Lance Lynn gets $10M with $3M possible incentives. The SP market is a seller's market......which is not good news if you are a Pirate fan. Crazy high demand across the entire MLB.
According to Cot's, they've had a bottom-four payroll for six straight years, dead last in three of them. One of the major justifications for the four-year Cherington Clown Show was that it doesn't make sense to spend any money on a rebuilding team. If they're not going to spend money now, they've effectively decided not to be a major league franchise.
I think they extend Keller and Cruz this offseason.... Announcing at a strategic time (Piratefest, Spring Training). Resign Cutch and ONE good starter to ML deals and Velaquez to a minor league deal.
I'd seriously be OK with that. I won't crucify them if the don't sign a Veteran position player. I think Triolo is a starter somewhere and I think Endy and Hank play some 1B.
I waivered between optimism seeing that dudes like Bido and Austin Jackson had no worse stuff nor command than Ortiz, Contreras, and Priester therefor they might've found something with them to sadness realizing that dudes like Bido and Jackson have no worse stuff/command than our top three prospects and they all stink.
Why not? The A's are horrible and in geographic transition and can use a pitcher like Bido. He was a decent plug-in SP for the Pirates last year - glad for him getting the opportunity.
I don't mind the signing. He seems like a future 4th or 5th outfielder but fits an area where Pirates need some competition / depth - the short side of a CF platoon with Jack. He appears to have graded out very well in CF defense in 2022 and lost most of last year to injury. He had good on base skills in the minors but shockingly MLB pitching is better and that 'skill' hasn't translated to the majors for him (yet?). Whether in AAA as depth or major league bench I felt the need for a good to plus defensive centerfielder option.
So much for my theory that they had an agreement for him to come back on a minor league deal, though that would likely have been contingent on him not getting a major league deal. We'll get another data point on whether this FO can accurately evaluate our own talent.
Me thinks he will be much the same as he was here with the possibility of a minor bit of improvement. He was never horrible, just not great. Could get out of the gate with a 1-2-3 1st with strike outs then start throwing a lot of pitches. Not walking a ton but enough in 1 inning to give up several runs the. Settle again bit be,around 80-90 pitches if he got through 4 innings. Not extra horrible if still rebuilding but the Bucs should be past the throw it against the wall to see if it sticks mode and even if he figures it all out over the next year, the Bucs would be better served giving that spot to a guy who already has figured it out.
Yeah, I don't expect a dramatic step forward but then I didn't expect that with Stephenson either. I could see Bido benefitting from a move to the pen (and just the pen instead of bouncing back and forth).
And I agree that we need more guys at this point who have it figured out, it's just a matter of whether we're able to acquire those guys.
I'm not on Twitter/X--those dots about Nunnally and Hayes? Did they feel like Nunnally overstepped his bounds? Or, did they feel like Nunnally leaked info to the press that they wanted to stay in-house? Something else?
Would you expect it to affect Hayes' attitude? I noticed at the time that he was quick to deflect credit/attention from Nunnally after Mackey's reporting, almost as if Nunnally was getting undue credit.
It seems as though the Hayes thing was secondary. Hayes seemed to like him and Charlie Hayes spoke up in his support, though it seems as though that was after Nunnally knew he was on the way out.
Nunnally cited "philosophical differences" as the reason for his termination. He is an old-school hitting coach who preaches adjusting the hitter's focus, depending on the count... try to pull and jump on fastballs ahead in the count, protect-the-plate-with-2-strikes, and that sort of thing. The direction that the Pirates are moving is obviously toward coaches on the Haines train who advocate taking pitches not in players' hot zones, even with 2 strikes, and swinging for hard contact as much as possible.
Cherington is pretty much all-in on this approach as an organization-wide approach. It sort of reminds me, in some ways, of Huntington's obsession that every pitcher pitch-to-contact. I long for the days when the Pirates actually acknowledge that different styles and approaches to hitting and pitching work for different players, depending on their tools, and that one size does not fit all.
Whatever the case, it is not as though Pirate hitters have been coming up from the minors and tearing the cover off the ball as soon as they hit Pittsburgh, so we shall see what comes of all of this. Its Haines school all the way down the system.
Listen lady... stop with the histrionics... no one said that they are teaching hitters to take strike 3. I said that they are not focusing on protecting the plate and are encouraging them not to swing at borderline pitches. Look honey... it is not just the Pirates... it is a movement in baseball... https://theanalyst.com/eu/2022/03/should-major-league-batters-rethink-protecting-the-plate-on-full-counts/ . So keep your skirt on and settle down.
