Should be Interesting ....

Steelers vs. Eagles. The Eagles present an interesting dilemma for the Steelers next Sunday. Road game, for one thing. A 4 p.m. game on the road, in Philadelphia for another. What could possibly go wrong?

Having watched the Eagles vs. Cowboys, a number of things come to mind. The Eagles score points. The Eagles give up points. Their defensive schemes are confounding, but their defensive personnel isn't that good. On offense, Donovan McNabb and Bryant Westbrook are over-rated. Seriously, they are. The Steelers can win this game.

The Steelers will win this game.

Sorry about this ...

Okay, anybody who reads this blog knows it's focus is on the Steelers. We'll keep it that way. But, sheesh, sometimes Joey Porter's Pit Bulls gotta speak up. Just watched an interview with John McCain in the wake of the storm ... on Wall Street ... the meltdown of the economy, the so-called "markets" and Lehman Brothers, Bear Stearns, Merril Lynch, AIG, your mortgage, your job, your health insurance and your 401K account. Mine, too.

Even Fox News cannot "put lipstick on this pig."

John McCain is the worst kind of moron. He is a manipulated, disingenuous moron. Yeah, just keep reciting "Karl Rove's Talking Points." It's insulting.

John McVain is a moron. And he's 72 years old. So, when Sarah Palin engages in negotiations with Vladmir Putin ... yeah, well, good luck with that. And their advertising is positively Orwellian. They've hijacked the "change"message, and ,well, "The real mavericks"? Don't piss on me and tell me it's raining.

Back to football. I swear.

In Command

Just two games into the season, and the Steelers are in command of the AFC North. The Brownies, in full recognition of their plight and playing desperately last night, put up a fight.

But at no point did Joey Porter's Pit Bulls feel the Steelers were in danger of losing the game.

The weather conditions made for a visually entertaining game, but Browns' QB Derek Anderson seemed to let the wind and rain bother him more than it bothered unflappable Ben Roethlisberger.

Willie Parker gained 105 yards on the ground, while Federal Penitentiary alumnus Jamal Lewis never got untracked. Behemoth defensive tackle Shaun Rogers of the Browns had some disruptive moments, but on the whole, the Steelers controlled both sides of the line of scrimmage. Santonio Holmes, who must be a nightmare to cover, displayed sure hands as he made some clutch catches in traffic and continued to establish himself as an elite receiver in the National Football League.

The defense was the difference. The Steelers' defense flew to the ball and played with an intensity that never allowed the Browns to establish any sort of consistent momentum. The Steelers' defense is better than the Brown's. As predicted here last week, the black 'n gold defense really did Hustle & Flow to the ball.

The 0-2 Browns are in a serious hole, and the talk in Cleveland surely will turn to Brady Quinn possibly supplanting Anderson as the starting quarterback. Plus, there surely will be muttering about Romeo Crennel's job security and the possibility of bringing Bill Cowher in as head coach next year. The postgame radio talk shows in Cleveland must have been a lot of fun. Well, all of that's their problem, not ours. It's much better to be a Steelers' fan today.

And the Bengals suck. Still.

Have you ever been to Cleveland?

Yeah, I have. Lived there for a while. It's cold. Even in September. It's the wind. The damn wind coming off the damn lake. Not sayin' the people are cold; because Joey Porter's Pit Bulls take people one at a time. Good people wherever you go. But. Assholes, too.

Sunday night. Steelers: Be ready for this game. Just guessing here: Browns head coach Romeo Crennel is borderline-panicked about this game. Bill Cowher looming. Job security and all that. Crennel must be thinking, "Damn! My 'vaunted' defensive line acqisitions couldn't stop the run against Dallas last Sunday and couldn't stop the pass. What are the Steelers gonna do?"

The Browns gave up 30 first downs --30!-- and nearly 500 yards of offense.

And the Steelers are a mirror image of Dallas. Steelers vs. Cowboys in the Super Bowl. JPPB callin' it. Right now.

Yup. Joey Porter's Pit Bulls have a feeling Romeo Crennel is panicking. Which sets a tone for the whole team. You don't think the entire team, from the skittish QB to the already-underachieving free-agent acquisitions don't pick up on this vibe?

There's an ill wind blows in Cleveland. Cool. No, COLD.

There's a history between these two teams.

It's Browns vs. Steelers.
That's all that needs to be said.

Let’s put this in historical context:

1966: Cleveland 41, Pittsburgh 10

Quote from Cleveland fullback Ernie Green:

“It was like running downhill.”

Hustle & Flow

Key to this game: Hustle & Flow (proposed new nickname for the Steeler's defense?).

Not worried about the Steeler's offense in this one. They'll put up points. Cleveland linebacker Camerion Wimbley can play on my team anytime, but nobody else on that defense would, or could (all respect to old man Willie McGinest, who has had a long and distinguished career, but you're old, dude; retire already).

Key to the game: Steelers' defense -- Hustle & Flow. Hustle every play and flow to the ball. Set a tone early and late. Granted, Cleveland has some talent on offense: Extremely good offensive line. Federal Penitentiary alumnus Jamaal Lewis at running back. The "Soldier" Kellen Winslow and Brayin' Braylon Edwards at wideout.

But scatter-armed, jittery Derek Anderson at quarterback. Nah-uh. He can be had. Taken. Down. "WHUP that trick! WHUP that trick! WHUP that trick!"

That's why, on defense, it's time to hustle and flow. Smooth as silk.

This will be a fun game to watch.

In the picture, by the way, is Mickey McGovern, Irish leprechaun and friend to all, who passed away last week. He would have enjoyed this game coming up on Sunday night. Rest in peace, Mick.

In Requiem ...

With Prayers and Hope for a Better Future

Going to Cleveland is so much fun.

JoeyPorter's Pit Bulls get legitimately excited about Cleveland Week. The Steelers can put the Browns in a serious hole on Sunday night, and we believe they will. And we get to see Kellen Winslow, the "Soldier." Another reason to live!

(The following is a reprise post from November 2006, just because we're uninspired and have been too preoccupied with Life Crappola lately.)


Joey Porter’s Pit Bulls love the Dawg Pound.

It’s not that we’re combative or anything … but it’s just so much fun to encounter guys with dog masks who think they’re BAD; and then, despite ourselves, stay out of jail.

The real Dawg Pound died with Municipal Stadium, just as the old Browns franchise died when Art Modell highjacked it to Baltimore. Prick.

We haven’t been to the new Browns Stadium, which looks nice, but take our word for it, Municipal Stadium was not nice. Anything but.

