Haven’t seen any explanation for Bae’s base running in that scenario. He made 3 aborted attempts at stealing 2nd and on at least one , was more then halfway to the base before turning around. Appeared to me that he had some “spooks” and that could be a serious problem going forward. Any insight?
Always thought the Cards did a great job of teaching their guys, played the game the right way. Our brain trust drops the bag of bats & balls & goes to have a smoke. Buttermaker stuff.
Especially considering they were basically stealing bases at will. Yet the guy whose primary, and probably only, asset is his speed and (supposed) ability to swipe bases is somehow the worst baserunning instincts
i'm also not sure how much i can blame coaching for Oneil Cruz hucking every ball he gets like Uncle Rico. New to the position, I get it, but how can you play baseball from the time you could walk and not have even the slightest inkling of presence on the field.
all i can figure is that the game just still speeds up on these guys.
Murphy 3/27: There is no way you can carry Isiah Kiner-Falefa as your everyday shortstop for an entire 162. The arm isn’t going to work.
Murphy 3/29: It really feels like Oneil Cruz is really going to teeter the line of providing a positive net outcome, doesn’t it?
The defense lapses have been fairly noticeable, and a few are more mental than anything.
...
If the move of Cruz from SS to CF isn't helping his net value but forces us to play someone who should be a role player at SS, the logical conclusion is...
I know they won't move him back, but the pairing of these two observations struck me. Are we any better off now than we were with Cruz at SS? Might we be worse off?
Much worse because we are now paying $7.5 mil for the privilege of watching IKF imitate an MLB SS. Another $1.15 mil for Frazier; and $4 mil for Pham. That's $12.65 mil - this is not the way to build a contender. Fire the Manager, turn the job over to Don Kelly as Interim Manager, allow him one hire to be the Bench Coach, and go from there. We will be stuck with this roster for at least 4 months until the trading deadline, but that would not keep us from bringing players in and out from AAA as long as they have options remaining. That in no way means that BC will remain as the GM - that's Nutting's decision to make.
We can debate whether or not there should be some adjustments to the roster or the playing time plan BC/DS have mapped based on what we saw in Miami.
What’s not debatable is Pirates brass’ lack of urgency to address problems. History has shown us, right or wrong, they exercise great patience with veteran players.
As such, I’m not expecting either Holderman or Bednar to be moved from their late inning role after one series.
I said this in the winter, if Bednar pitches in 2024 like he did in 2022-2023 then our bullpen would not have been viewed nearly as bad in 2024. Here we are 4 games in and global statements about the bullpen being terrible are flowing. The full bullpen grade SHOULD be bad when your two used as 'most trusted' have been bad (comment about Bednar maybe having bad fortune on Sunday in comment below noted). The rest of the bullpen 11 appearances - 1 earned run (also noting some runners on 2nd in extras have scored). It hasn't always been pretty... but I'd take that all year long. Certainly screams of a full bullpen by committee for a while knowing that the 11 appearances / 1 earned run trend will NOT continue even in the Dodgers pen.
I sill feel Bednar should have to pitch his way back into high leverage. It won't hurt the BP to test everyone out in different roles. I like Ashcraft in the BP. He's low on innings in the minors due to injuries. That's got RP written all over it. Punch his electricity into the backend and see if it sparks a revolution.
Not sure what will help this offense. Fire Shelton and those lineups, maybe? Spend money? Nope, let's just keep doing the same thing every year. Nice work BC.
The Bednar vitriol is unwarranted. He threw 8 pitches, one was dribbled down the 3rd base side for IF single. Yes he threw a wild pitch to the second batter. But he wasn't knocked around the park like he was in game 1. Quite a bit of overreaction going on, understandable losing 3 out of 4.
Note to Anthony: Don't trust LameDay about the 4 feet, the ball went maybe 30-40 ft to where Key fielded it.
