16 And Counting...

As the League Championship Series combatants are now set, let's take a look back at your Pittsburgh Pirates in 2008. I mean hey, at this point last year, who would have ever thought the Rays would be .500, let alone playing to represent the American League in the World Series? The Pirates don't have anywhere near the young talent that the Rays have, but we have to find SOMETHING to believe in heading into 2009.

Today, we have the honor of welcoming a new contributor to the Pittsburgh Psycho Ward. Those of you in the area surely have seen him perusing the stands at PNC Park, Mellon Arena, Heinz Field, the Pete, Primanti Bros., Danny's Hoagies, the annual rib festival, hell, even Hamar Hall or Adamson Stadium on the Cal U campus. Today's entry is a 2008 Pirates Year in Review piece, from our old friend the Ramblin' Man. My additional thoughts and views will be added at the conclusion.

Greetings fellow psychos,

Well, another rough season for our beloved Buccaneers of the North Shore of Pittsburgh. While the standings sheet will indicate a 67-95 record, their 4th straight sub 70 win season, I tend to break things down in other, more positive ways.

For instance the Pirates were a really close to .500 (62-64) against teams who play their home games beyond a 30 mile radius of Lake Michigan. Unfortunately, MLB hasn't wised up and put the Bucs in their proper division with more natural rivals like the Mets and Phillies and the Bucs are stuck with playing the Cubs and Brewers way too much IMO. The Bucs did have winning records against 6 teams this season: Atlanta (5-2) Toronto (2-1), San Fran (4-2), Cincinnati (9-6) and to my surprise the Yankees (2-1, including a win over a 20 game winner) and Cardinals (10-7).

The Bucs were a respectable 39-42 at PNC Park this year (likely due to the dancing guy in section 142:), but road games were brutal this year. Do the math and it isn't pretty. What's really sad is I went to 9 road games this year and the Bucs were 2-7 in those games, including that muggy June evening in Baltimore where the Bucs squandered a 6-1 lead where had they held on, they would've reached .500. Needless to say, they never came that close the rest of the season.

Rome wasn't built in a day, but I'm fairly certain the romans got it right the first time, not like the Pirates who are on "Rebuilding VI" (note to The Jon, I can give my dissertation on all the rebuilding projects since 1993 if need be) I'd like to give the new administration credit so far for their moves, but it'll take a few years to see if these moves finally get the Bucs over .500, or if they'll end up like 90% of David Littlefield's decisions which have put the Bucs in the mess they're in now.

I see where Jeff Andrews was relieved of his duties. Considering the Bucs pitching staff had a 5.10 ERA, surrendered 884 runs this season, didn't have a single pitcher reach double digits in wins, and were one of only 2 teams (the Cardinals being the othe r) in the NL not to have 1000 strikeouts in a season, well that's a pretty grim assesment of the pitching staff this year.

There really isn't too much in the minors either (only the rookie league Pirates were the only affiliate to finish over .500 this year) which is why the deals were made to send Nady and Bay away (sure the cynics will say it was because of $, and that factored in, but it wasn't the #1 reason contrary to popular belief) to get more pitching. From what I've seen, Ohlendorf and Hansen show promise, if only Hansen learns that power is nothing without control. Karstens struggled after a great first 2 starts, and he'll be in the running for a spot in the rotation next year. I just hope whoever becomes the next pitching coach finds a way to get the pitchers on the same page. It's almost criminal the way we've been teased by Duke, Snell, Perez, and Gorzelanny. I just hope Paul Maholm doesn't fall into the same trap. The bullpen had some decent outings this year. Grabow and Yates both went 6-3 and set the table well for Matt Capps, even filled in (along with the traded Damaso Marte) when Capps was on the DL. Capps did go 21-26 in save opportunites this year. The rest of the pen was mediocre at best. Hitting wise everybody should know about the "breakout" year for Nate McLouth. Ryan Doumit also put up solid numbers when healthy. And Adam LaRoche and Freddy Sanchez finished with "respectable" numbers (LaRoche .270-25HR-85RBI, Sanchez .271-9HR-52RBI) after horrid starts. It's gonna be an interesting offseason ahead to see who stays and who goes (many think Jack Wilson will be dealt) and while the 2008 Champion has yet to be determined, I will make these predictions for 2009....

- The starting outfield will be McLouth, Moss, and McCutcheon

- The LaRoche brothers will start at the infield corner positions

- Doug Mientkiewicz will be on the roster

- Paul Maholm will be the opening day starter.

