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Tuesday, August 02, 2011

MLB.com: Overbay designated as Bucs clear roster space

Brought in this winter to be a big bat in the middle of the lineup, Lyle Overbay’s tenure with the Pirates is over prematurely following four months of offensive struggles.

The club designated Overbay for assignment on Monday in order to open up a roster spot for first baseman Derrek Lee, who was acquired in a trade with the Orioles on Saturday. There is a possibility that Overbay could be claimed off waivers by a team that will ask the Pirates to pay a significant portion of the approximately $1.73 million he is still due.

If no one claims Overbay, he will be given his unconditional release.

Meanwhile, Lee homered twice in the Pirates’ loss to the Cubs.

NTNgod Posted: August 02, 2011 at 02:56 AM | 45 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: pirates

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1. Mash Wilson Posted: August 02, 2011 at 03:23 AM (#3890859)

You gotta give them credit for realizing and admitting they made a mistake.

There's still some hope in the push for .500, but as far as playoff hopes go they're done now. Brewers are finally pulling away.

2. Harveys Wallbangers

Posted: August 02, 2011 at 03:25 AM (#3890861)

Mash

Um, you can take your overly optimistic Brewer pronouncements and stuff them in the nearest trash can.

Thanks.

3. Sam M. Posted: August 02, 2011 at 03:28 AM (#3890866)

There's still some hope in the push for .500, but as far as playoff hopes go they're done now. Brewers are finally pulling away.

I'll agree with Harveys that this is way premature. But when you combine the lead the Brewers have now built over the Pirates, combined with the fact they are also behind the Cardinals, and combine those two things with the fact that both teams are just better than the Pirates, I think it is fair to put the Pirates on the baseball equivalent of life support. You can do that without ceding the division to the Brewers.

4. Mash Wilson Posted: August 02, 2011 at 03:32 AM (#3890870)

hahaha, Harveys. Thanks.

I'll concede the Cardinals might not be done, but if I were a Brewers fan I'd be watching Reds scores more closely than Pirates scores at this point. The Pirates are just not that good, they overachieved for half a season and it was fun.

The Pirates might be better than the Brewers next year, though, especially if the Brewers fail to kick Yuni and McGehee to the curb.

5. Harveys Wallbangers

Posted: August 02, 2011 at 03:33 AM (#3890871)

I finally get NTN to back away from putting up "Brewers lead division by X games" notices every day and now I have more of this nonsense.

J&sus; H Chr*st. Why do people have to tag the Brewers in this fashion? You never see that stuff with the Cards or last year with the Reds.

Cripes.

6. Mash Wilson Posted: August 02, 2011 at 03:36 AM (#3890875)

Well... it's because the Brewers are the most talented team in the division. Or would be if they could even raise the level of their left infield to "bad". That's why I'm not alone in assuming the Brewers should pull away sooner or later. They're three and a half up now and Greinke's ERA is still in the mid-4s.

EDIT: The Brewers' right side was pretty damn good before Weeks got hurt, heh. Fixed.

7. NTNgod Posted: August 02, 2011 at 03:37 AM (#3890876)

I finally get NTN to back away from putting up "Brewers lead division by X games" notices every day

Hey, that was FOUR YEARS AGO. Shouldn't you be getting senile by now?

:P

8. Harveys Wallbangers

Posted: August 02, 2011 at 03:39 AM (#3890877)

NTN:

First, I hope you are well.

Second, you wish.

Third, if you post one of those articles just to be a wiseguy you will have my widow to answer to because I will FLIP OUT.

9. NTNgod Posted: August 02, 2011 at 03:43 AM (#3890880)

Doing fine, but just my luck I'm dealing with someone of your longevity who can still remember four years ago. Bah!

10. Harveys Wallbangers

Posted: August 02, 2011 at 03:44 AM (#3890883)

I swore I would live to see Milwaukee get back to another Series.

11. RJ in TO Posted: August 02, 2011 at 03:49 AM (#3890888)

You're planning on living to be 200?

