Liover Peguero warming up at AAA the past few months. This is actually his first real look at AAA since he was called up after about only 30 AB in AAA in 2023 due to the injury to Cruz, and nobody seemingly able to fill in for him at SS. As a 22 year old for the Pirates at the MLB level he played 39 games at SS with a .960 fielding %age, and 33 games at 2B with a 1.000 fielding %age.
As a 23 year old at AAA this year he has 25 doubles, 3 triples, 13 HR, 71 RBI, 12/14 SB. At SS he has played 73 games, .968 fielding %age; at 2B he has played 41 games, .993 Fielding %age. If we are looking for better in the future, start with Liover Peguero at SS/MI. If he played all of Sep in MLB he would still be well short of the 172 days to get a full year of Service, so that should not be a consideration by the Pirates. He definitely has the ability to be a strong fielding 20-20 doubles/HR middle of the order hitter.
Not looking for him to be the 2B - he needs to be the SS from now straight on through 2030. And, not sure who would be at 2B, but it would have to be a typical Pirate second baseman who can field well and puts the ball in play. I think TJ will be that guy, but who will be that guy through most of 2025 is the question right now.
For me, that would be IKF, who I think can be a positive influence for Peguero. Triolo will continue as the UT IF with exc defensive numbers at 3B/SS/2B. He started 2024 with a pre-pitch of his hands well above his head. Since he has dropped his hands to about ear level, he has been making better contact for average and power. Hopefully, he has found himself. Possibly openings for York at 2B/1B and Cook at 1B/OF.
I feel like the whole thing could have been avoided if they'd pushed Peralta aggressively. Relievers shouldn't need the whole one-level-per-year thing. Matt Capps hardly pitched at all above low Class A. If they'd pushed Peralta aggressively, they might have concluded, This guy can help now, or real soon. Then, if they just had to have Reeks, they undoubtedly could have traded somebody else for him. They had and have a lot of second-tier pitching prospects beyond just Peralta.
But nothing can make them depart from this schedule that Ben wrote out five years ago. No flexibility, no creativity and no determination to win games.
Both drafted in 2023, but Carlson Reed is a full year younger than Reilly. Not sure how many more games he will throw for GBO before the playoffs - over 100 IP already between A and now 5 games at A+.
Not criticizing picking Termarr because I loved it at the time and am still optimistic. But I recall rumors that we were interested in Zach Neto so it caught my attention while watching college football last night to see his name on the ticker as being the first Angels infielder to join the 20/20 club. He's already accumulated 5.7 bWAR, though only 3.9 fWAR.
Love Termarr too and hindsight is 20/20. Realistically, you aren’t passing up a talent like Termarr to reach down for a talent ranked about somewhere in the middle of the draft. For the sake of this argument, it helps Neto that he was a college guy.
Liover Peguero warming up at AAA the past few months. This is actually his first real look at AAA since he was called up after about only 30 AB in AAA in 2023 due to the injury to Cruz, and nobody seemingly able to fill in for him at SS. As a 22 year old for the Pirates at the MLB level he played 39 games at SS with a .960 fielding %age, and 33 games at 2B with a 1.000 fielding %age.
As a 23 year old at AAA this year he has 25 doubles, 3 triples, 13 HR, 71 RBI, 12/14 SB. At SS he has played 73 games, .968 fielding %age; at 2B he has played 41 games, .993 Fielding %age. If we are looking for better in the future, start with Liover Peguero at SS/MI. If he played all of Sep in MLB he would still be well short of the 172 days to get a full year of Service, so that should not be a consideration by the Pirates. He definitely has the ability to be a strong fielding 20-20 doubles/HR middle of the order hitter.
Morning Mel.
Out of the 58 different 2b options, I still feel like Peguero has the most upside potential. Floor is a little shaky.
Not looking for him to be the 2B - he needs to be the SS from now straight on through 2030. And, not sure who would be at 2B, but it would have to be a typical Pirate second baseman who can field well and puts the ball in play. I think TJ will be that guy, but who will be that guy through most of 2025 is the question right now.
For me, that would be IKF, who I think can be a positive influence for Peguero. Triolo will continue as the UT IF with exc defensive numbers at 3B/SS/2B. He started 2024 with a pre-pitch of his hands well above his head. Since he has dropped his hands to about ear level, he has been making better contact for average and power. Hopefully, he has found himself. Possibly openings for York at 2B/1B and Cook at 1B/OF.
Feel like he and termarr represent upside with lower floor whereas yorke is probably floor but not allstar on the higher end of outcomes
Big Daddy McAdoo struggling with NH.
He started his time with NH 0-20 and has since slashed .278/.350/.482 in 54 ABs (60 PAs), according to his game log at BR.
the 28% k-rate is a concern. The red flag on him is the loopy swing getting blown up by bigger velo arms.
It’s tough to decide whether McAdoo or Peralta are the heists of the century. On par with Brock for Broglio, maybe worse.
Peralta trade was asinine.
I feel like the whole thing could have been avoided if they'd pushed Peralta aggressively. Relievers shouldn't need the whole one-level-per-year thing. Matt Capps hardly pitched at all above low Class A. If they'd pushed Peralta aggressively, they might have concluded, This guy can help now, or real soon. Then, if they just had to have Reeks, they undoubtedly could have traded somebody else for him. They had and have a lot of second-tier pitching prospects beyond just Peralta.
But nothing can make them depart from this schedule that Ben wrote out five years ago. No flexibility, no creativity and no determination to win games.
Carlson reed the new patrick reilly of the system?
Both drafted in 2023, but Carlson Reed is a full year younger than Reilly. Not sure how many more games he will throw for GBO before the playoffs - over 100 IP already between A and now 5 games at A+.
Not criticizing picking Termarr because I loved it at the time and am still optimistic. But I recall rumors that we were interested in Zach Neto so it caught my attention while watching college football last night to see his name on the ticker as being the first Angels infielder to join the 20/20 club. He's already accumulated 5.7 bWAR, though only 3.9 fWAR.
Love Termarr too and hindsight is 20/20. Realistically, you aren’t passing up a talent like Termarr to reach down for a talent ranked about somewhere in the middle of the draft. For the sake of this argument, it helps Neto that he was a college guy.
Poor Matt Gorski. MLB club has a black hole in CF and little power in their lineup. Safe to assume he won't get a September call-up.
I mean now that Cruz is getting runway in center, not much of a black hole there anymore
I'm with ya on that.
For some reason, they'll call up every other Joe Blow in the system (usu a second baseman) and give them a run out...
One never knows about a player until they give them the speed test in the bigs.
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