- Pirates are buyers that are serious about winning this year. Wandy Rodriguez was the best left hander starter that was realistically available so getting him is a coup even though I felt the cost was a bit high. They gave up a fair prospect package that I felt warranted the Stros kicking in few more $$$ on the contract. However I'm not going to quibble over a rotation that has Wandy, AJ Burnett, James McDonald, and Jeff Karstens under team control through the entire 2013 season. This team is set up to make a run this year and next year (and many years after if Cole and Taillon prove to be the real deal)

- Interesting to see how the rotation will be set up now that Wandy is here. Pirates have 6 starters and none deserve to be yanked from the rotation. Guys like Bedard and and JMac might benefit from a 6 man rotation in the short term while AJ and Wandy probably should be run out there ever 5th game. I'm sure Hurdle will want to split Wandy and Bedard. He won't want lefties back to back. Also there is a big series with the Reds on horizon August 3rd-5th and this presents an opportunity to start lining up the starters he wants to go in that series

- Enjoy Joel Hanrahan while you have a chance. I can't see the Bucs keeping him next year. They will be paying Wandy $8.5 million and AJ Burnett $8 million next season. They can't afford paying a closer similar dollars. Brad Lincoln should have no trouble stepping into the closer role however.

- After nearly two months of awesomeness the Pirates offense is finally starting to fizzle. They do need a bat. I'm hoping for Victorino but no way they can deal Brad Lincoln for him.

- Please, No more platooning of Garrett Jones. He has been raking against righties and lefties.

- Why couldn't Paul Maholm do us a solid and throw a few meatballs to some old friends?

- I'm not worried about an extended swoon. The Pirates have too many good pitchers in their rotation to fall off a cliff. And AJ Burnett is a certified stopper right now.

- Maybe the offense is "regressing to the mean" somewhat but it is never going to tank like it did in April and May.

- If you put stock in "regressing to the mean" do you put equal stock in "hidden vigorish"? Bottom line is wins and losses have nothing to do with being due.

Nice job as always SteelPro. Great stuff, and I agree on every point except Lincoln. If they are trying to win this season, then I'd make that deal for Victorino now. I know what you're saying as that would leave no one in the closer role for '13. But I think they really have to think about going balls out to the playoffs this season.

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Any sense that one of the starters might be bat bait? Thinking KCore or Bedard (both are FA's after the season, aren't they?).

Nice write-up by the way.

Disagree somewhat on the trade. I think it was a very decent deal for us.

Maybe no platoon for Jones, but I think Casey needs one. Or we get a 1B bat, and Casey to the bench instantly making it stronger, plus a blow for Pedro now and then at 3rd.

Agree with you about there being no terrible swoon. Our pitching is better this year, by far.

I am not eager to give up Lincoln for very much. He's a VERY effective middle inning guy, and as you suggest, could potentially be the closer of the future. He seems to have that mentality.

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Playing football was the greatest thing that ever happened to me. If I could go out today and suit up, I would do it.--Jack Butler

I "kind of" believe in both- you just never know in any given situation when it's going to happen.

I think the team is just going through a down period offensively. I don't know about Smard, but Maholm's been pitching well lately.

And I agree with what FC pointed out last night- it looks as if in this mini-slump, the Pirates are missing the fat pitches to hit, while during the surge, they were mashing them.

But since the break, really only Cutch, Walker, and Jones (when he's not sitting) have been hitting consistently...the rest ain't doing shit.

And now Cutch is getting fewer and fewer good pitches to hit.

I don't know what the team can do about it though. Can't tell if they're all starting to get a little tighter as this slump goes on.

But damn, those two runs late that made it 5-1 hurt. If it had been 3-1 and the Bucs had gotten two on with none out, that 9th inning could have gone much differently.

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I know this, your ability to think concisely, your ability to make good judgments is much easier on Thursday night than during the heat of the game. -Bill Walsh

It wasn't a terrible deal. I'm alright with the prospects given up to get him. It is the opportunity cost that I have an issue with. I thought this prospect package warranted the Astros covering more of his salary. With what the Pirate have to pay Wandy next year I think this restricts what they can pay for an offensive upgrade.

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Minor injury. Won't be out long.

Here is the current order of the rotation starting with Karstens tonight:
Karstens, Wandy, JMac, Bedard, AJ

If this holds up Wandy, JMac, and Bedard will make starts next weekend vs. the Reds.

I feel a little bad for KCore. Moving him to the pen was the right move but it wasn't a demotion on merit. I hope Correia isn't dealt. I think the Bucs are still going to need him.

I'm not a fan of moving KCore to the Pen. He has been one of our better pitchers of late, so that is a weird move, IMO.

Plus I'm not sure he can be effective in that role. He's a junk ball pitcher, not a power pitcher.

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Playing football was the greatest thing that ever happened to me. If I could go out today and suit up, I would do it.--Jack Butler

They kept showing KCore on the bench last night.

It was rough to see him relegated to the back while all the starters were yakking it up in front.

Dude is NOT happy- you can tell.

And I hope we don't trade him either- because we're gonna need him during this stretch of games.

But will he be effective as a spot starter?

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I know this, your ability to think concisely, your ability to make good judgments is much easier on Thursday night than during the heat of the game. -Bill Walsh