“Barely controlled riot” would be the words to describe the Dawg Pound during Steelers-Browns games. Never mind the disgusting, overflowing restrooms and Myron Cope routinely pissing off the stadium rooftop (true story, told by Cope himself many times). Never mind the continuing jawing and woofing between fans from Pittsburgh and Cleveland. Never mind the distractions, such as the periodic incursions of uniformed police that would snap attention from the action on the field — which itself, typically, was spastically violent in bizarre ways.

No, there are memories of sounds, too, such as, for instance, the distinctive crack of a revolver … in the stands, mind you … which triggered a massive response from Cleveland’s Finest and even more brawling fueled by testosterone, drugs and alcohol.

Hollywood couldn’t begin to stage such mayhem.

Real. Surreal. Hyper-real.

Ah, the memories.

Back on the Grid(iron)

(Note to readers: Sorry for being off the grid the last week or so. Life.)

No revelations here: The Steelers looked crisp yesterday, ready to play, sharp. Not much to analyze, but let's do it anyway. The maligned offensive looked surprisingly robust. Willie Parker looked fast. Ben Roethlisberger was sharp. Lammarr Woodley and James Harrison were fierce.

And, for some reason, the Houston Texans, seemed to mostly ignore their best player on offense, wide receiver Andre Johnson. Which brings us to the play of the secondary. Thank you, Ryan Clark and Troy Polamalu for returning to action. And thank you, Deshea Townsend and Ike Taylor for playing up to form.

Kudos, too, to the coaching staff for a fine game plan and for having the team prepared to play.

Now, get 'em ready for next week. Cleveland Week.

The Browns Are Weaker Than Most People Anticipated

Steelers vs. Browns next Sunday night will be critical. We can bury them right there, in Cleveland, in the second week of the season. Done.

Just heard moron "analyst" Skip Bayless talk about how "explosive" the Cleveland Browns were going to be this year. Hah! The Browns were horrible yesterday against the Cowboys yesterday. No pass rush. Can't stop the run. Which is a Bad Combination on defense.

And the scatter-armed QB, Derek Anderson, gets rattled too easily. Plus, the Browns' high-priced investments in their defensive front four during the off-season are looking about as prudent as APR mortgages, stock in Enron or faith in Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac. The Black 'n Gold can bury the Browns next week -- and officially put them in panic mode.

By the way, who hires these so-called broadcast "analysts" anyway? Kordell Stewart is now on the ESPN panel of experts. Okey-dokey. We'll learn a lot. Sure.

Speaking of being unable to stop the run: The Indianapolis Colts. If you watched the Chicago Bears whup on the Colts last night, you couldn't help but marvel what an admirable and startling thing commitment to the run can be. The Bears, featuring impressive rookie running back Matt Forte, just kept running and running ... and the Colts couldn't stop it. Which is a good thing for the rest of the AFC, including the Steelers.

Indy's new stadium is beautiful by the way. And the food looks good, too.

Tom Brady. Too bad. We feel so sad. Nah, that's rude. Actually, Joey Porter's Pit Bulls never like to see a great player go down to injury. It deprives all of us ignorant fans the best the game has to offer. Tom Brady is the best quarterback in the game, and we'd rather see him play all 16 games. Karma's a bitch, but we do want the Patriots to recede into oblivion and irrelevance. Kinda like the Pittsburgh Pirates. But that's another story.

Question: Who would you rather have on your team (real NFL football, not fantasy football)? Maurice Jones-Drew or Reggie Bush? Just asking.

To pick up a theme from last season: The Bengals stink. Still.

The Pain of Being a Pirates Fan

The focus of this blog is primarily Steelers football, but Joey Porter’s Pit Bulls remain an impassioned, interested and endlessly tortured fan of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The latest fiasco, the disputed signing of ballyhooed first-round draft pick Pedro Alvarez, follows nearly a month of truly awful baseball (7 wins, 19 losses) following the July 31 trade deadline. In the two major deals before the deadline, the Bucs’ braintrust dealt the team’s best reliever and two best hitters for “nothing terribly evident,” as Post-Gazette columnist Gene Collier put it.

“New management has, within the month, ridded itself of its best players in return for nothing terribly evident. Yesterday was the day Craig Hansen, acquired in the convulsion that was the Jason Bay deal, got sent to the minors. Yesterday was another day when it was increasingly evident that Andy LaRoche, acquired in that same deal, might, in a couple of years, given patience and careful instruction, become the next Jose Bautista, whom the Pirates traded last week.”

Nevertheless, the two big deals are done, although we thought beforehand that there was some merit to actually picking up Damaso Marte’s option for next year and extending Jason Bay and/or Xavier Nady. Before the trades, Joey Porter's Pit Bulls wrote, “Personally, I'd like to see the Bucs retain Nady, Jack Wilson and Jason Bay, although I could see the sense in trading any or all of them – depending on the return.”

Well, the return now looks even less promising than it did in the immediate aftermath of the deals, when Joey Porter’s Pit Bulls railed against the Xavier Nady-Damaso Marte trade with the Yankees. That deal brought to the Pirates four prospects, including right-hand pitcher Daniel McCutchen (6-9, 4.28). Pitching for AAA affiliate Indianapolis last night, McCutchen allowed six runs and nine hits, including four home runs, in four innings. Not encouraging.

So, it’s easy to second-guess the deadline deals, let alone how management handled negotiations with Alvarez and his agent, Scott Boras, although it appears the notorious Boras is up to his usual shenanigans. It will be interesting to see their future dealings with Boras, in light of this situation and their pre-draft proclamations that they would select the best talent available regardless of agent. Will they avoid a Boras client next year? That might be tough, as Boras regularly represents a high percentage of the top prospects available in the draft – seven of the top 10 players in June’s draft, if we’re correct.

In the meantime, here’s some media coverage of how well ex-Bucco Jason Bay is doing in Boston (sigh):

Trade for Bay Looks Like Another Stroke of Genius

“Jason Bay has been a revelation. Bay has hit safely in 20 of his 23 games with the Red Sox and has driven in a run in 13 of those, for 24 RBI in total, to go along with a .347 average. Bay's performance has helped allay the fears that Ramirez's absence would leave a gaping hole in the middle of the lineup.”

Liberated Bay fitting in just fine

"I've never had this atmosphere," said the leftfielder who was liberated from the terminal malaise of Pittsburgh at the trading deadline. "That's no slight to anybody, that's just the position I was in. So to come here, I use the word rejuvenating.”

Manny Who? Fans Forget Ramírez as Bay Picks Up Slack for Red Sox

“Jason Bay has proven to be an amazing perk.”

Bay says all games have been Sox/Yanks

“After emerging from years of playing in baseball purgatory — otherwise known as Pittsburgh — Jason Bay said he feels like every game he's played the past four weeks has been a Red Sox-Yankees game.”

