Dennis Dixon Might Demand A Trade

nflpassers.com

This is from ESPN.Com Quarterback Dennis Dixon, a restricted free agent, did not sign his tender and has yet to report to Pittsburgh Steelers training camp.

Dixon's agent, Jeff Sperbeck, told ESPN.com's James Walker on Sunday that his client prefers a chance to compete for another team over backing up two-time Super Bowl champion Ben Roethlisberger in Pittsburgh. 

Dixon was drafted by the Steelers in 2008 and has been Roethlisberger's backup the past three seasons.
"Dennis would love the opportunity to start," Sperbeck told Walker. "Yes, we would look forward to an opportunity for a trade -- it's a starting opportunity we're looking for."

Pittsburgh placed a fifth-round tender on Dixon. Therefore, any team that makes an offer would have to give up a late pick in 2012. The Steelers also have the right to match any offers.
Despite Dixon wanting out, Sperbeck didn't rule out Dixon eventually signing his tender if there's no interest. 

"There's a possibility he will sign it," Sperbeck said to Walker. "We're just looking to gather information here during the early part of free agency."


Since then Dixon has signed a one-year deal and will play for the Steelers this year. The Steelers have four quarterbacks under contract, Dixon, Ben Roethlisberger, Charlie Batch, and Byron Leftwich. I expect that the Steelers would only keep three of them, meaning either Batch or Leftwich will be released.


A few questions:

1. Who the hell does Dennis Dixon and his agent think he is? Dixon has started three career games In those three games he threw 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions, completed 57% of his passes, had a fumble, single handily lost a game, and his qb rating was in the 60's.

2. Who would trade for Dixon and  where could he start? If there would be a team interested in Dixon, they would have to give up a fifth round pick for him. Santonio Holmes, a Super Bowl MVP was traded for a sixth round pick. Donovan McNabb a multiple time Pro Bowl quarterback was only offered a two sixth round picks.

Dixon has started three games and he's 26 years old. He's inaccurate and injury prone. I can't see him starting on any of the 32 teams right now. This guy is clearly over his head.

No one is going to trade a 5th round pick for him. Maybe a bucket of Gatorade, but I'm thinking they'll only get Powerade offers, it's cheaper.

Here's what my scouting report would be on Dixon:

positives:  great feet; elusive; has the ability to take off and run and pick up some yards with his feet

negatives: Can't throw, can't read defenses.


Would you put that guy at punt returns or quarterback? 

I'm sure some of "yinz" will say, "Well we can use him for trick plays". Hey morons, have another cold IC Light.

Dixon sucks. He's nothing but a backup and that's all he'll ever be. So shut up and hold that clipboard.

Ryan Ludwick Talks About the Trade to Pittsburgh

Pirates Ownership Makes Two Trades, Show Commitment

The Pittsburgh Pirates and their fan-base's spirits have been at an all-time high this year, thanks to the Pirates staying in the NL Central division race through the month of July, and possibly avoiding a 19th straight losing season.

However, recently the Pirates have lost 8 of their last 11, have fallen back by 4.5 games in the division, and are now just two games over .500. The Buccos just got swept by Hunter Pence and the Philadelphia Phillies. Talk about a slap in the face.

I, among others, have called out the Pirates ownership for not making any moves, not spending any money, and not showing any kind of real commitment to winning and fielding a competitive team.

However, the Pirates shocked the baseball world by making not one, but two trades this weekend, to improve their team.

First they traded for first baseman Derrek Lee from the Baltimore Orioles for Single-A first baseman Aaron Baker. Then they acquired outfielder Ryan Ludwick from the San Diego Padres for a player to be named later or cash.

The Pirates shocked me by not only getting two quality major league players, but also spent $4.8 million, and improved two positions that needed an upgrade. I also  love the price tags. The Pirates did not give up any top prospects, and they stepped up by taking on $4.8 million in the two veterans' salaries.

