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Reputation:90
Level:All-Star
Since:Aug 31, 2006
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I know a lot of Pirate fans love to bash Wilson, but after seeing our other Options, Wilson could be a big boost to this team he hits, fields, and does everything else better then Bixler, Gomez and Rivas combined. This could be a boost to this team to get another semi-Big Bat into the line-up, Big divisional games upcoming against Milwaukee and the Cubbies(again) how may times do we have to play them?
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Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Jan 9, 2007
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Kspine,
I agree, I said the same thing a couple of weeks ago. Bixler has shown some improvement but even now he seems light years away from playing at Jack's level day in and day out. Jack works his butt off, gives everything he has on the field, and is a guy that will hit above .250 with a little pop in his bat (10-15 hrs) when you factor in his outstanding D, I think he has been under appreciated during his time in the Burgh.
We don't have a short stop tree out back and can't just go pick one off of there, as evidenced by the play of Bixler, Rivas, and Gomez.
I also don't think Jack will bring much in a trade at this point.
People keep saying why can't they get great young players like the Pens? Well, the Penguins were so bad they got more Ping Pong balls than any other team. Luckily they got Crosby and Malkin by chance. Baseball is different, not many players who are drafted go straight to the bigs. They think by trading Nady and Wilson that we will get baseball's version of Crosby and Malkin. That aint gonna happen.
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Reputation:96
Level:Superstar
Since:Jan 17, 2008
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I am not going to sit here and deny that i am one of those guys who who bashes Wilson. I do. I will continue by saying that he will help them out right now. That is about it. The farm system is not brining up any type of young infielders that will be ready soon that are worth brining up now.
That being said, the dude is nothing but an average (at best) shortstop and they need to address that in this draft or via trade. He is average, as i have mentioned, and he is taking up the most salary on the team. Minus Morris and what they had to do with him. I think he is a waste of money. Plain and simple. I will not mind seeing him come back right now though, that position is in a dire need of a spark.
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Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Jan 9, 2007
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Well if you think he's average that is a perfectly reasonable opinion that you hold about getting rid of him.
Personally, in my opinion, he's above average. I would put him in the top half of ss's in the NL.
I may be wrong but I don't think there are many SS's that can hit .270 , 10-15 hr's and play really good defense. I may be wrong.
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Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Jan 9, 2007
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If I were to rank the NL Central Short Stops it would look something like this:
1. Tejada (Hou)- at 14 million per year they deserve to have the top SS.
2. Tie- Wilson (Pit) Hardy (Mil)- Jack hit .296 last year, with 12 hr. Hardy hit .277 with 26 hr. Hardy is now hitting .240 this season making me wonder if it was a fluke. Time will tell.
4. Keppinger (Cin)
5. Theriot (Chi)
6. Isturuz (Stl)
Defensively Jack is as good or better than the lot of them. If you substitute Bixler for Wilson we would be ranked sixth at this postion. and that substitution would last at least two years.
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Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Mar 11, 2008
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I think Jack Wilson is an above average SS. On the field he is a little above that and at the plate he is a little below. The fact that his replacements have done so horribly just amplifies how much he means to the team. That being said, I think he is overpaid. 7-8 mil/year is too much for him.
Get well soon Jack!!!
GO Bucs!!!
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Reputation:96
Level:Superstar
Since:Mar 18, 2008
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I think that Jack is an above average SS. For sure he is above average defensively and offensively he is average. He doesn't hit for power which IMO is why everyone seems to dismiss his offensive capabilities. I think that he's a good #8 hitter. He doesn't walk enough to be up higher in the lineup, but he did hit lit 280 something last year. On the Pirates radio post game show Rocco Demaro did an analysis using VORP. He stated that Jack's absence through late last week was 3 games ie they would have won 3 more games than they had at that time. Don't get me wrong, I would love to have Hanley Ramirez or Derek Jeter, but you have to be realistic. Unless the Pirates learn how to draft and develop players better, they will never get elite players.
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Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:May 9, 2007
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I always liked Wilson personally, other than a couple of years ago when committed a butt load of errors, he has been one of the better defensive shotstops in the league. I whish he would be more consistent with the bat. He has decent power and has showed he can be an above average hitter. Heck, he be a big help if he could consistently hit .270-.280 range. And again like most are saying he's alot better than what we got, and lets face it, how many guys in the league are significantly better than Jacko...? not many, Rollins, Reyes, Jeter, just to name a few, but he is better than the average ss in mlb.
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Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Dec 4, 2006
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bl700: Don't know that I have seen you before so Welcome. Jack was into his "buff" mode that year where he bulked up to be more of a power hitter. He learned the hard way that adding pounds does not equate to better power hitting, and it certainly takes that millisecond away from reaction time.
Wilson went into last year with Management wanting him to be more of a contact hitter and improving his defense. He delivered .296 and still managed to get 29 doubles/2 triples/12 HR's and did so while walking 38 times and only striking out 46 times. In the field he had 11 errors in 630 chances and posted a .983 fielding %age. He accepted the challenge and proved he was well worth the money we paid in his long term contract. BTW, that contract is peanuts these days for what he has already given this team, and continues to bring to the table as a solid citizen, great family person, and a poster boy for this Pirate franchise. Jack Wilson is the real deal!!!
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Reputation:95
Level:Superstar
Since:Jan 4, 2007
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