Lonnie White has posted an OPS of .438 since the first week of the season and Bradenton may turn out to actually be one of the best offensive clubs in their league.
In response, I expect our takes to land even sooner next season.
I 've never heard "moving down the mound better" is Clay's secret. I'd bet Marin hasn't either. Good stuff. Really happy for him, he's a good guy and climbing into the elite closer status with Mariano.
Command was on point. Which especially comes into play later in the game, as the last fastball velo I heard them mention was 93 MPH (I believe was the 5th, maybe 6th), so landing his breakers will be the key to whether he's able to go 5+ when velo drops. Today was probably his best display of the whole package, for 7 innings.
He had thrown only 3 balls through 3 innings, on 24 pitches. 5 balls, on 32 pitches through 4. Fifth was when it started to slip, which Murphy will concur, the ump appeared to start squeezing him after he got upset at the ump granting a very very very very late timeout to the batter on the first pitch of the fifth.
On a side note, Braden Montgomery might be slipping a bit. He's down to a .333 average and his ops has dropped a couple hundred points recently. Probably still goes before pick 9 but he might make it.
Honeycutt is trying to finish strong, only struck out in 5 of his last 10 games and he's hitting homeruns again. Pretty similar slash lines other than oba, Montgomery still walking more and striking out less.
Unfortunately, the Curve bullpen being the Curve bullpen. Meis lucked into a scoreless 8th, and now Junk on to hopefully shut door with 1 on and no outs lol
I'm sure it is just coincidence, but the Pirates offense looks much better now that they have stopped giving every pitcher an automatic first-strike in every AB. Bryan Reynolds especially... taking some swings at the off-speed middle-middle meatballs he was getting in the first pitch of every AB.
I think one of the keys to success (along with being talented) is to keep your opponent's off-balance. I think the Pirates have done a good job of this lately.
Mike Burrows was scheduled to start throwing off the mound in the March/April timeframe. Is he throwing at Pirate City? Any reports available?
"Barcode" - is he ready to get some reps at AA? I know there are some college-experienced pitchers at A that could be promoted, but Michael Kennedy, still only 19 through the 2024 season, has been very good.
Have the Pirates begun talks with anyone to attempt to trade for a young, RH hitting, strong defensive Center Fielder, preferably at AAA, who might also be able to hit 15-25 HR/year? A shame to see all of this trade equity in pitching and MI's go to waste.
What has happened to Altoona this season? The hitting is awful and the pitching is not great. I know that there are not a lot of hitting prospects there, but is any of it due to players spending a season in hitter friendly Greensboro?
AA just seems to be the level where the org guys pile up now.
They speed the legit prospects up the ladder and couple that with using AAA for big league depth (Lamb, Celestino, Mckiney, etc). That leaves AA as the spot where hitters who've advanced past A-ball but are not quite in either of those first two categories end up "stuck". Probably shouldn't expect a ton of numbers out of this kind of group.
The only dudes at that level this year who I think could reasonably fall into "disappointing" thus far are Jase Bowen and Cheng. The former needed three years to get out of A-ball and the latter was always a fringey bat who may very well just be hitting the wall as quality of competition has increased.
Fleming looks like he plays dungeons and dragons, works at Staples and drives a van with tinted windows and carpeted walls. Tellez looks like the halfwit version of Slaine.
I don't think Rowdy is a Pirate after the Mil series. They've made a commitment to win by rostering Skenes & Jones. Sample size is probably large enough to cut Tellez & Fleming.
I'll believe it when I see it. I do think Tellez will eventually play his way out of a job, but not until sometime in June. We'll see if he's in the lineup tonight--it should be Joe at 1B and the same OF as last night.
*updated 5/14/24, the following is in chronological order since Sat, May 11)
You can see, at the quarter pole of the season, that the carrot race is starting to take shape with the right people at the top… Welcome to newcomers to the race Taylor, Ol’ Granny and BabySkenes!
*
(from Saturday, May 11)
18 down. 63 to go.
The Pirates went for the series win this day (and failed) versus the Cubs. They are in 3rd place in the N.L. Central, 6.5 games behind the Brewers in first.
Where DOES one start in a game like this. Pirates win somehow having given up 9 runs on 10 hits with 10 walks and 13 strikeouts. Apparently, the heat was on the shagadelic Bucs offense and they woke the F up by winning a home run derby 5-1.
*
Sadly, the zonal virus that had plagued the hitters DID NOT DIE. It just migrated to the bullpen, where the heat was also on as Bucco arms brought the heat… LOTS of heat… they just had no idea where it was going. I mean… 10 hits, 10 bases on balls and 13 strikeouts. Cubs were either hitting it or missing it, I guess. Or ducking for cover.
