This gets my vote. While I am adamant AAA does not equal MLB, Heller has done too well at AAA to just ignore the results. Did he have deer in the headlights / too excited / just 2 bad days? He clearly had to be sent back down but he seems somewhat legit.
Sources saying a big trade going down with the angels: Termmarr, Harrington, Ashcraft, Tank and Suwinski for Ward, Detmarrs, Trout and half of Trouts remaining salary
We're 2/3rds thru July and for the month to date, Bucs as a team are in top 10 in MLB in HR, R, RBI, lowest K%, ISO, BA, OBP, SLG and WRC+. Keep that up and it's a playoff team.
>On June 1, Rowdy Tellez was slashing .177/.239/.223 with one home run in 142 plate appearances. Since that time, the Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman has slashed .321/.356/.575 with seven home runs in 118 plate appearances.
Rowdy Tellez’s three sacrifice flies on Friday tied a record that is now co-held by 12 players. The last player to log three sac flies in a single game had been Jose Lopez with Seattle in 2008.
Like everyone else, I thought they shoulda pulled the plug on Rowdy. But I guess I’m glad they didnt. He was going to bounce back at some point. But surprised it was this much and for this long
Anybody have any insight as to why Reynolds’ defensive rating at Fangraphs continues to go down? He is now a -12. I’m not sure how they derive this but watching it over the past month it continues to slide. Obviously his offense keeps going up. What gives with the defensive slide? Does this exist in reality?
Reynolds is a dumpster fire in the field. His range and reads are awful. I think it gets disguised a bit because he’s always having to dive or slide and he’s decent enough in doing that you think “oh wow what a great play” but in reality an average fielder makes it routine and nobody bats an eye.
I have seen plenty of bad outfielders over the years, I would never consider Reynolds “bad”. He is not an elite defender but has always appeared to be completely competent. In ‘21 he was positive but his defensive ratings have all been negative since with this year being a new low-again, according to Fangraphs.
Not to be pedantic but the metric you’re referencing, OAA, is the StatCast version of defense just hosted by FanGraphs. UZR, the FanGraphs metric for defense, is quite a bit different.
Years ago, UZR gave Jason Bay horrific ratings. At some point, somebody figured out that UZR wasn't handling PNC's dimensions correctly and Bay's rating were adjusted sharply upward.
Ironically, while OAA hates Reynolds, UZR has him above average (1.5). Anomalies DO creep into these defensive metrics. I'm a lot more comfortable with them when the different systems agree.
Derek Jeter scenario before our eyes? He always looked good but metrics showed overtime he clearly secured fewer outs. For any Yankee fans - no brainer first ballot hall of famer and well deserved - but a lifetime of metrics showed the eye test (or in some cases maybe blinded by fandom eye test) fooled a lot of people. if you ever saw peak Andrelton Simmons play... you learn to believe in the metrics.
That recent article on FG, didn’t that say his jumps (and Jack’s) have been awful? Maybe BR would be better in right, with less ground to cover in PNC.
Ortiz has made great strides with his control. His walk rate is half what it was last year, and it is insanely low the last two months. The org has shown some ability to improve pitchers in that regard.
The value of pitching development in the Pirate system the past few years would be off the charts - much of that has to do with signing the right pitchers.
Ortiz was a big velo guy a few years ago at AA, and posted 9.92 K/9 and 2.68 BB/9 in 114 IP, but his ERA was 4.64. Last year with the Pirates, he only had 59 K in 87 innings, and his ERA was just slightly higher than it was at AA at 4.78. His number of Walks however was almost the same as his number of K's - 48 Walks, 59 K. This year, in 13 less innings pitched (73.2 IP), he has the same number of K's - 59, but his number of Walks has decreased from 48 down to 21. Safe to say he is learning that for him, pitch placement is more important than pitch velocity?
With all of the pitching success, it is easy to overlook the successes of Pitching Coach Oscar Marin, Bullpen Coach Justin Meccage, and others who keep our pitching staff competitive. Overall as a team the Pirates are 11th in MLB. In the 6 game winning streak we have had 2 games where 6 pitchers carried the day. The six roll like this - Skenes, Gonzales, Ortiz, Keller and 5 RP's, and after the AS Break it has been Perez and 5 RP's, and Ortiz.
BC put together SP's Skenes, Keller, Jones, Ortiz, Falter, Gonzales, Perez, Priester - combined for a little less than $20 mil in 2024 salary to the Pirates, but a total of 8.0 fWAR to date, for an fWAR Value of $64 mil! BTW, Seattle and Atlanta are two teams looking for SP, and both are paying a combined $9 mil of the $12 mil salary of Gonzales (think they may want to get some additional value?).
