Gorzelanny optioned to the minors.....

[_Sir_Charles_]

BRADENTON, Fla. -- Left-hander Tom Gorzelanny, one of the Pittsburgh Pirates' top two starters at the beginning of last season, was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis in a surprising move Wednesday.
The Pirates were unhappy with Gorzelanny's lack of progress coming off a season in which he went 6-9 with a 6.66 ERA, the highest among major league pitchers with 20 or more starts.


Gorzelanny


Gorzelanny was the club's top starter in 2007, going 14-10 with a 3.88 ERA on a team that lost 94 games. He was demoted to Triple-A last July 4 before returning to Pittsburgh, where he had a 7.13 ERA over his final four starts.
This spring, Gorzelanny was 0-0 with a 7.00 ERA, giving up eight hits and five walks in only nine innings.
The Pirates have two open spots in the rotation and had not indicated that Gorzelanny was no long under consideration. After allowing two runs on five hits in three innings Sunday against Tampa Bay, Gorzelanny said he was focusing on pitching well in his final few spring training starts to get ready for the season.
Left-handers Paul Maholm and Zach Duke and right-hander Ian Snell appear to have spots locked up, leaving right-handers Ross Ohlendorf, Virgil Vasquez and Jeff Karstens competing for the remaining spots.
The Pirates also optioned outfield prospect Jose Tabata to Double-A Altoona. The 20-year-old Tabata, dealt by the Yankees late last season, was impressive during his first spring training stay with the Pirates, hitting .407 with five RBIs in 11 games.
The moves leave 43 players in the Pirates' camp.

This really surprised me. They must be really high on Ohlendorf, Vasquez & Karstens.

I still think the Pirates are gonna surprise some people this year.

[redsfan4445]

i saw this too. wondered if the Reds could make a deal for him.. would you swap Maloney for him?

[_Sir_Charles_]

Well, given his struggles last year (and apparently this spring) I'd be concerned for Gorz's health. But his upside is much higher than Maloney's if you ask me. So a clean bill of health...yeah, I'd do it.

[edabbs44]

Well, given his struggles last year (and apparently this spring) I'd be concerned for Gorz's health. But his upside is much higher than Maloney's if you ask me. So a clean bill of health...yeah, I'd do it.

don't think Pitt would ever.

[M2]

The Pirates of late have specialized in young pitchers who have one good year and are awful after that.

[Chip R]

The Pirates of late have specialized in young pitchers who have one good year and are awful after that.

Let's hope that doesn't happen to us.

[*BaseClogger*]

The Pirates of late have specialized in young pitchers who have one good year and are awful after that.

Man was I pissed I didn't get Ian Snell in any of my fantasy drafts last year. Oops!

At least I knew Gorzelanny was going to be crap...

[RedsManRick]

In 2008...

IP/GS: 5.0
ERA: 6.66
K/9: 5.72
BB/9: 5.98
HR/9: 1.71

I don't know what happened in 2008, but those are horrendous numbers across the board. It's not like he's had bad luck, he's just getting eaten alive.

Looking at his pitch data, he strikes me as your run of the mill junk throwing lefty who is only passable when he's got his control. In 2008, he lost his control. Was there an injury? He has lost 3 mph off his fastball over the last two years -- pretty odd for a guy in his mid 20's.

[OnBaseMachine]

Was there an injury? He has lost 3 mph off his fastball over the last two years -- pretty odd for a guy in his mid 20's.

He battled shoulder problems all of last season IIRC.

[Tom Servo]

The Pirates of late have specialized in young pitchers who have one good year and are awful after that.

True but most of them are still stuck with the Bucs. Oliver Perez got out and suddenly returned to decent form.