Henry Davis is a catcher much to the chagrin of the overall consensus taking turns firing shots at him and the FO
Sadly most never saw him enough behind the dish, if they did it was in the AFL where his floor as a catcher was exposed, 2 innings in BIGS didn't help
I watched Henry in the desert and it wasn't pretty, however the work he put in over that off season showed up in AA and i couldn't believe the progress in his development over a 4-5 month off season
Like night and day, 1-10 scale, 4 AFL and 7- AA
IMO Henry went from fighting an uphill battle just to remain relevent as a C
TO
Receiving daily reps trying to show he can still be considered a MLB backstop
Bringing Hedges here was a complete and utter travesty
In a season where you had nothing to lose and only one goal apparently (find the right time to extend Sheltless)
You decided to block POY Endy and slow Hanks everything by making him a RF, then justify wasting 5M on a mentoring fabrication as big part of the signing, meanwhile you hindered the team, tortured a fan base, and made yourselves look unfit for paying someone almost as much as Hayes for framing
If you watch Henry, you know he and Endy can handle from 2025 on
The Spring is always full of hope. Very enthused about Termarr Johnson and Tsung-Che Cheng and hope that both are starting at Altoona. Also enthused about Jase Bowen and he should also be starting in CF/1B at Altoona along with some very strong young pitching. Get your season tickets!
If I am the Pirates and I am playing to win, I pick the final 26 based on past performance, and future projections. My infield has not changed - Hayes, Cruz, Peguero, Triolo, Tellez. The OF will have Reynolds, Suwinski, Celestino, Joe OF/1B. 'Cutch as the DH. Catchers - 2 Grandal, Davis and both will also play other positions and DH for a total of 13. Pitching - 13, and the last 1 or 2 slots may go down to the last few days of ST. The only hard decision was between Celestino and Olivares. Celestino has MLB experience in CF (Twins 2022) and would be the RH option in CF. I have not looked at the contractual issues, which could be a consideration.
I think that the play of NG in ST could be enough to interest another team, and the Pirates could still be interested in attempting to lure RH hitting CF's Ceddanne Rafaela from Bos or Everson Pereira from NYY (both are hitting well in ST). The trade would also include RP's. Celestino is still only 25, but does not have a history of hitting for much power.
Visiting family in Pittsburgh - unseasonably warm. 74 predicted for today.
Cruz, Suwinski and a 4 month Tellez platoon are your only pure LH options?
Then your keeping a non roster invite because he's a better platoon option in CF over someone BC just traded for with equal splits POWER and SPEED
Then Gonzo and BULL PEN for more RH outfielders?
Grandal and Davis will not play any other positions unless there is an emergency
ALL your RF's, platoon 1B and DH's are RH
Davis might DH for Cutch when Grandal catches, like the knuckleheads should have done with Endy last year, never let the kid bat more than 3 days in a row not counting PH, one start at DH
Olivares for sure and a choice between more contact and power Mckinney or speed Bae
Unsure why Bae is endorsed for his defensive flexibility when he's the only player to have negative runs saved at 3 different positions
One of Shelty's favorite tanking moves was 6-7th inning defense substitutions
Castro would PH for JS stay in for Bae at 2nd, Bae for Suwinski in CF
I went to the game on Friday. Gonna put together some Bradenton notes. Talked to Keller for a couple minutes. What a quality human. Ditto for Triolo. Told the kids there that he was an Academic All American and he blushed a little.
Learned some stuff from Jordan Canmera on the catchers. About what you'd expect.
Highly recommend staying OVER the Bradenton bridge it you can. I missed the first inning due to stupid traffic.
I've also been disappointed with the lack of TV even though most days I can't watch at that time anyway. It looks like this week we'll only get one more game but then they ramp things up--6 of the 7 the following week and then 6 of the final 8.
As Docdon suggested, we can only hear so many fluff interviews with the coaches, and I'm sure that for the fifth straight year Brown has hyped how there is just a different feel to camp this year (I think he's sincere, but he forgets that spring feels that way in general--I was outdoors today and there was just a different feel!). But why not give us diehards a simple video feed?
