Welp Still stuck on 11 wins a now 141 to go …..hope that Mr. Perez can toss another gem and give the Bucs a chance to get a win. Hope he does not get hosed like Mitchy the kid did today in the first…….
I watched an hour of post-game show incl Shelton's presser and no one said one word about Michael A. strike 3 in the 9th due to what? Did the ump not give Taylor a timeout when he stepped out? Taylor was looking at the pitcher at 8 seconds then stepped out. Really strange, we can't give up an out in the B9th. No reporter even asked apparently.
After the low strike call, there were 12 seconds lost somewhere because it would have been 30 seconds between pitches. We never saw what happened on the telecast during that time. The only thing I can think of is after the bad strike call, he stepped out of the box. Then that counted as a time out while Taylor wasn't aware. Then he asked for another one which wasn't allowed. I could be wrong, but that's my best guess.
We suffer from having a president who puts more thought into concessions and promotions than he does baseball matters, and with the bromance between Cherington and Shelton, I don't see where the change is going to come from.
BC is the GM and makes all of the personnel calls through which he is also managing the team with Shelton as simply the mouthpiece. I had always thought that, but the decision regarding Jared Jones was the capper for me. Overused in a game (IMO), then before the next start he is told by Shelton that he would only pitch 5 innings. When he completes 5 and is only at 59 pitches, Shelton has no decision-making power to override the 5 inning mandate. Normally, a Manager could get the bullpen busy, tell Jones he is on a very short leash, and let him go as long as he can without issue, but definitely no more than 10-12 more pitches.
That is simply a function of King constantly. Don't worry though. The Fangraphs fanclub people tell me all the time how you don't need to protect the plate with 2 strikes and that swinging at borderline pitches, even with 2 strikes results in a lower OPS.
Of course, what they never calculate is how this strategy results in so many stranded runners, fewer runners advanced via outs, and thus fewer runs overall-- to get an extra .020 OPS There are lies, damned lies, and then there are the people of limited intelligence who try to play around with statistics.
What bothers me even more is how often we don't score the runner from third with one out or times we don't move the runner from second with no one out.
Keller is a fine #3 but too many of us (myself included) started seeing him as a TOR starter after just a couple of great months. Given our payroll, it might seem like he's being paid as a TOR pitcher, but in MLB terms he's being paid like the pitcher he is--a solid mid-rotation starter. At least that's how I'm going to look at things to temper any potential disappointment with him.
As for Cruz, it's understandable why he's struggling but why not let him figure things out in AAA?
Davis was never a given, especially after last season.
Bednar will be fine, mostly bad luck.
Keller same as Bednar. He didn’t deserve to give up runs in the first. Ump squeezed him on a strike 3, Hayes let one go, instead of taking the out at first & Cruz bobbled an easy DP. That’s 3 outs he didn’t get in the first inning.
But if Davis was not a given, why was Cruz? Trust me both have been big disappointments, but Cruz basically went an entire year without playing/seeing Major League (or any) pitching accept for some winter ball and was coming off a season where he struck out 126 times and walked 28. Personally I was more confident in Cruz, but in retrospect I am not sure how fair/ wise that really was. Both need re-sets.
After last season, I don't think there were high expecations for Davis. It was not assured he was going to catch. Endy got hurt. The Pirates signed Ali Sanchez and Yasmani Grandal. Sanchez was released, Grandal got hurt and Delay got hurt. Defensively Davis has far exceeded expecations.
Now with the bat, Davis tore it up this spring and the expectations were high, fair or unfair. His .182 average is not a total shock, but no one expected him to hit it as soft as he is. It seems like he is trying to change the way he is hitting on the fly similar to what Nick Gonzales did last year.
Greg is just speaking for most of us who want Shelton to take a harder disciplinarian edge w players, rather than just encouraging everyone to have fun. Those days should be gone.
After I posted that, I realized I shouldn't criticize Brown for anything that draws a contrast between successful managers and Shelton.
The sad thing is that I think Cherington recognizes that we lack leadership which is why he keeps signing "clubhouse guys" in the offseason, but he is such buddies with Shelton that he's not going to make the move that might need to be made (I haven't given up on Shelton, but I've never been optimistic).
I wonder how many of the decisions are even made by Shelton. I think Shelton understands what Cherington is trying to do and is sometimes just a messenger.
KeBryan Hayes made it 2/3 to first base after grounding into a double play. If Hayes is the only guy doing that, it is on Hayes. If several players are lacking effort, it is on Shelton.
This entire team has an absolutely uncanny ability to K with runners on base. I mean... they are making contact all day... but as soon as a guy gets on 3B... it is K... K.... K.
Only question is whether it’s a lack of talent, which should have Cherington on the hot seat, or coaching, which should have Shelton on the hot seat. In any case, it’s hard to watch.
Have we totally forgotten how to be aggressive and steal bases? The Pirates rarely try to make things happen on the bases and it’s the same story!!! GIDP
Welp Still stuck on 11 wins a now 141 to go …..hope that Mr. Perez can toss another gem and give the Bucs a chance to get a win. Hope he does not get hosed like Mitchy the kid did today in the first…….
I watched an hour of post-game show incl Shelton's presser and no one said one word about Michael A. strike 3 in the 9th due to what? Did the ump not give Taylor a timeout when he stepped out? Taylor was looking at the pitcher at 8 seconds then stepped out. Really strange, we can't give up an out in the B9th. No reporter even asked apparently.
I think they said Taylor already used his time out for that at bat, then tried to call a second one.
It didn't appear he took a prior timeout,
but the telecast was showing replay of the low strike call. Taylor would know if he was taking back-to-back timeouts......so it just doesn't add up.
After the low strike call, there were 12 seconds lost somewhere because it would have been 30 seconds between pitches. We never saw what happened on the telecast during that time. The only thing I can think of is after the bad strike call, he stepped out of the box. Then that counted as a time out while Taylor wasn't aware. Then he asked for another one which wasn't allowed. I could be wrong, but that's my best guess.
I know Cherrington isn't going anywhere regardless what one thinks of his performance 5 years into the job...
but man I'd really love to see Shelton and co gone.
We suffer from having a president who puts more thought into concessions and promotions than he does baseball matters, and with the bromance between Cherington and Shelton, I don't see where the change is going to come from.
BC is the GM and makes all of the personnel calls through which he is also managing the team with Shelton as simply the mouthpiece. I had always thought that, but the decision regarding Jared Jones was the capper for me. Overused in a game (IMO), then before the next start he is told by Shelton that he would only pitch 5 innings. When he completes 5 and is only at 59 pitches, Shelton has no decision-making power to override the 5 inning mandate. Normally, a Manager could get the bullpen busy, tell Jones he is on a very short leash, and let him go as long as he can without issue, but definitely no more than 10-12 more pitches.
Pirates worst in MLB leaving RISP:
https://www.teamrankings.com/mlb/stat/runners-left-in-scoring-position-per-game
That is simply a function of King constantly. Don't worry though. The Fangraphs fanclub people tell me all the time how you don't need to protect the plate with 2 strikes and that swinging at borderline pitches, even with 2 strikes results in a lower OPS.
Of course, what they never calculate is how this strategy results in so many stranded runners, fewer runners advanced via outs, and thus fewer runs overall-- to get an extra .020 OPS There are lies, damned lies, and then there are the people of limited intelligence who try to play around with statistics.
What bothers me even more is how often we don't score the runner from third with one out or times we don't move the runner from second with no one out.
This actually gives me some hope because we should be in store for some regression.
And the Brewers are next...
Biggest disappointment so far, Cruz or Davis? Bednar or Keller?
Versus Right-handed pitching
Cruz= AB-59, BA-.271, HR-3, RBI-6, OPS-.758
Suwinski= AB-50, BA-.120, HR-1, RBI-5, OPS-.457
Why does Suwinski consistently get a pass and why in the hell was he batting clean-up?
Why wasn't he pinch hit for when the bases were loaded
Keller is a fine #3 but too many of us (myself included) started seeing him as a TOR starter after just a couple of great months. Given our payroll, it might seem like he's being paid as a TOR pitcher, but in MLB terms he's being paid like the pitcher he is--a solid mid-rotation starter. At least that's how I'm going to look at things to temper any potential disappointment with him.
