It's a celebration bitches!
That's right, Andy LaRoche finally got his first hit of the season yesterday! It only took him 20 at-bats, but he did it! Through nine games, this is what Little LaRoche has contributed so far to his team...8 G, 1/20 (.050 AVG) 1 R, 1 BB, 4 K, .145 OPS, 3 E
If he keeps up this blistering pace, this is what we're looking at over the entire season...
144 G, 18/360, 18 R, 18 BB, 72 K, .145 OPS, 54 E
Not good. It's too easy to pile on this guy anymore. I've just realized how much time and energy i have wasted on bashing Andy LaRoche over the past few weeks and I'm ready to stop. This really isn't an atmosphere condusive to Andy LaRoche becoming a capable contributing member of a professional baseball club. The reasons...
1. There's already an overwhelming anti-LaRoche sentiment in Pittsburgh. Andy only has to look across the diamond (and the family tree) to witness someone who's struggled in Pittsburgh. His brother has been relentlessly bashed over the past three seasons for his slow starts and ho-hum attitude. At last year's trade deadline, Bucco fans were praying to unload their LaRoche, not pick up another one.
2. He's fighting a legacy of countless failed Pittsburgh prospects. Chad Hermansen. J.J. Davis. Bobby Bradley. John Van Benschoeten. Bryan Bullington. Do I need to continue? Pittsburgh prospects have to face the fact that this organization has had a terrible run of failure when it comes to high-end prospects. Fans are guarded when it comes to guys coming up through the system, it's hard to get excited anymore about some guy who's a few years away, when in the past you've heard how one guy can "walk on water" yet when it comes to hitting Major League pitching, he sinks like lead.
3. Neil Walker and Pedro Alvarez. When your team moves a former first round draft pick to your position and then uses the #2 overall pick to draft a "can't miss" stud that also plays your position, you can't help but look over your shoulder. Many baseball people think Neil Walker is ready for the big leagues, and being that his hometown just happens to be the 'Burgh, let's just say there's a popular local sentiment to see what this guy can do. And I don't really think I need to explain Mr. Alvarez, there hasn't been this much buzz about a Pirates' prospect since Mr. Bonds.
So I have decided that it's time to hang up the Andy LaRoche bashing stick. Let's give him a few more weeks to see what he can (or can't) do. If there wasn't a tiny glimmer of hope for the Pirates' future, I might keep it up. If the only other third baseman in the Pirates' system was a guy who scouts compared to Chris Stynes or Ed Sprague, then maybe I'd stay on Andy for a bit longer. But for once in a very long time, the Pirates can offer legitimate competition to a position player, and not have to sign some overpriced stopgap. So best of luck to you Mr. Andy LaRoche, you're gonna need it.
1. There's already an overwhelming anti-LaRoche sentiment in Pittsburgh. Andy only has to look across the diamond (and the family tree) to witness someone who's struggled in Pittsburgh. His brother has been relentlessly bashed over the past three seasons for his slow starts and ho-hum attitude. At last year's trade deadline, Bucco fans were praying to unload their LaRoche, not pick up another one.
2. He's fighting a legacy of countless failed Pittsburgh prospects. Chad Hermansen. J.J. Davis. Bobby Bradley. John Van Benschoeten. Bryan Bullington. Do I need to continue? Pittsburgh prospects have to face the fact that this organization has had a terrible run of failure when it comes to high-end prospects. Fans are guarded when it comes to guys coming up through the system, it's hard to get excited anymore about some guy who's a few years away, when in the past you've heard how one guy can "walk on water" yet when it comes to hitting Major League pitching, he sinks like lead.
3. Neil Walker and Pedro Alvarez. When your team moves a former first round draft pick to your position and then uses the #2 overall pick to draft a "can't miss" stud that also plays your position, you can't help but look over your shoulder. Many baseball people think Neil Walker is ready for the big leagues, and being that his hometown just happens to be the 'Burgh, let's just say there's a popular local sentiment to see what this guy can do. And I don't really think I need to explain Mr. Alvarez, there hasn't been this much buzz about a Pirates' prospect since Mr. Bonds.
So I have decided that it's time to hang up the Andy LaRoche bashing stick. Let's give him a few more weeks to see what he can (or can't) do. If there wasn't a tiny glimmer of hope for the Pirates' future, I might keep it up. If the only other third baseman in the Pirates' system was a guy who scouts compared to Chris Stynes or Ed Sprague, then maybe I'd stay on Andy for a bit longer. But for once in a very long time, the Pirates can offer legitimate competition to a position player, and not have to sign some overpriced stopgap. So best of luck to you Mr. Andy LaRoche, you're gonna need it.
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