If H. Davis is not the starting catcher throughout the season then something has gone wrong. That something will be Davis crashing and burning at the plate or the FO degenerating into utter incompetence. Grandel is keeping Rodriquez's or Davis' seat warm. Davis, if he remains healthy, should hit, can play the outfield and may become a competent firstbaseman. But his main position will always be Hitter. He needs to play. Rodriquez ought to be the starting catcher when he returns. But Davis' bat should play anywhere he can become an acceptable defender.
Given that every evaluator has always raved about Davis' commitment to improvement, I like his odds of taking his raw skills as a catcher and turning them into an MLB starter at the position. Whether he grades out against Endy when he returns is quite the other question, but there are worse things than a team that has long-term catching depth.
When Endy returns and if he hits when he returns, then he should be the starting catcher. If Endy can generate 2 WAR at the plate, then Davis should move elsewhere while providing depth at the catcher's position. That would be the feasible optimum for the Pirates.
And we have Gonzales, Peguero, Trolo and soon Johnson to play second base. At one time the Pirates had Maz, Stenett, Cash and Randolph. Randolph turned out to be the best but Stennett had the most talent because Maz was at the end of his career.
I enjoy watching the spring games as well but these announcers and TV broadcasts are terrible. They spend time talking about the pitching coaches beard graying or some hairless cat and never tell you who’s hitting or playing center field. The only way to really enjoy spring games is to be there at least with these clowns in the broadcast booth.
I don’t think it will be hard to find room for NRI guys because of the inevitable injuries, real or not, that pop up as the season begins. And inevitably some 40-man guys (Falter, Williams, cough, cough) will play their way off the roster.
Just looking at the box scores and highlights, appears Triolo has firmly taken ahold of an everyday role. Cautiously optimistic his bat will more closely resemble Neil Walker than Kevin Newman.
Although the article didn’t mention him, I’m also thinking Nick G may have the early lead over Peguero and Bae for other MI spot.
Lastly, it appears Cruz is 100% recovered from his injury, which is the best news of ST thus far.
Triolo being only the backup at any or for that matter every position would be true Pirate level stupidity. The guy’s an everyday player and is very probably the best second baseman, best first baseman and second best third baseman (and that only because Hayes is over there) on the team. He needs to be in the regular starting lineup at either first or second and at third whenever Hayes gets a day off.
Triolo has never had a sub-100 wRC+ at any level in his life. In fact, his worst was 110. He's going to keep swinging. Guys like that tend to just be hitters.
You've got Marco Gonzalez listed twice. I suspect human error, or Gonzalez will be the talk of the season!
Bailey Falter has been awful and I think he's going to be DFA'ed. I wonder if this will open a spot for another lefty without options, Josh Fleming. Agree that Stratton has pitched well but whose place does he take?
Bednar, Chapman, Holderman, Mlodzinski, Borucki, and Moreta are locks. You have Ortiz starting out at AAA but I think he's one of our best 13.
Enjoy Bucs On Deck! Keep up the good work! I've posted a couple AAA writeups over at Only Bucs and you are welcome to use them.
I don’t think Moreta is a lock simply because he has options. Every MLB bullpen these days needs quality MLB depth. Which means sometimes better arms get left behind at the beginning.
