Nola and I are going live tonight, around the end of the first round and talk draft stuff throughout the rest of day one. Here's the link if anyone is interested.
Looking ahead, our next 27 games are against teams with winning records. And when that stretch ends, we play the WS champs who will likely have a winning record by then. Then we close August with games against the Reds, Cubs, and Guardians, so it will be quite impressive if we're still in contention for a playoff spot on Labor Day.
I have to admit, it’s a nice surprise to see them at the .500 mark going into the break. I don’t know if this team as constructed is a playoff team. My problem is, I don’t know how you go about curing some of the warts. Getting any kind of production out of CF and 1b would go along way. Jack is not the player we had hoped for with his .174 batting average and 9 homers currently.
I could go on being a Debbie Downer, but I’m going to crack a beer,have a bourbon, and enjoy the fact they are .500.
"I don’t know how you go about curing some of the warts"
I think Palacios provides a hint. He may or may not be more than a very short-term answer, but he's been good so far. What makes it potentially easy, for a marginally competent GM, is that some of the hitters on the team have been so incredibly awful that a few guys who can put up even mediocre numbers for a while would be a major upgrade.
The underlying problem has been Cherington's unwillingness to make moves, because he's so hopelessly attached to the horrendous players he's brought in. Switching out Olivares for Palacios was an incredibly low-risk move. If it doesn't work, you give somebody else a try. Nothing lost. But Cherington won't do that because he's totally enamored with guys like Grandal, MAT and Suwinski. They wouldn't even lose Suwinski because he can be optioned, and Grandal and MAT would never be missed, except of course it would be clear Cherington wasted the money he paid them.
Thanks to their rotation, the Pirates' issues right now are utterly solvable, except for the one giant issue sitting in the GM's chair.
I figured they’d use Bednar just to get him an inning.
Palacios is looking like Ninth-Inning-Palacios from last year. Not sure how seriously to take it, but it’s not like anybody has locked up the RF job. Good for him.
It creates the potential for an exciting second half and should encourage Ben to spend a lot of time over the break in trade talks, even if we're only 9th in the NL and a lot closer to last in the Central than 1st ;)
I haven't been this excited about the Bucs in years. It's not much but 500 at the All Star break and Skenes starting the All Star game I'll take it. Also, the draft tonight. LET'S GO BUCS!
Not baseball related, but I’m in Barcelona right now watching the game on my laptop and the Euro match on tv. The city exploded with cheers and honking when Spain scored. Such a cool experience being here with a fully captivated country over sports.
I was in Charlotte for the Copa game Wednesday and it felt like we were transported to Colombia--their fans were amazing (as were Uruguay's, but the crowd was overwhelmingly Colombian) and the atmosphere inside and outside the stadium was unlike any sporting event I've been too. That has me even more excited about the World Cup when some of that passion you're experiencing will come here.
I get it. I lived in Mexico City during the '94 World Cup and place went nuts when Mexico made it out of group. Something like 300 city jitneys were hijacked and driven to El Angel, where drunks tried to climb the statue. I lived about 5 blocks away from El Angel, which was good, because the window breaking stopped 4 blocks away from it.
That's great -- enjoy! I was in Lisbon when the 2 Lisbon teams played each other (with the loser getting relegated). Electric atmosphere. Game ended 0-0, of course.
Glad there's 5 days for the Phillies to forget today's performance against the A's. If the Pirates played them tomorrow, they'd likely be in a bad mood.
Nola and I are going live tonight, around the end of the first round and talk draft stuff throughout the rest of day one. Here's the link if anyone is interested.
https://youtube.com/live/2dqXj6gTb_A?feature=share
Apparently Mitch coming out was a combination of hot weather and him not pitching real well. So no worries.
If you're going to make that decision, against the White Sox is the place to do it. I mean, they're basically a free space on your card.
Looking ahead, our next 27 games are against teams with winning records. And when that stretch ends, we play the WS champs who will likely have a winning record by then. Then we close August with games against the Reds, Cubs, and Guardians, so it will be quite impressive if we're still in contention for a playoff spot on Labor Day.
