Pirates: Another Salary Dump?

By Curtis J. Patton

August 24, 2008
After two crushing losses to Milwaukee, now is an appropriate time to examine whether the massive trade in which the Bucs stripped themselves of their offense to acquire what were supposed to be better hitters, and even a few good, young pitchers, was worth it. After all, the Pirates are 7 and 14 in the last 21 games since the July 31 trade deadline. And, as the Pirates continue to be in a freefall for last place in the NL Central (a position they would inevitably have occupied anyway, since they have not had a winning season in 15 years), Jason Bay and Xavier Nady, who combined had acquired 121 RBIs and 35 homeruns with the Pirates this season, seem to be performing as we expect they would. For his part, Bay, who is now with the Boston Red Sox, is batting an average of .342 since the deadline with 20 runs on 27 hits in 79 at bats. “X”, now marking the spot for the Bronx Bombers, has a .329 average and 17 RBIs. Therefore, the question of whether the trade was a good idea is a legitimate question.

So, what exactly did the Pirates get for this trade of power hitters? Well, while it’s difficult to know for sure this early, my first impressions are that the Pirates have engaged in yet another trademark Bob Nutting salary dump. Consider the following: Brandon Moss and Steve Pearce, both acquired in the trades for Nady and Bay, have combined only amassed 8 runs on 25 hits since the deadline that brought them to Pittsburgh. Of note is the fact that this statistic is the same for Nady alone, meaning of course that Pittsburgh acquired two players to do the job Nady could have done by himself. Additionally, on RBIs, Moss and Pearce have collected only 11 since the deadline, a far cry from Bay and Nady’s total of 35. Factoring in Andy LaRoche doesn’t make the picture any rosier. LaRoche only has a .138 average since going to Pittsburgh. Between Andy LaRoche, Moss and Pearce, the Pirates have only 13 runs on 33 hits and 16 RBIs. Indeed, even the Pirates themselves are so disappointed with Steve Pearce that the organization optioned him last week to Triple A Indianapolis. So, what advantage exactly did the Pirates gain in this deal?

The only possible buried treasure (yet another sad attempt to work that pirate angle for everything its worth, even a bad pun) I can find is the potential of new right-hander Jeff Karstens. Karstens has two wins and two losses since being acquired by the Pirates and has pitched a very impressive complete game shut-out victory (and near no-hitter) against Randy Johnson and Arizona that resulted in only one walk and two hits with Karstens even earning himself a double and a run. He has a total ERA since the trade of 2.25 with only 8 runs allowed on 23 hits, the runs all coming off his two losses against the Reds and Mets. Karstens dwarfs new acquisition Jason Davis who, in 22 innings, has allowed 24 runs on 14 hits. That said, Karstens does get jumpy when he is playing comeback baseball, and therefore a little sloppy. Nevertheless, while not a power pitcher by any stretch, he does have a good fast ball and a reliable changeup he likes to use when behind in the count, a strategy that has served him well so far. For his part, Damaso Marte, who had become a reliable reliever for the Pirates organization, had served his purpose and would have been lost to the Pirates in free agency next season, so getting Karstens was a major boost for Pirates pitching, which has suffered due to the exceptionally poor performances of Ian Snell and Tom Gorzelanny, both of whom were the two best pitchers in the rotation last season and, in fact, were among the top ten pitchers in the league last season. Indeed, the most consistent pitcher has been Paul Maholm, who is known to pitch deep into games, often into the sixth or seventh inning, allowing the bullpen to do its job.

Still, one good pitcher and three bad hitters for two offensive powerhouses does not make for a good trade for a baseball team whose fans grow ever more disgusted of seeing the team’s ownership and management make trades that do not benefit the team’s competitiveness, but do benefit ownership’s wallet. I know, I know, why should any of us baseball fans across the country care what Pittsburgh, perhaps the most irrelevant team in major league baseball, is doing? Pittsburgh has a long tradition of quality teams and quality players, such as Honus Wagner, Bill Mazeroski, Roberto Clemente and Barry Bonds. The Pirates are a team that has earned its place in history and deserves a ball club worthy of its fan base. For many years now, Pittsburgh fans have done without, even though their team has not, receiving a new ballpark when it did not deserve one. In fact, PNC Park is perhaps the only reason anyone goes to see the Pirates, since it is acclaimed as the best ballpark in baseball (or maybe it’s the opposing team’s fans who know a good bargain when they see one, as general admission seats are only $9.00—try getting that at Yankee Stadium). The lack of competitiveness of this Pirates ball club speaks to more than just a lack of ability, but a lack of desire on the part of ownership. Still, hope abounds in Pittsburgh that they will one day break the cycle and be a World Series caliber team again, a hope I and many other baseball fans would like to come to fruition. In the meantime, three cheers for Pirates fans for their loyalty. After all, their team certainly doesn’t deserve any cheers.