Henry Davis is a catcher much to the chagrin of the overall consensus taking turns firing shots at him and the FO
Sadly most never saw him enough behind the dish, if they did it was in the AFL where his floor as a catcher was exposed, 2 innings in BIGS didn't help
I watched Henry in the desert and it wasn't pretty, however the work he put in over that off season showed up in AA and i couldn't believe the progress in his development over a 4-5 month off season
Like night and day, 1-10 scale, 4 AFL and 7- AA
IMO Henry went from fighting an uphill battle just to remain relevent as a C
TO
Receiving daily reps trying to show he can still be considered a MLB backstop
Bringing Hedges here was a complete and utter travesty
In a season where you had nothing to lose and only one goal apparently (find the right time to extend Sheltless)
You decided to block POY Endy and slow Hanks everything by making him a RF, then justify wasting 5M on a mentoring fabrication as big part of the signing, meanwhile you hindered the team, tortured a fan base, and made yourselves look unfit for paying someone almost as much as Hayes for framing
If you watch Henry, you know he and Endy can handle from 2025 on
The Spring is always full of hope. Very enthused about Termarr Johnson and Tsung-Che Cheng and hope that both are starting at Altoona. Also enthused about Jase Bowen and he should also be starting in CF/1B at Altoona along with some very strong young pitching. Get your season tickets!
If I am the Pirates and I am playing to win, I pick the final 26 based on past performance, and future projections. My infield has not changed - Hayes, Cruz, Peguero, Triolo, Tellez. The OF will have Reynolds, Suwinski, Celestino, Joe OF/1B. 'Cutch as the DH. Catchers - 2 Grandal, Davis and both will also play other positions and DH for a total of 13. Pitching - 13, and the last 1 or 2 slots may go down to the last few days of ST. The only hard decision was between Celestino and Olivares. Celestino has MLB experience in CF (Twins 2022) and would be the RH option in CF. I have not looked at the contractual issues, which could be a consideration.
I think that the play of NG in ST could be enough to interest another team, and the Pirates could still be interested in attempting to lure RH hitting CF's Ceddanne Rafaela from Bos or Everson Pereira from NYY (both are hitting well in ST). The trade would also include RP's. Celestino is still only 25, but does not have a history of hitting for much power.
Visiting family in Pittsburgh - unseasonably warm. 74 predicted for today.
Cruz, Suwinski and a 4 month Tellez platoon are your only pure LH options?
Then your keeping a non roster invite because he's a better platoon option in CF over someone BC just traded for with equal splits POWER and SPEED
Then Gonzo and BULL PEN for more RH outfielders?
Grandal and Davis will not play any other positions unless there is an emergency
ALL your RF's, platoon 1B and DH's are RH
Davis might DH for Cutch when Grandal catches, like the knuckleheads should have done with Endy last year, never let the kid bat more than 3 days in a row not counting PH, one start at DH
Olivares for sure and a choice between more contact and power Mckinney or speed Bae
Unsure why Bae is endorsed for his defensive flexibility when he's the only player to have negative runs saved at 3 different positions
One of Shelty's favorite tanking moves was 6-7th inning defense substitutions
Castro would PH for JS stay in for Bae at 2nd, Bae for Suwinski in CF
Sadly he wasn't tanking, just being unfit skip
I went to the game on Friday. Gonna put together some Bradenton notes. Talked to Keller for a couple minutes. What a quality human. Ditto for Triolo. Told the kids there that he was an Academic All American and he blushed a little.
Learned some stuff from Jordan Canmera on the catchers. About what you'd expect.
Highly recommend staying OVER the Bradenton bridge it you can. I missed the first inning due to stupid traffic.
Close! I remember seeing his name on the PNC scoreboard years ago.
RIP Ed Ott.
Um y do u hate Braxton Ashcraft?
It's a marathon not a sprint, fellas.
I've also been disappointed with the lack of TV even though most days I can't watch at that time anyway. It looks like this week we'll only get one more game but then they ramp things up--6 of the 7 the following week and then 6 of the final 8.
As Docdon suggested, we can only hear so many fluff interviews with the coaches, and I'm sure that for the fifth straight year Brown has hyped how there is just a different feel to camp this year (I think he's sincere, but he forgets that spring feels that way in general--I was outdoors today and there was just a different feel!). But why not give us diehards a simple video feed?
If H. Davis is not the starting catcher throughout the season then something has gone wrong. That something will be Davis crashing and burning at the plate or the FO degenerating into utter incompetence. Grandel is keeping Rodriquez's or Davis' seat warm. Davis, if he remains healthy, should hit, can play the outfield and may become a competent firstbaseman. But his main position will always be Hitter. He needs to play. Rodriquez ought to be the starting catcher when he returns. But Davis' bat should play anywhere he can become an acceptable defender.
