I just finished watching the GBO game, first of all I didn't know we had a pitcher named 'Sigh' Nielson and people keep saying managing and coaching doesn't matter because players learn all the fundamentals they should need in little league. Geesh, if it was only that simple. I just watched the last of the two innings of the game with guys trying to be heroes and throwing those little league fundamentals out the window, lol.
I think the organization needs to emphasize playing within your skill set for the ultimate success or I think I might have read something like that in a self help book 50 years ago, lol.
I've been saying that for a while now! Lol put the players in their best position (pun intended, I guess?) to succeed. The trial and error of making every player as utility as possible has not been fruitful.
It works out if a player is a Mookie Betts, Cody Bellinger or a guy like Ronny Acuna except the Braves have elite athletes at almost very position so they don't need to move him around right now.
Josh Palacios is a veteran AAAA player with a .620 OPS and the Pirates announcers are trying to sell him coming up as the tying run in the ninth like he's the reincarnation of Kiki Cuyler.
If anyone wanted to know what command looks like, that three-pitch AB for McCutchen was the perfect example. All three pitches clipped the bottom of the zone. That was perfect
Or... you could hit him leadoff... you know... so he could get on base for other guys to knock in. It really isn't written anywhere in the various books of baseball management that you have to hit a guy with a .295 OBP leadoff. The Pirates seem to think it is a great idea, however, to have Cutch and Reynolds et al come up with no one on base and one or two outs already recorded.
The problem is that he has already throw 67 pitches in two innings. That's more than someone should throw in two innings, so he would need extremely quick innings to go more than four at the most. He's facing the Cardinals, so it's not like two quick innings isn't possible...though if memory serves me correct, they are the same team that made him throw 67 pitches in the first two innings today
The good part is that Ortiz can just go back to Indianapolis (Altoona might be better) tomorrow for someone else, so they can get some instant bullpen help
Injuries like his are scary for athletes. Some, like Stennett who was becoming a great player before the injury, were never really able to fully recover but some have. I hope this is more of a precaution than a set back and that he’ll be able to continue to rehab and strengthen his ankle, leg and foot over the off season so he doesn’t even think about it come spring. There is absolutely no reason to try having him play again this year.
His pace had him coming back to the Pirates only because the season in Indianapolis ends sooner, but the downside here if it's a non-minor setback is that fall/winter ball were real options to make up for lost time. His Pirates time was going to be minimal, but he could have been ready for a full off-season
The injury happened way back when before I was posting, but as someone who watched Ronnie Stennett have his career shattered and Jason Kendall become a shadow of himself offensively even though he stuck it out, I feel this is very worrisome. I am not assuming that Cruz will come back with his same speed and overall electricity.
I don't know the Stennett story, but the general consensus that Kendall's thumb injury subsequent to the gruesome ankle injury is what sapped his power and overall offensive game. He actually hit really well the year after the injury, so circumstantial evidence seems to back this up.
So, while I'm a nervous Nelly and do worry this may hurt Cruz offensively going forward, I think the more likely unfortunate long term issue will be speed/range and ability to stay on SS.
The short version re Stennett: He was a classic 70s Pirates see ball/hit ball slasher who was hitting .336 (yes, Pirates used to do that) mid-way through his year 28 season in 1977 when he tore up his ankle sliding into second base, I think on a steal attempt. He lasted two more seasons —- two with the Pirates and two with Giants —- and got a ring in 79, but he was never the same player and was out of baseball at the age of 32.
Ortiz had a 7.77 ERA and a near 2.00 WHIP after being sent down to Indianapolis. I don't think Delay could call any pitch that wasn't going to get hammed by a team above Double-A...possibly High-A
I think they bring back VV, and I'm going to say OD rotation of Keller, VV, Oviedo, Falter, and another FA or Andre Jackson. Or if we're entering unchartered territories of the Pirates doing things we'd never expect, then Skenes. But I digress.
Triple-A: I'd say Priester, Jones, Ashcraft, Wolf, Skenes annnnnnd Ro. I could see them going 6-man to start year. Burrows and Bru would probably be ready sometime around June-ish. So, theoretically when a Jones or Skenes would be "ready" for MLB, and they could slide into Indy rotation as their rehabs end. Bru will get a MLB spot over whoever isn't performing as soon as he's ready.
Then Double-A: Bubba, Solo, Harrington, Massey, Sullivan and Chen.
I'll give Oviedo a longer leash, but Bido, Ortiz, and Hatch to bullpen.
I think the Pirates need to acquire one legitimate starter- not an ace, but a guy you can be confident will provide league average work over 180-190 innings- and one Rich Hill/Vince Velazquez type. Of the first type, maybe some options in free agency would be Andrew Heaney (assuming he opts out) or, to a lesser extent, Jack Flaherty, or to an even lesser extent, Michael Lorenzen. Trade options would include someone like Brady Singer. Then you'd have a rotation of Keller, Oviedo, and acquired guy, with the likes of Falter, Hill/Velazquez type, Priester, Jones, Roansy, Ortiz, Skenes, and, later, Burrows and Brubaker, filling out the rotation.
