24 Comments
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JT412's avatar

would like to see the pirates get more aggressive with their promotions. you’d think GMBC would show some urgency now that he’s most definitely on the hot seat

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Catch22's avatar

I remember when he did this with Davis. Didn’t work out well.

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JT412's avatar

not sure any strategy will have 100% success rate.

As to Hank - surely his struggle had nothing to do with the fact he had to play an entirely new position in the highest league.

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WTM's avatar

Could be Davis was never going to work out well.

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Arky Wags's avatar

Promoting prospects faster wouldn’t save him.

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NMR's avatar

Isn't Richard Ramirez the only prospect in the system this year for which this even remotely applies?

The stuff we get butthurt about...

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WTM's avatar

Matoma, although it's possible (likely?) he's hurt. Keeping Will Taylor at Bradenton is pretty weird, especially considering some of the Greensboro outfielders. For a college guy from a major program, that pretty much says they don't see him as a prospect.

There are a few guys some organizations might have pushed harder, or might not, like Alfonzo. Maybe Severino, but given the swing-and-miss I wouldn't die on that hill.

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NMR's avatar

Agree with all of this, Alonzo is the only one that I think has any real developmental standing. If he isn't quickly bumped to AA then I'd call it into question.

Org guys like Taylor is likely to be just don't have any relevance to me in the greater conversation of how they handle the prospect development timeline.

They clearly push legit dudes as fast as any club outside of the Angels.

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JT412's avatar

I know he’s hurt now, but would’ve liked to see Yorke (and even Cook) go north over the veteran also-rans.

College draftees going to Low A instead of High A.

Even with his failures at Bradenton, i’d think an aggressive push to Greensboro would be better for YDLS than a 3rd try at Low A.

Top prospects Termarr Johnson and Jack Brannigan played 140 & 115 games at High A, respectively, before finally getting the push to AA.

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Arky Wags's avatar

I don’t think it’s wise to promote YDLS above a level he’s struggled at. He still has what only amounts to half a seasons worth of PA’s at A ball over two stints. Substantially less than TJ actually.

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JT412's avatar

that’s fair! If you can’t hit at A, you most likely won’t hit at AA, but at some point, ya gotta push these guys anyways. Maybe not the time for YDLS to make or break it, but the clock is ticking!

I think WTM said it on a prior thread about Hudson Head or Sammy Siani - they might not be prospects either way, but what good does it do to see them flounder at the same level 3 years in a row? Especially with the MiLB re-org of the past few years, seems to be a logjam in the low levels.

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SouthernBuc's avatar

'But at some point ya gotta push these guys anyway'. - why? I don't care if they were the first pick in the draft or the last player picked, to me you need to show some amount of success. I leave it to those who know better to define that. But it's not like - ok, you have been with us three years so we must promote you even though you still aren't able to do the job of your previous level. I totally admit it goes beyond just a batting average or ERA, but 'just because' doesn't fly with me.

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JT412's avatar

Agree that there should be some success indicators to warrant a promotion. I just think there are a lot of factors beyond what we see in the box score (as you mentioned) to be considered as well. And sometimes i think that aggressive push and/or change of scenery can help.

Like, is a (fake example) 23 y/o former 1st round pick in his third try at low A even getting decent pitches to hit? We know pitchers can be wild at those levels. Is he trying to force the issue because he can’t seem to get out of Bradenton? Would seeing some more advanced pitchers that will actually come in/around the zone help him? Does it really do anyone any good to repeat the same level 3 years in a row? They’re probably a non-prospect at that point anyway..

IDK - all that to say i generally agree with you that promotions should be merit-based.

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Arky Wags's avatar

True, but it’s misrepresentation to lump in YDLS with Head/Siani. Head has over 1,000 plate appearances at high A, Siani over 800. YDLS has barely 250.

That logjam sorts itself out. If any of these guys hit, they’ll move up. If they don’t hit, they’ll move out.

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JT412's avatar

Also fair & i don’t mean to lump them together, just thought that was an interesting point.

Hit or get off the pot!

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NMR's avatar

You're pissed that Kebryan Hayes as one of the youngest players in the league was not moved fast enough?

You guys are an absolute caricature of your argument. Fuck it, why play minor league ball at all!

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JT412's avatar

HUH? Ke’Bryan Hayes had played 110 AAA games before BC was even hired.. and was promoted during the covid season when there literally was no minor league ball.

This argument is probably moot anyways because this front office is awful at talent acquisition and development on the hitting side.

I just said Id like to see them be a little more aggressive - switch something up, cuz what they’re doing obviously ain’t working pal!

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NMR's avatar
Apr 8Edited

LOL. I was thinking Termarr in response to your reply and wrote Kebryan.

But yeah, fuck it, lets incessantly bitch that every fringe prospect isn't arbitrarily shoved up the ranks without making any logical connection to why that might actually help their development. These conversations are so fun.

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JT412's avatar

i’m not pissed or incessantly bitching about anything. just said i’d personally like to see them be a bit more aggressive with their promotions

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Joshua Johnson's avatar

Even so TJ is the youngest player in the entire Eastern league.

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Dejan Copacetic's avatar

The article you're in the comments on lists 8-10 names this more than remotely applies to.

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NMR's avatar

Can you even read? Half of those names come with the disclaimer that they're not on *any* roster likely due to health.

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Dejan Copacetic's avatar

Lol seems as if you can't read or count my friend. Two of those names come with the disclaimer that they're not on *any* roster.

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WTM's avatar

To update things here, Wietgrefe was just put on the Bradenton roster and also on IL-7.

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