*
But, ickity-ackity-oooph! … My mama always said to accentuate the positive and the Bonus Baby that all the screaming was about did pretty darn good leaving in the 5th with a 6-1 lead, two on and nobody out. But when Kyle Nicolas came in, he clearly looked fevered… He was a little pasty and his eyes were a bit woggly… He had obviously a case of double-vision because GOLDANGIT THAT’S THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN GIVE UP FOUR (FOUR!!!!) EARNED RUNS WITHOUT ALLOWING A HIT…
*
(Sigh.) It’s ok. It’s ok. We won for jeepssake. It’s FINE! We sodded the roof so that we could plant some CARROTS ON THE HOUSE!!!!!
*
We normally give six carrots in a game around here in a win, place and show type thing where the top guy gets three (3!!!) carrots, the second guy gets 2 and the third guy gets one for the show. But today, since the offense went and woke up, we’re dividing the carrots out one each to six guys: @>Joe, @>Cutch, @>Taylor, @>Cruz, @>Granny and @>Baby Skenes.
Now you might say, but Wabbit, Baby Skenes was filthier than a Ben Roethlisberger golf outing! And that would be true. But we needed every one of those homers thanks to the flammable bullpen.
*
*
(from Monday, May 13)
19 down. 62 to go.
Pirates 8, Brewers 6
*
Pirates win in a slugfest, are 4 games under .500 and stand in 3rd place, 5.5 games behind the Brewers in the N.L. Central.
*
Let’s spread some CARROTS ON THE HOUSE!!!!!
*
@> One toothsome root for Old Granny, who belted the 2-run game winner in the 8th off his old team.
*
@>@> Two trump-crayons for Pitch Keller, who, you’d think after the six inning job he did of keeping a good-hitting team of Huns at bay, he’d be the top guy with a line of 8 hits, no runs, ZERO walks and 7 Ks… But he isn’t, because…
*
@>@>@> THREE pumpkin-cousins for B.Rey for his 5 for 5 day with a double and (WHAM!) a homer!
*
Spoiled Avocado for Josh Fleming, who, hopefully, is the last kerosene covered guy in the bullpen for allowing 6 (SIX!!!) runs in the 7th. Fresh broccoli for Mike Wazowski for the homer and spring garden lettuce for O’Cruz for a good day at the plate and anudder stolen base.
_______________________________
"Finster! There you are you naughty baby! How many times have I told you NOT to play wit da DOITY money!!!???"
In one of those fluky things, the Diaz brothers each blew saves last night. It's not really a surprise given the many pitching injuries, but a number of teams that were projected to be pretty good have struggling pens. We know our struggles, but we're only 21st in xFIP and 15th in fWAR. The two WS teams and the Rays are well below us in each category.
Besides those listed, the Indians will also get to see recently demoted Tigers CF, Parker Meadows, younger brother of Austin. Meadows is travelling the same road as Henry Davis. Both working through a tough start with the bat.
For those interested, I heard through the grapevine Austin Meadows is living in the Tampa area, and has opened a fishing charter business. Sounds like baseball may be behind him.
Lonnie White has posted an OPS of .438 since the first week of the season and Bradenton may turn out to actually be one of the best offensive clubs in their league.
In response, I expect our takes to land even sooner next season.
Nice article on our former reliever, who we could definitely use now (those trades with the Yankees haven't worked out yet):
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/40139184/2024-new-york-yankees-clay-holmes-bullpen-mlb-best-closer
I 've never heard "moving down the mound better" is Clay's secret. I'd bet Marin hasn't either. Good stuff. Really happy for him, he's a good guy and climbing into the elite closer status with Mariano.
Given the prevailing narrative that Termarr Johnson is being developed as a swing-for-the-fences TTO hitter, raise your hand if you are aware:
-his k-rate is *below* average for the league
-he's walked twice as often as he's struck out for the month of May
-he's maintained nearly a 25% line drive rate
-he's *decreased* his pull rate by 16%
Desperately need some on-the-ground reporting of what's going on here because the outcomes imply the precise opposite of the narrative.
Has his contact quality actually suffered so much as to justify a 75 point drop in BABIP from last year?
Are we really just handwringing over a kid snakebitten in the first six weeks or so of the season?
I still think he'll figure out, kid takes hitting pretty serious. He's still a kid, good post.
I still hate the layout of the field in Greensboro, those power allies are so tempting to overswing trying for homers.
Ashcraft has been PHENOMENAL today
7 innings 85 pitches 60 going for strikes. Pretty darn nice, hopefully Indy is in his not to distant future.
