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JRC21's avatar

David Matoma, the 17-year-old *Ugandan* pitcher in the DSL, has yet to give up a run as a pro in 16.2 innings, and just pitched two more scoreless innings in the first playoff game for Pirates Gold. Now THAT would be a story if he gets to the big leagues.

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NolaJeffy(BnP)'s avatar

Zorilla!!!!!!

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Bianco599's avatar

Guess I will be dropping Cruz off my IL on my fantasy team. Saw this and had to chuckle. Melkel could break these cats down for us I bet.

https://rumbunter.com/posts/pittsburgh-pirates-way-too-early-look-at-potential-2024-draft-picks

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Melkel's avatar

The 24 draft isn't as top heavy but is much deeper in college pitchers and hitters in the next tier guys.(but not nearly as deep as 23 in hitters on the tier below, mid 2nd to 5th rounders)

Only a couple stand out with the top 5 from 23 Kurtz and Wetherholt, the next tier is 10 to 15 deep instead of 4 or 5. (23 draft Lowder, Schanuel, Teel, Wilson and maybe Dollander)

(24 draft Bazzana, Burns, Condon, Montgomery, Caglianone, Hagen Smith, White, Brecht, Honeycutt, Holton, Silva and Hurd with a couple others that could jump up like Tanner Witt and Blake Burke) shoot Hartle from Wake Forest as well.

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Docdon385's avatar

Will we ever be able to spend time in August talking about the playoffs instead of next years draft?

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Bianco599's avatar

Sure would be nice. Looked at the Trib a week or so ago. First 96 articles were Steelers. Next 6 Karlsson trade. Random Pitt thing. Then Pirates.

Steeler training camp = end of Pirates season. Bet Nutting loves that time of year.

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Melkel's avatar

I'm hoping for 2025, next year an outside chance if everything goes better than expected, but I don't expect it.

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NolaJeffy(BnP)'s avatar

There's definitely a nice crop that the Pirates should get to choose from. That's why I'm content so long as Pirates pick within top 10. Hell, Corona had himself a pretty nice regionals. Maybe we could snag him again with our second pick lol wouldn't mind if Honeycutt "fell" to Pirates after he had been the 24 classes "way too early #1" for a while till a bit of a sophomore slip.

Going to give John Dreker a lot more to pull from for his pre-draft articles.

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Melkel's avatar

I hope we get one of the first competitive A picks. The 24 class appears to be very strong in the top 50 picks but drops considerably shortly thereafter. The 23 draft was not as deep in the top 50 but went to darn near 200 in the next tier.

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Mel Schuster - emjayinTN's avatar

Not sure, but I think the teams alternate each year - since the Bucs were in the B Group in '23, they should be in the A Group in '24.

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Melkel's avatar

I think you're right but it's one thing I'm not sure of with the new CBA.

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NolaJeffy(BnP)'s avatar

I think as of now I'm hoping for a Honeycutt or Montgomery, then Thatcher Hurd to fall to second pick.

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Melkel's avatar

I was thinking Montgomery as well, Hurd would be nice. I don't know if Honeycutt can ease his swing and miss issues without his power evaporating. Blake Burke is another that has power potential if his hit tool gets a little better, think he's limited to 1st base though.

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NolaJeffy(BnP)'s avatar

I'd say stay away from 1B profiles, but it might be time to finally draft a "surefire" one.

Maybe Honeycutt's issues will cause a Jud Fabian fall..... to the Pirates... in second round.

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Bianco599's avatar

Are you truly a scout just playing around on these websites? My word I feel like you could break down the bullpen for next years North Dakota Fighting Hawks if I asked. Although I preferred Fighting Sioux.

And for a second I thought it said 24 draft bonanza before I read Bazzana. I will take either dago in that line. No questions asked.

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Melkel's avatar

I'm pretty good with college hitters, I had a couple of D1 coaches ask me to be a grad assistant coach when my playing days were up.

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Mel Schuster - emjayinTN's avatar

That would be a tough decision to make either way.

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Melkel's avatar

It was, still wonder if I would have went the coaching route instead of business.

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AdministrativeSky236's avatar

Hire this man!

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Bianco599's avatar

I swear by him and Danatural. But I haven't seen him on this site. Don't check the former one so maybe he is there. Mel is my Law, Kiley, and all the other schlubs combined in one.

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Melkel's avatar

There's a lot of left handed college pitchers in 24.

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Leefieux's avatar

Not enough ‘Ways’ in that headline. Need about 15 or 20 more.🤣🤣🤣

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Melkel's avatar

Kurtz is in my top two with JJ. I would have had them in my top five college hitters in the 23 draft after Schanuel, Crews and Langford. I like Tommy Tanks but think Condon is very similar and probably can handle an outfield corner. Jac is a wildcard, if he shows some command pitching and cuts down the swing and miss he could leapfrog everyone, if he doesn't he's still a top 15 type most likely top 10.

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agent00's avatar

i remember the last time the pirates used a first round pick on a player from wake forest. good times!

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Melkel's avatar

Kurtz is way better than Craig.

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agent00's avatar

perhaps

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agent00's avatar

i was mostly kidding with my comment anywas. but color me skeptical taking hitters from bandbox home parks, after taking craig and gonzales.

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Mel Schuster - emjayinTN's avatar

I agree to a certain extent, but WF is playing tough competition in the ACC and have done well in the post-season also. Watch the pitcher who transferred into WF from TN!

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Bianco599's avatar

Why you little. The cursed dude with two first names. And the blasted name of Will.

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AdministrativeSky236's avatar

I want Tommy Tanks solely for the vibes

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agent00's avatar

we have some playoffs in the minor leagues today!!

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NolaJeffy(BnP)'s avatar

We gonna win two chips!

