I have known a number of people who descended into various forms of paranoid-like madness over the years from excessive marijuana use. I suspect that if he gave up the ganja, he would be fine after a few weeks. Of course, there is always the question of whether drug addiction is a symptom or a cause (often both IMO and a vicious cycle).
The loss of Joe just might open the door a little wider for Billy Cook. Cook is the real deal defensively, but hoping his bat will be a little more consistent.
The team that finished a game ahead of the Pirates in the Central is enjoying a very positive off-season that started with hiring Tito Francona as the Manager, and yesterday adding Brady Singer to an already excellent pitching staff. The Pirates jumped from 23rd in 2023 to 13th in 2024 in overall pitching. Cincy was better finishing 15th in 2023 and jumped up to 7th in overall Pitching in 2024.
The Pirates enjoy a situation where they do not need to make trades to add pitching - but they are not doing anything to strengthen the lineup. Sure, we have Reynolds and Cruz, but what else? Hayes is an unknown quantity, so the infield is a bunch of IF's. Do we go old with IKF, 30 at SS and Nick Gonzales, 26 at 2B? Do we go young with Liover Peguero, 24 at SS and Nick Yorke, 23 at 2B? Do we have faith in our Manager to make that call?
The Singer-India deal bothers me a lot. Singer is not great, and despite adding a couple of new pitches, he still has no sequence or even single pitch to handle left-handers, who chew him up. But he did add two new pitches last off-season, and there is a goog chance that he will continue to improve his repertoire. Whatever the case, he is worth more than India and busted prospect. Moreover, I don't see how India helps the Royals in any meaningful way.
My favorite non-Pirate team got worse, and a division rival of the Pirates got better. Not a happy situation.
I always felt like Singer had another gear. Do they really have enough pitching depth where it was wise to move him? Totally understand the need to upgrade the offense with India, but given that they have more willingness to spend I assumed they would go the free agency route.
Bubic came back from Tommy John and was excellent out of the pen, so I think they intend to move him back to starter this coming year. Zerpa is another guy they think can start. The problem is that their bullpen was a disaster until Zerpa and Bubic stabilized it and turned it into a strength. So, they will need, at least, some more relief help.
The other thing is that they have Massey at 2B, who started to blossom in the 2nd half of last season into the guy they thought he would be. Unless they intend to move Massey to 1B and DH Pasquantino, I don't see where India fits in or how he is an upgrade over Massey. Neither of the two can really play 3B, which is what they really need so that they can move Garcia to utility IFer, which is the role that he fits (rather than starter at 3B).
It’s not even Thanksgiving. There’s no need to sound the alarm bell. On second thought, BC still works for Pirates, so there’s plenty of reasons for concern.
I think that’s a good way to look at it. Whatever changes some of us might have wanted to see didn’t happen, as Shelty and BC are still here, so let’s see what moves they have up their sleeve. It’s a long offseason., and while I’d prefer they moved early, the market doesn’t always lend itself to that, and consequential moves still happen later. The big Adam LaRoche trade didn’t happen until January as I recall.
I somewhat agree, at least in the case of BDLC. I thought Anthony made a good point yesterday that they might not want to non-tender him having given up two prospects to get him.
Agree, the add of the BP pitcher to take the slot of Stratton is good - Stratton possibly being ready by July leads me to think the Pirates will stay in close contact with him and possibly sign him to a minor league contract.
Joe gone leaves nobody at 1B, and a nice possibility of adding a younger bat. BDLC was pitiful at the plate and a terrible trade by BC. I don't like what IKF brought to the Pirates last year - he needed to be better - another terrible trade by BC.
So Tim Williams is crazy-crazy not just pitiful-narcissist crazy. Yikes. Not gonna end well.
I have known a number of people who descended into various forms of paranoid-like madness over the years from excessive marijuana use. I suspect that if he gave up the ganja, he would be fine after a few weeks. Of course, there is always the question of whether drug addiction is a symptom or a cause (often both IMO and a vicious cycle).
Oh no. Is there something I missed in the last few days? Don't check any where but here for Succo news.
Paving the runway for First Baseman Bryan Reynolds to land on Federal Street come April.
The loss of Joe just might open the door a little wider for Billy Cook. Cook is the real deal defensively, but hoping his bat will be a little more consistent.
They should be looking to add to the bench — somebody who can hit for a change — regardless. Need some real choices going into ST.
Eddys Leonard! I say!
