I can't imagine what Jones has done in three brief ST appearances to give anyone the impression he's either ready to get through a major league lineup or one of the five best arms the Pirates currently have to do so.
Honestly, if healthy, I like Lauer better than Gonzales. There's obviously many weak links in this rotation, but Marco is the weakest link. Last full season he pitched was 2022, with 32 starts and 0.0 f WAR. My God!
Nice article on Ashcraft by Kevin Gorman on the Trib web site today. I hope they don't go the reliever route with him, but I have a feeling that may be happening. Especially since all his appearances this spring have been 1 inning only.
I was neutral with the hire, but then he almost immediately started doing the exact same Pens guideline. Puck movers with next to no defensive value. Pens game plan is always just, forget about defense, just score more than them. So when PP is garbage, wellllll.....
It reminds me of the Gerrit Cole trade. Quantity over quality.
One site I saw had the kid at Wisconsin as the Canes #6 prospect. He seems like the best bet to amount to anything. Bunting is ok. Kind of a Tom Wilson Lite. The other 2 prospects are coin flips. Smallish coin flips.
Pens org doesn't catch as much heat as they should for being absolutely atrocious at drafting and developing. They are horrendous. Ironically, Guentzel in 2013 is probably their last successful draft and develop.
For the longest time, they traded all their draft picks. They were competing for cups for almost 2 decades and flipped prospects and draft picks at the deadline.
Well, to be fair, Rutherford was not shy about trading first/second/third round picks for immediate help, so they really haven't had much to work with.
I mean, Guentzel and Rust were 3rd rounders. Jarry 2nd. The prospects I'd seen Pens writers hoping for from Canes were a 2nd (Blake) and 4th (Morrow) rounders. Forget top 6 players, they're hardly getting kids to become even bottom 6 regulars.
That's what I said too lol that this is their Cole trade. Going off of Athletic rankings, fans were banking on Canes #3 & #4 prospects, and got #6, #7, & #9.
I really like the Lauer pick up. He wasn’t healthy last year and other than last year he’s been a good pitcher. Wouldn’t surprise me if he is in the rotation over Gonzales at some point this year. The hope is the rotation is something like 1. Keller 2. Skenes 3. Jones 4. Contreras 5. Priester/Ortiz/Perez by July though.
I have high hopes for Perez too, but I think they might trade him that’s why I had him as 5 just in case he stays. I have high hopes for Contreras this year too. I think he figures it out this year
I like it too, even if the his chances of success are relatively low. But if you can't get that one guy to slot into the middle of the rotation, adding multiple options is a reasonable backup plan.
Yeah I agree I wish they would add a solid number 2 but if they aren’t getting a bunch of bounce back guys could work. Hopefully one can be a decent back end guy. At least that is the hope.
Lauer is interesting AAA depth to have around at the very least! Also Jones being left off the breakout roster reinforces the idea that he's very likely in competition for a rotation spot
I love the idea of giving Jones the chance to break camp. There's a good chance he'll struggle with command and need to be sent down, which means we'll still gain the extra year. Or, they send him down midseason to save his arm for later. But if he justifies staying up, nobody should have any regrets.
Not sure what to think about Lauer. I guess we will find out soon.
Jones has pitched well enough since being drafted to be in our Rotation this year. We have one legit SP, a few others who are hoping for comeback years to increase their marketability, and the grouping of Ortiz, Priester, Contreras which is a huge question mark. Ortiz could very well make the squad in the capacity of a SP/RP.
Jones has exhibited his skills at every level, including A+ (26 ST, 123 IP) in 2022, at AA (10 ST, 44 IP) and AAA (15 ST, 82 IP) in 2023. He's a pitcher with excellent skills that I liken to the Pirates version of Spencer Strider. In addition to Keller, both Perez and Gonzalez will need to get their starts (if able), and Contreras will make the team in some capacity. Therefore, I think Jones has a strong chance to be up by June either in long relief, or bullpen games partnered with Mudge or Ortiz.
I agree with this. I think Jones omission means he has a “real” shot at heading north. If you removed all the extraneous variables I don’t think there is any doubt he is one of the 5 best starters, should be an interesting storyline to follow as we approach Miami.
If Jones is one of 5 best SP options, and Pirates are “really” trying to compete this year, he must start season in Pirates rotation.
I can't imagine what Jones has done in three brief ST appearances to give anyone the impression he's either ready to get through a major league lineup or one of the five best arms the Pirates currently have to do so.
If you ask Tennessee Mel, JJ is going to Cooperstahhnn without passing Go.
Honestly, if healthy, I like Lauer better than Gonzales. There's obviously many weak links in this rotation, but Marco is the weakest link. Last full season he pitched was 2022, with 32 starts and 0.0 f WAR. My God!
100% agree
Not to mention, hearing John Wehner say Lauer is pretty funny.
How many extra syllables will he add?
I believe he pronounced it with one syllable...It's just one big yinzer slur.
Nice article on Ashcraft by Kevin Gorman on the Trib web site today. I hope they don't go the reliever route with him, but I have a feeling that may be happening. Especially since all his appearances this spring have been 1 inning only.
Might be a way to fast track him this year despite his limited innings for the season
I'm getting a feeling a lot of the next tier arms will be moved to the pen, with how many vets they're bringing in on minor league deals.
Side note, it's kind of funny witnessing Pens media go through the same trauma we do every trade deadline.
"Oh, we're gotta be getting a haul for this guy"
*Trade announced*
"Um. Well. It is indeed a trade"
Rangers fan. Love the return for Jake, cause it’s meh.
Wild to see how everyone and their mother was on the Dubas train and now almost exclusively negative comments about what hes been doing
I was neutral with the hire, but then he almost immediately started doing the exact same Pens guideline. Puck movers with next to no defensive value. Pens game plan is always just, forget about defense, just score more than them. So when PP is garbage, wellllll.....
They're like a top 5 team in goals against until last night at least
*Me watching Graves go tape-to-tape pass to the other team*
"Well, at least they're top 5 in GA"
It reminds me of the Gerrit Cole trade. Quantity over quality.
One site I saw had the kid at Wisconsin as the Canes #6 prospect. He seems like the best bet to amount to anything. Bunting is ok. Kind of a Tom Wilson Lite. The other 2 prospects are coin flips. Smallish coin flips.
It's worse. There's no Musgrove in the return. They got a bunch of bottom 6 dudes.
I have some hope for the kid at Wisconsin. He's a point per game guy there and had a pretty decent offensive pedigree prior to college.
The other 2 though, not so much. They just seem like different versions of Valteri Pustinen.
I'm not quite as optimistic as you, but I hope you're right.
If the Kakko trade was on the table + a 1st from the Rags, I would've preferred that.
I think KK is a decent middle six forward, that’s all he is. He can hang onto the puck, but he’s slower than Colin Moran.
Pens org doesn't catch as much heat as they should for being absolutely atrocious at drafting and developing. They are horrendous. Ironically, Guentzel in 2013 is probably their last successful draft and develop.
For the longest time, they traded all their draft picks. They were competing for cups for almost 2 decades and flipped prospects and draft picks at the deadline.
Well, to be fair, Rutherford was not shy about trading first/second/third round picks for immediate help, so they really haven't had much to work with.
Bingo!
I mean, Guentzel and Rust were 3rd rounders. Jarry 2nd. The prospects I'd seen Pens writers hoping for from Canes were a 2nd (Blake) and 4th (Morrow) rounders. Forget top 6 players, they're hardly getting kids to become even bottom 6 regulars.
That's what I said too lol that this is their Cole trade. Going off of Athletic rankings, fans were banking on Canes #3 & #4 prospects, and got #6, #7, & #9.
lauer gained in preparation for dropping falter
Given how awful Falter and Gonzales have looked, they had to do something. Other than spend money, of course.
This was Ben’s worst offseason yet, and that’s a very high bar.
Meh
It’s only two months worth of work anyways
“Yeah, two more months of losing. BFD.”
Ben
I really like the Lauer pick up. He wasn’t healthy last year and other than last year he’s been a good pitcher. Wouldn’t surprise me if he is in the rotation over Gonzales at some point this year. The hope is the rotation is something like 1. Keller 2. Skenes 3. Jones 4. Contreras 5. Priester/Ortiz/Perez by July though.
I would love for Contreras to be a soid #4. I have higher hopes for Martin Perez.
I have high hopes for Perez too, but I think they might trade him that’s why I had him as 5 just in case he stays. I have high hopes for Contreras this year too. I think he figures it out this year
I like it too, even if the his chances of success are relatively low. But if you can't get that one guy to slot into the middle of the rotation, adding multiple options is a reasonable backup plan.
Yeah I agree I wish they would add a solid number 2 but if they aren’t getting a bunch of bounce back guys could work. Hopefully one can be a decent back end guy. At least that is the hope.
Lauer is interesting AAA depth to have around at the very least! Also Jones being left off the breakout roster reinforces the idea that he's very likely in competition for a rotation spot
I love the idea of giving Jones the chance to break camp. There's a good chance he'll struggle with command and need to be sent down, which means we'll still gain the extra year. Or, they send him down midseason to save his arm for later. But if he justifies staying up, nobody should have any regrets.
Hes also surpassed 120 innings each of the last two years, so in theory he should be ready to shoulder a pretty significant season load
Not sure what to think about Lauer. I guess we will find out soon.
Jones has pitched well enough since being drafted to be in our Rotation this year. We have one legit SP, a few others who are hoping for comeback years to increase their marketability, and the grouping of Ortiz, Priester, Contreras which is a huge question mark. Ortiz could very well make the squad in the capacity of a SP/RP.
Jones has exhibited his skills at every level, including A+ (26 ST, 123 IP) in 2022, at AA (10 ST, 44 IP) and AAA (15 ST, 82 IP) in 2023. He's a pitcher with excellent skills that I liken to the Pirates version of Spencer Strider. In addition to Keller, both Perez and Gonzalez will need to get their starts (if able), and Contreras will make the team in some capacity. Therefore, I think Jones has a strong chance to be up by June either in long relief, or bullpen games partnered with Mudge or Ortiz.
I agree with this. I think Jones omission means he has a “real” shot at heading north. If you removed all the extraneous variables I don’t think there is any doubt he is one of the 5 best starters, should be an interesting storyline to follow as we approach Miami.
Jared Jones has out produced Yoshinobu Yamamoto stateside! How is that for a story