Looks like the command is back.
Command was on point. Which especially comes into play later in the game, as the last fastball velo I heard them mention was 93 MPH (I believe was the 5th, maybe 6th), so landing his breakers will be the key to whether he's able to go 5+ when velo drops. Today was probably his best display of the whole package, for 7 innings.
He had thrown only 3 balls through 3 innings, on 24 pitches. 5 balls, on 32 pitches through 4. Fifth was when it started to slip, which Murphy will concur, the ump appeared to start squeezing him after he got upset at the ump granting a very very very very late timeout to the batter on the first pitch of the fifth.
On a side note, Braden Montgomery might be slipping a bit. He's down to a .333 average and his ops has dropped a couple hundred points recently. Probably still goes before pick 9 but he might make it.
Come on, Braden! Fall a little further!
Honeycutt is trying to finish strong, only struck out in 5 of his last 10 games and he's hitting homeruns again. Pretty similar slash lines other than oba, Montgomery still walking more and striking out less.
my boi! i quit u too soon.
Unfortunately, the Curve bullpen being the Curve bullpen. Meis lucked into a scoreless 8th, and now Junk on to hopefully shut door with 1 on and no outs lol
I'm sure it is just coincidence, but the Pirates offense looks much better now that they have stopped giving every pitcher an automatic first-strike in every AB. Bryan Reynolds especially... taking some swings at the off-speed middle-middle meatballs he was getting in the first pitch of every AB.
I think one of the keys to success (along with being talented) is to keep your opponent's off-balance. I think the Pirates have done a good job of this lately.
Pirates are back to only 2 games out of a wild card spot.
Mike Burrows was scheduled to start throwing off the mound in the March/April timeframe. Is he throwing at Pirate City? Any reports available?
"Barcode" - is he ready to get some reps at AA? I know there are some college-experienced pitchers at A that could be promoted, but Michael Kennedy, still only 19 through the 2024 season, has been very good.
Have the Pirates begun talks with anyone to attempt to trade for a young, RH hitting, strong defensive Center Fielder, preferably at AAA, who might also be able to hit 15-25 HR/year? A shame to see all of this trade equity in pitching and MI's go to waste.
What has happened to Altoona this season? The hitting is awful and the pitching is not great. I know that there are not a lot of hitting prospects there, but is any of it due to players spending a season in hitter friendly Greensboro?
I think it might be more of a structural issue.
AA just seems to be the level where the org guys pile up now.
They speed the legit prospects up the ladder and couple that with using AAA for big league depth (Lamb, Celestino, Mckiney, etc). That leaves AA as the spot where hitters who've advanced past A-ball but are not quite in either of those first two categories end up "stuck". Probably shouldn't expect a ton of numbers out of this kind of group.
The only dudes at that level this year who I think could reasonably fall into "disappointing" thus far are Jase Bowen and Cheng. The former needed three years to get out of A-ball and the latter was always a fringey bat who may very well just be hitting the wall as quality of competition has increased.
I think the Buccos are primed to go on a run...that said, they need to run their A lineup out there and cut bait with a couple of puds.
1. Cutch (seems to be hitting well at leadoff)
2. Reynolds
3. Cruz
4. Joe
5. Hayes (when he returns)
6. Suwinski
7. Gonzales
8. Grandal
9. Taylor
DFA - Tellez & Fleming (recorded 3 outs last night, allowed 6 baserunners and a GS.) Send down Triolo when Hayes returns.
Puds is such an underrated insult (and correct). I share your belief that a run is coming and this lineup may do some damage.
Pud is a funny word and appropriate for both.
Fleming looks like he plays dungeons and dragons, works at Staples and drives a van with tinted windows and carpeted walls. Tellez looks like the halfwit version of Slaine.
I'd love to see where having that as our regular lineup could take us, but I'm not at all optimistic that we'll get that chance.
I don't think Rowdy is a Pirate after the Mil series. They've made a commitment to win by rostering Skenes & Jones. Sample size is probably large enough to cut Tellez & Fleming.
I'll believe it when I see it. I do think Tellez will eventually play his way out of a job, but not until sometime in June. We'll see if he's in the lineup tonight--it should be Joe at 1B and the same OF as last night.
You have to believe in something.
