Reynolds, Cruz, and Pham will start most days. Cutch will DH most days. I have Suwinski as the 25th man with Yorke and Cook battling for the last roster spot. Palacios likely needs an injury and is out of minor league options. Stewart, Johnson, and Gorski are likely ticketed for AAA. But after yesterday…..
I agree with the 4 you list as the current plan for starting most days but feel Pham and Cutch are the 120 start type level if they are healthy. Regulars who also get regular rest which leaves enough opportunity for others to step up (or not).
as good of a start as you could hope for the first spring training game. Hank and Endy both looked good, 1b alternates Gorski & Stewart hitting bombs, Mlod-Burrows-Nicolas all pitching well! 162-0 here we come!!
I see Canha to the Brewers on a Minor League deal. I like it better than getting stuck with Pham on Major League deal where nobody will pull the plug if he does a Taylor/Tellez.
I got the sense from the way Mlodzinski talked about being given the chance that they'll proceed like they did with Ortiz. I.e., first having him show that he can pitch at least 3 innings in long relief and if that goes well, then give him the chance to start. Mlod did make it clear that his career goal is to start.
It's too optimistic to think that with a rotation of Skenes, Jones, Keller, Heaney, and Falter, that there will be few opportunities for Mlod and Ferguson and Oviedo to pitch multiple innings, but...plus we have Burrows and maybe Aschcraft in a similar situation. It almost seems like they're making promises that will be hard to keep. Some of the 3+ inning outings would need to come in AAA.
I don’t like pigeon-holing guys as relievers. Keep your best pitchers as starters. That being said, everything about Mlod screams RP to me. And we already have a plethora of SPs, so I’m hoping he can become the 8th inning guy this year and a closer when Bednar is gone.
Well, if they’re gonna be limiting his workload at some point, I’d probably rather see him go deeper in fewer games than the opposite. And I kinda doubt they’ll do anything that costs him more than a couple starts.
The schedule seems to be set well for a 6 man Rotation, especially at the beginning - 7 games then an off day, 6 games then an off day, 10 games then an off day, 6 games then off day, 9 games then an off day - that's 25+% of the season.
I'd argue that is more of a case for a 5 man rotation. I know saying the Pirates are trying to compete deservedly can get laughed at, but if Paul Skenes can pitch every fifth game (heck...every 4th game - I know that is not happening), I want him pitching as I don't see a case for any '6th' starter giving them a better chance to win. I'd make the same argument for any of our presumed best 3 starters going into 2025. My suggestion (no team does this today) is to keep your top 1, 2, or 3 pitchers on regular rest which would mean messing with the other starters rest and prep. But to belabor my point, I would prefer Skenes (plus whoever) pitching every 5th day even it means skipping Falter or others. btw..I am not a big fan of worrying about mixing lefty/righty or power/slop pitchers as a competitive advantage. Let your best pitchers pitch.
The point you are making ie.. mapping out a 6 man rotation is valid.. I am more reacting to the Pirates considering a 6 man rotation at some point.
Really liked what we got out of DJ Stewart and Matt Gorski, two guys who are real long shots, but stranger things have happened. Liked the way Endy looked at the plate and also behind the plate. I did not get to see Mlodzinski, but very impressed with Jaden Woods who started shaky, but then got it all under control - excellent showing for a kid just drafted in the 7th Round in 2023. BTW, 2023 was an excellent year for Pirates pitching - Skenes, Zander Mueth (HS), Carlson Reed, Patrick Reilly (traded for Cook), Jaden Woods, Khristian Curtis.
Looking at the Rotation, Skenes, Jones, Keller are locks, then 4, 5, & 6 could be Falter (L), Oviedo, Ferguson (L), or Heaney (L) with Bubba Chandler and Thomas Harrington probably at AAA or extended ST depending upon the weather in Indiana. And don't forget Mlodzinski, Ashcraft, or Burrows. Then at AA/AAA are guys like Po-Yu Chen 23, Dom Perachi (L) 24, and Hunter Barco (L) 24.
