The race to the top

[blackmax]

And Omar will have to subscribe to the Rice Owls Sports Network for the whole spring.

[IABucFan]

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!! Something good will (hopefully) come out of this abomination. Something great, hopefully.

Now we can look forward to months of endless debates of whether or not management will allow them to take the best player available, and then we'll have months to debate whether or not they'll be too cheap to give him what he wants!

Get your popcorn ready!  Seriously though, I see no evidence that the current FO will not both draft and sign the best player available.  Right now, that sure seems like Anthony Rendon.  If someone can give me some evidence to the contrary, I'd be interested, but if past performance is an indicator of future results, all the evidence points to Anthony Rendon being a Pirate next August.

[Xiga]

The only way Rendon isn't in the Pirates organization a year from now is if he proves that he's not the best player available. I will be hoping and praying that he recovers as expected from the ankle injury. He's exactly what they need.

[81omar]

And Omar will have to subscribe to the Rice Owls Sports Network for the whole spring.

   Yeah let the Rendon watch begin. He is currently sleeping,planning on waking up at 8am for classes,will workout after catching a light lunch followed by more classes then looking at a website called "things to do in Bradenton on a $15 per diem and $8 mil bonus"

[Steve Zielinski]

• Secure the first pick in the 2011 Draft.
• Put Tony 'Capt'n Blood' LaRussa's team out of the playoffs

Someday we'll have more important things to celebrate. But today!!!!

[GoBucs21]

• Secure the first pick in the 2011 Draft.
• Put Tony 'Capt'n Blood' LaRussa's team out of the playoffs

Someday we'll have more important things to celebrate. But today!!!!

I hate Larussa, so this is about as good as it gets for me.

Does anyone think we are happier about the opportunity to get Rendon than he is about coming here?

[DocJon49]

Does anyone think we are happier about the opportunity to get Rendon than he is about coming here?

Undoubtedly. Hopefully the team will continue to improve, and once he's in the system, he'll become excited about what he could bring to the team, and what it could accomplish with his help.

Just a quick reminder of our last #1 pick, and what we left on the table. I hope things will be different this time.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_Major_League_Baseball_Draft

Bullington just got his first ML win last month - an 8-inning 2-hit shutout against the Yankees
I expect Rendon will take less than 8 years to make a difference at the ML level.

[TarentumTwin]

Let's not forget that Rendon's college numbers are better than Pedro's.  Sure, Rendon needs to be healthy but we need quality bats desperately.