We’ve had a few changes in structure and personnel:

Pro Scouts –

Jim Benedict was demoted to minor league pitching coordinator, Doug Strange was demoted to director of player personnel, Joe Ferrone and Keith Champion had their titles changed from GM special assistant to the brand new position of pro scout and will be joined in the role by new hires Steve Williams and Michael Basso.

That leaves no AGM and four SA’s for Huntington:  Larry Corrigan, Jax Robertson, Marc DelPiano, and Pete Vuckovich.

Amateur scouts –

The Pirates Director of Scouting is Greg Smith and he has some top-heavy help with Jack Bowen and Jimmy Lester as national crosscheckers. After that it’s pretty much all downhill from the regional supervisors all the way down through the area scouts, although there are a few solid guys in the group. 

I assume Larry Corrigan is the most trusted voice to Neal Huntington out of the group and I further assume Neal Huntington has been running the draft board for at least the first few rounds for Greg Smith.  Whether we win, lose, or draw in all the trades we’ve made and draft philosophy and picks, there’s no question it rides on Corrigan’s back.

I mention all this because one very dialed-in fan asked me the other day if I thought it was possible Corrigan would be replacing Huntington sometime soon.  To be honest, I had never considered Corrigan as GM. I won’t deny it’s an intriguing proposition considering Corrigan’s network, but I don’t think he’s a front-and-center kind of guy, and considering what I’ve heard about his personality from those around the game, I’m not so sure it would work. 

But it was a great question.

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I’m pleased to announce that I have worked out an agreement with a former St. Louis Cardinals scout who will be writing scouting reports on our minor league players he sees in Florida State League action this year for members over at New Bucs Insider.  His reports will begin later in March with coverage from Bradenton.  I’m still working on adding pro scout coverage for Altoona and West Virginia.

New Bucs Insider will open mid-March.

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We’re up to 30-something for fantasy baseball so if you would like to play in a private, and free, stress-free league run byMLB.com and have a chance at winning $10,000, leave a comment below and I’ll add you to the list. This isn’t hardcore fantasy – it’s a make a roster move once a week kind of thing.

Those that have already left a comment stating they wanted to play don’t have to leave another message.

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Did anyone else notice that BP’s Joe Sheehan is now working as an analyst with the Bucs? Perhaps its old news I missed?

Edit by Jake 2/21:  some are saying that the Sheehan hired is not BP’s Sheehan.  That’s what I get for assuming – my bad.

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Photo gallery of the Bucs in ST by the Bradenton Herald, an audio recording of the clubhouse from the same source, and their main article.

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Neil Walker is back behind the plate, you say?  Yeah, every spring he squats hoping like hell someone sees something of value but nobody ever does.  His catching days are over in Pittsburgh except in a utility role like in ST.

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All the main meetings are this week in Bradenton so expect a few major announcements over the next week.