We all have seen Griffin's tools in ST and he's improving on the breaking balls at Bradenton, enough so as to hit oppo field HR. It remains to be seen how they handle (or mis-handle) his path. But I'd like to see him at Greensboro soon, and then get to Altoona by August.
In 2026, Altoona to Indy. In 2027 at age 21, get him to the Pirates after Super 2. This kid is way superior to Key, he deserves a fast track.
They can. I also wouldn’t count on it though. We’re four weeks into this guys career and you’re talking in Altoona this year. Especially won’t happen because they haven’t settled on where he’ll be defensively.
According to the P-G game story, the Pirates now lead the majors with 31 GIDPs. That is an astounding accomplishment considering that they are also near the bottom in OBP. And they are near the top in strikeouts.
So they strike out a ton, get almost no one on base, and when they do get guys on base they erase them with double plays. Truly awesome.
Yeah gotta disagree with Wilbur, they're a worse club than the Pirates propped up by a dogshit Division and one of the 2 or 3 best players in the league. Guardians and Royals are both over .500 while being outscored by more than 20 runs.
They've got some guys who should be doing a lot better than they are. Perez, Pasquantino, India, Massey, even if they're not exactly great players. OTOH, Biggio and Renfroe are Cherington-type guys. He'll probably sign them next fall.
Bad hitting and even worse managing. Shelton knows they have a problem—well, assuming he actually watches the games, which is doubtful—but he never starts the runners. He does try to bunt now and then, but that’d usually be a bad idea even if anybody in this sad sack collection could bunt, which they can’t.
No question the team’s overriding problem is Cherington, but Shelton’s a bad manager.
To make matter still worse, the Pirates are top 10 in the league in BB. So, basically every AB with a runner on 1st has 4 possible outcomes: BB, K, SB, or GIDP.
That was awful. It looked like he was trying to jump up onto his seat after the ball went into RF. He had his hands on the railing, leaning on it, and got his weight a little too far forward trying to jump onto the seat and just went over.
I hope they don’t get carried away. Incidents like this are incredibly rare. And on any random MLB game night, there are probably thousands of fans getting soused.
Or he is going to stock up on liquor from the duty-free shops. Soon, you too will discover the wonders of the duty-free shops like the people of nations that have had tariffs for years.
There are some good nuggets in here:
https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/pirates/2025/05/01/report-card-shelton-cruz-bednar-holderman-pham/stories/202504300037
Spoiler alert: he gives Shelton an F.
Damn grade inflation.
We all have seen Griffin's tools in ST and he's improving on the breaking balls at Bradenton, enough so as to hit oppo field HR. It remains to be seen how they handle (or mis-handle) his path. But I'd like to see him at Greensboro soon, and then get to Altoona by August.
In 2026, Altoona to Indy. In 2027 at age 21, get him to the Pirates after Super 2. This kid is way superior to Key, he deserves a fast track.
Why you slow playing him with that nonsense? In Pgh by July 4th or he’s a bust.
Got the Year 6 Re-build blues.
good grief!
Special talents can make it to the bigs at 21. Chourio, age 20. Julio Rodriguez age 21, named an All Star rookie season! There's been others.
They can. I also wouldn’t count on it though. We’re four weeks into this guys career and you’re talking in Altoona this year. Especially won’t happen because they haven’t settled on where he’ll be defensively.
According to the P-G game story, the Pirates now lead the majors with 31 GIDPs. That is an astounding accomplishment considering that they are also near the bottom in OBP. And they are near the top in strikeouts.
So they strike out a ton, get almost no one on base, and when they do get guys on base they erase them with double plays. Truly awesome.
21% below league average in hitting. One would think that would be the worst, but they are 3 teams even worse...
CWS - 23% below league ave
KC - 28% below league ave (they actually have 2 players worse than Pham!!)
Col - 37% below league ave
KC shouldn’t be this bad. The other two are total sh**shows, even compared to the Cheringtons.
If you take Bobby Witt Jr away, their offensive WAR is negative -1.7.
They literally have 2 guys worse than Pham. Which I did not think was possible.
Ben Cherington will take up your challenge.
Yeah gotta disagree with Wilbur, they're a worse club than the Pirates propped up by a dogshit Division and one of the 2 or 3 best players in the league. Guardians and Royals are both over .500 while being outscored by more than 20 runs.
They've got some guys who should be doing a lot better than they are. Perez, Pasquantino, India, Massey, even if they're not exactly great players. OTOH, Biggio and Renfroe are Cherington-type guys. He'll probably sign them next fall.
So should the Pirates
Bad hitting and even worse managing. Shelton knows they have a problem—well, assuming he actually watches the games, which is doubtful—but he never starts the runners. He does try to bunt now and then, but that’d usually be a bad idea even if anybody in this sad sack collection could bunt, which they can’t.
No question the team’s overriding problem is Cherington, but Shelton’s a bad manager.
To make matters even worse, they are 4th in the league in stolen bases.
It seems like an impossible combination. But somehow they manage it. What a mess.
I guess lack of power is at least one cause. Too many singles and ground balls.
Believe it or not, they’re only 8th in GB%, nowhere near the top. So even that doesn’t explain it.
There’s hope! Reversion to the mean in the offing!
They do pull the ball more than average and are near the bottom of the league in opposite field hits so they hit into more shifts than most teams.
It’s just bad luck. The fielders are always in the most damned inconvenient spots.
To make matter still worse, the Pirates are top 10 in the league in BB. So, basically every AB with a runner on 1st has 4 possible outcomes: BB, K, SB, or GIDP.
And their only power hitter bats leadoff.
Yep!
Hoping that the fan that fell is in more stable condition
That was awful. It looked like he was trying to jump up onto his seat after the ball went into RF. He had his hands on the railing, leaning on it, and got his weight a little too far forward trying to jump onto the seat and just went over.
Apparently multiple people who were there are saying he was drunk. Still hope he comes through it.
yeah, that part was pretty obvious.
Guessing all kinds of safety actions will be in place now.
I hope they don’t get carried away. Incidents like this are incredibly rare. And on any random MLB game night, there are probably thousands of fans getting soused.
Especially pirate fans given the current state of affairs
Prayers for him and his family. I watched it once and that was all I could stomach.
Just checked and there is no update yet on the P-G website.
Saw Derek Shelton going through security at the airport, which is odd since the game is 12:30 at home
He’s going to Florida for his kids graduation
An opportunity for the legendary Pittsburgh native Don Kelly to show his genius.
Heavy breathing from Tennessee Mel
Are we sure he's not being sent to Bradenton for the Development List?
“Like” doesn’t quite cut it for this.
Maybe he was optioned to Indy to work on his managing?
Or he is going to stock up on liquor from the duty-free shops. Soon, you too will discover the wonders of the duty-free shops like the people of nations that have had tariffs for years.