Posted by Jeremy on January 21, 2009 under Market Watch | 
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I was cruising around on the internet this morning and came upon this article from Pirates camp concerning the physical condition of not only 3B Pedro Alvarez, but also former 1st rounders Andrew McCutchen and Brad Lincoln. The article was written by Pittsburgh Post-Gazette sports columnist Dejan Kovacevic and the contents are italacized below.
BRADENTON, Fla. — Two of the Pirates’ top three prospects, outfielder Andrew McCutchen and pitcher Brad Lincoln, reported to minicamp in exemplary shape. McCutchen gained 10 pounds of solid muscle, and no one heard more praise for his physique than the newly svelte Lincoln.
The other of those three prospects, third baseman Pedro Alvarez, is a different matter.
Management is dissatisfied with the conditioning of Alvarez, the team’s highly touted first-round draft pick in 2008, to the point that he will need to improve if, as projected, he is to be assigned to high Class A Lynchburg to start his professional career this spring. If not, he will go to low Class A Charleston.
“In general, we’re very, very happy with the way our players have reported here,” director of player development Kyle Stark said. “It’s been very encouraging.”
Of Alvarez specifically, he acknowledged that there are “conditioning” issues.
There are two such issues, according to multiple team officials:
1. He is above his playing weight and not as strong as usual.
2. He is experiencing tendinitis in both knees, though it is not serious. He has participated in all drills at this camp, including running.
The latter might explain the former, given that the knees have limited Alvarez’s exercises the past few months. But the original cause of Alvarez’s problems might have been his extended contract dispute last summer. The Pirates were assured all through those three months by Alvarez’s side that he was working out, but team officials confirmed this week that he has not been in peak shape since signing the contract — four years with a $6 million bonus — in late September.
Since then, he has participated in all team functions, including two conditioning camps and this minicamp.
Alvarez declined a general interview request
McCutchen’s added bulk — 5 feet 11, 185 pounds now, every millimeter of it sculpted — came through what he called “hard work and dedication,” as well as simple maturity in turning 22 two months ago.
As minor league field coordinator Jeff Banister put it, “He’s a man now, ain’t he?”
McCutchen batted .283 with nine home runs and 50 RBIs as the youngest player on the Class AAA Indianapolis roster, and the lone missing ingredient to his game would appear to be the power that so many had projected for him. But he was adamant that was not his motivation.
“I just wanted to keep myself strong for the whole season, so getting a little bigger helps,” he said. “I’m starting to mature a little bit. Maybe it’s the metabolism. I know that, when I get on the scale after lifting weights, I’m gaining now. I didn’t used to do that.”
His real motivation, from the sound of it, is making the Pirates’ roster right away, even though their plan has him starting out at Indianapolis again.
“My picture of 2009 is that I’m there right out of spring training, man. The 25-man roster. That’s where you’ve got to set it. That’s where I’ve set it every year. Otherwise, what are you doing? You’re just going to be there.”
Lincoln, 23, is set to start at Class AA Altoona, and he is anticipating his first full worry-free year since reconstructive elbow surgery cost him all 2007. He was 6-10 with a 4.69 ERA last season, split between the two Class A affiliates, but management feels strongly that he outperformed those numbers.
“There’s a big difference in knowing I can just go out there and think about nothing but pitching,” Lincoln said. “That’s probably the best feeling of all.”
My Spin: I don’t think there is any reason to worry about the fact that Alvarez put on a few unwanted pounds in the offseason, though it does leave me to slightly raise an eyebrow about his work ethic going forward. Alvarez and his agent of evil Scott Boras made a huge sloppy mess of the bonus situation this past summer and this is assuredly not the way that Pirates GM Neal Huntington or the rest of the organization want to see their prized pick begin his major league career. Keep an eye on this situation as spring develops.
The big news to me was the physical condition of Andrew McCutchen and, to a lesser extent, Brad Lincoln. The big knock on McCutchen was that he has not hit for as much power as originally projected when the Pirates drafted him in 2005. All of the other skills have progressed nicely, and now there is reason to believe that his added bulk should increase his HR totals going forward. A big spring would dramatically improve his chances of making Pittsburgh’s opening day lineup.
As for Lincoln, the jury is still out on his future development. The Pirates drafted him with the 4th overall pick in ‘06 with visions that he would become their ace within a few seasons, but T.J. surgery derailed him for the better part of a year and when he came back last season, he struggled at two levels (6-10 4.69 ERA 75 K’s in 103.2 IP). When fully healthy, Lincoln has a very lively fastball, hitting 98 MPH at times, and punishing curveball. He is an aggressive pitcher and a great athlete. His size (6-0 215 lb.) leads me to be concerned about his long term durability as a starting pitcher. Given his good velocity and bulldog demeanor, the Pirates could well shift him to the end of a bullpen if his health continues to be an issue. We shall see!
I am going to try to bring more training camp news to you as I come across it and give you a few of my thoughts as to how it will relate to the market of a player’s cards. Have a story for me to check out or some opinions of your own? Feel free to share them in the comments section below!
Current eBay Auctions for Andrew McCutchen
Current eBay Auctions for Pedro Alvarez
Current eBay Auctions for Brad Lincoln