Post by Sha-Le Unique on Mar 25, 2014 19:55:22 GMT -5
So I have 24 article points for the season and I wanna get the full 25, so here's a simple recap of the Pirates' 1956 season.
Going into this season, I had relatively high hopes for this team. Felt 82-85 wins was reasonable to expect, but unfortunately, this team just wasn't as ready as I thought it would be and it was clear that the full development of my players just hasn't happened yet.
Offensively, Gail Harris really broke out and became the 1st Pirate to make an All-Star team in this league. Harry Agganis and Elston Howard have been reliable hitters. Joe Morgan has filled in nicely at second base. Eddie O'Brien took a step back this year, but in a way, he overachieved in 1955. In the outfield, Bob Skinner and Roman Mejias have both hit well and stolen quite a few bases to help the Pirates lead the league in steals. Dick Stuart was expected to be the Pirates' big slugger, but that hasn't happened just yet. Hopefully in 1957, he will really break out.
But this team was supposed to be about the young pitching! Instead, the Pirates have the worst ERA in the league and just have not pitched well generally speaking. Robin Roberts has been an exception, although he got off to a slow start. Bob Purkey hasn't turned the corner just yet, but hopefully, he will with time. Vern Law has potential and should continue to develop further. Don Drysdale was supposed to be the big one, but he has had control problems with walks and just has not been effective all season. Ken McBride hasn't gotten as many starts, but like Drysdale, his control hasn't been good either.
Dick Hall has been a good closer, but has been inconsistent at times. Ike Delock has really underachieved for the ratings he has. Converted relievers Bennie Daniels and Tom Brewer both have not been too great out of the bullpen. Wally Burnette, Jack Meyer and Bill McDonald all haven't had good seasons as well.
I'm not too disappointed though actually with this team. The potential is still here and I just need to be patient. There's no reason to trade all the young talent I have in order to try to be in "win now" mode for the next few seasons. Instead, I'll just wait until everyone is fully developed and hopefully by then, the results will start to show. I may be leaving the Pirates in the near future, but I wouldn't feel right by trying to screw over the future GM in any way.
Furthermore, I also have prospects like Gene Freese, Clete Boyer, Whitey Herzog and Ron Kline, among others that should be due to come up in 1957. Others like Bob Allison, Mike Cuellar and John Buzhardt will probably not be ready until 1958-1959.
Best of luck to the remaining contenders...the Pirates are only gonna get better going forward.
Hopefully this is enough for the 1 remaining point I'm missing.
Going into this season, I had relatively high hopes for this team. Felt 82-85 wins was reasonable to expect, but unfortunately, this team just wasn't as ready as I thought it would be and it was clear that the full development of my players just hasn't happened yet.
Offensively, Gail Harris really broke out and became the 1st Pirate to make an All-Star team in this league. Harry Agganis and Elston Howard have been reliable hitters. Joe Morgan has filled in nicely at second base. Eddie O'Brien took a step back this year, but in a way, he overachieved in 1955. In the outfield, Bob Skinner and Roman Mejias have both hit well and stolen quite a few bases to help the Pirates lead the league in steals. Dick Stuart was expected to be the Pirates' big slugger, but that hasn't happened just yet. Hopefully in 1957, he will really break out.
But this team was supposed to be about the young pitching! Instead, the Pirates have the worst ERA in the league and just have not pitched well generally speaking. Robin Roberts has been an exception, although he got off to a slow start. Bob Purkey hasn't turned the corner just yet, but hopefully, he will with time. Vern Law has potential and should continue to develop further. Don Drysdale was supposed to be the big one, but he has had control problems with walks and just has not been effective all season. Ken McBride hasn't gotten as many starts, but like Drysdale, his control hasn't been good either.
Dick Hall has been a good closer, but has been inconsistent at times. Ike Delock has really underachieved for the ratings he has. Converted relievers Bennie Daniels and Tom Brewer both have not been too great out of the bullpen. Wally Burnette, Jack Meyer and Bill McDonald all haven't had good seasons as well.
I'm not too disappointed though actually with this team. The potential is still here and I just need to be patient. There's no reason to trade all the young talent I have in order to try to be in "win now" mode for the next few seasons. Instead, I'll just wait until everyone is fully developed and hopefully by then, the results will start to show. I may be leaving the Pirates in the near future, but I wouldn't feel right by trying to screw over the future GM in any way.
Furthermore, I also have prospects like Gene Freese, Clete Boyer, Whitey Herzog and Ron Kline, among others that should be due to come up in 1957. Others like Bob Allison, Mike Cuellar and John Buzhardt will probably not be ready until 1958-1959.
Best of luck to the remaining contenders...the Pirates are only gonna get better going forward.
Hopefully this is enough for the 1 remaining point I'm missing.
I just don't like missing out on anything