137 Comments

KC trades for Hunter Harvey. They Nats got back a prospect and a compA pick(39).

Expand full comment

So nobody told them they're not allowed to make trades for another two weeks?

Expand full comment

Apparently it's only allowed if you're actually trying to make your team better. Looks like a good return for the Nats as well.

Expand full comment

I get the point, believe me. I’m frustrated as well.

At the same time, the team is about to finish at maybe .500 and some bats have woken up providing the “internal improvement” and some have not.

We should acknowledge that B-Rey went nuts, Nick G. came up solid, Rowdy and Joe just might be an ok platoon. At least most aren’t clamoring to trade for a 1B so much as OF.

Things have evolved and while Tellez may still turn into a pumpkin, we could have traded for 1B a month ago when everyone was clamoring for it and not seen that evolution and had less remaining to trade for an OF.

Overall BC has been disappointing but on the speed of the trade front I don’t agree that sooner is necessarily better. I’m glad he has waited. The targets are still out there. The price is being set by the market.

I’m watching closely. Not being a sucker, but giving benefit of doubt for now that waiting was right. If he doesn’t make any trade I’ll eat my words.

Expand full comment

Oh, and Bart. He came back from injury and is now the actual starter. Small sample but solid defense on top of some pop. Another internal improvement.

Wait, actually an early trade as we were just clamoring for. Seriously early trade. Credit where it’s due is what I say.

Skepticism but credit. Tied of the couching everything in the skepticism only.

Expand full comment

Ahhh . . . a loophole!

Expand full comment

Good for the nats, theyre fairly close to being good imo

Expand full comment

Pirates need to go get Jesse Winker and Taylor Ward. That fixes the outfield, but not sure who plays center. Maybe keep Taylor for late inning sub? I don’t think Winker takes much and Ward might take a little more due to a few years of control.

Expand full comment

That’s a good return if you ask me for HH

Expand full comment

Regression starting for Milwaukee with another L today.

Pirates are primed for a run in the 2nd half.

Expand full comment

Need a bat, good time to jump on some momentum

Expand full comment

[Cries in fluent Pirates fan.]

Expand full comment

Davis went deep his first time up today. Maybe he'll snap out of it.

Expand full comment

I missed this one but am really happy for Ortiz who did what the organization asked and now has earned his way back into the rotation.

Expand full comment

Maybe the biggest positive, other than Skenes and Jones to the future of the rotation/long-man. Even if he can occasionally go back and forth as kinda a 6th man, could save options for other depth.

Hopefully he just stakes his claim to a spot in the rotation.

Expand full comment
Jul 14·edited Jul 14

The nice thing with Ortiz is that he's not essential to the competitive window. Skenes, Jones and Keller are all baked into the formula. Ortiz gives you four, plus the flexibility to trade off other pitchers in the system or even Ortiz.

Now, we just need to see if there's a Trader Ben in the house or not. I'm starting to worry that his trade muscles have atrophied with all of this rebuilding. At least the muscles that trade future WAR for right-now WAR.

Expand full comment

Oh my, CWS scheduled starter tomorrow is Chad Kuhl.

Expand full comment

MLB.com has changed the probable starter to Jared Shuster, a lefty reliever. Probably an opener situation.

Expand full comment

Things in baseball never go as expected, but how long has it been since you could routinely look at pitching matchups and think, This one favors the Pirates big-time?

Expand full comment
Jul 13·edited Jul 13

Very true but you definitely know Kuhl will want to stick it to us. Fortunately for us he's not very good.

Expand full comment

That’s one thing I love about this game. You look at the starting pitching matchups and then…you never really know what’ll happen.

Expand full comment

Did Chandler pitch at Futures Game? Life drew me elsewhere.

Expand full comment

He was a little excited but settled down and pitched well. The hit was a good pitch, hitter went with it down the 3rd base line wasn't hit overly hard.

Expand full comment

Just closed it out. 1 hit, 1K. No runs. NL won 6-1

Expand full comment

He said he was slated to close it.

Expand full comment

Every 3-5 years I think about how incredible it is to be a successful switch hitter in the MLB. B-Rey has been dwindling that average amount of years down drastically.

Expand full comment

Booyah!!!! 47 in the books, series won with the sweep coming with Mitchie The Kid on the mound tomorrow! Raise it high cause……officially on a winning streak!!!!!!

Expand full comment

Thankfully shouldn't be a Sunday lineup with the AS break. Although may bte anyway given two day games and the heat. Assume Cutch will be out, probably DH BRey again, Bart cawtching. Enough to beat Chicago, anyway.

Expand full comment

"shouldn't be a Sunday lineup"

Famous last words.

Expand full comment

ABS challenge was fast at futures game. Liked it.

Expand full comment

I like it better when they just signal it to the ump and the ump calls it. If they have the technology to just give the right call, I like that better than making the ump have to make the call, the catcher have to critique the ump, or the batter have to challenge the ump. I've seen both several times and strongly prefer the method when the ump just gets the signal and calls it. I do think they are going to with the challenge system though.

Expand full comment

3 wins in a row??? Let me check my math…

B-Rey needs 40 RBI’s in last 66 games to get to 100. If he stays healthy he has a good shot.

Expand full comment

Termarr with a single off Noah Schultz

Expand full comment

Raise it. One more to .500

Expand full comment

BRey just kinda took this one into his own hands.

It'd be a bonus if they can finish it out with Santana.

Expand full comment

Definite team MVP of first half

Expand full comment

Who, Santana? Bold pick! ;).

Expand full comment

My ranked choice vote:

Skenes

Reyonlds

Jones

Keller

Cruz

Expand full comment

Skenes feels so money to me. It would be hard to vote against a guy who all but guarantees a win every five games.

Expand full comment

I think it'd be

Reynolds

Keller

Skenes

Jones

Expand full comment

Reyonlds would be the best choice but for the fact that the Skenes' promotion and performance changed everything. Skenes has made the pitching staff formidable. Skenes, Jones, Keller, Ortiz means the Pirates can expect to win two of every three games if the offense gets a few runs. Now that the BP is no longer a basket case, the Pirates are a competitive team most series. If the BP remains competitive, the Pirates might best the McClatchy Line this year. Skenes may be only one pitcher, but his presence means opposing teams must consider his starts to be "We can win this one if we get lucky." Like 2nd Peak Bonds, one wonders what he'll do next.

Expand full comment

Termarr looked good turning a double play just now

Expand full comment

Now that I'm noticing the box, same with Rowdy. Upper at belt, lower couple inches below his knees, even in his slight crouch. Nicky's zone looks normal, above belt.

Expand full comment

GMBC, please get at least ONE credible OF bat for B-Rey. Help this man!!!!

Expand full comment

Yeah, he's not going to hit 4 RBIs everyday.

Expand full comment