WE ARE FAMILY! The Pirates will rule once again!

[mooseman74]

Time to rebuild the Pirates. They have some solid players, but they’re not going to compete regularly in the NL central with this current team. So join me in this ride to the top in Steel Town, USA won’t ya?

The starting payroll for this team is $35.4 million….not out of control by any mean….clearly one of the lowest. But I think there’s more fat to trim than meets the eye.

Pre-season moves:

Signed a 3 year extension for 1.2 million.with LF Jason Bay…he’s solidly rated and will be starting there this year…so by the end of this contract I will have a great idea of how good he’ll be.

I then pull off a huge 9 players trade. I send 3B Chris Stynes, 1B Daryle Ward, C Sandy Martinez, 1B Andy Abad, 3B Chris Truby, 2B Bobby Hill and P Brian Meadows to Texas for C Gerald Laird and RF Laynce Nix. This is a roster trim move to weed out the useless plugs in my system…and I also save myself almost 5 million dollars in salary!
TRADE WINNER: Clearly me….everyone I gave up would not have played much at all and probably won’t in Texas…but I received two prime prospects who could move into the lineup in a season or two.

That is enough moves for now…I can always make some trades at the deadline. I’m prepared to sacrifice this season and fan response seems to support me in this.

Opening Day lineup:

CF Tike Redman
C Jason Kendall
RF Craig Wilson
1B Randall Simon
3B Rob Mackowiak
LF Jason Bay
2B Abraham Nunez
SS Jack Wilson

Bench
LF Henry Rodriguez
IF Freddy Sanchez
C Gerald Laird
1B Carlos Rivera
SS Tomas de la Rosa
RF Luke Allen

Starting Rotation

Kip Wells
Kris Benson
Josh Fogg
Oliver Perez
Dave Williams

Bullpen

CL Jose Mesa
Juan Acevedo
Brian Boehringer
Rick Reed
Willis Roberts
Salomon Torres

Prized Prospects:

RF Laynce Nix
CF Tony Alvarez

The rest of my farm is ready to be overhauled big time…and will be taken care of very soon. Play Ball!!

[mooseman74]

APRIL 2004


I have very low expectations on this season….no delusions of grandure….I predict we will win 75 games…but I won’t be too disappointed if we don’t reach that lofty mark.

Here’s how April broke down for us:

April 5-8 vs. Phillies
W 4-3
L 10-4
L 6-5

Not the way I’d like to have started considering we were playing our cross state rivals…however all was not negative. RF Craig Wilson was our star going 5 for 11 with 2 HR and 6 RBI in this series….and to think I was going to make him trim those **** sideburns!

April 9-12 @ Reds
W 9-5
W 3-2
W 3-1
L 5-1

Well we bounced back great in Cincy…was hoping for the sweep but we’ll still take it. We also flexed our muscle cranking out 8 homers in the series.

April 14-15 @ Cubs
L 4-1
W 4-1

A short trip to Wrigley during our 9 game road trip, but we managed a split which is pretty good considering we faced Prior and Maddux.

April 16-18 @ Mets
W 4-1
W 4-1
L 8-3

Well…we had a 3 game, ‘4-1’ win streak going….the first two games vs NY saw two great pitching performances from Dave Williams (8IP, 3Hits, 1ER, 8K) and Kip Wells (9IP, 5 hits, 1ER, 6K).But we blew up real good in game three with Kris Benson giving up 7 ER in only 3 and 2/3 IP.

April 20-22 vs. Cubs
L 9-8
W 4-2
L 7-1

Well we’re home again, but we only managed to squeak on one win vs. Maddux, Jared Wright and Kerry Wood. Wood dominated us going 9IP allowing only 3 hits and 1ER while striking out 13! Momma!

April 23-26 vs. Reds

L 10-5
W 10-6
W 6-3
L 14-9

Talk about a battling series. 16 homers hit between the two teams…these series could be the highlights this season!

April 27-29 vs. Astros

W 6-0
L 7-2
W 7-0

We battled hard against Houston and threw 2 shutouts at them…2! Pretty good if I don’t say so myself. Dave Williams threw the first one allowing only 3 hits and K’ing 8! Benson threw the second one….somehow Houston didn’t capitalize on their 10 hits off him…but he did manage to fan 6 of them.

April 30th @ Brewers

W 5-4

Nothing too exciting happened in game one of this series to be finished in May.

End of April Report

13-10 3rd place...5 gb of St. Louis

Well we managed to go 13-10 in April…not too shabby…well inline for my 75 win prediction. Craig Wilson led the way with 7HR and 18 RBI…and rookie Jason Bay hit .329 with 2HR, 13RBI and 2 SB….looks like a solid move so far. As for my pitching…Kip Wells is earning his $3.6 million this year…might make it hard to trade him away before July 31…but I might not be able to afford him. He went 3-2 with a 3.19 ERA….36.2 IP and 25K and 2 CG! Dave Williams has been a real surprise so far…he’s 2-1 with a 3.10 ERA in 29 IP with 28 K and ONLY 8 BB. Jose Mesa has been nearly spotless going 0-1 with 5 saves and a 1.69 ERA.