12. Mash Wilson Posted: August 02, 2011 at 03:59 AM (#3890893)

Back on topic, 'tis a sad farewell for Lyle Overbay. He got in two games (two plate appearances) for the soon to be world champion Diamondbacks in 2001, but didn't get into any playoff games. He proceeded to have a good major league career, workmanlike, hit enough for a first baseman and didn't kill his teams.

I assume he'll latch one somewhere the rest of this year and maybe another year or two as a spare bat, but let's be honest, the day he signed with the Pirates we could go ahead and write his baseball obituary.

He never did play in a playoff game in the majors. I don't suppose any of the playoff field this year is going to be in the market for a positionless bench bat that the Pirates released.

13. cabintwelve Posted: August 02, 2011 at 04:10 AM (#3890898)

I just looked at Overbay's bref page. Overbay was in Milwaukee when my life happened to land in WI, so he's always kind of been a Brewer to me, which made me realize a couple of things.

1) He played FIVE years in Toronto?
2) If he's been in Toronto for that long, the Brewers haven't done much with Braun, Fielder and Weeks. Sigh.

14. Anonymous Observer Posted: August 02, 2011 at 04:14 AM (#3890901)

You're planning on living to be 200?

He said the Brewers, not the Cubs.

15. mex4173 Posted: August 02, 2011 at 04:35 AM (#3890906)

I hope this isn't the end for Overbay. Really fun to watch play defense. Didn't get all the respect he deserved from Toronto.

16. The Mohole* of David Wells (* - Piehole)

Posted: August 02, 2011 at 04:39 AM (#3890908)

Geez, Harveys, lighten up. BTW, NTN told me that the Brewers lead the division by 3.5 games.

17. Teufel's Graveyard Posted: August 02, 2011 at 05:32 AM (#3890914)

here is a possibility that Overbay could be claimed off waivers by a team that will ask the Pirates to pay a significant portion of the approximately $1.73 million he is still due.

I'm sure I'll be corrected if I'm wrong, but I thought if someone claims Overbay, the Pirates can just let him go to that team and that team would be stuck with the remaining salary, no trade would need to be agreed to.

IIRC, this happened with Canseco and the Yankees in 2000, The Yankees claimed him to block him going elsewhere and the Devil Rays just let him go, happy to be free of the salary. (My memory was that Torre didn't want him and he twiddled his thumbs on the bench, but he did get 37 games and 137 PAs for the rest of the season).

18. NTNgod Posted: August 02, 2011 at 05:42 AM (#3890916)

Since he's been "Designated for Assignment", the Pirates still can attempt to work a trade out for ten days before losing him. I think that still holds post-deadline.

19. Dr. Vaux Posted: August 02, 2011 at 06:13 AM (#3890921)

Now I have to hope the Brewers never make ti to the World Series.

20. Boileryard Posted: August 02, 2011 at 06:40 AM (#3890928)

The author of the article was a bit mixed up on the waiver claim/trade process. A team interested in acquiring Overbay would either work something out with the Pirates before making a claim, or wait for him to clear waivers before working out a deal. If a team claimed him and then demanded the Pirates pick up some of his salary, the Pirates would likely just let the claim go through, sticking the claiming team with the entire contract.

In addition to the Canseco situation described above, in 1998 the Blue Jays let the Padres claim Randy Myers, although it was disguised trade. The Padres thought Myers might be going to Atlanta and tried to block such a move, and it blew up in the team's face. Myers got injured and San Diego was stuck with the remaining $13.5 million on his contract.

21. Neutral Milk Dotel (Dan Lee) Posted: August 02, 2011 at 09:29 AM (#3890945)

Brought in this winter to be a big bat in the middle of the lineup, Lyle Overbay’s tenure with the Pirates is over prematurely following four months of offensive struggles.

You're doing it wrong.

22. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: August 02, 2011 at 11:14 AM (#3890951)

I assume he'll latch one somewhere the rest of this year and maybe another year or two as a spare bat, but let's be honest, the day he signed with the Pirates we could go ahead and write his baseball obituary.

