2020 Pittsburgh Pirates Baseball Club Thread

[Morkle]

speaking of hope....this thread is 20 days old. when last year's thread was 20 days old, there were 5 pages of discussion

go bucs

I don't know, I have absolutely zero desire to even follow the team this year, even peripherally.

[willeyeam]

My interest in the pirates remains high but my interest in the pirates 2020 season couldn't be lower. If this was MVP 05 I would sim the season and see what Cherington does next winter

[King Colby]

I am starting to be a little more optimistic after the fangraphs top 100 prospects features 6 pirates.

Also I have a weird feeling that the pitching is going to be pretty good.

Hopefully its more like 3 years to competitive relevance instead of 5.

[Troy Loney]

They need too many things to go right in the next couple of years.

[faftorial]

I'll be watching until the full suckiness kicks in.

[robbiestoupe]

Source of the post Also I have a weird feeling that the pitching is going to be pretty good.

That is weird. But it's not too far from what I think will happen - the pitching is not as bad as it showed last year, and will rebound to a more respectable middle of the pack this year.

[Morkle]

how does the optimism keep happening with this team, when it absolutely deserves/warrants none of it? Every year, conversations like this happen, and then they absolutely do nothing to warrant that discussion.

Like Troy said, they need to have perfect years every year, for it to work, and this team hasn't shown that yet, and I would bet a lot that this new management team, who won't even say they're rebuilding, aren't going to get it perfect.

[willeyeam]

i mean he said 3 years til competitive relevance it's not like he predicted a championship this year

[Morkle]

I think that's how indignant I am about this team. They're not even three years away. They're always at most 5, and likely 10, and that's if the Pirates stop being the Pirates.

[Troy Loney]

There is definitely zero optimism for 2020.

Teams like the D-backs and Padres have rebuilt on fast timelines, but also spent money. That the Pirates have so little to show for from Cole, Glasnow and Meadows is a massive black mark on the prior front office and coaching staff. But at the same time, NH did make some sneaky good trades for Cruz and Thomas, guys that could have big impacts.

In terms of the 3-5 year timeline, I think you have to assume that 2020 and 2021 are basement dwelling seasons, so best case is that in year 3 they start to look like a .500 team that hangs around the WC race.

I think this trade deadline could be something, could possibly see Musgrove, Bell, Frazier, Polanco, Kela all moved.

[willeyeam]

we really need to hope Polanco can stay healthy and have a decent couple months

lol

[Troy Loney]

we really need to hope Polanco can stay healthy and have a decent couple months

lol

He pretty much needs to be all-star caliber just so a team would be willing to take the contract.

[Morkle]

lol Polanco will be hurt by late June, I bet.

[DigitalGypsy66]

Man, I do love baseball though. I really can't be arsed to watch other MLB teams though. I find the Braves still make me nauseous after all of these years, too. Maybe I'll stick with college baseball this season.

[faftorial]

Man, I do love baseball though. I really can't be arsed to watch other MLB teams though. I find the Braves still make me nauseous after all of these years, too. Maybe I'll stick with college baseball this season.

on both points.

[King Colby]

Man, I do love baseball though. I really can't be arsed to watch other MLB teams though. I find the Braves still make me nauseous after all of these years, too. Maybe I'll stick with college baseball this season.

Usually I watch until I find a team to get behind. I took a liking to the Nats last year because they didnt have Harper anymore.

[King Colby]

how does the optimism keep happening with this team, when it absolutely deserves/warrants none of it? Every year, conversations like this happen, and then they absolutely do nothing to warrant that discussion.

Like Troy said, they need to have perfect years every year, for it to work, and this team hasn't shown that yet, and I would bet a lot that this new management team, who won't even say they're rebuilding, aren't going to get it perfect.

Based on some of the national prospect lists, it seems like they have a better farm system than they get credit for in Pittsburgh. I just dont think they're as bad off as I originally thought, or as most people say (and secretly hope) they are, or as they were when NH came.

I think it's being understated just how badly the previous organizational philosophy had players performing well below their abilities, at all levels, and just getting back to basics will be impactful in that regard. That can mean improving trade value of current major leaguers as well as uncovering some new and unexpected prospects.

Dont worry. I still think theyll be bottom 5 for the next 3 years and the major league product is going to get worse before it gets better. I'm with ulf in that I want to just fast forward to the trade deadline and then next winter.

[Freddy Rumsen]

[Morkle]

how does the optimism keep happening with this team, when it absolutely deserves/warrants none of it? Every year, conversations like this happen, and then they absolutely do nothing to warrant that discussion.

Like Troy said, they need to have perfect years every year, for it to work, and this team hasn't shown that yet, and I would bet a lot that this new management team, who won't even say they're rebuilding, aren't going to get it perfect.

Based on some of the national prospect lists, it seems like they have a better farm system than they get credit for in Pittsburgh. I just dont think they're as bad off as I originally thought, or as most people say (and secretly hope) they are, or as they were when NH came.

I think it's being understated just how badly the previous organizational philosophy had players performing well below their abilities, at all levels, and just getting back to basics will be impactful in that regard. That can mean improving trade value of current major leaguers as well as uncovering some new and unexpected prospects.

Dont worry. I still think theyll be bottom 5 for the next 3 years and the major league product is going to get worse before it gets better. I'm with ulf in that I want to just fast forward to the trade deadline and then next winter.

The only hope I do have, with this management team, is that they can figure out how to either A) develop these prospects, because the farm doesn't really mean anything if they can't make it to MLB or B) flip assets for people that actually can play baseball.

[Beveridge]

If there is ever a year to see what you got, this is it. New management, new staff. Let Hayes, Keller, etc go in head first.

[Troy Loney]

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/top-42-pros ... h-pirates/

Best non-paywall review of the Pirates farm system.

[Beveridge]

The only bright spot for Pirates being only team to yet win in Spring Training is the Marlins are the only team not to lose yet.

Obviously Spring Training isn't a sign of things to come!

[faftorial]

If there is ever a year to see what you got, this is it. New management, new staff. Let Hayes, Keller, etc go in head first.

[Sam's Drunk Dog]

John Ryan Murphy has a serial killer's name

[LeopardLetang]

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/top-42-pros ... h-pirates/

Best non-paywall review of the Pirates farm system.

Wow thank you. Never knew they did one this detailed for that many players

After the top 3 these outlets are all over the place especially outside the pirates top 10. There are 42 on here and i could bump 20 of them down below 20 guys they didn't mention. One positive is all the outlets still have faith in lots of last years draftees that almost all underperformed excluding the GCL outfielders