See, this is exactly what I meant wrt BucsDugout these days in response to a game where the coach lets 3 of his best hitters rot on the bench down 1 in the bottom of the 9th:
Avatar for greatWhiteAngus
This has to be most sociopathic group of dudes in any blog this side of the Himalayans. When the team wins most people are quiet, just another Wednesday. This team loses? It's everything from "this is the worst team in MLB" and "_________ is garbage".
There are over 90 games left in the season. 90!!! The Bucs, despite what you think, are playing better ball, at 500 over the last 6 weeks. And yeah, some of the losses have been super frustrating but holy chiiiiiiiiiiii maaan. You didn't expect ANYTHING from this team. Nothing!
With all of this anger I'd hope all you old guys are at least taking an aspirin a day and that the youngins are not moving from shrooms to meth. Every fan thinks their team is run by the worst GM, the worst scouts, the worst coach. So chances are that every MLB team is run by morons at this point but obviously no team is worse than ours.
I do mean all of that with love, btw. We're all in this together. Breathe in, breathe out. Childs pose. Dogward down. Fuk the Cards. Lets go Bucs.
When did people begin to expect fans to be positive all the time? Particularly fans of the Pittsburgh f'ing Pirates who've been a laughingstock of all professional sports for decades? The only thing that makes sense is paid interns posting for the front office.
Good question, to play devil's advocate, Ashcraft still plays because of his plus command allowing him to still put together a quality outing when his stuff is more average than plus. When both the command and stuff are plus he can be elite. With the potential to still be effective if both are more average on the day.
I'm pretty comfortable calling it plus *control* while being a bit skeptical of *command*. The geographic centroid of a flat 96mph fastball being middle-middle makes me anxious while also admitting such a graphic may be meaningless in practice. Command is the hit tool of pitching for me still. Impossible to really measure and also project.
I agree with that, just playing devil's advocate, I see him more as a 3/4 starter. He does have the potential for more if his stuff increases or if he works the edges better. He definitely is in the middle of the plate to often but has spurts when he's painting edges. Glad he's holding his velocity deep in games.
Stuff wise probably similar, Ashcraft has much better command/control though. Looks like a potential solid 3/4 with days he looks better with just a small uptick in stuff. He can give up quick runs on mistakes when left up over the heart of the plate.
Sounds like and looks like the profile of a guy starting for the Pirates right now by the name of Mitch Keller. It comes down to control. If he can throw the pitches where he needs to, he'll be fine. If he leaves a lot hanging over the middle of the plate or has lapses where he can't find the zone and puts too many on base, he will struggle.
After spring training, I was shocked Honeywell began in triple A. He was dominant then. When I saw him pitch a couple games in Indy 2 weeks ago, he got shelled in both of them. Therefore, I don't know the answer.
The sitting of three of your strongest hitters simultaneously yesterday against a division foe KNOWING your pitching is going to be short-staffed over the weekend is just mind blowing.
The Pirates are now 3-13 for the last game of their last 16 series. That means the rest of their games they are 29-23 which is better than the Braves overall record. Why the Pirates are OK with throwing away these games is mind-blowing.
Hayes and Cruz let a number of ground balls get by them Wednesday where they both looked sluggish or a step slow. Bailey Falter's numbers were worse than what actually threw because of that. So the next day, those two guys get the start again when it is 95 degrees in the middle of the afternoon and you rest your 25 year old with the most energy. Sometimes I think decisions are made by people that don't watch the games.
Remember thinking that watching the game. Hard hit ground ball just to the left of hayes and he didn't even move. just stood there. At least make an effort.
I'm reminded of the comment Hedges made recently about what's different with the Guardians this year is that they treat every game like a playoff game (he wasn't comparing that to the Pirates specifically, just noting how it's different from other situations he's been in). Maybe that intensity will lead to burn out for the Guards, but as of now they're the surprise team in MLB.
I understand guys need rest but as you said, switching from those three to Olivares, Triolo, and Suwinski/MAT in a single game seems like too much of a sacrifice at once, especially when it's against a division rival. And that says nothing about my disappointment in Davis not getting an AB after hitting a HR in his last AB the game before.
Just recently I heard Rhys Hoskins talking about how the good teams he has played on always had a close group of guys that keep each other up and more importantly play hard for each other. The last 3 games I have never seen so many mopers. Shaking their heads at called strikes that are really strikes, never running hard out of the box, or taking 45 seconds to mope back to the dug-out after a strike-out. This coming from anyone that plays on the left side of the field. Very frustrating for a team that was just tied for a play-off spot.
Ashcraft, especially with continued success at AAA, becomes our strongest trade chip. Here is interesting article on who Dodgers could target for OF - some overlapping targets for us:
Or, perhaps we should be wondering if they'd be interested in MAT or Joe (I'd hate to lose Joe, but we shouldn't trade Reynolds and the rest of our OFs have no value).
