2018-2019 Pittsburgh Pirate Baseball Club Off-Season Thread of Despair

Postby **Troy Loney** » Tue Jan 29, 2019 4:19 pm

Pitchers and Catchers report in 2 weeks.

Postby **Freddy Rumsen** » Tue Jan 29, 2019 5:08 pm

Only two weeks left in despair.

Postby **Sam's Drunk Dog** » Tue Jan 29, 2019 5:13 pm

And then a full season of chronic depression

Postby **Dickie Dunn** » Mon Feb 04, 2019 4:20 pm

@Ken_Rosenthal

Free-agent left-hander Francisco Liriano in agreement with #Pirates, sources tell The Athletic.

Shoot me.

Postby **willeyeam** » Mon Feb 04, 2019 4:34 pm

Championship

Postby **Freddy Rumsen** » Mon Feb 04, 2019 4:38 pm

Minor league deal

Postby **MrKennethTKangaroo** » Mon Feb 04, 2019 4:38 pm

yo dawg, I heard you like retreads, so I signed you a retread of a retread

Postby **Troy Loney** » Mon Feb 04, 2019 4:40 pm

As long as he doesn't come near the rotation.

Postby **Sam's Drunk Dog** » Mon Feb 04, 2019 8:40 pm

Maybe this time around we can trade him and some prospects for a new water cooler for the clubhouse.

Postby **Troy Loney** » Tue Feb 05, 2019 8:46 am

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/2019-zips-p ... h-pirates/

I think this is a bit of Rorschach test for Pirate fans, either a solid roster that can compete for the playoffs, or a good team that a signing or two could put over the top.

Postby **willeyeam** » Tue Feb 05, 2019 9:09 am

I have a hard time believing Newman winds up with a 1.6 WAR

Postby **Troy Loney** » Tue Feb 05, 2019 9:12 am

I have a hard time believing Newman winds up with a 1.6 WAR

It's 100% based on providing some defensive value. They project him to slash 261/307/349

Postby **willeyeam** » Tue Feb 05, 2019 9:13 am

I have a hard time believing that slash line will happen either

Postby **Troy Loney** » Tue Feb 05, 2019 9:18 am

I don't either, in the sense that, there is no way anyone with that slash line is going to get 550 at bats.

Postby **willeyeam** » Tue Feb 05, 2019 9:24 am

jordy mercer would like a word with you

Postby **Troy Loney** » Tue Feb 05, 2019 9:26 am

jordy mercer would like a word with you

He was only that bad one year, 2015, when he was very, very bad.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/play ... jo03.shtml

I think Kang might have been playing some SS that year because Mercer only had 430 abs

Postby **willeyeam** » Tue Feb 05, 2019 9:34 am

.699 career OPS, .656 projected for Newman's 1st year.. close enough. He's a little worse at the plate and a little better in the field, I call it a wash

Postby **Troy Loney** » Tue Feb 05, 2019 9:40 am

I'm with you, if Newman is the starting SS, it is literally the only seemingly plausible option that is actually a downgrade from 2018 Mercer.

I think my only point is that if Newman were to not exceed those low expectations, he would not be starting.

Postby **willeyeam** » Tue Feb 05, 2019 9:41 am

I agree. I just hope they sign someone because I did not like what I saw from the Seinfeld combo one bit

Postby **Morkle** » Tue Feb 05, 2019 10:29 am

This team gets harder to watch and support year after year.

Postby **King Colby** » Tue Feb 05, 2019 10:30 am

Everyone complained about no 3rd outfielder last year and they ended up with dickerson on feb 22. There's no way they start the year without a shortstop. I think whenever the rest of the league's rosters start to take shape they'll end up with a castoff who will likely be underwhelming but still an upgrade over whatever they have now.

Postby **Viva la Ben** » Tue Feb 05, 2019 10:36 am

Is Pokey Reese looking for a team?

Postby **willeyeam** » Tue Feb 05, 2019 10:37 am

I hope so

Postby **willeyeam** » Tue Feb 05, 2019 10:37 am

that was @kc but it also applies to vlb's post

Postby **willeyeam** » Tue Feb 05, 2019 10:38 am

also hi @King Colby welcome back