38 Comments

Ali Sanchez signs minors deal AAA with Cubs.

Yeah, he really improved his position by selecting free agency. He would likely be Hank's back-up right now after Delay's injury.

Expand full comment

Late roster announcements on the farm really buried Wilbur’s previews but they’re great.

Expand full comment

Bieber getting TJS, another one down. Stinks for Cleveland.

Expand full comment

Stinks for MLB fans as a whole.

Expand full comment
author

Cousin getting pitcher of day for Bradenton on day one!!!

Expand full comment
Apr 6·edited Apr 6

Posted this somewhere yest. Skenes had 130 IP last yr between LSU and the minors. And 85 IP the year before. He should be able to comfortably manage 28-30 starts and 140-150 innings—5 per start. But man they are really bringing him along slowly right now.

Expand full comment

Yeah, the fretting over his innings as an argument for him being in AAA is seriously overblown. He threw more innings last year than Jared Jones, almost the same number as Martin Perez, two and a half times as many as Marco Gonzalez, and more than Bailey Falter has ever thrown. Whatever reasons there may be for him to stay in AAA for however long, that ain’t one of them.

Expand full comment
author

Need some of those innings on way to World Series

Expand full comment

Who knows what the Pirates are thinking? The optimist in me hopes they're just building him up cautiously and actually have a plan. My pessimistic side (or is it my realistic Pirate side?) thinks it's just a way to justify keeping him in the minors as long as possible.

Expand full comment

If they have a plan, I want to know how extra pitches in the bullpen after being removed from a game factors in. Honest question, not questioning whether there is a disconnect between the player and the staff, though that is a possibility.

Expand full comment

I'd like to know more about him going to the bullpen after being removed from the game to throw more pitches. Did he throw at full velocity in the pen? Was it out of frustration over being taken out so soon? Was it part of the development plan (assuming the extra pitches were controlled in a way that a game wouldn't allow)?

Expand full comment

The Pirates must actually think they have a chance for the playoffs and don’t want to run into a Strasburg situation.

Expand full comment

i hope that you feel better soon Anthony! Glad to hear that you had it removed sooner than later, as it would have caused you further problems(as mine did). Please heed the post-surgical recommendations and don’t lift anything heavier than 16 oz. at a time!!!

Expand full comment

Boy, Lamb is playing well, this spring. I think we’re going to see some of him this year.

Expand full comment
Apr 6Liked by Anthony Murphy

Get better soon, AM! Take care of yourself. Everyone here enjoys your work or we wouldn't be here.

Expand full comment
author

I appreciate it! I love being able to do this. Got home and immediately wanted to get going again. Had to take a minute to find a way to be comfortable, but did. Depending on how I feel today, may skip a feature for tomorrow, but will still have the morning rundown and game day regardless

Expand full comment

Had mine taken out many years ago and man did my health improve! Recover and give it some time and you'll be glad that thing is gone!

Expand full comment

A lot of great pitching lines are n the system. I see Lauer as best bet to opt out by May so if you want to stretch out Skenes bring him up now. Lauer>>>Falter

Expand full comment
author

Lauer will definitely opt out if not added and he keeps pitching like he did last time. I’d give him another time or two through to build up then make the call. But he’s definitely looking like someone who should be in the major league rotation

Expand full comment

In other news, the Pitcher Jared Jones is most commonly compared to, Spencer Strider, is having his elbow examined after complaining of discomfort after his abbreviated start last night.

Seems like it’s not if, but when, will the elbow blow out nowadays.

Expand full comment

Given the sometimes short shelf life of many pitchers’ first go-rounds these days, it was good to see the club give JJ a real chance. Hate to see a guy that is ready (or close) to consistently get outs against MLB batters, left to toil away in the minors waiting for some “perfect” time to bring them up. If the arm is a time bomb either way, might as well get maximum utility from him.

Now for the positivity — I’m calling it now, Skenes, the Steel City’s version of the Big Unit, will buck all the trends and have a full and healthy pitching career here. 😁

Expand full comment

This has been way too common over the last couple of years with high velo AND high spin guys. I was listening to a podcast a month or so ago where they referenced a recent study on this…uptick in arm injuries and it’s correlation to modern day pitchers putting a primary focus on velo and spin. Not sure if this is the definition of “stress” pitches, but the fastball-slider guys are likely most prone. Obviously, something to monitor with Jones and Skenes.

Expand full comment

More data is generally a good thing, but I've been wondering for a while if pitchers are getting too much data. If a guy doesn't know his spin rate, for example, he's just going to pitch as he always has. If he's getting data on his spin rate, does he then try to do more than his arm can take just to up the rate? When millions of dollars, even tens of millions are at stake, why not?

Expand full comment

Surprised we haven’t seen any pitcher do it ahead of time yet , like around July 1st

Expand full comment
author

I love this game but dam can it be cruel.

Expand full comment

And the team leader in WAR (BR) is …

Triolo

Expand full comment
Apr 6Liked by Anthony Murphy

Get well soon!

Expand full comment
author

Thank you! Came home and first thought was to start catching up on the games, watched an inning of Skenes before passing out lol.

Watching now that I’m up early though

Expand full comment

Is it just me or was the gallbladder’s only functions/pre-modern surgery, to torture us until it kills us? Oh, and JJ is badass.

Expand full comment

Took out Andy Warhol

Expand full comment
author

Definitely seems that way lol. Mine had to stubborn and fight coming out too lol.

Still have to go back and watch JJ, but yea, that guy is electric

Expand full comment
Apr 6Liked by Anthony Murphy

Hope you feel better Murph.

Expand full comment
author

Thank you! Feeling better this morning, just crampy

Expand full comment
Apr 6Liked by Anthony Murphy

Glad you’re on the mend and feeling better! Day-to-day? Hopefully no IL stint!

Expand full comment
author

Day-to-day definitely lol. Didn’t sleep much last night (did that plenty at the hospital) so have already watched Skenes’ outing and now almost through Bradenton. My goal is at least to watch Barco and Bubba still before the games today come on.

Probably feeling a nap though after the Bradenton game 😂

Expand full comment
Apr 6Liked by Anthony Murphy

Great to hear!

Expand full comment

Jared Jones.

Paul Skenes.

Expand full comment
author

Nasty 1/2 punch with so many options behind them too eventually

Expand full comment