Are The Pirates Giving Up On Former No.1 Pick, Tony Sanchez?

Late Sunday night the Pittsburgh Pirates announced  they traded for catcher Mike McKenry of the Boston Red Sox for a player to be named later or cash.

With Ryan Doumit out until at least late July with a broken ankle, Chris Snyder out two to four months after having surgery to repair a herniated disc and Jason Jaramillo on the minor-league 15-day disabled list, the Pirates are in need of help at catcher.

This would lead you to believe that this would be a good time for 2009 No. 1 pick Tony Sanchez to get some big league experience. However, the Pirates filled the need by trading for 26 year-old McKenry - who was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the seventh round in 2006.

Karen Price/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review wrote in her article "Newest catcher makes Pirates debut" Pirates manager Clint Hurdle worked with McKenry during winter instructional leagues and one year in spring training and said the Rockies were very high on him at one time.

According to Dejean Kovacevic/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review McKenry is considered a solid defensive catcher, including a 35 percent rate in throwing out runners trying to steal. In addition, he is a minor-league career .265 hitter with 69 homeruns in 519 games.

Sanchez is currently batting .259 with two homeruns, 20 RBI and a .335 slugging percentage at AA-Altoona.

The trade for McKenry does not indicate that the Pirates have totally given up on Sanchez, but it does indicate that he is not close to major league ready and his development is progressing slowly, at best.

 

Comments

[O]

When Will Sanchez make it to the big leagues?

2012
2013
2014
Never.

I will go with the fall of 2012.

[whiteAngus]

... about one of the worst articles online I have ever read.... ever.

[Nick Pryor]

HE'S NOT READY YET & IS TOO IMPORTANT TO RUSH LIKE MATT WEATERS

[Joe]

whiteAngus

Thank you for reading the article and the comments. It would be nice if you could provide some helpful details.

[Joe]

Thanks Nick

I agree you do not want to rush players, unfortunately, early results indicate that Sanchez may be a bust.

[Capt QT]

"Early results indicate that Sanchez may be a bust."

Really?

Tony Sanchez' progress was set back substantially after his jaw was broken by a pitch early in 2010.

He IS the Pirates catcher of the future; he simply has not had enough experience, especially at calling games, to be thrust into the majors right now. He (Sanchez) will be given every opportunity to claim the starting job in 2012.

If you are going to write about the Pirates, try to have some knowledge of the organization before you hit "post"...

[Joe]

Capt QT

I appreciate your opinion. However, I have a great deal of knowledge about the organization and know of Sanchez's history.

As I said, it is early in his development, but he is closer to a bust than he is to claiming the starting job in 2012.

Thanks for reading

[Fred]

Joe, you suck.

[PhilHundy]

stop writing on the internet

[Joe]

Thanks Fred... Great analysis.

Do I suck because Sanchez is struggling in all areas. I'll give him credit in that he has began to hit.

Keeping reading and commenting Fred.

[Joe]

Thanks Phil ... A little detail would be nice.