You gotta say this: if they're still in it on Sept 1, you can't call it cheap.
I have to admit, it’s a nice surprise to see them at the .500 mark going into the break. I don’t know if this team as constructed is a playoff team. My problem is, I don’t know how you go about curing some of the warts. Getting any kind of production out of CF and 1b would go along way. Jack is not the player we had hoped for with his .174 batting average and 9 homers currently.
I could go on being a Debbie Downer, but I’m going to crack a beer,have a bourbon, and enjoy the fact they are .500.
"I don’t know how you go about curing some of the warts"
I think Palacios provides a hint. He may or may not be more than a very short-term answer, but he's been good so far. What makes it potentially easy, for a marginally competent GM, is that some of the hitters on the team have been so incredibly awful that a few guys who can put up even mediocre numbers for a while would be a major upgrade.
The underlying problem has been Cherington's unwillingness to make moves, because he's so hopelessly attached to the horrendous players he's brought in. Switching out Olivares for Palacios was an incredibly low-risk move. If it doesn't work, you give somebody else a try. Nothing lost. But Cherington won't do that because he's totally enamored with guys like Grandal, MAT and Suwinski. They wouldn't even lose Suwinski because he can be optioned, and Grandal and MAT would never be missed, except of course it would be clear Cherington wasted the money he paid them.
Thanks to their rotation, the Pirates' issues right now are utterly solvable, except for the one giant issue sitting in the GM's chair.
I figured they’d use Bednar just to get him an inning.
Palacios is looking like Ninth-Inning-Palacios from last year. Not sure how seriously to take it, but it’s not like anybody has locked up the RF job. Good for him.
I was hoping for "Bednar and Broomsticks"....maybe next time
Raise it to .500! Now let’s catch the Screwers!
It creates the potential for an exciting second half and should encourage Ben to spend a lot of time over the break in trade talks, even if we're only 9th in the NL and a lot closer to last in the Central than 1st ;)
I haven't been this excited about the Bucs in years. It's not much but 500 at the All Star break and Skenes starting the All Star game I'll take it. Also, the draft tonight. LET'S GO BUCS!
Living Large on the McClatchy Line!
🧹🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️
Pirates are .500!!!!
Awe come on you've got to be kidding me.
And both the Mets and Cardinals lose! 1.5 GB in the wild card with 40% of the season to go. LFG!
raise it!
Not baseball related, but I’m in Barcelona right now watching the game on my laptop and the Euro match on tv. The city exploded with cheers and honking when Spain scored. Such a cool experience being here with a fully captivated country over sports.
I was in Charlotte for the Copa game Wednesday and it felt like we were transported to Colombia--their fans were amazing (as were Uruguay's, but the crowd was overwhelmingly Colombian) and the atmosphere inside and outside the stadium was unlike any sporting event I've been too. That has me even more excited about the World Cup when some of that passion you're experiencing will come here.
I get it. I lived in Mexico City during the '94 World Cup and place went nuts when Mexico made it out of group. Something like 300 city jitneys were hijacked and driven to El Angel, where drunks tried to climb the statue. I lived about 5 blocks away from El Angel, which was good, because the window breaking stopped 4 blocks away from it.
And again with the second goal. So fucking cool.
Jesus that corner kick at 89' was insane.
That's great -- enjoy! I was in Lisbon when the 2 Lisbon teams played each other (with the loser getting relegated). Electric atmosphere. Game ended 0-0, of course.
Phillies, Cards, Dbacks, Astros upcoming.
We'll know a lot more after those 4 series.
Glad there's 5 days for the Phillies to forget today's performance against the A's. If the Pirates played them tomorrow, they'd likely be in a bad mood.
It's a relief to see them make a terrible team look like a terrible team.
BRey in particular has been merciless.
Mlod going to lose his spot in the circle of trust if he continues to walk hitters with a 5 run lead.