There's probably 25 MLB teams who would like to trade for pitching - how well have the Pirates scouted possible LH hitting OF's with 20+ HR power and many years of club control?
Gorski had a pretty decent season at AAA in 2024 with 23 HR, .522 Slugging %. Not that impressive? Take a look at the dimensions of that "Death Valley" of a field in Indianapolis, for RH hitters - iirc, it is deeper than PNC from the LF line to RC - somewhere in LC it is about 410 feet! Can he get the K's under control? Has the footspeed and arm to play anywhere in our OF.
I am having a curmudgeon attack over some terms that I see coming into use these days.
"Footspeed" is replacing the old fashioned "speed" and this has my underpants in a bunch.
"Arm talent" when we are talking about quarterbacks in American Football drives me nuts.
I mean... I love creative language, but... Strunk & White are just not welcome around these sports pages, I guess.
Also, in the article, I take issue with a player "resigning with the Pirates." I can understand a player being "resigned TO" playing with the Pirates, I guess. Or should it be "resigning FROM the Pirates." Or is it "re-signing" with the Pirates and why on earth would someone do THAT?
Footspeed is what I have always used to describe how quickly one gets from one point to another. But, a player with excellent footspeed may or may not be a good base stealer, nor a good route runner to get to a fly ball, nor a good baserunner. Call it a habit of mine trying to be specific when describing a ballplayer's skills.
And, I agree with you that resigning is incorrect. It should be re-signing. In fact, MLBTR uses the hyphenated version to describe someone doing something again. We all know what it meant, but a good discussion on a cold Sunday morning.
Outfielders
Bryan Reynolds………...100%
Oneil Cruz………….……..100%
Andrew McCutchen…..100%
Tommy Pham…………….100%
Jack Suwinski……………..60%
Josh Palacios………………20%
DJ Stewart……………………5%
Bryce Johnson……………..5%
Matt Gorski…………………..5%
Reynolds, Cruz, and Pham will start most days. Cutch will DH most days. I have Suwinski as the 25th man with Yorke and Cook battling for the last roster spot. Palacios likely needs an injury and is out of minor league options. Stewart, Johnson, and Gorski are likely ticketed for AAA. But after yesterday…..
I agree with the 4 you list as the current plan for starting most days but feel Pham and Cutch are the 120 start type level if they are healthy. Regulars who also get regular rest which leaves enough opportunity for others to step up (or not).
as good of a start as you could hope for the first spring training game. Hank and Endy both looked good, 1b alternates Gorski & Stewart hitting bombs, Mlod-Burrows-Nicolas all pitching well! 162-0 here we come!!
I see Canha to the Brewers on a Minor League deal. I like it better than getting stuck with Pham on Major League deal where nobody will pull the plug if he does a Taylor/Tellez.
With all this smoke about Arenado, we should be all over this sending KeBryan to Houston
Forest Whitely in return
I got the sense from the way Mlodzinski talked about being given the chance that they'll proceed like they did with Ortiz. I.e., first having him show that he can pitch at least 3 innings in long relief and if that goes well, then give him the chance to start. Mlod did make it clear that his career goal is to start.
It's too optimistic to think that with a rotation of Skenes, Jones, Keller, Heaney, and Falter, that there will be few opportunities for Mlod and Ferguson and Oviedo to pitch multiple innings, but...plus we have Burrows and maybe Aschcraft in a similar situation. It almost seems like they're making promises that will be hard to keep. Some of the 3+ inning outings would need to come in AAA.
I don’t like pigeon-holing guys as relievers. Keep your best pitchers as starters. That being said, everything about Mlod screams RP to me. And we already have a plethora of SPs, so I’m hoping he can become the 8th inning guy this year and a closer when Bednar is gone.
Means it’s ok to pull a starter quick in the first or second inning
Shelton flat out said they’re going with six at some point, although it’ll be five initially.
The have the depth, but I'd rather see Skenes pitch 6 times every 30 games than 5 times.
