Thanks to Anthony and crew for having me here to do all 32 of the AFL game recaps. I approached him about doing it and he immediately said yes. As I said when I started, for some reason AFL coverage has always been one of my favorite things to do, so I appreciate the opportunity to continue it.
I went to my first AFL game this fall and wouldn't hesitate to go to more in the future. I'd say it's worth a special trip to AZ (the weather is usually pretty good in October). It's a much different vibe than spring training or even minor league ballparks, but dammit, it's still baseball and you get to see some legit future stars.
Only tangentially related to the Pirates, but I found this MLBTR entry about the Orioles moving in their LF wall to be interesting. The connection to the Pirates is that PNC is noted as one of the two toughest parks for RH hitters, which didn't surprise me but is relevant to thinking about the type of hitter we should pursue.
I also liked the irony that the post combined the O's making Camden Yards more hitter friendly while also pursuing "high-end" FA pitching.
The Pirates Power alley in LC is approx 400' which is ridiculously deep. Then it gets worse out to the Notch at 410' before coming back to 399' in dead CF. Not a great venue for power except RF, RC, and LF down the line. Thinking defensively, the CF and LF have to play deeper thereby giving up area for hits to drop in.
B'more is moving their power alley in LC in about 20' from the 398' it was last year, and lowering the height of the fence. They also have almost a dozen hitters to take advantage of the shorter fences.
Two perennial losers with much to offer one another in trades - we have drafted and developed pitching, they have drafted and developed hitting. At the end of 2024 the O's traded Power hitting OF Billy Cook to the Pirates for the Pirates 2023 5th Round SP Patrick Reilly. Could be a start?
Having a quirky ballpark like PNC is good for the Pirates. They can get more value out of a guy, like an extra glove-first OFer to cover LF, than most other teams would. KC is the perfect example of a team that has designed its park to favor fast OFers and lessen the importance of power hitters (because speedy, glove-first guys are generally cheaper than power hitters).
Also, it simplifies the draft and free-agent stuff. Look for LH power bats and don't overvalue or go heavy on right-handed power. When you don't have much money, focus is better.
Well... the opposite applies. The high wall and short field in RF means that they can get by with a lesser defender in RF than other teams.
To me, the trade deadline stuff was more of the same from GMBC: frittering away his budget on spare parts, rather than spending what he has a couple quality players and filling the holes with the minor-league system, small-time trades, minor-league free agents, rule 5 or waiver wire claims, and guys with bounce-back potential in split deals. With all of these paths available to acquire cheap filler that can get you a few WAR, there is no need to fritter away money on guys like BDLC or IKF or many of the players that he has targeted in free agency.
The BDLC comment was directed at the fact that PNC Park generally isn’t going to help a fringe right handed power hitter like him, due to it being ranked 21st for right handed bats. Fenway maybe. Not PNC. The left handed equivalent of BDLC, whomever that is, might be helped by PNC, as PNC is ranked fourth by park factors, for left handed bats.
Yeah. No matter how you slice it, the BDLC acquisition was terrible. I don't mind IKF as a player: just not for the Pirates. He is redundant with Triolo, and the Pirates just should not be paying a utility IFer 7.5 million. I am not sure why anyone would be sanguine about this offseason when these are the types of moves that we have seen time and again from this front office. I hope to be surprised.
The kid who played in the AFL this Fall, Sammy Siani, is the type of OF we need in LF at PNC. Give BR a break in RF - much shorter and he conserves energy for use in AB's! And, I am not so sure that the Pirates have settled the SS position well enough to keep Oneil Cruz in CF.
The bubble burst; excellent season overall for Scottsdale and Pirate hitters and pitchers. Sammy Siani was the standout from the Pirate Org, and hopefully he continues that type of play offensively and defensively into Spring Training.
Thanks to Anthony and crew for having me here to do all 32 of the AFL game recaps. I approached him about doing it and he immediately said yes. As I said when I started, for some reason AFL coverage has always been one of my favorite things to do, so I appreciate the opportunity to continue it.
Great coverage and really appreciated!