New Guys Chip In Nicely for Red Sox

“Of course, the Red Sox did all right just before the deadline, too. They were pretty much forced to get rid of Manny Ramirez and still were able to land Jason Bay, who has been a revelation.”

Last Call

The final preseason game is tonight, vs. the Carolina Panthers at Heinz Field. Last call for borderline prospects and hangers on (Orpheus Roye) vying for a spot on the roster.

Not much drama, actually. Only a few spots bear watching: Will the fifth wide receiver be Willie Reid or Dallas Baker? Will the punter be Paul Ernster or Mitch Berger? Will the Steelers keep three tight ends? Will Roy Williams or Anthony Madison make the final cut in the secondary?

The biggest question, though, is whether superstar Carolina defensive end Julius Peppers will breeze past our turnstile offensive line and decapitate quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

Probably not. The starters will play two series at most, and they probably won't go all out. Carolina's starters don't want to get hurt, either.

Bob Smizik and Mini Ponies ... and a Whole Lotta Love

A word of advice ...

Check out Pittsburgh Sports and Mini Ponies for Tecmo's interview/dialogue with Bob Smizik, columnist with the PG.


Off Topic: The Closing Ceremonies

When Joey Porter's Pit Bulls heard last week that Jimmy Page was going to perform at the closing ceremonies off the Olympics in Beijing, we said, "Huh. That's weird. What's he going to play, Whole Lotta Love? ... 'You need coolin' / Baby, I ain't foolin' / I'm gonna send you back for schoolin' / Uh, oh, uh, oh / ... I'm gonna give you every inch of my love ... Uh, oh, uh, oh ... Waaaay down inside!"

Nah, no way.

As it turns it out, Page did play Whole Lotta Love, much to our surprise, with singer Leona Lewis handling the vocals originally sung by Robert Plant. Only snag there is the difference in gender ... which led to altering a few of the lyrics, as noted over at the always entertaining Deadspin, which also thought the choice of song was, well, perhaps a bit curious.

Best part was the Deadspin reader comments:

• "Wouldn't The Immigrant Song have been more appropriate?"
• "They were planning on going with Misty Mountain Hop but then someone reminded them of that whole Tibet thing."
• "Personally, I thought that China would have gone with Gallows Pole."
• "Or in the spirit of protest suppression, Trampled Under Foot."
• "Taking rock songs from Western culture and altering their initial meaning in no way represents the Chinese socialist way."
• "Robert Plant must be spinning in his grave."

... and the coupe de grace:

• "I think Black Dog was the first choice, but it was nixed due to the fear of a mad-rush to the concession stands."

It's the dog days.

As the Doors' Jim Morrison once sang, "Summer's almost gone."

Only two weeks remain to make roster decisions and fix all that is broken.

Like the offensive line.

Sean Mahan, Willy Colon and company got manhandled by the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday night. No matter that the Steelers "won" the game. No touchdowns. That showing was awful, and it's going to be a long season if the offensive line doesn't get fixed.

Never mind the upcoming final exhibition game against Julius Peppers and the Carolina Panthers. The starters might see two series. The opener against the Hooyouston Texans could be problematic, even though on paper the Houston game, at home, looks like it might be the easiest game on the schedule.

The Texans feature former overall first round choice Mario Williams, who had 14 sacks last season for Houston, which may be "poised to have a breakthrough season." Whatever. If the Steelers don't fix the offensive line, it's going to be a long season for the Black 'n Gold.

Except for adding journeyman center Justin Hartwig (but losing Pro Bowl guard Alan Faneca), the team has done little that we can see to address the offensive line issues we saw Saturday night and the last half of last season.

Schemes? Coaching? Dunno. Let's keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best.

A been-there, done-that guy

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin describes new backup quarterback Byron Leftwich as "a smart guy, a been-there, done-that guy."

Yeah, but done what, exactly? Get injured and lose his job in Atlanta last year to Joey Harrington? That ain't good.

So, if you get the impression that we're lees than excited about Leftwich joining the Steelers, let's just say we'd rather have a healthy Charlie Batch.

As for fourth string QB Mike Potts out of William & Mary, we hardly knew ye. It's time to put that degree to work.

Let the Games Begin!

No, not those games, over in Beijing. Who cares about them?
The Steelers begin competitive play tonight.Well, people in Steelers' uniforms, anyway. Some of the regular starters will get limited action, but we will see mostly prospects and suspects taking the field against the Philthydelphia Iggles. Even with temperatures in the 80s, and even if many of the players don't make the regular-season roster, it will be good to see the Black 'n Gold in action again.

Meanwhile, watching the Pirates is often painful, but Joey Porter's Pit Bulls can't let it go. While Jeff Karstens has lifted our spirits with 15 scoreless innings, including the near-perfect gem on Wednesday, I am finding it tough, still, to justify the trade that brought him here from the Yankees.

Surprisingly, many of the Pirates-focused blogs like the deal. Lots of other people across the nation, however, feel the way I do -- which is that the Pirates should not have bundled Nady and Marte in the same deal; and that they simply didn't get enough high-end talent in return from the Yanks.

A post titled Pirate Treasure Stolen over at the excellent Dugout Central blog rants passionately about the deal, but what I found most interesting were the reader comments from fans across the nation, notably from some knowledgeable fans based in New York and Boston. Immediately following the trade, I wrote that the Yankees were the wrong team to do a deal with, and one of the reader comments backs up that sentiment with the following comment, which I believe is astute and right on the money:

"When will teams finally learn that if the Yankees are willing to part with “prospects”, then they aren't real prospects."

Perfect and Amen.

That's why I have higher hopes for the prospects we received in the Jason Bay deal than the ones we got back from the Yankees, Karstens' hot start notwithstanding.

Here are a couple of notable reader comments from the post at Dugout Central:

Dugout Central Reader Comment:

These trades continue to show why the Pirates will never field a team with a legit chance to make the playoffs again. This was the first time they had legit trading chips at impact and desired positions since Denny Neagle, and they traded them for the number of players instead of the quality. If I were a Pirates fan I would be livid at seeing what they got in return, especially from the Yankees when they packaged 2 of their 3 top trading pieces and got NOTHING in return! The Pirates had valuable trading pieces and completely blew it. Seattle blew their chance to rebuild as well. The Astros continue to amaze in their decisions. The Padres were handcuffed by the selfish Greg Maddux and also didn't part with their other tradeable pieces.
What is going on in the heads of these GM’s? I know they have a major disadvantage when competing with the big market clubs, but this is ridiculous.
And when will teams finally learn that if the Yankees are willing to part with “prospects”, then they aren't real prospects. Look at the garbage they traded for Abreu. The Twins were the only ones to take a stand and demand at least one of the “untouchables”. More teams should take that stance before giving in to the Yankees demands.

