53 Comments

Need to teach Davis the vault lead.

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yankees are now world series bound

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JVM, the true swiss army knife

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GLUE guy

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Thats what they called me in high school basketball, i didnt see the court much

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😂

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For those of you in the know, what could I expect to be happening at Pirate City on Saturday, February 24? Would it be open to fans? Would there be anything worth watching?

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Nevermind, I see that the major league team opens at the Twins that day. So how about Friday, February 23?

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author
Jan 18·edited Jan 18Author

The major leaguers are likely to move to LECOM that day or maybe before, but there'll still be workouts at PC, possibly including major leaguers. Certainly minor leaguers. MiL exhibitions won't have started yet. But there's always a lot of guys out there doing something.

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Thanks! And what time does the gate open for fans? Or, in general, when is the optimal time to arrive? It's been five years since I've been there but that trip was in mid-March when minor league games were happening.

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author
Jan 18Author

Not sure when the gate opens but 10 is usually when things start happening.

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Why dont we bring in a base running consultant to spring training

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I vote for Rickey. Just hearing him refer to himself in the 3rd person will be worth it.

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author
Jan 17Author

This FO would probably bring in Andy LaRoche.

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😂Rod Barajas🤣

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author
Jan 18Author

Huntington just couldn’t resist the toolsy types.

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The Molina brothers, Jacob Stallings, etc..

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colin moran

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sid bream

-- ducks --

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Bae seemed to have too many CS and in fact, if we're criticizing the Pirates' overall success rate of 74% as being "far below" the league average, we should highlight Bae at 73%, especially given that he attempted more steals than any other Pirate. Maybe the league figured him out--in April he was 11 for 12 and after that he was only 13 for 21. By the end of the season, he rarely ran. Definitely someone who could benefit from a good baserunning coach.

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Speed wise, he should easily be a 40 bagger i would think

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Jan 17Author

Maybe just tell him that over sliding is bad.

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Or that taking leads is allowed, he does not take good leads at all, just pure speed.

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Didnt see who the author was, but once I read the phrase "anti-tool guy" i knew it had to be WTM. Well done

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Just for S & G: Check out the differences of our 3 leaders from 2022 to 2023 -

'22 Reynolds - 542 AB, 19 Doub, 4 Trip, 27 HR, 62 RBI, 7/10 SB

'23 Reynolds - 574 AB, 31 Doub, 5 Trip, 24 HR, 84 RBI, 12/13 SB

'22 Suwinski - 326 AB, 11 Doub, 0 Trip, 19 HR, 38 RBI, 4/6 SB

'23 Suwinski - 447 AB, 21 Doub, 2 Trip, 26 HR, 74 RBI, 13/15 SB

'22 Hayes - 505 AB, 24 Doub, 3 Trip, 7 HR, 41 RBI, 20/25 SB

'23 Hayes - 494 AB, 31 Doub, 7 Trip, 15 HR, 61 RBI, 10/16 SB, GOLD GLOVE 3B

If the Pirates knowingly try to do anything differently in 2024, they should all have their heads examined!!

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Honestly, those numbers aren’t anywhere near good enough for a top 3 on a playoff team that is at least a balanced team, let alone an offensive juggernaut like the Braves, Dodgers, or Phillies.

That being said, I am cautiously optimistic all 3 will be more productive this season. My bold prediction is those 3 won’t be the most offensively valuable players…a SS named Cruz is going to announce his presence with authority in 2024!

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I’m not good sorting thru data, but if Olivares was to improve his fielding to average, is he a 2 WAR player?

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I think that could be a reasonable outcome for sure

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> Two of the weakest arms on the Pirates belong to Ke’Bryan Hayes and Jared Triolo

how do they gather this data? from what i can see, those two are so good at positioning themselves, that they throw at that velocity on purpose - - - almost indicating that throwing hard would be a personal sign of failure

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It's measuring all their throws and these two are so automatic wrt range and hands they lob a lot of balls to 1B.

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I wonder if they are measuring arm strength or if they are measuring how hard they throw to first. I would imagine if there is a bases empty ground ball to third base, the goal should be accuracy (where in many cases the speed of the throw doesn't matter that much). I agree with your question.

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I have known this about Hayes now for a while, and it could be that he hasn’t have too, he often has enough time to get it done without uncorking it.

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Jan 17·edited Jan 17

Bingo. The only useful arm strength metric would be max or 90th percentile velo.

Measuring arm strength based on what a guy needs for the typical out could not possibly be less useful. You can't get a guy out-er-er, just like they don't give you more runs for hitting it 4000' than 400'.

Also, arm strength is nearly worthless as a tool. They're big leaguers, every single one of them fuckin hucks it. The difference in time gained from an extra 5-10mph is miniscule.

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I, on the other hand, am solely focused on getting guys the out-er-est as possible

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I’m all for Cruz field the ball, hold onto it a bit longer than expected, then making his throw be 95mph to edge the runner out by half a step. And then celebrate the out with a Sniper celebration. Maybe even “accidentally” bury one in the runners rib cage from time to time to remind ‘em who’s the Alpha.

*Sarcasm Font*

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A few extra fan souvenirs if he can throw it through the netting

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teacher's pet! ;)

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author
Jan 17Author

"arm strength is nearly worthless as a tool"

Until you're Barry Bonds in a game seven.

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Jan 17Liked by WTM

hahaha, swear to god i almost edited to specify *infield* arm strength

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author
Jan 17Author

When the Pirates acquired Jack Wilson, the scouting reports said he'd have to move to second because he lacked the range and arm for short. His arm wasn't strong for a ML SS, but he had an uncanny ability to get any ball he could touch to 1B in short order. I think scouts would call it SS "actions."

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The Great Jack Wilson- an exceptional shortstop.

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Jan 17Liked by WTM

Unrelated yet related. If the rules for qualifying for a Gold Glove today were in place when Jack played he would have several or at a minimum would have made the final 3 multiple times. You know... if they actually were measured on fielding not hitting.

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i have never seen him thrown the hard and never once have i thought he does not have the arm to do so if he wanted

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I appreciate you bringing coaching into the equation. Guys like Ricky Henderson, Vince Coleman, and even a young Starling Marte didn’t really need good coaching to be great base stealers. But I highly doubt the players featured in this article, sans Cutch, are ready to be given a green light to run when they want.

Be it situational awareness, reading a Pitchers first move, knowing how fast the Pitcher is to home and the Catcher is to 2nd/3rd base are all coaching matters. A good 1B coach and bench coach can add a bunch of runs just by being good at their job.

I’m sure the Pirates are aware of this, let’s hope they actually deliver on it this year.

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Yariel to the Blue Jays

Next Manoah to the Bucs!

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Read yesterday that Manoah had several shots in his shoulder at the end of last season, that gives me great pause. I really like the thought process tho, if the shoulder checks out he would be a great buy low target. Kikutchi might be another Jay option, but he only has a year left.

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just means his price in return goes down

Jays will soon wise up and recognize that Nick is a generous return for Manoah

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Still hopeful but increasingly skeptical that we're willing to pay the price to bring in the quality pitcher that Cherington has hinted at.

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Perhaps they can teach these "speedy" guys how to actually run the bases. Take a proper lead, situational awareness (not getting picked off or ever out at third with zero or two outs).

Sensible use of the contact play at third base. Not running into outs at home (thank god Joey Cora is gone.).

Or simply, how to slide into home without breaking your ankle.

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I am Groot.

Translation: "Of course, it’s a bit of a stretch to expect good baserunning coaching from a team that has the Pirates’ track record with hitting and pitching.... OUCH."

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Truth hurts.

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