2018 Pittsburgh Pirates In-Season Thread

[Troy Loney]

Maybe Iglesias?

But yeah, I watched the last two games. Two night ago he airmailed a throw on a charging play, then last night he short hopped a throw on a routine play, that Bell couldn't scoop, because Bell is a bad first baseman.

[willeyeam]

I dont know if the pirates are doing any soul searching but this gentleman has done some soul searching

Starting pitching isnt cheap but the pirates managed to piece together a pretty damn good rotation. I dont know if Musgrove or Williams are sustainably good pitchers, but the pirates should be ok with keller and other various dudes nearing the major leagues.

At this point, its seems pretty obvious that the 2019team will go as far as the pitching will take them. The starting rotation is set, and the bullpen is basically set (unlike this season, when the opening strategy for the bullpen was an abject failure). Quality bats aren’t cheap, but defense is relatively affordable compared to offense. I’d say that defense probably #2 on the list of reasons why the pirates didn’t make the playoffs (#1 would be disappointing performances bell, polanco, and uneven production from marte). So imo the best idea would be for the pirates to look at upgrading the defense via free agency. I think its a lot more realistic than upgrading the offense, and it would go a long way to helping the pitching staff

Newman is not a good shortstop, his arm sucks, having him at ss and bell at first would lead to abject disaster. The imperative has to be to get a short stop in the offseason. They can get someone to platoon with Moran at third until Hayes is ready. An all glove no bat shortstop can’t be that expensive.

They’re going to **** re-sign Mercer aren’t they?

Also, if Newman can’t play SS he has little value. His bat can’t really play anywhere elsewhere and if I need to decide between Newman or Kramer at 2B, give me the guy who at least has some pop in his bat.

Frazier has 2B locked down at this point no?

[MrKennethTKangaroo]

imo frazier and Williams are in the same boat. they deserve their spot in the lineup but if they struggle, no sense in waiting for them to turn it around.

[Dickie Dunn]

I dont know if the pirates are doing any soul searching but this gentleman has done some soul searching

Starting pitching isnt cheap but the pirates managed to piece together a pretty damn good rotation. I dont know if Musgrove or Williams are sustainably good pitchers, but the pirates should be ok with keller and other various dudes nearing the major leagues.

At this point, its seems pretty obvious that the 2019team will go as far as the pitching will take them. The starting rotation is set, and the bullpen is basically set (unlike this season, when the opening strategy for the bullpen was an abject failure). Quality bats aren’t cheap, but defense is relatively affordable compared to offense. I’d say that defense probably #2 on the list of reasons why the pirates didn’t make the playoffs (#1 would be disappointing performances bell, polanco, and uneven production from marte). So imo the best idea would be for the pirates to look at upgrading the defense via free agency. I think its a lot more realistic than upgrading the offense, and it would go a long way to helping the pitching staff

Newman is not a good shortstop, his arm sucks, having him at ss and bell at first would lead to abject disaster. The imperative has to be to get a short stop in the offseason. They can get someone to platoon with Moran at third until Hayes is ready. An all glove no bat shortstop can’t be that expensive.

They’re going to **** re-sign Mercer aren’t they?

Also, if Newman can’t play SS he has little value. His bat can’t really play anywhere elsewhere and if I need to decide between Newman or Kramer at 2B, give me the guy who at least has some pop in his bat.

Frazier has 2B locked down at this point no?

If it wasn’t for Polanco not knowing how to slide I would say yes. Wouldn’t surprise me if Frazier spends the first half of next season bouncing around a bunch of positions again.

[willeyeam]

yeah true.. But my hope is they'll find another Dickerson type to hold the fort until Polanco is back and slide into the 4th OF spot. Preferably a right handed hitting OF

[MrKennethTKangaroo]

#22

[Troy Loney]

https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/free-agents/outfield/

There are a lot of options here.

But, I could see the market being insane this offseason. I can see a lot of teams like the Phillies, Braves, Brewers, Cardinals spending big this offseason.

[willeyeam]

#22

perfect fit to be honest. not worth the crankiness that will result from him moving to the bench though

[willeyeam]

https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/free-agents/outfield/

There are a lot of options here.