"Haines train who advocate taking pitches not in players' hot zones, *even with 2 strikes*"
Don't get upset at me for something you wrote.
Also the complete lack of self-awareness in claiming *I* need to stop with the historionics when *you* are the one using the Tim Williams Story Time approach to player development analysis.
As an aside, Hayes credited Nunnally with helping him modify his swing a little to put less torque on his back, but it was Haines who convinced him to move to the toe tap for better timing and balance. It seems the combination of these two things is what led to his emergence as a solid hitter in the second half. It seems helpful to observe that "philosophical" approaches had little to do with Hayes' improvement, and it was the much more mundane tweeks to his technique that helped him improve. Guys in offices like to have organizational "philosophies," but it seems to me that the guys doing the mechanical work benefit much more from improving their techniques than any sort of "organizational philosophies" This holds true for many things.
Hanrahan, wasn’t he the goalie that Reggie Dunlop kept going behind the net and yelling that Hanrahan’s wife was a lesbian, instigating a huge brawl?
Sorry Anthony. My question was a pointed jab at Nutting’s cheapness and getting a BOGO sale. I was not expecting a serious answer. But thx all the same. Keep up the great work!
2 SPs will come from the org but it’s not limited to those 4. Skenes will b here in June. The first demand on Ohtanis list will be 2 other CY candidates in the rotation. Then 450M$+
Lance Lynn gets $10M with $3M possible incentives. The SP market is a seller's market......which is not good news if you are a Pirate fan. Crazy high demand across the entire MLB.
According to Cot's, they've had a bottom-four payroll for six straight years, dead last in three of them. One of the major justifications for the four-year Cherington Clown Show was that it doesn't make sense to spend any money on a rebuilding team. If they're not going to spend money now, they've effectively decided not to be a major league franchise.
I think they extend Keller and Cruz this offseason.... Announcing at a strategic time (Piratefest, Spring Training). Resign Cutch and ONE good starter to ML deals and Velaquez to a minor league deal.
I'd seriously be OK with that. I won't crucify them if the don't sign a Veteran position player. I think Triolo is a starter somewhere and I think Endy and Hank play some 1B.
Yerry going to the Yankees.
Fusili Yerry!
A’s sign Bido to an MLB deal. I thought pirates had something with him. Sucks they didn’t tender him
I waivered between optimism seeing that dudes like Bido and Austin Jackson had no worse stuff nor command than Ortiz, Contreras, and Priester therefor they might've found something with them to sadness realizing that dudes like Bido and Jackson have no worse stuff/command than our top three prospects and they all stink.
sad but true.
Why not? The A's are horrible and in geographic transition and can use a pitcher like Bido. He was a decent plug-in SP for the Pirates last year - glad for him getting the opportunity.
Yes, happy he got signed first business day after non-tender. I think he'll do even better in A's park.
Pirates signed OF Gilberto Celestino to a MiL deal. He was a middling Twins prospect who’ll take a walk but lacks power.
I don't mind the signing. He seems like a future 4th or 5th outfielder but fits an area where Pirates need some competition / depth - the short side of a CF platoon with Jack. He appears to have graded out very well in CF defense in 2022 and lost most of last year to injury. He had good on base skills in the minors but shockingly MLB pitching is better and that 'skill' hasn't translated to the majors for him (yet?). Whether in AAA as depth or major league bench I felt the need for a good to plus defensive centerfielder option.
what ever happened to that centerfielder we got from toronto?
chavez ravine was his name?
Traded to LA...
Couldn’t hit. Gone as FA.
starting Indy outfield is this?
LF Canaan
CF Gorski
RF Frazier / Scott
Neither Fraizer nor Scott has earned a promotion.
Thats depressing
Bowen in right
think Mason comes back to DH for Indy?
another one bido the dust
Bido signed a major league contract with the A's.
So much for my theory that they had an agreement for him to come back on a minor league deal, though that would likely have been contingent on him not getting a major league deal. We'll get another data point on whether this FO can accurately evaluate our own talent.
Me thinks he will be much the same as he was here with the possibility of a minor bit of improvement. He was never horrible, just not great. Could get out of the gate with a 1-2-3 1st with strike outs then start throwing a lot of pitches. Not walking a ton but enough in 1 inning to give up several runs the. Settle again bit be,around 80-90 pitches if he got through 4 innings. Not extra horrible if still rebuilding but the Bucs should be past the throw it against the wall to see if it sticks mode and even if he figures it all out over the next year, the Bucs would be better served giving that spot to a guy who already has figured it out.
