It will be interesting to see who is actually pitching for the FCL Pirates today. There was video of David Matoma pitching on Saturday, so there's not a chance that he's the one going multiple innings this afternoon as a starter, but he's the one listed
Yea I was at the FCL Orioles/Rays game and we were talking about it. Thought it was so strange he was pitching again. I was upset because I knew there was no way i'd see him then at that point.
To be honest, when he said he was coming back I knew some would leave to go back, which is fine. He's been doing it a long time, and some people like what they are familiar with.
Also, though, and this is something John told me before, sites like these depend a lot on how the team is doing. When they are losing, interest fades, and it shows in the views. When they are winning, everything returns.
John did mention something below about where there are around three articles per day being posted things can get spread out.
I think there is a 'chat option' on Substack to make an ongoing chat for like paid subscribers. It was something I thought about doing as another perk. Something more direct and harder to get lost throughout all the articles we put out. I'd have to look into it a little more, but it was something I had thought about.
When Skenes gets called up, there's going to be a push whenever he starts, but especially the first game.
Page views definitely rely more on the team performance than anything else. You could put out what you think is your best work, but if the team interest is low, the article won't get traction. Say something like a detailed Bubba Chandler article. If the Pirates are doing poorly, the comments will be something like "we need more than him", "can he hit?", "why isn't he in the majors" while if the team is doing well, the comments will be positive towards Chandler
9,506 "attendance" tonight, which means maybe 8,000 showed up. They didn't have a crowd that small last year before September. So yeah, interest is low right now. Skenes will definitely change that.
I'm still holding out for Wilmoth to lose his life savings in a poker game and come back on BD like a phoenix from the flames. Never really liked TW's writing style and as much as it probably pains him, I'd follow WTM to hell and back.
The game threads here get the most action. Last three days have averaged 100 comments for games. Anthony's putting up 3-4 articles a day, so the early comments get spread around, while the majority are in the game thread that is usually the top article for the longest time
Altoona has been on a six man rotation, so they pitched Bubba to try and get things back in line, at least that's what I think. He started on Tuesday, so on a normal schedule Sunday would have been his next day to pitch.
Honest answer? The pirates are trying to maintain a list of things to 'check off' slowly so they can save face about waiting till sometime between May 25th and June 8th to have Skenes avoid super 2.
(I think the latest for super 2 was 115 days and if I'm not mistaken June 8th makes 114 days left in the year).
-We saw him hold strong but ramped back his pitches as he dealth with the shortened rest for the first time
-We are looking for him to maintain velocity deeper into games (looks at one 97.9 pitch and 97.2 pitch lol)
- Building him to get 75/85/100 pitches while on the 'normal' rest, but trying not to ramp up more than 10% week over week in total pitches.
-Waiting to see who is the pitcher worth trading away for cash considerations to make room.
They don't need any boxes or anything to justify keeping him down for a few more weeks. They only need to point to Lauer and their need to get him up before his option. They don't have 2 starters who merit going to the bullpen or to the minors right now, and Lauer needs to take precedence over Skenes, so they can point to the need to trade someone before Skenes can come up. These are both legitimate reasons to keep him in AAA. Also, skipping an arb. year for a guy who might be worth north of 20 million in his final arb season is not a terrible thing. Frankly, they would be remiss to pay an extra arb year for what... 2 starts... maybe 3 right now. You will be happy with this decision 4 years hence. I promise.
I think Falter's stuff plays better in long relief. I don't know, maybe Lauer is washed up. Seems strange though. Guy was really good for years, and then just falls apart in his prime after a couple of supposedly minor injuries? It doesn't make sense if he is healthy. No one else picked up on him, which is also strange. Without doubt though someone, i.e. Colorado, will give him a shot in the rotation if he options out of PIttsburgh. Can the Pirates just let him walk? I would be looking to trade someone in the rotation TBH. The Pirates aren't winning this year... so might as well try to get some more 35-grade prospects for next year's version of hopium.
He was very good for Milwaukee in 2021 and 2022.... basically been good his whole career, except last year. I looked him up when the PIrates signed him, and his profile changed a lot last year. He seemed like he went away from what had worked for him trying to be less fastball dependent and get more movement cutter etc... (which is the latest trend). I think just going back to what worked before may be in order. His ERA at Indy, in only 6 games, of course, is 3.3 or so. I wouldn't just let him walk. He has value.
There is going to be some narrative, so I guessed at the boxes being ticked being what they will say each of the next 5 days. Skenes pitching for the Pirates on May 11th makes the 2024 Pirates better.
Skenes not pitching on the Pirates until somewhere May 26th to June 8th makes the 2030 Pirates better....