1

Testing. . .

Age: Effects on Steelers

by Alan Dewhirst

My grandfather always said that three letters dictate the successes, failures, and the ebb and flow of our existence. Those letters: A-G-E. Truer words have never been spoken, and he proves it; he is now completely senile, and refers to me as Mortimer. Nevertheless, this adage applies directly to the NFL and the durability and leadership characteristics of its players, and the Pittsburgh Steelers are no exception.

With leadership coming from both ends of the spectrum, the “Stillers” will oft benefit from the relative ages of their marquee guys, starting most pointedly with Big Ben Roethlisberger. As a guy who knows success as well as hardship, the offensive group will undoubtedly gain insight from a young guy who has spent time in a small market (at Miami of Ohio), spent time in the limelight of one of the most critical football cities in the nation, watched from the sidelines with injury, and played through nagging injuries a la Steve McNair. At the tender age of 25, the guy’s seen his share, and there is no better way to lead than to have been on all sides of the football cube, sharing his own experience with the guys in his huddle.

A major cause for concern, though are the guys directly in front of Big Ben as he calls his signals. If last year’s debacle in protection is any indication, coupled with the Steelers’ lack of moves on the offensive line, this season might prove to be a sequel to the feature “Ben Runs For His Life on All Passing Downs.” Particularly at center, where two guys at just under 30 might vie for the record for most untouched sacks allowed, a la Sean Mahan of ‘07-’08. And since Mahan has somehow received the nod from coach Tomlin thus far, we can only assume that Justin Hartwig has not proven that he can beat out a weekly pancake, thereby providing no solidity in the middle of the offensive line.

On the left side of the line, Marvel Smith, at age 30, is having trouble with his durability. The solid, All-Pro caliber tackle when healthy is hard pressed to put up a full season due to a couple nagging injuries. On the other side, Max Starks and Willie Colon will battle for the tackle spot. Both are young guys, 26 and 25, respectively, but don’t expect the right tackle position to be the anchor of the line. Colon is prone to mental mistakes and, let’s face it, even for his size, Starks has proven to be somewhat soft.

Behind Ben Roethlisberger, though, is a small handful of bright spots. Fast, powerful, solid, and most importantly, young. Willie Parker, at 27, seems to have a lot of tread left on those tires, even though the shelf life of an NFL running back is relatively short. Behind Parker, is a rookie, at 21. A solid first year guy, Rashard Mendenhall was the finest available talent in the draft at the moment the Steelers made their selection. Let me go on record right now: the guy is a beast. At fullback, Carey Davis is 27, and as solid a fullback as the Steeler faithful could hope for.

On the other side of the ball, even though Larry Foote may be the only voice audible at most times, the leadership through experience as well as sheer professionalism must come from James Farrior. He’s played in the blinding limelight of the Big Apple, and even though he may be in the twilight of his career at 33 in a defense that punishes teams from the linebacker spot, thereby punishing its own linebackers, he has undoubtedly earned the necessary stripes to gain the ears of those around him when he chooses to be heard (even over Larry Foote).
However, in the light of last year’s almost pressure-free season from the front seven, the onus will fall directly upon the secondary when it comes to making big stops. Veteran Deshea Townsend will provide experience, and his durability will prove solid, since his everyday position has only been notched in the past five years of his 11 in the league. On the other side, Ike Taylor, at 28 will have to step up his mental game and get his hands on a few more balls this season if the defense is going to get off the field. He dropped somewhere in the neighborhood of 10 possible interceptions last year, and if he can come down with just half that in ‘08-’09, the defense will benefit greatly, getting off the field even when the front seven can’t come up with sacks.

Let’s not let the three letters of record fall solely on the players, though. Though it may seem that Mike Tomlin is a born head coach, he is very young by head-coaching standards in the NFL. Let’s give him the benefit of the doubt due to his demeanor and managerial skills, but keep in mind that he is a second-year head coach that isn’t much older than some of his veterans. But most notably, A, G, and E will leave their burden on Dick LeBeau. At what seems like 178 years of age, the guy is an old-school hard nose hanging on in a changing league. May his age never catch up with him. Lest he refer to his head coach as Mortimer.

