Not just Frazier. DeJong outhit Pham by 30 OPS points, is 6 years younger and was worth 1.8 more fWAR, but he got just a quarter of what bumbling Ben wasted on Pham.
The bumbler doesn’t just sign bad players, he pays more for them than better players get. There isn’t a single aspect of this that he can do at anything remotely close to a competent level.
He has lost some weight, which we all assume will help a pitcher. I'm not sure it helps a power pitcher, but really don't know what I'm talking about there. We also need Denny Santana to continue where he left off. Could Holderman ever be a good set-up guy again? What about any of our prospect starters to step in be a surprise closer or set-up guy?
Nah, just lack of maturity in knowing how to apply very new data. He *does* have a flat fastball, but his plane and extension mitigate an issue that has caused others to struggle and also pairs it with unfathomable secondaries.
I'm sure *some* of it was looking for an angle others weren't taking, but i don't think that's generally a bad thing if it's supported. half a dozen outlets writing the same thing as one another is boring.
So to tease this out from a guy we drafted at 1-1, was the “flat” fastball also an issue for Cole? And the difference with Cole/Skenes fastball might be the plane/angle Skenes has makes it tougher to hit? With the realization we’re going back 15 years now to Cole and we know much more now than we did then, I remember analysts going gaga over his delivery being so smooth. But the downside of that is the ball is easy to pick up for hitters. Is that part of why a guys heater may play down?
I’m genuinely curious about fastballs and shapes and why some work and some don’t. It’s fun, even though I don’t understand much of it!
I liked Frazier his first go around but to fully beat a dead horse topic, this projected roster in many ways shows why his signing puzzled me. I think Yorke and/or Cook were better candidates to fill that role.. yes they are RH vs LH but with Cook he fills some positional need (plus OF defender and 1B experience) and Yorke just feels ready for a MLB test.
But they won't be treated like depth. Yeah you can try to make the younger guys push their way in but they've shown it's almost impossible to push the vets off the team.
Worse than an injury is committing to playing Frazier to hit sub .600 for more than half the season. No depth would be much better than Frazier. Peguero could do that or better and he'd be the depth without Frazier. I'm fine with pham.
I think that also regarding Peguero and always felt it best to play for the future. He's 24, two years younger than Gonzales and an excellent second baseman as well as a VG Shortstop. I would have him at 2B, IKF at SS coming out of ST. Peguero takes reps a few games a week at SS, and Nick Yorke, 23, fills in at 2B. That becomes the MI in late July when IKF is traded.
NG played a lot at 2B in 2024, but only a .709 OPS, 4+K/BB, .665 OPS against RHP, not much power potential. I'd give the opp's to the younger players - Peguero and Yorke. Toss in Termarr Johnson still only 21 at AA. Moving NG is inevitable. Do it early.
What Hague can do with Frazier? Anyway i actually don't have any faith in Peguero but I'd rather see him than Frazier and I'd rather see Yorke or even bae. I mean alika is better than Frazier right?
Obviously the pitching staff looks good but unless we get some bounce back from Hayes, Suwinski and Davis I don't see this squad getting to .500. Pham and Frazier just don't move the needle IMHO.
I agree. This off season is a complete fail by BC. Offense will be bottom 5 in baseball unless we get a few breakouts and I have no confidence in our options.
Pirates don't care about defense. Look how many players they play out of position and that's already the plan for this year. Plus they could have gotten an outfielder with plus defense instead they opt for a 38 yr old washed up guy that has no range. Bullpen they added nobody that is a lock for being good so we are running back the inconsistent pen of last year and expecting better results. Pham and Frazier are just wasted roster spots. I'm not optimistic about any bounce back from Hayes or Suwinski. I just see this team sitting at 76 wins. They did absolutely nothing to improve the mlb roster.
Yeah, I think subbing Endy for Hank is a given. Then the conversation starts about who plays 1B. Endy? Hank? Cook? Darick? These seem like the natural fill-ins until Horwitz is ready.
So, you’re projecting Endy to be at AAA? No way, especially off the comments from Shelton and Cherington over the past couple days. He’s a lock for the #2 catcher spot unless he shows nothing offensively in spring training.
Unless he doesn’t hit a ball out of the infield in spring training, I think Endy is a lock for the opening day roster. Of Bart and Davis, he is easily the best defensive catcher and I think will be the preference for most of the starting pitchers by the end of camp.