Then sign a 1b/DH type (Rhys Hoskins?) and a RH hitting OFer (Harrison Bader) and the team might be on to something. All this would push the payroll to $100-$105 million, which is still low by MLB standards and something Nutting can do. But he won't.
After watching how mediocre to bad our rookies have been I find it hard to call it manipulation. I love seeing rookies debut, but I rather have that player’s best 5-6 years and not waste one in the bigs.
The same exact guys who get pissed that prospects don't arrive immediately prepared to be stars also get pissed that said prospects aren't rostered opening day.
I would think so. I'd be surprised if either made their debut next year, particularly Bubba, and if they were deemed ready, it certainly wouldn't be until after service time isn't a concern. I do expect all 3- Bubba, Solo, and Skenes- to start at AA next year. Hopefully Skenes is in Indy by mid-May and Pittsburgh late-June.
I just finished watching the GBO game, first of all I didn't know we had a pitcher named 'Sigh' Nielson and people keep saying managing and coaching doesn't matter because players learn all the fundamentals they should need in little league. Geesh, if it was only that simple. I just watched the last of the two innings of the game with guys trying to be heroes and throwing those little league fundamentals out the window, lol.
Throwing away their chance at the second half division
I think the organization needs to emphasize playing within your skill set for the ultimate success or I think I might have read something like that in a self help book 50 years ago, lol.
I've been saying that for a while now! Lol put the players in their best position (pun intended, I guess?) to succeed. The trial and error of making every player as utility as possible has not been fruitful.
It works out if a player is a Mookie Betts, Cody Bellinger or a guy like Ronny Acuna except the Braves have elite athletes at almost very position so they don't need to move him around right now.
I guess Spencer Shiba-da-doo-wop-bach came back for the Hoppers series.
Josh Palacios is a veteran AAAA player with a .620 OPS and the Pirates announcers are trying to sell him coming up as the tying run in the ninth like he's the reincarnation of Kiki Cuyler.
Maybe 1937 Kiki
so sick of these dumb storylines
drew maggee palacios brothers, perogie race
how about try talking about winning baseball games???
You have to know something about winning baseball in order to talk about it...nearly 30 consecutive years of losing baseball...
Drew Maggi was the most exciting part of this season! Where is the dislike button in these comments....
its funny when I post on the Alex Stumpf QA columns on the dk site, I routinely get like 40+ dislikes for my questions
he always graciously answers each of them though
If anyone wanted to know what command looks like, that three-pitch AB for McCutchen was the perfect example. All three pitches clipped the bottom of the zone. That was perfect
Need to have runners on base for Cutch. Wasted 3-for-3 with 3 doubles!
Or... you could hit him leadoff... you know... so he could get on base for other guys to knock in. It really isn't written anywhere in the various books of baseball management that you have to hit a guy with a .295 OBP leadoff. The Pirates seem to think it is a great idea, however, to have Cutch and Reynolds et al come up with no one on base and one or two outs already recorded.
Ke BOOM (Let this be the Hayes from now on!)
I'll second that, (Let this be Hayes from now on!)
Thanks for picking me up, I was on the road and out of service almost all day.
I got you!
Tall task for the offense if Pirates want the sweep
Good thing we are a true offensive juggernaut!
At this point, ortiz might have to just wear it and try to gut out a few innings
The problem is that he has already throw 67 pitches in two innings. That's more than someone should throw in two innings, so he would need extremely quick innings to go more than four at the most. He's facing the Cardinals, so it's not like two quick innings isn't possible...though if memory serves me correct, they are the same team that made him throw 67 pitches in the first two innings today
4 really is all we can hope for at this point sadly
The good part is that Ortiz can just go back to Indianapolis (Altoona might be better) tomorrow for someone else, so they can get some instant bullpen help
This is going well
Looking like Cruz won’t be back this year. Had to stop running.
Injuries like his are scary for athletes. Some, like Stennett who was becoming a great player before the injury, were never really able to fully recover but some have. I hope this is more of a precaution than a set back and that he’ll be able to continue to rehab and strengthen his ankle, leg and foot over the off season so he doesn’t even think about it come spring. There is absolutely no reason to try having him play again this year.
His pace had him coming back to the Pirates only because the season in Indianapolis ends sooner, but the downside here if it's a non-minor setback is that fall/winter ball were real options to make up for lost time. His Pirates time was going to be minimal, but he could have been ready for a full off-season
The injury happened way back when before I was posting, but as someone who watched Ronnie Stennett have his career shattered and Jason Kendall become a shadow of himself offensively even though he stuck it out, I feel this is very worrisome. I am not assuming that Cruz will come back with his same speed and overall electricity.