Fantasy Football 101

Draft Day Decisions

by Tim Campbell

If you've been playing fantasy football for a while now then most of what I’m about to get into you've probably thought about at one point in time or another. For those of you who have never been to this type of rodeo before some if not all of this information will be useful. The key to having a successful fantasy football season is how you handle your draft. There is really no perfect way of going about it but there are some definite ways of making your life miserable so you need to have an idea of what you want for your draft plan. If you’re just a casual owner looking for a quick step to having a little edge then just scroll to the bottom.

First Things First, You Need Points

If there is only one thing you take away from reading my mind I want it to be this. If you want to succeed in your league then you need to know how your league scores. If you don’t know your scoring system you have no way of knowing how to value the players you are scouting. In a standard scoring league (4 points per passing td, 6 points for rushing/receiving td) it’s obvious that running backs and wide receivers have a higher value than quarterbacks, hence it makes virtually no sense to take Peyton Manning with the first pick. Yes there is a good possibility that he will outscore all other qbs this season but you will set yourself back in the positions that are weighted more. In a standard scoring league the top 7 maybe even 10 picks should all be rbs, after that there are a couple of wide-outs that could be considered before you start drafting qbs. The best way to determine when to switch from rb/wr to qb in your draft is to have a set of tiers for your players.

Tiering Positions-

Tiering positions is a simple way to set value to the players in your draft. It’s also the best way to compare different skill positions for their worth, this way you don’t reach early for a position you can wait on. A set of tiers for wide outs would look something like this.

Wide Receivers

[Tier 1] Randy Moss, Terrell Owens.

[Tier 2] Andre Johnson, Braylon Edwards, Marques Colston, Reggie Wayne.

Running Backs

[Tier 1] Ladainian Tomlinson, Adrian Peterson, Brian Westbrook

[Tier 2] Joseph Addai, Marion Barber, Clinton Portis, Larry Johnson

Ok, now that you have a set of tiers for wide-outs and running backs you can use them as a guide for your draft. Basically you don't want to draft a second tier receiver if a first tier running back is available and vice versa. Remember, a first tier tight end is not as valuable as a first tier receiver. A first tier tight end is more comparable to a third tier receiver. Same as you defense and kickers; don’t over value them. All of these factors are reliant on your scoring system. If your league is favorable to quarterbacks (maybe 6 points for passing touchdowns) then you could take Tom Brady or Peyton Manning with the number 1 pick and it would be justified. The key is to not overvalue a player in one position and have it set you back in another.

Set Ways of Drafting -

Some owners go into a draft with one set way of drafting, such as rb, rb, rb. In their opinion it’s best to load up at one position, in this case running back, and work with a thinner talent pool at other positions. Depending on how the first three picks pan out for this owner he could just as easily sink as he could swim. One owner I know prefers to go with the set draft of rb, wr, qb, te. For 3 years this owner has drafted the same way and I can't say anything bad about it being that he has been in the playoffs all three years. He drafts the best available player at all 4 positions and fills in the remaining roster spots after. It's a decent philosophy unless you draft in a spot, say 7-10, where the chances of getting a true number one rb get slim. You probably would get one of the top 5 wide outs but on the way through the third round you won’t get Manning or Brady, probably not Drew Brees or Tony Romo, so again you will have a second tier player at that particular position as a starter. Paying for a te with a fourth round pick is expensive even if it's Antonio Gates or Jason Witten so again it's hard for me to endorse this method. My line of thinking is more fluid and I believe if you’re willing to put in a little extra effort before the draft it will pay off in the end.

Better Your Draft Value -

It’s really basic mathematics. If player (a) is worth an Andrew Jackson then don’t spend a Ben Franklin to get him. Let me explain. Far too often I see owners over valuing players in that they could have them in a later round or else they could draft a few other players at the same position that will put up better numbers. Darren McFadden is a highly coveted rb for some owners. I’ve seen McFadden go as early as the second round in mock drafts. Now, if Darren can find a way to be like Adrian Peterson and light up the scoreboard his rookie year then he’s worth the high value. It’s not likely. The reality is he is in a crowded backfield in Oakland and he probably won’t get the chance to touch the ball enough to have a shot at having a great year. Instead of taking McFadden in the second round the same owner could have gotten Maurice Jones-Drew, Jamal Lewis, Brandon Jacobs, Thomas Jones or several other backs that will have more reps and will outperform McFadden throughout the season. Therein lies the rub, how do you know who will be the better player? The only thing you can do is pay attention to what the talk is around the league and do your own research. For myself, I’ll wait and take Michael Bush of the Raiders in the 12^th round or later and watch as McFadden and Justin Fargas run up and down the field getting yardage while my late round steal, Bush, trots out on the field in the red zone to punch it in for the touchdown. And how did I come by this gold nugget of information? By reading the homepage for the Raiders. If you’re serious about fantasy football then you will have to go that extra mile.