Unless he starts being Steve Nebraska and hitting bombs like his Air Force days, I'm caring less about the 2024 Pirates Skenes, as long as its a June debut and not waiting beyond that further
I imagine they are being cautious with both Skenes and Chandler due to yesterday being the first time both of them pitched on 4 days rest this year. You can also add Barco to that list, too.
Skenes could replace anyone currently in rotation because seemingly every pitcher gets injured these days. But in the event all of ours stay healthy, my guess is QP goes back to Indy.
Glad to see Jack Suwinski contributing at the plate. Riding a hitting streak with a hit apiece in each of the last two games, and it would be great to see him break out by keeping that streak going and adding some crooked numbers in the hit and RBI columns. He's seeing the ball better with 12 BB/23 K in the first 34 games, but the rate of EBH is down with only 4 doubles and 2 HR to date. Be nice to see him maintain that K/BB rate and add some EBH. This team needs he, Reynolds, Hayes, and Cruz in that 20-20 club
They do, but Suwinski (26) and Reynolds (24) were comfortably over 20 HR in 2023. Hayes missed 38 games in 2023 and still posted 15 HR in addition to 31 Doubles and 7 Triples. Cruz, after a year's absence, is already at 5 HR in 35 games - on pace to hit 20 in 140 games. In 2022, Cruz hit 17 HR in only 87 games. Also in 2022, Suwinski hit 19 HR in 105 games.
I think the long shot is Hayes - he got into a groove last year where he was elevating the ball rather than beating it into the dirt. He needs to get back in that groove, but I would take his EBH stats of 31/7/15 any time!
Tony Solo really wearing it to start the year. Any word on how the stuff has looked?
It will be interesting to see who is actually pitching for the FCL Pirates today. There was video of David Matoma pitching on Saturday, so there's not a chance that he's the one going multiple innings this afternoon as a starter, but he's the one listed
Yea I was at the FCL Orioles/Rays game and we were talking about it. Thought it was so strange he was pitching again. I was upset because I knew there was no way i'd see him then at that point.
Took four innings, but they updated it to Dioris Martinez, DSL pitcher from last year who moved up this season.
Light crowd...
Everyone back at TW's site?
To be honest, when he said he was coming back I knew some would leave to go back, which is fine. He's been doing it a long time, and some people like what they are familiar with.
Also, though, and this is something John told me before, sites like these depend a lot on how the team is doing. When they are losing, interest fades, and it shows in the views. When they are winning, everything returns.
John did mention something below about where there are around three articles per day being posted things can get spread out.
I think there is a 'chat option' on Substack to make an ongoing chat for like paid subscribers. It was something I thought about doing as another perk. Something more direct and harder to get lost throughout all the articles we put out. I'd have to look into it a little more, but it was something I had thought about.
When Skenes gets called up, there's going to be a push whenever he starts, but especially the first game.
Page views definitely rely more on the team performance than anything else. You could put out what you think is your best work, but if the team interest is low, the article won't get traction. Say something like a detailed Bubba Chandler article. If the Pirates are doing poorly, the comments will be something like "we need more than him", "can he hit?", "why isn't he in the majors" while if the team is doing well, the comments will be positive towards Chandler
Yea you said exactly that pretty much, and it's all played out exactly like that lol
9,506 "attendance" tonight, which means maybe 8,000 showed up. They didn't have a crowd that small last year before September. So yeah, interest is low right now. Skenes will definitely change that.
I'm still holding out for Wilmoth to lose his life savings in a poker game and come back on BD like a phoenix from the flames. Never really liked TW's writing style and as much as it probably pains him, I'd follow WTM to hell and back.
I'm also curious about what happened to 'Vlad' from BD? He was probably the most accurate poster I've ever encountered on any web chat, ever.
Huge respect for him, Wilbur and Charlie while BD was king of baseball websites.
The game threads here get the most action. Last three days have averaged 100 comments for games. Anthony's putting up 3-4 articles a day, so the early comments get spread around, while the majority are in the game thread that is usually the top article for the longest time
I'd still like a daily thread to capture most topics happening vs diluted comments spread around on non-gameday threads (or some other mechanism)
Is TW actually writing articles again?
Was a long time reader of his site but man, what happened to him? Is it arrogance or is he just not all together there?
He is and I wish him well. I subscribe here now.
that is the word on the street
The Pirates should be listening to my old Ratt album all day today, cuz they're Out of the Cellar!
-Why was Skenes pulled after 66 pitches? Was it due to him struggling?
-Why did Bubba pitch in relief? I thought he lined up with Skenes?
-With Skenes lining up with Falter, does he take his rotation spot? I'm guessing Skenes needs another couple turns with Indy.
