The back to back doubles came on a 1st pitch hanging slider and a 2-2 100mph fastball center cut. I think both players have had mlb experience, Melendez a lot.
Guys with top-end stuff are going to have hitters square it up now and then, I guess. They’re always going to challenge hitters and not start nibbling, because that’s how they keep the edge. Cole’s always given up HRs. He just seemed to accept it. Skenes probably will, too. And probably Bubba, too.
So, again, does it make sense to call him up now or not? I am torn. On merit, he is clearly ready. But is it worth losing a year of control for a team that is clearly going nowhere?
I don't know whether I'd call him up right now, but it'd be soon unless something changes. I don't see YOCs as making sense as a controlling issue, especially for a team that desperately needs to start winning baseball games. I also don't believe in "windows." Baseball just isn't that predictable.
And what IS predictable is that, regardless of super two, Chandler (and Skenes) won't be in Pgh for six full years. Nuttin isn't going to pay them and whoever is running the team won't want to see them walk. They'll be traded, and exactly when that happens will depend on a bunch of situational variables that make the idea of a specific window an illusion.
Trying to think that far ahead with a team so badly run is pointless. They just need to start trying to win games while there's some semblance of talent available.
I've always been of the mind that the only way to win is to win... meaning that winning breeds more winning and losing breeds more losing. The best cure for everything is to try to win, expect to win, and then win. The objective is clear. Everyone knows the goal, and you can hold people accountable when they fail. No excuses. No BS. It is simple.
Agree with this. Some people in MLB, especially cheapo owners, have gotten caught up in ideas about success cycles that make extended stretches of losing OK. IMO, that leads to a destructive cycle, which Pirate fans have experienced like no others. It’s also, at best, borderline fraud in a field of endeavor, pro sports, where trying to win is supposed to be an underlying assumption.
Well all BC did was make the offense worse than last year by adding Pham and Frazier. Maybe it gets better once Gonzalez and Horwitz come back, but they aren't game changers. This will be a bottom 5 offense at the end of the season.
Jeff Passan had an article the other day suggesting that the 7 best MLB teams may all be in the NL: Dodgers, Mets, Phillies, Cubs, Padres, Giants, Diamondbacks. I think we play 49 games against this group of teams, and so far have only played 6. Lots of tough games ahead.
What’s striking is that Nuttin and his FO don’t even aspire to be in that group. At most, they’d be happy just piddling around on the edges, hoping in a good year to make a late run at .500.
Skenes allowing 0 runs in 4 IP and 3 runs in 5 IP is not terrible. Not up to his standards but if we had an offense could have been good enough for a win or no decision.
Maybe Kelly wanted to give Bart an AB since he'll be back in the lineup tomorrow. We've had managers (I think Hurdle did this) use PH ABs to help keep players sharp.
Why on earth would you bother hitting Bart for Triolo with two out, nobody on in the 9th while five runs down? Is this just a pretense that they're trying to win?
I don't think there is any question that they are a worse team now than they were 5+ years ago when Cherington started his "rebuild." You can't keep this man employed in his current capacity. This is disgraceful.
The only factors keeping this from being a 100-loss team -- which could still happen anyway -- are Skenes and Cruz, who weren't on the ML team when Birdbrain took over. So in six years, his big accomplishments were winning a draft lottery and having Cruz get older. That's it. Otherwise, he's built exactly nothing.
His recent trades have been even worse. BDLC? You see Busch tearing up the Pirates? They could have had him for the same package that they gave up for Horwrist.
I think of the early trades as Bednar and Endy for Marte, Musgrove, Bell, and Taillon. Obviously a large net loss in every way except financially.
Yeah, we would have lost all those players anyway to free agency, but if you're getting hardly any value back, then just let us enjoy talented players while we have them. Hopefully they've strengthened their scouting staff since then, but last year's trade deadline didn't give me confidence that they have.
The 8th inning is over and the Pirates are down 5 to 3. If Cutch would have ran hard on his grounder (that the pitcher threw poorly to first), the score could very easily be 5 to 4 with a runner on and the Pirates still batting.
This is on Shelton. (Yes, I know he's not there, but it's a long-standing issue.) Nobody on this team hustles consistently. Not the young guys, and especially not the vets. There's zero accountability.
It's a culture thing that Shelton helped establish with his "my job is to keep things fun" mantra during his first couple of seasons. I recall one of the beat writers, maybe Mackey, writing about how much players liked Shelton's spring training because they got their workouts done early and could hit the golf course while it was still morning.