Carrots On The House
*
The Carrot Tally So Far:*
Keller. 10
B.Rey. 10
Falter 9
Jones. 9
Joe. 8
Gonzales 6
M. Perez. 6
Cutch. 6
L. Ortiz. 5
Tellez. 4
Bednar. 4
Cruz. 5
Chapman 3
Flemming 3
Suwinski. 3
Oliveras. 3
R.Ryan. 2
Davis. 2
Bart. 2
Williams. 2
Hayes. 2
Granny 2
Contraras 1
Hernandez 1
Triolo. 1
Holderman 1
Taylor 1
BabySkenes 1
*
*updated 5/14/24, the following is in chronological order since Sat, May 11)
You can see, at the quarter pole of the season, that the carrot race is starting to take shape with the right people at the top… Welcome to newcomers to the race Taylor, Ol’ Granny and BabySkenes!
*
(from Saturday, May 11)
18 down. 63 to go.
The Pirates went for the series win this day (and failed) versus the Cubs. They are in 3rd place in the N.L. Central, 6.5 games behind the Brewers in first.
Where DOES one start in a game like this. Pirates win somehow having given up 9 runs on 10 hits with 10 walks and 13 strikeouts. Apparently, the heat was on the shagadelic Bucs offense and they woke the F up by winning a home run derby 5-1.
*
Sadly, the zonal virus that had plagued the hitters DID NOT DIE. It just migrated to the bullpen, where the heat was also on as Bucco arms brought the heat… LOTS of heat… they just had no idea where it was going. I mean… 10 hits, 10 bases on balls and 13 strikeouts. Cubs were either hitting it or missing it, I guess. Or ducking for cover.
*
But, ickity-ackity-oooph! … My mama always said to accentuate the positive and the Bonus Baby that all the screaming was about did pretty darn good leaving in the 5th with a 6-1 lead, two on and nobody out. But when Kyle Nicolas came in, he clearly looked fevered… He was a little pasty and his eyes were a bit woggly… He had obviously a case of double-vision because GOLDANGIT THAT’S THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN GIVE UP FOUR (FOUR!!!!) EARNED RUNS WITHOUT ALLOWING A HIT…
*
(Sigh.) It’s ok. It’s ok. We won for jeepssake. It’s FINE! We sodded the roof so that we could plant some CARROTS ON THE HOUSE!!!!!
*
We normally give six carrots in a game around here in a win, place and show type thing where the top guy gets three (3!!!) carrots, the second guy gets 2 and the third guy gets one for the show. But today, since the offense went and woke up, we’re dividing the carrots out one each to six guys: @>Joe, @>Cutch, @>Taylor, @>Cruz, @>Granny and @>Baby Skenes.
Now you might say, but Wabbit, Baby Skenes was filthier than a Ben Roethlisberger golf outing! And that would be true. But we needed every one of those homers thanks to the flammable bullpen.
*
*
(from Monday, May 13)
19 down. 62 to go.
Pirates 8, Brewers 6
*
Pirates win in a slugfest, are 4 games under .500 and stand in 3rd place, 5.5 games behind the Brewers in the N.L. Central.
*
Let’s spread some CARROTS ON THE HOUSE!!!!!
*
@> One toothsome root for Old Granny, who belted the 2-run game winner in the 8th off his old team.
*
@>@> Two trump-crayons for Pitch Keller, who, you’d think after the six inning job he did of keeping a good-hitting team of Huns at bay, he’d be the top guy with a line of 8 hits, no runs, ZERO walks and 7 Ks… But he isn’t, because…
*
@>@>@> THREE pumpkin-cousins for B.Rey for his 5 for 5 day with a double and (WHAM!) a homer!
*
Spoiled Avocado for Josh Fleming, who, hopefully, is the last kerosene covered guy in the bullpen for allowing 6 (SIX!!!) runs in the 7th. Fresh broccoli for Mike Wazowski for the homer and spring garden lettuce for O’Cruz for a good day at the plate and anudder stolen base.
_______________________________
"Finster! There you are you naughty baby! How many times have I told you NOT to play wit da DOITY money!!!???"
-Wabbit
In one of those fluky things, the Diaz brothers each blew saves last night. It's not really a surprise given the many pitching injuries, but a number of teams that were projected to be pretty good have struggling pens. We know our struggles, but we're only 21st in xFIP and 15th in fWAR. The two WS teams and the Rays are well below us in each category.
Besides those listed, the Indians will also get to see recently demoted Tigers CF, Parker Meadows, younger brother of Austin. Meadows is travelling the same road as Henry Davis. Both working through a tough start with the bat.
For those interested, I heard through the grapevine Austin Meadows is living in the Tampa area, and has opened a fishing charter business. Sounds like baseball may be behind him.
Injuries did in Austin .Meadows.
I think it was mental issues that did him in
No, my hatred of Chris Archer grew into a negative energy force that chased down those three guys. Hopefully, Glasnow has finally escaped it.
Ah, telepathy.