Great effort by the FCL Pirates coming back for 2 runs in extra innings to post a win while Division leader, Boston dropped one in extra innings to Minn. There is now a 3 way tie at the top of the FCL South Division with the Pirates, Boston, and Tampa Bay all with identical 33-23 records. They won last night by putting 2 runners on in scoring position and then the opposing pitcher balked twice to allow the tieing and winning runs to score!
Oscar might be the unsung hero of the team. Pitchers -- during in game mound visits, which is my only vantage point -- seem to really respond to him. He's the pitch whisperer.
Pirates heating up with a 4-1 win over the Phillies behind seven innings of three-hit baseball by L’Ortiz and real firepower from O’Cruz and ChapMan. Pirates trail the second-place Cards by one game and are four games up on last place Chicago.
*
CARROTS ON THE HOUSE!!!!
@> One (1) orange joy root for ChapMan who struck out the side in the 8th with lots of heat… up to 103 mph… daaaaang!
*
@>@> Two (2) caratin crunchers for O’Cruz who was bangin’ last night going 2 for 4 with a double and a home run, driving in three runs.
*
@>@>@> Three (3) Daucus Carota Sativii for L’Ortiz! The Frenchman threw a 7 inning gem against a strong lineup.
_________________________________
“What’s the matter, bunny rabbit? Speak to me! Why don’t cha say something?”
“I’m only three and a half years old…. blublublubblub!”
I am sure that they are trying. Depends on what the few teams that are,in true seller mode this year are demanding. Definitely a seller’s market and if they are demanding Chandler plus much more for someone like Robert who is a bit of an upgrade (definite upgrade with the bat but a definite downgrade defensively as we all saw during the sweep of the Sox) it would not make sense to pull the trigger on such a deal.
Worst AB Cruz has had in quite awhile.
Doubt Milwaukee or LAD will trade for Marco. He'd have already given up 2 HRs in their parks.
Long outs are still outs, right?
Joshua with a gold glove play in CF
Funny comparing Skenes numbers in AAA this year with Heller. Have enough people forgotten to where he'd get another chance if needed?
I was surprised Heller was so bad. I wouldn’t blame them for trying again if they were short.
This gets my vote. While I am adamant AAA does not equal MLB, Heller has done too well at AAA to just ignore the results. Did he have deer in the headlights / too excited / just 2 bad days? He clearly had to be sent back down but he seems somewhat legit.
I think it would be unanimous here to give Skenes another chance.
Sources saying a big trade going down with the angels: Termmarr, Harrington, Ashcraft, Tank and Suwinski for Ward, Detmarrs, Trout and half of Trouts remaining salary
We're 2/3rds thru July and for the month to date, Bucs as a team are in top 10 in MLB in HR, R, RBI, lowest K%, ISO, BA, OBP, SLG and WRC+. Keep that up and it's a playoff team.
>On June 1, Rowdy Tellez was slashing .177/.239/.223 with one home run in 142 plate appearances. Since that time, the Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman has slashed .321/.356/.575 with seven home runs in 118 plate appearances.
Rowdy Tellez’s three sacrifice flies on Friday tied a record that is now co-held by 12 players. The last player to log three sac flies in a single game had been Jose Lopez with Seattle in 2008.
Like everyone else, I thought they shoulda pulled the plug on Rowdy. But I guess I’m glad they didnt. He was going to bounce back at some point. But surprised it was this much and for this long
I totally wanted him gone, without a doubt.
Anybody have any insight as to why Reynolds’ defensive rating at Fangraphs continues to go down? He is now a -12. I’m not sure how they derive this but watching it over the past month it continues to slide. Obviously his offense keeps going up. What gives with the defensive slide? Does this exist in reality?
I wouldn't be concerned. They're not paying him for his defensive rating.
Reynolds is a dumpster fire in the field. His range and reads are awful. I think it gets disguised a bit because he’s always having to dive or slide and he’s decent enough in doing that you think “oh wow what a great play” but in reality an average fielder makes it routine and nobody bats an eye.
Statcast seems to be why. His range is *1st Percentile* this year. No idea why. His sprint speed is pretty much in line with his career.
Defensive range rating does not match eye test.
Honestly he doesn't look nearly so bad to me either. Makes a lot of tough plays out there.
I have seen plenty of bad outfielders over the years, I would never consider Reynolds “bad”. He is not an elite defender but has always appeared to be completely competent. In ‘21 he was positive but his defensive ratings have all been negative since with this year being a new low-again, according to Fangraphs.
Not to be pedantic but the metric you’re referencing, OAA, is the StatCast version of defense just hosted by FanGraphs. UZR, the FanGraphs metric for defense, is quite a bit different.
Years ago, UZR gave Jason Bay horrific ratings. At some point, somebody figured out that UZR wasn't handling PNC's dimensions correctly and Bay's rating were adjusted sharply upward.