Neither one can hit. When does "upside" become "dreamside?" Triolo looked awful at the plate against the Marlins. IKF isn't much better but at least he got on base a couple times. Either one is a major league hole at ss.
Starting pitching - no complaints although more efficiency and longer starts are a must this season.
Bullpen - terrible start; awful back end; some possibility of diamonds in the rough
Defense - sloppy
Offense - too little power; abhorrent batting with RISP; only half the lineup is competitive
Roster - embarrassing; having Triolo, Valdez, IKF, Frazier and Bae on the same roster is downright criminal; puzzling to have the 4 bullpen lefties with seemingly better options at AAA
Hope on the roster: Suwinski looked good at the plate; Cruz's patience at the plate; I'm big on Lawrence in the bullpen and Ferguson looks solid; other than opening day I like Santana
Hopeless feelings on the roster: choose one of Triolo, Bae, IKF, Valdez, or Frazier for your utility guy and the rest could go and never be missed; Bednar and Holderman aren't going to cut it in meaningful games unless they find success in blowouts
Management: fire Shelton and BC yesterday; sell the team (broken records...)
I'm expecting Bae to go on the 10-day IL, he clearly tweaked his hammy, and he'll be feeling it today. Even if he didn't, the phantom 10-day should be employed here!
Haven’t seen any explanation for Bae’s base running in that scenario. He made 3 aborted attempts at stealing 2nd and on at least one , was more then halfway to the base before turning around. Appeared to me that he had some “spooks” and that could be a serious problem going forward. Any insight?
At some point I struggle to blame the general lack of baseball IQ from some of these guys on coaching. It's that bad.
Always thought the Cards did a great job of teaching their guys, played the game the right way. Our brain trust drops the bag of bats & balls & goes to have a smoke. Buttermaker stuff.
Especially considering they were basically stealing bases at will. Yet the guy whose primary, and probably only, asset is his speed and (supposed) ability to swipe bases is somehow the worst baserunning instincts
i'm also not sure how much i can blame coaching for Oneil Cruz hucking every ball he gets like Uncle Rico. New to the position, I get it, but how can you play baseball from the time you could walk and not have even the slightest inkling of presence on the field.
all i can figure is that the game just still speeds up on these guys.
Like for making me chuckle on the Uncle Rico reference
Uncle Rico graduated from BS football tales to the incredibly shady Greg aka Gary in the White Lotus.
Those weren't bs. Every one knows they would have won state if he was in the game.
I used to have 3 alpacas. None named Tina.
See them mountains...
Same. Got one from me too.
betcha Oneil can throw it over the Clemente Bridge i'll tell you what
I heard back in the day BnP could get one up on Mount Warshington into the wind
And in some cases like their trying to play hero or make sportscenter top 10
Murphy 3/27: There is no way you can carry Isiah Kiner-Falefa as your everyday shortstop for an entire 162. The arm isn’t going to work.
Murphy 3/29: It really feels like Oneil Cruz is really going to teeter the line of providing a positive net outcome, doesn’t it?
The defense lapses have been fairly noticeable, and a few are more mental than anything.
...
If the move of Cruz from SS to CF isn't helping his net value but forces us to play someone who should be a role player at SS, the logical conclusion is...
I know they won't move him back, but the pairing of these two observations struck me. Are we any better off now than we were with Cruz at SS? Might we be worse off?
Much worse because we are now paying $7.5 mil for the privilege of watching IKF imitate an MLB SS. Another $1.15 mil for Frazier; and $4 mil for Pham. That's $12.65 mil - this is not the way to build a contender. Fire the Manager, turn the job over to Don Kelly as Interim Manager, allow him one hire to be the Bench Coach, and go from there. We will be stuck with this roster for at least 4 months until the trading deadline, but that would not keep us from bringing players in and out from AAA as long as they have options remaining. That in no way means that BC will remain as the GM - that's Nutting's decision to make.
Why do we keep talking about Don Kelly? Guy feels like he's been around baseball for 20 years now and he's still just a guy.
