Remembering Rambo
Craig Wilson is a pinch hitting machine. Another dramatic come-from-behind late inning heroic victory against the Brewers on Wednesday. Seeing the evolution of wilson from a pinch-hitting stud into a fine everyday hitter, I can't help but wonder what happened to
Mike Diaz?
In 1986 and 1987, Mike played in exactly 200 games, and hit 28 home runs in 450 at-bats, racking up 84 rbi in the process. Keep in mind that those were the days when those power numbers were very uncommon. I remember during those seasons that there were times when it felt like Diaz was stalking the pitcher from the bench, just waiting for his chance to get his at-bat in a clutch situation and pull out the game with a timely hit. The dude had some serious power.
Unfortunately, in 1988 Diaz suffered a total power outage (0 hr in 74 at-bats) before being traded to the White Sox for Gary Redus in mid-August. Diaz would go on to hit 3 hr in 152 at bats with the White Sox that season, and never be heard from in the majors again. I vaguely remember that he went to play in Japan, but I've never been able to find out what kind of success he had over there. Anyway, it seemed like an odd end to what looked like a promising career. Diaz's career always left me feeling a bit empty, as if it seemed that he never got the proper chance to see what he could do with 500 at bats in a season. Granted he was a horrible defensive player, but those Pirate teams were not exactly loaded.
Taking a look at Craig Wilson's first 2 years with the Pirates, it shows that he hit 29 hr in 526 at-bats, with 89 rbi. Those numbers are very similar to Diaz's numbers. Wilson though did hit for a much higher average and was 2 years younger. Obviously, Craig has gone on to solidify his place in the major leagues, while Diaz has been basically forgotten.
**Update: I did some research and found MIke Diaz's Japanese statistics. He played for the Lotte Orion from 89-92. He destroyed the league in his first 2 seasons, then tanked for the final two. Take a look for yourself,
here.
Lanny
It's just not the same without Lanny Frattare. No doubt about it.
Wehner
Is it just me, or does Ty Wigginton remind you of John Wehner? (By the way, if John Wehner is reading this, I have a digitial picture of your last major league at bat that I took from the upper deck. It's a panoramic shot of PNC Park, but you can clearly see your picture on the scoreboard as being at bat. It was purely a coincidence as I was merely trying to take a picture of the park. Let me know if you want a copy.)
O'Neill interview
John O’Neill (the Swift Boats for ‘Truth’ leader) appeared on the most recent Bill Maher HBO show. Some very interesting, though not surprising, things were said. Such as this exchange:
MAHER: You don't like this guy, (Kerry) do you?
O'NEILL: Actually, I feel sorry for him. But I dislike intensely—
MAHER: Oh…
O'NEILL: --his claim that our guys were guilty of war crimes. I won't forget that.
Very interesting. If anyone (read: Hannity, Wiemer, Limbaugh, et al) ever questions why so many Swift Boat veterans would lie about Kerry, there’s your motive. Of course, I said this awhile back, but here it is from the horse’s mouth.
Now take a look at the exchange that immediately followed:
MAHER: All right, we're going to get to that, but let me ask you…let me turn this around a little bit. Say everything you guys are saying about John Kerry is true. Let's just say that, hypothetically. What is the motivation of the guys on John Kerry's side? I mean, there are dozens and dozens of guys on John Kerry's side, most of whom served closer to him than your guys. What is their motivation? Why are they lying for John Kerry?
O'NEILL: They – Bill, the truth is, that there aren't dozens and dozens. He has a picnic table and we have a campground. He has, at most, 20, and we have 260. And those guys—
MAHER: Yeah, but his were closer to the action, weren't they?
So there you have it. You have a group of people with a clear motive to smear Kerry making allegations that directly contradict all of the previously documented testimony. Using O’Neill’s own analogy, if everyone at your picnic table says you are eating a pbj sandwich, and you say you are eating a pbj sandwich, why would you believe someone 3 picnic tables over who says it’s tuna salad?
(The full transcript from the program can be found
here.)
