The Official 2017 Pittsburgh Pirates Baseball Season Thread

[columbia]

Where's that rube Kong Colby? He's the one that told me that I didn't understand what they had in Niese.

Outside of anything that grunty says, that was probably the dumbest thing ever expressed here.

[NailedPenguin]

8 RBI for Cutch

[Ad@m]

Cutch 4-4 with 2 HR's and 8 RBI

[dodint]

Better late than never.

[Freddy Rumsen]

https://twitter.com/adamdberry/status/9 ... 2420310018

[DigitalGypsy66]

https://twitter.com/joe_block/status/913215656379715584

[beerman]

Nice way to finish out the home season with some good wins.

It's made their top 10 pick status come into a little bit of doubt though: currently tied with the A's for 9/10 and 2 GB of 8th place Atlanta. Miami (11) is only 1 GB and the Jays (12) and O's (13) are both just 1.5 GB. Need some losses down in Washington.

[MrKennethTKangaroo]

kuhl did have a nice stretch as a start but he should just get it over with and go straight to the bullpen.

Williams ended up with a sub 4 ERA as a starter

So at least that brings some optimism

Frazier looking less like Pressley 2.0 and more like a guy that can actually be productive

Freese isn't that bad but isn't that great either

[Troy Loney]

kuhl did have a nice stretch as a start but he should just get it over with and go straight to the bullpen.

Williams ended up with a sub 4 ERA as a starter

So at least that brings some optimism

Frazier looking less like Pressley 2.0 and more like a guy that can actually be productive

Freese isn't that bad but isn't that great either

If Freese and Frazier are your two top guys coming off the bench, then you're in decent shape. I think there should be a lot of questions around whether Polanco should be handed the starting job, I think they just have no choice but to assume Marte and McCutchen are 3-4 WAR guys next year. If Meadows weren't in the same position as Polanco, his presence would eliminate the need for Polanco contingency planning, but as it stands, I think its important to get a starting 3B and an OF that could either push Polanco to the bench or stand in if he doesn't establish himself early in the season.

[willeyeam]

I think you have to get a somewhat competent right handed hitting RF to platoon with Polanco or at least make it appear that way enough to give him some competition to get his ass in gear as well as giving yourself a decent 4th OF.

You have to just assume Kang isn't coming back and get a 3B. Freese isn't going to cut it every day. So yeah I am in agreement with Troy. Need another #2 or #3 type starter too but that isn't very likely to happen if you ask me

[MrKennethTKangaroo]

Luplow is probably going to get looks as the platoon guy for Polanco.

[Troy Loney]

I think they have the pieces for a perfectly competent pitching staff, so I don't see the need to bring in another starter. I think they could probably manage in the OF with Luplow getting an increased role and hope that Meadows' health improves and he can emerge as a mid-season option. I think all signs point to spending resources to upgrade the left side of the infield.

[beerman]

Yeah, I'm fine with giving Luplow a shot to be that guy. Agree with ulf on the #2-3 starter, I think you just assume Cole/Taillon take the top two spots but it would be really nice to get someone to slot between those two and Nova/Williams.

Still if the rotation goes in as Cole, Taillon, Nova, Williams and Kuhl/Brault/Glasnow (lol) that's probably the most comfortable opening day rotation since 2015?

3B is the key they can't drag their feet until mid to late January hoping Kang is coming back and then get stuck searching the scrap heap or turning to some massive Freese/SeanRod/Frazier/Harrison platoon. I'd love to see them take a stab at a guy like Todd Frazier, his defense is still average to slightly above and while he doesn't hit for a ton of average he'll still get you plenty of homers. No idea what he might be looking for though. Now that I'm done dreaming my real point is bring in someone who can legitimately handle the position and then if by some chance Kang is allowed back, then that's a really good problem to have.

[willeyeam]

I think they have the pieces for a perfectly competent pitching staff, so I don't see the need to bring in another starter. I think they could probably manage in the OF with Luplow getting an increased role and hope that Meadows' health improves and he can emerge as a mid-season option. I think all signs point to spending resources to upgrade the left side of the infield.

I'm not sure how you could feel comfortable going into next year with this same rotation

[columbia]

There seems to be very little chance that they would acquire (through whatever means) a 3 or higher starter.

[Troy Loney]

I think they have the pieces for a perfectly competent pitching staff, so I don't see the need to bring in another starter. I think they could probably manage in the OF with Luplow getting an increased role and hope that Meadows' health improves and he can emerge as a mid-season option. I think all signs point to spending resources to upgrade the left side of the infield.

I'm not sure how you could feel comfortable going into next year with this same rotation

They were in the top half of the league in runs allowed with a starting rotation with three guys in their first full season. I think Williams, Kuhl and Taillon all earned starting spots for 2018. Nova probably wore down, he can likely give them at least a strong first half next year.

[MrKennethTKangaroo]

RE: Starting rotation. Lets keep in mind that this rotation had a freakishly healthy rotation this season. There were no major pitching related injuries and they only used like 7 or 8 starters all season. There is a 0.0% chance that the rotation stays this healthy next season. So if anything, they could use an FA starter if only for depth.

[willeyeam]

Oh and the Bucs didn't get a start from a lefty until Brault a few weeks ago. Let's try one of those next year

[Troy Loney]

Here's the TL 2018 plan.

Starting rotation - Cole, Taillon, Nova, Williams, Brault/Kuhl (one in the bullpen, the other in the rotation. I think both have earned a spot and wouldn't argue against either of them having that sport, or being in the bullpen).

Bullpen - Rivero - (resign Nicasio or Watson) - Kontos - Glasnow - Schugel - someone - someone. Glasnow clearly has to have some success at the ML level and will have to be nursed into it. I fear the guy is still all raw skill at this point and no tact. He has had to expend all his mental energy harnessing his stuff and doesn't seem to be capable of tactically pitch at this level. Gotta learn from the ground up, he's a smart guy, he'll figure out how to utilize his freakish stuff in a way that gets guys out.

[MrKennethTKangaroo]

Rivero
Hudson
Kuhl
Dovydas
Schugel
Kontos
Some piece of crap lefty

[Dickie Dunn]

The Marlins are going to be shitcanning Jim Benedict. The Pirates should bring him back.

[MrKennethTKangaroo]

Is jeets going to have some underling fire benedict, just like he didn't have the guts to fire McKeon and conine?

[Dickie Dunn]

Is jeets going to have some underling fire benedict, just like he didn't have the guts to fire McKeon and conine?

Yes. Jeets is bringing in all of his own baseball people.

[willeyeam]

Pirates need to get Benedict back

[robbiestoupe]

Summary of our predictions:
Dickie: 75-87
robbiestoupe: 74-88

Down to you and me for Mr. Pessimist 2017