My two key minor league position players going into the season were Lonnie White and Shalin Polanco. For obvious reasons the Pirates desperately needed one of them to establish himself as a potential star. Well, White is batting .159 and Polanco .153.
You’ve heard of TINSTAAPP? For the Pirates there is no such thing as an outfield prospect.
White and Polanco aren't going to be meaningful to the Pirates anytime before 2026, at the earliest. Both guys are going to take their lumps in the minors.
In the next couple of years, the only in-house names that figure to contribute will be Davis, Cheng, and Johnson. I know some folks who are very high on Mitch Jebb as a dude who could move up quickly, too, but don't check his Fangraphs page right now for 2024 stats.
The team lacks hitting depth at every level above the complex leagues. Some of that is down to the draft emphasis on pitching under GMBC. At some point, he's going to have to trade arms for bats to make anything work.
I guess my point was that if either White or Polanco is going to be an impact player in the majors they need to get moving. I was looking for a breakthrough as the Bucs need a star in the outfield. Off their early performances this season neither is going to be a star.
I also don’t see Cheng really adding to the mix either. He’s been very meh in AA. And I’ve stopped taking Johnson seriously until he shows he can hit .250 while maintaining the power and the walks, especially since reports suggest that he is mediocre in the field.
Johnson will be fine. He's very young for his level. Even Cheng is still young for his level so there's room to go.
I don't disagree about White and Polanco. Even if they just hit the mid-range of their projections, they would make a difference for a team that's this offensive on offense. I do think that player development has to just happen at its own pace. Even Polanco is still a full year younger than the A-ball average age so there's room. White is 1.3 years younger, too BTW.
It says more about the team's dearth of hitters than it does about any of those dudes (Cheng, Davis, White, Polanco, Johnson). We would all feel a lot better if we could point to more than a quarter-season of Nick Gonzales as evidence there's hope for the hitters.
I mean, we all want that Juan Soto or Ken Griffey, Jr. type who's ready to hit at 18 or 19 and can anchor a lineup for years. But, there are plenty of Nick Gonzales and Bryan Reynolds types who'll contribute in the majors sometime between 23 and 25. If someone like Johnson only arrives at age 21 or 22, that's not really a failure.
The big problem I’d love to have is Hank tearing up AAA while improving his defense; Bart getting close to his prior prospect status and Endy coming back strong. All three with control.
The games I saw Endy play last year at first, I thought he looked pretty good. If his bat gets going next year, he could play some games there when he is not catching.
Look, I'm not trying to take credit for anything, but I got the inside scoop on why the team had this big night. Someone in the clubhouse was reading Bucs Dugout and saw my comments that Shelty runs like a sissy. Grandal calls a team meeting and gives this impassioned speech where he says, "Does Shelty run like a Sissy! Hell yes! Guys, he might even be a sissy, but he's our sissy! And we're not gonna take that shit from a Green Weiner! Fuck that Weiner! Let's show em what we're made of!"
"Does Shelty run like a Sissy! Hell yes! Guys, he might even be a sissy, but he's our sissy! And we're not gonna take that shit from a Green Weiner! Fuck that Weiner! Let's show em what we're made of!"
Nope. The Pirates have the Braves' number. It's just baseball logic. Everybody has That One Team that makes them look bad even in a 100-win season, and the Pirates are that team that sticks it to the Braves right now. All fans must have a team that makes them say, "Thank gawd that series is over."
Ro might get in the Angeles game tonight, they're down big early.
He pitched 2 innings 0 runs 0 hits 1 walk 2 strikeouts. Under 4.0 era on the season now.
Not that he was great, but we could use him in the pen right about now
I thought Ben did piss poor roster management with Ro.
Surprise surprise
My two key minor league position players going into the season were Lonnie White and Shalin Polanco. For obvious reasons the Pirates desperately needed one of them to establish himself as a potential star. Well, White is batting .159 and Polanco .153.
You’ve heard of TINSTAAPP? For the Pirates there is no such thing as an outfield prospect.
White and Polanco aren't going to be meaningful to the Pirates anytime before 2026, at the earliest. Both guys are going to take their lumps in the minors.
In the next couple of years, the only in-house names that figure to contribute will be Davis, Cheng, and Johnson. I know some folks who are very high on Mitch Jebb as a dude who could move up quickly, too, but don't check his Fangraphs page right now for 2024 stats.
The team lacks hitting depth at every level above the complex leagues. Some of that is down to the draft emphasis on pitching under GMBC. At some point, he's going to have to trade arms for bats to make anything work.
