John Challis

As WHYGAVS, named it, this is a reality post, not the usual around here.

But the news that John Challis died today is worth mentioning. A few weeks ago, it was Randy Pausch, now John. John impacted a lot of people and had the foresight and caring to set up a foundation to help others who may be in his situation: www.courageforlifefoundation.org.

Exactly one year ago today, I was diagnosed with leukemia, so the news hit home. All is looking good for me and I wish John and Randy and all who are stricken were as healthy as I seem to be today.

It's times and circumstances like these that make me glad there is another game tonight at 8 and another tomorrow to take my mind off reality. It can be too harsh.

Bucs Signings Getting Noticed

The plaudits are beginning to come in for the job the new Bucco regime has done so far. First, the tide has begun to turn on the trades they pulled off, and now, people are taking notice of their draft signings and how it sure looks like things are being done differently in the Bucs front office:

• Jayson Stark of ESPN retracts his criticism of the trades:

Out of the Pitts: In the hours after the trading deadline, we were critical of the Pirates for dealing three high-profile players without getting back a single can't-miss, centerpiece prospect back. But in the days since, we've been convinced by executives of several teams that the Pirates actually did better in their two big deals than we originally gave them credit for.

"There are no stars in there, but they need that depth of talent," an official of one club said. "They need numbers. And they accomplished that."

"I think they're on the right track," one NL scout said. "At least they decided they couldn't keep doing the same thing they've been doing and took some chances."

One NL executive even defended them on the widely hammered Xavier Nady-Damaso Marte deal, saying: "If they got three major league pitchers in that deal, and I think they did, then great for them. And all three guys (Jeff Karstens, Ross Ohlendorf and Daniel McCutchen) are either ready or close. So that's a good deal, not a bad deal."

Nevertheless, when asked to name the best player of the eight this team received in those trades, the baseball men we spoke with had a tough time finding a clear-cut Pirates acquisition they'd buy stock in. The name we heard most: 21-year-old right-hander Bryan Morris (3.15 ERA in low Class A). "If he stays healthy, he's definitely the best talent in that group," one GM said.

• Perrotto at the Beaver County Times notes that thing look to be on the right track.
• Wilbur Miller at onlybucs.org details the changes going on
• Baseball America counts two Bucs picks as coups:
  

Biggest Coups, First 10 Rounds

1. Tim Melville, rhp, Royals (fourth round, $1.25 million, No. 15 on BA Top 200)

2. Brett Hunter, rhp, Athletics (seventh round, $1.1 million, No. 51 on BA Top 200)

3. Ross Seaton, rhp, Astros (supp. third round, $700,000, No. 28 on BA Top 200)

4. Robbie Grossman, of, Pirates (sixth round, $1 million, No. 49 on BA Top 200)

Athletic switch-hitter adds to Pittsburgh's burgeoning outfield talent.

5. Ryan Westmoreland, of, Red Sox (fifth round, $2 million, No. 113 on BA Top 20)

Biggest Coups, Rounds 11-50

1. T.J. House, lhp, Indians (16th round, $750,000, No. 100 on BA Top 200)

2. J.P. Ramirez, of, Nationals (15th round, $1 million, No. 155 on BA Top 200)

3. Quinton Miller, rhp, Pirates (20th round, $900,000, No. 158 on BA Top 200)

He shows flashes of a low-90s fastball, plus slider and average changeup.

4. Dusty Coleman, ss, Athletics (28th round, $675,000, No. 185th on BA Top 200)

5. Bryce Stowell, rhp, Indians (22nd round, $725,000, unranked on BA Top 200)

Pirates sign Alvarez for $6M

It became official at 11:59pm last night, immediately making Alvarez the Bucs top prospect. Give credit to Huntington, who has gone down a very different path than Littlefield, with help from Nutting, and has signed 30 of the picks this year. Combine that with the 8 players brought in by trade and he has done a very good job of restocking a depleted farm system with talent including some very high level talent.

Here are the links:
Perrotto at the Beaver County Times
DK on the PBC Blog
The Trib

In case you don't know what all the excitement is about, Wilbur Miller has already updated his page on Alvarez.

And let's not forget to give credit where it's due: Rocco was calling the signing all night and despite a little hedging, stuck with his guns, though his source was wrong on Scheppers.

But the first place to call the signing was TIOPS, who despite some who think it isn't reliable, has proven that it has high level sources. They called it and got the money almost exactly right at 12:26:

12:26 a.m. $6.35 signing bonus for Alvarez? stay tuned.

__________________________________________
Theinsideronpittsburgh.com is repoirting that the signing is a done deal:

10:30 p.m. Done deal - MLB contract. working for confirmation on the numbers

If so, and if Scheppers signs or not, that would cap a very impressive draft and signings for the Bucs.