#### you, man.

23. Walt Davis Posted: August 02, 2011 at 11:31 AM (#3890957)

Overbay wasn't signed to be a big bat, he was signed to be a defensive upgrade and put up a 105 OPS+ -- i.e. an average 1B overall give or take. Give him an extra 20 points of OPS+ and he wouldn't suck. :-)

24. Neutral Milk Dotel (Dan Lee) Posted: August 02, 2011 at 11:39 AM (#3890958)

Yeah, Overbay is/was an entirely cromulent placeholder if you don't have an internal option. My criticism wasn't directed at him - I think we all know by now that it is/was safe to pencil him in at .270/.350/.440, 35 doubles, 15 homers, and a nice glove. The very definition of adequacy.

I just can't believe anyone who watches baseball would suggest a team signed Overbay to be a big bat in the middle of the order.

25. TVerik Posted: August 02, 2011 at 11:42 AM (#3890960)

Give him an extra 20 points of OPS+ and he wouldn't suck. :-)

Who's the Primer whipping boy today? I can't think of anyone better than Neifi.

Who, if you give him 20 points of OPS in many of his years, he'd be within spitting distance of OK.

26. AJM Posted: August 02, 2011 at 12:02 PM (#3890969)

Overbay wasn't signed to be a big bat, he was signed to ... put up a 105 OPS+

That is a big bat if you're the Pirates.

27. Mash Wilson Posted: August 02, 2011 at 12:27 PM (#3890983)

I love you too, Vlad.

28. Harveys Wallbangers

Posted: August 02, 2011 at 01:09 PM (#3891009)

I figure I have a good chance for 90. It's the hate that makes me strong........

29. Good cripple hitter Posted: August 02, 2011 at 01:26 PM (#3891024)

I think we all know by now that it is/was safe to pencil him in at .270/.350/.440, 35 doubles, 15 homers, and a nice glove.

This is somewhat pedantic, but judging by his Blue Jays tenure, that wasn't safe at all. The glove, sure, but Overbay's bat frequently dipped under those numbers, especially the slugging.

30. Crispix Attacks 2: Swag Airlines Posted: August 02, 2011 at 02:38 PM (#3891073)

Sad to see Overbay struggling so much, but when you move from the AL East to the mighty NL Central, you have to expect the numbers to dip somewhat. Iwamura last year was a warning sign.

31. McCoy Wilfong for Money Posted: August 03, 2011 at 12:00 AM (#3891439)

Who would have thought it would be the Cubs who put the Pirates away?

32. cardsfanboy

Posted: August 03, 2011 at 01:03 AM (#3891472)

I figure I have a good chance for 90. It's the hate that makes me strong........

Is that you Mr. Burns?

Sad to see Overbay struggling so much, but when you move from the AL East to the mighty NL Central, you have to expect the numbers to dip somewhat. Iwamura last year was a warning sign.

Thanks for the chuckle.

33. Don Lock Posted: August 03, 2011 at 02:50 PM (#3891714)

Back in the old days, the Orioles would have traded Uehara for Lyle Overbay and a crappy pitcher to be named later. Then fans would have to call in and talk about who should play first and who should DH, Overbay or Kevin Millar. Of course, Chris Gomez could play first , too.

34. Mike Emeigh

Posted: August 03, 2011 at 03:51 PM (#3891763)

Overbay wasn't signed to be a big bat, he was signed to be a defensive upgrade and put up a 105 OPS+.

More the former than the latter, I think, but no doubt that was the intent.

The Pirates have been exposed in the last 10 days or so - not that anyone who follows the team closely was unaware of the deficiencies, mind you, but the team's limitations should have been obvious. When anything goes wrong - whether it be a bad call by an umpire, a starting pitcher who can't get out of the third, a bullpen failure - the Pirates just don't have the wherewithal to bounce back on a regular basis.

I give Huntington major props for making deals to help the team stay above water this year without risking any useful future pieces. It seems as though management still has its eyes on the prize - consistently competitive teams in the future - and wasn't going to stray outside that for a chance to cash in this year, but they also realized that they need to do something to show the fans that they weren't giving up on 2011 either. Lee and Ludwick are upgrades over what the Pirates had in those slots (at least until Tabata comes back, at which point the Bucs will have another choice to make).

-- MWE

35. Mash Wilson Posted: August 03, 2011 at 05:06 PM (#3891820)

I don't see what choice there is to make, Mike. When Tabata's healthy Ludwick is the fourth-best outfielder on the team, and if Tabata and Presley are ever healthy at the same time Ludwick is the fifth-best outfielder on the team.