Another Reader Comment:

I can't really imagine what it must be like to be a Pirate fan these days. The team has been so bad for so long and every time it seems the franchise takes one step forward it inevitably winds up taking two back. The Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte trade is really hard to defend from a Pittsburgh stand point. Nady is a solid Major League player who is having a career year and Marte, for better or for worse is one of the top left handed relievers in the game. The Bucs really got very little value for giving up a pair of quality players. I give the Pirates faithful credit for sticking with their team. At least they have a beautiful ballpark to watch their team play. Besides that the cupboard is very bare and though I would like to assure Bucs fans things will get better the team's recent actions show little change should be expected.

We're Slipping

Come on, Pittsburghers! What is up with you!

Forbes magazine (and what do they know, anyway?) ranks Pittsburgh only No. 11 on its list of America's hardest-drinking cities.

This can't be right.

Even our AFC North Division rivals, Cleveland and Cincinnati, are rated above us. Of course, if you lived in those sinkholes, you'd drink heavily, too. The top five are Austin, Milwaukee, San Francisco, Providence (?) and Chicago.

This is embarrassing. You mean we don't measure up to frigging Providence?! Does Providence even count as a city? It's an outrage.

I blame the suburbanites. You drunks who stumble through Polish Hill, the South Side, Shadyside, Oakland, Carson Street, Bloomfield, etc., every night, well, you're doing your part, but we need more like you.

And, really, you too can pick it up.

I mean YOU.

Come on, starting tonight. There's a major music festival on the South Side … and more importantly, there's a STEELERS game, people!

So …step it up! Commence tailgating! NOW!

Girl Talk: Feed the Animals

So, how is it that a 26-year-old Pittsburgher named Greg Gillis, a former biomedical engineer (?!) turned DJ-musician also known as Girl Talk, has become a national sensation without hardly any media coverage in his hometown?

Today, Greg Girl Talk was featured in a major article in The New York Times, including the following excerpt:

"Mr. Gillis declined to say how many copies of “Feed the Animals” had been downloaded or what fans had paid for them. But, he said, he makes enough money performing that he quit his day job as a biomedical engineer last year. One major expense for him is computers; his live show takes such a toll on them that he went through three reinforced Toughbook laptops last year."

The NYT article followed extensive coverage of his recent appearance at Lollapalooza in Chicago, which prompted the following coverage and interview at the always worthy Chicagoist.

Chicagoist Interview: Girl Talk at Lollapalooza:

"Radiohead Shmaediohead. If there’s one act we’re pumped to see at Lollapalooza this year, it’s the sweatfest dance party stylings of Pittsburgh mash-up artist Gregg “Girl Talk” Gillis. Riding high on the recent release of Feed the Animals, Girl Talk takes the stage in Grant Park on Sunday for a live sample-based set certain to spark a raucous party and rip the festival a new one."

It's probably no surprise Girl Talk receives so little mainstream coverage in his hometown of Pittsburgh. As Mark Twain said, "When I die, I want it to happen in Pittsburgh. It'll take 20 years to catch up to me."

Links:

DrewReviews: Feed the Animals

HaveYouHeardReview: Feed the Animals

Wikipedia Entry

"When you're a Jet, you're a Jet all the way ... "

Brett Favre goes to the New York Jets. What could possibly go wrong?

Well, as they sang in West Side Story …

When you're a Jet, You're a Jet all the way

From your first cigarette To your last dyin' day.

When you're a Jet, If the spit hits the fan,

You got brothers around, You're a family man!

You're never alone, You're never disconnected!

You're home with your own: When company's expected,

You're well protected!

Then you are set With a capital J,

Which you'll never forget Till they cart you away.

When you're a Jet, You stay a Jet!"

Of course, that's what they said about being a Packer, but it didn't have the same ring to it.

Links:

Excellent write-up by MJD over at Shutdown Corner: "Who Won the War on 4?" ...

plus MJD's write-up on reckless, idiotic antics today of the Steelers own resident dumbkopf, safety Anthony Smith, who apparently is even dumber than he looks: "Anthony Smith Is Just Begging to Be Steve Smith-ed"

On second thought ...

Maybe the trade the Pirates made with the Yanks wasn't so bad, after all.

Pitcher Jeff Karstens has done his part: 15 scoreless innings in two starts against two good teams (the Cubs and Diamondbacks), including yesterday's near-perfect gem. He pitched a perfect game -- no hits, no walks -- until Arizona outfielder Chris Young doubled with two out in the eighth inning.

Karstens recovered to finish with a complete-game shutout, the Pirates' first of the year. Karstens was so good, nobody in the over-worked bullpen even had to warm up.

Karstens even had a couple hits and scored the team's second run, in the top of the eighth. The Bucs' announcers lamented that had he not done that, third baseman Chris Gomez would likely have been better positioned, deeper and closer to the third-base line, to field Young's line drive that went past him for a double. Gomez likely would have been positioned nearer third base to protect the line and a one-run lead.

Although the D-Backs hit the ball hard a number of times, including several long drives to the outfield wall, outfielder Jason Michaels and the other fielders caught everything until Young's double in the bottom of the eighth. Several D-Backs players said their scouting reports on Karstens' had them expecting lots of change-ups. Instead, he threw lots of fastballs, especially early in the count. And, apparently, his fastballs were plenty fast enough, and he maintained good velocity all the way through the game, along with good control and command of the strike zone.

Yeah, maybe this Karstens guy will work out. Imagine that. Good starting pitching ... just what the Pirates need, too, and it's about time.

Now, if pitchers Ross Ohlendorf (who pitched well recently for Altoona) and Dan McCutchen are promoted and pitch well, and if highly touted outfield prospect Jose Tabata (who had two home runs in a Gulf Coast League game the other day during an injury rehab start), progress, I will happily take back everything I said about the Bucs-Yanks trade being a bad deal for the Pirates.

Granted, they lost offensive production with the departures of Jason Bay and Xavier Nady. Their replacements yesterday, Brandon Moss and Steve Pearce, combined to strike out seven times. Ouch. But you can overcome that when your starting pitcher throws a complete game shutout and near-perfect game.

Maybe general manager Neil Huntington knows what he's doing, after all.

Aftermath

Joey Porter's Pit Bulls can see some semblance of logic in the trading of Jason Bay, Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte. Still, it is deflating – once again – to be a fan of the Pirates.

In retrospect, we're okay with the Jason Bay trade. We have modest hopes for Brandon Moss (our version of a latter-day Paul O'Neill?), but we have a feeling Moss will soon end up in a right-field platoon with Steve Pearce, and Jason Michaels in left field. It all feels very patchwork. Not sold on either Craig Hansen or Andy LaRoche. Bryan Morris looks very promising, but he is at least two years from reaching the majors.