Given that every evaluator has always raved about Davis' commitment to improvement, I like his odds of taking his raw skills as a catcher and turning them into an MLB starter at the position. Whether he grades out against Endy when he returns is quite the other question, but there are worse things than a team that has long-term catching depth.
When Endy returns and if he hits when he returns, then he should be the starting catcher. If Endy can generate 2 WAR at the plate, then Davis should move elsewhere while providing depth at the catcher's position. That would be the feasible optimum for the Pirates.
I dare to say, what a world it would be where one of our catchers had to be like a 1B/DH/C due to being blocked. Weird times.
And we have Gonzales, Peguero, Trolo and soon Johnson to play second base. At one time the Pirates had Maz, Stenett, Cash and Randolph. Randolph turned out to be the best but Stennett had the most talent because Maz was at the end of his career.
You forgot Cheng. Yes, it really is at that point with some of the positional depth. Especially given Cheng can play SS well, too.
i think it will depend on who is pitching
I enjoy watching the spring games as well but these announcers and TV broadcasts are terrible. They spend time talking about the pitching coaches beard graying or some hairless cat and never tell you who’s hitting or playing center field. The only way to really enjoy spring games is to be there at least with these clowns in the broadcast booth.
Hot take, marco gonzalez should take all 5 starting spots so we can have roster spots for more veteranosity on the fielding side
Means more platoons! Genius idea!
Scott, I agree that the numbers game will be at play. In Stratton's case there's the extra hurdle of a needed 40-man spot. Options won't help there.
DREW SUTTON
I don’t think it will be hard to find room for NRI guys because of the inevitable injuries, real or not, that pop up as the season begins. And inevitably some 40-man guys (Falter, Williams, cough, cough) will play their way off the roster.
Just looking at the box scores and highlights, appears Triolo has firmly taken ahold of an everyday role. Cautiously optimistic his bat will more closely resemble Neil Walker than Kevin Newman.
Although the article didn’t mention him, I’m also thinking Nick G may have the early lead over Peguero and Bae for other MI spot.
Lastly, it appears Cruz is 100% recovered from his injury, which is the best news of ST thus far.
Triolo being only the backup at any or for that matter every position would be true Pirate level stupidity. The guy’s an everyday player and is very probably the best second baseman, best first baseman and second best third baseman (and that only because Hayes is over there) on the team. He needs to be in the regular starting lineup at either first or second and at third whenever Hayes gets a day off.
Triolo keeps swinging the bat as he has thus far this Spring, and he will be starting 5+ times per week. Even BC/DS can’t screw that up.
Triolo has never had a sub-100 wRC+ at any level in his life. In fact, his worst was 110. He's going to keep swinging. Guys like that tend to just be hitters.
You've got Marco Gonzalez listed twice. I suspect human error, or Gonzalez will be the talk of the season!
Bailey Falter has been awful and I think he's going to be DFA'ed. I wonder if this will open a spot for another lefty without options, Josh Fleming. Agree that Stratton has pitched well but whose place does he take?
Bednar, Chapman, Holderman, Mlodzinski, Borucki, and Moreta are locks. You have Ortiz starting out at AAA but I think he's one of our best 13.
Enjoy Bucs On Deck! Keep up the good work! I've posted a couple AAA writeups over at Only Bucs and you are welcome to use them.
Drew
He's that good. Also I tried to update it three times and it didn't, I'm hoping its right now lol
I don’t think Moreta is a lock simply because he has options. Every MLB bullpen these days needs quality MLB depth. Which means sometimes better arms get left behind at the beginning.
I don’t think Marco Gonzalez should be pitching 2 days in a row. Other than that, interesting and persuasive report.
He doesn't throw the ball that hard, he will be fine lol
*Inserts back in the day comment
Anthony made the same mistake BC made, coming up one SP short for a 5-man rotation!