The Casual Owner-

If you’re not big into research but you want to at least stay competitive with the rest of your league then the best thing to do is go by what the experts on your website tell you. Almost every fantasy football website has a cheat-sheet for the draft so just follow what they have for player values. Need a running back? Take the top selection they have posted. Don’t draft a player just because you recognize his name. If you’re drafting at a buddies house make sure to pick up a reputable magazine and follow their player rankings. It doesn’t take much thought and you should have a decent squad to work with.

Just the Beginning-

So there you have it. Armed with the right information your ready to walk into your draft with confidence and walk out ahead of the pack. But that’s just the start of a winning fantasy season. Next week we’ll get into free-agency and why you have to stay alert on the wire. If you have any questions post them and I’ll help you however I can.

No New Post Today. . .

Busy playing the new Madden with Brett Favre on the cover in a Packers uniform.

Steelers Season Already Over?

by Conrad Waite

Training camp is only two weeks old and already there has been a lot of discussion about the precarious state of this years Steelers team. At many positions they are just one or two injuries away from being crippled. Last year it was Aaron Smith’s torn bicep, the lack of depth behind Willie Parker and Troy Polamalu playing most of the season at less than 100%, that really slowed the team. As the opening game of the 2008 season approaches questions about the offensive and defensive lines, the linebacker corps, and the defensive backfield dominate conversation. However, one event from early in training camp should be a greater source of concern for fans and isn’t being given enough coverage by the media. No I’m not talking about the shape that Casey Hampton reported to camp in (round), or the condition of Troy Polamalu’s hamstring (still stringy). As far as I’m concerned on Monday July 28, the Steelers season officially ended, when #9 Daniel Sepulveda tore his ACL for the second time in three seasons.

You’re saying What? Who? The guy that punts the ball? I thought his name was Costaki Gardocki something? In fact, the Steelers 2007 fourth round draft choice Daniel Sepulveda is not only a great player, but would have been an integral part of any success the Steelers were going to have this season. Sepulveda was one of the most consistent players last year on what was otherwise a very poor special teams unit. It was out of necessity that the Steelers traded a sixth round pick to move up and get this guy, much to the chagrin of people who are smart enough to analyze the draft, but not smart enough to get paid to make actual draft picks themselves. Granted this was a pick they could have used to select any number of players including, former track star Michael Johnson, defensive back from Arizona, who would have added much needed speed to their secondary, Tyler Thigpen, QB from Coast Carolina, and brother of Yancey Thigpen, who they could have brought out of retirement to form and awesome 1-2 familial punch, or even Daren Stone, defensive back from Maine, who could have lined up opposite Ike Taylor and given us 2 d-backs with Stone hands. However, they made the right decision by selecting Sepulveda, it’s just unfortunate that his injury likely derailed their season. What follows are the seven reasons why they can’t possibly win in his absence.

The Replacement

Paul Ernster was drafted in the 7th round in 2005. He lasted just one full season before being cut by Denver. Denver! Do you realize how easy it is to punt in Denver? It’s like punting on the moon. Since that otherworldly rookie season he has averaged just 36.2 yards per punt, including a 12-yard beauty against the Steelers as a member of the Browns in last year’s season opener. He also joined the Detroit Lions roster for three and a half months this off-season before being cut. Although to his credit if Matt Millen doesn’t like him, he just might have some talent. Still, he isn’t half the punter Sepulveda is, literally, Sepulveda is huge, and I’m not counting on him to be anything more than adequate in Sepulveda’s place.

Kicking Style

Sepulveda is known for his “Aussie” style kicking in which he can make the football bounce straight up in the air, or backwards, when trying to down a punt inside the 20. While Ernster, is known for his “American toddler” style of kicking where he threatens to hold his breath until he turns blue, in the hope of preventing opposing defenses from pressuring him.

Field Position

Last season Sepulveda averaged 42.4 yards per punt, while more than doubling the number of kicks downed inside the 20 from the Steelers 2006 season, 28 up from 11. Ernster’s career averages suggest that he will likely get 19 or 20, which other than the previously mentioned number would be a five year low for a Steelers punter. Moreover, the average of 6 yards per punt difference between Sepulveda and Ernster means that compared to other teams the Steelers will essentially be playing on a 106-yard field. That may work for Devin Hester on a missed FG, but this Steelers team is not built for that.

