Good to see Hayes and Reynolds go yard, Suwinski to add a double, and Peguero, Olivares with singles, and Cruz picking up a few walks to help the effort. IMO, this lineup is strong enough hitting and fielding to compete for the playoffs, but we definitely need to try to make some trades to prep for 2025. We can try to trade NOW for a young RH hitting CF Prospect who is also through AAA, is MLB ready, and can hit for power. The need at 1B can wait until August.
Nice outings yesterday in the BP from Kyle Nicolas and Hunter Stratton. The Pirates have an extremely deep BP for 2024, and some SP's who could also find themselves in the BP. If only we could find a team with a CF Prospect in need of Bullpen help!
I think you would need to trade Bednar to get the CF prospect you’re talking about. However, I do have a 25-year-old centerfielder who has shown some potential. Name is Jack Suwinski. I am calling it, he will be the next big long-term extension And he will be playing against left and right handers early and often.
I like Jack a lot and he has really helped the Pirates, but his splits in '22 and '23 indicate that he has major issues hitting LHP:
2023 - .856 OPS against RHP's, .609 OPS against LHP's
2022 - .794 OPS against RHP's, .511 OPS against LHP's
He led the Pirates in HR last year with 26 and 24 of them were against RHP's. As such, whether he plays RF or CF, he will still represent a very definite weakness in the lineup against LHP's.
There's a few I have mentioned probably 20 times over the last month or two - both 23, both RH hitters, Ceddanne Rafaela (Boston), Everson Pereira (NYY). Rafaela has been in CF for Boston in 2 of their first ST games, 2 hits. Pereira has also been in CF for 2 of the Yankees first games, 1 hit.
I think Pereira is "gettable" based on the overstocked OF of the Yankees with 2 or 3 veteran CF's on the 26, and the fact they already have Jasson Dominguez, CF, Top 50 Prospect in 2023 & 2024 coming back off of TJ probably in June, and Spencer Jones, CF, #2 Yankee Prospect and Top 100 MLB Prospect 2024. Pereira, Venezuela, is so blocked, he could be a Pirates favorite because he'd probably be cheaper. Both have hit for average and power through the minors, but Rafaela probably K's less.
Luis Ortiz pitched like somebody who had a long look at the Statcast numbers from last year. His best pitch in 2023 was the Sinker and it was a +9 Run Value, but he threw it only 28.3% of the time. Yesterday my summary had him throwing 17 Sinkers of his 31 pitches or 54.8%. His worst pitch in 2023 was his 4 Seam FB which was a -14 Run Value, and he threw it 24.8% of the time. Yesterday, I had him throwing only 4 4-Seamers or 12.9%. Hope he maintains that correction, at least until the pitching coaches figure out why his 98+ mph 4 Seam is so hittable.
To continue with the Ortiz pitch repertoire he also throws a Slider and a Changeup. In 2023, the Slider was his most used pitch at 32.7% and was a -1 Run Value. Yesterday he threw the Slider 7 of the 31 pitches or 22.6%. The fourth pitch in 2023 was the Changeup which he threw 13.8 % and it was a 0 Run Value pitch. Yesterday he threw the Changeup 3 of the 31 pitches or 9.7%.
Overall, a very productive outing for him yesterday.
Needs a second positive RV pitch to sustain success imo, but this mix definitely makes much more sense for what he's work with so far! Encouraged by both him and Ro to start the year
Pitching at the MLB level and coming away with pitches that are -1 or breakeven at 0 is positive, and close enough to see both possibly able to be plus pitches in the future. The key is avoiding the high percentage of straight FB that the batters were sitting on last year. Have a great time in BRD!
Can't believe we're getting lineups 4+ hrs before game time. So unlike them.
I expect this not to last lol
Pitching bubble recap
7. Roansy Contreras……90%
8. Carmen Mlodzinski…90%
9. Ryan Borucki…………..90%
10. Dauri Moreta…………..80%
11. Bailey Falter……………..80%
12. Jose Hernandez………70%
13. Luis Ortiz…………………60%
————————————————-
14. Colin Selby………………60%
15. Kyle Nicolas……………..50%
16. Quinn Priester………….20%
17. Wily Peralta………………10%
18. Brent Honeywell……….10%
19. Ben Heller…………………10%
20. Josh Fleming……………10%
Herandez was my choice to start year in AAA due to having options (vice Falter and Roansy) but he's making it hard.
After yesterday’s performance Ortiz may need pushed up some!!
Thank you all for publishing the absolutely great Minor League Guide 👍
Got mine yesterday from Amazon and have not been able to put it down!!!
