WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2006
A-:  2-0-0, 1.23 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 22 IP, 3.3 BB/9, 9.0 K/9
A:  1-1-0, 4.99 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, 39.2 IP, 3.2 BB/9, 7.3 K/9 

Had a good debut in short season ball, then moved up to low A for eight more starts.  He didn’t pitch well there, although he had passable BB and K rates.

2007
A+:  6-4-0, 3.42 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 79 IP, 1.6 BB/9, 5.6 K/9 

Missed about half of 2007 with elbow and back issues.  When he pitched in high A, he had mediocre peripherals apart from a low walk rate.  BA rated him the Marlins’ 2nd and 3rd best prospect prior to the 2007 and 2008 seasons, respectively.

2008
AA:  5-9-0, 5.02 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, 143.1 IP, 3.2 BB/9, 4.1 K/9 

Struggled in AA, as hitters batted .306 against him and his K rate was very low.

2009
AAA:  2-8-0, 6.07 ERA, 1.81 WHIP, 83 IP, 4.8 BB/9, 5.6 K/9 

Continued to struggle in AAA and moved to the bullpen after eight starts.  The move reportedly increased his velocity to the mid-90s, but hitters hammered him for a .315 average and he had almost as many walks as Ks.

2010
AAA:  3-3-0, 5.71 ERA, 1.70 WHIP, 63 IP, 4.4 BB/9, 8.0 K/9
MLB:  0-0-0, 13.50 ERA, 3.50 WHIP, 2 IP, 22.5 BB/9, 4.5 K/9 

Pitching strictly in relief in AAA, Sinkbeil improved only slightly, still allowing a .296 opponents’ average.  He walked too many but almost doubled his K rate.  He got a brief callup to the majors and walked five in two innings.

2011
A+:  2-6-0, 5.11 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 61.2 IP, 3.1 BB/9, 5.4 K/9
AA:  0-1-0, 4.03 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 22.1 IP, 0.8 BB/9, 9.3 K/9 

The Pirates sent Sinkbeil to Bradenton, where he divided his time between starting and relieving.  He wasn’t very effective, allowing too many hits and not fanning many.  The Pirates promoted him to Altoona late in the season when the Curve needed a pitcher.  They were probably reluctant to promote any of the Marauders’ real pitching prospects because the team was headed to the playoffs.  He pitched surprisingly well in his first two starts, struggled in his third and got bombed in his fourth.

Sinkbeil has had very little success as a pro and the fact that the Marlins released him with two options remaining isn’t a good sign.  For Neal Huntington’s first two years as GM, the Pirates loaded up on marginal Yankees’ pitching prospects.  More recently, they seem to have transferred their obsession to efforts to rescue failed Marlins’ prospects.  Sinkbeil has one more year remaining before minor league free agency, so he could be back at Bradenton or Altoona in 2012.