What I've learned in '04
In honor of the start of the school year, I thought I’d take a look at what I’ve learned about the Pirates in ’04:
- The organization’s biggest needs are power at 3b and speed/defense at cf.
- Redman is a major league player, but he’s not a championship caliber player. Same with Wigginton. (Actually, I already knew that, so I didn’t really learn that this year.)
- Fogg belongs in the majors, and could be a valuable spot starter/relief pitcher on a good team. (I’m still skeptical, but props for a solid season so far.)
- Bay is a very good player right now and should be for many years to come.
- Perez is a superstar right now.
- The Pirates bullpen should be a strength for the next few years.
- Its impossible to teach the Pirates how to properly run the bases, assuming somebody has tried to teach them.
- What’s the point of JJ Davis?
- The 2 best Pirate trades of all time involved Brian Giles.
Anything else?
More on Mesa
"I don't mind and I don't care because I am not going to the Giants...I already made up my mind a long time ago. I'm not going nowhere. If they trade me, whatever team picks me up is in trouble because I'll go home."
That's what Jose Mesa had to say after learning that the Giants had claimed him on waivers. I believe the 48 hours has passed, therefore he can no longer be traded. Hopefully, this quote didn't influence the negotiations. Frankly, Mesa is lucky to be getting a paycheck this year after the destruction he wreaked on the Phillies last year. He's pitched well for the Pirates, though the wheels have predictably fallen off in the last couple of weeks. Anyway, it's kind of nice to see that someone, anyone, prefers to stay with the Pirates, even if he is a little misguided.
GWB on 527's, then and now
(The flip….)
GWB, from March 5, 2000, when asked about negative ads being run by 527’s against his GOP opponent John McCain:
"That's part of the American process. There have been ads, independent expenditures, that are saying bad things about me. I don't particularly care when they do, but that's what freedom of speech is all about. And this allegation somehow that I'm involved with this is just totally ridiculous. It is uncalled for…"
"You know, let me -- let me say something to you. People have the right to run ads. They have the right to do what they want to do, under the -- under the First Amendment in America."
(And now the flop…)
This is what GWB has to say about 527’s today:
“They ought to get rid of all those 527s, independent expenditures that have flooded the airwaves. There have been millions of dollars spent. ... I signed a law that I thought would get rid of those.”
So, when Bush was using 527’s as a surrogate to smear the war record of John McCain, insinuating he was insane due to his time as a POW, and accusing him of fathering an interracial child out of wedlock (his family adopted a girl from Bangladesh), the 527's were protected under the first amendment. But when the 527s are more effective for his opposition, as they have been this year, then he thinks they are illegal. Which of course, they are not as long as they are independently financed and organized, according to the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002. (But that wouldn’t be the first time Bush was confused by a piece of legislation he signed into law. Who can bother with minutiae such as federal law when you are a “war president.”)
Really, I don’t mean to criticize Bush for changing his mind about the role 527’s should play in our political system. I prefer a candidate that is able to change his/her mind on issues. I am criticizing him for the self-serving reason that he’s changing his mind.
Gammons on the Bucs
In his latest
article, Peter Gammons devotes the typical 15 words in a 5,000 word article to the Pirates. But he did say 2 things I wanted to quickly comment on.
First, Gammons reports that the Giants claimed Jose Mesa on waivers, thus "keeping him from the Cubs." He seems to imply that the Pirates and Cubs had a deal in the works for Mesa. That would have been great news. I only hope that Littlefield can work out a deal with the Giants. Maybe Mesa for a 28 year old AA 4th outfielder? If thats too steep, I'd settle for an autographed game used Barry Bonds bat.
The second comment is really Red Sox blurb, but I'll give Gammons the benefit of the doubt. Gammons reminds us of the ridiculous trade Littlefield almost made last year, dealing Mike Gonzalez to Boston for Brandon Lyon. According to a scout, Gonzalez is "as tough on left-handed batters as any lefty reliever other than Billy Wagner." High praise indeed, and more evidence to my claim that Gonzalez should be getting the big innings out of the pen.
