Bucco Blurb: Pirates’ Starting Rotation Set After Signing Erik Bedard

By Chad Carlson

Photo Credit: USA Today

As has now been officially announced moments ago, the Pirates have signed left-hander Erik Bedard to a one-year, $4.5 million deal.  The 32-year old went 5-9 last season with a 3.62 ERA in Seattle and Boston.  He has a career 3.70 ERA in his eight MLB seasons.

The Bucs have been searching for a left-handed starter to complete their pitching rotation, after declining the option on Paul Maholm.  While Bedard’s potential is great, there is the worry about his health.  His injury history includes shoulder and elbow surgery, knee, hip, and MCL issues, among others.  As long as he’s healthy, he’ll aid the team.  A left-hander pitching in PNC Park?  Great numbers are possible.

That being said, regardless of how this works out, this is a rare offseason move that we, as fans, are not used to seeing from our Buccos.  This deal is a risk, no doubt about it.  The guy has great stuff, though, and has the capability of giving shutdown performances.  For once, I’m excited by an offseason move the Pirates have made.  It will be very interesting to see how this plays out, but either way, it’s a bold move by Pirates’ management to go after a quality player. 

Bedard will join Kevin Correia, James McDonald, Charlie Morton, and Jeff Karstens in the Pirates’ projected starting pitching rotation for 2012.

In other news, the Pirates just announced that Jason Jaramillo has been designated for assignment by the team to make room for Bedard.  Pedro Ciriaco has also been DFA’d to make space on the roster for Nate McLouth, whom the Pirates have now officially signed as well.

As rumors become confirmed and news breaks, stay tuned in to Fans From The Stands for all the reactions to the Winter Meetings’ transactions.

And…

As Always…

Let’s Go Bucs!

Meet Your Bucs: Brandon Wood

By Zane Heiple

On Friday, the Pittsburgh Pirates signed shortstop/third baseman Brandon Wood off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.  Many feel this move was done for two reasons.  One is to place pressure on Ronny Cedeno to perform better, and two, if Wood is able to live up to his potential as a former first round draft pick, the Pirates may have a long term solution at shortstop.

Wood was drafted 23^rd overall in the 2003 draft by the Angels.  He would go on to set the California League record for homeruns with 43 in 2005 with class High-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.  His two doubles and triple in four games at the Triple-A level would make him the first minor league player with 100 extra base hits in a season.  In 2006, he was ranked as the third best prospect by Baseball America and would spend the season at the Double-A level, hitting .276 with 25 homeruns.

2007 saw him make his Major League debut in April.  He only appeared in 13 games that year, hitting a measly .152.  He did not truly get a chance with the Angels until 2010 when the third base job opened up, since Chone Figgins signed with the Seattle Mariners.  Unfortunately, this opportunity was wasted as he wound up hitting .146 with four homeruns and 14 RBi in 81 games.  So far 2011 has been just as bad.  In six games, he has hit just .143.

On paper, this looks like another desperate attempt for the Pirates to strike gold with another team’s misfortunes.  It is possible, with the pressure to be a star player off his shoulders and new coaches teaching him, Wood could live up to the potential he showed in the minor leagues and give the Buccos some consistency at shortstop.  At worst, he fades into oblivion and becomes another answer to a random trivia question.  In order for Brandon to join the roster, Pedro Ciriaco was sent back to Triple-A Indiapolis.

And…

As Always…

Let’s Go Bucs!

Bucco Blast From The Past: Jack Wilson

By Chad Carlson

For this week’s edition of Bucco Blast From The Past, we look back at the career of Jack Wilson.

Also known as Jumpin’ Jack Flash, as he as annoyingly and consistently referred to by Greg Brown, Wilson was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1998 amateur draft.  He was later dealt to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Jason Christiansen in 2000, making his Major League debut with the Buccos a year later.

In his nearly eight years with the Pirates, Jack certainly was one of the more memorable and fan-friendly shortstops in recent memory.  After enduring moderately successful seasons in 2002 and 2003, Wilson had the best year of his career in 2004, setting personal career highs in almost every category.  He ended the year with a .308 batting average, collecting 201 hits in 157 games.  He became just the ninth shortstop in National League history to collect 200 hits in a season, the franchise’s first player since Dave Parker in 1977, and the team’s first shortstop since Honus Wagner in 1908. 

He tallied 12 triples (sharing the league lead), 41 doubles, 11 homeruns, and accumulated 49 RBI.  After hitting eighth in the batting order for most of his career, he became a fixture in the second slot. 

Wilson also won a lot of notoriety for his defensive accomplishments.  He led the National League shortstops in assists and total chances in 2004, and his 129 double players led all Major League shortstop and broke the club record of 128.  Jack was named to the 2004 All-Star Game and won the Silver Slugger at shortstop.  He was also the Pirates’ representative in the Roberto Clemente Award balloting.

After an injury-plagued 2005 season as the result of an appendectomy, Wilson attempted to regain his offensive swagger in the next few seasons, but to no avail.  While his defensive numbers were still impressive, his batting average and offensive production continued to steadily decline.  From the 2006-2009 seasons, Wilson was periodically mentioned in trade rumors, but nothing serious ever came of them…that is, until 2009.

After months of rumors and his open comments regarding his dissatisfaction with the organization’s penchant for trading their most notable players, Wilson was traded to the Seattle Mariners along with Ian Snell for Ronny Cedeno and Minor League players Jeff Clement, Aaron Pribanic, Brett Lorin, and Nathan Adcock.  The trade, taking place on July 29, 2009, was a shock to everyone, including Wilson himself:

“A shock.  I really don’t know what to feel.  I’m definitely going to miss it.  I definitely loved it there-aside from the record.  The city of Pittsburgh is a perfect place to raise my family.”

Wilson signed a two-year, $10 million contract with the Mariners in November 2009.  He was sidelined with a fractured right hand for the final two months of the 2010 season, playing in just 61 games total after battling a hamstring issue early on.  He has struggled at the plate over two years in Seattle, batting a combined .240 in 92 games.  He has spent the 2011 Spring Training season battling Brendan Ryan for the starting spot at second base.

Regardless of how his tenure ended here in Pittsburgh and what he goes on to do in Seattle or elsewhere, we Pirates’ fans will always remember Jumpin’ Jack Flash as one of the “good guys,” and one of the best defensive shortstops the city has seen in a long time.

Be sure to check back next Tuesday to see who’s featured in the latest edition of Bucco Blast From The Past!

And...

As Always...

Let's Go Bucs!