-I see Dylan Crews still sucks
Altoona has been on a six man rotation, so they pitched Bubba to try and get things back in line, at least that's what I think. He started on Tuesday, so on a normal schedule Sunday would have been his next day to pitch.
Honest answer? The pirates are trying to maintain a list of things to 'check off' slowly so they can save face about waiting till sometime between May 25th and June 8th to have Skenes avoid super 2.
(I think the latest for super 2 was 115 days and if I'm not mistaken June 8th makes 114 days left in the year).
-We saw him hold strong but ramped back his pitches as he dealth with the shortened rest for the first time
-We are looking for him to maintain velocity deeper into games (looks at one 97.9 pitch and 97.2 pitch lol)
- Building him to get 75/85/100 pitches while on the 'normal' rest, but trying not to ramp up more than 10% week over week in total pitches.
-Waiting to see who is the pitcher worth trading away for cash considerations to make room.
They don't need any boxes or anything to justify keeping him down for a few more weeks. They only need to point to Lauer and their need to get him up before his option. They don't have 2 starters who merit going to the bullpen or to the minors right now, and Lauer needs to take precedence over Skenes, so they can point to the need to trade someone before Skenes can come up. These are both legitimate reasons to keep him in AAA. Also, skipping an arb. year for a guy who might be worth north of 20 million in his final arb season is not a terrible thing. Frankly, they would be remiss to pay an extra arb year for what... 2 starts... maybe 3 right now. You will be happy with this decision 4 years hence. I promise.
I'd like to see Skenes get acclimated to pitching on 4 days rest for a few more turns in the rotation. He's literally never done it before.
Lauer has a FIP of 5 in AAA, who does he replace?
I think Falter's stuff plays better in long relief. I don't know, maybe Lauer is washed up. Seems strange though. Guy was really good for years, and then just falls apart in his prime after a couple of supposedly minor injuries? It doesn't make sense if he is healthy. No one else picked up on him, which is also strange. Without doubt though someone, i.e. Colorado, will give him a shot in the rotation if he options out of PIttsburgh. Can the Pirates just let him walk? I would be looking to trade someone in the rotation TBH. The Pirates aren't winning this year... so might as well try to get some more 35-grade prospects for next year's version of hopium.
Are you thinking of someone else? Lauer has really only had one good year and that was back in 2019
He was very good for Milwaukee in 2021 and 2022.... basically been good his whole career, except last year. I looked him up when the PIrates signed him, and his profile changed a lot last year. He seemed like he went away from what had worked for him trying to be less fastball dependent and get more movement cutter etc... (which is the latest trend). I think just going back to what worked before may be in order. His ERA at Indy, in only 6 games, of course, is 3.3 or so. I wouldn't just let him walk. He has value.
BC did mention boxes needing to be checked regarding Skenes.
There is going to be some narrative, so I guessed at the boxes being ticked being what they will say each of the next 5 days. Skenes pitching for the Pirates on May 11th makes the 2024 Pirates better.
Skenes not pitching on the Pirates until somewhere May 26th to June 8th makes the 2030 Pirates better....
Unless he starts being Steve Nebraska and hitting bombs like his Air Force days, I'm caring less about the 2024 Pirates Skenes, as long as its a June debut and not waiting beyond that further
I imagine they are being cautious with both Skenes and Chandler due to yesterday being the first time both of them pitched on 4 days rest this year. You can also add Barco to that list, too.
Skenes could replace anyone currently in rotation because seemingly every pitcher gets injured these days. But in the event all of ours stay healthy, my guess is QP goes back to Indy.
Glad to see Jack Suwinski contributing at the plate. Riding a hitting streak with a hit apiece in each of the last two games, and it would be great to see him break out by keeping that streak going and adding some crooked numbers in the hit and RBI columns. He's seeing the ball better with 12 BB/23 K in the first 34 games, but the rate of EBH is down with only 4 doubles and 2 HR to date. Be nice to see him maintain that K/BB rate and add some EBH. This team needs he, Reynolds, Hayes, and Cruz in that 20-20 club
I think your four horsemen have their work cut out for them.
They do, but Suwinski (26) and Reynolds (24) were comfortably over 20 HR in 2023. Hayes missed 38 games in 2023 and still posted 15 HR in addition to 31 Doubles and 7 Triples. Cruz, after a year's absence, is already at 5 HR in 35 games - on pace to hit 20 in 140 games. In 2022, Cruz hit 17 HR in only 87 games. Also in 2022, Suwinski hit 19 HR in 105 games.
I think the long shot is Hayes - he got into a groove last year where he was elevating the ball rather than beating it into the dirt. He needs to get back in that groove, but I would take his EBH stats of 31/7/15 any time!