Sample Performance Reports and Bucs Notes

Our ”anti-paywall” pledge drive is in the fourth day and we’ve received $380 towards our $1,000 goal.  If we reach the goal, then I’ll be able to bring you cutting-edge statistics, charts, fantasy reports, handicapping tips on Pirates games, scouting reports on our minor leaguers from pro scouts, and much, much more, free here at New Bucs. If I can’t raise the $1,000, then I’ll have to put this material behind a paywall on another site and collect membership fees to help offset my costs.

Quite a few people have asked “why should I donate if those who don’t get the same perks as I?”  I initially said you had to donate $100 or more to have access to private chats with the pro scouts I’m bringing in like Anup Sinha but I’m going to drop that to anyone who donates at least $50. Those who donate at least $100 will also receive my personal handicapping picks during the year and my private phone number.

If we don’t collect $1,000 in pledges, then those who donate $25 will receive one-year membership behind the paywall (a $49.95 value), those who donate $50 will receive a two-year membership, and those who donate more that $75 will also have access to private chats with the pro scouts (all members will have access to chats but $75 and up donors will have private time).

Lastly, I’ve been asked to show some of the types of reports you’ll have access to during the season. If you click one of the images below a larger image should pop up.  These are just some of the major league performance and matchup reports you would have access to that are updated nightly. 

You can click the Donate button below which will take you to PayPal’s secure website where you can make your pledge using a credit or debit card or log into your PayPal account and send your pledge to jake [at] newbucs [dot] com.

Sample reports (click an image for it to expand). Realize that the images show condensed versions since they are so big. Firefox users might want to wait 20 seconds or so before clicking one of the links for the lightbox effect to load:
 

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Two quick mentions about Chuck Finder’s lastest out of Bradenton.  First this tidbit:

“I believe that any organization is built on stability. I have a lot of faith in the leadership that is put in place, both on field and in the front office,” Nutting said. “They’re following the plan we put in place.”

Err..  what did Nutting just say?  Wow, let’s back up a second and break that down.

“I have a lot of faith in the leadership that is put in place, both on the field and in the front office.”

It’s pretty obvious the leadership he’s talking about includes Neal Huntington and John Russell and not Frank Coonelly if for no other reason than Finder’s article was about extensions for Huntington and Russell.  Knowing that, let’s look at his second sentence:

“They’re following the plan we put in place.”

Nothing could be any clearer - Nutting is admitting to the micromanagement of Neal Huntington. Ever since Bob Nutting took control in January 2007 I’ve believed one of the consultants he was using was one of the Duquettes, although I don’t know that for sure.  I assume Jim because I spoke to Dan one time and he denied any involvement with Nutting other than friendly passings, but he wouldn’t tell me anything anyway.  Sure, all the Duquette’ish moves are probably coincidental but considering Bob Nutting and Kevin McClatchy both admitted that Nutting was pretty much clueless about baseball ops, I have to believe someone is guiding Nutting and one of Duquette’s seems logical because of the branding on the hires, moves, and decisions already made.

As a fan, I respect that ownership and the President have a grand plan bit its concerning to me that ownership just admitted that the GM is merely following their plan.  Think about that hard. 

Finder also mentioned that Nutting said there is no immediate plan to extend Huntington but I have to believe that Nutting is just being coy about current negotiations.  There’s almost no way Huntington doesn’t get extended in my book.  As for Russell, I think he’s booted out the door after this club starts to come apart this year.  All are just guesses on my part.

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Is anyone keeping track of the number of players who have claimed that imperfect health cost them production in 2009?  Here’s just a few I quickly remember off the top of my head: 

Duke (fatigue), Maholm (knee and flu), Moss (knee), Doumit (smorgasbord but mainly wrist), Milledge (broken ring finger recovery), Donnelly (calf, shoulder, and prior elbow), D McCutchen (mental conditioning issues), Meek (oblique), Church (back), Clement (knee and oblique)  .. that’s one-quarter of our 40-man.

I know there have been more but I don’t recall them right now.  Dotel being out with an oblique injury early is a bit of a concern, we also have health concerns with Hanrahan (elbow), Hanson (back and mental issues), Yates (elbow), Ascanio (shoulder), Morris (mental makeup), Vazquez (knee), and Donnelly (coming off TJ), not to mention a host of other minor leaguers.

That’s quite a few health issues adding to our overall risk this year.

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I’m not even going to talk about Coonelly’s ridiculous ‘dynasty’ statement.

Related posts:

1. Anti-Paywall Pledge Drive
2. Readership challenge: make a Toys for Tots donation
3. New Bucs Insider takes root
4. Readership makes it clear, NO PAYWALL
5. Altoona Curve reach out to all Pirates fans