Montgomery would be my dream signing, but I'm sure he's out of Nutting's price range. And to be fair, signing a 31-year-old pitcher would make me a little nervous, though my impression is that lefties tend to remain effective later. Who knows, he could be like Rich Hill.
In any case, I thought the Cards got a steal when they acquired him for Bader, and I like Bader. In fact, I expected the Cards to sign him long-term. I'm surprised the Rangers haven't signed him yet...
I wish you hadn't posted this because you've got me dreaming that his price has gone down enough that he'll be the big acquisition Ben hinted at.
The funny thing about that is, is that I can't count how many times I'd see a score that implied the Yankees had a high-quality start, look at the box score, and see that it was Montgomery instead of one of their higher profile starters.
"If the hitting improves to above average..." Hayes' wRC+ in 2023 went from 81 pre-all star break to 129 post all star break. The real question is consistency with the bat. If we get post-June 2023 Hayes batting for a full year, with elite defense, that's a legit MVP candidate.
Drill down even further and it was a bonkers August (153 wRC+) followed by a return to earth in September (107 wRC+). If he can maintain that batted ball split for his good month, whoooweee.
Great news that Ke'Bryan Hayes is getting some MVP Play. Of that 8.3 bWAR, 5.4 of that is defensive WAR which I believe is where the Pirates can excel in the next few years. Hayes not only won the Gold Glove at 3B last year, but the lift he developed the past few years will get him into those offensive numbers that are big counters in WAR - Extra Base Hits, especially HR's.
Probably the only negative has been the injuries that have cost him games each year - 136 total games played in 2022 and only 124 Games in 2023. Thankfully, in NH's last draft, he selected Jared Triolo in the #2 Supplemental Round. Triolo has been recognized by opposing Managers at 2 levels of the minors as the best 3B at those levels, and turned that corner in MLB in 2023 by playing 3B for 35 of the games that Hayes was injured in 2023, earning a 2.1 bWAR heavily influenced by his D at 3B and 2B.
Listening to DK’s podcast about Bauer is making me change my stance, I was basing my previous stand on his former girlfriend shenanigans, but there were many other incidents before her. F*ck that dude.
Yeah... if it had not been for the incident with the "pitcher-who-is-not-to-be-named" and were it not for the Bae controversy, the Pirates could maybe take a chance on Bauer on a cheap deal and drop him immediately at the first sign of trouble, like Melkel recommends. I just think they run the risk of getting a reputation as a team that has no trouble employing bad characters. They already have a reputation that is in the mud when it comes to competitiveness and so forth. They don't need to be known as the "bad boys" of baseball too.
I personally have no problem with bringing him in on a league-minimum and then dropping him if there is trouble, but if some woman's group decides that the Pirates are a band of woman-beaters and makes some kind of public stink about it, then it could turn very bad for the team and for attendance. I wouldn't take the chance if I were Cherrington, since it is probably the only thing that could get him fired.
I have no doubt that's precisely what is getting him blackballed right now and if this were still like 2020 I would agree.
I just also think that cultural moment has passed. We're about to re-elect a rapist to the White House. We are who we are and ultimately just don't give that much of a shit.
You guys are a long way from the next (s)election. There are a lot of twists and turns on the road ahead, and I wouldn't worry too much about it if I were you. (I'm not worried about it at all...l living some 4000 miles away). TBH, Pirates' management looks competent compared to the people running the U.S. the past 20+ years... Republicans or Democrats.
I'm usually the big flaming lib in our convos but I just can't get behind this one. I'm okay with baseball players being baseball players and not role models. He's a free man, all he wants to do is work, and the Pirates literally have nothing to lose.
I dunno man, I could go either way on him. In some ways, he almost seems worse because he’s always been an obnoxious pud in addition to the crappy things he’s done. On the other hand, as you eloquently stated the other day, it’s not like they have moral high ground here since they employ Bae and now Chapman. So I’ll stay in the middle on it.
I’m not opposed to looking into the idea, but his history gives me pause. We don’t want a clubhouse cancer or unnecessary side shows. I’d have to be convinced he’s serious about turning over a new leaf.
Public persona (which I loathe) aside, there seems to be an order of magnitude more people outside the game calling him a clubhouse cancer than within it. Maybe it's just what sources are in front of me.
