105 Comments
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1979andCounting's avatar

Phillies hottest team in MLB.....without Harper and Nola. Imagine that.

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WTM's avatar

"Giants, Yankees Monitoring Isiah Kiner-Falefa"

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/06/giants-yankees-monitoring-isiah-kiner-falefa.html

Well, it's Nightengale, so . . . .

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JRC21's avatar

What’s hilarious is that the article says that his value lies in his defense, which as you have documented is atrocious by all available metrics. Are scouts possibly that dumb?

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WTM's avatar

I guess it’s more versatility. Only Cherington has seen him as a regular SS the last several years.

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Bucsfan2023's avatar

Agreed that the value is in his versatility, which is why it made no sense to give up a decent prospect and pay a small fortune in salary (by Nutting standards) for how we are using him.

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theobserver's avatar

"Are scouts possibly that dumb?"

In fairness, they made an entire movie about it: Moneyball.

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bmcferren's avatar

IKF for Rafael Flores to be our AAA catcher for a while?

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Cobra 39's avatar

Well that turned into a fun ballgame. Rare timely hitting, great bullpen work, contributions from strange sources. On to Milwaukee.

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Mel Schuster - emjayinTN's avatar

And, Pham and BC realize he has about 18 games before the All Star Break to make an impression with a team willing to spend $1+ mil on a longshot! Is there a team that desperate? Regardless, he will not see August in a Pirate Uni. Nor will Adam Frazier, IKF, and Canario is questionable also.

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theobserver's avatar

Frazier goes the distance. Unless state-run television turned on him while I wasn't watching this weekend. Didn't hear anything worrying for Frazier on state-run radio.

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Cobra 39's avatar

We have to get a couple major league bats back from whichever pitchers we trade. Especially if Mitch goes as he’s a big bargain to a contender on that contract. Should be a seller’s market for pitchers as a lot of decent teams have banged up or underperforming rotations right now. A well executed deadline could really make 2026 look less bleak. Shock me, Ben. Please.

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Anthony's avatar

Unfortunately I don’t think there is enough excess trade value there to get you a plug-and-play bat.

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Mel Schuster - emjayinTN's avatar

Here's a few names - Spencer Jones, 24, Yankees, repeating AA after 200 K's last year; doing much better this year dropping the K/BB from around 4/1 to 2/1 this year and the OPS has increased 200+ points. No real opening in the Yankee OF and Mitch Keller could help them a lot. He could also help the Dodgers who have 2 LH hitting 20 year old OF's in AA - Josue DePaula and Zyhir Hope. Doubt that Heaney would get players like that, but he will also be in high demand.

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Green Weenie's avatar

I think I saw something about Keller ranked inside the top 20 of MLB starting pitchers. #16? Aim higher.

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Mel Schuster - emjayinTN's avatar

I doubt BC will be able to get a reliable "now" MLB hitter, that's why I have concentrated on young, LH hitting OF's who are strong defensively and can hit for average and power. All 3 of the kids mentioned are doing well at AA, and could be possible sometime in 2026, and the Pirates have some strong players coming up also.

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SouthernBuc's avatar

DePaula and Hope are only in high A. Thinking they could be in MLB in 2026 would be extremely aggressive.

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Green Weenie's avatar

I understand your sentiment, but Keller is worth more than a prospect who may or may not hit at the ML level, and they need a ready now bat if they want to win with Skenes. The clock is ticking.

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1979andCounting's avatar

Bednar still wearing long sleeves.

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Robert Kasperski's avatar

Pitching well with sleeves so maybe not wanting to mess with a streak?

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theobserver's avatar

Imagine what the sock situation probably is right now in a sport as superstitious as baseball.

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Jim's avatar

Pen has been efficient. Less than 25 pitches to get 8 outs.

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Cobra 39's avatar

Cherington in negotiations on Pham extension.

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Aurorus Borealus's avatar

Vindicated! With today's performance, Pham's OPS is now above .500.

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Mel Schuster - emjayinTN's avatar

Wow, Horwitz, Hayes, and Pham 6 for 8 with 6 RBI's and Falter making his way through a tough 5+ innings. Close it down!

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1979andCounting's avatar

Pirates giving away free water now at PNC due to the heat. See, Travis is hard at work.

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Green Weenie's avatar

What's it like 10 bottles?

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1979andCounting's avatar

A small Dixie cup.....limit one per person.

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Catch22's avatar

Nice gesture

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Aurorus Borealus's avatar

Heat? It's only 94 degrees there. That's not heat. That is a pleasant summer afternoon.

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Jim's avatar

Falter seems to be running low on gas. The bullpen might need to get through 3 plus innings.

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Cobra 39's avatar

He’s had a lot of traffic on the bases today. Living dangerously.

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Chris Chapman's avatar

Glimpse of what it would be like if we had a 3b and LF who could hit.

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Chris Chapman's avatar

The kind of inning we have been waiting for weeks, probably since that unexpected victory in San Diego.

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JRC21's avatar

Pham doubled in a run. The end is clearly near.

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Cobra 39's avatar

I think they said first extra base hit since April 26th for him?!?

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Scott Kliesen's avatar

Holy boomstick, Batman! Even Pham is getting an Xbox today!

Jeesh, save some for Brewers, boys.

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Scott Kliesen's avatar

Xbox…I love autocorrect. XBH stupid Apple!

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Cobra 39's avatar

Hayes has been awful offensively this year, but probably his best game. And saved a run, maybe two, with that diving play earlier.

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1979andCounting's avatar

Key with his patented tennis drop shot swing cashing in today!

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Cobra 39's avatar

Perfect description.

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Jim's avatar

2 XBHs baby!! That was was a bit of a gift, but still.

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