As for the trade with the Yankees, we hate it. Still. The Bucs didn't get enough in return. Nady and Marte should have been dealt separately. Even Yanks GM Brian Cashman said he was pleasantly surprised he was able to acquire both players in the same deal.

"We were concerned right up until the deal was eventually finalized that Pittsburgh would end up trying to split Nady and Marte into separate deals," Cashman said. "Getting them both in the same trade is something that, at the beginning, we viewed as probably a little wishful thinking."

Anyway, here's a brief re-cap from the Boston Herald, for what it's worth (with editorial emphasis in bold courtesy of JPPBs):

The Pirates were the most active team at the trade deadline, making deals with the Yankees, Dodgers, and Red Sox.

They traded outfielders Xavier Nady and Jason Bay, and lefthanded reliever Damaso Marte, three big players from the Dave Littlefield era and three players the fans enjoyed watching. They got in return righthanders Jeff Karstens, Daniel McCutcheon, Ross Ohlendorf, Craig Hansen, and Bryan Morris, outfielders Jose Tabata and Brandon Moss, and third baseman Andy LaRoche.

The good news for guys like Karstens, Ohlendorf, and Hansen, who have not made their marks in the majors, is they'll likely get plenty of opportunities. Tabata is only 19, and while he needs to mature, he has talent. Moss should be a steady player who likely will emerge. But none of the players the Pirates got was considered "untouchable" by the Dodgers, Red Sox, or Yankees.

LaRoche is a third baseman the Red Sox once coveted, but he is hitting .214 in 159 major league at-bats. Ohlendorf, who will turn 26 Friday, is the oldest of the eight players the Pirates acquired. Hansen might get the chance to close, and with less pressure he may come into his own.

One baseball executive's take on the Pirates' moves: "Moss might be the most impactful major leaguer they got. They got upper-level prospects, but no one of major impact. Hansen has a good arm. LaRoche has good power, but I don't like him defensively and he won't hit enough.

"I think for the players they traded, they didn't get enough impact back."

Agreed.

Time for football season.

On this date in history ...

Lest we forget, on this date in history ...

"What is this terrible new weapon,
which the War Department
also calls the 'Cosmic Bomb'?"

About Jack Wilson

From today's Post-Gazette:

Of note: Since 2001, the year PNC Park opened, Jack Wilson has turned more double plays (756) and recorded more assists (3,368) than any National League shortstop. His 1,137 appearances in that span rank second to Philadelphia's Jimmy Rollins (1,176).

I've always thought Jack Wilson was an under-rated shortstop, and I've always been puzzled why so many bloggers, pundits and media types are so quick to dismiss his contributions. That, and $1.87 will get you a cup of coffee.

More to come on the recent trades and, of course, Steelers training camp. Busy with work (and other life-stuff) lately.

We Fearsee

Joey Porter's Pit Bulls fear foresee fearsee what may be the outcome of the Pirates-Yankees trade a few years out.

In New York, Damaso Marte and Mariano Rivera combine to give the Yankees a dynamic one-two punch at the back end of the bullpen. After the season, the Yanks exercise Marte's option for 2009 and subsequently negotiate a long-term extension whereby he steps into the closer's role eventually opened by the legendary Rivera's retirement.

Xavier Nady becomes the next Paul O'Neill. Like Marte, he signs an extension with New York and steps into the right-field slot opened when the Yanks let Bobby Abreu depart via free agency after the current season. (Abreu's salary this year is $13 million; Nady is a relative bargain at $3.35 million and will be arbitration-eligible in 2009.) While with the Yankees, Nady grows into a leadership role as a reasonably productive player (25-30 HRs a year; .300, .460, .580), embraced and beloved by Yankees fans as a stabilizing force in the clubhouse. The next Paul O'Neill.

On the Pirates' side, the three pitchers scuffle along with plus-five ERAs, plus-two WHIPs (walks + hits per innings pitched). They shuttle back and forth between Indianapolis and Pittsburgh, alternating turns on the disabled list.

• One of them, perhaps Daniel McCutchen, finds middling success as a back-of-the-rotation starter, but gives up too many home runs and clutch hits to be deemed dependable.
• Ross Ohlendorf displays occasionally good stuff, but like some other Pirates pitchers (Van Benschoten), shows an all-too-frequent tendency to flatten his strikes without sufficient movement and get bombed. The Pirates move him back and forth between the rotation and bullpen, without much success either way.
  
• Jeff Karstens struggles early in his Pirates career and gets put on the Indianapolis-Pittsburgh shuttle for a couple years before the Pirates give up on him.

• In one of the first interviews Jose Tabata gives as a member of the Pirates organization, he blames the Yankees for how they mishandled him. He blames his 2008 lack of production on injuries and too much pressure applied by the Yankees' coaches and front office. In March 2009, at Bradenton, Tabata continues to have hamstring problems and enters the season on the DL. He eventually returns and struggles with AAA pitching. Despite putting up disappointing numbers, he is a September call-up but doesn't do much.
• Scouts and observers call Tabata "enigmatic" and question his toughness and mental make-up.
• In 2010, more of the same. Eventually, in 2011, he finds some moderate success and is called up to the parent club but struggles mightily. The Pirates keep him on the roster as a backup outfielder. In 2012, more of the same. Having never made an impact as a major league outfielder, but having found some moderate success as a backup at all three outfield positions, the Pirates include him as apart of a package deal at the trade deadline in 2012, with the acquiring team hoping he can become the next Jody Gerut.

In 2013, the Pirates begin another rebuilding plan with hopes of averting a landmark 20^th consecutive losing season.

* * * * * *

ADDENDUM Wednesday, July 30 Update (from the Post-Gazette)

INDIANAPOLIS (51-60) lost at Toledo, 5-3. RHP Ross Ohlendorf (1-2, 4.45) allowed four runs and seven hits -- two home runs -- in six innings. He struck out five, walked two and threw 56 of 85 pitches for strikes.

What does it mean?

As noted today in Dejan Kovacevic's Notebook in the Post-Gazette …

Kyle Stark, director of player development, said (left-hand pitcher and 2007 first-round draft pick, selected by Dave Littlefield over Matt Wieters -- JPPBs editorial note, ahem) Danny Moskos will start again someday but that management wants to lessen the workload in his first full professional season.

"This is not a future role change," Stark said. "We want him to work on being athletic, being aggressive and attacking the zone with this best stuff."

What does that mean? JPPBs never heard a front office type, scout, coach or manager say of a pitcher, "We want him to work on being athletic."

