111 Comments

Skenes looks to be such a good, high character dude. So glad he's a Pirate.

Expand full comment
Comment deleted
Jul 17
Comment deleted
Expand full comment

I’m just going to enjoy him while he’s here. If he signs longterm or not. Why concern myself with the state of the 2029 Pirates? He’s here now and for at least the next few years.

DK had a fairly good take on this topic on his pod today. Fans continually get a bee in their bonnet regarding extensions, and “Nutting won’t sign anyone!” They weren’t gonna sign Reynolds, or Keller, or Hayes. Then they did. So give it a bit of time.

Expand full comment

These All-Star uniforms are hot garbage.

Expand full comment

The AL ones are ok; kind of a KC Monarchs vibe. The NL ones look like a Diamondbacks reject. All Star uniforms still aren’t as bad as 90% of the city connect jerseys.

Expand full comment

But I want those socks to wear with my shorts on the golf course. 😎😂😂😂

Expand full comment

Agreed. Just said to my wife I miss the days when they wore their teams uniform

Expand full comment

"I thought the Pirates should explore adding a catcher during this draft"

Catcher is almost a position that you have to be constantly restocking.

Expand full comment

They've got a lot of catchers at the lower levels who have some chance of turning into prospects. (Catcher development may be the most iffy of all.) Not sure how serious to take Shawn Ross, but there's Planchart at GBO; Alfonzo and Plaz, and Forrester once he's off rehab, at BRD; and Ramirez and Scherrer in the FCL. This is one spot where they're in pretty good shape long-term, if they can manage to develop a couple of these guys.

Expand full comment

I like the depth, and Plaz sticks out as a potential MLB guy. There's no reason to take Ross seriously. That BA isn't going to look better as he goes up in levels. Short of becoming a god-king framer/receiver/defender, Ross never makes it to MLB.

Overall, you can't go wrong drafting catchers. There's no such thing as too many. And GMBC is to catcher was the Penguin's Jim Rutherford was to golies: he doesn't want to run short of guys who can play.

Expand full comment

Ooo, an outfielder. Who mashed at Florida Gulf Coast

Expand full comment

A DH mostly. Lots of Ks.

Expand full comment

Trying to find more, but looks like he was a starter in the outfield till he got hurt, and then DH'd rest of the season. Stole 10 bags in 14 attempts, so, he's not SLOW lol

Expand full comment

Blake Burke says "Exactly, I stole 11 bags in 13 attempts, I'm not slow! I'm big boned!"

Expand full comment

Oddly played 2 years at FGC, transferred to Miami for JR year and hit, then returned to FGC for SR year

Expand full comment

But also, 1B?

Expand full comment

Good size... thats all i got

Expand full comment

Nats take former Pirates prep pick, Yoel Tejada Jr. lol

Expand full comment

Found one report on McShane, says he throws 93-95 with a lot of effort, big pitch is a gyro slider. Reliever in college and certainly will have to go forward as one as a pro.

Expand full comment

We already got 4 HSs, feels like thats probably our bonus pool all used up

Expand full comment
Jul 16Edited

Nobody seems to be taking overslot guys.

Really looks to me like they should cut the draft back to 15 rounds, maybe 12. Teams can sign 8-10 NDFAs instead of 2-3.

Expand full comment

Yeah…so far day 3 is a little disappointing. When they first changed the draft rules it seemed like round 11 was always exciting because team would float a prep or tough sign down. Do you think teams are just doing a better job on agreeing to a number and getting it done in rounds 1-10, or do you think we will see the hail Mary’s in rounds 19–20 once teams have filled out low level rosters with org guys?

Expand full comment

My gut reaction with 0 evidence and a similar amount of thought is probably that teams are getting good at guesstimating their pool amounts, but that could easily be wrong

Expand full comment

Normally, the overslot guys go in rounds 11-12. Teams maybe don't feel they can sign those guys any more.

Expand full comment
Comment deleted
Jul 16
Comment deleted
Expand full comment

Coupled with clubs wising up.

Terrible history of success throwing $3m at any HS kid with a pulse purely to buy them out of a commitment.

Expand full comment

Yeah I think this is the difference…now that SEC schools will throw NIL in the hundreds of thousands at kids to go to school and be adored at a big program I don’t blame them.

Expand full comment
Comment deleted
Jul 16
Comment deleted
Expand full comment

Hey man I went to Auburn for grad school and knocked around with some of the baseball guys there at the time. I can attest first hand that it’s an enjoyable way to spend your early 20’s. I knew one unnamed player that was drafted after his junior year signed for 50k, and spent it entirely in the summer he signed.

Expand full comment

Right

Expand full comment

Although with minor league contraction there are fewer roster slots to fill these days.

Expand full comment

Yeah, there's been a handful, but this has largely been boring lol

Expand full comment

Camden Janek, college jr C

Expand full comment

College lefty senior. Jacob Bimbi.

Expand full comment

booooo

Expand full comment

Tracker is two picks ahead of the webcast.

Expand full comment

Day 3, let's go!!!!! Speed round!!!

Expand full comment

MLB pipeline best available consists entirely of high school guys:

https://www.mlb.com/news/2024-mlb-draft-day-3-overview-and-schedule?t=mlb-draft-coverage

Expand full comment

For those wanting a bat, there are 2 in MLB.COM top 200 who are college Jr's that remain undrafted. #174 Miss. St 3rd Baseman Hunter Hines and #199 Univ. of Maine 1B Jeremiah Jenkins. I am not saying they can hit, I just searched for outfielders and corner infielders. They may have already stated their intentions to return to school.

Expand full comment

So is Skenes only going 1 IP even if it's 10-12 pitches? No.....he should get Judge, Ramirez, Alvarez and maybe Vlad too. Come on, the ratings could be all-time high just to see him.

Expand full comment

I want him to mouth to them what pitch he is throwing like Greinke just for the theatrics. 99 top of strike zone fastball... let er rip.

Expand full comment

All I expect is '99 Pedro. Is that too much to ask.

Expand full comment

Let the comps to his Wrigley game begin!

Expand full comment

Anything less he might be a bust

Expand full comment

Maybe the Pirates can Quinn Mathews Josh Hartle. Big crafty lefty who enters pro ball and comes out pumping high 90's lol

Expand full comment

That would be interesting. After seeing what the shape looked like, feel like they kinda need an overhaul on it anyways

Expand full comment
Jul 16Edited

Burning question for the day --

As usual, there are a bunch of prep guys left who are going to get overslot money or go to college. Do the Pirates have room for that?

Expand full comment

I bet they grab at least one prep guy, but probably none of the higher ranked kids.

Expand full comment

Have Skenes call Jared Jones, ask him what his price is, then bring the other Jared Jones on the line and have him say "We need more dingers and they won't let us hit!" Skenes then says "We'll call Cherington right now!"

Expand full comment

Keep up with the Joneses! I’m definitely the first guy to make this joke.

Expand full comment

I say have Skenes missus ring a few of the fellas and tell them she has some single friends that have a thing for Pirates.

Expand full comment

That's plan B

Expand full comment

My guess would be know. But wonder if they swing for one anyways.

Expand full comment