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agent00's avatar

you're god damn right

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NolaJeffy(BnP)'s avatar

Then need Marauders to keep winning while Clearwater beats up Lakeland. And need Greensboro's defense to stop being poo late in games.

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AdministrativeSky236's avatar

Im sure it means nothing, but I will choose to take a positive outlook on our rookie league and A ball teams all having very solid years (not acknowledging the other DSL team)

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AdministrativeSky236's avatar

Who we got?

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agent00's avatar

fcl and dsl teams!

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AdministrativeSky236's avatar

Also, as a general baseball fan, hate to see Ohtani getting hurt. Im sure he will be fine on the FA market anyway, he's got life changing money wrapped up, but probably won't be seeing the $500m contract that couldve been

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bmcferren's avatar

this actually is our opportunity to sign him because he will be looking for a one year deal to demonstrate his health

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Leefieux's avatar

Can he still bat?

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AdministrativeSky236's avatar

I guess it depends if he undergoes surgery or not, probably making this up but i think he could still hit now but definitely not if he has surgery

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NMR's avatar

Harper was starting DH for the Phillies 160 days after his TJS.

Ohtani won't pitch next season but could easily get 500 PA.

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AdministrativeSky236's avatar

Yes definitely! Would assume he will get TJS asap and be done with both for this season though

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AdministrativeSky236's avatar

I like winning, but I also like causing chaos for others in our division. That said, I hope we take at least three of four from the cubbies to make their season that much more difficult

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Leefieux's avatar

Anthony’s favorite Bidois is on fire! 😍👹

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Leefieux's avatar

Indianapolis and Altoona…..where 5th OFer wannabes go.

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Leefieux's avatar

Will Cruz be a Rennie Stennet or Jason Kendall? I know all about advances in medicine, but you still never know.

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bmcferren's avatar

does this injury not eliminate his speed game and agility at shortstop (and centerfield) ?

one foot closer to first base?

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Leefieux's avatar

Did eliminate Kendall’s?

Essentially, right now, we haven’t a clue how Cruz will return. We can only hope and keep our fingers crossed.

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bmcferren's avatar

oscar pistorius is a gold medal winner

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Leefieux's avatar

And a murderer. But, what does that have to do with what we’re discussing?😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫

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bmcferren's avatar

yes it did - Kendall was an outfielder after than injury

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Leefieux's avatar

Kendal played all of four games in the OF after he left Pittsburgh (where he played 28). He finished his last THREE years in Mil/KC playing over 130 games each year AT Catcher.

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bmcferren's avatar

so you expect Oneil to return to shortstop for the Dodgers or Yankees after he has exhausted all his arbitration years here while healing?

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Docdon385's avatar

He’ll play again, but whether he’ll be what he was and what everyone expected him to become is the question that only time can answer. Injuries like that have to heal, but you also have to get them out of your head so you can just go out and play the game again instead of favoring the ankle or thinking about it. Sounds straightforward, but it’s not an easy thing to do.

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Catch22's avatar

He'll be fine.

I could be way off base here but, Cruz strikes me as the type of dude that doesn't have that drive to put in the work to recover quickly from an injury like that.

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Leefieux's avatar

I’ve heard that from other people, too, incl some whose opinions I value highly.

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Catch22's avatar

I doubt he ever plays again.

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AdministrativeSky236's avatar

Does this have an implied /s or is it just a really hot take? lol

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Catch22's avatar

just effing with Lee's dark pessimistic shenanigans

*but you still never know*

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Arky Wags's avatar

I heard Cruz’s ankle fell off when he tried to run!

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Mel Schuster - emjayinTN's avatar

Back from a little R&R in Gatlinburg, TN and the Smoky Mountains National Park. Played Gatlinburg CC and it brought back memories of playing Oglebay Park outside of Wheeling - uphill, downhill, and sidehill for 18 holes!

Difficult to think Oneil Cruz will see MLB again in 2023. Right now there are only around 40 days left in the season, so the Pirates may be better served to just keep him building strength in his ankle over the off-season until ST 2024.

Anyone else wondering why Capra and Palacios are still getting PT with the Pirates when Canaan Smith-Njigba, 24 and Jared Triolo, 25 are at AAA? No excuse for not having Triolo at the MLB level. The only reason I can think of for why CSN is at AAA has to be concern with him exceeding 172 days and earning his first year of MLB Service. He came into the season with 115 days of service and possibly added another 28 days to that total in Mar/Apr.

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NMR's avatar

Well, that and he stinks.

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AdministrativeSky236's avatar

What has CSN shown that makes him a better option to come up? Other than the fact that its a different body, his numbers in Indy dont make really make me wonder why hes not called up. I could definitely be missing something though!

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Mel Schuster - emjayinTN's avatar

Has nothing to do with what happens this year, it's the fact that CSN is 3 years younger and possibly a future OF for the Pirates. If we are looking at Palacios as a "building block", we're going in the wrong direction.

CSN struggled early in the season, but, nothing to lose at this point.

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OldDirtyBoat's avatar

Got to see CSN last month when I was down in Indy. He just looked like another guy out there. But what do I know, I was much more excited about the yuengling on tap then most of that line-up.

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Zack's avatar

Let’s hope he can play some winter league ball...

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Mel Schuster - emjayinTN's avatar

Cannot see any way an Owner or GM agrees to allow him to play Winter ball after missing almost the whole 2023 MLB season. I can see getting him to full speed this Fall, an amount of time off over the holidays, and then him returning to Pirate City in mid to late Jan to start slowly building back to game speed.

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AdministrativeSky236's avatar

Last year he found a way to avoid most of winter ball with negotiations over pay so I agree in doubting theres much chance he would go coming off of a major injury

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