I'm not talking necessarily about Bauer, but mlb players in general. I know there are some bad guys in baseball and there needs to be rules to hold theses players accountable. Those players need to server their penalty. I also think that the media or a false story can ruin a person's reputation. If a team doesn't want to sign a player with a bad reputation, that is fine. But if it is a league wide decision made at an owner's meeting that is wrong.
Yep they can sign him cheap enough that the first time he screws up, he can be gone at a very small price. Even have the built-in PR of giving a person a second chance, with the "It didn't work out." if something happens.
After thanking the crew here for the book promotion yesterday, I have to thank everyone who purchased it today. Anthony was kind enough to leave the link up top today (the purple link that says Buy "They Call Him Dots"). It debuted as the 20th best selling baseball book on Amazon sales. It moved up to 11th by mid-day, one spot ahead of Keith Law's latest offering. Amazon's chart heavily favors recent sales, but you don't get to #11 with a handful of quick sales. So thank you to everyone who purchased it over the last 36 hours. It's appreciated. I possibly won't have to pretend to be mad at any relatives around the holidays so I can knock them off my gift-giving list :)
So Hayes is a dark horse for MVP. You could pretty much say that about every player in the league.
Silly take for clicks from them. Hayes is an elite defender who—at his best—is a league average for his position bat.
I suppose you could but there is no doubt some level of likelihood required for anyone to AGREE with you.
Yariel signing official
Hopefully they can get on with this deal for Manoah and Varsho - two substantial improvements to our team
And ZiPS projects the Pirates to finish last with 75 wins.
walls are closing in - - hall mary being thrown any moment now
first their was Matt Morris, then Chris Archer...
eagerly awaiting this rounds version of the last ditch effort
my prediction is giving Jordan Montgomery a lot of money and then him crashing and burning hard in 2024
Montgomery would be my dream signing, but I'm sure he's out of Nutting's price range. And to be fair, signing a 31-year-old pitcher would make me a little nervous, though my impression is that lefties tend to remain effective later. Who knows, he could be like Rich Hill.
In any case, I thought the Cards got a steal when they acquired him for Bader, and I like Bader. In fact, I expected the Cards to sign him long-term. I'm surprised the Rangers haven't signed him yet...
I wish you hadn't posted this because you've got me dreaming that his price has gone down enough that he'll be the big acquisition Ben hinted at.
Depends on how far the price drops? There doesn’t seem to be big $$$$ for Snell let alone Montgomery. Maybe if the price drops below $50 MM?
i will always see him as a 5th starter on the yankees
The funny thing about that is, is that I can't count how many times I'd see a score that implied the Yankees had a high-quality start, look at the box score, and see that it was Montgomery instead of one of their higher profile starters.
"If the hitting improves to above average..." Hayes' wRC+ in 2023 went from 81 pre-all star break to 129 post all star break. The real question is consistency with the bat. If we get post-June 2023 Hayes batting for a full year, with elite defense, that's a legit MVP candidate.
And stay healthy, dammit.
OK. I just made my $5 fanduel bet to win $1000 on the Hayes MVP.
Drill down even further and it was a bonkers August (153 wRC+) followed by a return to earth in September (107 wRC+). If he can maintain that batted ball split for his good month, whoooweee.
Bold prediction: Reynolds has career year and yet his WAR is surpassed by both Cruz and Hayes this year.
(I think I made this same bold prediction last year.)
Love the preseason (ST) optimism! I’m on the matching last year’s record is a win. Better off season would’ve swayed me…..
If that come to fruition, Pirates will have 3 players surpass 6 WAR and will win the Central.
Was thinking the same, we are division champs if scott is on the money. Lets go to vegas and make some money BoD squad
Great news that Ke'Bryan Hayes is getting some MVP Play. Of that 8.3 bWAR, 5.4 of that is defensive WAR which I believe is where the Pirates can excel in the next few years. Hayes not only won the Gold Glove at 3B last year, but the lift he developed the past few years will get him into those offensive numbers that are big counters in WAR - Extra Base Hits, especially HR's.
Probably the only negative has been the injuries that have cost him games each year - 136 total games played in 2022 and only 124 Games in 2023. Thankfully, in NH's last draft, he selected Jared Triolo in the #2 Supplemental Round. Triolo has been recognized by opposing Managers at 2 levels of the minors as the best 3B at those levels, and turned that corner in MLB in 2023 by playing 3B for 35 of the games that Hayes was injured in 2023, earning a 2.1 bWAR heavily influenced by his D at 3B and 2B.
no doubt Oneil Cruz is 2024 MVP
Which source confirmed this? Before I bet my car
if we go to the playoffs, he will be the reason
Listening to DK’s podcast about Bauer is making me change my stance, I was basing my previous stand on his former girlfriend shenanigans, but there were many other incidents before her. F*ck that dude.
