Final: Pirates 10, Twins 4

No DK explained earler this week they would not have coverage. They will be in Cincy tomorrow. Once they reach 15000 subscribers he will hire a new beat writer to be at every bucco game.

what makes you think he isn't trying?.....just curious

The end results are all that matters. If you need something bad enough you go get it - you don't try and come up empty.

Yes, but you also don't throw everything you have and drastically overpay for someone just because he's an improvement.

+1 What Big Daddy said.

+1

Sound quality on the actual talking part needs work.

My computer speaks were at max volume, but it was a struggle to hear the conversation. Then I switched to something else which I heard loud & clear, so it wasn't my PC.

You and A. Lane I believe are correct on him. And its possible Uribe was the better all around player.

Couple fastballs up last night, he either missed or popped up last night that 27 year old Aramis would have hit over the moon. Even 33 year old Aramis.

It's likely Uribe is a better player than Josh Harrison. It's a fact that he's better than Ramirez.

Ill admit its frustrating, but gotta be patient guys. Troy Tulowitzki, probably the biggest offensive player moved or to be moved around the deadline, is in the middle of an 0 for 20 slump. A Ram will turn it around he just needs that first one so he can exhale.

He probably will come out of it some Wolf. But I think the fact he used to play for the Pirates, is blinding a lot of people to the fact, a lot of his baseball is behind him. Offensively and on defense.

But some of these roster sins, happened in Nov-Jan and beyond. Hopefully Kang and Polanco keep raking.

I agree with you bpn. If people are expecting prime middle of career production thats gonna be frustrating; i think of his acquisition compared to the atrocious bench bats that would be hitting in his place if he werent in the lineup and instantly feel better about it.

As we have all been saying, Thank God for Jung Ho, other wise this would be an even bigger mess.

@NMR....nice nickname for Ramirez...haha. Also I agree with you about Uribe. He was the guy to get. Maybe they tried to get him but who knows. Great get by the Mets though.

@bpn...you're right about Ramirez also. He's a 37 yo who is showing his age. And rosters are built in the offseason. You just have to patch and improve where you can for now.

We have a mess?

Heard the same things about Lee when they got him. He may or may not end up a good pickup. I doubt anybody was expecting prime Aramis or even 33 Aramis.

As you did about Justin Morneau.

Aging sluggers with slow bats can certainly run into a few; hopefully Ramirez has that in him.

Yes I do consider the left side of the infield a mess, AW. Injuries, ineffectiveness, errors. Been that way all year. Thank God for Jung Ho. Hopefully Ramirez can help, but as I said, dudes best baseball is behind him

Aramis is probably only a starter until Harrison returns. Then he becomes actual bench depth, replacing the likes of Corey Hart. The Pirates didn't give up much for him so even if he just improves the bench depth it was worth it.

Except he won't be replacing Corey Hart because he's too stubborn to play 1B, and there were clearly better players available.

But other than that, good move.

I want Josh Harrison playing defense at 3rd about as much as I want Sean Rodriguez pinch hitting.

I thought of Morneau right after I posted as the other side of that coin. But I was confident you guys would fix that. :)

Here's a fact---Aramis has 12 PA's since he's been here. Another fact is he's 0'fer so far.

How do you know, NMR, that Aramis is "too stubborn to play first?" Who asked him and when?

I'm a miserable SOB, AW. ;)

@Patrick well documented history on the matter during his time with the Brewers, and you don't need to read very far between the lines when hearing Huntington's answer to the question after he was acquired.

Patrick, Ramirez has never held a 1st base mitt in his professional career. You really want him to start now? We've been down this road, bud. Recently.

That was one of the other appealing things with Uribe is he had more "position flexibility"...sorry for the Tomlinism.

I agree, bp8, I just wondered how NMR knew he was being stubborn. Willie Stargell was one of the few big success stories in moving a 30+ player to FB -of course, he was special.

To be honest, i was a little surprised he had never even played an inning at 1st Patrick.

But since leaving the Pirates the first time, he's played on a lot of clubs that had a 1st baseman who could hit and play everyday.

You know I enjoy sparing with you, NMR. We don't get personal. :)

Pirates get into overslot drafting, MLB shuts it down.

Pirates get into Pitch Framing, Robo umps become a big deal.

Heck, we have a commissioner discussing limiting shifts (hyperbole folks).

Someone out there hates us.

But with the Pirates killing it in AL parks maybe the DH crap can go away for a while.

As he should.

Scott Boras has more sway than Mike Rizzo in Nats acquisitions.

Oh I agree. I think it will blow up in their faces.

Speaking of Boras, I saw a clip from Inside Pirates BB following players around at the Futures Game and guess who he was all over? That's right...Josh Bell...haha.

Rizzo is pretty much the polar opposite of NH. But the Nats are gonna need to advance further in the playoffs soon or he will face the same questions as NH. Step 1 is rebuilding the system; step 2 is rebuilding the major league club. Step 3 is making the playoffs. check, check, check. Step 4 is being legitimate WS contenders. Not yet there fellas.

If NH were half the GM Rizzo is he'd turn all that money spent on the draft into good Big League bench depth like Matt den Dekker, Dan Ugla, and Tyler Moore.

