Speaking of the Athletic: Rosenthal info: The Pirates began working out Bryan Reynolds at first in late September (We knew that), and expect him to play the position at least part-time in 2025 (have not heard that beyond speculation based off of his 2024 workouts). Depending on how they fill other holes, his moving back and forth is not a terrible approach. If for some reason he fails defensively (don't expect it) he can move back to OF full time. I'll say unfortunately, it IMO also opens up potential low cost platoon options (however sometimes that is better). Basically one could argue they need a combo LH/RH but they could play first or outfield (broadens the pool).
Don't subscribe to the Pathetic but supposedly Bowden thinks the Bucs may sign a decent bat. And not the bug eating rabies carrying kind. My guess is he is pulling a Kiper and saying random crap until he gets an "I told you so".
Random but I wonder if Colin Moran, Lyle Overbay, Rowdy, The Mayor, and The pierogies raced who would win? Cf wall to home plate.
Wife is a huge fan so I said I'm down. Going against your mind was like 16 minutes of shred. Dude looks like he could be working at a gas station. My moderate tinnitus graduated a few levels. Glad to "hear" someone else can vouch.
Me too mon friere. I thought/hoped Shelton would be gone by now. Not sure if it would make a huge difference. Just wanted to see something change. Sadly I don't think much is going to change.
I looked up the timing of the deal and it appears it was early December. My memory failed me, I thought that they resigned him right after the filing deadline or something like that.
Today's off the wall thought that will never happen: Luis Robert is supposed to make $15m next year with two team(?) options for $20m for each of the two years after that. I know that's a pretty hefty price for us, but I wonder if we could do some PTBNL deal contingent on if we take an option + them taking on money in exchange for a better prospect. Would be a second CF to slot into left and also a ton of tools for hague to get his hands on
I like the creative thinking, but it just feels like they are hoping he will turn into 2023 Luis Robert who (despite staggering K/BB ratio) would draw a LOT in trade deadline or 2025-6 off-season trade interest. Personally if it was the Bucs, I would vote for waiting also.
Dude is constantly hurt. Or injured. Wait another year and he may be available for the same as his old teammate Eloy. Hague better not get his hands on him too hard. Homeboy might do in a hammy.
It seems daily there are debates / suggestions (I like and enjoy them, too frustrating sometimes to engage or feel it is Groundhog Day for some points). So here goes what appears to be in hind site a rant~~ Go SouthernBuc.:
I am confused by what IMO is the lack of love for Nicky G but the love for Cook/Yorke(I regard Yorke higher) let alone Peggy (who I think I do like more than many) and Triolo (good end of year with an apparent adjustment but was a total black hole on offense for maybe 4 months?). Nick struggled in his first attempt at MLB, made off season/in season adjustments and is now arguably a middle of the road to slightly lower starting 2B. Might he improve 5% this year - my guess is he is working hard. Also - Cook and Yorke DID NOT IMPRESS IMO in their first MLB attempt . Miniscule sample size, we were excited about them, they DID hit well in AAA (Hank did, Nick did, Endy did, O'Neill did - and all struggled upon MLB entry) etc. Cook 19 K's ZERO walks in 49 PAs and Yorke .664 OPS but more importantly only 42 PAs. I do like them (Yorke more) but assuming (please no comments - dead horse) competing is the goal, it seems to me Nicky G is the much safer bet for being a starter even if that means not 7 days a week. Also, there is only so much room on the bench (assuming at least one add) for players potentially having rough entries to MLB.
Endy playing first base regularly or as a platoon - kind of 'see above'. I love his athleticism so I am sure he would be fine defensively. but 1B needs to have some level of batting ability. He MAY someday be a league average or better bat... but he just came off struggling significantly in his first MLB exposure and then basically missing an entire year. Leave him as fighting for a backup job at C (hopefully with 3 starts a week) or getting regular at bats in AAA to help catch up.
Hank is an interesting case for me. until enlightened on his caught stealing stats my opinion was he was passable at catcher if he hit. Seeing the other AAA caught stealing stats, I am back to wanting to have hope. If he can be an average MLB hitter with power(and my assumption passable at best on D_ he would have value at catcher but with the proposed positional changes (assuming likely poor to very bad defense on top of it) it just puts too much pressure on his bat. However, he needs MLB ABs NOW so part of me hopes he can be the backup catcher (3 starts a week) while Endy gets 'rust' off etc. in AAA.
That's enough for any of you I either put to sleep or angered.
I have a similar reaction when Triolo is listed as a 1B candidate. Defensively I am sure both would be fine but the bats? If SOMEDAY they prove it at the bat, I am game for many options, but for now they need to just worry about making the opening day roster and forget about earning some platoon starting role at 1B.
I assume you mean Endy. But if that is the case and he can't catch (definitely have not heard that), then 1B is still way down the list for an athletic player with possible bat issues.
I thought it was reported / assumed by other posters that everything typed here was anxiously read and acted upon at Federal St? You mean my 5000 word essay above will have no impact? 5 minutes of my life and probably 10 of yours wasted.
As the self-appointed president of the Billy Cook Fan Club, created by yours truly, I appreciate your logic and logical reasoning. However, I have to deny it vehemently as Billy Cook is the best and thus we should stand by him
I was willing to accept the Pirates were not filling up the 40 because we had a trade or two on the near horizon. Unless I am mistaken, my count is 36 players on the 40 including new adds RHRP Pete Strzelecki , SS/3B LH hitting Tristan Gray 29, OF Trey Cabbage 28, and LH hitting OF Josh Palacios 30. Which of those 4 constitute sound reasoning for leaving Sammy Siani out there for the Rule 5? Siani is an excellent fielding CF who can play all 3 OF positions and his LH bat has shown life in AA and the AFL in 2024.
Cincy and Cubs after Garrett Crochet? Yep, makes sense because they are actually trying to win. Cincy fired their ineffective Manager, hired Tito Francona as their new Manager. They have been actively adding, and the Pirates are just sitting there waiting for somebody to make them an offer. No action on the dud Manager and no action to add a bat or two - please sell this club!
There is probably less than a 1% chance Siani lasts an entire season in the show. We are talking about a guy in his draft plus 5 year that strung a couple good months together (AA stats still average at best) and a decent showing in a hitter friendly AFL. The defense and speed would have to be so premium/elite to justify carrying him as a 4/5? outfielder. I just don’t see it.
I actually find Cabbage mildly intriguing because we don’t have a ton of guys with the power upside. And yes, I’m well aware there’s a 99% chance he never amounts to anything. I keep hoping we run into another GFJ though.
I love the idea of Bohm as the starting 1B and 3B insurance, I just don’t like that he is another RHB. Keep Reynolds in the OF, then add Conforto for LF/RF. Any remaining FA dollars I would allocate to the bullpen. Still a ton of holes and question marks and likely not enough roster spots without moving pieces out, but very doable and significantly lengthens the lineup by moving two very weak bats out.
sources saying Suwinski to St. Louis for Liberatore
Speaking of the Athletic: Rosenthal info: The Pirates began working out Bryan Reynolds at first in late September (We knew that), and expect him to play the position at least part-time in 2025 (have not heard that beyond speculation based off of his 2024 workouts). Depending on how they fill other holes, his moving back and forth is not a terrible approach. If for some reason he fails defensively (don't expect it) he can move back to OF full time. I'll say unfortunately, it IMO also opens up potential low cost platoon options (however sometimes that is better). Basically one could argue they need a combo LH/RH but they could play first or outfield (broadens the pool).
Naylor looks pretty good to me.
They have their guy picked out. Bob Seymour in the rule 5, fits their preferred skill set and body type for firstbase.
Don't subscribe to the Pathetic but supposedly Bowden thinks the Bucs may sign a decent bat. And not the bug eating rabies carrying kind. My guess is he is pulling a Kiper and saying random crap until he gets an "I told you so".
Random but I wonder if Colin Moran, Lyle Overbay, Rowdy, The Mayor, and The pierogies raced who would win? Cf wall to home plate.
Votes on Hannah.
Mears?
Pat?
No
this is the content we deserve.
Glad you are content with the content. You like Built to Spill? Saw them z month or so ago in Charleston SC. Man they jam
Them and Pavement are my two regrets, never seen either.
Will check out Pavement and report back before Shelton gets canned.
See above comment to National Mart Records. But add Silver Jews.
One of the best live bands there are.
Wife is a huge fan so I said I'm down. Going against your mind was like 16 minutes of shred. Dude looks like he could be working at a gas station. My moderate tinnitus graduated a few levels. Glad to "hear" someone else can vouch.
Most days I would rather talk about music and random stuff than talk about the Pirates.
Me too mon friere. I thought/hoped Shelton would be gone by now. Not sure if it would make a huge difference. Just wanted to see something change. Sadly I don't think much is going to change.
Too bad it's Bowden saying that and not someone who has a track record of getting things right ;)
Luis Severino 3 years $67 million with the ATHLETICS of all teams
Yeah what the hell is that, ~10m AAV higher than our biggest FA deal which is just sad
Years of Nuttin have left Pirate fans living in a world where gas costs 29 cents/gal.
And that’s if you even count the Liriano deal, which was more a resigning. Otherwise, I believe it’s Russell Martin.
Liriano was a FA when he signed 3/39. That is the largest FA contract in the history of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Which is painfully pathetic.
I looked up the timing of the deal and it appears it was early December. My memory failed me, I thought that they resigned him right after the filing deadline or something like that.
Keller’s deal looking better every day
Off topic, but perspective on how good Skenes was his rookie year...
Top 10 single season pitching fWAR last 10 seasons
1. Cole 2015 - 5.1 (32 starts)
2. Skenes 2024 - 4.3 (23 starts)
3. Taillon 2018 - 3.9
4. Cole 2017 - 3.4
5. Liriano 2015 - 3.3
5. Keller 2023 - 3.3
7. Musgrove 2019 - 3.2
7. Taillon 2017 - 3.2
9. Williams 2018 - 2.7
10. Burnett 2015 - 2.6
10. Williams 2017 - 2.6
Side note - that 2017 rotation was sneaky good (Cole 3.4, Taillon 3.2, Williams 2.6, Kuhl 2.2, Nova 2.2)
Today's off the wall thought that will never happen: Luis Robert is supposed to make $15m next year with two team(?) options for $20m for each of the two years after that. I know that's a pretty hefty price for us, but I wonder if we could do some PTBNL deal contingent on if we take an option + them taking on money in exchange for a better prospect. Would be a second CF to slot into left and also a ton of tools for hague to get his hands on
I like the creative thinking, but it just feels like they are hoping he will turn into 2023 Luis Robert who (despite staggering K/BB ratio) would draw a LOT in trade deadline or 2025-6 off-season trade interest. Personally if it was the Bucs, I would vote for waiting also.
Definitely lots of dreaming but I plan to make my proposals increasingly outlandish until we get some movement
Getting my popcorn ready for reading the next proposal.
Dude is constantly hurt. Or injured. Wait another year and he may be available for the same as his old teammate Eloy. Hague better not get his hands on him too hard. Homeboy might do in a hammy.
Don’t bring Hague into this. He’s just as likely to get injured tripping over the foul line.
They use thicker chalk these days.
It seems daily there are debates / suggestions (I like and enjoy them, too frustrating sometimes to engage or feel it is Groundhog Day for some points). So here goes what appears to be in hind site a rant~~ Go SouthernBuc.:
I am confused by what IMO is the lack of love for Nicky G but the love for Cook/Yorke(I regard Yorke higher) let alone Peggy (who I think I do like more than many) and Triolo (good end of year with an apparent adjustment but was a total black hole on offense for maybe 4 months?). Nick struggled in his first attempt at MLB, made off season/in season adjustments and is now arguably a middle of the road to slightly lower starting 2B. Might he improve 5% this year - my guess is he is working hard. Also - Cook and Yorke DID NOT IMPRESS IMO in their first MLB attempt . Miniscule sample size, we were excited about them, they DID hit well in AAA (Hank did, Nick did, Endy did, O'Neill did - and all struggled upon MLB entry) etc. Cook 19 K's ZERO walks in 49 PAs and Yorke .664 OPS but more importantly only 42 PAs. I do like them (Yorke more) but assuming (please no comments - dead horse) competing is the goal, it seems to me Nicky G is the much safer bet for being a starter even if that means not 7 days a week. Also, there is only so much room on the bench (assuming at least one add) for players potentially having rough entries to MLB.
Endy playing first base regularly or as a platoon - kind of 'see above'. I love his athleticism so I am sure he would be fine defensively. but 1B needs to have some level of batting ability. He MAY someday be a league average or better bat... but he just came off struggling significantly in his first MLB exposure and then basically missing an entire year. Leave him as fighting for a backup job at C (hopefully with 3 starts a week) or getting regular at bats in AAA to help catch up.
