I don't know what the future holds for Oviedo. He reminds me of something of a 5th-starter, long-reliever type, and that might be what he is. But, I like him. Those inside pitches to Acuna to start the game were a statement... and the subsequent scrum that resulted when Oviedo refused to be intimidated by Acuna put a spark in the Pirates. That was top-quality gamesmanship and the type of leadership so many "veterans" have failed to provide for the Pirates since A. J. Burnett left town. I hope that Oviedo will be around for some time to come, because to me... he is a real leader... not some over-the-hill guy from rent-a-player.com who is in town to collect $5 million and play one last season under the lights.
He's got to back it up with his arm though. But yeah, liked how he responded. For a young rookie, Endy may bring that same type of leadership....he seems to have earned the respect of the pitchers already.
When I was playing little league, I had very good control for that level. I could throw a strike every time. My coach told me once... "I know you can throw the ball where you want to... but the other team doesn't need to know that. Throw your warmup pitches all over the place... high and hard. If they are afraid of the ball, they'll never get hits." That always stayed with me and something I always did... never threw my warmup pitches for strikes. Oviedo was wild, but he was trying to back them up and keep them literally a little off-balance. When you are facing an order that contain... basically... 9 All-Stars... what do you do? Do you hum and hah and say... "well those guys are just too good" or do you try to make them as uncomfortable as possible and do your best to win the game? The answer is obvious for anyone who wants to win games.
He was all pumped up and throwing as hard as he could, which made him wild. Nevertheless... he was definitely trying to pitch Acuna inside to start the game and trying to the Braves hitters a little uncomfortable. It set a tone for the team, I think... that they were not going to roll over for these guys. The Pirates players can read basic stat lines and have played some against the Braves this season. They know how good the Braves are, and Oviedo threw down the gauntlet: the Pirates were not going to roll over and play dead. Good for him.
I think he had 5 or 6 walks his last start. It's something he has to improve on. If he has to back off from 98 to 95 to throw strikes, then he's got to know his mechanics and how to do that.
Did my eyes deceive me or did Jack just reach out and deliberately slap a pitch a little off the plate with a 3-2 count. Was he actually trying to protect the plate and produce a run rather than stand there and hope the umpire called the pitch a ball?
It was some of his best professional at bats this year, only game I can think of that he looked better was a game in Seattle. He had two hits left of center, one being a homerun. I think he also hit a homerun to right that game.
I'm much higher on Jack than most of the others seem to be, but that is the type of thing he needs to do if he wants to play corner OF. OBP is nice and all, but with 2 outs. a guy in scoring position, and a 3-2 count, you gotta swing at close pitches and be content with singles: not watch every pitch that you cannot pull down the RF line sail by for whatever call the umpire gives. It's almost like he blanked out Haines and just let some instinct take over... you know... see-the-ball... hit-the-ball... when the Pirates seem to hate.
He is a decent starter, but the problem is that he doesn't get enough hits to be a middle-of-the-order bat. His 3-true-outcome style relegates him mostly to a bottom-of-the-lineup hitter, especially against lefties. To hit in the middle or near the top, he has to get produce more runs, which means getting hits with guys on base and in scoring position... like last night. He can't just draw a walk all the time and pass the RBI baton to the next guy if he wants to hit in the strength of the order, and the Pirates are going to need both of their corner OFers to hit at the top or middle of the order, because they have no 1bman, no CF, and not much right now from 2b or SS.
To put into perspective how good their lineup is... Coming into tonight, every Brave had a higher OPS than Bryan Reynolds.
If their starting pitching staff had not be ransacked with injuries for the first 4 months of the season, they would be a historically good team... like top 15 all-time in win percentage good.
I don't know what the future holds for Oviedo. He reminds me of something of a 5th-starter, long-reliever type, and that might be what he is. But, I like him. Those inside pitches to Acuna to start the game were a statement... and the subsequent scrum that resulted when Oviedo refused to be intimidated by Acuna put a spark in the Pirates. That was top-quality gamesmanship and the type of leadership so many "veterans" have failed to provide for the Pirates since A. J. Burnett left town. I hope that Oviedo will be around for some time to come, because to me... he is a real leader... not some over-the-hill guy from rent-a-player.com who is in town to collect $5 million and play one last season under the lights.
He's got to back it up with his arm though. But yeah, liked how he responded. For a young rookie, Endy may bring that same type of leadership....he seems to have earned the respect of the pitchers already.
When I was playing little league, I had very good control for that level. I could throw a strike every time. My coach told me once... "I know you can throw the ball where you want to... but the other team doesn't need to know that. Throw your warmup pitches all over the place... high and hard. If they are afraid of the ball, they'll never get hits." That always stayed with me and something I always did... never threw my warmup pitches for strikes. Oviedo was wild, but he was trying to back them up and keep them literally a little off-balance. When you are facing an order that contain... basically... 9 All-Stars... what do you do? Do you hum and hah and say... "well those guys are just too good" or do you try to make them as uncomfortable as possible and do your best to win the game? The answer is obvious for anyone who wants to win games.