Monthly MVP: Craig Wilson…in a close one I think.

ON TO MAY BABY!

[mooseman74]

May

May 1-2 @ Brewers
L 5-1
L 7-5

Well we start out rough for May…Blah…nothing else I can say but grab a sausage on our way out of town.

May 4-6 @ Astros
W 9-4
W 7-4
L 6-5

Well we bounced back ok and almost had a sweep…Jason Bay continues to impress going 8 for 15 in the series.

May 7-9 vs. Dodgers
L 5-4
W 4-3
L 5-4

Well…one good thing is I’ve yet to see us have any kind of bad losing streak…we seem to be a good bounce back team….for how long that lasts I don’t know.

May 11-13 @ Rockies
W 4-2
W 5-2
W 8-3

Me likey the Rockies….we showed them who’s boss and then some in this series. Everyone is chipping in everywhere right now and I’m loving it.

May 14-16 @ Giants
L 3-2
L 3-1
W 6-3

Well we fell flat the first two games before salvaging some respect…very close games though…so I’m liking our competitiveness.

May 18-20 vs. Padres
L 6-3
W 11-4
L 7-3

We lose…we bounce back…we lose. Luke Allen got the start in RF in the middle game and went 4 for 5 and sports a .571 average so far in limited time….like I said…Everyone is contributing.

May 21-23 vs. Cubs
L 12-7
W 5-4
W 11-10

What a shoot out….We got thumped in game one…though we did manage 7 runs, 4 of them off Prior. In game two Tike Redman hit for the cycle…he did have 8 ab’s though…and the game lasted 17 innings!!!!! Redman earned his cycle with a solo homer in the bottom of the 17th to win it for us after 5 and a half hours of play. 16 different pitchers used in the match. Wow…surprising anyone was available to pitch in the finale, 11-10 win for me. But no…Carlos Zambrano..who lost the game for Chicago in the 17th inning of game 2 actually STARTED game 3 and he lasted 5 and 2/3’s! No real standouts in this game….however Redman did go 3 for 5….and was 7 for 13 over the last two games.

May 31 vs. Cardinals
L 12-3

Talk about a kick in the teeth after my battle with the Cubs.

May Month End Report:

26-24 4th place…..10gb of the Cubs….the Cubs? Wow…they must not get the challenge from others that they do from us.

Well…we’re still chugging along over .500…which I’m digging. As a team we’re bating .283..which is superb and we’ve jacked 52 homers…very good. Craig Wilson continues to bash with 14 homers and 41 RBI….and Jason Bay is hitting a wicked .348 with a monstrous .435 OBP. Our pitching got hit a lot harder this month….no starter is under 4.00…but Mesa is still smoking with 12 saves and a 2.59 ERA.

End of May Trade:

Juan Acevedo is dealt to Anaheim for $1 million. He was brutal and the sole cause of at least 4 of our losses along with his 8.35 ERA. I then signed RP Hector Mercado to a 2 year $590,000 deal. He’s a solid replacement with a peak of 72 and good power. I shed the 1.6 million Acevedo was ‘earning’.

JUNE AWAITS!

[mooseman74]

JUNE 2004

June 1-3 vs. Cardinals
L 3-2
W 1-0
L 18-3

Ouchie. Well we start June off about as rough as you could…save for the shutout thrown by Benson…well almost…Mesa came in to get the last out and earn his 13th save. I’m glad to see St. Louis head out of here…they ripped a new one this series.

June 4-6 @ Cubs (oh no)
L 5-3
L 4-2
L 2-0

Well…so much for our high offensive battles…this one was dominated by Chicago…and more accurately Maddux, Zambrano and Wood…who once again threw a shutout, giving up only 1 hit and striking out 8!

June 7-9 @ Texas (first Inter-league matchup)
L 5-4
L 12-9
L 10-4

Well…it’s safe to say we’re slumping now….our losing streak has hit 7 and we’ve lost 9 of our last 10. I’m glad we have to day off to rest up for Oakland! Craig Wilson wasn’t too phased…he went 7 for 14 with 2 homers and 5 RBI in the series. All for not though.

June 11-13 @ A’s
L 7-2
W 4-2
W 6-4

We finally broke our losing streak after 8 crazy days. Once again, no real standouts…we’re are literally getting productions every game from someone new.