Yeah, I don't expect a dramatic step forward but then I didn't expect that with Stephenson either. I could see Bido benefitting from a move to the pen (and just the pen instead of bouncing back and forth).
And I agree that we need more guys at this point who have it figured out, it's just a matter of whether we're able to acquire those guys.
I see it is only a one year deal. If he figures out, we will have a shot at him next year this time . If he doesn’t, no loss.
Since he has years of control left, all the A's will need to do next year is tender him a contract.
If He has a good year, they will tender and consider trading too.
Good to see Fieux manchu is still alive and kicking.
It is ALIVE!!!!!!!!
That list for 5th starter is fine, as long as it's not the same list as for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th starters :)
I'm not on Twitter/X--those dots about Nunnally and Hayes? Did they feel like Nunnally overstepped his bounds? Or, did they feel like Nunnally leaked info to the press that they wanted to stay in-house? Something else?
Would you expect it to affect Hayes' attitude? I noticed at the time that he was quick to deflect credit/attention from Nunnally after Mackey's reporting, almost as if Nunnally was getting undue credit.
It seems as though the Hayes thing was secondary. Hayes seemed to like him and Charlie Hayes spoke up in his support, though it seems as though that was after Nunnally knew he was on the way out.
Nunnally cited "philosophical differences" as the reason for his termination. He is an old-school hitting coach who preaches adjusting the hitter's focus, depending on the count... try to pull and jump on fastballs ahead in the count, protect-the-plate-with-2-strikes, and that sort of thing. The direction that the Pirates are moving is obviously toward coaches on the Haines train who advocate taking pitches not in players' hot zones, even with 2 strikes, and swinging for hard contact as much as possible.
Cherington is pretty much all-in on this approach as an organization-wide approach. It sort of reminds me, in some ways, of Huntington's obsession that every pitcher pitch-to-contact. I long for the days when the Pirates actually acknowledge that different styles and approaches to hitting and pitching work for different players, depending on their tools, and that one size does not fit all.
Whatever the case, it is not as though Pirate hitters have been coming up from the minors and tearing the cover off the ball as soon as they hit Pittsburgh, so we shall see what comes of all of this. Its Haines school all the way down the system.
for christ's sake there is nobody in the Pirate organization teaching players to take strike three you guys are incredible.
Listen lady... stop with the histrionics... no one said that they are teaching hitters to take strike 3. I said that they are not focusing on protecting the plate and are encouraging them not to swing at borderline pitches. Look honey... it is not just the Pirates... it is a movement in baseball... https://theanalyst.com/eu/2022/03/should-major-league-batters-rethink-protecting-the-plate-on-full-counts/ . So keep your skirt on and settle down.
"Haines train who advocate taking pitches not in players' hot zones, *even with 2 strikes*"
Don't get upset at me for something you wrote.
Also the complete lack of self-awareness in claiming *I* need to stop with the historionics when *you* are the one using the Tim Williams Story Time approach to player development analysis.
Every time I write something you disagree with, you fly into hysterics. It's strange and juvenile. Grow up.
Dont love that being a lady is a goto insult here
Don't get your panties in a bunch.
As an aside, Hayes credited Nunnally with helping him modify his swing a little to put less torque on his back, but it was Haines who convinced him to move to the toe tap for better timing and balance. It seems the combination of these two things is what led to his emergence as a solid hitter in the second half. It seems helpful to observe that "philosophical" approaches had little to do with Hayes' improvement, and it was the much more mundane tweeks to his technique that helped him improve. Guys in offices like to have organizational "philosophies," but it seems to me that the guys doing the mechanical work benefit much more from improving their techniques than any sort of "organizational philosophies" This holds true for many things.
I have no idea what this is about. Someone fill us in. I'm hungry for rumor and speculation.
they drop coaches who perform often
ryan, nunnelly, mientkawichz
hanrahan
Hanrahan, wasn’t he the goalie that Reggie Dunlop kept going behind the net and yelling that Hanrahan’s wife was a lesbian, instigating a huge brawl?
Stan Terlecki
Sorry Anthony. My question was a pointed jab at Nutting’s cheapness and getting a BOGO sale. I was not expecting a serious answer. But thx all the same. Keep up the great work!
2 SPs will come from the org but it’s not limited to those 4. Skenes will b here in June. The first demand on Ohtanis list will be 2 other CY candidates in the rotation. Then 450M$+