Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
Date: Fri, 11 Dec 1992 10:53:36 -0500 
From: "J. Anthony Graves" <jg4e+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: PIRATES WILL RULE!!!!

Believe me, I was lying...I just wanted some attention!  However, I do
have some thoughts that I believe to be interesting.....
1) No matter what, the Pirates have the two single most important things
that have allowed them to win the last three pennents....Leyland and
Miller!  Those two alone are good enough for a .500 season....
2) On that same note...many of the castaways fromthis team may not come
back to bite the Pirates because, with all due respect, they were
products of the constant coaching imput.  This includes Varsho and
Mason, and that group...but also Douggie D. might have a real surprise
ahead of him without Miller whispering in his ear!
3) I personally think that Simmons and the front office had the right
idea....let the superstars of today go, maintain a talent base, and
groom the youth.  However, I do not feel that this means that you have
to give up on the idea of contending for the pennent.  If Simmons would
make a move NOW there is a chance that the Bucs could still be in the
running (only considering the state of the division, of course).
4) McGee is a good idea.  A leadoff hitter has been a problem (no matter
what Leyland says) and he could be a real answer.  Also he fills in an
outfield hole.  However, giving up Spanky might be a mistake.  Sluggo
CAN'T go everyday, and there is no prospect WORTHY of a chance.  If you
give up Spanky, you better pick up something somewhere...
5) This leads me to the curious state of Jay Bell...Think about
this...You pick up an outfielder and Merced is back at first base...now,
with Young at third you have Garcia and King...and Bell with only short
and 2B left to cover...King can play second and Garcia's natural
position is SS....Hmmm?
6) If you do trade Bell, you have to be thinking about ...
A. a true power hitter to put in the cleanup slot giving Martin some
time to get it together. This guy should, in my thinking, be a catcher
-- preferrably young.  I do not know of anyone, except Johnny Bench 20
years ago that can do this, so...
B. the next best thing you can get is a power starting pitcher to offset
what promises to be the slowest rotation in creation.  However, the
answer might be right in the bullpen (I vote for Naegle), therefore...
C. a closer!  A real come-in-and-shut-the-door kind of guy
7) No matter what, the thought right now should be picking up only those
that will be part of an everyday lineup...the bench can be rounded out
as the zillions of free agents are scurrying to a team in a month or two
or by kids from the minors
8) OPENING DAY LINEUP...(ASSUMING THE MCGEE TRADE AND LOSING BELL)
McGEE LF
MERCED 1B
VAN SLYKE CF
MARTIN RF
KING 2B
YOUNG 3B
SLAUGHT C
GARCIA SS
WAKEFIELD P
9) One final thought about Barry Bonds.....I have heard alot about the
whole Mays number thing in SF, and I know that he is his godfather,
however he did not have to say yes to wearing that number.  Out of
respect for the game and the people that made it possible for him to be
able to play, he should have left the number retired and tried to
establish a new identity other than the downright selfish and arrogant
persona that he perfected in Pittsburgh.  It's funny....almost 44
million dollars and I feel sorry for Barry Bonds.

Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball