I wonder how long we'll go with one less reliever. It may depend on how deep into the pen we need to go in this series but I would guess Ryan's spot in the pen will be filled by the weekend.
The Pirates have created some good problems for themselves with Bae coming up and Hayes off of the IL. I'm hoping Henry will be ready before too long, not to mention Canaan Smith-Njigba has reached base 10 of his last 18 at bats.
As I was driving through St. Louis over the weekend, there were billboards advertising that good seats were available for the upcoming Cubs series. That told me what I needed to know about how Cards' fans are feeling.
It is always fun to watch other teams in our division struggle. It is difficult for us to look at a guy that is hitting .240 and grasp that is above the league average.
They could send Williams down now and then DFA Tellez when Hayes comes back. I don't have a reason as to why they'd do it in that order but I was thinking that they need to make room for Bae and Hayes with Williams and Tellez being the most likely to go. Maybe Tellez gets one last opportunity tonight against Webb, with Cherington remembering that Tellez's best performance is a series this season was against the Giants (3-7 with two doubles with a walk and a big SF).
Probably the most likely scenario. They'll give him one last shot before Memorial Day and then he's DFA'd. With Hayes and Gonzales, I don't see a path for bae to get playing time on the dirt. Additionally, only about a 1/3 of his starts in AAA have been at the keystone. I don't think they send down Williams as they need him to occasionally spell Cruz. It has to be Triolo or Oilivares as neither has a path for playing time with Hayes and Bae.
At this point, just roll with Joe at 1b every day. If he needs a blow, Grandal can and has played 1b. With Bae up, I'm not sure what they'll do with the OF, but Olivares looks like the odd man out. I like the bat, but he barely plays and was an odd bit of roster construction. Then again, he was signed before Michael A and it made sense at the time, but he became redundant.
Seems like the two most obvious choices to move up from AA to AAA are Sean Sullivan, 23 and Braxton Ashcraft, 24.
Maybe a tip-off about Ashcraft was in his last start on 5/19 he only went 3 innings, 52 pitches, 4 hits, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K. Possibly saving innings for AAA? That followed a 7 inning start where he threw 85 pitches, gave up only 4 hits, walked only 1, struck out 10, and did not allow any runs.
Sullivan pitched all of 2023 at AA Altoona as a 22 year old - 21 Starts, 4 Relief App, 113.2 IP, 8-4, 3.88 ERA. This year he is 0-4, 34.2 IP, but his ERA is down to 3.12.
Ya not sure why they keep giving Alldred starts given last year he wasn't called up to the bigs when the team was desperate for starters. If they weren't going to use him at that time then they never are going to.
That's good stuff - I hope they are right! Also from BA, just reading the Jun mag. They did an MLB Top 100 and then included 10 who just missed. In that 10 they had an Up-and-Comers category that included Nolan Gorman, Jared Jones, Nolan Jones, and Bryson Stott. Others in that 10 were Jose Berrios, Joe Musgrove, Carlos Correa, Paul Goldschmidt, Cal Raliegh, and Christian Walker. Great company for Jared Jones who will not turn 23 until August
The short second start of the week is a continuation of what they've done all season with anyone who pitches Tues/Sun. But, they both should be promoted.
Thanks for the info on the Tues/Sun turnaround - It's smart baseball. Harrington is already at AA after a short rehab at A. Do you think they will promote Barco to AA with sort of an innings/pitches ceiling?
Uhh, I'd imagine there's some limit. He had a healthy off-season, and since you can't track backfield time, he had under 20 IP in 2023. I think he could get moved up relatively soon, cause there are more guys getting stretched out to 4+ IP than they have rotation spots.
Ryder Ryan was sent down
I wonder how long we'll go with one less reliever. It may depend on how deep into the pen we need to go in this series but I would guess Ryan's spot in the pen will be filled by the weekend.
The Pirates have created some good problems for themselves with Bae coming up and Hayes off of the IL. I'm hoping Henry will be ready before too long, not to mention Canaan Smith-Njigba has reached base 10 of his last 18 at bats.
Schadenfreude?
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/the-reds-have-completely-crashed-in-may/
Or just a reminder we've been too critical of our own offense--it could be worse.
I'm okay lumping Cardinals in there too. Just imagine how "the best fans in baseball" are cursing the coach, gm, Goldschmidt, etc.
As I was driving through St. Louis over the weekend, there were billboards advertising that good seats were available for the upcoming Cubs series. That told me what I needed to know about how Cards' fans are feeling.
It is always fun to watch other teams in our division struggle. It is difficult for us to look at a guy that is hitting .240 and grasp that is above the league average.
And I think (without checking) around .700 ops is about average too.