I’m hoping Davis can adjust to MLB pitching, especially the upper 90’s heat. I’d prefer he start in AAA, get a couple starts a week at 1B, go on a tear at the plate and get called up early in the year and play where needed. Injuries will happen. Davis seems to be highly strung. Coming up mid season might be a better way to ease him back into the show.
If they somehow beat projections this year, I feel like Endy and Suwinski will be a big reason why (and, obviously Billy Cook!).
Triple A doesn't do anything for Davis, at least in my opinion. Endy is definitely the better defender but he also lost an entire season. It'd be understandable to take it easy on him to start as he gets his bearing back when it comes to actual games.
Davis needs to show he can hit major league pitching. That's why I'm ok with them starting the way I have them.
I don't think this is even a question if Endy isn't hurt last year, I think he is just the backup catcher and they are finding a new position for Davis.
Endy is still a big part of the future for me, but like anyone coming back from missing an entire season, it may take a little time to get in the swing of things.
"Triple A doesn't do anything for Davis, at least in my opinion."
I've always been mystified by the view that a guy who's dominated AAA pitching will learn to hit major league pitching by dominating AAA pitching some more.
Yeah, I’m not actually saying dominating at AAA will help anyone adjust to MLB pitching. My point was Davis specific. He seems to press, and maybe he’ll never get it, but I think him doing well in AAA (and hopefully getting some time at 1B), will act as a springboard when he’s called up. It’s also why I said I hope he worked in the off-season to better handle MLB fastballs. I don’t think getting a Sunday start is going to help him at all.
At this point, if they are to get any value from Davis, it will be from his bat and probably at a position other than catcher.
I haven't checked the options each player has left and don't fully understand how that works. More importantly, will that be involved in any decision-making from where they begin?
Don't risk losing Palacios? Really? They waived him last year and he was not claimed (for a 40 man roster slot only). And we want him on the major league team? He is the definition of a AAAA player. He should not be on the roster. If somebody claims him, good luck.
I've been in this corner all winter partly because I want to see Hank get MLB AB's. The key to me is I anticipate the backup catcher getting quality playing time. I think Bart (regardless of spring results) is the starting catcher (3-4 days a week) and part time DH (1 or 2 days) as Cutch is not a 162 game starter. That leaves 3-4 starts each week for the backup catcher. With Endy underwhelming with the bat at MLB (same with Hank) but also coming off a lost season, it seems reasonable to let Endy get full time AB's in Indy while Hank gets a shot in MLB. I am past worrying about Hank being the first pick, it is about him having conquered AAA and seeing what we have and in the perfect world it leads to a surplus at catcher. It is clear this board really likes Endy (I am in that boat), but we just can't ignore his MLB hitting struggles (not unusual) his first go around. So let's not start plugging him into 'BAT' positions until we know if he - you know - actually has a bat.
https://x.com/JoeDoyleMiLB/status/1890898573614624806
One of the 2 that didn't sign that I wish did from the '24 draft.
Oops.
They seemed to run short of money. That probably comes with the turf when you're drafting a bunch of prep guys early.
The Nats just signed Paul DeJong for less money than we paid to Adam Frazier. He hit 24 HR last year.
Not just Frazier. DeJong outhit Pham by 30 OPS points, is 6 years younger and was worth 1.8 more fWAR, but he got just a quarter of what bumbling Ben wasted on Pham.
The bumbler doesn’t just sign bad players, he pays more for them than better players get. There isn’t a single aspect of this that he can do at anything remotely close to a competent level.
You're right, but remember this: GMBC signed those guys because they want to win!!!!
I want to win! Gimme $4M!!
Can you hit .150 and own a first baseman's glove?
Pirates finally got around to signing Pham. Moreta to IL-60.
Is it too cliche to note how big a deal David Bednar becomes for the 2025 club?
He has lost some weight, which we all assume will help a pitcher. I'm not sure it helps a power pitcher, but really don't know what I'm talking about there. We also need Denny Santana to continue where he left off. Could Holderman ever be a good set-up guy again? What about any of our prospect starters to step in be a surprise closer or set-up guy?
Holderman should be-I’m betting much of his issue last year was pitching with the wrist issue.
I think Mike Burrows is a top 3 leverage arm for them right now if he ends up in the pen.
https://youtube.com/shorts/ggyGfl318Gs?si=8l9q4_3Bwe9MBiiJ
Looking forward to this on Opening Day!
I still remember when he was drafted, the prospect writers were saying there were doubts about him because his fastball was too straight. Good call.
