10 Observations: Double Nick Yorke look, Ke'Bryan Hayes defense, Tsung-Che Cheng
Notes on Nick Yorke, Ke'Bryan Hayes' defense and Tsung-Che Cheng
Murphy 3/17: One of the things I enjoyed the most about my trip to Bradenton was being able to get into LECOM early enough to watch the major leaguers go through their pregame drills.
Once Ke’Bryan Hayes returned I wanted a chance just to watch him field grounders, as many as possible.
It’s just so simple. No wasted movement, everything is direct, he processes, gets into position and makes the play. It’s so calming to watch.
Murphy 3/17: I don’t feel like Nick Yorke has been bad at first base, but it certainly has shown how new he is at this, which is fine. I give him all the credit in the world for jumping at the chance to find a way to make the major league team.
First base gave him the best opportunity, and he ran with it. The bat is what will make him a regular anyway, so if he struggles at a position he’s never played professionally, so be it.
Murphy 3/17: Paul Skenes has such a quick pick-off move, I’m not sure TV does it justice. He was really leaning into it during his start against Minnesota, and I think if someone is there who isn’t brand new at first, he probably gets at least one pickoff there.
Murphy 3/17: Speaking of Yorke, and also of no wasted moments, I present to you this base hit I got from the open side:
I’m super excited about this kid and believe he’s got a bright future ahead of him. I had a chance to talk to him while I was in Bradenton, and he just wanted to play ball. Whatever it takes (playing into the first base observations), he’s going to do it.
I'm still not sure how he’d fit on the major league roster, but that’s where he should start (he was, of course, optioned, but that doesn’t change my opinion that he should have made the opening day roster).
Murphy 3/18: Outside of that one hanging breaking ball, Thomas Harrington looked good against the Phillies. The fastball was carrying a little more than it usually does and even though it averaged 93 mph, there wasn’t as much solid contact against it.
He’s major league-ready, and that opportunity may be coming sooner than expected.
Murphy 3/18: There aren’t too many better defenders in the Pirates’ system than Javier Rivas. He’s a taller guy for shortstop, but he doesn’t let that slow him down. Everything is smooth and really easy for him.
He also started hitting the ball harder last year, but still couldn’t quite make enough contact to make himself an actual prospect, despite the floor that the glove would make.
So, to see him come up and hit that walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth, completing their comeback, just makes you think of what kind of prospect he could be if he didn’t strike out so much.
Murphy 3/18: The ERA isn’t pretty, but if we are looking at that in spring training, I’m not sure we’ve learned much over the past couple of years. I know they haven’t committed to David Bednar being the closer just yet, but that inning he had confirms to me that he should get the nod to begin the year.
Yeah, it’s easy to say that after a good outing, and not the blowups he’s had this spring.
But I’ll always bet on stuff, and there is still plenty of that there.
Murphy 3/19: The Jared Jones news stinks. There is no way around it. For as beautiful as the game can be, it can also be just as cruel.
Hearing ‘elbow discomfort’ and ‘second opinion’ is never good, but at least the Pirates are adamant they are just being super safe. It does take me back to last year when his velocity had that weird drop, and he was out there grunting—something I can’t ever remember him doing.
Everything at the time checked out fine, but also could have been a starting point that has led us here.
It also could be nothing, and Jones could be back fairly quickly. Just an unfortunate reminder of the cruel nature of this sport.
WTM 3/21: This may just be trying to read tea leaves, but every time I’ve seen anything resembling a AAA lineup at Pirate City so far this spring, Tsung-Che Cheng has been at short. That’s remained true since Liover Peguero got optioned. He came into Thursday’s game halfway through, at second. Doesn’t look good for Peguero’s spot on the depth chart.
Murphy 3/21: While he didn’t stick the landing (he slipped coming out the batter's box), that was a super simple inside-out swing from Will Taylor on his RBI single Saturday against the Red Sox.
Taylor was ranked one spot ahead of Bubba Chandler on MLB Pipeline’s 2021 draft rankings and was generating some first-round buzz before opting for Clemson.
Now, they are both in the same system. Injuries have already had an impact on Taylor, but he’s still a player to monitor as he continues to move away from football and focus only on baseball.
It’s the super athletic players that you always want to bet on finding a way to make the best of what they have.
Support the site by becoming a paid member, and get access to all of our premium content, including our Top 25 list with complete player write-ups and video breakdowns, which come out weekly.
It will also give access to my player feature articles from on-site trips.
We have monthly and yearly plans available, with the latter costing an average of $4.16/month
I am Groot.
Anyone know if the Bucs are on SnP today?
Interesting note on Peggy. I agree that it may be signaling the end for him. He really needs to come out of the gate swinging a hot bat.