Yes, Derek Lee is 36 years old but he's a free-agent after this year, will be playing for a better team, has a pedigree and big game experience, and is a huge upgrade in all aspects over Lyle "freaking" Overbay. Lee also has historically good numbers against the central division, hitting no lower than .278, 20 Home Runs or 82 RBI in any season.
Since the All-Star break, he is batting .298 -- 17 for 57 -- including a 4-for-5 output Tuesday in Toronto with an opposite-field home run and five RBI. And the Pirates' scouts saw other traits at the plate they found encouraging.

Ludwick, 33, has been on the decline for the past three years. After a monster year in 2008 in St. Louis -- 37 home runs, .299 average, his numbers in those stats have gone down, year by year, to 22 and .265, 17 and .251 and the 11 and .238 he had with San Diego this season.

Now a lot can said that Ludwick's numbers declined and suffered in San Diego because PETCO Park is arguably the worst hitters park in baseball. Not to mention that Ludwick wasn't in a very potent lineup and wasn't protected.

However, Ludwick's career numbers at PNC Park are very good. Since 2008, he's batting .306 with 5 hr's and 16 rbi's, in 72 at bats in PNC Park. So I think Ludwick and Lee will improve the offense drastically. 

My everyday lineup once everyone is healthy would look like this: 

C: Ryan Doumit

1B: Derek Lee

2B: Neil Walker

SS: Ronny Cedeno

3B: Pedro Alvarez

RF: Ryan Ludwick

CF: Andre McCutchen

LF: Alex Presely/ Jose Tabata

Not bad. Especially since it means no Lyle Overbay, who the Pirates should put on waivers. 

Whether or not the Pirates can stay in contention even with these moves, only time will tell. If I'm betting on whether or not the Pirates win the division or not, I'm betting on them not. St.Louis and Milwaukee are still better. Better pitching, better hitting, and more experience. 

Even if the Pirates would have gotten Hunter Pence and/or Carlos Beltran they might not have had enough to get over the hump. Pirates still need another quality starting pitcher. The starting pitching has been decent but is still inconsistent. 

These moves might not mean a division title for the Bucs, but they show the baseball world, the fans, and the players that the organization is committed to winning. Pittsburgh is still considered a "baseball graveyard" by most players and fans. Big reason why Carlso Beltran and others chose to not waive their no-trade-clause for a trade to Pittsburgh. 

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These moves can help stop that in the future. Especially if the Pirates can at least stay in contention until the end of the season. These moves had to be made for so many reasons. The biggest is confidence. Pirates ownership shows that they are willing to be buyers and spend money to improve the team. It gives confidence to the coaches, players, and fan-base. 

Maybe this will be the last year that Pittsburgh will be considered a baseball graveyard in the near future.

Pittsburgh Pirates: Meet the New Guys

The Pirates were buyers at the Trade-deadline. Let that sink in for a
second. . . ah! Neal Huntington did what many fans thought impossible
after a decade's worth of dumping talent to contenders & got the team some
help where they needed it the most. This Trade-deadline was not about
gaining draft picks, cash considerations, players to be named later, or
prospects. Rather, the Pittsburgh Pirates went out & got power. Maybe not
the kind of power that would entice Doctor Doom, but better power than the
team has now.

So let us welcome the newest Pirates on the ship; first baseman Derek Lee
& right-fielder Ryan Ludwick!

Derek Lee will probably replace Lyle Overbay at first base starting Monday
as Lee's former team the Chicago Cubs roll into town. While Lee is not
having the most productive year at the plate (.246 average, 12 home runs,
41 RBI), he is above & beyond a better option than Overbay (.227 average,
8 homers, 37 RBI).

Defensively, there are few better than Lee who is a three-time Gold Glove
winner at first base. His addition makes the already good
infield defense even better. Lee has posted some awesome power
figures, but nothing grandiose since 2009. Still, he can pass down his
substantial knowledge to his younger teammates & make them better. Also,
anyone is an improvement over Overbay. Derek Lee is worth the price of
Class A talent Aaron Baker.

