Impressive Keller factoid: record of 7-3. Sure, we don’t judge by W/L record much, but this is a team with a pitiful offense and struggling bullpen. Seven wins just over a third of the way into the season shows he’s doing exactly what they need from him.
Haven’t checked today’s box scores, but I think only three pitchers have more Ws, and all three are on high-scoring teams.
There is no tell-all stat for pitchers, but if you are one of the 9 pitchers with 7 wins....you are good. If you have a lot of wins as a pitcher, that means your goal going out there is to WIN THE GAME. Pretty simple, but sometimes forgotten.
Where is Bazzana on the draft pecking order? I find myself paying less attention to the draft when the Pirates aren’t at the very top. Just watched him obliterate a baseball. I’ve never seen fielders set on the warning track at the pitch.
He hit .338 with 86 rbi's in 109 games in the Indy last year. The Pirates called him up and he hit .306 in the majors with 11 rbi's in 16 games. When did he go cold last year?
I saw him play over a dozen games at Indy and a handful in September in Pittsburgh. He worked hard and was on the steps leading his players when he wasn't in the line-up. An RBI machne.
He’s been pretty mediocre…poor K rate, high BB rate. I think the fact that other guys in the pen have been bigger gas cans has allowed him to fly under the radar. But today he sounded outstanding. I still have faith he can be a productive reliever.
Solometo starting today. He pitched in relief three days ago. It was just an inning, so I guess that's nothing noteworthy. Still, it sure seems like every team in the system is short on pitching.
Good answer to yesterday's tough loss. Good to see Mitch hang in through 106 pitches in a really good six innings. The good Ortiz taking care of the last three innings was something to behold, lol.
I have been to Indy's last 5 games right next to the dug-out. Priester and DH Henry Davis have spent a lot of time talking during games. Henry's at bats have been looking pretty similar to what it looked like before he got sent down. Even though the opportunity is there, I am guessing Henry will be in Indy for a while.
Which begs the question last night, why Nicolas over Ortiz in a tied game with a W or L hanging in the balance. Imo you should manage to win the game you are playing.
Gonzales moves better to his backhand than to his left, might be better when both are on the field up the middle. Triolo is probably better at both, but is way better protecting the hole between the first basemen.
That was the main reason I was puzzled by the move. But the good hitting and good pitching for the win will have Shelton thinking it was a genius move, lol.
Verality also means players are probably slower at knowing how to play together. The Pirates make fundamental mistakes, but I think a few of those are caused by not knowing their teammates tendencies. I'm not sure, but Nick fielded a play to his left that Hayes might have fielded a little better.
I was thinking Triolo can back up all 3 infield positions. Makes Williams expendable, and they can bring up whoever they think is the best hitter (Lamb?).
Lots of pre-season comments on Tri being the best option for Super Ut player. A quick look at the number of games Hayes has played in 2022 and 2023 - 136 and 124 - means we need a Util IF who can play 3B as well as Hayes. The Pirates deciding to put Triolo at 2B was a surprise, but just might have lit a fire under NG that has worked well for both he and the Pirates in 2024. It was all planned?
I like Triolo a lot, but I would hold on that "Triolo starting to hit" conversation until maybe that average gets a lot higher than .215 - a few more multi-hit games would be a nice step forward.
Did not say he was on fire but it seams maybe he is getting some breaks like today. He has been making good contact but seems like it was always right to a fielder. Got a couple today and maybe it will take off. Time will tell
43 straight starts of at least 5 innings is a full season and about 20% of a second season. Amazing! I think the current Pirates Rotation is as strong as it was during the Playoff years of 2013-2015. The core of this team is still very young, and they are not running from the fight. A few key contributing additions to the lineup (CF and 1B) and they could be in the middle of a playoff race for the rest of the year. And, the way Connor Joe has contributed, another 1B may not be a necessity.
Impressive Keller factoid: record of 7-3. Sure, we don’t judge by W/L record much, but this is a team with a pitiful offense and struggling bullpen. Seven wins just over a third of the way into the season shows he’s doing exactly what they need from him.
Haven’t checked today’s box scores, but I think only three pitchers have more Ws, and all three are on high-scoring teams.
There is no tell-all stat for pitchers, but if you are one of the 9 pitchers with 7 wins....you are good. If you have a lot of wins as a pitcher, that means your goal going out there is to WIN THE GAME. Pretty simple, but sometimes forgotten.
Where is Bazzana on the draft pecking order? I find myself paying less attention to the draft when the Pirates aren’t at the very top. Just watched him obliterate a baseball. I’ve never seen fielders set on the warning track at the pitch.
One of the first 2 picks most likely, no later than 4. Good chance to go 1.1
He crushed one last night as well.
Henry pulled another homer to left tonight. Also got hit by another pitch, this time on the helmet. He stayed in the game.
Miguel Andujar 4-5 tonight, now batting .448 SSS of course but why did we not want him?
I guess he doesn't strike out enough. Only 17%. Way too low to be on the pirates.
The same reason NY did not keep him. He is tantalizing now to start his tenure in the show this season then go cold.
He hit .338 with 86 rbi's in 109 games in the Indy last year. The Pirates called him up and he hit .306 in the majors with 11 rbi's in 16 games. When did he go cold last year?
He was arb eligible. His salary would have made Nuttin go cold.
Was thinking more the year before. Hope he does well this time in the show
The year before he only played 9 games with the Pirates and he got 9 rbi's..
Should have been our regular right fielder this year. Pathetic how they treated him when they were so very bad.
I saw him play over a dozen games at Indy and a handful in September in Pittsburgh. He worked hard and was on the steps leading his players when he wasn't in the line-up. An RBI machne.