Bench is already set with Tank, Endy, Triolo and Cook
Every year we state this. Every year we also need good hitters in our line-up. Will this year be any different. Time will tell.
for the record, Wentz had a two era last year over ten innings
I like when momentum builds between what I want them to do and what they actually do
A long way to go, but a serious start to the offseason with the coaching hires and the non-tender decision. Tendering BDLC would have been a bad sign.
The team that finished a game ahead of the Pirates in the Central is enjoying a very positive off-season that started with hiring Tito Francona as the Manager, and yesterday adding Brady Singer to an already excellent pitching staff. The Pirates jumped from 23rd in 2023 to 13th in 2024 in overall pitching. Cincy was better finishing 15th in 2023 and jumped up to 7th in overall Pitching in 2024.
The Pirates enjoy a situation where they do not need to make trades to add pitching - but they are not doing anything to strengthen the lineup. Sure, we have Reynolds and Cruz, but what else? Hayes is an unknown quantity, so the infield is a bunch of IF's. Do we go old with IKF, 30 at SS and Nick Gonzales, 26 at 2B? Do we go young with Liover Peguero, 24 at SS and Nick Yorke, 23 at 2B? Do we have faith in our Manager to make that call?
The Singer-India deal bothers me a lot. Singer is not great, and despite adding a couple of new pitches, he still has no sequence or even single pitch to handle left-handers, who chew him up. But he did add two new pitches last off-season, and there is a goog chance that he will continue to improve his repertoire. Whatever the case, he is worth more than India and busted prospect. Moreover, I don't see how India helps the Royals in any meaningful way.
My favorite non-Pirate team got worse, and a division rival of the Pirates got better. Not a happy situation.
I always felt like Singer had another gear. Do they really have enough pitching depth where it was wise to move him? Totally understand the need to upgrade the offense with India, but given that they have more willingness to spend I assumed they would go the free agency route.
This is a good case-study for BC.
Royals looking for another bat, they're not standing pat. India always tore us up, so happy he's leaving the division.
Really is about as close to a comp as we're probably gonna get. Arm for bat, both with two years of controls, both about the same value last year.
Bubic came back from Tommy John and was excellent out of the pen, so I think they intend to move him back to starter this coming year. Zerpa is another guy they think can start. The problem is that their bullpen was a disaster until Zerpa and Bubic stabilized it and turned it into a strength. So, they will need, at least, some more relief help.
The other thing is that they have Massey at 2B, who started to blossom in the 2nd half of last season into the guy they thought he would be. Unless they intend to move Massey to 1B and DH Pasquantino, I don't see where India fits in or how he is an upgrade over Massey. Neither of the two can really play 3B, which is what they really need so that they can move Garcia to utility IFer, which is the role that he fits (rather than starter at 3B).
It’s not even Thanksgiving. There’s no need to sound the alarm bell. On second thought, BC still works for Pirates, so there’s plenty of reasons for concern.
I think that’s a good way to look at it. Whatever changes some of us might have wanted to see didn’t happen, as Shelty and BC are still here, so let’s see what moves they have up their sleeve. It’s a long offseason., and while I’d prefer they moved early, the market doesn’t always lend itself to that, and consequential moves still happen later. The big Adam LaRoche trade didn’t happen until January as I recall.
I’m pleasantly surprised the team non tender Joe and DLC, it’s not often they do the right thing.
It's only the "right" thing if BC actually replaces them with better players. His track record is not good. 😉
Not spending money is their M.O. so no surprise here. But the bar is so low, that any competent move does surprise!
It's like a miracle to see Cherington make four moves in one day and not a single one of them mind-numbingly idiotic.
So true. Baby steps.
I somewhat agree, at least in the case of BDLC. I thought Anthony made a good point yesterday that they might not want to non-tender him having given up two prospects to get him.
Agree, the add of the BP pitcher to take the slot of Stratton is good - Stratton possibly being ready by July leads me to think the Pirates will stay in close contact with him and possibly sign him to a minor league contract.
Joe gone leaves nobody at 1B, and a nice possibility of adding a younger bat. BDLC was pitiful at the plate and a terrible trade by BC. I don't like what IKF brought to the Pirates last year - he needed to be better - another terrible trade by BC.
At least one report said they were hoping to bring Stratton back on a MiL deal.
Strzrzlzkzszi looks interesting enough that I’m mildly surprised they got him just for cash. He’s been really tough on RHHs. LHHs not so much.