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« Odds and Ends: Halladay, Lopez, Glavine | Main | Jake Peavy Rumors: Monday »
Pirates Sign Patel, Singh
5:14pm: It's official - the Pirates signed Patel and Singh.
3:39pm: Pirates GM Neal Huntington would not confirm the report when speaking to MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch, but said the Pirates are very interested in signing the two pitchers.
1:30pm: Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker passes along a report from Yahoo! Japan: the Pirates signed Indian pitchers Dinesh Patel and Rinku Singh to minor league deals. Patel and Singh were finalists in the Million Dollar Arm contest in India.
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Why am I not surprised to see the Pirates getting pitchers out of a contest?
Posted by: Steven | November 24, 2008 at 01:34 PM
It's a minor league deal. Zero risk for the Pirates. Good on the Pirates for taking flyers on more international expansion.
Posted by: melonis rex | November 24, 2008 at 01:37 PM
as if overcoming the one in a billion odds of a contest in India wasn't enough for these poor two guys, now they have to overcome what the Pirates do to young pitchers arms? That's just cruel.
Are there anymore straws for the pirates to grasp at?
Posted by: basicslop | November 24, 2008 at 01:40 PM
If the Red Sox had signed these guys commenters would be heaping praise.
Posted by: Tim Dierkes | November 24, 2008 at 01:43 PM
Red Sox would have signed them, onlyto run the concession stands.
Posted by: Cyyoung | November 24, 2008 at 01:48 PM
somewhere...sweeney murti is livid
Posted by: jayzmahal | November 24, 2008 at 01:49 PM
Tim,
That's really more indicitive of the Red Sox Nation and their blind exstasy for thier team than it does about these guys talent.
If the pirates set up a baseball school in India and their scouts recognized and groomed these guys that'd be one thing. But they won a contest.
Just like that one guy who won the Dream Job Contest on ESPN but never ever came close to hosting
Posted by: basicslop | November 24, 2008 at 01:51 PM
"Red Sox would have signed them, onlyto run the concession stands."
That almost sounded like a racial comment, lol.
As for these two signings, not a bad low risk move for the Pirates. They need all the help they can get. Obviously, we'll just have to see how they fare in real action.
Posted by: Patrick | November 24, 2008 at 01:52 PM
The Indians should have signed them, because they are Indians!
Posted by: GlenallenHill | November 24, 2008 at 02:02 PM
As a first generation Indian-American I think it's a great day in American and Indian Baseball. Indians, athletes or otherwise, have a great work ethic and soon we will be seeing more Patels and Singhs and Shahs in pro baseball.
The floodgates have been opened--watch out America, Japan, Korea!
Posted by: Mistyck | November 24, 2008 at 02:12 PM
I don't think they'll pan out, but hey... at least the Pirates are really thinking outside the box.
Posted by: FineHamAbounds | November 24, 2008 at 02:12 PM
Those guys had better watch out, what with their government's crackdown on Pirates and all.
Posted by: Andy K | November 24, 2008 at 02:15 PM
Andy K: Good one! I can just imagine the calls they made back home: "We got signed by the Pirates"
"What are you doing hijacking ships at sea?"
Posted by: Mistyck | November 24, 2008 at 02:21 PM
Brilliant move by the Pirates! They get great marketing material if either one of these two pan out. If not, who cares! Besides the fact that they open up a new fan base if anything positive happens. There is virtually no downside for Bucs.
Posted by: Burtis | November 24, 2008 at 02:25 PM
"If the Red Sox had signed these guys commenters would be heaping praise."
That is very true Tim. Also I don't know how anyone can critisize this move it has incredibly low risk.
Posted by: BucSox | November 24, 2008 at 02:49 PM
What I mean is, it seems unfair to rip on this move simply because it's the Pirates. There is nothing to lose here, I agree.
Posted by: Tim Dierkes | November 24, 2008 at 02:59 PM
any import the Buccos sign would be an upgrade over Yoslan Herrera and Masumi Kawata.
Still, this is a no-risk move and could only improve Pittsburgh's relationship with international players in the future. I like it even if these guys don't sniff the majors.
Posted by: bigpat | November 24, 2008 at 03:08 PM
In a way it's a brilliant move Tim...very low risk and the potential reward is extremely high...suppose one of them makes it to the MLB roster in the next 4 years? The team that has him will see an instant bonanza of season tickets being bought up by Indians in that city. Indians are usually very well off and are in every city that has a MLB team. I know that if the Astros ever signed an Indian player, Houston's sizable Indian and Pakistani community would be all over the Astros boxoffice trying to get tickets. I'm sure it would be the same in Chicago, LA, NYC and other cities that have huge Indian and Pakistani populations...
Posted by: Mistyck | November 24, 2008 at 03:09 PM
Sure we laugh now, but just wait until India starts producing stars just like Venezuala and those guys.
This is a PR move that gets the Pirates on the map, which makes them attractive to free agents from that country the same way Japanese guys want to go to the Mariners and BoSox cause of the azn contingent each of those teams have.
Posted by: BaseBallz | November 24, 2008 at 03:22 PM
Good move for the Pirates hopefully one of the pitchers can contribute for them in the future. Good to see a small market team do something creative.