Shelton has changed since then but it's really hard to change an organization's culture without changing the leadership that established that culture. In fact, I don't think it's even possible. Cherington's solution has been to bring in one "clubhouse guy" after another (Gamel, Hedges, Tellez, Frazier, Pham, ...) but the fact that we need clubhouse guys says a lot.
Adam Frazier did a similar thing last week and when Cutch now does it, it is a clear sign we have no leadership. Our culture is so bad. Shelton is not the guy.
Of course, this is exactly what Phamine and Frazier are supposed to be there for. Is there anybody who still thinks "veteran presence" is anything other than a complete crock?
Skenes giving up the long ball. Reminds me of Cole. I think Cole sort of gave up being on a shit team. I hope Skenes can get ownership to spend some money so that they become competitive. Other wise I doubt he will care and will play out his sentence and wait to flee when his bondage is up.
Burrows with 3 strong innings 1 h 1 bb 5 k's 0 r
https://x.com/MLBPipeline/status/1918101162605379961
Bubba
https://x.com/MLBPipeline/status/1918114004385579050
More Bubba
Those were some very frustrated-looking hitters.
The back to back doubles came on a 1st pitch hanging slider and a 2-2 100mph fastball center cut. I think both players have had mlb experience, Melendez a lot.
Guys with top-end stuff are going to have hitters square it up now and then, I guess. They’re always going to challenge hitters and not start nibbling, because that’s how they keep the edge. Cole’s always given up HRs. He just seemed to accept it. Skenes probably will, too. And probably Bubba, too.
So, again, does it make sense to call him up now or not? I am torn. On merit, he is clearly ready. But is it worth losing a year of control for a team that is clearly going nowhere?
Nutting needs to meet with Bubba and Skenes tomorrow. Lock Bubba up for 8 years and Skenes for 6 more. Then call Bubba up after that.
whoops. And Oneil Cruz.
I don't know whether I'd call him up right now, but it'd be soon unless something changes. I don't see YOCs as making sense as a controlling issue, especially for a team that desperately needs to start winning baseball games. I also don't believe in "windows." Baseball just isn't that predictable.
And what IS predictable is that, regardless of super two, Chandler (and Skenes) won't be in Pgh for six full years. Nuttin isn't going to pay them and whoever is running the team won't want to see them walk. They'll be traded, and exactly when that happens will depend on a bunch of situational variables that make the idea of a specific window an illusion.
Trying to think that far ahead with a team so badly run is pointless. They just need to start trying to win games while there's some semblance of talent available.
I've always been of the mind that the only way to win is to win... meaning that winning breeds more winning and losing breeds more losing. The best cure for everything is to try to win, expect to win, and then win. The objective is clear. Everyone knows the goal, and you can hold people accountable when they fail. No excuses. No BS. It is simple.
Agree with this. Some people in MLB, especially cheapo owners, have gotten caught up in ideas about success cycles that make extended stretches of losing OK. IMO, that leads to a destructive cycle, which Pirate fans have experienced like no others. It’s also, at best, borderline fraud in a field of endeavor, pro sports, where trying to win is supposed to be an underlying assumption.
Do what you can control: try to win.
Makes sense.
And Yordany just went oppo against an extremely tough pitcher.
Rivas w #7.
Bubba using some offspeed in the first inning, 2 k's and a dribbler he handled. Yorke homered in the top of the inning.
Hitters in that league gonna hire a lobbyist to get him called up.
Yep, just mowenem' down.
Uh oh. KG is DH today. Look for BA to say he’s strictly a DH now.
I’m not great with statistics, but this year’s offense has to be worse compared to last years at this point in the season. No?
Well all BC did was make the offense worse than last year by adding Pham and Frazier. Maybe it gets better once Gonzalez and Horwitz come back, but they aren't game changers. This will be a bottom 5 offense at the end of the season.
Yeah, but it'll feel game changing just to have two more competent hitters.
It's kinda like comparing an EF4 vs EF3 tornado. Both are bad, offense is perpetually ranked 27-30th in MLB.
Padres up next! We're in the middle of tough stretch of opponents. Playing .333 ball may be our ceiling against these 5 teams.
Jeff Passan had an article the other day suggesting that the 7 best MLB teams may all be in the NL: Dodgers, Mets, Phillies, Cubs, Padres, Giants, Diamondbacks. I think we play 49 games against this group of teams, and so far have only played 6. Lots of tough games ahead.
What’s striking is that Nuttin and his FO don’t even aspire to be in that group. At most, they’d be happy just piddling around on the edges, hoping in a good year to make a late run at .500.