#analysis

NMR. Spot on. I went and looked up the past 7 Cubs drafts. Other than the top of the past few drafts I don't recognize any more names there than of the Pirates. Seems to me a valid point about the top picks from NH not progressing more quickly was hidden in a biased swipe about the organization not being able to identify 53 rounds of talent.

Twins Lineup

1. Brian Dozier (R) 2B
2. Aaron Hicks (S) CF
3. Joe Mauer (L) 1B
4. Miguel Sano (R) DH
5. Eddie Rosario (L) RF
6. Eduardo Nunez (R) 3B
7. Eduardo Escobar (S) SS
8. Kurt Suzuki (R) C
9. Shane Robinson (R) LF

Good to see Marte back

On a two-strike breaking ball from one of the games best closers.

And by god, he even used his leg kick.

Leave it to the Pirates to try and change a guy at the plate before he even gets a shot.

Kang has now homered off two of the top closers in baseball, both in the 9th inning and both on the road...and has reached base twice against Chapman.

*GASP* he somehow managed to hit that one off Rosenthal while using the leg kick as well.

Haha...I agree NMR...don't mess with Kang's leg kick. It's part of what got him to the Big Show.

He uses it appropriately. He can't use it all the time, and with more film pitchers may find ways to ruin that.

Complete, utter bullsh*t.

Why is it that the Asian player will get exposed but dozens and dozens of other big leaguers somehow manage to be successful?

Half the Blue Jays lineup uses big leg kicks and they're the best hitting team in baseball.

Because he's Asian. Please . . .

Should have been a question mark after that first sentence.

I just thought it was a cool stat. Didn't expect all this hostility hahaha the Liriano one I posted is actually cooler

Absolutely because he's Asian.

Player comes over from a league we're not familiar with and does things that we don't see as "typical" and the reflexive comment is that he has to change.

Never mind all the players we're used to seeing that do the exact same damn thing without hearing a peep.

If Kang were named Josh and drafted out of a Texas high school the reaction would be completely different. And that's fact. Just check out what's being said about the big leg kick Josh Bell has recently added.

Very well said NMR...couldn't agree more. Watch a clip of Bell's HR in the Futures game. Prominent leg kick there, but nobody made a big deal about it.

"And by god, he even used his leg kick." Referring to Kang.

I don't know what they are saying to Bell, but Kang is using his leg kick according to you.

We have very different definitions of "fact."

And they tried to change Pedro and he's not Asian. Yes, I know it wasn't Pedro's leg kick. All I'm saying is it sounds more Clint Hurdle/Pirates to me than where a guy came from.

Come to think of it, I do remember hearing when Bell was picked there was some concern about the leg kick. Maybe that was because he was from Texas. :)

Two different conversations, AW.

My original comment was absolutely directed at Hurdle/Pirates because of the obvious history.

I added the Asian part after Phantaskippy's comment. I'd never be able to link all the articles from "experts" saying it wouldn't work before he even saw a pitch.

trade deadline day, to go by the historical impact, is more like valentine's day then christmas day. Overhyped holiday, with some definite legitimate gift giving but much more obligatory 'do what's expected of you'. Pundits (like Hallmark) get fans whipped into a frenzy mostly for clicks and media #s, but facts indicate that rarely do players acquired at the deadline statistically alter the race in a big way.

Now, before I'm attacked by a ton of cupid's arrows... I strongly advocate NH to "add to this club" (his words)... bullpen arm(s) are a MUST and it is becoming more obvious that a rotation boost is also. My wish list also includes a player that can play 1B and hit LHPs ( we don't have one of those). NONE of this requires parting with the prized prospects (though I think the data will show that NH has dealt plenty of useful young talent away the past few seasons and yet the narrative remains that he is averse to sending away prospects). The right narrative is that NH is trigger shy to make the BIG MOVE, to move one of the BEST PROSPECTS for a significant addition.

I agree on the bullpen arms Cmat. They need more than one.

All in is dumb.

You find the best way to improve your team for this year and the future.

Being willing to trade a big prospect and trading a big prospect are very different things. Sometimes the right move is not making a bad trade.

Those slow starts are murder. Gives the Cards a lead they never surrender.

Except right before the all star break, bubba.

Wow.

They just bought that Competitive Balance draft pick by taking on the remaining $10m or so of Morse's awful contract. Wouldn't be surprised if they straight-up released him.

Agreed NMR...I would be totally shocked if they kept him. Unless they move Alex Guerrero and try to use him off the bench. I know that Van Slyke has been dealing with nagging injuries lately. Great move for the Dodgers.

Absolutely disgustingly absurd a "Competitive Balance" pick (which will be a late first rounder) can be shipped off to a team with the highest payroll in baseball, to say nothing of the financial burden in Morse the Dodgers take on and for a player they dont even want. This league is broken.

It is a concerning move especially in the ways that it relates to the league being competitive and having balance

Talk about prospect hoarders. Dodgers at $10m to avoid sending a prospect to miami.

well said Karen

If someone had a bat at 1st who can play some D ... why would they trade him to us for a guy with NO D and a suspect bat?