50 Comments

Man, this front office can do nothing right. Yinzerpalooza, sold out crowd and they're trotting out Martin Perez lol.

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You can't pitch Skenes or Keller every day. Holding both back and getting some extra rest makes sense to me with the Cards coming in next.

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Giving Skenes a few extra days off with an eye towards his innings count makes sense. But Keller has no such concerns and should be starting against Nola tonight.

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True enough but I was thinking that Keller could use a few extra days as well. He seemed to be struggling a bit lately.

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So you just piss these games away?

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Following your logic I guess they would just piss them away against St Louis.

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It's not about never pitching Perez. Its about setting the tone for the second half in front of a sold out crowd at home. Cherington just isn't a competitive person. He's a beta.

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Anytime I read "beta" on the internet I just assume some pudgy balding dude who jacks off to his varsity letterman's jacket.

Anyways, the idea that a man can become one of the top 30 people in his field - on the planet - without being a competitive person is one of the most childish things I've ever read.

He *is* far too slick for his own good, though. Don't overthink this, you're not some chess grandmaster here, give the people what they want.

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I was curious knowing Ben's only had one winning season in his tenure btw what his team's win-loss record were in toto given your claim that it's childish to suggest he's not a competitive person: 581 wins and 709 losses over 9 seasons including the present 2024 record. He's the perfect Pirate GM. His .450 winning percentage looks right at home in Pittsburgh. If he is in fact competitive he's also got to be very self-loathing at this point of his career.

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It was just the best word in his case. If you prefer it, bean counter, asset manager, risk avoider, not a winner. I roll my eyes at the "he's one of the 30 best" comments because night after night we watch how very debatable that is.

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Agree wholeheartedly. The beta stuff gets an instant eye roll from me.

While I don’t agree with Skenes getting a pass this series, I can see the reasoning up to a point. He’s a rookie, give him a breather after this whirlwind, ok…, but I don’t agree. Don’t be clever by half. Most guys who pitched in the AS game are off this weekend, but not all. Burnes started Tuesday and starts tonight for Baltimore doesn’t he?

What raises my eyebrows more is Mitch not getting the ball this weekend. He looked off Sunday (maybe sick?) which tells me they’re being extra cautious.

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Ok I can agree on that point.

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weak. WEAK.

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Skenes is rested. He threw 16 or so pitches 4 days ago. The next time this FO does something solely to get their fans pumped will be the first.

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Driving on the west end bridge this morning, glanced down and noticed Skenes walking on the Ohio River.

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Chad Hermanson and Woody Huyke were behind them?

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Livvy, Michael Keaton and Donnie Iris were behind Skenes.

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I’d listen to Michael Keaton read a phone book. If they still had phone books around.

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Carve their busts into Mt Washington under the glow of the IC LIGHT sign.

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Solometo just got sent to the FCL.

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Beat me to my question of the day...thanks Wilbur.

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With the FCL ending soon do you think this is just roster management and he really won’t pitch there?

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I'd guess he's just going to work his way back up. One or two games there, then to Bradenton. He should pitch today or tomorrow. I'm going to both games.

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i hope they make him an even lower submarine and he turns into Kent Tekulve

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Grilli was on the FAN this morning all pumped up. The amount of passion the man has for the Pirates is awesome to hear. He mentioned his teams had a bite and believes this current version has the ability to eat the entire thing!

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Bring him back to the org! If nothing but for his passion

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He's certainly a person I'd like to have a beer with.

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six shooters and four beers deep..."okay dude, wtf was that book?"

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oh boy.

Just my game...wtf?!?

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Just for S & G, I went back and pulled up the BA Top 100 Prospects they issued in March 2024. Way off with Paul Skenes at #9, and Jared Jones at #74. They also listed Top 5's for pitchers for a Four Seam FB, Slider, and Changeup - needless to say neither Skenes nor Jones made the Top 5 for any of those pitches. They did hit closer to reality with Bubba Chandler listed at #59, which I think he has already surpassed that projection. I do not think that any other Pirate Prospect SP was listed. Thomas Harrington and Bubba could be in the Pirate Rotation in 2025, with Hunter Barco very close.

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do we all feel that Borucki can do just as good of a job as Chapman? what are they waiting for to join him on the active roster?

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Dealing chapman is smart imo

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Jul 19Edited

Fangraphs pointed out that we shade the 2nd fewest in the majors on our defensive positioning, overall and vs LHH. https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/visuals/team-positioning?teamId=134&venue=home&firstBase=0&shift=1&batSide=&season=2024.

Also, vs LHH we have the highest wOBA, considerably worse than the ROCKIES. Some can be attributed to PNC park I guess, but are we leaving value on the table by simply not shading more? Seems we go with a one size fits all while we end up basically being one of the worst defensive teams at the same time.....Not sure causational vs correlation but shouldn't the front office analytics team just like...talk with them right now?

P.S. "A fielder is shaded when they are positioned outside of their typical responsible slices of the field"

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We also just might have bad defenders augmented by bad coaching....

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Sounds right to me

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That’s teamwork baby!

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Martin Perez? WTF! There are five pitchers better than Perez who are able to pitch. Is this some sort of bizarre strategy?

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Saving Keller and Skenes for Cards series. And of course managing workload, too.

Possibly trying to showcase Perez and Gonzales vs Phillies to contenders, too.

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I choose your 3rd option - showcasing Perez/Gonzales - either or both to trade for a young switch hitting or RH Hitting CF with years of control, plenty of D, and the possibility to add a decent bat to the order! Could take adding an MI into the mix for the right CF.

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That's a fantasy.

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Could it be Everson Pereira they’re after?!

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would rather more 17 year olds and international money for those two guys

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I think the Pirates have assembled a very strong group at the FCL level. YDLS and Jhonny Severino, both 19, are 7th and 8th in the FCL in OPS, with some decent numbers also for Ramirez, Caro, and Blanco. On the bump, 19 year old Zander Mueth is 5-1, 1.69 ERA, and 18 year old SP's Carlos Castillo, Carlos Mateo, and 18 year old RP/Closer David Matoma are also doing well. These kids have to be seen as 10 year resources for this franchise

Add Konnor Griffin at the FCL level in 2025. This morning Mark DeRosa referred to him as the best player in the draft, and then highlighted the Pirates young players who did well during the All Star Festivities including Paul Skenes and Termarr Johnson.

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can add left hander Inmer Lobo to that list as well - - - soon Levi too

future is bright

need to add to this group

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greg brown calling for trout swimming in the allegheny...

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Like the good old fahsioned Allegheny White Fish of bygone days.

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In the FCL South, the FCL Pirates are tied with FCL Tampa Bay with 31-23 records, both a game behind the FCL Red Sox who are 32-22. The rest of the South has the Twins, Orioles, and Braves all under .500. A very tough group of teams, and the Pirates have plenty of talent at this level. In the FCL East, the Marlins have wrapped up First Place with a 38-12 record, and the FCL North is led by the Yankees with a 33-19 record. I think this could be the last week of competition in the FCL.

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