I can answer my own question —— Tim Williams is in Greensboro this week and tweeted last night that Johnson was hit on his left hand. He was in a lot of pain, but gradually shook it off and remained in the dugout. Obviously no idea yet if he’ll be out for any extended period.
since there are so many placeholders at the triple A level, it would be an interesting development if teams started adding washed up veteran pitchers to the AAA roster with the sole purpose of catering to the request of the opposing team´s hitting prospects
for example, in exchange for some fee, we could request Randy Dobnak serve up a heavy dose of cheese to Nick and maybe even let the Indians hitting coach control the pitchcom while he is at bat
Not bucs news, but hector gomez reported that initial investigation findings make it "very unlikely" that wander ever plays in the mlb again. Still early but thats certainly not the news that one wants to hear
Aug 17, 2023Liked by Anthony Murphy, NolaJeffy(BnP)
It’s a pleasure to have somewhere to read about, talk about and sometimes argue about Pirate baseball the way many now here used to do at a different sight that unfortunately has changed so much it’s hardly recognizable. For a while there I feared I’d only have myself to argue with about the Pirates or even worse that I’d start venting about them to my wife who’d nod and agree but in reality had no idea what I was talking about and couldn’t care less. Thanks for throwing out a lifeline.
Knowing how much time and effort you put into all of this, I'm just glad you're able to finally receive at least SOME financial compensation after all this time.
I keep coming back to a comment Dejan, of all people, got from some scout. Guy said he likes the Pirates’ prospects until they reach the majors.
That sums it up for me. They could be the next Ruth, Gehrig, Mays and Koufax, but put them in the hands of Shelton, Haines, et al., and they all turn into Mark Merchant and Chad Hermansen.
My issue with Hank is what JD illustrated in a different thread: the bat was ahead of the glove, even more so if Hank is in right. So he goes out there for a week in Indy and they think he’s ready. It was so poorly handled it almost defies description. It’s negligent, stupid, and unsurprising.
This brings to mind something I’ve been looking into the last few days and I just wrote Jason Mackey a long email about. In 1969-70, part of the peak years of the Pirate development machine under Joe L. Brown, the Pirates had five players graduate from the minors and receive immediate and consistent and extensive playing time: Al Oliver; Richie Hebner; Bob Robertson; Dave Cash; and Manny Sanguillen. Four of the five were 22 years old or younger. Together in their debut seasons as regulars they accumulated 15 bWAR, including a mind-blowing 4.6 from Robertson and 3.5 from Sanguillen, due to his excellent defense.
I’ve been lurking on Pirates Prospects and now this site for several years now. I think the Pirates system is overrated significantly, including by some regular posters here. Brannigan is a perfect example —- he’s 22 in High A. At age 21 Hebner had 3.8 bWAR in the majors! Tony Blanco, Jr. is supposed to be the great power prospect in the system; he can’t even get out of the DR and has an OPS around .700 in his age 18 season.
At this point they have one potential superstar in Skenes, and you need superstars to win championships. Look at the current performance of the Bucs key prospects —- the next wave —- and it’s very unimpressive, especially in the context of the numbers above. The Pirates have a whole bunch of major league flotsam and jetsam and don’t have the building blocks of a championship quality roster.
Let me add quickly that Joe Brown has to be one of the most underrated GMs in baseball history. If only the Bucs had won in 72 as well maybe he would get more recognition instead of being largely forgotten.
It’s almost comical, really. The current Pirates can’t produce one bone fide first baseman. The late 60s Bucs produced Oliver and Robertson, and moved Oliver to the outfield. They produced Cash, then traded him because they had Stennett, which led them to throw Willie Randolph into the Doc Medich trade. The Pirates now can’t produce a single home grown outfielder. In the early 70s they produced Parker and Zisk when the major league outfield was Stargell, Oliver, Clemente. Sick.
I agree. We keep hoping, which explains the optimism. But this is why I get frustrated with the constant suggestions to send this or that guy back down, or to keep him down, for "more seasoning." When you see a guy go just one level every year, much less repeat levels, or see him have to put in 150 games in AAA, he's just not going to be much good. A lot of the time, it makes more sense just to let a guy fail in the majors and get it over with. That's what they did with Oneil Cruz and it (probably) worked out. Seems to be working out with Peguero now. Other guys it won't and you just move on. Ultimately, that's likely to be most of these guys, especially with the dimwits running the system now.
True. So, you’re saying if they need more seasoning they’re not likely to be stars? Davis didn’t play a lot of games at AAA. Perhaps he was rushed? I can’t believe it is due to his learning a new position. Is he just pressing too much? I was firmly in the camp of ‘he’s gonna hit’.
I don’t want to pin you down to a firm scenarios, but it just sounded like you intimated that if they need to go back, they’re probably just gonna be average at best. Of course, Cutch never was sent back down. I don’t think Marte, Bonds or Bonilla were either.
John and I were somewhat discussing it in the comments yesterday (Forget which article). But, it's kind of hard to decide, for me. It'll drop after graduations, but before and after that, they have been consistently getting ranked higher due to "depth" of their farm. And I just question how much should we really weigh the depth, when said depth might be no more than bench players, relievers, and players that'll just accrue frequent flier miles.
I think it could very well look MUCH better a year from now, by next summer, but how strong is it actually when you're hardly producing even average everyday players?
Well, "a year from now" is alluding to I think they're going to be sitting pretty with pitchers. I want to see Ashcraft build up stamina in the off-season, and get to Indy (whether this year or next) so we can get some data on him. I think Jones is going to be good, and they appear to be adding at least a 4th offering with a Cutter. The FF and SL should play, the change is a work in progress. The overall progress with Bubba has me excited, and some preliminary numbers we got on Harrington in Low-A has me excited. Then I'm just a Sean Sullivan stan, who is holding his own. Nothing amazing, but good enough. I think Solo is still in the buildup phase, and overall still looks pretty good.
In short, I like where pitching is headed. The hitting, time will tell lol
The good news is Jones also has the type of stuff that command isn't necessarily pertinent to his success. It's important, but with the shape and velo he has, he can stand to miss some spots every now and then.
Guys with good stuff on 2 good pitches and poor command typically end up as good bullpen pitchers. If you are OK with this outcome (and I am) then I doubt you will be disappointed in Jones.
I hope they use some of their depth to target a potential impact bat or pitcher that's blocked or even currently injured in another organization. Even an overpay for the right player (above average 1st basemen, outfielder, or potential 2 pitcher) would extend the pirates window.
I really think 2025 is when the window will open with a small chance in 2024 if everything goes right.
I also wouldn't be opposed to trading a couple of their somewhat established players if the price was right. Throwing out an example but not really suggesting it, Suwinski to Cleveland for Espino, DeLauter and Chourio.
I think Pipeline is high on Johnson, Jones and Priester, though nothing crazy. I don't think they are low on anyone in the top 100, so I'd probably say that #2 sounds high. I couldn't properly compare it to other teams. If I'm trusting their other rankings for teams, then I'd say Pirates are probably 3-5 for me, which will go down once Endy graduates. He will still be on that list for another two weeks or so.
I also think that if they did a better job at drafting this year, that they could have been #1 overall right now. I don't understand the idea of going depth over impact, while also not spending all that they could.
#4 system seems closer to being right. I like their top 100 rankings better, though I'd probably flip Johnson and Jones. That wouldn't affect the farm rankings though, as the flip would just offset the two ranking changes for me.
The difference is that Pipeline has Priester and Solometo top 100. Priester is not a top 100 prospect. Solometo seems fringe, as I think we are seeing what I've tried to preach for years (once I realized it myself). Double-A has a way of sorting out lefty pitchers. A solid lefty should breeze through A-Ball, as he's dealing with a lot of hitters from both sides of the plate who have not seen decent lefties often.
Solometo also has the deception going his way for added boost. He now has a 7.17 ERA over his last six starts. Does that mean that he's just another lefty that fooled us by dominating inexperienced hitters? Not necessarily, but it does mean that he's not just going to be in the majors next June like some people hoped (some people thought September this year).
By the way, I hate how I learned the lefty dominating rule. I was a lefty pitcher who mostly dominated as a kid. I threw harder than anyone else except for three years where one person threw harder, and no lie, it was a different person each year. Now I'll always wonder if I was good, or just no one was seeing lefties besides me. That was literal, I didn't face a lefty until my fourth season of playing little league. That first lefty was my cousin, who probably threw 20 MPH less than me and still did well from what I remember
That's a great point on kids not seeing many lefties. Glad to have read this and added that rule to my book. Saves me from getting my hopes up too high, too early.
By far my favorite bit right now is watching as a new general of baseball fans relearns the wisdom of those like yourself who've been around for a while.
Anyways, I still haven't heard a good explanation for why Tony Solometo should not expect to be prone to heavy splits like many low-slot lefties*. Deceptive for lefties, sure, but a right handed batter gets an incredibly long look at the ball before release.
*without pants-shitting stuff like peak Bumgarner and Sale.
Honestly, not really. Endy will graduate soon and not sure I have Priester as a top 100 prospect anymore. I think it's a solid system, with more potential upside, but probably not the second best in all of baseball
That being said, I'm also more underwhelmed by the current minor league crop that at any point I can remember in at least the last decade. Does, like, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Cade Horton as Top 20 prospects in all of baseball really make one fearful of the Cubs top 5 system? Emmet Sheehan and Daulton Rushing heading up the Dodgers? Seems like there's a state of flux league-wide right now.
The Pirates very well may have a top 1-3 system, but such a ranking carries less weight than in recent years.
And be nice to Cade Horton. I just started a new game of OOTPB as the Royals and drafted Horton. He is my top prospect (which is a sad state of affairs actually).
Projection took the place of results, it seems younger players get higher rankings even when they have major red flags. Double A is still the regulator in my opinion, example Diego Cartya for the Dodgers, he was the can't miss prospect at the end of 2022 and before, his swing and miss issues continued in double A and his prospect rating is going off a cliff. He was probably rushed as well, still doesn't look ready for double A pitching.
I am with you. I posted a while back our top prospects, minus those in the majors. After Skenes and Termarr it gets slim. We have a bunch of promising guys, but none that seem as ‘can’t miss’ as those two (did I just jinx them), like Tony Solo, Bubba and Jones. No hitters besides Termarr of any great promise, THAT’s for sure.
This is where I'm at with Brannigan. His exit velocity numbers weren't horrible, but they were also nothing that stood out too much in Bradenton. The rest of the tools are there, I'm just not sure how legit the power is (the hit tool as well of course) until he gets to the upper levels.
My first job out of college was out of state and they gave me up to 2 months of relocation costs in a La Quinta down south. I stayed in the hotel for 6 weeks before I found an apartment, during those 6 weeks I ordered in pizza's and ate fast-food. Long story short, I gained almost 30 lbs. during those 6 weeks.
There is a Chick-Fil-A right next door to us so it's been that and whatever we can muster up in the air fryer so far, which has actually been really good so far. Haven't done anything too fancy with it, but what we've done has been great.
Oh and we've done A LOT of breakfast for dinner lol
When I moved out to Harrisburg for my Navy Depot job from Western Pa, I slept in my UHaul for two nights (not THAT bad….I had my couch in there. 😎) I pretty much took the first halfway decent apartment I could find.
Moving sucks if you’re going into a totally strange area, lol.
Wouldn't mind keeping them all for depth and a little competition. Trade value on Nicky G can't be all that much, even if a team thinks they can 'fix' him.
We are loaded with young MI's, therefore we tend to underestimate their value. We've seen Oneil Cruz for a year and the way 22 year old Liover Peguero has hit the ground hitting for substantial power and exhibiting a solid MI Glove. It makes Rod, Bae, and Marcano relatively expendable. This is where finding a MiLB "sleeper" (similar to Falter?) could be had for one of those 3 - check out the 2B group Seattle has!
I like the way Triolo is playing and especially that he has the defense at 2B, 3B, and has seen action in the OF at AA.
Due to some extenuating circumstances, I had to stay at a friend’s house for almost a month after my divorce. Not quite a hotel, but in some ways worse. He only had one bathroom. 😵💫😵💫
Hang in there buddy. I am glad BoD is taking off. And I ain’t one bit surprised. 😁
The more I think about it, the more I realize how brilliant John's idea to send nicky sticks to mexican winter ball to just hit a ton of offspeed and breaking pitches
Ehh, I'll say the stat line wasn't too indicative of how he pitched. He wasn't particularly sharp, but two of the home runs were Greensboro home runs (AKA: likely only out in Greensboro and probably Asheville). And don't get Murphy started on Ross, with regards to the first home run lol
The fact that they have like 30 catchers in the FCL and Bradenton, but can't send one of them to Greensboro to back up Hendrie is annoying. He dropped a foul tip that woulda been strike three, Bubba walked him the next pitch and eventually gave up one of those home runs.
Believe it or not, the walks do tend to be higher at Greensboro as well, since pitchers tend to try and be more careful knowing how much of a HR park it is lol
That said, when he was missing, it wasn't his usual bout of wildness. He was just missing, as opposed to missing by feet. I also think there were a couple times he wasn't getting calls. All-in-all, in terms of his development, I think he's till looking to be heading in the right direction.
I only use it to follow PSU stuff, Steelers Depot and my inspirational sites. Other than that it is a cesspool. Oh yeh, and I follow some guy named Dreker.
Absolutely awesome job here AM! Love having this as a part of my daily routine, and the content/interaction here has been incredible. Also, wanted to send you some good vibes and thoughts as your personal life has taken some bumps, you got this!
I really appreciate it! I'm really happy to have you part of the community and being so involved. It's been awesome to see how this has quickly taken off and you guys are the reason why
Anyone have any news on Johnson? He was hit by a pitch and replaced with a pinch runner in the sixth inning of tonight’s Greensboro game.
I can answer my own question —— Tim Williams is in Greensboro this week and tweeted last night that Johnson was hit on his left hand. He was in a lot of pain, but gradually shook it off and remained in the dugout. Obviously no idea yet if he’ll be out for any extended period.
since there are so many placeholders at the triple A level, it would be an interesting development if teams started adding washed up veteran pitchers to the AAA roster with the sole purpose of catering to the request of the opposing team´s hitting prospects
for example, in exchange for some fee, we could request Randy Dobnak serve up a heavy dose of cheese to Nick and maybe even let the Indians hitting coach control the pitchcom while he is at bat
Not bucs news, but hector gomez reported that initial investigation findings make it "very unlikely" that wander ever plays in the mlb again. Still early but thats certainly not the news that one wants to hear
longest yard movie?
Man, oh man, what a shame.
It’s a pleasure to have somewhere to read about, talk about and sometimes argue about Pirate baseball the way many now here used to do at a different sight that unfortunately has changed so much it’s hardly recognizable. For a while there I feared I’d only have myself to argue with about the Pirates or even worse that I’d start venting about them to my wife who’d nod and agree but in reality had no idea what I was talking about and couldn’t care less. Thanks for throwing out a lifeline.
You're a good sport, Doc, happy you're here.
Knowing how much time and effort you put into all of this, I'm just glad you're able to finally receive at least SOME financial compensation after all this time.
*Insert making it rain GIF
Do you agree with the Bucs farm system being ranked #2?
https://pittsburghbaseballnow.com/pittsburgh-pirates-second-best-farm-system-mlb-pipeline/
Orioles . . .
😮😮😮😮😮
I keep coming back to a comment Dejan, of all people, got from some scout. Guy said he likes the Pirates’ prospects until they reach the majors.
That sums it up for me. They could be the next Ruth, Gehrig, Mays and Koufax, but put them in the hands of Shelton, Haines, et al., and they all turn into Mark Merchant and Chad Hermansen.
My issue with Hank is what JD illustrated in a different thread: the bat was ahead of the glove, even more so if Hank is in right. So he goes out there for a week in Indy and they think he’s ready. It was so poorly handled it almost defies description. It’s negligent, stupid, and unsurprising.
This brings to mind something I’ve been looking into the last few days and I just wrote Jason Mackey a long email about. In 1969-70, part of the peak years of the Pirate development machine under Joe L. Brown, the Pirates had five players graduate from the minors and receive immediate and consistent and extensive playing time: Al Oliver; Richie Hebner; Bob Robertson; Dave Cash; and Manny Sanguillen. Four of the five were 22 years old or younger. Together in their debut seasons as regulars they accumulated 15 bWAR, including a mind-blowing 4.6 from Robertson and 3.5 from Sanguillen, due to his excellent defense.
I’ve been lurking on Pirates Prospects and now this site for several years now. I think the Pirates system is overrated significantly, including by some regular posters here. Brannigan is a perfect example —- he’s 22 in High A. At age 21 Hebner had 3.8 bWAR in the majors! Tony Blanco, Jr. is supposed to be the great power prospect in the system; he can’t even get out of the DR and has an OPS around .700 in his age 18 season.
At this point they have one potential superstar in Skenes, and you need superstars to win championships. Look at the current performance of the Bucs key prospects —- the next wave —- and it’s very unimpressive, especially in the context of the numbers above. The Pirates have a whole bunch of major league flotsam and jetsam and don’t have the building blocks of a championship quality roster.
Let me add quickly that Joe Brown has to be one of the most underrated GMs in baseball history. If only the Bucs had won in 72 as well maybe he would get more recognition instead of being largely forgotten.
It’s almost comical, really. The current Pirates can’t produce one bone fide first baseman. The late 60s Bucs produced Oliver and Robertson, and moved Oliver to the outfield. They produced Cash, then traded him because they had Stennett, which led them to throw Willie Randolph into the Doc Medich trade. The Pirates now can’t produce a single home grown outfielder. In the early 70s they produced Parker and Zisk when the major league outfield was Stargell, Oliver, Clemente. Sick.
OK. End of rant.
Glad to have you aboard.
Announcing your presence with authority!
Ebby Calvin LaLoosh would be mighty proud.
I agree. We keep hoping, which explains the optimism. But this is why I get frustrated with the constant suggestions to send this or that guy back down, or to keep him down, for "more seasoning." When you see a guy go just one level every year, much less repeat levels, or see him have to put in 150 games in AAA, he's just not going to be much good. A lot of the time, it makes more sense just to let a guy fail in the majors and get it over with. That's what they did with Oneil Cruz and it (probably) worked out. Seems to be working out with Peguero now. Other guys it won't and you just move on. Ultimately, that's likely to be most of these guys, especially with the dimwits running the system now.
Are you intimating that Davis, for one, needs to just swim or sink? Some players DO need to go back to the minors at least once. See Trout, Mike.
That late 60s group may have been a once in a lifetime group. It is what the Orioles seem to be experiencing now.
However, it DOES appear that none of our guys are Ronald Acunas or Gerrit Coles.
Trout was a HS guy and played a whopping 20 games in AAA.
True. So, you’re saying if they need more seasoning they’re not likely to be stars? Davis didn’t play a lot of games at AAA. Perhaps he was rushed? I can’t believe it is due to his learning a new position. Is he just pressing too much? I was firmly in the camp of ‘he’s gonna hit’.
I don’t want to pin you down to a firm scenarios, but it just sounded like you intimated that if they need to go back, they’re probably just gonna be average at best. Of course, Cutch never was sent back down. I don’t think Marte, Bonds or Bonilla were either.
Shelton has a doctorate in sports science, his thesis was "Placement of Players" the focus "Put in a position to fail".
John and I were somewhat discussing it in the comments yesterday (Forget which article). But, it's kind of hard to decide, for me. It'll drop after graduations, but before and after that, they have been consistently getting ranked higher due to "depth" of their farm. And I just question how much should we really weigh the depth, when said depth might be no more than bench players, relievers, and players that'll just accrue frequent flier miles.
I think it could very well look MUCH better a year from now, by next summer, but how strong is it actually when you're hardly producing even average everyday players?
Agree. I prefer a few IMPACT players over depth players.
Can any of Pegeuro, Rodriguez, Davis, Nicky, Nunez be impact players?
What about pitchers not named Skenes?
Without impact players we’ll just be middle of the road.
Well, "a year from now" is alluding to I think they're going to be sitting pretty with pitchers. I want to see Ashcraft build up stamina in the off-season, and get to Indy (whether this year or next) so we can get some data on him. I think Jones is going to be good, and they appear to be adding at least a 4th offering with a Cutter. The FF and SL should play, the change is a work in progress. The overall progress with Bubba has me excited, and some preliminary numbers we got on Harrington in Low-A has me excited. Then I'm just a Sean Sullivan stan, who is holding his own. Nothing amazing, but good enough. I think Solo is still in the buildup phase, and overall still looks pretty good.
In short, I like where pitching is headed. The hitting, time will tell lol
With Jones, it is always about command/control of that great stuff. Fingers crossed.
The good news is Jones also has the type of stuff that command isn't necessarily pertinent to his success. It's important, but with the shape and velo he has, he can stand to miss some spots every now and then.
Guys with good stuff on 2 good pitches and poor command typically end up as good bullpen pitchers. If you are OK with this outcome (and I am) then I doubt you will be disappointed in Jones.
I hope they use some of their depth to target a potential impact bat or pitcher that's blocked or even currently injured in another organization. Even an overpay for the right player (above average 1st basemen, outfielder, or potential 2 pitcher) would extend the pirates window.
I really think 2025 is when the window will open with a small chance in 2024 if everything goes right.
I also wouldn't be opposed to trading a couple of their somewhat established players if the price was right. Throwing out an example but not really suggesting it, Suwinski to Cleveland for Espino, DeLauter and Chourio.
It'll be really interesting to see where Cruz is at once he returns.
Yep, probably won't have time to tell on Cruz this year one way or the other. Good plate discipline and accurate throws would be a plus in my book.
I think Pipeline is high on Johnson, Jones and Priester, though nothing crazy. I don't think they are low on anyone in the top 100, so I'd probably say that #2 sounds high. I couldn't properly compare it to other teams. If I'm trusting their other rankings for teams, then I'd say Pirates are probably 3-5 for me, which will go down once Endy graduates. He will still be on that list for another two weeks or so.
I also think that if they did a better job at drafting this year, that they could have been #1 overall right now. I don't understand the idea of going depth over impact, while also not spending all that they could.
Looks like BA just dropped their Org rankings today
#4 system seems closer to being right. I like their top 100 rankings better, though I'd probably flip Johnson and Jones. That wouldn't affect the farm rankings though, as the flip would just offset the two ranking changes for me.
The difference is that Pipeline has Priester and Solometo top 100. Priester is not a top 100 prospect. Solometo seems fringe, as I think we are seeing what I've tried to preach for years (once I realized it myself). Double-A has a way of sorting out lefty pitchers. A solid lefty should breeze through A-Ball, as he's dealing with a lot of hitters from both sides of the plate who have not seen decent lefties often.
Solometo also has the deception going his way for added boost. He now has a 7.17 ERA over his last six starts. Does that mean that he's just another lefty that fooled us by dominating inexperienced hitters? Not necessarily, but it does mean that he's not just going to be in the majors next June like some people hoped (some people thought September this year).
By the way, I hate how I learned the lefty dominating rule. I was a lefty pitcher who mostly dominated as a kid. I threw harder than anyone else except for three years where one person threw harder, and no lie, it was a different person each year. Now I'll always wonder if I was good, or just no one was seeing lefties besides me. That was literal, I didn't face a lefty until my fourth season of playing little league. That first lefty was my cousin, who probably threw 20 MPH less than me and still did well from what I remember
That's a great point on kids not seeing many lefties. Glad to have read this and added that rule to my book. Saves me from getting my hopes up too high, too early.
More wisdom of the baseball elders!
By far my favorite bit right now is watching as a new general of baseball fans relearns the wisdom of those like yourself who've been around for a while.
Anyways, I still haven't heard a good explanation for why Tony Solometo should not expect to be prone to heavy splits like many low-slot lefties*. Deceptive for lefties, sure, but a right handed batter gets an incredibly long look at the ball before release.
*without pants-shitting stuff like peak Bumgarner and Sale.
Though I've never heard an announcer put it that way, that's probably a good way to explain their stuff
Don’t be denigrating Tony Solo. Take that back!!
I'm sorry that each of his last six starts have been subpar
What we got?
