all nine innings against a weak hitting Houston team, and Santana proved up to the task, striking out five over nine innings in a complete game shutout. In what was billed before the game as a pitchers duel between two of the greats, Santana (1-0) proved to be on a higher level than his adversary Curt Schilling (0-1). Schilling lasted six innings and gave up four runs on seven hits.

The Pittsburgh offense got to work in the third inning, when Henry Blanco reached with a single and pitcher Santana laid down a perfect bunt down the third base line, so perfect that there was no throw. With runners on 1st and 2nd, leadoff man Orlando Hudson also laid one down, but Blanco was thrown out at 3rd. Rocco Baldelli, who tripled in the first inning, struck out, and with two out, shortstop Jack Wilson hit a screamer into the gap, scoring Santana.

In the fourth inning, left fielder David Dellucci got ahold of one and sent a Schilling fastball over the fence in right center. "I saw the ball really well out of his hand all night. Curt's a great pitcher, but when I went up there, I just tried to make the most out of every swing of the bat." Dellucci did just that, having a 3-for-4 night.

In the sixth, after a Jack Wilson single, Mark Teixeira connected for a two-run bomb of his own into right field, finishing the scoring at 4-0.

But the story of the night was the brilliance of Santana. The only blemishes were a weak single into centerfield by Todd Walker in the fourth inning and a 6th inning throwing error by Freddy Sanchez to allow Lastings Milledge to reach base. Bucs backstop Henry Blanco had nothing but praise for his pitcher. "He had a real good fastball tonight. Real good slider too. He was sharp and stayed ahead of hitters all night long. He was fun to catch."

Santana said of his performance, "I go out and I pitch. That's it. I'm not fighting crime and I'm not saving lives. I just take the ball and throw the ball. Sometimes it gets hit, sometimes it doesn't." Then he stopped and grinned, "But tonight it didn't."

NOTES: The verdict is in on the new look for the Pirates. High socks and matching gloves and bats for all players has definitely caught the eye of fans and MLB officials alike, with Commissioner Dub Giles applauding Tracy's efforts for team unity. Players don't seem to mind. Said backup catcher A.J. Pierzynski, "Y'know, it's kinda cool. At first I thought that they were trying to take away the individuality of the players, but I mean, there's just a togetherness in the clubhouse and to have it shown on the field as well, it's an okay idea."

... The Pirates may be happy about their Opening Day win, but they have another tall task ahead, as Mike Mussina takes the hill for the Astros tonight. Game time is at 8:05 Eastern on FSN Pittsburgh. Former Astro Brandon Backe is scheduled to take the hill for the Buccos.

Andy Bronson is a reporter for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and fMLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

[Guest]

Pittsburgh Pirates (1-0) vs. Houston Astros (0-1)

April 5, 2007

Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson makes contact on a bloop RBI single in the 10th inning. Wilson's single gave the Pirates the lead in a 3-2, 10 inning win.

Pirates Eek Out Astros In 10

Wood picks up win in relief

HOUSTON-- After a solid pitching performance on Tuesday, the Pirates offense had to scrape up some runs last night. Pittsburgh and Houston both struggled to get on the scoreboard, with each team putting up goose eggs until the sixth. Brandon Backe's (0-0) Houston homecoming was a top storyline of last night's game, as was the tough knucklecurve from Astros starter Mike Mussina (0-0).

There wasn't much to say in the first six innings. Backe and Mussina both pitched very strongly, with both pitchers racking up five strikeouts along the way. But in the top of the sixth, Mussina blinked. Jack Wilson reached with one out. Mark Teixeira then homered for the Buccos, putting them up 2-0. "I had a really good swing on the ball. He made a mistake and I took advantage of it," said Teixeira.

It didn't take long for Houston to answer back. Todd Walker singled to start off the bottom of the sixth, and then after a flyout by Torii Hunter and another single by Joe Crede, back-to-back singles by Luis Gonzalez and Miguel Olivo drove in both Hunter and Crede to tie the game. Backe was pinch hit for in the top of the seventh, so his night was over, with a final line of two runs allowed on eight hits with five strikeouts and no walks. The Pirates then went to their middle relief tandem of Ramon Ramirez and Brian Fuentes for the 7th and 8th. Kerry Wood (1-0) entered the game and had a harmless 9th inning.

For the Astros, Mike Mussina went seven innings, giving up two runs on ten hits and five K's. After being replaced for a pinch hitter, the Astros called on Craig Hansen for the 8th, and after Trevor Hoffman posted a perfect 9th and with the score still tied, the 'Stros decided to replace Hoffman with pitcher Jason Frasor (0-1) for the 10th.

After pinch hitter Shin-Soo Choo and leadoff man Orlando Hudson both grounded out, Rocco Baldelli found a fastball and put it into the left centerfield gap for a double. With Baldelli on second, Jack Wilson then fought a fastball in on the fists and dunked it into right center, just beyond the reach of second baseman Dan Uggla, scoring Baldelli and giving the Bucs a 3-2 lead. Wilson spoke of the hit after the game. "It was a tough two-seam fastball riding right in on my hands. I was able to keep the bat back and dunk it past the second baseman. It was a tough pitch, man."

This gave the Pirates the advantage of showcasing their closer, Francisco "K-Rod" Rodriguez, who slammed the door in the bottom of the 10th to earn his first save as a Pittsburgh Pirate.

NOTES:

Ruben Sierra will get the nod in left field over David Dellucci against left handers, announced manager Jim Tracy. The left field platoon of Dellucci and Sierra should keep things competitive in the outfield.

... Catcher Henry Blanco complained of some soreness in his knees after last night's game, but just chalked it up to still getting used to playing every day after a long winter and spring.

... The first Pirates Mailbag will be coming up, and I'll be answering all your questions on Friday, April 8th. Send your questions!

... It will be another marquee battle for the Bucs again tonight, as Randy Johnson takes the hill for Houston. Pittsburgh will counter with another southpaw, former Blue Jay Gustavo Chacin. Game time is at 8:05 Eastern and will be on FSN Pittsburgh.

Andy Bronson is a reporter for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and fMLB.com. This story is not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.