Stability

Before Sepulveda the Steelers employed only two punters in the previous 11 seasons. Over the same period of time only Jeff Hartings and Dermontti Dawson played center for the team. While everyone talks about the consistency of the center position, they forget about how Jim Miller, Chris Gardocki, and Sepulveda have been the only Steelers punters for more than a decade. This shake-up, paralleled by the one at center this training camp, raises the chances of mistakes and conflict due to the instability of playing with their third punter in as many seasons.

Intangibles

Sepulveda completed a beautiful fake punt to Najeh Davenport last season that went for 32 yards. And with the game on the line in Week 3 Tomlin decided to trot him out on the “hands team” where he recovered an attempted onside kick.

Special Teams Coverage

Given the Steelers special teams units penchant for missing tackles, see: 2002 AFC Championship and more recently September 30 and November 11, 2007, having Sepulveda to cover his own punts might not be a bad idea.

Touches

Over the last five years Steelers punters have averaged 70 punts a season. Over the same period of time Hines Ward, the Steelers most decorated receiver, has averaged almost 78 catches per season. Which means Ward handled the ball, on average, 1 time more than Sepulveda every 2 games. In addition, when his role as the placeholder is taken into account Sepulveda would handle the ball an average of 8.75 times per game compared to 7.88 for the Steelers top TWO receivers each of the last five years. Now imagine the reaction from fans and media alike if we lost both Santonio Holmes and Hines Ward for the season. Yet everyone is brushing aside the Sepulveda injury as inconsequential.

Conclusion

Sepulveda’s value cannot be overstated. He is the first player since Troy Polamalu in 2003, which the Steelers traded up in the draft to select. He brought confidence and toughness to a special teams unit who, outside of Jeff Reed, has been average at best since 2000. He had the best numbers of any Steelers punter in the last five years and he was just a rookie. And finally, he has shown that his background as a linebacker, enables him to do much more than just kick a ball, he can throw it, recover it, and yes even destroy someone who is carrying it.
So get well soon Daniel, this season may be lost but there’s always 2009.

Conrad Waite likes beaches, aliens and glory. But movies will always be second in his heart to the Steelers.

My three other cutting room floor choices of players we could have drafted instead of Sepulveda.
Chase Pittman, DE LSU, any pass rusher named Chase sounds good to me. Just need to get a DE on the other side named Tackle Martin, or Sack Rase. (say the second one out loud)
Doug Free, OT Northern Illinois, You could totally have a Free Colon tackle promotion
Manuel (Manny) Ramirez, OG Texas Tech, Operation Shutdown part 2, in honor of Derek Bell and Manuel’s namesake in MLB.

Becoming a Pittsburgher

by Amber Fontenot

I have lived in Pittsburgh for 8 years now but I just recently became a fan of the Steelers. I understand enough about football to watch a game, but there is still so much I don’t know. It seems that everyone around here just knows football and I have to catch up. So, I went to the official website of the Steelers and read the history.

Things I learned from the Steelers history:

1. Art Rooney had five sons. I guess Dan was just lucky to be the oldest and get the team.

2. Art named a son Art, and Dan named a son Art. I bet one of Dan’s kids named one a child Art.

3. I should know what the “Immaculate Reception” is, but I don’t, and it is not explained.

4. It talks about divisions and division titles, AFC central titles, AFC central lead, wild card playoff berth. I need a football dictionary.

5. The original name was the Pittsburgh Pirates. All of you may have known this, but it was news to me.

6. They were once the Steagles when they merged with the Eagles. Again, all of you lifetime fans probably already knew this.

7. They played at Forbes field. I only know what Forbes field is because I went to Pitt. Otherwise, I probably wouldn’t even know that much.

8. There was a player was called “Mean” Joe Greene. Again, something I should know, but I don’t, and again it is not explained.

9. Ernie Stautner’s number 70 jersey was retired. The only one in Steeler history. Should I know why? Does everyone else know why? Are there just standard reasons for retiring a number?

10. I don’t know what the positions mean, like a safety. So it doesn’t mean anything to me when they give me the name of a player and his position. Unless he is the quarterback, because I do know what that player does.

So, what does this mean? It is going to be difficult for me to love and understand the Steelers as easily as most everyone else I know does. But, if I learn about football, and watch the games regularly, the history should mean more to me and I just might enjoy watching football once I understand what is going on.

I really look forward to learning this season about the game and the players. It is going to be quite an adventure for someone who didn’t know what training camp was or the pre-season until a few weeks ago.