Cuatro-th
Reasonable-ish, danke!
Honestly, not really. Endy will graduate soon and not sure I have Priester as a top 100 prospect anymore. I think it's a solid system, with more potential upside, but probably not the second best in all of baseball
That being said, I'm also more underwhelmed by the current minor league crop that at any point I can remember in at least the last decade. Does, like, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Cade Horton as Top 20 prospects in all of baseball really make one fearful of the Cubs top 5 system? Emmet Sheehan and Daulton Rushing heading up the Dodgers? Seems like there's a state of flux league-wide right now.
The Pirates very well may have a top 1-3 system, but such a ranking carries less weight than in recent years.
But Armstrong gets a better jump on a ball off the bat than anyone since Tris Speaker.
And be nice to Cade Horton. I just started a new game of OOTPB as the Royals and drafted Horton. He is my top prospect (which is a sad state of affairs actually).
Projection took the place of results, it seems younger players get higher rankings even when they have major red flags. Double A is still the regulator in my opinion, example Diego Cartya for the Dodgers, he was the can't miss prospect at the end of 2022 and before, his swing and miss issues continued in double A and his prospect rating is going off a cliff. He was probably rushed as well, still doesn't look ready for double A pitching.
I am with you. I posted a while back our top prospects, minus those in the majors. After Skenes and Termarr it gets slim. We have a bunch of promising guys, but none that seem as ‘can’t miss’ as those two (did I just jinx them), like Tony Solo, Bubba and Jones. No hitters besides Termarr of any great promise, THAT’s for sure.
Should we be getting excited about this guy? Why or why not?
SS Jack Brannigan
Game stats: 2-5, two singles
Season stats: .282/.392/.543, 16 homers, three triples, ten doubles, 21 stolen bases, and 40 RBIs (245 at-bats, or 70 games between Low-A and High-A)
He also made a great play in the hole at SS last night.
Yes and no? Yes, cause he's killing it. No, cause I'm becoming skeptical of hitters at least until they get to Altoona and prove it's not an anomaly.
I’ve always been a ‘until they do it in Al Tuna’ kinda guy. ‘Bout time you got on board. 😉😉😉
If he can't hit in Altoona, hopefully he still has that triple digit fastball lol
Judging by some of the throws he's made at third and short, I think it's still there.
Brannigan moving from 3B to the mound in the 8th following seven shutout innings from Skenes or Bubba is going to be electric, in the World Series
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This is where I'm at with Brannigan. His exit velocity numbers weren't horrible, but they were also nothing that stood out too much in Bradenton. The rest of the tools are there, I'm just not sure how legit the power is (the hit tool as well of course) until he gets to the upper levels.
Which, even then, hitters like Fraizer and Gorski then slumped after initial Altoona success.
Only one month? feels like 3-4 months.
My first job out of college was out of state and they gave me up to 2 months of relocation costs in a La Quinta down south. I stayed in the hotel for 6 weeks before I found an apartment, during those 6 weeks I ordered in pizza's and ate fast-food. Long story short, I gained almost 30 lbs. during those 6 weeks.
There is a Chick-Fil-A right next door to us so it's been that and whatever we can muster up in the air fryer so far, which has actually been really good so far. Haven't done anything too fancy with it, but what we've done has been great.
Oh and we've done A LOT of breakfast for dinner lol
When I moved out to Harrisburg for my Navy Depot job from Western Pa, I slept in my UHaul for two nights (not THAT bad….I had my couch in there. 😎) I pretty much took the first halfway decent apartment I could find.
Moving sucks if you’re going into a totally strange area, lol.
From Cody P:
Those nine punchouts mark a season-high for (Jared) Jones.
In addition, Jones introduced a cutter to his arsenal, or at least it looks like he did.
But he definitely is NOT throwing a sinker, as confirmed by Cody lol it was bugging me so bad
I wonder, if Nicky comes around, bit with Peguero and Cruz as our MIFs, NG can be dealt for some pitching? Or am I dreaming again?
he plays 2nd, Short and Third
have no problem with Nick and Triolo as our bench guys with Bae, Tucu and Cheng as depth in AAA
Wouldn't mind keeping them all for depth and a little competition. Trade value on Nicky G can't be all that much, even if a team thinks they can 'fix' him.