How many of those were just farming for clicks?
Nah, just lack of maturity in knowing how to apply very new data. He *does* have a flat fastball, but his plane and extension mitigate an issue that has caused others to struggle and also pairs it with unfathomable secondaries.
I'm sure *some* of it was looking for an angle others weren't taking, but i don't think that's generally a bad thing if it's supported. half a dozen outlets writing the same thing as one another is boring.
So to tease this out from a guy we drafted at 1-1, was the “flat” fastball also an issue for Cole? And the difference with Cole/Skenes fastball might be the plane/angle Skenes has makes it tougher to hit? With the realization we’re going back 15 years now to Cole and we know much more now than we did then, I remember analysts going gaga over his delivery being so smooth. But the downside of that is the ball is easy to pick up for hitters. Is that part of why a guys heater may play down?
I’m genuinely curious about fastballs and shapes and why some work and some don’t. It’s fun, even though I don’t understand much of it!
I look at things from a different angle because I'm wired differently. :)
I look at things from a different angle because I'm upside down.
Truth is, that's practically everything on the internet these days.
The BCFC will be filing a grievance over the fact that our namesake is somehow not included in this roster
I liked Frazier his first go around but to fully beat a dead horse topic, this projected roster in many ways shows why his signing puzzled me. I think Yorke and/or Cook were better candidates to fill that role.. yes they are RH vs LH but with Cook he fills some positional need (plus OF defender and 1B experience) and Yorke just feels ready for a MLB test.
frazier and pham for depth
not much in the system after you get past yorke and cook
But they won't be treated like depth. Yeah you can try to make the younger guys push their way in but they've shown it's almost impossible to push the vets off the team.
sounds good until there are injuries
Worse than an injury is committing to playing Frazier to hit sub .600 for more than half the season. No depth would be much better than Frazier. Peguero could do that or better and he'd be the depth without Frazier. I'm fine with pham.
Not as down on Fraz as you. I think he'll do okay this year for a left handed hitting infielder
I am ok with seeing what Matt Hague can do with him
Peguero might push IKF sooner than we think
I think that also regarding Peguero and always felt it best to play for the future. He's 24, two years younger than Gonzales and an excellent second baseman as well as a VG Shortstop. I would have him at 2B, IKF at SS coming out of ST. Peguero takes reps a few games a week at SS, and Nick Yorke, 23, fills in at 2B. That becomes the MI in late July when IKF is traded.
NG played a lot at 2B in 2024, but only a .709 OPS, 4+K/BB, .665 OPS against RHP, not much power potential. I'd give the opp's to the younger players - Peguero and Yorke. Toss in Termarr Johnson still only 21 at AA. Moving NG is inevitable. Do it early.
What Hague can do with Frazier? Anyway i actually don't have any faith in Peguero but I'd rather see him than Frazier and I'd rather see Yorke or even bae. I mean alika is better than Frazier right?
I'm likin' Billy Cook and Nick Yorke. I hope they both make some tracks in ST, which lead to the starting roster
Obviously the pitching staff looks good but unless we get some bounce back from Hayes, Suwinski and Davis I don't see this squad getting to .500. Pham and Frazier just don't move the needle IMHO.
I agree. This off season is a complete fail by BC. Offense will be bottom 5 in baseball unless we get a few breakouts and I have no confidence in our options.
w the pitching they have all they have to do is play good defense and marginally improve offensively.
Hayes, Suwinski and Tank cannot UNDER perform last year's big league results...
Pham, Fraz, B-Rey and Cutch are all professional hitters.
So I am saying marginal improvement with the bat is what they were looking for and I think what they got.
Defense and marginal improvement at the plate this year and we're in the playoffs.
But... ya never know... the bullpen could really suck again, but can it suck THAT hard?
Hell man, just the trade up from Haines to the Hit Collector and you've got SOMETHING
Pirates don't care about defense. Look how many players they play out of position and that's already the plan for this year. Plus they could have gotten an outfielder with plus defense instead they opt for a 38 yr old washed up guy that has no range. Bullpen they added nobody that is a lock for being good so we are running back the inconsistent pen of last year and expecting better results. Pham and Frazier are just wasted roster spots. I'm not optimistic about any bounce back from Hayes or Suwinski. I just see this team sitting at 76 wins. They did absolutely nothing to improve the mlb roster.
Ferguson is good and was a solid bullpen addition... even a steal at that price.