June 15-17 vs Anaheim
W 7-3
W 10-5
L 3-1

Well I enjoyed our little 4 game win streak…as have our fans…we’re drawing an average of 28,000 people for home games…that’s very solid considering our stadium only holds about 38,000. Still money to be made there though.

June 18-20 vs. Seattle
W 6-3
L 13-8
L 8-5

Well….we were simply out hit in this one…but we did have good offensive production…19 runs in three games is pretty good…most teams in MLB would love that average.

June 21-24 @ Astros
W 6-3
W 8-2
L 4-3
L 7-2

Well we started out quick in this series…but faltered in the last two. Some injury problems are holding me back right now with no real stop gaps to help.

June 25-27 @ Reds
L 6-2
L 3-2
W 13-8

Well we came back to life in game three after a mini four game losing streak. Craig Wilson and Jason Bay are really tearing the cover off the ball right now and I’m loving it.

June 28-30 vs. Cardinals (ugh!)
W 5-1
W 9-6
L 5-3

Well we gave them a run for their money and almost managed a very unexpected sweep. Dave Williams showed how dominate he can be in game one going 9 IP, allowing only 3 hits, 1 R (unearned) and K’ing 10!

June Month End Report:

37-41…4th….15.5 gb of the Cubs

We were up and down this month for consistency….but I still am happy with our offensive production. We’re batting .282 as a team with 76 HR…not too shabby at all.
I’ve really run into injury trouble though…just when he was getting hot Rob Mackowiak went down for two weeks with a foot stress fracture….as was Mercado…Willis Roberts missed 2 weeks with a groin pull and Kris Benson was out three weeks with a wrist stress fracture. Ouch ouch OUCH! To ease the pain I call up Jason Boyd and John Grabow to shore up the bullpen.
Craig Wilson is up to .304 with 23 HR and 68 RBI now…and Jason Bay is hitting .319 with 6 HR and 36 RBI. Jason Kendall is hitting an awesome .354 right now….Despite having a rough month, our starters dropped their ERA’s somewhat….Wells is down to 3.92 and Benson is at 3.97….Fogg and Williams are under 5.00 and Perez is limping along at 6.55. Mesa continues to dazzle with 18 saves (3 blown saves) and a 2.48 ERA. As for my replacement for Acevedo….well Mercado was 0-0 with a save and a 1.96 ERA in 18.1 IP….16K as well. Looks like a good move so far.

MVP (forgot last month to name one but it would be the same): Craig Wilson…he’s the glue that keeps us together right now.

JULY……HERE WE COME!

[mooseman74]

JULY 2004

July 2-4 vs. Brewers
L 10-8
L 15-8
W 6-1

Well..when we blow up…we blow up real good! I don’t want to talk about it. Glad to see the road.

July 5-7 @ Marlins
L 4-3
W 9-6
W 5-1

Well..the road seems to like us right now…we could’ve taken all three. We’re looking forward to the All Star Break…we’re starting to drag our asses a bit I think though.

July 8-11 @ Montreal
L 10-3
L 10-9
L 4-2
L 7-6

OUCH! Talk about heading into the break on a sour note! Our pitching is getting hit HARD. I fear the second half now….I really do.

AllStar Break Baby!

Homer derby…Craig Wilson makes the derby..but doesn’t get out of the first round despite parking 5HR.…Slammin’ Sammy Sosa wins it 5-3 against A-Rod.

All Star Game…..Craig Wilson and Kip Wells are our only reps in the midsummer classic which is won by the NL this year by a score of 12-3. Neither Pirate gets into the action though…hope this disappointment doesn’t hurt them going into the second half.

July 16-18 vs. Marlins
L 11-2
L 9-0
L 8-5

No Comment!

July 19-20 vs. Expos
L 2-1
W 5-4
Yay…we remember how to win! This is starting to get depressing.

July 21-22 @ Braves
L 4-3
W 4-3

Well…we were close in game one. Nothing worth reporting really…other than some crazy weeping sounds can be heard from my office.

July 23-25 vs. Reds
L 6-3
W 17-6!
L 12-4

Guess we wasted all our offence in game two….glad our pitching can pick up once and awhile….not! Mackowiak is finally starting to heat up again though finally since coming back from his broken foot.

July 26-29 vs. Braves
L 6-5
L 12-8
W 4-1
L 6-3

I can’t figure out how our pitchers can’t show up unless they get 5 or 6 runs of support. Craig Wilson is up to 30 homers now…which is very good.

July 30-31 @ Brewers
L 7-1
L 3-1

Would I expect to finish the month any other way? No.

July Month End Report:

We go 7-19 in July and drop to 44-60…somehow barely still good for 4th…but I’m now 23 gb of the Cubs.

Other than Wilson with 30 homers…the only other pleasing stat right now is Mesa with 21 saves and a 2.30 ERA.

I’M DREADING AUGUST!