We are loaded with young MI's, therefore we tend to underestimate their value. We've seen Oneil Cruz for a year and the way 22 year old Liover Peguero has hit the ground hitting for substantial power and exhibiting a solid MI Glove. It makes Rod, Bae, and Marcano relatively expendable. This is where finding a MiLB "sleeper" (similar to Falter?) could be had for one of those 3 - check out the 2B group Seattle has!
I like the way Triolo is playing and especially that he has the defense at 2B, 3B, and has seen action in the OF at AA.
But, IF NG learned to hit curves, different story?
SEND HIM TO MEXICO!!!
That's why I'd target a team like the Halo's, they just lost their triple A 2nd basemen, Daniel Murphy just retired a day or 2 ago lol
Yeh. That Murphy retirement really hurt them. 😇😇😇
Salt Lake has 1 or 2 position players under 25.
With Murphy's retirement the average player age is still probably higher than the pirates but it's close now. Not sure though lol
My wish is NickyG, Nunez or Sightler, Forrester, and a pitching prospect or two like Sullivan for Schanuel and Adell.
I would probably would include Triolo instead of Nunez.
I don’t even like Adell’s singing. 😂😂🤣🤣
Maybe teamed up with Suwinski they could do some covers. 😆 🤣
Due to some extenuating circumstances, I had to stay at a friend’s house for almost a month after my divorce. Not quite a hotel, but in some ways worse. He only had one bathroom. 😵💫😵💫
Hang in there buddy. I am glad BoD is taking off. And I ain’t one bit surprised. 😁
The more I think about it, the more I realize how brilliant John's idea to send nicky sticks to mexican winter ball to just hit a ton of offspeed and breaking pitches
vamos Charros vamos
That IS good news. But do you have video proof? 😁😁
Unfortunately yesterday wasn’t good for Bubba.
Chandler (7-4, 5.27) started, allowing five runs on four hits, including three homers. He walked four and struck out five.
Ehh, I'll say the stat line wasn't too indicative of how he pitched. He wasn't particularly sharp, but two of the home runs were Greensboro home runs (AKA: likely only out in Greensboro and probably Asheville). And don't get Murphy started on Ross, with regards to the first home run lol
Also aren't Bowling Green's players all like 30 years old...kinda kidding but they are a much more "mature" team than Greensboro.
Hey AM, I heard you have some thoughts on Ross- care to share?? :)
The fact that they have like 30 catchers in the FCL and Bradenton, but can't send one of them to Greensboro to back up Hendrie is annoying. He dropped a foul tip that woulda been strike three, Bubba walked him the next pitch and eventually gave up one of those home runs.
Thx. That’s why I like it here.
But explain the walks. Greensboro walks? 😁😁
Believe it or not, the walks do tend to be higher at Greensboro as well, since pitchers tend to try and be more careful knowing how much of a HR park it is lol
That said, when he was missing, it wasn't his usual bout of wildness. He was just missing, as opposed to missing by feet. I also think there were a couple times he wasn't getting calls. All-in-all, in terms of his development, I think he's till looking to be heading in the right direction.
sir this is a Wendy's.
I knew I should've ordered the 10-piece spicy
I was joking, but appreciate the inside info.
BoD Squad!!!!!!
After abandoning TwiXter and uhhh other sites last month, this has been a Pirates content and banter lifeline, and a damn good one at that. Thanks!
I only use it to follow PSU stuff, Steelers Depot and my inspirational sites. Other than that it is a cesspool. Oh yeh, and I follow some guy named Dreker.
Trying to take a "principled stand" and stick to it, but I sure miss it for sports.
So it is a big ‘X’ in your life now? 😛😛😛
Absolutely awesome job here AM! Love having this as a part of my daily routine, and the content/interaction here has been incredible. Also, wanted to send you some good vibes and thoughts as your personal life has taken some bumps, you got this!
I'll second this.
I really appreciate it! I'm really happy to have you part of the community and being so involved. It's been awesome to see how this has quickly taken off and you guys are the reason why