I went to my first AFL game this fall and wouldn't hesitate to go to more in the future. I'd say it's worth a special trip to AZ (the weather is usually pretty good in October). It's a much different vibe than spring training or even minor league ballparks, but dammit, it's still baseball and you get to see some legit future stars.
sources say pirates are in on Damiano Palmegiani
https://jaysjournal.com/posts/for-the-first-time-in-years-blue-jays-had-a-new-minor-league-home-run-king
I’m sure Hague will point them towards some Blue Jays guys.
Only tangentially related to the Pirates, but I found this MLBTR entry about the Orioles moving in their LF wall to be interesting. The connection to the Pirates is that PNC is noted as one of the two toughest parks for RH hitters, which didn't surprise me but is relevant to thinking about the type of hitter we should pursue.
I also liked the irony that the post combined the O's making Camden Yards more hitter friendly while also pursuing "high-end" FA pitching.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/11/orioles-talking-to-high-end-free-agent-pitchers-camden-yards-left-field-dimensions-to-be-changed.html
The Pirates Power alley in LC is approx 400' which is ridiculously deep. Then it gets worse out to the Notch at 410' before coming back to 399' in dead CF. Not a great venue for power except RF, RC, and LF down the line. Thinking defensively, the CF and LF have to play deeper thereby giving up area for hits to drop in.
B'more is moving their power alley in LC in about 20' from the 398' it was last year, and lowering the height of the fence. They also have almost a dozen hitters to take advantage of the shorter fences.
Two perennial losers with much to offer one another in trades - we have drafted and developed pitching, they have drafted and developed hitting. At the end of 2024 the O's traded Power hitting OF Billy Cook to the Pirates for the Pirates 2023 5th Round SP Patrick Reilly. Could be a start?
Having a quirky ballpark like PNC is good for the Pirates. They can get more value out of a guy, like an extra glove-first OFer to cover LF, than most other teams would. KC is the perfect example of a team that has designed its park to favor fast OFers and lessen the importance of power hitters (because speedy, glove-first guys are generally cheaper than power hitters).
Also, it simplifies the draft and free-agent stuff. Look for LH power bats and don't overvalue or go heavy on right-handed power. When you don't have much money, focus is better.
Agree with this. Also what makes an acquisition like BDLC a little puzzling.
Well... the opposite applies. The high wall and short field in RF means that they can get by with a lesser defender in RF than other teams.
To me, the trade deadline stuff was more of the same from GMBC: frittering away his budget on spare parts, rather than spending what he has a couple quality players and filling the holes with the minor-league system, small-time trades, minor-league free agents, rule 5 or waiver wire claims, and guys with bounce-back potential in split deals. With all of these paths available to acquire cheap filler that can get you a few WAR, there is no need to fritter away money on guys like BDLC or IKF or many of the players that he has targeted in free agency.
The BDLC comment was directed at the fact that PNC Park generally isn’t going to help a fringe right handed power hitter like him, due to it being ranked 21st for right handed bats. Fenway maybe. Not PNC. The left handed equivalent of BDLC, whomever that is, might be helped by PNC, as PNC is ranked fourth by park factors, for left handed bats.
Yeah. No matter how you slice it, the BDLC acquisition was terrible. I don't mind IKF as a player: just not for the Pirates. He is redundant with Triolo, and the Pirates just should not be paying a utility IFer 7.5 million. I am not sure why anyone would be sanguine about this offseason when these are the types of moves that we have seen time and again from this front office. I hope to be surprised.
PNC was perfect for Starling Marte in LF. Now, not so much.
The kid who played in the AFL this Fall, Sammy Siani, is the type of OF we need in LF at PNC. Give BR a break in RF - much shorter and he conserves energy for use in AB's! And, I am not so sure that the Pirates have settled the SS position well enough to keep Oneil Cruz in CF.
left field was perfect in pnc park when they had the outback steakhouse booths behind the windows
No more bloomin onions. Thanks Nutting.
The bubble burst; excellent season overall for Scottsdale and Pirate hitters and pitchers. Sammy Siani was the standout from the Pirate Org, and hopefully he continues that type of play offensively and defensively into Spring Training.
Did he do enough to get added to 40-man?
He at least made a case for the 40 man, I'd lean toward adding him.
Termarr had a big game sending team USA to Tokyo. 3 for 4 with 3 runs scored 2 rbi's. His first hit was a 2 run homer.
I think so. Would be an interesting poll question if Substack had such a feature.
I think there is a poll option. We'll have to see about that
Awesome.