11:03 - DK says definitely NO deal yet.

Rocco Demaio on 104.7 on the Bucs post game is saying that the deal is done and will be announced shortly before midnight.

2 More Years

For all the excitement that comes with a new arena, and groundbreaking is a sure sign that it's on its way, I for one will be sad to see the old Igloo go. Just as seeing Three Rivers brought down was a passing of an era, not seeing the big steel dome in any shots of downtown, particularly aerial shots, will be jarring.

I've spent many nights in the Igloo, enjoyable and heartbreaking, but that's a list for a future time.

For now, let's focus on the one thing that the Igloo hasn't had but needs before it's gone to make it a truly legendary arena: the passing of the Cup from one Penguin to another.

The two Cup wins were on the road and this spring we saw the chalice skated around the Igloo in the hands of the Red Wings. So while the Igloo will always be able to claim at least one Cup celebration, to truly be an unforgettable barn, the home team needs to be the team celebrating.

There are two seasons left to make it happen and given the state and prospects of the Pens currently, it is very possible that it could happen. And maybe not once, but twice. There is nothing else I'd rather see in the next 2 years.

Let's Go Pens!!

From the Pens website:
Government Officials, Penguins Break Ground on New Multi-Purpose Arena

The ceremonial groundbreaking took place on the future site of “center ice” in t he new state-of-the-art facility, which is being built across the street from Mellon Arena between Centre and Fifth avenues.

“This facility will not only be home to the Pittsburgh Penguins for years to come, but it will also serve as an entertainment centerpiece and economic generator for our entire region,” said Onorato. “We expect the multi-purpose arena to attract world-class concerts, family shows and other events to Southwestern Pennsylvania year round.”

Info on New Buccos

Minor League Prospect Guru Wilbur Miller has updated his site with the stats and analysis of each of the new Bucs acquired in the recent trades. Here are some interesting tidbits:

Jose Tabata

He was considered to have five tool potential, with good speed, a very good bat with the potential to hit for power, and a slightly above average arm for right field. His showing in low A was very impressive for a 17-year-old and left him high up on most prospect lists. Since then, however, doubts have started to accumulate...He finally had the hamate bone removed in August [2007]...hamate surgery can sap a hitter's power for half a year or more...His speed has decreased, too, as his lower body has gotten heavier, which also happened with Jose Castillo.

Brandon Moss

Moss has generally been a good but not outstanding hitter in the minors. He's had good walk totals, but strikes out a lot, especially for a guy who's shown gap more than HR power. Moss has below average speed but plays well enough in the corners and has a strong arm.

Andy LaRoche

For the last five years, Baseball America has ranked him in the top ten prospects in a strong Dodgers' system, including either first or second in each of the last three years. His stock seems to have slipped, however, although it's not entirely clear why...His lack of power this year almost certainly is the result of a thumb injury he suffered in spring training, which required surgery to repair a ligament...there remain concerns that he won't hit for power...Although he was originally a middle infielder, he's probably average or below defensively at third now.

Craig Hansen

When the Red Sox drafted Hansen, he featured a mid-90s fastball and a great slider. The slider deserted him immediately upon his turning pro. He's also had significant problems commanding his fastball. Hansen may have contributed to the problems himself by tinkering often with his mechanics...After coming up to the majors, though, he resumed the control problems. If there's a good sign, it's that the walks have been most of the problem. He's been hard to hit and his K rate has been decent.

Jeff Karstens

Karstens is a finesse pitcher whose velocity doesn't get much above the mid-80s...He profiles as a 5th starter or long reliever.

Ross Ohlendorf

Once he started pitching in relief, his velocity improved to 94 and occasionally better. He's always struggled with LH hitters due to the lack of a useful changeup...history suggests he's most likely to end up as a middle reliever.

Daniel McCutchen

McCutchen started his pro career with a 50-game banned-substance suspension. He blamed it on a prescription drug he took for Attention Deficit Disorder in college and the Yankees reportedly believed him...a very aggressive pitcher who throws a four-seam fastball in the low 90s and a two-seamer slightly slower than that, with his best pitch being a curve. He also throws an improving changeup...BA ranked him the 14th best prospect in a pitching-rich system going into 2008 and he probably hasn't hurt his stock any...he's likely to appear in the Pirates' rotation in the near future.

Bryan Morris

the youngest of the four players they got in the deal and may have the highest ceiling. Morris had Tommy John surgery that caused him to miss all of 2007. He had pitched well in 2008 up through the time of the trade, though, with his fastball reaching as high as 95. He has an above-average curve and is working on a changeup. Baseball America projects him to be a potential 3rd starter.