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For those hoping that we'll change managers, Fangraphs has an article up today on managerial candidates:

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/top-of-the-order-a-list-of-some-potential-managerial-candidates/

Kelly is on the list. My choice would be David Ross, especially given that I'm sure he'd like sticking it to the Cubs. The most intriguing name on the list is Ricky Weeks Jr., who is the Brewers associate manager. Of course I don't know nearly enough to strongly advocate for someone.

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Weeks and the two Cleveland guys look good to me, without of course really knowing diddly about the individuals. I'd like to get somebody from an org that knows what they're doing.

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Don Kelly is the best candidate for the Pirate job if he is allowed to be his own man. He has the background as an MLB Player, the experience of being the No. 2 on a Major League Team, and I cannot stress enough the time spent playing for a HOF Manager like Jim Leyland who also had positive time with the Pirates. This kid breathes Black and Gold - why not him?

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Sep 24Liked by NolaJeffy(BnP)

woof.

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This article right here should be what BN shows BC when asked why he’s being fired.

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not a lot of options! excited for Severino, but always skeptical of a guy so far away

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The sudden downturn in BB and K rates after the promotion made me hesitate. Of course, he wasn't there all that long.

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Where do you guys think Severino ranks in the off season prospect lists?

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He’s in the mid teens right now. I’ve debated if Id move him up or down from there. Hard to say. I don’t think we are doing an end of season update, might just wait till the spring

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Sep 24Liked by NolaJeffy(BnP)

Game 2 starters of the 2025 World Series: Jackson Jobe and Bubba Chandler.

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Speaking of the Tigers, as recently as August 12 we had a better record and better postseason odds than they did (1.2% vs. 0.3%). What a great story the Tigers are and I'm hoping they can finish things off.

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Me too. They have one ugly contract, and some high profile draft picks who have been less than mediocre. But they’ve developed well outside of some misses, made some good trades, and appear to be pretty good defensively. And their farm system is in pretty solid shape too.

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and most importantly, they got to play the 2024 Chicago White Sox 10 times.

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Can we really reduce a season down to that few games though? No denying that portion of their schedule helps, but they are nearly .500 against teams over .500 while we have a .411 winning percentage against teams over .500. They have a deeper roster than we do, with more ways to beat you. They are 5th in defense via Fangraphs. We are 25th. They have about 300 more PA’s with guys who have over a 100 wRC+ than we do. They have 8 guys with at least 1 fWAR, we have 5. And their pitching is solid.

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Sep 24·edited Sep 24

Absolutely nobody in this conversation but you has reduced their season down to a few games. I cannot stand when you people dumb down conversations like this.

My argument is the wild and crazy assertion that playing a historically shitty club more than other teams has maybe, just maybe, inflated their record beyond their underlying talent and ability.

For one, all the comparables you provide are still partly a function of beating the shit out of the Chicago White Sox! Their record against teams over .500 is inherently based on those teams also getting to beat the shit out of the Chicago White Sox.

Two, we can either believe it's a complete coincidence that the Royals, Tigers, and Indians all had excellent offseasons and drastically improved their clubs on their own orrrrrrr ask ourselves if each of them getting to play a historically bad team more than any other in the league might just have a role to play in their topline records.

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Yeah, they are 3 games over .500 against all teams outside the AL Central:

17-12 versus the AL East

16-16 versus the AL West

22-24 in inter-league

I’m pointing this because I’ve seen you raise this issue every time anyone praises the Tigers successes as though it’s definitive argument. And I’m skeptical your point goes beyond those ten games because I’m not seeing anything else from you that suggests otherwise.

Now if you’ve done some deep dive on the Tigers and your argument is more deeply rooted than what you’ve presented, then I do apologize.

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Kinda like the Pirates opening with the Marlins. It gave some false hope early and they're better than the ChiSox. The ChiSox are historically bad which helped every team in the American League Central boost season record like you said.

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Location location location!

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Sure, but they also took 7 of 9 from Orioles and Royals in last 3 series, specifically sweeping the Royals in helping them (technically) surpass Kansas City. Only works in their favor they get to finish off the season against CWS after taking care of business.

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No doubt, and they've clearly done better than the Twins and Royals in similar situations, but you really can't paper over the fact that playing the CWS is the equivalent of adding a superstar-level player to your club.

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Easy 10 WAR

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That would be an incredible pitching matchup

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Not quite as good as Skubal/Skenes in Game 1 though…

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Lots of zeros on the board in that series lol.

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