As for Cruz, it's understandable why he's struggling but why not let him figure things out in AAA?
i'd say in the order you listed them.
Cruz by a landslide.
Davis was never a given, especially after last season.
Bednar will be fine, mostly bad luck.
Keller same as Bednar. He didn’t deserve to give up runs in the first. Ump squeezed him on a strike 3, Hayes let one go, instead of taking the out at first & Cruz bobbled an easy DP. That’s 3 outs he didn’t get in the first inning.
But if Davis was not a given, why was Cruz? Trust me both have been big disappointments, but Cruz basically went an entire year without playing/seeing Major League (or any) pitching accept for some winter ball and was coming off a season where he struck out 126 times and walked 28. Personally I was more confident in Cruz, but in retrospect I am not sure how fair/ wise that really was. Both need re-sets.
After last season, I don't think there were high expecations for Davis. It was not assured he was going to catch. Endy got hurt. The Pirates signed Ali Sanchez and Yasmani Grandal. Sanchez was released, Grandal got hurt and Delay got hurt. Defensively Davis has far exceeded expecations.
Now with the bat, Davis tore it up this spring and the expectations were high, fair or unfair. His .182 average is not a total shock, but no one expected him to hit it as soft as he is. It seems like he is trying to change the way he is hitting on the fly similar to what Nick Gonzales did last year.
Yep.
It's a team effort, and throw in FO and Bench Management...
Throw in Cutch or Tellez? Multiple choice question.
Tellez .207 avg 1 homer 6 rbis. majors
Jake Lamb .364avg 2 homers 9 rbis minors
MAT bailed out Crawford, Greg—I don’t think Cora’s visit led to MAT swinging at two pitches well out of the zone.
Greg is just speaking for most of us who want Shelton to take a harder disciplinarian edge w players, rather than just encouraging everyone to have fun. Those days should be gone.
After I posted that, I realized I shouldn't criticize Brown for anything that draws a contrast between successful managers and Shelton.
The sad thing is that I think Cherington recognizes that we lack leadership which is why he keeps signing "clubhouse guys" in the offseason, but he is such buddies with Shelton that he's not going to make the move that might need to be made (I haven't given up on Shelton, but I've never been optimistic).
I’ve never even seen Shelton and bc in the same interview together
I wonder how many of the decisions are even made by Shelton. I think Shelton understands what Cherington is trying to do and is sometimes just a messenger.
KeBryan Hayes made it 2/3 to first base after grounding into a double play. If Hayes is the only guy doing that, it is on Hayes. If several players are lacking effort, it is on Shelton.
A lot of frustration among the players right now—a good test for the manager to help them refocus.
This entire team has an absolutely uncanny ability to K with runners on base. I mean... they are making contact all day... but as soon as a guy gets on 3B... it is K... K.... K.
That's called bad hitters!
Only question is whether it’s a lack of talent, which should have Cherington on the hot seat, or coaching, which should have Shelton on the hot seat. In any case, it’s hard to watch.
How about both with a hot seat...
There are players on this team that are way too comfortable being in the majors, that shouldn't be.
Really, there's no part of this org. that's functioning well.
Pirates Charities is functioning well. Very charitable org both on and off the field.
Been that way for five years.
They're on a 6 year plan!
Damn
Ladies and gentleman your clean-up hitter Jack Suwinski.
Have we totally forgotten how to be aggressive and steal bases? The Pirates rarely try to make things happen on the bases and it’s the same story!!! GIDP
Even if we dont have anyone who is gonna swipe like 40 bags, feels like we got plenty that should be getting 15-20
Need a big fucking hit here hayes
Our LH hitters (other than Reynolds) are just brutal right now! Hard to be this bad.
That's why the Endy injury stinks. He switches but much better as a LHH against RHP
Brey has been all over the ball today thankfully! but yes everyone else is struggling hard
lets go bucs!
Whats the word on the street these days Bmac?
squirrel hill market sells tall high pastami sandwiches
Bart for HOF
The Bartman responded to my Bartsignal and broke up the no-hitter early.