LaRoche LeGone

A few quick words on the trading of Adam LaRoche to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for two prospects,one of which was just here in Hagerstown last week and will be thrilled I'm sure to find out that he returns next week with the West Virginia Power.

Adam LaRoche was quite a disappointment to me,when you consider that he was coming off his best season in the bigs when the Pirates obtained him but despite his production not returning to that level,LaRoche was still a bargain when you consider the cost that brought him to Pittsburgh-an injury plagued Mike Gonzalez and minor leaguer Brent Lillibridge,who was shipped to the White Sox.
LaRoche never seemed to hit his stride and often seemed more interested in his hunting and the business of selling hunting shows than baseball.
Frankly,the whole hunting/Buck Commander business with LaRoche seemed quirky at best and insane at worst and always left questions unanswered such as this-considering LaRoche's awful first halves and terrific seconds,was this due to a lack of preparation due to his hunting obsession?
We will never know,but one guesses that LaRoche could have been a much better player and made a lot more money if he never picked up a gun until his career was over.
I cannot say Adam LaRoche will be missed,but the Bucs have had far worse players and many more wastes of finances than the lefty first baseman....

There has been some controversy on the deal from Peter Gammons column on ESPN.
Gammons is reporting that the Giants offered a better package of prospects than the Red Sox in the deal,but that the Giants offer was contingent on the Bucs picking up some of the contract remainder,while the Boston offer included the Sox paying the rest of the contract in full.
If this is the case then I have begun to question the commitment to winning by the Neal Huntington management and that would be the first time since his hiring that I have thought that.
I will wait for more information to come out before jumping to conclusions.

The newest Buccos are shortstop Argenis Diaz and pitcher Hunter Strickland.
Diaz played here in Hagerstown in 2007 and my notes show a slick glove with tons of range.
That seems like the average scouting report and looks accurate enough.
Diaz has an average bat at best and lacks power,but immediately steps into the top shortstop prospect in the system slot.
The Pirates appear to be ready to give Diaz a shot at the big league position in 2010,if Jack Wilson plays elsewhere as he will start at AAA Indianapolis after playing at AA Portland with the Red Sox.
If Diaz can at least hold his own with the stick at Indy over the next month,look for him to be given a solid chance in Bradenton,if the right situation arises....


Hunter Strickland is a tall,rangy righthander that had both started and relieved for Low A Greenville this season and was assigned to the Pirates Low A affiliate in West Virginia.
Strickland is not reported to be an overly hard thrower,but has little problems finding the plate as he walked just 11 batters in 83 innings thus far.
Strickland fits the Huntington mold of the large framed pitcher,but does not possess the power arm that the Pirates seem to like so much.
Strickland does continue one trend,the Pirates attempt to get at least one arm in trades that they have made...

I am not down on this deal very much as LaRoche could leave at season's end for nothing and the Pirates could not risk offering him arbitration considering that Andy LaRoche is on the team and Adam could accept an offer that would then stick the Pirates with him.
Picking up draft picks in compensation sounds nice,but all things considered was never a feasible option.
Diaz looks to at least be a solid glove man that should replace Jack Wilson at short,while Strickland is the type of projectable arm that is worth tossing into any deal.
I do,however,hedge any final decision on hearing the rumored Giants offer....

Photo Credit
LaRoche:Buck Commander.com
Diaz:KevinFlood2