The Pirates are so frustrating. They’ve given no indication of how they intend to handle 1B. I don’t think they know. They’ve played everyone and their brother there—except for the Cs—but none of them enough to make them an obvious candidate. Your guess is as good as mine. And likely better than theirs.
Unless something has changed the clear 1B choice is Horwitz at least full time against RH. Isn't he expected back in late April? So.. this is not much different than if Reynolds is out 2-3 weeks in June and people are shuffled through to cover. Is their April plan clear - maybe - it does seem clear by spring training that they plan on rotating players to cover for the missing full year starter (Horwitz).
Yes, but I’m projecting Opening Day roster. And which guys are expected to cover? Hall? Triolo? Stewart? Gorski? Yorke? Cook? Whoever it is they’re not a 1B by trade (except Hall). And they’re getting 1 game per week in Spring Training. Not ideal.
I do get your dilemma and enjoy this exercise. My shortened point was their plan appears to be many many bodies which is in fact a plan but makes your exercise very difficult. I think their plan is all hands on deck which may mean no one, two, or even three names are covering. To me the unknown is are they willing to short term make an add to the 40 man (Stewart or Hall) knowing that they could become a 'dead' 40 man spot or risk losing that player if they are DFAd knowing Horwitz is really the plan. If they want to keep that depth then if it is truly just 3 -4 weeks then I think they roll with volume replacements.
Maybe Darick Hall can be the new Mike (the Hit Man) Easaler. He is about the same age as Easler was when he started coming up big. Wouldn't it be nice.....
Bae is second only to Cruz is the combination of being exciting and frustrating, often in the same game. In any case, I hope he makes the roster.
There was an article in the offseason, I think at FG, calling for the Pirates to sign more high variance guys and hoping they hit because that was the only way we'd contend on such a tight budget. Bae seems to fit that. That doesn't mean that he should be given a long leash, just an opportunity to show that some of the changes he's made will impact his performance.
BTW, is everyone following the situation in Seattle? Fans upset that team management is not doing everything possible to put a championship caliber team on the field! And, they finished 8 games over .500 last year!
This is why I’m convinced the Pirates are intentionally trying to avoid putting together a team than can do anything beyond make a run at .500. They don’t want the added pressure of being expected not only to contend for a playoff spot, but to win in the playoffs.
With the strength of the Cubs, Brewers, Cincy in the Central, the strength of the NL West (Dodgers, DBacks, Padres), and NL East (Mets, Phillies, Braves), making the playoffs got a lot further out of reach for teams who are just trying to achieve .500, such as the Pirates.
That's the plan as he would be the only one. I think someone pointed out (NMR) that he doesn't even hit righties well anymore.
Cherington did point out he wanted guys that have been there before...Vets like Cutch, Pham and Frazier have all been to the post-season to try and help the younger guys.
Bae is 2 months younger than Nick Gonzales and plays the same position. He had more tools and he had his chance, but struggled at the MLB level. Last year's .463 OPS in MLB did not excite anyone.
We traded Frazier & got Jack Suwinski - Frazier should have stayed gone - no value in picking him up. Pham is an MLB hitter - we got him cheap because of a bad year in 2024. He can help this team and he needs to have a solid year to increase his value and hope to catch on with a contending team at the trade deadline.
Pham was bad in 2020 and 2022, too. Why would anyone think a 37-year-old hitter who’s been in an overall five-year decline can be counted on for a big bounce back?
Disagree on using 5 years, because 2020 should be forgotten for any number of reasons. In the last 4 years though, Pham has been over 100 wRC+ twice, and his 4 year average is 98.25 w/RC+. The Pirates only had 4 guys hit better than 100 wRC+ in 2024 - Cruz, Reynolds, Bart, Cutch so a guy averaging almost 100 for the last 4 year is a steal for $4.025 mil.
Umm . . . 98.25 is bad for a corner OF, and at 37 he’s much more likely to get worse than better. And if BC’s incompetence at finding hitters is going to be the goal post, this team will never improve.
I somewhat agree, but we are talking about BC who finds guys like BDLC - so Pham is a veritable steal using BC goals. 37 and downhill agree, and I already commented on BC's competence level. We are only paying Pham dollars - be satisfied we did not have to include 2 prospects - so actually it's a BC savings!
