Clemson centerfielder Cam Cannarella (top 10 pick next year) just made a hell of a catch in extra innings after tying it up with a 3 run homer in the 9th. Clemson doesn't want any more of Jac Cag, 3 intentional walks
Tre Phelps (true freshman) just crushed one over the batters eye in center field. He'll be a draft eligible sophomore next year, has first round potential.
Charlie Condon with a single, followed by a homer from Slate Alford. Alford would be an interesting later round pick (2nd or 3rd basemen with good pop but swing and miss issues) looked a lot better this year than with Miss St last).
We're a half-game out of the last wildcard spot and I was wondering how that would compare to last year since it seems like there are fewer clearly good teams this year in the NL (just the Dodgers, Phillies, Brewers, and Braves though they've taken a hit recently with injuries). So...last year we would have been 3 games out of the last spot with a 31-33 record and, ironically, that team in the last spot was us at 33-29.
I’m sure someone has already mentioned this somewhere but here goes - 3 shutouts in one week and the Bucs weren’t the “shut-ees”. I wonder when that last happened.
I don't know what was more surprising, shutting out the Dodgers or getting a shutout in a bullpen game (I know we've had success with bullpen games before, as do many teams, but I hadn't had much confidence in several of the guys who pitched yesterday).
It’s time to start putting together some winning streaks. We have relatively easy schedules next three weeks. Broom out the Twins today, then manhandle STL, CIN and the Rocks to get a few games over .500. Ortiz makes 5 Stoppers in the rotation.
The six games against the Reds over the next 2.5 weeks will be very interesting. They've won 7 straight and in some ways seem to be a mirror-image of us--a couple of excellent young starters, the freak-of-nature at SS and other young players making big contributions, a bullpen that was holding them back but seems to be better lately...
Probably would have gone with Gilberto Celestino as the Top Hitter for the Indians - a game winning double to drive in 2 with 2 out in the bottom of the 9th. He has pretty good stats overall with a slash of .287/374/369/743 OPS with 7 of 8 in SB's and a 21 BB/37 K. What jumps out though is the 2.57 GO/FO rate - needs to get the ball in the air. Hope to see him later this year with the Pirates in CF.
At GBO, TJ is moving on up - .659 OPS in April, .738 OPS in May, and up to 1.090 OPS so far in June. Defensively .973 Fld % at 2B, .964 Fld % at SS. VG work by Perachi and Woods on the bump.
Braylon Bishop at A in only 59 AB has 3 doubles, 1 triple, 4 HR, 13 RBI and 4/4 SB. Rivas continues to make improvement at the plate - he had a long way to go, but hope he can get solidly into the mid-.200's. Good to see Scott Randall do well in a rehab start 3 IP, 0 H, 5 K, 2-0 GO/FO
Jhonny Severino, 19, hit his 6th HR in only 84 AB in the FCL, currently with a 1.003 OPS, 8 SB. Carlos Castillo, 18, continues to impress in the FCL with 4 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 5-1 GO/FO, 3.32 ERA
Things just might be coming together. Going into this past week, I was hoping we’d at least split the two series and was worried we’d lose both. Very good week and today could be the icing on the cake, and I’m really interested in seeing how Jones pitches after such a high-adrenaline start on Tuesday.
If I am not mistaken, the Pirates are tied for 7th of 15 teams in the NL and tied for 15th of 30 MLB teams. Oneil Cruz was the biggest question mark after missing all baseball activity for a year with the ankle injury. Very difficult to return to the level he was just getting to at the time of the injury, and better than I expected going into the season. Combined with the overall game NG has brought this year, the Pirates have more than enough to compete for the playoffs this year.
Clemson centerfielder Cam Cannarella (top 10 pick next year) just made a hell of a catch in extra innings after tying it up with a 3 run homer in the 9th. Clemson doesn't want any more of Jac Cag, 3 intentional walks
Jac Cag with a 2 run homer.
Tre Phelps (true freshman) just crushed one over the batters eye in center field. He'll be a draft eligible sophomore next year, has first round potential.
Charlie Condon with a single, followed by a homer from Slate Alford. Alford would be an interesting later round pick (2nd or 3rd basemen with good pop but swing and miss issues) looked a lot better this year than with Miss St last).
it should be said that we would not have won that game if Priester was pitching
We're a half-game out of the last wildcard spot and I was wondering how that would compare to last year since it seems like there are fewer clearly good teams this year in the NL (just the Dodgers, Phillies, Brewers, and Braves though they've taken a hit recently with injuries). So...last year we would have been 3 games out of the last spot with a 31-33 record and, ironically, that team in the last spot was us at 33-29.
Worse record but much more optimistic feel this year, for sure👏👍
I’m sure someone has already mentioned this somewhere but here goes - 3 shutouts in one week and the Bucs weren’t the “shut-ees”. I wonder when that last happened.
I don't know what was more surprising, shutting out the Dodgers or getting a shutout in a bullpen game (I know we've had success with bullpen games before, as do many teams, but I hadn't had much confidence in several of the guys who pitched yesterday).
It’s time to start putting together some winning streaks. We have relatively easy schedules next three weeks. Broom out the Twins today, then manhandle STL, CIN and the Rocks to get a few games over .500. Ortiz makes 5 Stoppers in the rotation.
The six games against the Reds over the next 2.5 weeks will be very interesting. They've won 7 straight and in some ways seem to be a mirror-image of us--a couple of excellent young starters, the freak-of-nature at SS and other young players making big contributions, a bullpen that was holding them back but seems to be better lately...
Probably would have gone with Gilberto Celestino as the Top Hitter for the Indians - a game winning double to drive in 2 with 2 out in the bottom of the 9th. He has pretty good stats overall with a slash of .287/374/369/743 OPS with 7 of 8 in SB's and a 21 BB/37 K. What jumps out though is the 2.57 GO/FO rate - needs to get the ball in the air. Hope to see him later this year with the Pirates in CF.
At GBO, TJ is moving on up - .659 OPS in April, .738 OPS in May, and up to 1.090 OPS so far in June. Defensively .973 Fld % at 2B, .964 Fld % at SS. VG work by Perachi and Woods on the bump.
Braylon Bishop at A in only 59 AB has 3 doubles, 1 triple, 4 HR, 13 RBI and 4/4 SB. Rivas continues to make improvement at the plate - he had a long way to go, but hope he can get solidly into the mid-.200's. Good to see Scott Randall do well in a rehab start 3 IP, 0 H, 5 K, 2-0 GO/FO
Jhonny Severino, 19, hit his 6th HR in only 84 AB in the FCL, currently with a 1.003 OPS, 8 SB. Carlos Castillo, 18, continues to impress in the FCL with 4 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 5-1 GO/FO, 3.32 ERA
Can’t be overstated the importance of Cruz and Tellez to heat up. Pirates desperately need LH power to come out and play this summer.
If nothing else, the events of the last few days have given me reason for hope.
Let’s Go Bucs!
Things just might be coming together. Going into this past week, I was hoping we’d at least split the two series and was worried we’d lose both. Very good week and today could be the icing on the cake, and I’m really interested in seeing how Jones pitches after such a high-adrenaline start on Tuesday.
If I am not mistaken, the Pirates are tied for 7th of 15 teams in the NL and tied for 15th of 30 MLB teams. Oneil Cruz was the biggest question mark after missing all baseball activity for a year with the ankle injury. Very difficult to return to the level he was just getting to at the time of the injury, and better than I expected going into the season. Combined with the overall game NG has brought this year, the Pirates have more than enough to compete for the playoffs this year.
SWEEP SWEEP SWEEP!