Is there a deeper story behind the Hernandez trade? Seems like he was a promising young pitcher that the Pirates liked, but seemed to fall from favor for some reason. Strange to just give away a much needed lefty reliever from the upper levels.
Jeffries seems like a good guess as he pitched well on Tuesday and would be ready for a Sunday game. But, we'd need to have fresh bullpen arms ready and that seems unlikely after a bullpen game (maybe Oritz can give us 5, though) and the uncertainty with how Jones will do in his first experience pitching at that altitude.
But, a day after Shelton chose not to give an AB to our best hitter in a series-deciding, one-run game, why should we really care? What's a single game matter?
Washington Nationals GM Mike Rizzo is the gm of the Nationals who have the exact same record of the Pirates. One of his comments he made is was 'Whatever moves we make is we aren't going to give away innings or at bats.'
It's becoming more and more difficult to not feel that way about nearly everything the Pirates do anymore. They do not care one bit about winning so why should we? Sitting some of your best hitters for 5 guys with an OPS below .600 against a division opponent is rubbing the fan's faces in it. Complacency is far worse than being angry or disappointed so it should be fought against, and I'll keep trying, but it just feels like management overall has adopted it as their way of going about business.
They were talking post-game after Nicolas K'd 5 of the 6 Cards hitters he faced and were putting Glasnow comps on him with the heater and curve. I wouldn't go that far, but he does have elite stuff. I see Robert Stephenson.
See, this is exactly what I meant wrt BucsDugout these days in response to a game where the coach lets 3 of his best hitters rot on the bench down 1 in the bottom of the 9th:
Avatar for greatWhiteAngus
This has to be most sociopathic group of dudes in any blog this side of the Himalayans. When the team wins most people are quiet, just another Wednesday. This team loses? It's everything from "this is the worst team in MLB" and "_________ is garbage".
There are over 90 games left in the season. 90!!! The Bucs, despite what you think, are playing better ball, at 500 over the last 6 weeks. And yeah, some of the losses have been super frustrating but holy chiiiiiiiiiiii maaan. You didn't expect ANYTHING from this team. Nothing!
With all of this anger I'd hope all you old guys are at least taking an aspirin a day and that the youngins are not moving from shrooms to meth. Every fan thinks their team is run by the worst GM, the worst scouts, the worst coach. So chances are that every MLB team is run by morons at this point but obviously no team is worse than ours.
I do mean all of that with love, btw. We're all in this together. Breathe in, breathe out. Childs pose. Dogward down. Fuk the Cards. Lets go Bucs.
When we are in a race (regardless of how bad the teams are that are in it), the highs are high and the lows are low.
When did people begin to expect fans to be positive all the time? Particularly fans of the Pittsburgh f'ing Pirates who've been a laughingstock of all professional sports for decades? The only thing that makes sense is paid interns posting for the front office.
Ryder Ryan has been good, why is he on the option roller-coaster? Gotta expect he comes back up for Stratton.
CWS starts at 2pm on ESPN
Virginia v North Carolina
Not be be contrarian but is that really a compelling argument in favor of Ashcrafts's stuff?
Especially in the context of him being seen by some as a bullpen solution.
How many good big league relievers come to mind that have an average fastball, fringey offsped, and slightly above average breaking ball?
Would you be stoked if the Pirates acquired a guy with that profile?
Good question, to play devil's advocate, Ashcraft still plays because of his plus command allowing him to still put together a quality outing when his stuff is more average than plus. When both the command and stuff are plus he can be elite. With the potential to still be effective if both are more average on the day.
I'm pretty comfortable calling it plus *control* while being a bit skeptical of *command*. The geographic centroid of a flat 96mph fastball being middle-middle makes me anxious while also admitting such a graphic may be meaningless in practice. Command is the hit tool of pitching for me still. Impossible to really measure and also project.
I agree with that, just playing devil's advocate, I see him more as a 3/4 starter. He does have the potential for more if his stuff increases or if he works the edges better. He definitely is in the middle of the plate to often but has spurts when he's painting edges. Glad he's holding his velocity deep in games.
Stuff wise, is he more like a Mlod coming out of the pen? Maybe a little better version of Mlod? I think his future is a starter, solid 3-4 guy.
Wish FanGraphs would get it together and come out with their Pirates list already.
Stuff wise probably similar, Ashcraft has much better command/control though. Looks like a potential solid 3/4 with days he looks better with just a small uptick in stuff. He can give up quick runs on mistakes when left up over the heart of the plate.
Sounds like and looks like the profile of a guy starting for the Pirates right now by the name of Mitch Keller. It comes down to control. If he can throw the pitches where he needs to, he'll be fine. If he leaves a lot hanging over the middle of the plate or has lapses where he can't find the zone and puts too many on base, he will struggle.
I guess i had assumed his stuff was a little better than that
when do we get to see honeywell in the majors? he is going to be the one that turns out
After spring training, I was shocked Honeywell began in triple A. He was dominant then. When I saw him pitch a couple games in Indy 2 weeks ago, he got shelled in both of them. Therefore, I don't know the answer.
