I don't know why I'm thinking that in 2 years, we're going to look back on the trade to aquire Wolf as a real turning point, actually the swap to get Falter as well. Finesse lefties have seemed to play well at PNC.
I just hope not the reds, ugh that would frustrate me a bunch. I will probs cheer for the brewers but think the cubs might be the most well-rounded team and more dangerous after adding candelario. If Taillon's recent surge holds then their top 3 of stroman, steele, and taillon/hendrick's holds up with the brewers imo
I think the Brewers have the top end pitching to get the division. The Cubs have surprising depth that may allow them to slide past the Brewers. The Reds lack of starting pitching and dependency on youth will hold them back this year but the experience will make them better next year similar to the Pirates.
Barco looked great for two batters. Six pitches, two Ks. He walked the next two, but wasn’t missing badly. Then he came out and went to the bullpen to throw. Something they didn’t like about his motion maybe.
It isn't to the same degree, yet, but it's starting to look like they are in fact trying to mold Oviedo into another Keller type. Keller type being someone who throws 5 pitches and isn't overly dependent on one or two specific pitches.
With consistency he has the stuff for a solid 3 maybe better. Looked like a strong 2 yesterday, just needs to keep the walks down and the ball in the field of play.
Well, that whole consistency thing has been the consistent issue with a lot of their pitchers, which is why the key has become getting them to have multiple offerings. Oviedo's success mostly centers around how on his plus slider is that day, and how well he can keep hitters off it with his other stuff.
Totally agree with that, if he had pinpoint command he would be ace material instead of a solid 3. He definitely can't leave his fastball in the heart of the plate very often and needs a couple different pitches so opponents don't sit on the slider and fastball.
I think also helps any FB with less than ideal shape play up. Oviedo's 95-97 is probably much harder to hit if offspeed is keeping the hitter honest, despite it being dead straight
Yeah, and you can see it with the fact he even got 5 swings and misses on his FF last night. That's not normal for him lol he's lucky if he gets 1 or 2. To bring Keller back into it, that's essentially what's happened with him. Keller's FF is practically the exact same FF that got hit to hell earlier in his career, yet he's added ~9% in whiff%. I just looked up Oviedo, and he himself has added 6%.
It was excellent pitch selection. He got several of those wiffs on high fastballs ahead in the count with 2 strikes where the hitter was expecting a breaking pitch. I don't think it is coincidence that his 2 best games have come with Endy behind the plate.
In a league so heavy on pattern recognition and gameplanning, feels like even having an extra averageish offering or two is helpful in keeping hitters guessing
I would love for them to unearth another Max Talbot. Or Jarkko Ruutu. Hopefully some of these knew guys they brought in early in FA can grind. Remember when Ruutu soccer styled the puck down the ice and pulled off a decent pass. I think he drew a penalty when some one whacked his stick.
I agree that defense could be somewhat problematic, though our power play has consistently been underperforming with all the talent we have so hoping karlsson can boost that as well. I wouldnt be surprised if dubas has a few more tricks up his sleeve, but this team is in much better position than a few weeks ago
BuT wHaT aBoUt AfTeR tHe CoRe iS gOnE!!!!! Good use of trading picks and unloading shitshows like the granland deal is incredible. Also quality veteran depth for near league minimum is such a nice change of pace
I saw someone say that almost everyone agrees that he has been on a heater, even if they are the usual shit talkers just to make themselves popular (ahem, poni). Good signs indeed
The strength of the system has strongly swung from hitting to pitching with now a good depth of players that throw from both sides that offer intrigue. Lots more young talent to flood PNC this upcoming year
I think the last LHSP developed by the Pirates was Steven Brault. The last few years we have signed "comeback" LHSP's Jose Quintana and Rich Hill, who both did very well for the Pirates, and the investment returns have been very good for the Pirates. Johan Oviedo was part of the return from Quintana - lots of praise for him on MLB this morning.
Based on the 2022 stats of Bailey Falter, I would have thought him to be un-gettable. 4-1, 1.91 ERA in 9 Starts at AAA, and then 6-4, 3.86 ERA in 16 Starts for the Phillies. Watching him Saturday, he has the pitches, velo, and location to be a solid SP for the Pirates. Wolf was a 4 year college pitcher, so he is catching up and getting some solid starts at AA will help his development.
