Links

Charlie has a good post up rounding up this year's draft picks.

Billy muses about the general positivism of the average Pirate fan and how misplaced he feels that postive atitude is. I've noticed that the Pirate bloggers have tended to look at their stretch of decent (I wouldn't even call it good) play since the break with a lot more caution than the typical Pirate fan or even the "message board" Pirate fan, if you will. I'd like to think that we're just more cynical and that the Pirates will prove us wrong, but I don't know how likely that really is.

Ed Eagle identifies Jose Castillo as a potential tradee this offseason. I've always kind of felt that Castillo is a bit of an underachiever who might be worth more to someone who he's never played for before, but I'm incredibly freaking nervous about trading him after this most recent trade deadline. Simply put, yes, we have a surplus of guys who can play middle infield. Yes, Jose might fetch the most in a trade. But yes, Castillo is still a decent young player with a high ceiling and an OPS of around .740, not bad for a second baseman. A serious return would have to be involved to trade him. If the Pirates can do it, I say great, but they're going to have to be careful.

Mike Gonzalez and his "dead arm that isn't a big deal" and Tom Gorzelanny and his "little glitch in the elbow that won't make him miss more than a start or two" are now both on the DL. Seriously, lying about how serious an injury is doesn't make the injury seem less serious. Either the Pirates have the worst team doctors in the league or they think we can't handle the truth about... I dunno, something I guess. They also sent Britt Reames back to AAA. DL's plan to have the deepest bullpen in the history of the universe comes into play here as Brian Rogers (immediate dividends on the Casey trade; I guarantee Rogers won't get thrown out at first from left field), Jonah Bayliss, and Marty McLeary (aka Britt Reames) have all been called up for the new look bullpen.