I hope so, really i hope that anybody steps up as a reliable option
Probably after he turns out in AAA first.
The sitting of three of your strongest hitters simultaneously yesterday against a division foe KNOWING your pitching is going to be short-staffed over the weekend is just mind blowing.
The Pirates are now 3-13 for the last game of their last 16 series. That means the rest of their games they are 29-23 which is better than the Braves overall record. Why the Pirates are OK with throwing away these games is mind-blowing.
Hayes and Cruz let a number of ground balls get by them Wednesday where they both looked sluggish or a step slow. Bailey Falter's numbers were worse than what actually threw because of that. So the next day, those two guys get the start again when it is 95 degrees in the middle of the afternoon and you rest your 25 year old with the most energy. Sometimes I think decisions are made by people that don't watch the games.
"Sometimes I think decisions are made by people that don't watch the games."
It often appears that Shelton and his staff are not watching the games.
Remember thinking that watching the game. Hard hit ground ball just to the left of hayes and he didn't even move. just stood there. At least make an effort.
Sunflower seeds.
Ke'Bryan "Tiny Dancer" Hayes
thats racis
I'd expect homophobic because a reference to Elton John but (where's the I'm joking font on Substack)
I'm reminded of the comment Hedges made recently about what's different with the Guardians this year is that they treat every game like a playoff game (he wasn't comparing that to the Pirates specifically, just noting how it's different from other situations he's been in). Maybe that intensity will lead to burn out for the Guards, but as of now they're the surprise team in MLB.
I understand guys need rest but as you said, switching from those three to Olivares, Triolo, and Suwinski/MAT in a single game seems like too much of a sacrifice at once, especially when it's against a division rival. And that says nothing about my disappointment in Davis not getting an AB after hitting a HR in his last AB the game before.
Just recently I heard Rhys Hoskins talking about how the good teams he has played on always had a close group of guys that keep each other up and more importantly play hard for each other. The last 3 games I have never seen so many mopers. Shaking their heads at called strikes that are really strikes, never running hard out of the box, or taking 45 seconds to mope back to the dug-out after a strike-out. This coming from anyone that plays on the left side of the field. Very frustrating for a team that was just tied for a play-off spot.
One Colin Moran was enough, but we've got a bunch of low heartbeat guys. It absolutely makes a difference in the 162 marathon.
Ashcraft, especially with continued success at AAA, becomes our strongest trade chip. Here is interesting article on who Dodgers could target for OF - some overlapping targets for us:
https://www.si.com/mlb/dodgers/news/10-outfielders-the-dodgers-could-target-at-the-trade-deadline-01j099qb3jv9
Or, perhaps we should be wondering if they'd be interested in MAT or Joe (I'd hate to lose Joe, but we shouldn't trade Reynolds and the rest of our OFs have no value).
Is there a deeper story behind the Hernandez trade? Seems like he was a promising young pitcher that the Pirates liked, but seemed to fall from favor for some reason. Strange to just give away a much needed lefty reliever from the upper levels.
Stuff went south, is what I read. It did feel like they cut bait pretty quickly.
They can’t bullpen two games can they? Since Ashcraft just pitched, who gets a call from Indy? Jefferies?
Jeffries seems like a good guess as he pitched well on Tuesday and would be ready for a Sunday game. But, we'd need to have fresh bullpen arms ready and that seems unlikely after a bullpen game (maybe Oritz can give us 5, though) and the uncertainty with how Jones will do in his first experience pitching at that altitude.
But, a day after Shelton chose not to give an AB to our best hitter in a series-deciding, one-run game, why should we really care? What's a single game matter?
Washington Nationals GM Mike Rizzo is the gm of the Nationals who have the exact same record of the Pirates. One of his comments he made is was 'Whatever moves we make is we aren't going to give away innings or at bats.'
The Nats--talk about fast rebuilds, though I'm skeptical about them staying in the wildcard race.
Ohhh but I'd take Davey Martinez over Shelton hands down, no question.
BINGO!!
It's becoming more and more difficult to not feel that way about nearly everything the Pirates do anymore. They do not care one bit about winning so why should we? Sitting some of your best hitters for 5 guys with an OPS below .600 against a division opponent is rubbing the fan's faces in it. Complacency is far worse than being angry or disappointed so it should be fought against, and I'll keep trying, but it just feels like management overall has adopted it as their way of going about business.
Someone is getting thrown to the wolves, unless Perez is reinstated.
Who is this years Jerad Eickhoff?
We have already done that to 4 relievers this year. How many guys did Nicolas walk in a row
They were talking post-game after Nicolas K'd 5 of the 6 Cards hitters he faced and were putting Glasnow comps on him with the heater and curve. I wouldn't go that far, but he does have elite stuff. I see Robert Stephenson.
I am hoping Martin Perez for one game and Luis Ortiz/Mlodzinski for the other.
We better get loose, Scott. We may get the call!