He had 130 PA, BC knows when to cut bait... oh wait Tellez has 130 AB.
Was…was Ortiz actually good today?
Jaw dropping thirty-six pitches in his three innings. He use to have that many in one inning, lol.
Actually has been good. Today was really good!
34 innings 23 hits 16 walks 1 homer, .187 batting average against. ERA under 3.
I'll take it.
He’s been pretty mediocre…poor K rate, high BB rate. I think the fact that other guys in the pen have been bigger gas cans has allowed him to fly under the radar. But today he sounded outstanding. I still have faith he can be a productive reliever.
Very good.
Solometo starting today. He pitched in relief three days ago. It was just an inning, so I guess that's nothing noteworthy. Still, it sure seems like every team in the system is short on pitching.
Good answer to yesterday's tough loss. Good to see Mitch hang in through 106 pitches in a really good six innings. The good Ortiz taking care of the last three innings was something to behold, lol.
Booyah!! #27 in the books and 104 to go! Raise it!!
Nice interview by Ke, and Hannah does a good job getting them to give answers that are more than cliches.
Yeah I loved Key's answer about what message did Shelton give the team about bunting/ small ball. Key: uhh there was really no message.
I wonder if they might be stretching Ortiz out to get another shot in the rotation.
I think it goes more to the fact that the pen was gassed after yesterday and needed him to go 3.
Really wanted Ashcraft tom. Next hope was Ortiz but the extra inning game killed any hope of that. Now probably Prister again. :-(
I have been to Indy's last 5 games right next to the dug-out. Priester and DH Henry Davis have spent a lot of time talking during games. Henry's at bats have been looking pretty similar to what it looked like before he got sent down. Even though the opportunity is there, I am guessing Henry will be in Indy for a while.
According to Negron it's Priester.
He could be awfully valuable where he is now.
Exactly, bullpen needs all the help they can get currently.
Hope they move Ashcraft up to Indy soon, they might need a spot start or an up and down reliever anytime.
Springer goes all out on defense. Nice diving catch to rob Nick from a hit.
He’s a CF playing RF, prob saved a couple of runs just in this series alone.
I guess Ortiz isn't opening tomorrow.
DK reported this morning that Priester is on the Taxi squad, I guess is a done deal now.
I actually hope they leave him in for the 9th today. Save the pen as much as they can. Get him a save to boot.
Done and done. Nice outing.
Which begs the question last night, why Nicolas over Ortiz in a tied game with a W or L hanging in the balance. Imo you should manage to win the game you are playing.
He threw a bunch of pitches on Weds. They wanted to get him another day of rest.
When has Shelton ever done that?
Late to the party, but what do people think about Gonzales at SS and Triolo at 2B instead of the other way around?
Would rather Triolo at first and peguero at second on days like these
Gonzales moves better to his backhand than to his left, might be better when both are on the field up the middle. Triolo is probably better at both, but is way better protecting the hole between the first basemen.
Shelton's middle name is Versatility. It should never surprise when he mixes and matches. But Triolo has the SS arm, Nick has the 2B arm.
Nick also played a lot of SS in Indy.
Nick played a lot of SS in college.
That was the main reason I was puzzled by the move. But the good hitting and good pitching for the win will have Shelton thinking it was a genius move, lol.
Verality also means players are probably slower at knowing how to play together. The Pirates make fundamental mistakes, but I think a few of those are caused by not knowing their teammates tendencies. I'm not sure, but Nick fielded a play to his left that Hayes might have fielded a little better.
If Nick fielded it to his left, then Hayes most likely never reaching it.
Thanks for reading. I guess my left is his right. :)
Lol! It happens !
Surprised.
I was thinking Triolo can back up all 3 infield positions. Makes Williams expendable, and they can bring up whoever they think is the best hitter (Lamb?).
Jake Lamb has two things going against him…1) he’s not on the 40-man, and 2) he hasn’t had a productive major league season since 2017.
Looks ok to me
Hopefully good enough to remove the need to carry Alika. Way too many zero-bats on the roster.
Yeah, with Triolo starting to hit, he should be the super utility guy.
Lots of pre-season comments on Tri being the best option for Super Ut player. A quick look at the number of games Hayes has played in 2022 and 2023 - 136 and 124 - means we need a Util IF who can play 3B as well as Hayes. The Pirates deciding to put Triolo at 2B was a surprise, but just might have lit a fire under NG that has worked well for both he and the Pirates in 2024. It was all planned?
I like Triolo a lot, but I would hold on that "Triolo starting to hit" conversation until maybe that average gets a lot higher than .215 - a few more multi-hit games would be a nice step forward.
Did not say he was on fire but it seams maybe he is getting some breaks like today. He has been making good contact but seems like it was always right to a fielder. Got a couple today and maybe it will take off. Time will tell
With the SP we've had this season, we should be nipping at Brewers heels, not floundering 4 or 5 games under .500.
Mitch now with 43 straight starts of 5 IP or more.
Can't overstate the value of having a guy like that in the rotation.
In May, 4 starts, 27.2 innings (almost 7 per game) 1.30 ERA, WHIP of .9
Worth every penny and then some just based off the consistency of being able to eat innings.
Yeah that extension is currently paying off much more than the Reynolds one.
And he's gone 6 today despite some long innings.
43 straight starts of at least 5 innings is a full season and about 20% of a second season. Amazing! I think the current Pirates Rotation is as strong as it was during the Playoff years of 2013-2015. The core of this team is still very young, and they are not running from the fight. A few key contributing additions to the lineup (CF and 1B) and they could be in the middle of a playoff race for the rest of the year. And, the way Connor Joe has contributed, another 1B may not be a necessity.
Kikuchi should be called for a balk several times.
Rocking isn't starting/stopping?