Oneil Cruz asked them to sign Pham. If Oneil Cruz says please sign Tommy Pham, he can make me better.... I'm not hesitating and I'm signing Tommy Pham.
Just don't let Pham take AB's from jack, if Jack is back.
Devils' advocate al little. Jack was REAL bad last year. While I don't have confidence in Shelton, Jack has to show in real games he is 'back'. if Jack can show post spring training that he is not still lost then I would hope he could start 3-4 times a week. Pham gets 5 starts (against all lefties and a few RHs), Jack gets 3 starts realizing in 1 or 2 of those Pham or Jack starts will be at DH. The REAL Shelton test for me is 6-7 weeks in if Jack is fully 'old' Jack and needs to play everyday against RH's only - will he do it? I have no expectations of Jack playing against LHs. ie. Pham and Jack both get ABs, both have mediocre track records... the Shelton test is when one of them truly shows they deserve ABs not based on minimal ABs in spring training.
I’m unsure if anyone saw this at FG, but they dropped the first of their positional power rankings today. Bucs came in at 24 for C.
Bench battles………
11. Endy Rodriguez….90%…..90%
12. Jack Suwinski……60%…..80%
13. Nick Yorke…………50%…..50%
——————————————————-
14. Billy Cook…………..50%…..40%
15. Henry Davis……….20%…..20%
16. Darick Hall…………30%…..20%
17. Josh Palacios…….20%……..5%
18. Ji-hwan Bae………10%……..5%
19. DJ Stewart…………..5%…….5%
20. Matt Gorski………...5%…….5%
21. Liover Peguero…..30%…….5%
Matt Gorski and Peguero have a less than zero chance of making the OD roster.
The Pirates are so frustrating. They’ve given no indication of how they intend to handle 1B. I don’t think they know. They’ve played everyone and their brother there—except for the Cs—but none of them enough to make them an obvious candidate. Your guess is as good as mine. And likely better than theirs.
Unless something has changed the clear 1B choice is Horwitz at least full time against RH. Isn't he expected back in late April? So.. this is not much different than if Reynolds is out 2-3 weeks in June and people are shuffled through to cover. Is their April plan clear - maybe - it does seem clear by spring training that they plan on rotating players to cover for the missing full year starter (Horwitz).
Yes, but I’m projecting Opening Day roster. And which guys are expected to cover? Hall? Triolo? Stewart? Gorski? Yorke? Cook? Whoever it is they’re not a 1B by trade (except Hall). And they’re getting 1 game per week in Spring Training. Not ideal.
I do get your dilemma and enjoy this exercise. My shortened point was their plan appears to be many many bodies which is in fact a plan but makes your exercise very difficult. I think their plan is all hands on deck which may mean no one, two, or even three names are covering. To me the unknown is are they willing to short term make an add to the 40 man (Stewart or Hall) knowing that they could become a 'dead' 40 man spot or risk losing that player if they are DFAd knowing Horwitz is really the plan. If they want to keep that depth then if it is truly just 3 -4 weeks then I think they roll with volume replacements.
Maybe Darick Hall can be the new Mike (the Hit Man) Easaler. He is about the same age as Easler was when he started coming up big. Wouldn't it be nice.....
I’ll take some 1980 or 1984 Mike Easler!
Fun factoid: Bae’s BA is about 150 pts above Frazier’s and Pham’s combined.
Bae is second only to Cruz is the combination of being exciting and frustrating, often in the same game. In any case, I hope he makes the roster.
There was an article in the offseason, I think at FG, calling for the Pirates to sign more high variance guys and hoping they hit because that was the only way we'd contend on such a tight budget. Bae seems to fit that. That doesn't mean that he should be given a long leash, just an opportunity to show that some of the changes he's made will impact his performance.
BTW, is everyone following the situation in Seattle? Fans upset that team management is not doing everything possible to put a championship caliber team on the field! And, they finished 8 games over .500 last year!
...liberals...
damnit obama
This is why I’m convinced the Pirates are intentionally trying to avoid putting together a team than can do anything beyond make a run at .500. They don’t want the added pressure of being expected not only to contend for a playoff spot, but to win in the playoffs.
gloomy, but prescient...
Here comes the rain again
Falling on my head like a tragedy
Falling on my head like a new emotion...