Then we are not a contender and the year is a waste. Fire BC!
So our only starter who held the Cubs' bats in check was Mlodzinski, whose line would have looked better if Borucki had done his job.
Skenes allowing 0 runs in 4 IP and 3 runs in 5 IP is not terrible. Not up to his standards but if we had an offense could have been good enough for a win or no decision.
Triolo getting pinch hit for with 2 outs in 9th with 5-run deficit speaks volumes. Like whispers about his future here.
Maybe Kelly wanted to give Bart an AB since he'll be back in the lineup tomorrow. We've had managers (I think Hurdle did this) use PH ABs to help keep players sharp.
You want to give your starting catcher the day off, toughest job on the field. The wear and tear is huge.
Doesn't speak well of Kelly's mgmt.
Why on earth would you bother hitting Bart for Triolo with two out, nobody on in the 9th while five runs down? Is this just a pretense that they're trying to win?
Minor injury for Triolo perhaps?
That’s what has you fired up?
Simply a team that does not/cannot compete. Had hopes for a team that was a least interesting to watch, but let down (once again) by this franchise.
I see that Canario hit 3 balls over 100 MPH today, which means that we won't see him again until the 4th of July.
Well, Phamine hit 3 balls that totaled over 100 MPH once.
How do Nutting and BC sit there and watch this dreck? We’ve gone backwards!
I don't think there is any question that they are a worse team now than they were 5+ years ago when Cherington started his "rebuild." You can't keep this man employed in his current capacity. This is disgraceful.
The only factors keeping this from being a 100-loss team -- which could still happen anyway -- are Skenes and Cruz, who weren't on the ML team when Birdbrain took over. So in six years, his big accomplishments were winning a draft lottery and having Cruz get older. That's it. Otherwise, he's built exactly nothing.
Oh come on he's built a pile of dung!
His trades early in his tenure were horrible. Bednar. Endy perhaps, maybe still becomes something, someday, and who else???
His recent trades have been even worse. BDLC? You see Busch tearing up the Pirates? They could have had him for the same package that they gave up for Horwrist.
They probably could have gotten Busch for Solometo straight up after the '23 season. Solometo was a top 75 prospect after that season.
Look what the Cubs traded the Dodgers. It was almost an identical package of players as what the Pirates traded for Horwrist.
I think of the early trades as Bednar and Endy for Marte, Musgrove, Bell, and Taillon. Obviously a large net loss in every way except financially.
Yeah, we would have lost all those players anyway to free agency, but if you're getting hardly any value back, then just let us enjoy talented players while we have them. Hopefully they've strengthened their scouting staff since then, but last year's trade deadline didn't give me confidence that they have.
The 8th inning is over and the Pirates are down 5 to 3. If Cutch would have ran hard on his grounder (that the pitcher threw poorly to first), the score could very easily be 5 to 4 with a runner on and the Pirates still batting.
This is on Shelton. (Yes, I know he's not there, but it's a long-standing issue.) Nobody on this team hustles consistently. Not the young guys, and especially not the vets. There's zero accountability.
It's a culture thing that Shelton helped establish with his "my job is to keep things fun" mantra during his first couple of seasons. I recall one of the beat writers, maybe Mackey, writing about how much players liked Shelton's spring training because they got their workouts done early and could hit the golf course while it was still morning.
Shelton has changed since then but it's really hard to change an organization's culture without changing the leadership that established that culture. In fact, I don't think it's even possible. Cherington's solution has been to bring in one "clubhouse guy" after another (Gamel, Hedges, Tellez, Frazier, Pham, ...) but the fact that we need clubhouse guys says a lot.
We all knew this change should have been made after last season.
Adam Frazier did a similar thing last week and when Cutch now does it, it is a clear sign we have no leadership. Our culture is so bad. Shelton is not the guy.
Of course, this is exactly what Phamine and Frazier are supposed to be there for. Is there anybody who still thinks "veteran presence" is anything other than a complete crock?
It’s overpaying for production you could get for a fraction of the cost elsewhere, presumably to keep the union off their back.
Skenes giving up the long ball. Reminds me of Cole. I think Cole sort of gave up being on a shit team. I hope Skenes can get ownership to spend some money so that they become competitive. Other wise I doubt he will care and will play out his sentence and wait to flee when his bondage is up.
There is nothing in Skenes being that says “give up”. Pirates need to actually build a team around him.
So Skenes is fallible. More walks than strikeouts is especially unusual.