Off topic, but Bae has been called up. No corresponding move announced yet. Apparently NOT a DFA of Rowdy Roddy Tellez, though.
They sent a P down. Other shoe coming. I’m hoping they have something in mind for bullpen help and will deal with Tellez then.
They could send Williams down now and then DFA Tellez when Hayes comes back. I don't have a reason as to why they'd do it in that order but I was thinking that they need to make room for Bae and Hayes with Williams and Tellez being the most likely to go. Maybe Tellez gets one last opportunity tonight against Webb, with Cherington remembering that Tellez's best performance is a series this season was against the Giants (3-7 with two doubles with a walk and a big SF).
Probably the most likely scenario. They'll give him one last shot before Memorial Day and then he's DFA'd. With Hayes and Gonzales, I don't see a path for bae to get playing time on the dirt. Additionally, only about a 1/3 of his starts in AAA have been at the keystone. I don't think they send down Williams as they need him to occasionally spell Cruz. It has to be Triolo or Oilivares as neither has a path for playing time with Hayes and Bae.
At this point, just roll with Joe at 1b every day. If he needs a blow, Grandal can and has played 1b. With Bae up, I'm not sure what they'll do with the OF, but Olivares looks like the odd man out. I like the bat, but he barely plays and was an odd bit of roster construction. Then again, he was signed before Michael A and it made sense at the time, but he became redundant.
“roll with Joe at 1b every day”
Incredible that this even has to be said.
Which outfielder do you want on the team?
Player A: 97 AB, 5 HR, 14 RBI, .237 BA, .718 OPS, 103 wRC+, 0 fWAR or
Player B: 134 AB, 4 HR, 13 RBI, .172 BA, .562 OPS, 58 wRC+, -0.7 fWAR?
Hint: Olivares is Player A.
Who is going to play CF?
Bae?
Get Brett Rooker! I said! lol.
He'd probably below average in CF but still positive WAR lol.
Taylor?
Mackey called a Rowdy DFA and Bae call-up this morning.
Starkey is saying on the Fan that other people are reporting that Tellez won't be DFA'd today, so we'll see.
That's where I heard Mackey this morning. He also said Hayes is going to be back very soon.
CLEAR Sean Sullivan bait from Nola. We see you. ;)
Excellent stuff, Anthony & Nola!
I’m bemused that they’re still fooling with Flowers and his 25:14 BB:K.
Seems like the two most obvious choices to move up from AA to AAA are Sean Sullivan, 23 and Braxton Ashcraft, 24.
Maybe a tip-off about Ashcraft was in his last start on 5/19 he only went 3 innings, 52 pitches, 4 hits, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K. Possibly saving innings for AAA? That followed a 7 inning start where he threw 85 pitches, gave up only 4 hits, walked only 1, struck out 10, and did not allow any runs.
Sullivan pitched all of 2023 at AA Altoona as a 22 year old - 21 Starts, 4 Relief App, 113.2 IP, 8-4, 3.88 ERA. This year he is 0-4, 34.2 IP, but his ERA is down to 3.12.
Sullivan’s had nearly a year and a half there and improved steadily. Do they really need Cam Alldred starting at Indy more than him?
Ya not sure why they keep giving Alldred starts given last year he wasn't called up to the bigs when the team was desperate for starters. If they weren't going to use him at that time then they never are going to.
Fwiw, Ashcraft is on BA’s hot sheet today.
That's good stuff - I hope they are right! Also from BA, just reading the Jun mag. They did an MLB Top 100 and then included 10 who just missed. In that 10 they had an Up-and-Comers category that included Nolan Gorman, Jared Jones, Nolan Jones, and Bryson Stott. Others in that 10 were Jose Berrios, Joe Musgrove, Carlos Correa, Paul Goldschmidt, Cal Raliegh, and Christian Walker. Great company for Jared Jones who will not turn 23 until August
Where was Everson Pereira? First, of course!
So what you're saying is, a perfect week to prove he's hotter than the hottest kid, Brennen Davis. And also hotter.
The short second start of the week is a continuation of what they've done all season with anyone who pitches Tues/Sun. But, they both should be promoted.
Thanks for the info on the Tues/Sun turnaround - It's smart baseball. Harrington is already at AA after a short rehab at A. Do you think they will promote Barco to AA with sort of an innings/pitches ceiling?
Uhh, I'd imagine there's some limit. He had a healthy off-season, and since you can't track backfield time, he had under 20 IP in 2023. I think he could get moved up relatively soon, cause there are more guys getting stretched out to 4+ IP than they have rotation spots.
Agreed about Ashcraft and Sullivan being the most likely candidates to move up to AAA.
As for Ashcraft’s innings, I’m of the belief they don’t want to let him pitch 80-100 pitches in back to back outings yet. Hopefully soon though.