With the strength of the Cubs, Brewers, Cincy in the Central, the strength of the NL West (Dodgers, DBacks, Padres), and NL East (Mets, Phillies, Braves), making the playoffs got a lot further out of reach for teams who are just trying to achieve .500, such as the Pirates.
Aiming for .500 is a chimera. NH found that out. In pro sports, you aim to excel, and either succeed or not, or you just suck.
I think NH's thing was getting into the playoffs and once you're in, anything can happen.
I don't remember Huntington ever saying ".500 is the goal"
If only that mattered to BC.
ST stats shouldn't mean anything to anyone.
That said, I don't mind the Pham signing, but I'm struggling to see the benefit of Adam Frazier.
...left handed infield bat?...
That's the plan as he would be the only one. I think someone pointed out (NMR) that he doesn't even hit righties well anymore.
Cherington did point out he wanted guys that have been there before...Vets like Cutch, Pham and Frazier have all been to the post-season to try and help the younger guys.
Bae is 2 months younger than Nick Gonzales and plays the same position. He had more tools and he had his chance, but struggled at the MLB level. Last year's .463 OPS in MLB did not excite anyone.
We traded Frazier & got Jack Suwinski - Frazier should have stayed gone - no value in picking him up. Pham is an MLB hitter - we got him cheap because of a bad year in 2024. He can help this team and he needs to have a solid year to increase his value and hope to catch on with a contending team at the trade deadline.
Maybe Pham can beat the odds and help the Pirates be a contender? Even if it’s as a 4th OF/PH type player.
Maybe Pham is like Willie Stargell....
Pham was bad in 2020 and 2022, too. Why would anyone think a 37-year-old hitter who’s been in an overall five-year decline can be counted on for a big bounce back?
Because, Wilbur, ... (strapping on my other glass slipper...) "Impossible things are happening every day!"
Disagree on using 5 years, because 2020 should be forgotten for any number of reasons. In the last 4 years though, Pham has been over 100 wRC+ twice, and his 4 year average is 98.25 w/RC+. The Pirates only had 4 guys hit better than 100 wRC+ in 2024 - Cruz, Reynolds, Bart, Cutch so a guy averaging almost 100 for the last 4 year is a steal for $4.025 mil.
Umm . . . 98.25 is bad for a corner OF, and at 37 he’s much more likely to get worse than better. And if BC’s incompetence at finding hitters is going to be the goal post, this team will never improve.
I somewhat agree, but we are talking about BC who finds guys like BDLC - so Pham is a veritable steal using BC goals. 37 and downhill agree, and I already commented on BC's competence level. We are only paying Pham dollars - be satisfied we did not have to include 2 prospects - so actually it's a BC savings!
Oh! Shots fired! Stick that in yer pipe and smoke it, Wilbur!
It's because Pham is motivating him. And their veteran leadership.
Oneil Cruz asked them to sign Pham. If Oneil Cruz says please sign Tommy Pham, he can make me better.... I'm not hesitating and I'm signing Tommy Pham.
Just don't let Pham take AB's from jack, if Jack is back.
Do you seriously think Shelton will prioritize Jack’s ABs over Pham’s?
My memory could be off here, but I'm not remembering vet's blocking better players.
I don't remember Michael A stealing time from a better player, I don't remember Grandal taking time from a better player.
Guys like Martin Perez and Marco were gone as soon as Skenes was ready.
Rowdy was playing the heavy side of a platoon at 1b, but he wasn't blocking anyone better.
Devils' advocate al little. Jack was REAL bad last year. While I don't have confidence in Shelton, Jack has to show in real games he is 'back'. if Jack can show post spring training that he is not still lost then I would hope he could start 3-4 times a week. Pham gets 5 starts (against all lefties and a few RHs), Jack gets 3 starts realizing in 1 or 2 of those Pham or Jack starts will be at DH. The REAL Shelton test for me is 6-7 weeks in if Jack is fully 'old' Jack and needs to play everyday against RH's only - will he do it? I have no expectations of Jack playing against LHs. ie. Pham and Jack both get ABs, both have mediocre track records... the Shelton test is when one of them truly shows they deserve ABs not based on minimal ABs in spring training.
sadness descends like the headwall on a hurricane
So Pham can be a clubhouse attendant.