Yeah... if it had not been for the incident with the "pitcher-who-is-not-to-be-named" and were it not for the Bae controversy, the Pirates could maybe take a chance on Bauer on a cheap deal and drop him immediately at the first sign of trouble, like Melkel recommends. I just think they run the risk of getting a reputation as a team that has no trouble employing bad characters. They already have a reputation that is in the mud when it comes to competitiveness and so forth. They don't need to be known as the "bad boys" of baseball too.
There's like 12 people actually paying this much attention left in the fanbase and 11 of them are in this chat.
They literally have nothing left to lose.
I personally have no problem with bringing him in on a league-minimum and then dropping him if there is trouble, but if some woman's group decides that the Pirates are a band of woman-beaters and makes some kind of public stink about it, then it could turn very bad for the team and for attendance. I wouldn't take the chance if I were Cherrington, since it is probably the only thing that could get him fired.
I have no doubt that's precisely what is getting him blackballed right now and if this were still like 2020 I would agree.
I just also think that cultural moment has passed. We're about to re-elect a rapist to the White House. We are who we are and ultimately just don't give that much of a shit.
You guys are a long way from the next (s)election. There are a lot of twists and turns on the road ahead, and I wouldn't worry too much about it if I were you. (I'm not worried about it at all...l living some 4000 miles away). TBH, Pirates' management looks competent compared to the people running the U.S. the past 20+ years... Republicans or Democrats.
Had to figure there was a good reason for being blackballed.
Proverbial $million arm and 10 cent head.
I'm usually the big flaming lib in our convos but I just can't get behind this one. I'm okay with baseball players being baseball players and not role models. He's a free man, all he wants to do is work, and the Pirates literally have nothing to lose.
I don't get it.
I dunno man, I could go either way on him. In some ways, he almost seems worse because he’s always been an obnoxious pud in addition to the crappy things he’s done. On the other hand, as you eloquently stated the other day, it’s not like they have moral high ground here since they employ Bae and now Chapman. So I’ll stay in the middle on it.
I’m not opposed to looking into the idea, but his history gives me pause. We don’t want a clubhouse cancer or unnecessary side shows. I’d have to be convinced he’s serious about turning over a new leaf.
Public persona (which I loathe) aside, there seems to be an order of magnitude more people outside the game calling him a clubhouse cancer than within it. Maybe it's just what sources are in front of me.
Sorry Amigo, you hardly come across as woke.
But, I'm with you, sign the dude. Life is about getting a second opportunity.
Ahh but you haven't seen my NPR tote bag... ;)
I felt the same, but the more I hear, read the more I think the team should pass.
I'm not talking necessarily about Bauer, but mlb players in general. I know there are some bad guys in baseball and there needs to be rules to hold theses players accountable. Those players need to server their penalty. I also think that the media or a false story can ruin a person's reputation. If a team doesn't want to sign a player with a bad reputation, that is fine. But if it is a league wide decision made at an owner's meeting that is wrong.
Yep they can sign him cheap enough that the first time he screws up, he can be gone at a very small price. Even have the built-in PR of giving a person a second chance, with the "It didn't work out." if something happens.
Damn DK finally producing something that I dont hate! But with you there, dont want him around
Judging by their ERAs and age the PBC clearly was working on their pick-up basketball squad.
After thanking the crew here for the book promotion yesterday, I have to thank everyone who purchased it today. Anthony was kind enough to leave the link up top today (the purple link that says Buy "They Call Him Dots"). It debuted as the 20th best selling baseball book on Amazon sales. It moved up to 11th by mid-day, one spot ahead of Keith Law's latest offering. Amazon's chart heavily favors recent sales, but you don't get to #11 with a handful of quick sales. So thank you to everyone who purchased it over the last 36 hours. It's appreciated. I possibly won't have to pretend to be mad at any relatives around the holidays so I can knock them off my gift-giving list :)
What's interesting about Sadzeck is he was a 45th round pick or ours, outta high school, but did not sign. Also both he and McClure are 6'7".