First of all, let me show you a new feature I’ve added to the blog.  If you look on the navigation bar under the logo of the site you’ll see a link for “Rumor Mill” where I will be posting the gossip I hear around the league.  Check there often because I’ll post updates there and and not in a site post during the day.  Also, if you haven’t already tried the “News” link right next to it you’re missing a lot of news around the game.

That said, the latest whispers in the circuit are that the Pirates are entertaining an offer for Jack Wilson from the Tigers in what has grown into a possible three-team deal.  There’s no word how far along this is, no word who the players might be yet, and why the Marlins might be involved, but the whispers are growing so it’s obviously more than an inquiry.  I’ll throw more on the Rumor Mill page as I get it.

Now you can start your wild imaginations flowing.  Just think, Porcello for…

–

Well traveled Matt Walbeck will be joining the Bucs development system this year.  Considering the depth of his credentials – and no, not his above acting credentials, his musical credentials, or his munchies cooking credentials – he should be a plus addition into our lonely system.  I believe he was in the Rays system with Richie Hebner at one point, but I might be wrong.

I asked an opinion on the hire from a NL cross-checker who knows Walbeck and he said:

“Great hire. Relentless worker, good coach.”

Too bad Walbeck wasn’t around last year when one of his previous charges, Jair Jurrjens, was being offered up for Wilson.  Anyway, the odd thing about the hire is that the Pirates evidently don’t know where he fits in yet and he has to wait to know where he’ll be assigned.   Perhaps we have additional plus-plus guys ahead of him that are having to make up their mind?  That would be good stuff, if true.

–

So JvB walked, eh?  That’s ok, he’ll probably only make it to the corner before he turns around and comes back.   What a great guy.

–

Hey what do you know, I made Tango’s site.  That’s a first.  He had a great idea about looking at the “at” pitch counts instead of the “through” counts in Snell’s chart I posted yesterday.  That’s good stuff and we’ll have to do some of that down the road.  I’m still in the process of building my API’s, if anyone is really interested.

To those that wanted my MySQL trigger script, I emailed it to each of you so look in your spam box if you haven’t received it.  Today I spend 70 minutes writing an SPSS pitch count syntax based on the PITCHf/x data that would do the same thing it took me hours to do in MySQL, so I’ve migrated there.  Live and learn.  If anyone needs that, let me know.

–

A couple of reader’s questions:

“Here’s my question - we’ve heard about Byrd and Pedro why not bring both?  If Maholm wins 10 plus games and Byrd and Pedro each won 10 games we in reality don’t have any other 10 game winners beating down the internal door.  With Snell and the gang we have nothing but question marks.  Three solid starters would certainly be an upgrade from 5 question marks.” — LM (Pittsburgh?)

I see your logic but I’m not sure I agree with it.  Think about that guy in the tractor collecting balls at the golf range who is protected by a steel cage.  One player last year told me he felt like he was in that tractor without the cage when he was on the field.  Now if we add Byrd to that mix I would bet he would say he felt like he was naked collecting the golf balls.

As for Pedro, I just don’t know enough about his health to form an opinion other than to say, if he still has a live arm, some movement on his pitches, can find the plate, and is healthy, I can’t imagine why the Mets or another organization wouldn’t offer him a better deal than we probably could.

I think I like the idea of the question marks pitching this year – let’s see who can get to the next level and who can’t, who can stay healthy and who can’t.  But that’s me.

“You can’t be serious about wanting to trade Ryan Doumit Jake.  Tell me you were kidding.”  — about 20 readers

Yeah, that suggestion didn’t go over to well with the readership, that’s for sure. 

Heck yeah I deal him – he has yet to play a full season healthy, he’s proven he can sit behind the dish and receive the ball, he can certainly hit, and there are a few clubs with impressive youth looking for, or to upgrade, a catcher.  It’s not easy getting teams to give up quality prospects so, sure, I’d deal him for the right package.  Heck, I’d deal anyone not named McCutchen or Alvarez for the right return.