Indians hate Pakistani people. Pakistani people would support the pirates now.
Posted by: tokyowildcat | November 24, 2008 at 03:31 PM
tokyowildcat:
Back in the home countries, yes they hate each other, here in the States, they get along very well...believe me, I'm a first generation Indian..I know what I'm talking about...lol
Posted by: Mistyck | November 24, 2008 at 03:37 PM
I have not followed this story extremely closely, but did they HAVE to sign both these guys? Or did they figure it better to not split them up?
Posted by: JoeCoolMan24 | November 24, 2008 at 03:53 PM
If Indians embrace Baseball half as much as they embrace cricket, its prob only a matter of time before we see our first Indian MLB all stars.
For what this move does for baseball in general i can't be happier with it.
Posted by: BaseBallz | November 24, 2008 at 03:59 PM
That's really more indicitive of the Red Sox Nation and their blind exstasy for thier team than it does about these guys talent.
Yeah, Red Sox fans are the only ones who think highly of their team's prospects/signings. Get a clue pal.
Posted by: Papelboner | November 24, 2008 at 04:00 PM
No but they are one of the worst at it.
Have some perspective, pal...
Posted by: basicslop | November 24, 2008 at 04:06 PM
As pitching prospects in the Pirates organization, I think it is fair to say that these guys have no chance to succeed...
It is great to see baseball branching out into another nation. I couldn't imagine either of these guys ever making it to the bigs, just because they didn't grow up on the sport.. but I would pay to see them play in a minor league game!!!
Posted by: GoTribe | November 24, 2008 at 04:24 PM
i accually see the pirates being a contender this years with all the young talent they have-i think most of all brandon moss will have a great season for them..... i look for him to break out this year
Posted by: addymaster04 | November 24, 2008 at 04:43 PM
As pitching prospects in the Pirates organization, I think it is fair to say that these guys have no chance to succeed...
I'm not so sure how fair that is. Unless you have actually seen either one attempt to pitch. If either one has the physical tools and is a quick study then it would behoove the Pirates to move them up the ladder simply for marketing and potential fan base expansion. Succeeding, I don't know but from a business standpoint it would be smart for one or both of these guys to get a sip of coffee in the bigs.
Posted by: Burtis | November 24, 2008 at 04:44 PM
Call me crazy but I think a 19 year old who throws 90 mph without any previous baseball experience has a pretty decent shot at making something of himself.
Posted by: CubbyFan23 | November 24, 2008 at 04:58 PM
"i think most of all brandon moss will have a great season for them..... i look for him to break out this year"
That would be nice...except for he's suppose to have (had?) shoulder surgery and miss half the season.
Posted by: LongSufferingBucsFan | November 24, 2008 at 05:11 PM
i'd be a little more excited about this if I didnt think the coaching in the Pirates' system was among the absolute worst in the majors.
Posted by: jclay | November 24, 2008 at 05:24 PM
"Call me crazy but I think a 19 year old who throws 90 mph without any previous baseball experience has a pretty decent shot at making something of himself."
This is definitely true. I don't think the worry is whether the Indians can throw hard or even whether they will have good mechanics, as cricket teaches both. The issue is going to be whether they can develop secondary pitches.
Posted by: AA | November 24, 2008 at 06:25 PM
"This is definitely true. I don't think the worry is whether the Indians can throw hard or even whether they will have good mechanics, as cricket teaches both. The issue is going to be whether they can develop secondary pitches."
I agree, that teaching the kids how to throw offspeed stuff and actually learn how to "pitch" to the hitters will be the difficulty. Smooth mechanics and a big arm are seemingly the characteristics they already hold.
Posted by: scribbletone | November 24, 2008 at 06:43 PM
They were javelin throwers not criketeers in India, btw...
Posted by: Mistyck | November 24, 2008 at 06:57 PM
One of the earlier posts said one of the two did throw a few offspeed pitches in the tryout. It'll be interesting to see how far proper teaching can take raw talent.
Posted by: mford | November 24, 2008 at 07:27 PM
Genius! I am suprised that other teams weren't trying to sign any one of them, or maybe there were other teams?
Posted by: Blitzballer | November 24, 2008 at 08:12 PM
Look it comes down to this. Is this really any different than signing some 16 year old Dominican kid because he can throw a fastball? They're 2 kids with possible potential. The right staff might be able to mold them but still a have a lot of work.
Posted by: start_wearing_purple | November 24, 2008 at 08:48 PM
"i think most of all brandon moss will have a great season for them..... i look for him to break out this year"
"That would be nice...except for he's suppose to have (had?) shoulder surgery and miss half the season."
Actually he was going to have microfracture surgery on his knee that would've kept him out for a good while. It turned out after further examination, he only needed minor arthroscopic surgery and will be ready for spring training.
Posted by: PJB | November 25, 2008 at 07:36 AM
These guys have never played baseball before entering the contest? Just wait until they try to explain the balk rule, differing umpire strike zones, and Tommy John Surgery.
All kidding aside, if these kids throw in the low 90's with a completely fresh arm 19 yo arm void of little league/high school/college pitching abuse, they are definitely worth a look.
Posted by: Teetz1 | November 25, 2008 at 08:40 AM