We can debate whether or not there should be some adjustments to the roster or the playing time plan BC/DS have mapped based on what we saw in Miami.
What’s not debatable is Pirates brass’ lack of urgency to address problems. History has shown us, right or wrong, they exercise great patience with veteran players.
As such, I’m not expecting either Holderman or Bednar to be moved from their late inning role after one series.
the more damning question is what in the hell else do they have to put in their place.
Jones when he returns.
if not the bounty of other upper level arms available
I said this in the winter, if Bednar pitches in 2024 like he did in 2022-2023 then our bullpen would not have been viewed nearly as bad in 2024. Here we are 4 games in and global statements about the bullpen being terrible are flowing. The full bullpen grade SHOULD be bad when your two used as 'most trusted' have been bad (comment about Bednar maybe having bad fortune on Sunday in comment below noted). The rest of the bullpen 11 appearances - 1 earned run (also noting some runners on 2nd in extras have scored). It hasn't always been pretty... but I'd take that all year long. Certainly screams of a full bullpen by committee for a while knowing that the 11 appearances / 1 earned run trend will NOT continue even in the Dodgers pen.
I sill feel Bednar should have to pitch his way back into high leverage. It won't hurt the BP to test everyone out in different roles. I like Ashcraft in the BP. He's low on innings in the minors due to injuries. That's got RP written all over it. Punch his electricity into the backend and see if it sparks a revolution.
Not sure what will help this offense. Fire Shelton and those lineups, maybe? Spend money? Nope, let's just keep doing the same thing every year. Nice work BC.
The Bednar vitriol is unwarranted. He threw 8 pitches, one was dribbled down the 3rd base side for IF single. Yes he threw a wild pitch to the second batter. But he wasn't knocked around the park like he was in game 1. Quite a bit of overreaction going on, understandable losing 3 out of 4.
Note to Anthony: Don't trust LameDay about the 4 feet, the ball went maybe 30-40 ft to where Key fielded it.
Gameday measures on the fly
Epic Editor's Note.
Tell me why Triolo can’t be an everyday SS? Put your best gloves in the game and his bat has higher upside than IKF.
Neither one can hit. When does "upside" become "dreamside?" Triolo looked awful at the plate against the Marlins. IKF isn't much better but at least he got on base a couple times. Either one is a major league hole at ss.
I don’t think Triolo has the feet to play SS. Replacing IKF with Triolo would be solving one problem for another.
And I’m not sure how one can call Triolo an offensive upgrade to anyone on the 40-man.
One observation left out, the strike outs!!!!!
what about them?
Our hitters, 37 in four games……
a 22% rate, which is exactly league-average.
bb % is way up there for the hitters.
It felt like way above average, thanks.
Starting pitching - no complaints although more efficiency and longer starts are a must this season.
Bullpen - terrible start; awful back end; some possibility of diamonds in the rough
Defense - sloppy
Offense - too little power; abhorrent batting with RISP; only half the lineup is competitive
Roster - embarrassing; having Triolo, Valdez, IKF, Frazier and Bae on the same roster is downright criminal; puzzling to have the 4 bullpen lefties with seemingly better options at AAA
Hope on the roster: Suwinski looked good at the plate; Cruz's patience at the plate; I'm big on Lawrence in the bullpen and Ferguson looks solid; other than opening day I like Santana
Hopeless feelings on the roster: choose one of Triolo, Bae, IKF, Valdez, or Frazier for your utility guy and the rest could go and never be missed; Bednar and Holderman aren't going to cut it in meaningful games unless they find success in blowouts
Management: fire Shelton and BC yesterday; sell the team (broken records...)
I'm expecting Bae to go on the 10-day IL, he clearly tweaked his hammy, and he'll be feeling it today. Even if he didn't, the phantom 10-day should be employed here!
They should do a phantom IL for Bednar also.
If Bednar starts the season in EST we might be 3-1. Tough medicine