There are a few high quality prospects who will be a part of this group going from A to A+, but by no means will this be a group going to A+ as promotions. The group left at A which I hope includes 19 year olds Severino, YDLS, Caro, and Blanco, Valdez 20, and others, should push the group going to A+ to the curb sometime next year, and move ahead of them. Just too many flaws to think they will develop skills at a much more intense level of baseball.
I think it is likely a failure in evaluation. In my opinion players can improve their swing decisions. What is not likely to improve is the ability to make solid contact in balls in the strike zone. We have too many players who are unable to do that against quantity stuff. It’s like a friend would say with Chad Hermansen it was like the ball somehow dematerialized in front of his bat and rematerialized in the catchers glove.
Thanks for the summary. Pretty grim over all. Why did Delgado completely change his game? I don’t get it. Interesting that Jack Herman went immediately into coaching.
As I’ve mentioned periodically, Polanco and White were my two key prospects coming into this season, and both look like they’re not going to make it.
None of this is new to Pirates management. You would think that the brain trust would look at the complete disconnect between tools and production, realize that they have a crisis on their hands, and take steps to fix the problem. But they just stand pat year after year.
The Delgado thing was weird. He's the exact opposite of what all the scouting reports described. And it was that way from the day he arrived. I don't see how there was enough time for him to get Hainesed.
I think it is more than Haines (unless Haines dictates the entire organizational approach). It's on BC. Keeping in mind it is hard to hit, and the vast majority of prospects in every organization fail, the Pirates organizational hitting issues are almost always the same - they seem to be unable to teach young hitters an approach to make good decisions. And it happens with prospect after prospect, even ones who reportedly have otherworldly bat to ball hitting ability. And at every level. Further, I will always believe that moving players around the field constantly does not help the development of their offensive game. The versatility does not help improve their chances to make it, because they never develop the hitting to make it.
We always hope the Pirates will wake up and change. But the only way to change the culture is to change the people.
"unless Haines dictates the entire organizational approach"
He oversees all of it. But, yes, the problem is Cherington. He's the wellspring of all the rampant failures in the organization.
As far as approach is concerned, it appears to me that none of their hitters is able to adjust his swing to the pitch. If it's up, they swing under it. If it's down, they swing over it. Maybe they're just too obsessed with launch angle to meet the ball where it's pitched.
I agree. But in addition to the swing itself, they do not recognize when to swing. They seem to take a lot of strikes, and chase at numerous pitches outside the zone. This is a recipe for high "swing and miss" rates, and strikeouts. And they do not improve.
There are a few high quality prospects who will be a part of this group going from A to A+, but by no means will this be a group going to A+ as promotions. The group left at A which I hope includes 19 year olds Severino, YDLS, Caro, and Blanco, Valdez 20, and others, should push the group going to A+ to the curb sometime next year, and move ahead of them. Just too many flaws to think they will develop skills at a much more intense level of baseball.
🤢🤮
I think it is likely a failure in evaluation. In my opinion players can improve their swing decisions. What is not likely to improve is the ability to make solid contact in balls in the strike zone. We have too many players who are unable to do that against quantity stuff. It’s like a friend would say with Chad Hermansen it was like the ball somehow dematerialized in front of his bat and rematerialized in the catchers glove.
sorry on balls and quality stuff
Thanks for the summary. Pretty grim over all. Why did Delgado completely change his game? I don’t get it. Interesting that Jack Herman went immediately into coaching.
As I’ve mentioned periodically, Polanco and White were my two key prospects coming into this season, and both look like they’re not going to make it.
None of this is new to Pirates management. You would think that the brain trust would look at the complete disconnect between tools and production, realize that they have a crisis on their hands, and take steps to fix the problem. But they just stand pat year after year.
The Delgado thing was weird. He's the exact opposite of what all the scouting reports described. And it was that way from the day he arrived. I don't see how there was enough time for him to get Hainesed.
I think it is more than Haines (unless Haines dictates the entire organizational approach). It's on BC. Keeping in mind it is hard to hit, and the vast majority of prospects in every organization fail, the Pirates organizational hitting issues are almost always the same - they seem to be unable to teach young hitters an approach to make good decisions. And it happens with prospect after prospect, even ones who reportedly have otherworldly bat to ball hitting ability. And at every level. Further, I will always believe that moving players around the field constantly does not help the development of their offensive game. The versatility does not help improve their chances to make it, because they never develop the hitting to make it.
We always hope the Pirates will wake up and change. But the only way to change the culture is to change the people.
"unless Haines dictates the entire organizational approach"
He oversees all of it. But, yes, the problem is Cherington. He's the wellspring of all the rampant failures in the organization.
As far as approach is concerned, it appears to me that none of their hitters is able to adjust his swing to the pitch. If it's up, they swing under it. If it's down, they swing over it. Maybe they're just too obsessed with launch angle to meet the ball where it's pitched.
I agree. But in addition to the swing itself, they do not recognize when to swing. They seem to take a lot of strikes, and chase at numerous pitches outside the zone. This is a recipe for high "swing and miss" rates, and strikeouts. And they do not improve.
All true.