"Fyi, grav-y is a forbidden word"

That is the most ridiculous thing i have every heard. You always gotta have gr*vy

For Pedro, KFC grav-y is a basic food group... a staple of life... the thing foodstuffs are made of...

c

He wasn't hitting last year either and this is a continuation. Whats so hard to understand ? This isn;t about whats happening in ST. If it were just that you'd have a point.

But this is also about last year as well, or doesn;t that matter ?

I used to drink that stuff like it was Hot Cocoa.

What happened last year matters much more than what he has done this spring. Not even close.

McLouth was terribl in 2010, hit well last spring and was terrible again in 2011. Spring stats have no correlation.

But spring stats matter if you're Matt Hague.

Not sure they do, who will he beat out because of them? Navarro and Harrison are hitting well and can play more positions. Harrison seems the likely one to be sent down.

Fox and Evans were not really contenders for a spot since they were sent down long ago.

Well I was being sarcastic.

Just funny that Huntington's fans talk tough to fans on certain subjects but fold like a cheap suit if their hero doesn't back them up. (e.g. the Sanchez pick)

Gotcha.

"By comparing apples to apples and oranges to oranges, I would say that Hague outperformed Alvarez, Jones, and McGehee."

Which tells me the stats do not matter, since Hague will not start over them.

Not sure what you are trying to say with Jones. He hit .203 last spring, so should we expect him to hit 40 points above his spring stats?

Guess who hit like Hague last spring? Lyle Overbay.

"Guess who hit like Hague last spring? Lyle Overbay"

Your right the numbers do not matter. That being said i view the Hague situation differently than i do say Overbay, Monroe. C. Wlison hitting a ton of spring bombs or Ciracio hitting for a high average. Even though any hitter with power (HR) and any hitter with a pulse (high avg) can have a great spring and it mean nothing (small sample, facing scrubs and pitchers working on things) IMO Hague's situation is different.

Its different to me because it is showing a "tool" that was in question not just performance. We all knew Pearce and Monroe etc. had raw power before their good springs. We all knew that Ciracio etc, could literally pick up a bat and swing it. They just over performed.

On the other hand Everyone always questioned if Hague had power. He's shown he can hit for average but never really much pop. The 7 hr (and i think a couple more in B games) this spring does show he has that weapon and now power can be added into his ceiling. He may never hit a pro HR, but he has shown that he has the possibility to be a power hitter. Which in my mind raises his stock considerably.

joeBuc,

Jones led the Pirates in ST homers and went back to AAA in 2009(?). When he was brought up, he had his Legend Run and led the Pirates in homers.

He led the Pirates in homers and RBI's in 2010 and was rewarded with a platoon in RF with Diaz.

Jones certainly is not the answer. He is however one bat we have that could bring in runs. If he were clearly designated a bench player or pinch hitter he would be possibly one of the best. If he is our starting first baseman, he will be better than many and not as good as many others. I actually like his arm in right field.

I see Hague as our long term first baseman, power or not. Jones I think IS another player who contributes and will contribute in ways that does not put him in line-up every day. He also might be worth a missing piece as he has drawn interest in the trade market.

Hague IS the answer.

BEAT 'EM BUCS

I do not see how Hague proved he has any more power. How many of his homeruns were wind aided? That is notorious in ST. I will get excited when he shows power in games that mean something.

Hitting few spring HRs does not change anything. Or prove anything.

<<I will get excited when he shows power in games that mean something.>>

Well, when does he get the chance to do this?

How do you get a do something in games that mean something if you are not presented with an opportunity to do things in games that mean something?

"I do not see how Hague proved he has any more power"

1. His season high is 15, so he has hit 7+ in around 55+ Abs shows a hugh jump.
2. Its been written more than once that he has been working on adding more loft to his swing and also being more aggressive.
3. The ones i have heard on the radio were no doubters (though its only maybe 3 of his total)

So not only do we have hard results (7+ HRs) , but a strong cause effect correlation (chang in swing/approach first time weve seen these kind of results), and some (albeit little) first hand evidence.

The only argument against it is, maybe some were wind aided.

Like i said he might not hit 1 single major league HR, but there is no doubt he is showing much, much, much more power than he has at any time in his career. Considering that was his only major weakness coming through the system, there is no reason for his stock to rise. He has proven that the power (tool) is there (show me 1 person who hit 7 HR in 55 Abs that you would say doesnt have raw power) wheather he can effectively use it (in games that matter) is a whole different argument.

That's what scholarships are for, the FO and their admirers hold the Pittsburgh market accountable.

"We're always going to be an organization that has guys learning at the major league level. That's the reality of markets and revenue streams such as ours." - Huntington on the Clement scholarship, 2010 (PG)