The more I think about Falter the more I like. A very good change of scenery candidate. He has the potential to start, if that doesn't work out he could be a strong middle relief lefty to get by some teams that struggle with lefties for 2 or 3 innings.
Lefties need good offspeed stuff and breaking pitches to get RH batters out consistently. There are not too many lefties who can live off a good fastball, and it is harder for LHP to set up their breaking and offspeed stuff with the fastball. Having good offspeed and breaking stuff and a do-nothing fastball can lead to success for LHP but often spells doom for RHP.
How do the top Pirates MILB hitters compare with those from other top systems?
https://www.fangraphs.com/prospects/the-board-scouting-and-stats?pos=&lg=2,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,14,12,13,15,16,17,18,30,32,33&stats=bat&qual=0&type=0&team=&season=2023&seasonEnd=2023&draft=2023updated&players=&boardView=0&q=&org=nym,pit,chc,bos,wsn,bal&filter=&sort=18,1
I don't know why I'm thinking that in 2 years, we're going to look back on the trade to aquire Wolf as a real turning point, actually the swap to get Falter as well. Finesse lefties have seemed to play well at PNC.
Drugs. Halucinogenic drugs. That's why.
Q, tyler anderson, even frankie and happ didnt necessarily overpower with their stuff though they had more than the first two. I hope you are right!
Who wins the NL Central?
Brewers, Cubs or Reds?
Despite a negative run differential, my money is still on the Brewers. Can the Cubs stay hot? The Reds will fade.
Brewers. They just got Woodruff back. Just think they have a better crew of SP's. I do know it won't be our Pirates.
The Cubs have the best talent, and now the wins are starting to come. Ugh. Do we have to pick?
I just hope not the reds, ugh that would frustrate me a bunch. I will probs cheer for the brewers but think the cubs might be the most well-rounded team and more dangerous after adding candelario. If Taillon's recent surge holds then their top 3 of stroman, steele, and taillon/hendrick's holds up with the brewers imo
I think the Brewers have the top end pitching to get the division. The Cubs have surprising depth that may allow them to slide past the Brewers. The Reds lack of starting pitching and dependency on youth will hold them back this year but the experience will make them better next year similar to the Pirates.
Barco looked great for two batters. Six pitches, two Ks. He walked the next two, but wasn’t missing badly. Then he came out and went to the bullpen to throw. Something they didn’t like about his motion maybe.
Love the insider info :)
It isn't to the same degree, yet, but it's starting to look like they are in fact trying to mold Oviedo into another Keller type. Keller type being someone who throws 5 pitches and isn't overly dependent on one or two specific pitches.
Last night's usage:
FF: 34%
SL: 29%
SI: 16%
CB: 15%
CH: 7%
With consistency he has the stuff for a solid 3 maybe better. Looked like a strong 2 yesterday, just needs to keep the walks down and the ball in the field of play.
Well, that whole consistency thing has been the consistent issue with a lot of their pitchers, which is why the key has become getting them to have multiple offerings. Oviedo's success mostly centers around how on his plus slider is that day, and how well he can keep hitters off it with his other stuff.
Totally agree with that, if he had pinpoint command he would be ace material instead of a solid 3. He definitely can't leave his fastball in the heart of the plate very often and needs a couple different pitches so opponents don't sit on the slider and fastball.
I think also helps any FB with less than ideal shape play up. Oviedo's 95-97 is probably much harder to hit if offspeed is keeping the hitter honest, despite it being dead straight
Yeah, and you can see it with the fact he even got 5 swings and misses on his FF last night. That's not normal for him lol he's lucky if he gets 1 or 2. To bring Keller back into it, that's essentially what's happened with him. Keller's FF is practically the exact same FF that got hit to hell earlier in his career, yet he's added ~9% in whiff%. I just looked up Oviedo, and he himself has added 6%.
It was excellent pitch selection. He got several of those wiffs on high fastballs ahead in the count with 2 strikes where the hitter was expecting a breaking pitch. I don't think it is coincidence that his 2 best games have come with Endy behind the plate.