Of course a lot will happen between now and Opening Day 2009. While there isn't much to build on from this past season, I still hold out hope that the Pirates will somehow find a way to stay out of sole possesion of the infamous consecutive losing seasons record. I will continue to believe that until the 82nd loss of 2009. LETS GO BUCS!!

~The Ramblin' Man

NOTES AND VIEWS FROM THE JON:

• While I agree with most of this, there are some views that I do disagree with, or would like to elaborate on. The first being that I don't think that Doug Mientkiewicz will return. I think he showed enough throughout the season for another team to show interest. He added versatility by playing 3rd base and even a little outfield, still has a good bat, a winning attitude, and a fire that a lot of contenders would love to have coming off the bench. As much as I Dig Doug, and would love for him to stay, I just don't see it happening, especially after what he saw from the team late in the season.

• My thoughts about a Jack Wilson deal are still up in the air. I just don't see where the Bucs go to replace him. Brian Bixler didn't look like an answer during his time up with the big team, and the fact that no one on the Pirates pitching staff is overpowering, they need his glove behind them. Granted, he could probably garner a decent return, I think that they might hang on to him. I'd like to see him stay, but I really think management is exactly at 50/50 right now in terms of his return.

• Just look at the turnaround on the Pirates roster from Opening Day til now:

Released or Traded: Franquelis Osoria, Jose Bautista, Jason Bay, Damaso Marte, Xavier Nady

Hurt: Tom Gorzelanny, Phil Dumatrait

Retired: Matt Morris

And we could throw Ronny Paulino on there, as he did actually finish the year with the big league club, but you'd have to dig deep through the box scores to find his name. 9 out of the 25 on the Opening Day roster turned around. That's pretty rare, no?

So who is there in return? Hard to say at this point who will stick, as the Buccos brought up a lot of guys to give them a chance to play in September, but my guess at the 9 who will remain and be on the 2009 Opening Day Roster is as follows:

Andy LaRoche, Brandon Moss (provided he's recovered from his knee surgery), Steve Pearce, Ross Ohlendorf, Jeff Karstens, Denny Bautista, Craig Hansen, Andrew McCutchen, Jason Davis. Other than McCutchen, doesn't look like much improvement there, eh?

• The Pitching staff, outside of Paul Maholm, is wide open. They could have any combination of Zach Duke, Ian Snell, Gorzelanny, Karstens, Ohlendorf, Jimmy Barthmier, Davis, hell, even John Van Benschoten is still on the 40 man roster. So we'll see what, if any moves they make to get any more starters, or who they decide to go with out of camp, but regardless of what happens, they can't be much worse than this years rotation.

• Additional trade rumors I've heard surround Freddy Sanchez and Adam LaRoche. LaRoche is arbitration eligible after this season, and rejected a previous offer by the Pirates prior to last season. If he goes, look for Steve Pearce and Mientkiewicz (if HE stays) to split time at 1st, with Pearce eventually becoming the everyday guy. As for Sanchez, I hope he stays. As mentioned by the Ramblin Man, he had a terrible first half, but still finished with respectable numbers. Luis Rivas is nothing more than the new Abe Nunez, so I hope he doesnt stick around either.

• The thing I agree with most is that the Pirates need to be moved to the NL East. They need to generate all the interest they can, and more games against the Mets, Phillies, and even the Nationals would help do that. There obviously is already the Pittsburgh-Philly rivalry, the Bucs and Mets were about as good as it got in the early 90's in the NL East, I don't have to tell you about the hate that remains to this day for the Braves, and Washington is as short a trip as the Pirates could find in the National League. Who's to say these extra trips and time zone changes dont wear on the players. I know thats a reach, but still. A move to the NL East would greatly benefit the Pirates, in my opinion.

• There are still a lot of things to figure out between now and the end of February, when Pitchers and Catchers report to lovely Bradenton. Who will be the new Pitching Coach? (LEO!), First Base Coach?, how many more guys from the 2008 Opening Day Roster will be gone?, Will McCutchen start the season in Pittsburgh?, What 5 guys will make up the rotation?

• I'm with the Rambler in that I'll believe until loss number 82 is in the books, and root til the bitter end regardless of record, but I must admit that heading into the season, I'm not too confident that 2009 will be the end of this now record stretch of losing seasons. Hopefully I'm wrong.

On a final note - Ramblin' Man, we're always open to any and all Pittsburgh Sports related discussion. An entry detailing the trials and tribulations of 16 years of Pirates losing Seasons would definitely find its way into the Ward.