But, I could see the market being insane this offseason. I can see a lot of teams like the Phillies, Braves, Brewers, Cardinals spending big this offseason.

a lot of options? woof

[Troy Loney]

Brantley, Pollock and Gonzalez.

[willeyeam]

Brantley is gonna get paid imo

Pollock would be great and I'd be thrilled. Gonzalez, no thanks to a 3rd LH OF

tldr we'll end up with Pearce

[willeyeam]

Kuhl decided to get Tommy John after being on the DL for five months. Nice

[Freddy Rumsen]

#22 is not good.

[Freddy Rumsen]

Pirates will have a new low single A affiliate next year.

Seattle Times reporter @RyanDivish reports the West Virginia Power are now a Seattle Mariners affiliate. Power’s deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates expired at the end of the 2018 season. Power is slated to host the 2019 South Atlantic League All-Star game.

https://mobile.twitter.com/TomBraggSpor ... 2966402053

[Troy Loney]

Not sure how those decisions are made, but I feel like it would make more sense for the Power to be a Pirate affiliate than Seattle.

[Freddy Rumsen]

According to further reporting on this the power have never been very happy with the Pirates as a organization and you'll be shocked to hear why.

They did not want to give them proper financial support that other Affiliates received.

[Dickie Dunn]

That is quite the odd geographic affiliation. The Mariners previous Low-A affiliate was the Clinton LumberKings, based in Clinton, Iowa. The LumberKings will now be the Low-A affiliate of the Marlins, which I guess opens up the Greensboro Grasshoppers for the Pirates?

[Troy Loney]

MLB should centralize the minor league finances. It is amazing how MLB just allows the benefits of being a big market team trickle down to every facet of the game.

[Dickie Dunn]

MLB should centralize the minor league finances. It is amazing how MLB just allows the benefits of being a big market team trickle down to every facet of the game.

The minor league system in professional baseball needs a lot of work. The payscale in particular is atrocious and needs a major overhaul.

[MrKennethTKangaroo]

That is quite the odd geographic affiliation. The Mariners previous Low-A affiliate was the Clinton LumberKings, based in Clinton, Iowa. The LumberKings will now be the Low-A affiliate of the Marlins, which I guess opens up the Greensboro Grasshoppers for the Pirates?

generally speaking the pirates have been pretty lucky to have geographic synergy (I threw up in my mouth a bit using such a buzzword mishmash right there) in their minor league system. I think the last time they had a really far away affiliate were those few seasons when the Calgary cannons were the AAA team. otherwise, everything is pretty close by. western teams are at a disadvantage just because there aren't as many leagues out west. The giants AA team is in the eastern league (the flying squirrels of Richmond)

[Freddy Rumsen]

Already rumors floating around that West Virginia Power will change their color scheme and name back to Charleston.

[MrKennethTKangaroo]

btw one of my professional goals in life is to own a minor league baseball team.

[dodint]

In my mind KtK now looks like Amanda Peet.

[Dickie Dunn]

That is quite the odd geographic affiliation. The Mariners previous Low-A affiliate was the Clinton LumberKings, based in Clinton, Iowa. The LumberKings will now be the Low-A affiliate of the Marlins, which I guess opens up the Greensboro Grasshoppers for the Pirates?

generally speaking the pirates have been pretty lucky to have geographic synergy (I threw up in my mouth a bit using such a buzzword mishmash right there) in their minor league system. I think the last time they had a really far away affiliate were those few seasons when the Calgary cannons were the AAA team. otherwise, everything is pretty close by. western teams are at a disadvantage just because there aren't as many leagues out west. The giants AA team is in the eastern league (the flying squirrels of Richmond)

Oh well. **** the west coast. Looks like the White Sox didn't re-up their PDC with the Kannapolis Intimidators, so that gives the Pirates two SAL teams to choose from.

And to your credit, Calgary (95-97) was the last time they had an affiliate that made zero sense geographically. They had some craziness back in the day though. Portland from 79-82, Hawaii from 83-86, and then Vancover for 1987. I remember Bob Walk telling stories about playing for the AAA team in Hawaii. No one wanted to get called up. Live in Honolulu, play extremely long series to cut down on travel costs, when at home they'd play double headers on Sunday with Mondays off so other teams could travel, and they team would just go party and BBQ on the beach.

[Freddy Rumsen]

Kannapolis would be better for me than Greensboro.