To the contrary, many, many pitchers today and throughout baseball history have been downright unathletic, even fat (David Wells, Mickey Lolich) , yet were able to pitch effectively.

When Kyle Stark says, "We want him to work on being athletic," does that mean they want him to begin training for Olympics gymnastics? Cirque de Soleil? Steelers training camp? Spring training?

Are they saying Moskos is out of shape?

What does it mean?

Fleeced!

Perception is reality. For Pirates’ fans, unfortunately, reality is reality. And that presents a double-whammy. First, the perception part: And then the reality.

The howls of derision upon the initial confusing announcement that the Pirates had traded Damaso Marte and Xavier Nady for four Yankees’ prospects sealed the perception that rookie Bucs general manager Neil Huntington had gotten fleeced by savvy veteran general manager Brian Cashman.

The announcement was confusing in part because two of the Yankees prospects announced initially were not the actual players who ended up being dealt to Pittsburgh. That’s one part of it, and just the start, but not necessarily the most important part.

Joey Porter’s Pit Bulls just happened to be watching the Bucs-Padres game Friday night as all this unfolded. As soon as play-by-play announcer Lanny Frattarre uttered the words, “The Pirates have a deal with the Yankees,” JPPBs muttered "Oh, no.”

For one thing, all that is New York baseball (Yankees, Mets, media, fans) have a history and tendency to over-value their players and prospects. Another factor is that Nady and Marte were dealt as a package, which rang alarm bells because there was almost no way we were going to get comparable value in return. Then, when the (first, inaccurate) names of the prospects were announced, JPPBs' reaction was “Oh, NO!”

The problem was they didn’t get the BEST prospects, whether those prospects were to come from the Yankees (Philip Hughes), Mets (Fernando Martinez), Rays (Wade Davis), Brewers (AA outfielder), Cardinals (Colby Rasmus), Dodgers, Red Sox or another team. Or at least one of the BEST prospects for this particular package deal.

The reality is theYankees fleeced them, a perception that was reinforced LOUD and CLEAR immediately after the game on ESPN’s Baseball Tonight when Buster Olney immediately and vociferously said he’d been getting text messages and calls all night long from incredulous front office types throughout baseball, saying, “Are you kidding me? That’s all the Yankees had to give up??! To get Marte and Nady? There were, certainly, better offers out there for the Pirates.”

Then, of course, the New York tabloids gleefully crowed about how the Yanks had seized “Pirate Booty” and loot and treasure without having had to give up anything meaningful at all. Further, more in-depth analysis from more thoughtful baseball analysts concluded the Yankees had shipped inconsequential quantity instead of meaningful quality to the Pirates.

Now, a closer look at the reality. First, we have to acknowledge the actual players the Pirates received (Karstens, McCutcheon, Ohlendorf, Tabata). The three pitchers are all thought to have low upside, either as middle-to-back-of-rotation starters or mid-level relievers. Tabata, whom Baseball America rated as the Yanks’ No. 3 prospect after the 2007 season is the wild card in this deal. He is, after all, only 19 years old. He may (should) have some upside. Or he may flame out. And if the 2008 season is any indication, the Yanks concluded the latter was more a possibility than the former. He sustained an ankle injury, then went on the disabled list with lingering hamstring problems, which may be chronic. Perhaps more worrisome, the outfielder dubbed “Mini-Manny” or “Manny Ramirez Light” appears to flash not only some of the batting prowess of the Red Sox slugger, but also some of Ramirez’s head-case and prima dona traits. Reportedly, he walked out on his team at one point this season and also apparently has complained about having to handle pressure and meet expectations. Not what you want to hear from a top prospect you hope will become a future team leader. Granted, he’s only 19, but still …a bit of a concern.

Of course, all worries may diminish if he blossoms away from the glare of the New York spotlight, matures, finds his stride, gets healthy, avoids hamstring problems, cuts down his strikeouts, improves his defense, sharpens his plate discipline, and grows into a mini-Manny type of slugger (a lot of ifs) ... If he becomes, in other words, a player approaching the accomplishments, maturity and leadership of Xavier Nady. Who, it bears mentioning, actually wanted to stay with the Pirates, who controlled his rights through next season and had every option to negotiate a contract extension with him -– and, as has been noted here previously, could have moved him to first base (scuttling Adam LaRoche) to open space in the outfield for Andrew McCutchen (eventually) or the type of uber-prospect they might have (should have) obtained in a trade.

As for Marte, he is one of the very best – perhaps the best left-handed reliever in baseball, making him a very precious commodity indeed. One that is worth, oh, probably, $6.5 million a year in today’s market … which happens to be the same amount as the option the Pirates could have exercised to retain his services next year. Keep him through 2009, then, and let him go to free agency – and then collect the two premium compensatory picks that would come their way.

But all that would require patience. And the new Pirates management regime, by dealing Nady and Marte for questionable value a full week before the trading deadline have shown already they don’t have it (patience).

Worse, by doing this deal, they have now set perception across the marketplace. Now, the perception across the league, is that Huntington, the rookie general manager, can be fleeced. Now, the pressure will be on other general managers to make deals with the Pirates, and only deals, that they, and their fans and media, can gleefully crow about how they fleeced the Pirates.

That’s the reality. And the perception, no matter how this deal works out.

Footnote: JPPBs hate, absolutely hate, the perception that the Pirates willingly served themselves up as the Yankees beeyotch. Of all teams to help. The Evil Empire was absolutely the wrong team to do this particular deal, at this particular time.

Now let's start Steelers training camp.

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Monday Addendum

Various Observations and Comments From Media Reports, Analysts and Blogs:

(Note: Editorial emphasis [italics] added to comments below are courtesy of JPPBs)

* * * * *

"It was hard to give up the players we did. I like those players," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said in the New York dugout before Saturday's game. "The players we got back — Marte and Nady — both will hopefully contribute to the 2008 season and we have them for '09."

"It helps out the team, not only now but also in the long run," Johnny Damon said of acquiring Nady. "He's one of the most underrated players around. I think he's one of the best outfielders in the game."

Reader Comment on WHYGAVS (Where Have You Gone, Andy Van Slyke):

"What bothers me most about the trade, if the reports are true, is that NH called around Thursday night and basically said he was dropping his asking price. I just don't think guys like Billy Beane do that … It sounds like he talked big and then caved. That's a bad precedent to set … And I definitely don't think he "got what he wanted." The PG says teams gave him lists with tons of prospects' names crossed off as untouchable. I'm sure many of them are who he wanted. He just ended up taking the best deal he could get."

