Some NL Central comments: With the loss last night, the Cardinals clinched last place in the division. Cubs and Reds are currently outside looking in to the wild card. If my team can't win, I'm happy those teams feel some pain as well. Is it awful that I'm inclined to root for the Marlins this weekend?
It shouldn’t go unremarked that this breaks a streak of five straight last-place finishes for Bumbling Ben, including his last two years with big-budget Boston,
“Cubs fans are the worst”…two words: Steve Bartman.
I live in the Red Sox orbit and while their fans are arrogant and annoying in a million different ways, they at least are not evil. ( Patriot fans OTOH…)
Question for you; how does Triolo at 1b compares to your boy Schanuel(misspelled I’m sure)? If favorable or at least equal would you consider rolling with him there next year?
Defensively I would put Triolo way ahead of Schanuel.
Offensively I still like Schanuel by a lot, I like Triolo as well.
I really think Schanuel is going to be a .320+ batting average, .420+ on base average and eventually a .520+ slugger, an elite bat.
I think Triolo has the potential to be a .280+ BA, .370+ OBA and .450+ slugger, an occasional all star if he reaches his ceiling.
Next year I'd prefer Triolo with his defense but by 2025 I believe Schanuel will improve defensively and start tapping into his power in his age 23 season.
I really like both players, they both have an elite skill, high baseball IQ, and are competent in their non elite skill.
I don't mind Triolo playing there at all but would probably prefer him at second. Ben should just get creative and trade for Schanuel and we can have both. I'm greedy and unrealistic.
Yep and yep. I think he'll be a doubles machine and hit around 20+/- homeruns. His bat to ball skills are so good, he will find the sweet spot in his bat. When that happens and his use of the entire field comes to factor he'll be like Tony Gwynn finding gaps with more walks and homers..
On a side note several of his strikeouts have been looking with a few definitely out of the strike zone and a couple borderline. He still has a sub 15% strikeout rate. His bat to ball skill is already elite.
Really impressed with the way Jared Triolo has adapted to the game at the MLB level - I liked him a lot coming through the minors, but the numbers at MLB are truly eye-opening. In 50 Games he has a 1.7 fWAR ($13.6 mil Value) with almost equal parts offense and his defense at 3B, 2B, and now at 1B (he has also played SS and OF in the minors). Definitely a keeper in the starting lineup moving into 2024, and at 6'3" 212, he is the Pirates version of the Yankee's DJ LeMahieu.
Some interesting Statcast info - highest Exit Velo in last night's game - Liover Peguero 108.9 mph groundout. He also had another groundout at 104.5 mph. In Pitching "Swings and Misses' Oviedo led all pitchers with 12, and very notable were Relievers Colin Selby with 5, and Hunter Stratton with 4. Selby threw 19 total pitches, and Stratton 11 total pitches. The Pirates BP keeps getting deeper.
One that got away from everybody except the Phillies - Orion Kerkering a 5th Round pick of Philly in 2022 who went from the FCL through all the stops this year along the way to the majors. He owns a Slider rated 60/70 that he throws 91% of the time!
I love me some Triolo and he reminds me of LeMahieu as well.
Just keep in mind, he's currently running a .430 babip that's really helping his 1.7 WAR. There will be some regression to the mean, because nobody can sustain a .430 babip.
That said, he does a lot of things well and should be the Pirates starter at 2b next year. He could be a 3-3.5 WAR player over the course of a full season.
I think that as well. My gut says he's our everyday 1st basemen but will give rest days for Hayes at third, play second when Cruz needs a day off at SS with Liover sliding over. Also second on Liover's rest days. A combination of Joe and Endy at 1st when Triolo needs a day off or is at 3rd or 2nd.
Whoever hits should be playing, I just see both of those 2 getting playing time with how the current roster is constructed. It could change drastically by next year.
Liover is opsing around .700 while playing 2nd without making an error, while opsing around .600 with 5 errors at short. He also is hitting much better against lefties.
I think Liover is going to be at 2nd. He was playing really well at second when Williams was handling short. His defense and bat were looking good. I think he takes his glove up to bat when he's at short.