Ryan Ludwick is a name Pirates fans should be familiar with. Ludwick
played for the St. Louis Cardinals for four years (2007-2010) before being
traded to San Diego. Thankfully, the Padres have a itchy trigger finger &
dealt Ludwick, for the second time less than a year, to the Pirates for a
player to be named later or cash considerations.

Ludwick should be ecstatic to being leaving the void of Petco Park, which has killed his
numbers. In 2010, Ludwick had 11 homers, 43 RBI & batted .281 with the Red
Birds (77 games).

After the trade, those numbers plummeted to 6 home runs,
26 RBI, & a horrible .211 average (59 games). Being in any ballpark other
than Petco makes him a power threat again.

His 64 RBIs ties him with Neil
Walker for the team lead & gives the team a solid presence in right field,
something the Pirates have not had all year. While he will probably not
repeat his 2008 campaign, Ludwick makes the Pirates better in both aspects
of the game.

Both Lee & Ludwick give the Pirates a boost at the plate. Their names on
the lineup card add depth to the batting order. They also add protection
for Walker & Andrew McCutchen. The infield defense gets an upgrade while
the outfield stops being just McCutchen. Neal Huntington & Clint Hurdle
have made the Pirates better.

Maybe not as good as the Cardinals or
Brewers, but they're in a greater position than they were before. These
trades also give the organization validity. A foreign word to fans, &
something that has been lacking for years. That & a chance to win.

Written by, Andrew Brown

Lyle Overbay is Overdue and Overdone

 I have to say as much as I'm loving watching the Pirates this year, it's been the complete opposite with Lyle Overbay, which I refer to him now as OverDUE. Everyone knew coming into this season that it was going to be a LONG shot for this guy to even be somewhat productive. This month alone Overbay has just 5 RBI's and the past 10 games he is only batting .125. How much longer can they keep running this guy out there?!

The Pirates have flirted with and have been in first place for a large margin of this year, all because of pitching. It has been an enormous miracle kind of season, no thanks to the offensive side of the field. So my question, where will the Pirates turn for runs if they wish to make a playoff push? It's been clear as day, for a while now, Overbay isn't the answer.

The only productive part of the lineup has been Andrew Mccutchen and Neil Walker. Garrett Jones had a phenomenal year his rookie season, but he just hasn't been the same since and is quickly wearing out his welcome in the Burgh. Pedro Alvarez may one day be, "the savior of Pittsburgh baseball", but the more he plays, the more terrible he looks.

Is there any options offensively internally? The answer to this is basically no, the Pirates will have to make a move externally, before the Sunday's trade deadline, if they plan to improve. Ryan Doumit is about a week, to a week and a half away from returning. He has some power potential, but he is extremely streaky with the bat. Where do you put Ryan Doumit? You don't want to break up the success Michael "The Fort" McHenry has done behind the plate. Right field is a weak option at best. Putting Ryan Doumit at first base is out of the question, seeing how horrid he was when they had him there last year.

So the Pirates will have to go outside the organization and make a move. They MUST make some kind of deal, because you can't let this over-achieving pitching staff waste this great season. The Pirates have been linked to three names, Derek Lee of Baltimore, Jason Kubel of Minnesota and Ryan Ludwick from San Diego. The Cleveland Indians have made the most progress with Ludwick.

The Pirates made an offer for Derek Lee, which was rumored to have been an deal to be laughed at. So that leaves up with Jason Kubel. Kubel is hitting .300, although being injuried a while this season, I think he's the best option. He lacks a bit on defensive, but he would be a MAJOR improvement over Jones and Overbay. The only problem with a Kubel deal is that the Twins are still some-what contending, so the Twins may not want to let a .300 hitter go.

written by Brad Douglas