Hank is an interesting case for me. until enlightened on his caught stealing stats my opinion was he was passable at catcher if he hit. Seeing the other AAA caught stealing stats, I am back to wanting to have hope. If he can be an average MLB hitter with power(and my assumption passable at best on D_ he would have value at catcher but with the proposed positional changes (assuming likely poor to very bad defense on top of it) it just puts too much pressure on his bat. However, he needs MLB ABs NOW so part of me hopes he can be the backup catcher (3 starts a week) while Endy gets 'rust' off etc. in AAA.
That's enough for any of you I either put to sleep or angered.
I haven't seen this one in a while, but I saw it several times after Jones debuted.
*Thomas Harrington developed Jared Jones*
That probably wins BOD hot take of the year.
The Endy to 1b movement blows my mind.
Let's take a super athletic catcher, with a questionable bat and move him to 1b.
I have a similar reaction when Triolo is listed as a 1B candidate. Defensively I am sure both would be fine but the bats? If SOMEDAY they prove it at the bat, I am game for many options, but for now they need to just worry about making the opening day roster and forget about earning some platoon starting role at 1B.
he has no arm as it has recently fallen off
I assume you mean Endy. But if that is the case and he can't catch (definitely have not heard that), then 1B is still way down the list for an athletic player with possible bat issues.
Yeah my inkling would maybe be 2B in that case? Except we already have quite the traffic jam there.
Yes. You have to rake and rake and rake some more to have value at 1b.
Now you just have to convince somebody at Federal St of this.
shhh....
they are listening
PLANT
I thought it was reported / assumed by other posters that everything typed here was anxiously read and acted upon at Federal St? You mean my 5000 word essay above will have no impact? 5 minutes of my life and probably 10 of yours wasted.
As the self-appointed president of the Billy Cook Fan Club, created by yours truly, I appreciate your logic and logical reasoning. However, I have to deny it vehemently as Billy Cook is the best and thus we should stand by him
Best at what exactly?
Yes the best. Next question
Defensive outfielder on the pirates 40 man.
I respect and acknowledge your irrational thinking. I am not at all predicting doom and gloom for your Fan Club or its player, just possible patience.
ha!
Give em hell Buc o the South
I was willing to accept the Pirates were not filling up the 40 because we had a trade or two on the near horizon. Unless I am mistaken, my count is 36 players on the 40 including new adds RHRP Pete Strzelecki , SS/3B LH hitting Tristan Gray 29, OF Trey Cabbage 28, and LH hitting OF Josh Palacios 30. Which of those 4 constitute sound reasoning for leaving Sammy Siani out there for the Rule 5? Siani is an excellent fielding CF who can play all 3 OF positions and his LH bat has shown life in AA and the AFL in 2024.
Cincy and Cubs after Garrett Crochet? Yep, makes sense because they are actually trying to win. Cincy fired their ineffective Manager, hired Tito Francona as their new Manager. They have been actively adding, and the Pirates are just sitting there waiting for somebody to make them an offer. No action on the dud Manager and no action to add a bat or two - please sell this club!
There is probably less than a 1% chance Siani lasts an entire season in the show. We are talking about a guy in his draft plus 5 year that strung a couple good months together (AA stats still average at best) and a decent showing in a hitter friendly AFL. The defense and speed would have to be so premium/elite to justify carrying him as a 4/5? outfielder. I just don’t see it.
Yeah. Who ya gonna keep? Very Cabbage or Sammy Siani? Sheesh.
If only Jake Lamb and Seth Beer were still on the AAA Indy team, the Pirates could have a Beer, Lamb and Cabbage Irish stew.
Beer is a great guy to cheer for.
We Want Beer! We Want Beer!
I actually find Cabbage mildly intriguing because we don’t have a ton of guys with the power upside. And yes, I’m well aware there’s a 99% chance he never amounts to anything. I keep hoping we run into another GFJ though.
I have 3 heads of cabbage in the fridge at home. And about 20 planted. Going to make kraut. Don't tell Bobby Ski as he is liable to eat it all.
I love the idea of Bohm as the starting 1B and 3B insurance, I just don’t like that he is another RHB. Keep Reynolds in the OF, then add Conforto for LF/RF. Any remaining FA dollars I would allocate to the bullpen. Still a ton of holes and question marks and likely not enough roster spots without moving pieces out, but very doable and significantly lengthens the lineup by moving two very weak bats out.
Ditto