Peguero is only 22. There is no reason at all to give up on him. I think they brought him up far too soon. He played for how long at AAA? 2 weeks? less? Plus he got off to a slow start this year coming off an injury. Just poor player management. He should be fine, and I would be fine with him starting next year in AAA and getting a few good months in there before bringing him back to Pittsburgh.
Obviously a very strong breaking pitch, and at A he was selected as the Best FB, Best Breaking Pitch, Best Reliever. Then at A+ he was just the Best Breaking Pitch and Best Reliever. I checked Fangraphs and they have him throwing a FB at 99.5, but only throws it about 6% of the time, with the Slider being the "money" pitch.
I heard about him at the lower levels, but then noticed he was pitching in AA then AAA! Credit to the Phils for recognizing the talent and promoting him accordingly - sort of like the Pirates with SP Jared Jones, who just turned 22 in August. After he completes his MLB "Orientation" in April/May, I hope BC plans accordingly, and we see him in the Rotation by mid-May.
Which is kind of funny if you think about it, cause Kerkering fit the Pirates M.O. to a T: Hard throwing reliever profile (FB, SL) with control issues. Only piece he was missing was being from the SEC lol
Some NL Central comments: With the loss last night, the Cardinals clinched last place in the division. Cubs and Reds are currently outside looking in to the wild card. If my team can't win, I'm happy those teams feel some pain as well. Is it awful that I'm inclined to root for the Marlins this weekend?
It shouldn’t go unremarked that this breaks a streak of five straight last-place finishes for Bumbling Ben, including his last two years with big-budget Boston,
Can’t I root for Cubs, Reds, and Marlins to all get swept this weekend?
Yes!
Like Melkel below, I want my guys to do well, especially on the individual level. But if the Marlins win while our guys play well, I won't be mad.
PS -- I live in Chicago now, and cubs fans are the worst, so some miserable company would be welcome.
PPS - Went to the White Sox game yesterday -- that's a crowd I enjoy. Not a pompous bunch of ignorami.
“Cubs fans are the worst”…two words: Steve Bartman.
I live in the Red Sox orbit and while their fans are arrogant and annoying in a million different ways, they at least are not evil. ( Patriot fans OTOH…)
I still want the pirates to do well, but if they lose in close games, it's nice to know the cubs and reds are feeling it as well.
Question for you; how does Triolo at 1b compares to your boy Schanuel(misspelled I’m sure)? If favorable or at least equal would you consider rolling with him there next year?
Defensively I would put Triolo way ahead of Schanuel.
Offensively I still like Schanuel by a lot, I like Triolo as well.
I really think Schanuel is going to be a .320+ batting average, .420+ on base average and eventually a .520+ slugger, an elite bat.
I think Triolo has the potential to be a .280+ BA, .370+ OBA and .450+ slugger, an occasional all star if he reaches his ceiling.
Next year I'd prefer Triolo with his defense but by 2025 I believe Schanuel will improve defensively and start tapping into his power in his age 23 season.
I really like both players, they both have an elite skill, high baseball IQ, and are competent in their non elite skill.
I don't mind Triolo playing there at all but would probably prefer him at second. Ben should just get creative and trade for Schanuel and we can have both. I'm greedy and unrealistic.
You really think Schanuel will slug .500? Doubles mostly?
Yep and yep. I think he'll be a doubles machine and hit around 20+/- homeruns. His bat to ball skills are so good, he will find the sweet spot in his bat. When that happens and his use of the entire field comes to factor he'll be like Tony Gwynn finding gaps with more walks and homers..
On a side note several of his strikeouts have been looking with a few definitely out of the strike zone and a couple borderline. He still has a sub 15% strikeout rate. His bat to ball skill is already elite.
You are almost, almost describing Juan Soto.
Only Blake Snell has more than 15 starts of 1 or no runs.
Bizarre, frustrating stat, but it’s something to work with. Have to consider how long it took Keller to get it right.