I don’t know about a given with Endy starting in the Bigs. Lost a whole year in 2024. Let’s get him playing 5 days a week in Indy for a month.
Yeah, I think subbing Endy for Hank is a given. Then the conversation starts about who plays 1B. Endy? Hank? Cook? Darick? These seem like the natural fill-ins until Horwitz is ready.
So, you’re projecting Endy to be at AAA? No way, especially off the comments from Shelton and Cherington over the past couple days. He’s a lock for the #2 catcher spot unless he shows nothing offensively in spring training.
As of now, yes. If he does play well in spring maybe change it up.
But he missed an entire season basically. That’s really the thought process.
Let him get some consistent at bats to get in the swing of things while giving Davis a chance to work things out.
If he doesn’t, you make the switch.
If not for that I’m writing him in as the backup and then probably wanting to have that conversation about Bart seeing time at first.
Unless he doesn’t hit a ball out of the infield in spring training, I think Endy is a lock for the opening day roster. Of Bart and Davis, he is easily the best defensive catcher and I think will be the preference for most of the starting pitchers by the end of camp.
I’m hoping Davis can adjust to MLB pitching, especially the upper 90’s heat. I’d prefer he start in AAA, get a couple starts a week at 1B, go on a tear at the plate and get called up early in the year and play where needed. Injuries will happen. Davis seems to be highly strung. Coming up mid season might be a better way to ease him back into the show.
If they somehow beat projections this year, I feel like Endy and Suwinski will be a big reason why (and, obviously Billy Cook!).
Triple A doesn't do anything for Davis, at least in my opinion. Endy is definitely the better defender but he also lost an entire season. It'd be understandable to take it easy on him to start as he gets his bearing back when it comes to actual games.
Davis needs to show he can hit major league pitching. That's why I'm ok with them starting the way I have them.
I don't think this is even a question if Endy isn't hurt last year, I think he is just the backup catcher and they are finding a new position for Davis.
Endy is still a big part of the future for me, but like anyone coming back from missing an entire season, it may take a little time to get in the swing of things.
"Triple A doesn't do anything for Davis, at least in my opinion."
I've always been mystified by the view that a guy who's dominated AAA pitching will learn to hit major league pitching by dominating AAA pitching some more.
Yeah, I’m not actually saying dominating at AAA will help anyone adjust to MLB pitching. My point was Davis specific. He seems to press, and maybe he’ll never get it, but I think him doing well in AAA (and hopefully getting some time at 1B), will act as a springboard when he’s called up. It’s also why I said I hope he worked in the off-season to better handle MLB fastballs. I don’t think getting a Sunday start is going to help him at all.
At this point, if they are to get any value from Davis, it will be from his bat and probably at a position other than catcher.
Shelton specifically said they're being careful not to undermine his confidence, so it sounds like they agree with you about pressing.
I haven't checked the options each player has left and don't fully understand how that works. More importantly, will that be involved in any decision-making from where they begin?
As far as Endy and Davis they are both good, so that won’t impact anything.
Joshua Palacios is out of options so me not having him here means he’d had to go through waivers.
Suwinski has an option(s) left so I guess if it’s close, they could go with Palacios so they don’t risk losing him
Don't risk losing Palacios? Really? They waived him last year and he was not claimed (for a 40 man roster slot only). And we want him on the major league team? He is the definition of a AAAA player. He should not be on the roster. If somebody claims him, good luck.
I mean, the roster I put together above doesn't have Palacios, which means I would have him going through waivers.
I was just going through hypotheticals at that point.
I've been in this corner all winter partly because I want to see Hank get MLB AB's. The key to me is I anticipate the backup catcher getting quality playing time. I think Bart (regardless of spring results) is the starting catcher (3-4 days a week) and part time DH (1 or 2 days) as Cutch is not a 162 game starter. That leaves 3-4 starts each week for the backup catcher. With Endy underwhelming with the bat at MLB (same with Hank) but also coming off a lost season, it seems reasonable to let Endy get full time AB's in Indy while Hank gets a shot in MLB. I am past worrying about Hank being the first pick, it is about him having conquered AAA and seeing what we have and in the perfect world it leads to a surplus at catcher. It is clear this board really likes Endy (I am in that boat), but we just can't ignore his MLB hitting struggles (not unusual) his first go around. So let's not start plugging him into 'BAT' positions until we know if he - you know - actually has a bat.
seems to be a shortage of first basemen in the league
It's only because Rowdy Tellez moved to the mound.
ty france starting for the twins