24 Comments
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ballsandgutters's avatar

nice job WTM

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Mel Schuster - emjayinTN's avatar

Thanks for the coverage of these three guys. Gotta like Jackson Wolf, especially after the glowing support from BA. Maybe the "Tall, LHSP's take longer to develop" theory will play out to our benefit. The numbers for SD at A+ (Ft Wayne) - 7-8, 4.01 ERA, 22 Starts/119 IP, 10.13/3.33 K/BB/9 are very strong numbers. Gave up only 91 hits, but 16 were HR's.

Estuar Suero came to the Pirates and a crowded group of CF's. Nice stats with SD especially the 4 HR. With SD he was being groomed for CF, but the Pirates had him at the corners more than in CF which could change in 2024 at A. Hopefully Jase Bowen is at AA and they clear out the rest and allow Lonnie White, Jr and Shalin Polanco to share CF at A+, with Suero getting the most in CF at A.

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Eric Gaumann's avatar

Thanks to whoever captioned all three photos with each of the players names.

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1979andCounting's avatar

Love them photos WTM! Are those size 14's on Reed!

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WTM's avatar

At least.

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NMR's avatar

Is Suero a baby giraffe or just super lanky?

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WTM's avatar

Strikes me as less awkward than Polanco, fwiw.

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NMR's avatar

Whew.

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JT412's avatar

Excited about the lotto ticket in Suero. Still wondering why BC picked 30 relievers in the last couple drafts

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NMR's avatar

They got sniped, the only explanation that makes sense.

The risk with "optimizing" your draft strategy is that any of the other 29 teams can blow it up with a single pick. You can either power through it and fail to sign guys like Huntington, or fall back on best player you have on the board.

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TNBucs's avatar

I think it's because once you get past the first few rounds, it's really hard to find (and sign) quality starters or position players. However, you might find a future elite reliever, often a failed starter. It makes some sense, even though drafting players beginning around Round 5 that only project to be relievers isn't very exciting.

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Melkel's avatar

I get that approach, I just wish they would look in their own back yard for the prep position player or pitcher. Imagine drafting Wetherholt in 2021 instead of Graham or Rincon in 2022 even the lefty out of Mt. Lebo in 2023 (Freshman at Auburn). Any of these would have most likely signed for $500,000 or less out of high school (Rincon signed for less than $200,000). It's one area I feel they have totally neglected and there is some potential. I'm not talking about the guys that are national prospects like Cole Young, but the developmental prospects. They're fairly easy to take a good look at because most do have D1 offers and you can find their price easily with a little communication.

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Scott Kliesen's avatar

Isn’t it obvious? BC believes if Pirates have best bullpen in MLB, and most bullpen depth in MLB, it will make up for lack of offense.

Or maybe, he plans on turning bullpen guys into OFers?

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WTM's avatar

Your future Pirate RF: Owen Sharts.

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Bucsfan2023's avatar

The player we all needed, but didn’t deserve to succeed.

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WTM's avatar

I haven’t been that disappointed in a guy being cut since Henry Henry.

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John Six's avatar

Suero sounds interesting. Would love to see how he might handle Bradenton.

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WTM's avatar

The most interesting part to me is how much he resembles Polanco when he first got to the GCL.

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John Six's avatar

After what happened to Polanco and Cruz as the result of slides I would make sure these tall guys get some extra attention on making better decisions on their slides. Those were freaky injuries and along with the spate of TJ's for our pitchers I believe the Buc's are cursed, lol.

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Melkel's avatar

Harbin and Reed both need to stay in the pen and work in high leverage situations in my opinion unless the God of Control/Command bestows them a blessing. Suero is like a scratch off lottery that already has several of the grand prizes numbers revealed but the hardest 2 to get haven't been uncovered yet (hit tool and power).

I like these 3 picks though, quite a bit.

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PirateRican21's avatar

Does the Guardians do the opposite, draft guys with control and somehow teach them to throw harder? Anyway, I like their way better! No need to offer sacrifices to the Control god!

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Melkel's avatar

It seems they do look for control with project ability or athleticism that they can get to repeat their delivery.

I like the prep and college arms the pirates have drafted in the top few rounds since BC has been hired (2020 doesn't count as much do to the pandemic). Not overly impressed with the later rounds do to the quantity approach without command.

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PirateRican21's avatar

Do the guardians……

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NMR's avatar

...GO ON.

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