Really impressed with the way Jared Triolo has adapted to the game at the MLB level - I liked him a lot coming through the minors, but the numbers at MLB are truly eye-opening. In 50 Games he has a 1.7 fWAR ($13.6 mil Value) with almost equal parts offense and his defense at 3B, 2B, and now at 1B (he has also played SS and OF in the minors). Definitely a keeper in the starting lineup moving into 2024, and at 6'3" 212, he is the Pirates version of the Yankee's DJ LeMahieu.
Some interesting Statcast info - highest Exit Velo in last night's game - Liover Peguero 108.9 mph groundout. He also had another groundout at 104.5 mph. In Pitching "Swings and Misses' Oviedo led all pitchers with 12, and very notable were Relievers Colin Selby with 5, and Hunter Stratton with 4. Selby threw 19 total pitches, and Stratton 11 total pitches. The Pirates BP keeps getting deeper.
One that got away from everybody except the Phillies - Orion Kerkering a 5th Round pick of Philly in 2022 who went from the FCL through all the stops this year along the way to the majors. He owns a Slider rated 60/70 that he throws 91% of the time!
I love me some Triolo and he reminds me of LeMahieu as well.
Just keep in mind, he's currently running a .430 babip that's really helping his 1.7 WAR. There will be some regression to the mean, because nobody can sustain a .430 babip.
That said, he does a lot of things well and should be the Pirates starter at 2b next year. He could be a 3-3.5 WAR player over the course of a full season.
Triolo will be starting all over the IF next season. Barring injury, I expect he’ll play 25+ games at each of the 4 IF positions next season.
I think that as well. My gut says he's our everyday 1st basemen but will give rest days for Hayes at third, play second when Cruz needs a day off at SS with Liover sliding over. Also second on Liover's rest days. A combination of Joe and Endy at 1st when Triolo needs a day off or is at 3rd or 2nd.
He shouldn’t be the everyday first baseman. He and Peggy should be duking it out for the 2B job in the spring.
Whoever hits should be playing, I just see both of those 2 getting playing time with how the current roster is constructed. It could change drastically by next year.
Liover is opsing around .700 while playing 2nd without making an error, while opsing around .600 with 5 errors at short. He also is hitting much better against lefties.
Who else do they have to play at 2b?
The other 37 tryouts failed badly.
If they had any illusions of him playing SS, he would've seen time by now.
I think your scenario might ring true when Johnson proves he's ready.
I think Liover is going to be at 2nd. He was playing really well at second when Williams was handling short. His defense and bat were looking good. I think he takes his glove up to bat when he's at short.
Call me foolish, but I haven’t given up on Nick G or Peguero yet. One of those two will be the regular 2b next season.
If any of the three are traded for another need, I’m fine with it.
But Triolo would definitely be the one that would sting the most if traded. Seems to have the most value to a winning team.
Peguero is only 22. There is no reason at all to give up on him. I think they brought him up far too soon. He played for how long at AAA? 2 weeks? less? Plus he got off to a slow start this year coming off an injury. Just poor player management. He should be fine, and I would be fine with him starting next year in AAA and getting a few good months in there before bringing him back to Pittsburgh.
I remember watching him in regionals for USF and wanting Kerkering. Big stuff
His slider just disappears.
Obviously a very strong breaking pitch, and at A he was selected as the Best FB, Best Breaking Pitch, Best Reliever. Then at A+ he was just the Best Breaking Pitch and Best Reliever. I checked Fangraphs and they have him throwing a FB at 99.5, but only throws it about 6% of the time, with the Slider being the "money" pitch.
I heard about him at the lower levels, but then noticed he was pitching in AA then AAA! Credit to the Phils for recognizing the talent and promoting him accordingly - sort of like the Pirates with SP Jared Jones, who just turned 22 in August. After he completes his MLB "Orientation" in April/May, I hope BC plans accordingly, and we see him in the Rotation by mid-May.
Which is kind of funny if you think about it, cause Kerkering fit the Pirates M.O. to a T: Hard throwing reliever profile (FB, SL) with control issues. Only piece he was missing was being from the SEC lol
I think we took Tres Gonzalez, OF, Ga Tech in Round 5.
We did.