Chris | Nice Pick Cowher | 07.27.08 - 12:32 pm | #

Reader Comment on WHYGAVS:

"I xxxx-ing hate it. Clear enough? Not because of the guys we lost, not at all. I just hate Ohly and Karstens, and I guess I don't see what others see in McCutchen. I'm also a little wary of how Tabata's performance (regardless that he's young) isn't really matching the hype, *at all*. I reserve the right to change my mind based on what Tabata does in five years, or if Pat tells me to change my mind."

azibuck | 07.27.08 - 5:26 pm | #

Reader Comment on WHYGAVS:

The New York Post rips apart our "uber-prospect" Tabata:

http://www.nypost.com/seven/ 0727...jose_121746.htm

And yes, I know the NY spin machine isn't going to admit they just gave away the next A-Rod but the fact he went from "untouchable" to "Here Pirates, take him..." should make you a little worried when you read some of this stuff.

Chris | Homepage | 07.27.08 - 11:21 pm | #

* * * * *

Wilbur Miller (OnlyBucs.org):

"Personally, I don’t think GM Neal Huntington got enough—I think one of the pitchers needed to have a higher ceiling than the three he obtained … Jose Tabata is an extremely high-risk player with a lot of upside and numerous red flags. Ross Ohlendorf and Jeff Karstens look to me like middle relievers, but they’ll get their shots at the rotation. Daniel McCutchen looks like he has a little more chance of being a successful major league starter, but he may have to wait until next year to get his shot."

* * * * *

Bucco Blog (Jake's Take):

"What should you expect from Karstens? He’s been an extreme flyball pitcher at times and that doesn’t bode well considering he’s making his Pirates debut at Wrigley in an afternoon game …One source of mine suggested he thought Karstens might have been hiding a shoulder injury since mid-2007, so let’s watch and see if he doesn’t become yet another Pittsburgh DL candidate."

"Neil Huntington's prayer is that Tabata becomes something. He'd better, because that’s all we got for Nady and Marte - a huge risk. That’s not smart baseball in my book."

* * * * *

Joel Sherman, NY Post:

http://www.nypost.com/seven/07272008/sports/yankees/go_way__jose_121746.htm?page=0

OF SIXTEEN scouts and executives polled, 12 thought the Yankees won their trade with Pittsburgh anywhere from mildly to a slam dunk, two viewed the deal as having equal value for both sides, and just two favored the Pirates' side of the transaction.

Those who liked the Yankees' acquisition of Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte essentially expressed the view that the Yankees addressed two areas of extreme need -- a righty-hitting corner outfield bat and a top lefty reliever -- without surrendering a substantial package. An NL scout who covers the Yankees went as far as to say, "I don't think the Yankees gave up anything."

For Pittsburgh, this deal does seem to hinge mainly on just how good Tabata is. As one farm director said, "If you saw him at the Futures Game two years ago at 17, you were sure you were watching a budding superstar. If you saw him this year, you were sure you were watching a bum."

An AL executive said, "A year and a half ago, he was untouchable. Now you have questions about if his age is accurate (his listed birthdate has him turning 20 next month) and a lot about his makeup."

The reports this year on Tabata have been universally horrendous. The comparisons to Manny Ramirez are long gone.

"He may have had tools when he signed, but if you were watching him this year, he was chunky and stiff," one scout said. "He doesn't run well. He made zero adjustments at the plate. He couldn't hit my inside fastball. He is immature, has a lot of holes in his swing and is bad in the outfield."

An AL personnel head said, "Tabata is the wild card in this trade. He has a big offensive upside, but his body type is not great, the reports are not good on him this year and the makeup is not good at all. And my biggest worry of all is that the Yankees know him best of all and traded him. That willingness says something to me."

What it should say is that the Yanks felt Double-A outfield mate Austin Jackson had gone way beyond Tabata, which our panel concurred on, though several were not nearly as high on Jackson as the Yankees are. It also said Tabata has exhibited a lot of immature behavior, which included leaving the stadium in frustration during a game. Still, there remained Yankees executives who continued to think of Tabata as both a good person and a player who will hit. Tabata fractured his hamate bone in his hand last year, and there are many who believe he is just now fully regaining his strength.

And the Pirates also love Ohlendorf, insisting throughout trade discussions with the Yanks that he must be part of a deal. Executives from other clubs say Huntington, as a scout last year for the Indians, saw Ohlendorf pitch well and that has stuck with him. Internally, the Yanks wondered why Ohlendorf had not pitched up to his superb stuff, which is an outside view as well.

"Ohlendorf is a horse with stuff who doesn't get guys out," a scout said. "I think he might not be built for New York, but that the New York experience helps him in Pittsburgh."

A more dubious scout said, "He is not young, he is getting hit around and his slider, which I thought would develop, hasn't."

McCutchen has been a favorite of Yankees officials because, as one said, "He's very competitive, has great makeup, is a workout freak and is durable." The Yanks imagine him as nothing less than a competent bullpen guy with a chance to be a fourth or fifth starter. Karstens was essentially a version of Darrell Rasner, which made him expendable.

* * * * *

NJ.com (Star-Ledger):

The Yankees appear to have found their outfield bat and their left-handed reliever in the same trade. Yankees players were pleased with the news.

"They really answered the bell, getting those two players," Jason Giambi said. "You couldn't ask for anything more from a front office, owner, general manager. As a player, it makes you feel good."

"Marte's a strong left-handed reliever," closer Mariano Rivera said. "He's been in tough situations. He will help a lot. Obviously, you need a lefty reliever."

Giambi said that for a left-handed hitter, Marte "is as tough an at-bat as anybody in the league."

Nady, 29, has a career .281 batting average with the Padres, Mets and Pirates. His .330 average this year ranked fifth in the National League. He also has 13 home runs and 57 RBI in 88 games this season. The Mets traded Nady to the Pirates in July 2006 for Roberto Hernandez and Oliver Perez. He is eligible for free agency after the 2009 season.

"I like the fact he's played in New York," Alex Rodriguez said.

Giambi called Nady "a great right-handed bat. He takes good at-bats, plays good defense. With this team being so left-handed-dominant, it's definitely going to pick us up."

* * * * *

Hall of Famer Bill Mazeroski says Pirates were robbed by Yankees in recent trade

by Filip Bondy, NY Daily News

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/columnists/madden/index.html

Did the Yankees just get revenge for 1960?

As word of the Yankees' trade for Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte from the Pirates filtered through the annual party thrown by Hall of Fame chairman Jane Clark on Friday night, no one was more stunned than Pirates Hall of Fame second baseman Bill Mazeroski, whose homer against the Yankees won the 1960 World Series.

"I can't believe it!" Mazeroski said. "We just traded two of our best players for four guys I never heard of. How could we do this?"