Now if only we can mold Keller back to Keller.
I think it's just a matter of Keller is more comfortably between the worst starter in MLB and being an ace.
In a league so heavy on pattern recognition and gameplanning, feels like even having an extra averageish offering or two is helpful in keeping hitters guessing
Young Pirates prospect Yordany De Los Santos was on base three times, stole a base and scored twice.
@BnP thoughts on the Karlsson trade? It's pretty damn near 10/10 in my book
11/10
I'm honestly flabbergasted lol we got Karlsson AND Dubas was able to unload most of Hextall's mistakes? And DeSmith is finally gone?
That said, I'm also a little worried about this team. Defensively.
I would love for them to unearth another Max Talbot. Or Jarkko Ruutu. Hopefully some of these knew guys they brought in early in FA can grind. Remember when Ruutu soccer styled the puck down the ice and pulled off a decent pass. I think he drew a penalty when some one whacked his stick.
I agree that defense could be somewhat problematic, though our power play has consistently been underperforming with all the talent we have so hoping karlsson can boost that as well. I wouldnt be surprised if dubas has a few more tricks up his sleeve, but this team is in much better position than a few weeks ago
I'm used to picks getting traded, but not in a way that's actually seems useful. GMJR would trade it for a bottom six or 3rd pairing tough guy lol
BuT wHaT aBoUt AfTeR tHe CoRe iS gOnE!!!!! Good use of trading picks and unloading shitshows like the granland deal is incredible. Also quality veteran depth for near league minimum is such a nice change of pace
But honestly, this team gonna be BAAADDD when the core retires lol
Oh yeah its gonna be terrible, but thatll be the case whether we do or dont add to the current core so might as well full send for the next few years
Agree. Even saw an article by Mark Madden (who I never read) saying Dubas is a miracle worker.
I saw someone say that almost everyone agrees that he has been on a heater, even if they are the usual shit talkers just to make themselves popular (ahem, poni). Good signs indeed
The strength of the system has strongly swung from hitting to pitching with now a good depth of players that throw from both sides that offer intrigue. Lots more young talent to flood PNC this upcoming year
I think the last LHSP developed by the Pirates was Steven Brault. The last few years we have signed "comeback" LHSP's Jose Quintana and Rich Hill, who both did very well for the Pirates, and the investment returns have been very good for the Pirates. Johan Oviedo was part of the return from Quintana - lots of praise for him on MLB this morning.
Based on the 2022 stats of Bailey Falter, I would have thought him to be un-gettable. 4-1, 1.91 ERA in 9 Starts at AAA, and then 6-4, 3.86 ERA in 16 Starts for the Phillies. Watching him Saturday, he has the pitches, velo, and location to be a solid SP for the Pirates. Wolf was a 4 year college pitcher, so he is catching up and getting some solid starts at AA will help his development.
The more I think about Falter the more I like. A very good change of scenery candidate. He has the potential to start, if that doesn't work out he could be a strong middle relief lefty to get by some teams that struggle with lefties for 2 or 3 innings.
Both are soft tossers not unlike Rich Hill. Why is it LHPs are usually the soft tossers?
Maybe they can’t throw as hard when they don’t throw with the “right” arm?
We lefties can always get in two or three haymakers before you realize that we ARE lefties,so watch it!! 😂😂😂😂
Lefties need good offspeed stuff and breaking pitches to get RH batters out consistently. There are not too many lefties who can live off a good fastball, and it is harder for LHP to set up their breaking and offspeed stuff with the fastball. Having good offspeed and breaking stuff and a do-nothing fastball can lead to success for LHP but often spells doom for RHP.
Btw, your last sentence doesn’t bode well for Priester, does it?
Depends on how good the fb is and how they can control / command it. See Koufax, Sandy andcJohnson, Randy.
But, for the most part I agree. Good lefties have to know how to pitch backwards and establish their off speed pitches first.
Less fish in the sea I guess? And since hitters see less of them, they can get by without having as good of stuff as their RHP counterparts
Don’t forget Tyler Anderson.