Time to hit the RESET button

Needless to rehash, but the first half of this season as been an unmitigated disaster.  Around the diamond, Jeff Clement and Aki! Iwamura are in Indianapolis, Andy LaRoche has turned into a useless bench player, and Ryan Church has stole playing time from Lastings Milledge.  Ryan Doumit is the worst catching catcher in the game, Charlie Morton has completely imploded, and the rotation is hanging by a thread.  The team has had way too many cold stretches, with barely a couple tepid ones.  The front office has been a public relations disaster zone, and John Russell continues to be employed. 

So what do the Pirates do in the second half?   Here's what I think should happen.

Trade Ryan Doumit and one of Dotel, Lopez, Carrasco, Donnelly

As far as the trading deadline is concerned, there are few chips worth moving.  While arms like Dotel, Lopez, Carrasco and Donnelly should be available, they really won't bring much help to Pittsburgh.  But perhaps by bundling a guy with Ryan Doumit, it might yield a true shortstop prospect.  And no, I don't see the return of Brian Bixler as particularly encouraging.  If Dotel is gone, then Meek or Hanrahan step into the closer role.  Would Tampa give up Brignac, whom we almost got for Jason Bay?  Is Neal thinking of trying to move Bobby Crosby or Ronny Cedeno?  I don't see the point really unless it's again a package trade with someone else.  Paul Maholm is probably the only other pitcher worth considering moving, but it would probably take an injury to a contender to consider that.  Maybe something pops up, but I'd rather keep any and all arms we have.

Call up Erik Kratz and Jeff Clement

Kratz probably will be up soon enough anyway with Jason Jaramillo demoted - probably after tonight's minor league all-star game since there's an open roster slot, and currently no backup catcher.  When Doumit is traded, let's try Clement as the back up catcher.  It's his natural position, and taking some pressure off his bat might just spark it.  I'd say go straight platoon.  We're waiting until at least 2012 for Tony Sanchez anyway, so we might as well see what our options are for 2011 behind the plate are now, in this lost season.

Give up on Ryan Church

Duh.  The guy is sporting a 186/240/321 line while a suddenly red-hot Lastings Milledge is carrying a 276/347/392 line.  Give up on this "showcasing" Church for a trade nonsense.  Even if he hit .600 the next 2 weeks, still nobody wants him.  He's our fifth best outfielder right now, even behind Delwyn Young.  He's barely a defensive replacement at this point.  Stop, we've had enough.  I hope he gets designated for assignment.

Sign Jameson Taillon and Stetson Allie for big bucks

We need to show the kids on the roster right now that there's another wave coming, and signing these two guys is the quickest, and most efficient way of doing that.  We need stud pitching prospects, and after Bryan Morris, there's really nobody else.  It would also show that this regime is willing to spend the money where it's needed most right now.  If the front office let's these kids get away, then it had better be house cleaning time.

Get on a roll

After a deflating sweep in Milwaukee, this team limped into the all-star break at exactly the most needed time.  Taking four days off should help cure what ails them.  Hopefully Zach Duke is healthy and ready to start this roll.  The next ten games are all at home, the first seven of them against Houston and Milwaukee.  Of the next 39 games, 27 of them are in comfy PNC, where amazingly this .341 team is playing one game under .500 .... which only proves how awful we've been on the road.  Let's all hope Ryan Doumit starts swinging a hot bat, so he can be shipped off to the American League as soon as possible.

C'mon ...  BEAT 'EM BUCS!