Well, if they’re gonna be limiting his workload at some point, I’d probably rather see him go deeper in fewer games than the opposite. And I kinda doubt they’ll do anything that costs him more than a couple starts.
The schedule seems to be set well for a 6 man Rotation, especially at the beginning - 7 games then an off day, 6 games then an off day, 10 games then an off day, 6 games then off day, 9 games then an off day - that's 25+% of the season.
I'd argue that is more of a case for a 5 man rotation. I know saying the Pirates are trying to compete deservedly can get laughed at, but if Paul Skenes can pitch every fifth game (heck...every 4th game - I know that is not happening), I want him pitching as I don't see a case for any '6th' starter giving them a better chance to win. I'd make the same argument for any of our presumed best 3 starters going into 2025. My suggestion (no team does this today) is to keep your top 1, 2, or 3 pitchers on regular rest which would mean messing with the other starters rest and prep. But to belabor my point, I would prefer Skenes (plus whoever) pitching every 5th day even it means skipping Falter or others. btw..I am not a big fan of worrying about mixing lefty/righty or power/slop pitchers as a competitive advantage. Let your best pitchers pitch.
The point you are making ie.. mapping out a 6 man rotation is valid.. I am more reacting to the Pirates considering a 6 man rotation at some point.
Really liked what we got out of DJ Stewart and Matt Gorski, two guys who are real long shots, but stranger things have happened. Liked the way Endy looked at the plate and also behind the plate. I did not get to see Mlodzinski, but very impressed with Jaden Woods who started shaky, but then got it all under control - excellent showing for a kid just drafted in the 7th Round in 2023. BTW, 2023 was an excellent year for Pirates pitching - Skenes, Zander Mueth (HS), Carlson Reed, Patrick Reilly (traded for Cook), Jaden Woods, Khristian Curtis.
Looking at the Rotation, Skenes, Jones, Keller are locks, then 4, 5, & 6 could be Falter (L), Oviedo, Ferguson (L), or Heaney (L) with Bubba Chandler and Thomas Harrington probably at AAA or extended ST depending upon the weather in Indiana. And don't forget Mlodzinski, Ashcraft, or Burrows. Then at AA/AAA are guys like Po-Yu Chen 23, Dom Perachi (L) 24, and Hunter Barco (L) 24.
There's probably 25 MLB teams who would like to trade for pitching - how well have the Pirates scouted possible LH hitting OF's with 20+ HR power and many years of club control?
Gorski comes out swinging. He definitely is in a produce or else season, so it’s definitely good to see. But it’s one game vs not elite pitching.
I suppose time will tell if he’s closed those holes in his swing.
Gorski had a pretty decent season at AAA in 2024 with 23 HR, .522 Slugging %. Not that impressive? Take a look at the dimensions of that "Death Valley" of a field in Indianapolis, for RH hitters - iirc, it is deeper than PNC from the LF line to RC - somewhere in LC it is about 410 feet! Can he get the K's under control? Has the footspeed and arm to play anywhere in our OF.
Oi.
I am having a curmudgeon attack over some terms that I see coming into use these days.
"Footspeed" is replacing the old fashioned "speed" and this has my underpants in a bunch.
"Arm talent" when we are talking about quarterbacks in American Football drives me nuts.
I mean... I love creative language, but... Strunk & White are just not welcome around these sports pages, I guess.
Also, in the article, I take issue with a player "resigning with the Pirates." I can understand a player being "resigned TO" playing with the Pirates, I guess. Or should it be "resigning FROM the Pirates." Or is it "re-signing" with the Pirates and why on earth would someone do THAT?
-Wabbit
Footspeed is what I have always used to describe how quickly one gets from one point to another. But, a player with excellent footspeed may or may not be a good base stealer, nor a good route runner to get to a fly ball, nor a good baserunner. Call it a habit of mine trying to be specific when describing a ballplayer's skills.
And, I agree with you that resigning is incorrect. It should be re-signing. In fact, MLBTR uses the hyphenated version to describe someone doing something again. We all know what it meant, but a good discussion on a cold Sunday morning.