Ironically, while OAA hates Reynolds, UZR has him above average (1.5). Anomalies DO creep into these defensive metrics. I'm a lot more comfortable with them when the different systems agree.
I think this comment is great and I agree but still find myself unable to answer why we use anything but OAA at this point.
Isn’t that the gold standard? No guessing, all measurement?
Derek Jeter scenario before our eyes? He always looked good but metrics showed overtime he clearly secured fewer outs. For any Yankee fans - no brainer first ballot hall of famer and well deserved - but a lifetime of metrics showed the eye test (or in some cases maybe blinded by fandom eye test) fooled a lot of people. if you ever saw peak Andrelton Simmons play... you learn to believe in the metrics.
That recent article on FG, didn’t that say his jumps (and Jack’s) have been awful? Maybe BR would be better in right, with less ground to cover in PNC.
Reynolds would've nailed Bream at the plate ;-)
Ortiz has made great strides with his control. His walk rate is half what it was last year, and it is insanely low the last two months. The org has shown some ability to improve pitchers in that regard.
The value of pitching development in the Pirate system the past few years would be off the charts - much of that has to do with signing the right pitchers.
Ortiz was a big velo guy a few years ago at AA, and posted 9.92 K/9 and 2.68 BB/9 in 114 IP, but his ERA was 4.64. Last year with the Pirates, he only had 59 K in 87 innings, and his ERA was just slightly higher than it was at AA at 4.78. His number of Walks however was almost the same as his number of K's - 48 Walks, 59 K. This year, in 13 less innings pitched (73.2 IP), he has the same number of K's - 59, but his number of Walks has decreased from 48 down to 21. Safe to say he is learning that for him, pitch placement is more important than pitch velocity?
With all of the pitching success, it is easy to overlook the successes of Pitching Coach Oscar Marin, Bullpen Coach Justin Meccage, and others who keep our pitching staff competitive. Overall as a team the Pirates are 11th in MLB. In the 6 game winning streak we have had 2 games where 6 pitchers carried the day. The six roll like this - Skenes, Gonzales, Ortiz, Keller and 5 RP's, and after the AS Break it has been Perez and 5 RP's, and Ortiz.
BC put together SP's Skenes, Keller, Jones, Ortiz, Falter, Gonzales, Perez, Priester - combined for a little less than $20 mil in 2024 salary to the Pirates, but a total of 8.0 fWAR to date, for an fWAR Value of $64 mil! BTW, Seattle and Atlanta are two teams looking for SP, and both are paying a combined $9 mil of the $12 mil salary of Gonzales (think they may want to get some additional value?).
Great effort by the FCL Pirates coming back for 2 runs in extra innings to post a win while Division leader, Boston dropped one in extra innings to Minn. There is now a 3 way tie at the top of the FCL South Division with the Pirates, Boston, and Tampa Bay all with identical 33-23 records. They won last night by putting 2 runners on in scoring position and then the opposing pitcher balked twice to allow the tieing and winning runs to score!
Oscar might be the unsung hero of the team. Pitchers -- during in game mound visits, which is my only vantage point -- seem to really respond to him. He's the pitch whisperer.
Saturday, July 20
50 down. 31 to go.
*
Pirates heating up with a 4-1 win over the Phillies behind seven innings of three-hit baseball by L’Ortiz and real firepower from O’Cruz and ChapMan. Pirates trail the second-place Cards by one game and are four games up on last place Chicago.
*
CARROTS ON THE HOUSE!!!!
@> One (1) orange joy root for ChapMan who struck out the side in the 8th with lots of heat… up to 103 mph… daaaaang!
*
@>@> Two (2) caratin crunchers for O’Cruz who was bangin’ last night going 2 for 4 with a double and a home run, driving in three runs.
*
@>@>@> Three (3) Daucus Carota Sativii for L’Ortiz! The Frenchman threw a 7 inning gem against a strong lineup.
_________________________________
“What’s the matter, bunny rabbit? Speak to me! Why don’t cha say something?”
“I’m only three and a half years old…. blublublubblub!”
“HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!!! I Like him. He’s silly.”
-Wabbit
Skenes, Keller, Jones, Ortiz - Bubba on the way.
With Falter, Harrington, Burrows, and Barco as depth.
An abundance of riches.
Plus Ashcraft and Oviedo to return as well. More riches 😁
Make a deal. Deal from your depth. Jazz or Arozerna or Robert.
I am sure that they are trying. Depends on what the few teams that are,in true seller mode this year are demanding. Definitely a seller’s market and if they are demanding Chandler plus much more for someone like Robert who is a bit of an upgrade (definite upgrade with the bat but a definite downgrade defensively as we all saw during the sweep of the Sox) it would not make sense to pull the trigger on such a deal.