Pirates land Heredia

Unlike this time last year when the hype was for Dominican shortstop Miguel Sano that the Pirates were supposedly in the lead to sign when the international signing period began only to lose Sano to the Twins-this time the Pirates closed the deal quickly in landing 16 year old Mexican pitcher Luis Heredia.

The 2.6 million dollar bonus that the Pirates paid to Heredia and his Mexican league team smashed the previous high that the Pirates had paid to an international free agent,which was 400,000.
The 6'6 Heredia is reported to be the top available pitcher of the international players and throws five pitches,with four of the five being reported as above average.
Heredia throws in the low 90's and considering his age,one would think that there is room to improve on his fastball.
One cannot help but be pleased that the Pirates have added three high impact power arms over the last few days and attempt to change the pitching poor Pirate system for better.

Bullpen Notes

Hoping to have an interview in a week or so with Pirate farm system guru Wilbur Miller over the next week or so,as well as our take on the top fifteen prospects in the system as well.....

The Mountain West made their move to restock their conference with adding Fresno State and Nevada to help replace Utah and the rumored possible loss of BYU,who wants to be a football independent in what would be a colossal mistake.
Nice to have Fresno back,but I would have preferred UTEP over Nevada as a original WAC member (Most of the original WAC became the Mountain West) returning to the fold.

Derrek Lee sent to Atlanta and one of the three pitchers going to the Cubs is Tyrelle Harris,who became one of our favorites earlier this year as we detailed in a recent on the signing front.
Good luck to Harris in the Cubs system...

The Seattle Seahawks swapped disappointing 2008 first round picks at defensive end this week.
One day after trading for Kentwan Balmer from the 49ers for a sixth rounder,Seattle sent Lawrence Jackson to the Lions for an undisclosed,but reportedly similar 2011 draft pick.
The Seahawks took Jackson one pick before the Niners grabbed Balmer in the 2008 draft.
Balmer is a bigger more physical player than Jackson,whom the coaching staff seemed to believe was not fast enough as a rusher or physical enough against the run.
Ironically,the same coaching staff led by Pete Carroll that moved Jackson along,is the same reason that many fantasy football kingpins listed Jackson as a possible sleeper pick at defensive end.
Just because a coach has had you on his team before doesn't mean he likes you or your game...

Balmer,on the other hand,seemed to have had issues with Mike Singletary,the Niner defensive scheme or both and has yet to register a sack in two season in San Francisco.
Not sure how this works out or whether in the end,it is simply shuffling deck chairs...