Reader Comments:

Ray1950 Jul 28, 2008 6:21:21 AM:

"The Pirates weren't robbed. They all but opened the doors to the vault for New York. Thats exactly why they are the Pittsburgh Pirates. All of the Cashman bashers should cease and desist. I am a Red Sox fan and I'd trade Cashman for Theo Epstein any day of the week."

SwitchBack Jul 28, 2008 7:52:19 AM:

"I wonder if the Yankee's visit to Pittsburgh in late June had anything to do with this? The Yanks brought a lot of fanfare and revenue to the usual empty ballpark. Plus the Pirates wouldn't grant the Yankees an afternoon game on that Thursday, instead made them stay in town longer for a more $lucrative$ night game. Looks like they paid the Yankees back 10 fold."

* * * * *

MLB Fleece Factor:

http://mlbfleecefactor.com/2008/07/26/yankees-score-victory-in-fleece-of-pittsburgh/

* * * * *

Baseball America (John Manuel):

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/majors/trade-central/2008/266579.html

"Karstens, 25, is a California product who was drafted as a college senior out of Texas Tech. A 19th-round pick in 2003, he reached the major leagues in 2006 and had success in 40-plus innings with his usual assortment of sinkers, sliders and changeups. None of his pitches grades as above-average, and he has to be fine to succeed as a back-of-the-rotation starter."

"Tabata, who turns 20 next month, has ranked as one of the Yankees' top prospects the last three seasons but has had a rough 2008. He was suspended for three games after leaving a game early, and he was removed from a game in early June for disciplinary reasons as well. Tabata has struggled to drive the ball this season, batting just 248/.320/.310 in 294 at-bats for Double-A Trenton. He's young for the league but had just 12 extra-base hits. His best tool is his bat, though, and scouts still like his short, low-maintenance swing. Tabata had surgery to remove his hamate bone in his right wrist in August 2007, and his power has suffered. He also missed time this year with a hamstring injury."
"Ohlendorf, who turns 26 next month, finished last season in New York, making the playoff roster, and he made the Opening Day roster this season as well in the bullpen. His 6.53 ERA, mostly a function of seven home runs and 19 walks allowed in 40 innings, prompted a return to the minors, and a return to the rotation at Triple-A. The former Diamondbacks farmhand (2004 draft, 4th round, Princeton), acquired prior to the 2007 season in the Randy Johnson trade, thew a fastball in the 92-97 range as a reliever but had no consistent weapon other than his fastball to combat lefthanded hitters. He was working on adding a split-finger fastball in his five starts with Scranton and was expected to join the Pirates' rotation. He projects as a back-of-the-rotation starter or middle reliever."
"McCutchen, 25, was born two days after Karstens and also is at Triple-A. However, he has better stuff by a full grade with his fastball and hard, power curveball, and ranks as the better prospect. His fastball usually sits in the 88-91 mph range as a starter but has reached 94-95 mph in relief outings in his career. His curveball usually earns plaudits from scouts as his best pitch. McCutchen's toughness has long been evident to scouts and he was drafted four times, including by the Yankees out of high school, and finally signed in 2006 as a 13th-round pick. In between he led Oklahoma to a 2006 super-regional (it lost at Rice), and he advanced to Triple-A in just his second pro season. McCutchen lacks ideal size and at times his fastball flattens out, making him homer-prone. The Yankees viewed him as a championship-caliber middle reliever and back-of-the-rotation starter, and most scouts outside the organization agreed. McCutchen was 8-9, 3.19 in 20 combined starts for Trenton and Scranton, with 110 strikeouts, 29 walks and 14 home runs in 123 innings."

* * * * *

Baseball America's Quick Take:

The Pirates' farm system was left with little depth after the disastrous reign of former owner Kevin McClatchy and general manager Dave Littlefield. Current GM Neal Huntington ... sold high and picked up a high-end prospect in Tabata, albeit one with significant question marks concerning his injuries and makeup. Ohlendorf gives them an instant big league return, McCutchen becomes one of the Pirates' better minor league starters, and Karstens will have more of a chance to stick in the big leagues than ever.

The Yankees, meanwhile, didn't have to give up pitchers such as Dellin Betances, George Kontos or Alan Horne. Marte, meanwhile, is a significant upgrade considering the Yankees had no lefthanded reliever and is the best option New York has had in that role since Mike Stanton in his late-90s heyday.

* * * * *

Smizik:

The Pirates weakened their offense and just about crippled their bullpen in a trade last night with the New York Yankees that showed just how desperate general manager Neal Huntington was to improve the team's pitching depth …

The pitchers the Yankees sent did not include Ian Kennedy, who was thought to be available and was more highly regarded than the ones the Pirates received.

The outfielder Huntington probably had his eye on was Austin Jackson, 21, the Yankees No. 2 prospect, who hits with more power than Tabata and is better defensively. Austin was batting .298 with nine homers and 57 RBIs, which was eighth best in the Eastern League.

The deal correctly will be viewed as a big win for the Yankees. They received two players who will be of immediate help as they try to overtake Tampa Bay and Boston in the American League East.

Considering the age of Tabata, it might be years before the Pirates learn how much this deal will help them. For the moment, though, with this trade they are a considerably weaker team and the Yankees are a considerably stronger team.

* * * * *

Ken Rosenthal (Fox Sports):

The reviews of the Pirates' four-player return for outfielder Xavier Nady and lefty Damaso Marte ranged from critical to scathing, but righty Daniel McCutchen was a favorite of the Yankees' brass. McCutchen projects as a back-of-the-rotation starter or setup man, but the Yankees say his makeup is so strong, he could exceed those expectations . . .

* * * * *

Peter Pascarelli, ESPN:

Rarely does a team venture into the trade market and obtain exactly what it wants. Love them or loathe them, the Yankees achieved a trading daily double by obtaining a much-needed everyday bat (outfielder Xavier Nady) and a proven left-handed reliever (Damaso Marte) in the same trade with Pittsburgh.

"We were concerned right up until the deal was eventually finalized that Pittsburgh would end up trying to split Nady and Marte into separate deals," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. "Getting them both in the same trade is something that, at the beginning, we viewed as probably a little wishful thinking. We ended up paying a pretty steep price in terms of four useful players.

"But the deal makes a lot of sense for us on several levels."

The move was met with wide appreciation in the New York clubhouse, which is understandably brimming with confidence right now.

"This could end up being one of the best moves we've made in a while," Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez said. "We really needed a solid bat because of losing both Matsui and Posada, and we couldn't have done much better than getting Nady. He's having a great year. He knows what it takes to play in New York and he loved playing in the city when he was with the Mets. He can't be a free agent until after next season, so we'll have him in '09. And as for Marte, I bet every team in baseball would make room on their staff for him. We've all been psyched up ever since first hearing that this deal might happen."