That's before we consider Tabata and Presley are young enough to benefit from the reps, and Ludwick is veteran filler.

What they should avoid the temptation to do is re-sign Lee and block Alvarez from moving to first. I know it's tempting to have Alvarez's bat in the lineup at third, freeing up first for another bat, but Alvarez isn't hitting either. It seems obvious to me that it's a good time to (this offseason) formally make him a first baseman and take some defensive pressure off, so he can concentrate on figuring out how to hit (or lay off of) a major league breaking ball.

36. Mike Emeigh

Posted: August 03, 2011 at 06:23 PM (#3891913)

The Pirates may not have to make any decisions on Tabata or Presley. Tabata's rehab was interrupted and he's not yet back out (although he could be going soon), and Presley just started hitting off a tee and probably won't be taking BP until the end of the week. It's very possible that neither will be ready to be activated until rosters expand in September, in which case the Bucs don't have to drop anyone.

I certainly would expect Tabata to play when he's ready, and should he come back before September my guesses are that (a) Pearce would be sent out and (b) the Pirates would rotate Garrett Jones, Lee, and Ludwick to cover 1B and RF. Personally I think that Diaz should go, but given his contract that's unlikely.

-- MWE

37. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: August 03, 2011 at 07:18 PM (#3891963)

It seems obvious to me that it's a good time to (this offseason) formally make him a first baseman and take some defensive pressure off, so he can concentrate on figuring out how to hit (or lay off of) a major league breaking ball.

It's seemed obvious that they should move him for several years now, but that hasn't stopped them from running him out at third over and over and over again.

I'll believe that they're willing to move Pedro when I see it.

38. Mash Wilson Posted: August 03, 2011 at 08:04 PM (#3892018)

Also, the Pirates' pitching staff still never strikes anybody out (lowest K rate in the league) and that isn't changing anytime soon, meaning they have more to gain than anybody else in baseball by improving their defense. Which they can obviously and easily do by shifting Walker (who is the Jeter of second basemen) to third and Alvarez to first, and finding a second baseman with a glove.

You'd think Huntington and his Merry Men would know this.

39. Srul Itza Posted: August 03, 2011 at 08:43 PM (#3892057)

They're three and a half up now and Greinke's ERA is still in the mid-4s.

They will be back to 3.5 up by the end of the day.

40. McCoy Wilfong for Money Posted: August 03, 2011 at 09:01 PM (#3892068)

Jesus, Casey McGehee with 3 home runs today. Somebody has been taking their vitamins.

41. NTNgod Posted: August 03, 2011 at 09:28 PM (#3892091)

Jesus, Casey McGehee with 3 home runs today. Somebody has been taking their vitamins.

The Cards' bullpen was kind of toasted (and unlike Milwaukee, they don't have Thursday off), so Edwin Jackson got left out there to take his lumps.

42. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: August 03, 2011 at 09:34 PM (#3892101)

Which they can obviously and easily do by shifting Walker (who is the Jeter of second basemen) to third and Alvarez to first, and finding a second baseman with a glove.

Walker has shown some improvement this year. He's not good at 2B, but he's not someone who absolutely must be moved at any cost, either.

43. Mash Wilson Posted: August 04, 2011 at 03:44 AM (#3892373)

True, Vlad, but I'd just reiterate my point that when you strike nobody out, anytime there's an easy way to upgrade your defense you really ought to do so.

44. McCoy Wilfong for Money Posted: August 04, 2011 at 04:20 AM (#3892390)

The Cards' bullpen was kind of toasted (and unlike Milwaukee, they don't have Thursday off), so Edwin Jackson got left out there to take his lumps.

And Jeter goes 5 for 6 as well tonight!

It is too bad the Pirates continued their slide while on a long road trip. I'm sure that isn't going to help attendance for the rest of the season.

45. Ozzie's gay friend Posted: August 04, 2011 at 05:08 AM (#3892409)

Is there anywhere I can bet on the Pirates regressing next year?

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Tuesday, August 02, 2011

MLB.com: Overbay designated as Bucs clear roster space

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