Pirates Sign Joe Randa

[3-2 Changeup]

The Pirates signed Joe Randa to a one-year $4 million contract, pending a physical. Woo-hoo! Pencil old Joe in for .260/15/60 out of the 7-slot. Just what the Pirates need. Can't wait 'til they sign Eric Byrnes! Then they'll have both big bats. Geesh! I'd honestly rather see Bautista open at 3B.

[Greymire]

I can't find any info on this on the net at this point, but it wouold not surprise me. I would expect Sanchez to get a lot of time at third witht his deal, but who knows, since you normally do not pay a guy 4 mil to sit unless you are a serious contender. Randa is a career .280 hitter, but I do not know if think this is an upgrade if he starts. We did need to get someone for third though as I would hate to rush a younger player. Sanchez alone was not a great idea.

[Greymire]

OK. I found it here:

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05362/629050.stm

[3-2 Changeup]

Sorry about not posting the story. I got an alert on my Treo from ESPN Insider and posted the news when I got home. I'm not sure this is an upgrade over Ty Wiggington if you want to look at careers stats, but hopefully Bautista will tear up AAA pitching and claim the job after the all star break.

I hate to be negative but it seems like even Kansas City is signing better players.

[Greymire]

Sorry about not posting the story. I got an alert on my Treo from ESPN Insider and posted the news when I got home. I'm not sure this is an upgrade over Ty Wiggington if you want to look at careers stats, but hopefully Bautista will tear up AAA pitching and claim the job after the all star break.

I hate to be negative but it seems like even Kansas City is signing better players.


KC has signed Reggie Sanders (who I might not have minded coming back for a year), Doug Mientkiewicz and Mark Grudzielanek, Scott Elarton and Paul Bako. Ok, but hardly earth shattering. I think the difference is that we have a pretty good core of young players and I feel that coaching will play a huge part in bringing them around. What we lack is the power a guy like Sanders could bring. I am not sure why we jumped at Randa instead of look to Toronto to try and trade for one of the guys they have. Casey was a great addition. It allows Eldred to work on his game and if he is still not ready next year we try to sign Casey. I think he would sign. Our infiled will be solid defensively with Randa at Third and we should hit for decent average. If Castillo is fully recovered he should hit a few more Home Runs and hopefully Casey will flourish with the short right porch. Right field will be a question mark if we do not sign someone (Littlefield still says he wants to work on right field which leads me to believe Craig Wilson may be dealt). I can not see us doing anything but improving our hitting with what we have now. Power will be the problem and starting pitching could also be a question mark if any of the young guys falter. I think the pen will be solid as it stands now. I have optimism, though I refrain from getting too excited because every year I hope for something better. I think with the coaching changes we may finally see it happen though.

[3-2 Changeup]

You may be correct. I just get frustrated when I see guys like Jeromy Burnitz signing elsewhere when he would be a good fit for a year or two, although I doubt Tracy would like his low average and high strike outs. Frankly I'd like to see McLouth, Eldred and Bautista play their way into the starting lineup by the end of the season. But then again, I'd like a date with Brook Burke. At least she'll soon be single again.:naughty:

[Greymire]

Do not forget that Tracy had Burnitz for awhile in 03 so there may be something to us not going after him. The power would be nice though. As for Brooke being single...well...go for it...:)

[00_Agent]

I don't understand why they didn't give Sanchez the chance to start and see what he can do now that he has a season under his belt. They wouldn't have to spend 4 mil, they would get comparable, if not better, offensive production, and better defense.

All that being said, I really do like Joe Randa, and if he has to come here I hope he does great.

00

[3-2 Changeup]

I'm with you 00 when it comes to Randa and Freddy. I still would have rather seen the Bucs get Hank Blalock. Yeah, I know his numbers have declined each of the last two years, but he is 25 years old and bats left. With the staff Tracy has put together I think Blalock would have blossomed. But that's water under the bridge. I'm anxious to see how Bautista develops this year.

[00_Agent]

I'm anxious to see how Bautista does also. Hopefully he'll make all this a moot point. I thought that Blalock would have been a great acquisition.

You know what though, they were showing some stats on the Post-Gazette the other day showing that Mackowiak had around 450 at bats each of the last two seasons with us and he didn't have a starting job, so hopefully Sanchez will get enough at bats also.

00

[Greymire]

Bautista is amoung the Pirates who are not fairing as well as expected in Winter ball. He is doing perhpas the best, but is hitting only .268 with a couple home runs I believe. The Pirates home page said Eldred is only hitting .211.

[ed500]

the Diff between Macowiak and Sanchez is versatility
Mac could play of,3b,2b,1b so he got his ab's
also Lloyd's system was to play eveyone using no logic and platooning
Sanchez is a 2b,ss,and 3b player
hopefully Tracy will not have the same player rotation as Lloyd

[00_Agent]

Well, Sanchez, as you said, can play three positions, but now that you mention it, one of the things I always hated about Lloyd was the inconsistency of the lineup. It might end up driving me nuts if we had a different lineup every day because he was looking for ways to get Sanchez in.

00