The big discussion right now on the post-gazette pirates blog is the best and worst players at each position over the pirates 17 season losing streak. Their roster will be posted on Sunday, I will try to project this team before-hand. Note that the players chosen had to have significant playing time with the team.
Worst list-
C - Keith Osik - Long time backup for Jason Kendall. When Kendall needed a rest you knew it was going to be a tough night.
1B - Craig Wilson - Dude could crush the ball, oh wait, that was only a fastball down the middle.
2B - Warren Morris - Good rookie season, then the pirates management started instructing him.
SS - Pat Meares - Could this guy still be on the payroll???
3B - Charlie Hayes - How did this guy get 459 at bats in 1996?
LF - Midre Cummings - Never hit over .245 with the bucs. went to Philly and hit .303.
CF - Chris Duffy - Decent ball player, if he could keep his head on straight. Honorable mention - Chad Hermansen - He was supposed to be our savior!
RF - Derek Bell - The anti-legend.
Lefty Starter - Jimmy Anderson - Came back in his second spring training with a gut so massive he couldn't reach his arm around it to throw the fastball.
Righty Starter - Matt Morris - Dave Littlefield intentionally screwed us.
Lefty reliever - Terry Mulholland - Tried to make a comeback as a bucco reliever but it ended up being early re-retirement
Righty Reliever - Keith Osik - He did pitch 1 inning in 2000. He gave up 5 runs with a career era of 45.00.
Closer - Rich Loiselle - By default. One thing the bucs always seem to have a decent one of is a closer.
Best List
C - Jason Kendall - In a 123 year history it is impressive to hold the franchise record for career games behind the plate.
1B - Kevin Young - Maybe if more of the buccos did roids we wouldn't be having this discussion.
2B - Tony Womack - Sorry, Freddy Sanchez gets honorable mention here. Tony Womack was a hitting and base-stealing machine.
SS - Jack Wilson - Defensive wiz, hard worker, and class act. He will be missed.
3B - Aramis Ramirez - This is before we traded him for a bag of doritos and before he hurt himself while charging the mound.
LF - Brian Giles - One of the best home run hitters in bucco history.
CF - Andrew McCutchen - Haven't seen a player on the team as electric as him since Bonds.
RF - Xavier Nady - Slim pickings on this side of the outfield. Nady did have his best seasons as a Pirate. Honorable mention - Matt Lawton - He was an OBP master.
Lefty Starter - Denny Neagle - You knew he was too good to stick around for too long. Just don't ask him what he is into these days.
Righty Starter - Jason Schmidt - See above, except his recent issues have been on the field.
Lefty Reliever - Damaso Marte - Have you ever seen a lefty get a hit off of him? I haven't.
Righty Reliever - Solomon Torres - The go-to-guy. Led the league in appearances a couple of times.
Closer - Mike Williams - Holy cow that slider was deadly.
Bench Player - John Vander Wal - Lanky power!
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