I guess my point was that if either White or Polanco is going to be an impact player in the majors they need to get moving. I was looking for a breakthrough as the Bucs need a star in the outfield. Off their early performances this season neither is going to be a star.
I also don’t see Cheng really adding to the mix either. He’s been very meh in AA. And I’ve stopped taking Johnson seriously until he shows he can hit .250 while maintaining the power and the walks, especially since reports suggest that he is mediocre in the field.
Johnson will be fine. He's very young for his level. Even Cheng is still young for his level so there's room to go.
I don't disagree about White and Polanco. Even if they just hit the mid-range of their projections, they would make a difference for a team that's this offensive on offense. I do think that player development has to just happen at its own pace. Even Polanco is still a full year younger than the A-ball average age so there's room. White is 1.3 years younger, too BTW.
It says more about the team's dearth of hitters than it does about any of those dudes (Cheng, Davis, White, Polanco, Johnson). We would all feel a lot better if we could point to more than a quarter-season of Nick Gonzales as evidence there's hope for the hitters.
I mean, we all want that Juan Soto or Ken Griffey, Jr. type who's ready to hit at 18 or 19 and can anchor a lineup for years. But, there are plenty of Nick Gonzales and Bryan Reynolds types who'll contribute in the majors sometime between 23 and 25. If someone like Johnson only arrives at age 21 or 22, that's not really a failure.
Nick still eligible for ROY?
Also eligible are Imanaga and Yamamoto who are on their 8th year of professional baseball. Yamamoto signed a 325 million dollar contract.
And they play for bigger-name teams. I can't imagine the year Nick would have to have as a filthy Pirate to garner much for RoY votes.
30 year old veterens should not be eligible for ROY
I think so. Border line though.. just checked B Reference, he is.
Looking forward to the day when fort and brault are a team in the booth so I can listen to this type of banter all game long
Davis hit a double already tonight in Indy.
Time for him to play dh and cutch to full time Right field
Nah, let him develop and get more reps behind the plate. Cutch is hitting fine and can’t play the field more than 4-5x a year.
No need to rush Hank. If Bart continues to be productive and Grandal stays healthy, maybe they can unload Grandal at the deadline.
The big problem I’d love to have is Hank tearing up AAA while improving his defense; Bart getting close to his prior prospect status and Endy coming back strong. All three with control.
The games I saw Endy play last year at first, I thought he looked pretty good. If his bat gets going next year, he could play some games there when he is not catching.
I feel like they might be bridging to this for next year
Look, I'm not trying to take credit for anything, but I got the inside scoop on why the team had this big night. Someone in the clubhouse was reading Bucs Dugout and saw my comments that Shelty runs like a sissy. Grandal calls a team meeting and gives this impassioned speech where he says, "Does Shelty run like a Sissy! Hell yes! Guys, he might even be a sissy, but he's our sissy! And we're not gonna take that shit from a Green Weiner! Fuck that Weiner! Let's show em what we're made of!"
Just passing along what my sources told me......
It sounds like Jay from Jay and Silent Bob.
"Does Shelty run like a Sissy! Hell yes! Guys, he might even be a sissy, but he's our sissy! And we're not gonna take that shit from a Green Weiner! Fuck that Weiner! Let's show em what we're made of!"
Maybe Miller from Repo Man: "Shelty was a fruit. I installed two way mirrors in his pad in Brentwood. Come to the door wearing a dress".
Who do you think ran to the clubhouse and said all that
You dirty dog! 🤣
Whoop! Whoop!! 24 down and 110 to go now!!!
Heh, Giants just rallied from 6-2 down to the Mets to take a 7-6 lead with a 5 spot in the 8th.
Did the Mets have a grand slam earlier in the game? If so we might be living in a simulation.
Baseball 😁😁
Cleanses the palate a bit. Keller tomorrow.
🏴☠️
Raise it!
Ortiz will be better this half inning. I can feel it.
We're up by 8 runs and this is what Ortiz does?? Really?
He was out of the inning until the Charlie Brown catch…….
Peer pressure
And now 6 runs lol
This pen sucks.
The guppy tank.
Congrats Bailey! You stood tall tonight!
Acuna is still Acuna. Now onto our sloppy bullpen...
Worried this late barrage could wake up the Braves bats for the rest of the weekend
After seeing the run onslaught tonite does anyone agree with my observation that they'll probably get shutout the next two games.
Nope. The Pirates have the Braves' number. It's just baseball logic. Everybody has That One Team that makes them look bad even in a 100-win season, and the Pirates are that team that sticks it to the Braves right now. All fans must have a team that makes them say, "Thank gawd that series is over."
Of course. Lack of consistency and mental resilience
Yes