One lesson I've been trying to take to heart in my sports watching is to enjoy players while you can. Whether by trade, free agency, or retirement, all of our favorites are bound to more on to other things, often sooner than later.
At best, my emotions for the Pirates organization as a whole has been rocky in recent years due almost entirely to things that have nothing to do with the guys on the field. But for the better part of the past decade, Neil Walker has been a player whose career I followed and actively rooted for.
He grew up not 15 minutes from Kate, and has been a fixture at Pirate events almost since he was drafted, even if the Bucs actively tried to keep him away at times. And while the game has changed in so many ways, it reminded me of the early 20th century baseball - a local kid playing for the local team.
I'd by lying if I didn't say I had hoped to have at least one more season to watch Neil Walker in Pittsburgh. And while I can honestly say I hate this trade from a baseball perspective, trading for a middling starter in one of the most loaded pitching free agent classes in recent history...the reality is that I guy I genuinely enjoyed watching, cheering for, and meeting on numerous occasions plays for a different team. And as rational and adult as I can claim to be, that just flat out stinks.
The journey from first round pick to struggling minor leaguer to emergency callup learning a new position on the fly to a top 10 player at that position in the major leagues isn't your run of the mill career arc. I hope there's a lot ahead for Neil wherever his career may take him, and plenty of appearances in Pittsburgh after his career ends.
At best, my emotions for the Pirates organization as a whole has been rocky in recent years due almost entirely to things that have nothing to do with the guys on the field. But for the better part of the past decade, Neil Walker has been a player whose career I followed and actively rooted for.
He grew up not 15 minutes from Kate, and has been a fixture at Pirate events almost since he was drafted, even if the Bucs actively tried to keep him away at times. And while the game has changed in so many ways, it reminded me of the early 20th century baseball - a local kid playing for the local team.
I'd by lying if I didn't say I had hoped to have at least one more season to watch Neil Walker in Pittsburgh. And while I can honestly say I hate this trade from a baseball perspective, trading for a middling starter in one of the most loaded pitching free agent classes in recent history...the reality is that I guy I genuinely enjoyed watching, cheering for, and meeting on numerous occasions plays for a different team. And as rational and adult as I can claim to be, that just flat out stinks.
The journey from first round pick to struggling minor leaguer to emergency callup learning a new position on the fly to a top 10 player at that position in the major leagues isn't your run of the mill career arc. I hope there's a lot ahead for Neil wherever his career may take him, and plenty of appearances in Pittsburgh after his career ends.
The Pirates were in a weird situation. If they keep him for one more year they risk getting absolutely nothing for him. Like you I was hoping for more of a return, or at very least the Mets kick in some money. The silver lining is that if Niese pitches well he has two relatively cheap team options. Let's just hope they can work some magic.
ReplyDeleteI kind of thought they would hold onto him and just issue him a qualifying offer to try and get a draft pick. I guess with his injury history the Pirates didn't want to take a risk of him losing more value.
If the club is going to contend perennially, I've been of the mindset that some valuable players will leave without return. It's just the nature of the system and of having talent. Given the qualify of the farm system, I think we can afford to sacrifice longterm returns in favor of addressing immediate needs during a year with playoff aspirations. Five years ago, we needed to bleed every drop of possible return from every asset, on field concerns be damned.
DeleteI just don't think adding a back end starter when the team (should) have free agent dollars and talent available was a solid baseball return for a guy who is a top 10 player at his position. I've also never viewed Harrison highly, and have concerns about Kang's ability to come back from injury and adjust now that pitchers have a more complete scouting repot on him. So that definitely colors my perspective significantly. But we'll have to see how the rest of the offseason plays out.