2024 Pirates Season Thread

Post by **King Colby** » Sun Apr 07, 2024 3:56 pm

He had all 375 pounds of rowdy right in his view

Post by **MrKennethTKangaroo** » Sun Apr 07, 2024 3:57 pm

MrKennethTKangaroo wrote: ↑Sun Apr 07, 2024 3:05 pm O’s ate doing lots of things that good teams do in this game

Gr8 observation

Post by **Ad@m** » Sun Apr 07, 2024 3:57 pm

Post by **Sam's Drunk Dog** » Sun Apr 07, 2024 6:22 pm

This is fun

Post by **dodint** » Sun Apr 07, 2024 6:38 pm

For now...

Post by **faftorial** » Sun Apr 07, 2024 7:33 pm

Someone ban him from this thread.

Post by **dodint** » Sun Apr 07, 2024 7:36 pm

Post by **willeyeam** » Mon Apr 08, 2024 4:12 pm

Post by **MrKennethTKangaroo** » Mon Apr 08, 2024 4:38 pm

Can’t hurt his strikeout rate amiright???!!?!

Post by **Troy Loney** » Mon Apr 08, 2024 5:02 pm

I'm ready to lay down a marker for Mitch in tonight's game.

Mackey has been alluding to issues with Keller since early spring. And he's having to avoid his most effective pitches because of strain on the arm/elbow (apparently).

With pitchers going down left and right, it shouldn't be a surprise if Keller is a part of that.

Post by **Troy Loney** » Mon Apr 08, 2024 8:23 pm

Troy Loney wrote: ↑Mon Apr 08, 2024 5:02 pm I'm ready to lay down a marker for Mitch in tonight's game.

Mackey has been alluding to issues with Keller since early spring. And he's having to avoid his most effective pitches because of strain on the arm/elbow (apparently).

With pitchers going down left and right, it shouldn't be a surprise if Keller is a part of that.

He looks good.

Post by **King Colby** » Mon Apr 08, 2024 8:31 pm

Post by **Troy Loney** » Mon Apr 08, 2024 8:40 pm

I like rowdy pushing Cruz there

Post by **Ad@m** » Mon Apr 08, 2024 9:18 pm

Post by **willeyeam** » Mon Apr 08, 2024 9:47 pm

Raise it

Post by **MrKennethTKangaroo** » Mon Apr 08, 2024 11:01 pm

Reassuring start by mitch

Post by **willeyeam** » Tue Apr 09, 2024 7:50 am

Best record in baseball

Post by **Troy Loney** » Tue Apr 09, 2024 8:14 am

The Rowdy HR, the Gunnar error, and Chapman's H last night are my favorite moments thus far this year.

Cruz needs to be better, that error in the 8th was bad.
McCutchen looked so much better at the plate yesterday. Good swings and command of the zone. He looked a mess in FL. And that's important to extending the lineup.

1-3: Cruz, Reynolds, Hayes (set)
4-6: McCutchen, Suwinski, Tellez, Joe, Olivares (rotates)
7-9: Triolo, Taylor, Davis, Bart

The top has been consistent enough, and the bottom has been a big plus. Joe is doing damage from everywhere, but outside of the LH starters, he's been in the middle. They do need McCutchen to give those kinds of at bats from the middle.

Post by **MrKennethTKangaroo** » Tue Apr 09, 2024 8:40 am

I really appreciate the quality of Joe’s at bats. He’s definitely a professional hitter and this is the type of team that needs someone like that in the middle of the order.

Post by **Troy Loney** » Tue Apr 09, 2024 8:56 am

Indeed, it's like we have our own Justin Turner

Post by **genoscoif** » Tue Apr 09, 2024 9:53 am

Chapman has been exactly what everyone hoped we were getting when he signed, but weren't really sure still existed. He didn't just close the door yesterday, he broke the glass insert after slamming it in DET face. If he continues to be lights out, it might be interesting to see how him and Bednar are deployed. Not really naming Chapman the closer over The Renegade *cringe*, but more like situational closing, if that makes sense. I viewed him as more of a luxury than a need going into the season and really, really hated him when he was a Red, but man he's won me over. The classic Darius Kasparaitus effect.

Absolutely loved the Rowdy - Cruz interaction yesterday. Nothing too harsh, nothing that would reach the point of publicly embarrassing Cruz, but a definite 'nudge' toward 'this is our job, not just a game to have fun with' kinda thing. That's good leadership, IMO. And Cruz really needs to work on his defense. He's a bit of a 'fingers crossed' SS at the moment, and I had enough for a lifetime of that with El Toro's throws.

I really enjoy watching this team play right now. Gritty and engaged. Their record is a bit of a smoke and mirrors show given the extra innings and very timely bounces, but I'll take it. They are putting themselves in a position for those breaks to matter.

Post by **Troy Loney** » Tue Apr 09, 2024 10:09 am

genoscoif wrote: ↑Tue Apr 09, 2024 9:53 am Chapman has been exactly what everyone hoped we were getting when he signed, but weren't really sure still existed. He didn't just close the door yesterday, he broke the glass insert after slamming it in DET face. If he continues to be lights out, it might be interesting to see how him and Bednar are deployed. Not really naming Chapman the closer over The Renegade *cringe*, but more like situational closing, if that makes sense. I viewed him as more of a luxury than a need going into the season and really, really hated him when he was a Red, but man he's won me over. The classic Darius Kasparaitus effect.

I would say that this is shaping up to be the ideal situation.

You obviously want a good reliever in the traditional closer role because the last outs are always high leverage. The closer's usage is pretty clear, but then with Chapman as the late inning option, you have some flexibility with his deployment. Obviously handles the 8th in close games, but really great to be able to use him to put out fires like last night.

Hopefully when Mlozinski and Holderman come back, they won't have relievers creating messes like that last night,

Post by **King Colby** » Tue Apr 09, 2024 10:23 am

Man, I really like Rowdy... hes a leader and a gutsy ball player. Did not expect that at all. All I saw was a fat doofus

Post by **King Colby** » Tue Apr 09, 2024 10:24 am

Holderman is definitely a mess creator. Reminds me of early days Tony Watson aka MATW (per @Rocco)

Post by **Troy Loney** » Tue Apr 09, 2024 10:27 am

genoscoif wrote: ↑Tue Apr 09, 2024 9:53 am I really enjoy watching this team play right now. Gritty and engaged. Their record is a bit of a smoke and mirrors show given the extra innings and very timely bounces, but I'll take it. They are putting themselves in a position for those breaks to matter.

I am guessing they are leading the league in infield singles.

But they are also stranding a ton of runners and fielding terribly. I know they had a really high BABIP in the Marlins series, but I also think that has come down a bit.

While Joe and Taylor are producing at unsustainable levels, everyone else is in line or well below projections (Suwinksi/Davis)