Pirates add pieces for stretch drive, pick up a couple of Mets

Betallsports · Aug 27, 2013

082713-MLB-METS-MARLON-BYRD-DC-PI_20130827153655927_660_320.JPG

The Pirates are hoping Marlon Byrd can boost their offense.

he Pittsburgh Pirates addressed two needs Tuesday, acquiring right fielder Marlon Byrd and catcher John Buck from the New York Mets.

The Pirates are last in the National League in OPS from their right fielders, and Buck will provide a veteran backup to Russell Martin with Michael McKenry out for the season after undergoing surgery on his left knee.
Byrd is batting .285 with an .848 OPS and 52 extra-base hits in 425 at-bats.

Buck, who went from the Miami Marlins to the Toronto Blue Jays to the Mets last offseason, is batting .215/.285/.401 this season. He has hit Buck has 15 homers this year, nine of which came in April.

The Pirates, who also get cash in the deal, will send minor league infielder Dilson Herrera and a player to be named to the Mets.

A native of Colombia, Herrera, 19, has played 163 games at second and 59 at third in minors. He has a .751 OPS in the Class A Sally League.

The Pirates are seeking their first winning season and first playoff berth in 21 years.

Chi_Archie · Aug 28, 2013

the ironic thing is that their hitting isn't in as desperate need as their Pitching is now.

Pitching WAS a strength but now due to young guys arms going dead in the long season and some injuries, they are a mediocre (25-25 last 50 games) team right now.

camy · Aug 28, 2013

He has hit spme clutch home runs for the Mets this year. Good pick up for The Pirates.

CaPPiNgTiGeRz · Aug 28, 2013

Byrd is a solid bat to add esp at this point in season but as archie pointed out maybe a SPing add on would of been even better !

ParlaysStoleMyMoney · Aug 28, 2013

LOVE Marlon Byrd from when he played with the Rangers. Hustled more than any MLB player I have ever seen. Routine ground ball even right back to the pitcher, he is trying to leg it out. That is the way the game should be played.

Chi_Archie · Aug 29, 2013

nice start for Byrd with the 3 run HR

PTBNL is young reliever Vic Black former 100 mph first round sandwhich pick

he should get a chance to close in the next few years

thekeyman · Aug 29, 2013

i really like the pickup and i do believe we needed another good bat in the lineup.the hitting has been suspect all season and now you can put byrd at cleanup and not have to worry about others in that spot who really should not be there.

the john buck addition also is nice as tony sanchez has done nothing offensively and really has not shown he can throw out runners at 2nd base.

Chi_Archie · Aug 29, 2013

Pirates have a higher OPS as a team since the all-star break than the Braves, Reds, and Cards.

I'm not sure their offense is as anemic as people think.

thekeyman · Aug 29, 2013

Chi_Archie said:
Pirates have a higher OPS as a team since the all-star break than the Braves, Reds, and Cards.

I'm not sure their offense is as anemic as people think.

i guess tonight will change your mind

Chi_Archie · Aug 30, 2013

one game is a pretty small sample size, I don't let it sway my mind too much. I still believe that upgrading the hitting helps, but Pitching is the area that the Pirates need help in now. again here are the post all star numbers that reveil the reversing strength/weakness trends the pirates are showing. The Pirates are hitting much better and the pitchers are getting hit much more.

Sortable Batting
RK	TEAM	GP	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	TB	RBI	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
1	Washington	38	1308	167	353	61	4	42	548	154	.270	.334	.419	.753
2	Arizona	37	1356	175	366	64	11	33	551	167	.270	.341	.406	.747
3	LA Dodgers	39	1336	176	365	74	3	31	538	168	.273	.337	.403	.740
4	Pittsburgh	40	1370	162	347	68	13	37	552	156	.253	.323	.403	.726
5	Milwaukee	39	1300	157	325	65	4	44	530	150	.250	.310	.408	.718
6	Atlanta	38	1294	166	331	53	3	40	510	159	.256	.322	.394	.717
7	St. Louis	40	1373	183	357	90	5	24	529	176	.260	.323	.385	.708
8	Cincinnati	39	1297	167	315	56	7	38	499	155	.243	.320	.385	.704
9	Colorado	39	1297	155	340	61	10	29	508	146	.262	.311	.392	.702
10	San Diego	37	1281	137	331	52	10	32	499	127	.258	.312	.390	.702
11	NY Mets	41	1390	151	344	65	11	27	512	145	.247	.320	.368	.689
12	Chicago Cubs	40	1388	128	312	59	3	39	494	121	.225	.299	.356	.654
13	San Francisco	39	1314	126	325	57	9	16	448	117	.247	.311	.341	.652
14	Philadelphia	38	1285	136	283	58	5	35	456	132	.220	.281	.355	.636
15	Miami	39	1285	113	284	48	6	18	398	106	.221	.285	.310	.595

Sortable Pitching
RK	TEAM	GP	W	L	ERA	SV	CG	SHO	IP	QS	ER	R	BB	SO	BAA
1	LA Dodgers	39	31	8	2.25	14	0	9	355.1	--	89	99	85	321	.221
2	Atlanta	38	27	11	2.84	18	1	4	346.0	--	109	113	95	312	.228
3	Cincinnati	39	22	17	3.34	13	1	4	350.2	--	130	138	93	315	.240
4	San Diego	37	18	19	3.87	10	0	1	335.0	--	144	161	134	262	.246
5	Chicago Cubs	40	14	26	4.05	10	1	3	364.2	--	164	174	158	279	.248
6	Washington	38	20	18	4.07	12	1	3	347.1	--	157	162	111	312	.250
7	Miami	39	14	25	3.49	12	0	6	345.2	--	134	144	125	305	.250
8	Arizona	37	18	19	3.90	5	2	2	348.1	--	151	169	126	301	.251
9	NY Mets	41	19	22	3.49	11	2	4	369.0	--	143	158	91	295	.252
10	Milwaukee	39	21	18	3.41	13	1	7	346.0	--	131	149	105	262	.253
11	San Francisco	39	16	23	4.23	11	0	2	345.0	--	162	173	131	288	.256
12	Pittsburgh	40	21	19	3.49	9	2	1	366.1	--	142	157	127	302	.261
13	St. Louis	40	21	19	3.77	9	1	2	360.1	--	151	164	140	305	.261
14	Colorado	39	17	22	4.13	11	0	0	338.0	--	155	170	121	265	.267
15	Philadelphia	38	13	25	4.81	2	1	0	339.0	--	181	202	133	282	.277