The Sports Monitor

The Pittsburgh Pirates have their power-hitting outfielder. The question is: Will it pay off this year for them? The Bucs picked up Travis Snider from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for pitcher Brad Lincoln. On the surface, it appears the Pirates got a minor league player for a successful reliever. This trade should be better than that. Snider provides a power-hitting threat needed. He's also under control for at least three seasons, meaning the Bucs should have an outfield of Starling Marte, Andrew McCutchen and Snider for a few years. That should be a very good outfield. I'm not sold on Lincoln as a starting pitcher in the future. I think he could be a future closer, which always is appealing. However, relievers aren't as difficult to find. Plus, they can bottom out really fast. Remember Evan Meek, the former All-Star for the Pirates? This also reminds me of the deal that sent Ricardo Rincon to the Indians for Brian Giles. We'll find out soon en...

I took the family to a beach yesterday. On our way in, we needed to stop to pay admission. That's when I got a little surprise. The cost ($3) wasn't a problem; it was the person taking my money. "How 'bout them Bucs?" he asked. For a second, I was stunned. Why would he ask me about the Pirates? Then it hit me, I had on a Pirates T-shirt I got during a promotion a few years ago. It was old and worn, but perfect for a day in the water. "Heck of a first half," I said to the attendant. "Let's hope they keep it up." I never would have believed they would be in first place in the NL Central Division at the All-Star break. They've been a real treat to watch this last month, especially with the hitting coming around. And how about that Andrew McCutchen guy? His first half has been incredible. Not only does he lead the majors in hitting (.362), but he's among the NL leaders in homers (18) and RBIs (60). To no surprise...

Evan Meek. All-Star. It's been more than a day and I still can't get used to those two words being tossed together in the same sentence. It's not that Evan Meek didn't have the statistics to deserve being an All-Star. Everyone is throwing around his ERA (0.96) and assures us it's a good choice. And, besides, someone from the Pirates had to make the team. I would prefer it be someone else. I'd prefer someone other than a middle reliever. I don't think middle relievers belong in all-star games. Sorry, I just don't think they are that deserving. I understand middle relief is part of the game these days, I don't believe it should be part of the All-Star Game. While Meek has a stellar ERA, he does have five blown saves this season and only five holds (one of the few, unreliable statistics out there for relievers). They way I look at it, the All-Star Game is still an opportunity to showcase the best players in the league for the fans. And...

Joe Mauer's new $23 million-a-year contract shouldn't make Pirates fans worry. There's been some nervousness out there that Mauer's deal will have some ramifications on the Pittsburgh Pirates. I wish that could be true. First, you have to suspend belief that the Pirates will ever develop a player of Mauer's caliber. Mauer is a three-time American League batting champion and is the reigning AL MVP. When was the last time the Pirates had that? Then, taking the leap of faith that an Andrew McCutchen or Pedro Alvarez becomes a player like that, you need to buy into the theory that Nutting and Co. would keep a player like that on the roster long enough to negotiate such a deal. Chances are McCutchen or Alvarez would be traded before negotiations would ever get reasonable close to a deal happening. In fact, with Alvarez being represented by everybody's favorite agent, Scott Boras, it's highly doubtful Alvarez would spend a second longer with the fran...

My cousin got married last week and I finally was able to grab a minute to talk to him at the reception. Of course, the topic quickly moved to sports, and he couldn't help but bring up the Pirates. "You know, I was at a game earlier this year, we were in the box and no one cared what was going on during the game," he said. That's understandable and pretty reasonable, I guess, considering how the team has played for 16 years. His next question really stumped me. "When are they going to win again?" he asked. I didn't have an answer. To him, and what seems like many Pirates fans, the baseball season has become a distraction between the end of the Penguins' season and the start of Steelers training camp. After hearing the news Wednesday night about the Pirates' trade of Nate McLouth to the Atlanta Braves for three minor league players, I'd be able to tell him that it's at least a couple years longer than it was last week. To call the trade a ...