Coming into the spring, the bullpen was the one spot on the team I thought looked solid. Not so sure now. Moreta's gone. Holderman, Selby and Nicolas have been really bad. Nobody's stepped forward. I was hopeful about Ben Heller, but he's been hurt.
Meanwhile, they've had a surprising amount of power, but most of it is coming from guys who're slated for Indy or even Altoona. Tellez, otoh, looks awful. And they seem to be hiding Grandal.
Hopefully it wasn’t Dr. Joseph Maddon who made that diagnosis. If it was it would mean that he really has a displaced lateral tibial plateau fracture and lateral meniscus repair……..
Cherington has been saved from himself. Don't wish ill on anyone, especially ill health, and I hope Grandal can come back, but this will help the Pirates since they cannot make excuses with Davis any longer.
I'd put him just ahead, by a hair, of Delay and Sanchez... maybe even with Sanchez. Whatever the case, it was money that should have gone to starter and instead ended up feeding Cherington's hobby of hoarding washed up BB kings.
And I am fine with this pushing Davis' name in the starting lineup more often. Davis starts and Delay as backup - I'm good to go. It gives Davis time to establish himself as the starter without 'people' feeling the need to start the 'veteran' 4 times a week. I don't wish injuries on anybody but this may work out for the better. And in the perfect world Grandal comes back healthy with Davis established as the 1 and Grandal can act as a good backup.
Lamb basically can only play the corners and he won't be replacing Tellez regardless of what he does in camp so unless he takes Triolo's spot then he won't be rostered. He would be nice insurance at Indy though for when Tellez inevitably breaks down.
From what I have seen, I would take Lamb over Tellez, but they seem pretty locked in on Tellez. With Tellez have pretty weak seasons in 2021 and 2023, it would be nice see him playing with the urgency and effort that Lamb has.
“Don’t put any stock in ‘em at all,” Shelton said. “... Our guys are taking good swings, but the little things are why we’re going to be successful offensively.”
That's from a Alex Stumpf article on mlb.com/pirates where they are basically saying they haven't hit a lot of home runs the past few years because they were playing small ball, lol. If he thinks all the fundamental blunders in running the bases and failing at bunting is part of their attempt at small ball then he needs to realize they are really fucking bad at it, lol.
This will be Shelton's 4th year in the Managerial Tutorial Program. BC signed him up because he knew he could never successfully complete the program and this would give BC the ability to play both GM and Manager. Winds him up daily and points him in the direction of the dugout. He's a nice guy, but not much more than that should be expected.
We've seen enough baseball in our lives to know how small ball is played Mel, lol. I have no clue what comes from the dugout as plays because after every fail Shelton blames it on the players not "executing".
So... how much longer will the Pirates try pound the square peg of solid reliever Ortiz into the round hole of the rotation? Do Ortiz and yourself a favor and move him to the bullpen so he can get going in the show and have success.
Coming into the spring, the bullpen was the one spot on the team I thought looked solid. Not so sure now. Moreta's gone. Holderman, Selby and Nicolas have been really bad. Nobody's stepped forward. I was hopeful about Ben Heller, but he's been hurt.
Meanwhile, they've had a surprising amount of power, but most of it is coming from guys who're slated for Indy or even Altoona. Tellez, otoh, looks awful. And they seem to be hiding Grandal.
And it turns out Grandal has plantar fasciitis.
Hopefully it wasn’t Dr. Joseph Maddon who made that diagnosis. If it was it would mean that he really has a displaced lateral tibial plateau fracture and lateral meniscus repair……..
Cherington has been saved from himself. Don't wish ill on anyone, especially ill health, and I hope Grandal can come back, but this will help the Pirates since they cannot make excuses with Davis any longer.
Hopefully it works out that way. Of the four catchers on the roster, I’d rank Grandal last.
I'd put him just ahead, by a hair, of Delay and Sanchez... maybe even with Sanchez. Whatever the case, it was money that should have gone to starter and instead ended up feeding Cherington's hobby of hoarding washed up BB kings.
That surely won't linger all year.
Oh... unfortunately, it can linger quite a while... up to a year.
And I am fine with this pushing Davis' name in the starting lineup more often. Davis starts and Delay as backup - I'm good to go. It gives Davis time to establish himself as the starter without 'people' feeling the need to start the 'veteran' 4 times a week. I don't wish injuries on anybody but this may work out for the better. And in the perfect world Grandal comes back healthy with Davis established as the 1 and Grandal can act as a good backup.
Hunter Stratton as the one bright spot I guess? But I agree, I was hoping some of the borderline guys wouldnt implode quite this much
Flowers is actually looking promising as depth option.
Wow, Holderman didn't hold up too well.
Having a relief pitcher is like owning a hamster. Don't get too attached because they're going to be dead in three years at the most.
I've never been a fan of Chapman but if they can get anything out of him this season I'm all for it. So yeah, not a member of his fan club, lol.
This Aroldis signing is looking even better.
Chapman's a decent get for helping a bullpen get better or at least I hope it works out.
He made a fan out of me at Pirate City when he spent 20 minutes coming out conversing with fans, signing and getting pictures taken. Very friendly.
Brault is good, I actually think that he could do play by play.
That's his goal.
Brault would be far better than anyone they have, except maybe Capps, who does a good job, I'd opine.
Joe Block or GTFO.
Said no one ever. Not even his wife.
CSN, Davis and Lamb all with bombs. CSN over bae and palacios? Lamb got a shot at the roster?
It should just be nice to know that in AAA we'll have CSN, Celestino, McKinney, Lamb, and probably Gonzales and Bae as decent depth options.
Yep, Celestino is the only one I can see with an outside shot of making the 26 man do to his defensive ability. Not on the 40 man.
Lamb basically can only play the corners and he won't be replacing Tellez regardless of what he does in camp so unless he takes Triolo's spot then he won't be rostered. He would be nice insurance at Indy though for when Tellez inevitably breaks down.
From what I have seen, I would take Lamb over Tellez, but they seem pretty locked in on Tellez. With Tellez have pretty weak seasons in 2021 and 2023, it would be nice see him playing with the urgency and effort that Lamb has.
Yeah I don’t see a path either but he looks like he might be a good back up plan for Tellez.
“Don’t put any stock in ‘em at all,” Shelton said. “... Our guys are taking good swings, but the little things are why we’re going to be successful offensively.”
That's from a Alex Stumpf article on mlb.com/pirates where they are basically saying they haven't hit a lot of home runs the past few years because they were playing small ball, lol. If he thinks all the fundamental blunders in running the bases and failing at bunting is part of their attempt at small ball then he needs to realize they are really fucking bad at it, lol.
Ugliest version of small ball I've seen.
If Shelton would have said the players have trouble hitting because 'the ball looks small' I might believe him, lol.
This will be Shelton's 4th year in the Managerial Tutorial Program. BC signed him up because he knew he could never successfully complete the program and this would give BC the ability to play both GM and Manager. Winds him up daily and points him in the direction of the dugout. He's a nice guy, but not much more than that should be expected.
We've seen enough baseball in our lives to know how small ball is played Mel, lol. I have no clue what comes from the dugout as plays because after every fail Shelton blames it on the players not "executing".
So... how much longer will the Pirates try pound the square peg of solid reliever Ortiz into the round hole of the rotation? Do Ortiz and yourself a favor and move him to the bullpen so he can get going in the show and have success.
The beatings will continue, etc.
I guess it will happen eventually if the prospects knocking on the door pan out.
It's called hope, as in they are hoping they don't have to ask Bob to open his wallet and get a starting pitcher, lol.