14 Comments

My uncle would so love a pitchability success story in the majors... he just loves Greg Maddux and that, "...he didn't have to throw 100 to be good. He was a painter who went 8." etc.

:)

I always tell him that with today's umpires zones, Maddux would have walked twice as many and gave up twice as many gophers because he had to actually pitch in the zone. lol good to his BP (blood pressure) up.

Expand full comment

I wrote a piece that might be pie-in-the-sky for NMR or Wilbur. It's called '25 Is the Year of Pitchburgh! Enjoy!

https://www.cultureandcriticism.com/post/25-is-the-year-of-pitchburgh

Expand full comment

Congrats on your post Wab!

Expand full comment

I'm sold. I'm warming up to them adding a few rp to make the pen as solid as possible and grinding out some wins. Guess we will see

Random side note. I was at Walmart looking at Minecraft posters for my son who turns 7 soon. Paul's better half has a heavily brushed up poster in a bikini there. Mind blowing how much college athletes can make. And no I didn't buy it.

Expand full comment

Yeah, the pen can be pretty scary... Someone on here pointed out to me that Bednar had been tipping his pitches and laid on me a video of a former MLB pitcher examining the film. Very interesting. Because Bednar's stuff was still there. They were just getting inside his head.

Yeah, could you see what Skenes and Dunne would do in a real media market... Celebrity power couple....

Also, on your point about how much college athletes can make... I believe there was a recent court ruling that paved the way for athletes to get paid. I forget all the ramifications of it, but it's an earthquake to the monopoly the NCAA has. Just lookit all the ching flowing out of the football playoff system... Daaaaaaaannnng!

Expand full comment

Bednar may be tipping but I think his curveball has lost the bite it had when he first came aboard ship. Anyone remember those spring training k's just looking at that filth. Not so much anymore. If you have recordings go take a watch... I'd love for someone with capability to deep dive on that with video.

Expand full comment

His curve wasn't nearly as good last year, it was also brought up in his tipping his pitches breakdown.

Expand full comment

It's a free for all. Or I guess the total opposite. Ain't shit free in the NCAA.

Expand full comment

I like your optimism. I’m not sure it comes to fruition in the end, but what the hell, eh?? I was born in 1964 so I do remember the salad days. It would be nice to at least see a competitive team in spite of the scourge that is Bob Nutting

Expand full comment

Yeah, those salad days, man. Back then, the Pirates had the top payroll in baseball: $4 Million plus. NOT sustainable.

I know some of our curmudgeons around here are much more grounded with more dogmatic takes... but... pitching man. If we catch the ball decent and hit a little bit....

Expand full comment

This is why I’m a daily reader of Bucs on Deck. I had literally never heard of this guy.

Get him to Altoona and see how he does.

Expand full comment

I'll second that motion; I wonder if there are any similar blogs for other franchises. We're lucky to have BoD and P2, for the baseball addict in us all

Expand full comment

So happy to have you here

Think Altoona bullpen is what’d I do. You’d still get a chance to use him in 2/3/4 inning outings early in season as the starters stretch out

Expand full comment

Yep. Is there really a physical difference of 'when' you throw those innings? Stepping up in competition however is a real difference. I think it's valuable for getting the best competition for him at 24 years old it's perfect age for AA, but also if successful possibly getting to the bigs in the following year or two.

Greensboro really doesn't help him develop at all. It would if he was having control problems and more innings ie reps would help, but he's throwing 5 pitches with control. Now it's just putting that stuff up against the best prospects in the minors.

Expand full comment