The Pirates will win the NL Central. Discuss.

AJ · Post by AJ » March 23 07, 9:37 am

Jake wrote:
card_fan_in_chi wrote:I still hate the Pirates from 2003.... loaded up the Cubs for next to nothing in return to give them the division.
Me too.

Imagine Aramis still with us.

Duffy, Sanchez, Aramis, LaRoche, Bay, Paulino, who cares!

Duffy is still a great unknown, but the four after him? Paulino only hit .310 last year. I don't care if they were all singles.
Damn!

Add Bonds to that lineup, a couple servicable pitchers, and you would have a contender.

GatewaySnayke · Post by **GatewaySnayke** » March 23 07, 9:53 am

Jake, you are a Pirates fan?

That's odd, because I wasn't even sure many of you existed anymore.

JL21 · Post by **JL21** » March 23 07, 9:56 am

jim wrote:I will say the Pirates have a better shot that the Royals or DRays.

For now..... but once/if the D-Rays young talent starts coming along, they'll probably surpass the Pirates. The Rays are loaded with kids that can play.

jim · Post by **jim** » March 23 07, 9:57 am

RC21 wrote:
jim wrote:I will say the Pirates have a better shot that the Royals or DRays.
For now..... but once/if the D-Rays young talent starts coming along, they'll probably surpass the Pirates. The Rays are loaded with kids that can play.

More of a statement of where they are as opposed to what they are. If you are in the ALE or ALC, you better be pretty good.

Jake · Post by **Jake** » March 23 07, 11:05 am

GatewaySnayke wrote:Jake, you are a Pirates fan?

That's odd, because I wasn't even sure many of you existed anymore.

Check out http://www.iratefans.com !

Jake · Post by **Jake** » March 23 07, 11:07 am

RC21 wrote:
jim wrote:I will say the Pirates have a better shot that the Royals or DRays.
For now..... but once/if the D-Rays young talent starts coming along, they'll probably surpass the Pirates. The Rays are loaded with kids that can play.

In '96, BA rated the Pirates as having the best minor league system.

What did we get out of that?

More losing!

It's one thing to have potential. It's another to realize it.

Hungary Jack · Post by **Hungary Jack** » March 23 07, 12:48 pm

RC21 wrote:
jim wrote:I will say the Pirates have a better shot that the Royals or DRays.
For now..... but once/if the D-Rays young talent starts coming along, they'll probably surpass the Pirates. The Rays are loaded with kids that can play.

Hasn't this been the case for quite some time?

Jmodene · Post by **Jmodene** » March 23 07, 12:50 pm

FWIW, the Pirates didn't finish last last season... that was the Cubs.

BTW, I, too, am still mad about those Pirate/Cub giveaway deals in 2003. I fully blame McLendon on that one.

Jake · Post by **Jake** » March 23 07, 1:45 pm

Jmodene wrote:FWIW, the Pirates didn't finish last last season... that was the Cubs.

BTW, I, too, am still mad about those Pirate/Cub giveaway deals in 2003. I fully blame McLendon on that one.

It was Ownership that forced the trade. MLB has some debt/equity rules that the Pirates were in danger of crossing, or may have already crossed. Because of these rules, they needed to shed a big contract.

They were about to trade Benson. But, then he got hurt, and the Ramirez deal was put together quickly.

At least those were the rumors.

Wekse5 · Post by **Wekse5** » March 23 07, 10:21 pm

card_fan_in_chi wrote:I still hate the Pirates from 2003.... loaded up the Cubs for next to nothing in return to give them the division.

bobby hill