Please tell me that you will publish every year 🙏🏻…
It is very possible, but it all depends on final sales. Please spread the word that you enjoyed the guide and thank you for your purchase.
Braves had a lineup last year with HR hitters at every position. Think that's our goal. K% be damned.
I heard thursday's probably for adminsky's spring training debut is livvy dunne's dad's daughter's boyfriend!
I hope they end up as Pittsburgh's dollar store version of Swift and Kelce. Skenes strikeout, BOOM, cut to Livvy Dunne.
I get so irritated reading articles about Skenes and the title being Livvy Dunnes boyfriend
Every team could use some Sharts. Glad to see he signed.
No Sharts, brother!
Good to see Hayes and Reynolds go yard, Suwinski to add a double, and Peguero, Olivares with singles, and Cruz picking up a few walks to help the effort. IMO, this lineup is strong enough hitting and fielding to compete for the playoffs, but we definitely need to try to make some trades to prep for 2025. We can try to trade NOW for a young RH hitting CF Prospect who is also through AAA, is MLB ready, and can hit for power. The need at 1B can wait until August.
Nice outings yesterday in the BP from Kyle Nicolas and Hunter Stratton. The Pirates have an extremely deep BP for 2024, and some SP's who could also find themselves in the BP. If only we could find a team with a CF Prospect in need of Bullpen help!
I think you would need to trade Bednar to get the CF prospect you’re talking about. However, I do have a 25-year-old centerfielder who has shown some potential. Name is Jack Suwinski. I am calling it, he will be the next big long-term extension And he will be playing against left and right handers early and often.
I like Jack a lot and he has really helped the Pirates, but his splits in '22 and '23 indicate that he has major issues hitting LHP:
2023 - .856 OPS against RHP's, .609 OPS against LHP's
2022 - .794 OPS against RHP's, .511 OPS against LHP's
He led the Pirates in HR last year with 26 and 24 of them were against RHP's. As such, whether he plays RF or CF, he will still represent a very definite weakness in the lineup against LHP's.
The RH power hitting CF is a nice thought, but there’s basically no one outside of the top 15 prospects in baseball that fit that profile
There's a few I have mentioned probably 20 times over the last month or two - both 23, both RH hitters, Ceddanne Rafaela (Boston), Everson Pereira (NYY). Rafaela has been in CF for Boston in 2 of their first ST games, 2 hits. Pereira has also been in CF for 2 of the Yankees first games, 1 hit.
I think Pereira is "gettable" based on the overstocked OF of the Yankees with 2 or 3 veteran CF's on the 26, and the fact they already have Jasson Dominguez, CF, Top 50 Prospect in 2023 & 2024 coming back off of TJ probably in June, and Spencer Jones, CF, #2 Yankee Prospect and Top 100 MLB Prospect 2024. Pereira, Venezuela, is so blocked, he could be a Pirates favorite because he'd probably be cheaper. Both have hit for average and power through the minors, but Rafaela probably K's less.
Mel, what do you think it would take to get Rafaela?
Luis Ortiz pitched like somebody who had a long look at the Statcast numbers from last year. His best pitch in 2023 was the Sinker and it was a +9 Run Value, but he threw it only 28.3% of the time. Yesterday my summary had him throwing 17 Sinkers of his 31 pitches or 54.8%. His worst pitch in 2023 was his 4 Seam FB which was a -14 Run Value, and he threw it 24.8% of the time. Yesterday, I had him throwing only 4 4-Seamers or 12.9%. Hope he maintains that correction, at least until the pitching coaches figure out why his 98+ mph 4 Seam is so hittable.
To continue with the Ortiz pitch repertoire he also throws a Slider and a Changeup. In 2023, the Slider was his most used pitch at 32.7% and was a -1 Run Value. Yesterday he threw the Slider 7 of the 31 pitches or 22.6%. The fourth pitch in 2023 was the Changeup which he threw 13.8 % and it was a 0 Run Value pitch. Yesterday he threw the Changeup 3 of the 31 pitches or 9.7%.
Overall, a very productive outing for him yesterday.
Needs a second positive RV pitch to sustain success imo, but this mix definitely makes much more sense for what he's work with so far! Encouraged by both him and Ro to start the year
Pitching at the MLB level and coming away with pitches that are -1 or breakeven at 0 is positive, and close enough to see both possibly able to be plus pitches in the future. The key is avoiding the high percentage of straight FB that the batters were sitting on last year. Have a great time in BRD!
Ah yes good call, and thank you much!