I'm not convinced that was his game plan. His mechanics are on and off causing command issues.
High pitch counts, lots of walks.
But he's got a lot of potential.
He was all pumped up and throwing as hard as he could, which made him wild. Nevertheless... he was definitely trying to pitch Acuna inside to start the game and trying to the Braves hitters a little uncomfortable. It set a tone for the team, I think... that they were not going to roll over for these guys. The Pirates players can read basic stat lines and have played some against the Braves this season. They know how good the Braves are, and Oviedo threw down the gauntlet: the Pirates were not going to roll over and play dead. Good for him.
I think he had 5 or 6 walks his last start. It's something he has to improve on. If he has to back off from 98 to 95 to throw strikes, then he's got to know his mechanics and how to do that.
#TiroLoco
26 hits, 5 walks and one hit batter and whole bunch of foul balls = 3 hour game!
Imagine andujar is a corner OF solution after all?
I'd pump the brakes on that, but admit he's had a good week......much better than his past.
He always did start hot then the bat became afraid…… maybe this time it won’t be. 🤞🤞🤞
From Low A
https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/gamefeed?date=9/9/2023&gamePk=729822&chartType=pitch&legendType=pitchName&playerType=batter&inning=&count=&pitchHand=&batSide=&descFilter=&ptFilter=&resultFilter=&hf=&sportId=14
So throwing 30% of your pitches in the strike zone doesn't work very well. Who knew?
Dang....Jack and Bae put on a hitting clinic with those 2 ABs.
Did my eyes deceive me or did Jack just reach out and deliberately slap a pitch a little off the plate with a 3-2 count. Was he actually trying to protect the plate and produce a run rather than stand there and hope the umpire called the pitch a ball?
It was some of his best professional at bats this year, only game I can think of that he looked better was a game in Seattle. He had two hits left of center, one being a homerun. I think he also hit a homerun to right that game.
Only took 142 games. Now, can he repeat it.
I'm much higher on Jack than most of the others seem to be, but that is the type of thing he needs to do if he wants to play corner OF. OBP is nice and all, but with 2 outs. a guy in scoring position, and a 3-2 count, you gotta swing at close pitches and be content with singles: not watch every pitch that you cannot pull down the RF line sail by for whatever call the umpire gives. It's almost like he blanked out Haines and just let some instinct take over... you know... see-the-ball... hit-the-ball... when the Pirates seem to hate.
I just can't quit hoping Suwinski will become a solid starter.. not a bench or 4th OF or platoon
He is a decent starter, but the problem is that he doesn't get enough hits to be a middle-of-the-order bat. His 3-true-outcome style relegates him mostly to a bottom-of-the-lineup hitter, especially against lefties. To hit in the middle or near the top, he has to get produce more runs, which means getting hits with guys on base and in scoring position... like last night. He can't just draw a walk all the time and pass the RBI baton to the next guy if he wants to hit in the strength of the order, and the Pirates are going to need both of their corner OFers to hit at the top or middle of the order, because they have no 1bman, no CF, and not much right now from 2b or SS.
Mustve been an accident!
Jack and Bae taking a page from the Braves.
Their offense is amazing
And who do we face tomorrow? Strider, Fried, Morton. Embarrassment of riches.
To put into perspective how good their lineup is... Coming into tonight, every Brave had a higher OPS than Bryan Reynolds.
If their starting pitching staff had not be ransacked with injuries for the first 4 months of the season, they would be a historically good team... like top 15 all-time in win percentage good.
If this was a meaningful game, I'd walk Acuna here and load the bases. Then get Albies.
The replay of Endy throwing out Acuna doesn't get old.
Some good ole baseball justice
Please let this be Hayes from now on!
Hayes!
Now Brey! Having both of them hot at the same time gives some semblance of what other teams boast at the top/middle of their lineups
Not sure how this iteration of the bucs would fare in a brawl, who would be our scrappers?
I'd feel better with Davis here.
Lots of foul balls....
askdfjyakweuryl 4iw u. lets go bucs!
Acuna may not know Oviedo often loses his command......
To add insult, Riley is back in lineup tonite after being out w stomach flu. Just flaunting their excess.
we should get somebody like Acuna to play for ius
Acuna for priester straight up, who says no?
Termarr has a chance to be the same caliber hitter as Acuna
Love this take!! Let's see if NMR chimes in!
Wade Boggs or STFD.
I'll stick with Tony Gywnn.
https://media.tenor.com/5daEVr_BFuEAAAAM/hmm-kenan-thompson.gif