I don't know the Stennett story, but the general consensus that Kendall's thumb injury subsequent to the gruesome ankle injury is what sapped his power and overall offensive game. He actually hit really well the year after the injury, so circumstantial evidence seems to back this up.
So, while I'm a nervous Nelly and do worry this may hurt Cruz offensively going forward, I think the more likely unfortunate long term issue will be speed/range and ability to stay on SS.
The short version re Stennett: He was a classic 70s Pirates see ball/hit ball slasher who was hitting .336 (yes, Pirates used to do that) mid-way through his year 28 season in 1977 when he tore up his ankle sliding into second base, I think on a steal attempt. He lasted two more seasons —- two with the Pirates and two with Giants —- and got a ring in 79, but he was never the same player and was out of baseball at the age of 32.
I guess making sure he is back to 100% for next year is most important, even though it would have been fun to see him again
Awesome, shut him down and hope he didn't permanently screw himself up.
Ok Delay, the pitcher has a shitty fastball and you keep calling fastballs even with two strikes????
Ortiz had a 7.77 ERA and a near 2.00 WHIP after being sent down to Indianapolis. I don't think Delay could call any pitch that wasn't going to get hammed by a team above Double-A...possibly High-A
lets bo gucs!
On paper, this should be a blowout. Thompson has been pitching really well of late.
Which means we’ll win 7-2, right?
so 2024 rotation is shaping up?
Keller, Oviedo and Skenes are locks for 1,2,3
Would think that there is another free agent reclamation for #4 - - maybe just bringing back Vince
and then five is a dog pile with Contreras, Ortiz, Priester, Jones, Solo, Bubba, Wolf, Falter, Hatch, Bido
with Burrows and Brubaker due around august
I suppose there is an extra spot from the dogpile until Skenes clears super two
and wondering if they just DFA Brubaker in december
not clear to me that this is just quantity over quality
I think they bring back VV, and I'm going to say OD rotation of Keller, VV, Oviedo, Falter, and another FA or Andre Jackson. Or if we're entering unchartered territories of the Pirates doing things we'd never expect, then Skenes. But I digress.
Triple-A: I'd say Priester, Jones, Ashcraft, Wolf, Skenes annnnnnd Ro. I could see them going 6-man to start year. Burrows and Bru would probably be ready sometime around June-ish. So, theoretically when a Jones or Skenes would be "ready" for MLB, and they could slide into Indy rotation as their rehabs end. Bru will get a MLB spot over whoever isn't performing as soon as he's ready.
Then Double-A: Bubba, Solo, Harrington, Massey, Sullivan and Chen.
I'll give Oviedo a longer leash, but Bido, Ortiz, and Hatch to bullpen.
I think the Pirates need to acquire one legitimate starter- not an ace, but a guy you can be confident will provide league average work over 180-190 innings- and one Rich Hill/Vince Velazquez type. Of the first type, maybe some options in free agency would be Andrew Heaney (assuming he opts out) or, to a lesser extent, Jack Flaherty, or to an even lesser extent, Michael Lorenzen. Trade options would include someone like Brady Singer. Then you'd have a rotation of Keller, Oviedo, and acquired guy, with the likes of Falter, Hill/Velazquez type, Priester, Jones, Roansy, Ortiz, Skenes, and, later, Burrows and Brubaker, filling out the rotation.
Ace would also be fine tho. ;)
Then sign a 1b/DH type (Rhys Hoskins?) and a RH hitting OFer (Harrison Bader) and the team might be on to something. All this would push the payroll to $100-$105 million, which is still low by MLB standards and something Nutting can do. But he won't.
Skenes won’t be up until Junish. No reason to start his clock.
Same with Solo & Bubba.....gotta play the ST manipulation game....
After watching how mediocre to bad our rookies have been I find it hard to call it manipulation. I love seeing rookies debut, but I rather have that player’s best 5-6 years and not waste one in the bigs.
The same exact guys who get pissed that prospects don't arrive immediately prepared to be stars also get pissed that said prospects aren't rostered opening day.
That won’t be for a year or to tho, doncha think?
I would think so. I'd be surprised if either made their debut next year, particularly Bubba, and if they were deemed ready, it certainly wouldn't be until after service time isn't a concern. I do expect all 3- Bubba, Solo, and Skenes- to start at AA next year. Hopefully Skenes is in Indy by mid-May and Pittsburgh late-June.
Oh man, what do you know, another afternoon game! Work will wait once again
I know that’s been killing you.
Oh the sacrifices we make!
Well, the way Ortiz is starting out, you may end up ‘back at work’.
Yeah I turned the game off and I'm back to work. Knowing my luck, there will be an epic come-back and I will miss it all.
That is what YouTube Highlights are for.
Ugh i am having similar thoughts