2018 Pittsburgh Pirates In-Season Thread

Postby **Freddy Rumsen** » Tue Jul 24, 2018 9:01 pm

Dickerson burnt his hands off.

Postby **Freddy Rumsen** » Tue Jul 24, 2018 9:08 pm

UPDATE ON COREY: Corey Dickerson was removed from this evening's game due to left hamstring discomfort. We'll have more info when it is available.

Postby **Dickie Dunn** » Tue Jul 24, 2018 9:11 pm

Left hamstring? Might as well be dead.

Postby **willeyeam** » Tue Jul 24, 2018 10:10 pm

NH should honestly make a move tomorrow. Even if it's not much I think it'd help to show they're doing something. A middle reliever would be nice

Postby **willeyeam** » Tue Jul 24, 2018 10:11 pm

Raise 11t

Postby **Freddy Rumsen** » Tue Jul 24, 2018 10:12 pm

Pirates reportedly have 'legitimate interest' in trade for Rangers closer Keone Kela

https://mobile.twitter.com/PittsburghPG ... 5414825984

Postby **count2infinity** » Tue Jul 24, 2018 10:13 pm

Postby **willeyeam** » Tue Jul 24, 2018 10:15 pm

Pirates reportedly have 'legitimate interest' in trade for Rangers closer Keone Kela
https://mobile.twitter.com/PittsburghPG ... 5414825984

There we go

Postby **Dickie Dunn** » Tue Jul 24, 2018 10:37 pm

Anything to prevent another Brault appearance. Kela's first year of arbitration is next year, so he'd be a multi-year addition.

Postby **willeyeam** » Wed Jul 25, 2018 7:26 am

6 back from the Cubbies

Postby **Freddy Rumsen** » Wed Jul 25, 2018 7:55 am

The Cardinals are a giant mess and the Brewers are struggling. Good times.

Postby **Troy Loney** » Wed Jul 25, 2018 8:34 am

UPDATE ON COREY: Corey Dickerson was removed from this evening's game due to left hamstring discomfort. We'll have more info when it is available.

He seemed to imply it was nothing. I think he'll take a couple games off just to be safe.

Postby **MrKennethTKangaroo** » Wed Jul 25, 2018 8:51 am

i dont know if Musgrove is going to end up being a worthwhile pitcher in the long run, but if nothing, pirates fans and yinzers in general should be in love with the guy because he is an athlete that pitches, hes kind of a tough guy, hustles on the base paths, etc. plus he looks and talks like some dude from plum that you see in the south side every once in a while

Postby **DigitalGypsy66** » Wed Jul 25, 2018 8:54 am

I loved the effort on the popup behind the plate. I don't think I've seen another pitcher run 8-10 feet behind home plate trying to make a catch. Diaz called him off, and probably called him nuts as well.

Postby **Troy Loney** » Wed Jul 25, 2018 9:03 am

Pirates reportedly have 'legitimate interest' in trade for Rangers closer Keone Kela
https://mobile.twitter.com/PittsburghPG ... 5414825984

Rosenthal just tweeted that the Pirates are exploring a number of different upgrade opportunities. including relief pitchers.

I didn't think that upgrading the bullpen was a huge priority, but of course if they got a stud to pitch the 8th and move Crick down to a more flexible role, that would of course be a boost. Adding to the rotation would push Kingham out, so I think that you're only looking at solid rotation options as potential adds. Kuhl should pitch again this year, but he's probably looking at a bullpen role.

I hope the Pirates have an idea for what to expect from Cervelli. If he were to come back fully healthy and play like he did to start the season, that would be quite a boost. I think 2B is the obvious lineup spot to target, but I would still really like them to see if Kramer can hang.

Postby **MrKennethTKangaroo** » Wed Jul 25, 2018 9:04 am

Preferences:

a. Starting pitcher
b. reliever for 7th or 8th
c. a legit bench piece (could be jung ho kang)
d. a legit shortstop or 2b

Postby **MrKennethTKangaroo** » Wed Jul 25, 2018 9:18 am

hot take warning:

id also be interested in a third baseman. yes, moran is having a nice rookie season and yes I think he might be a worthwhile player in the future.

but his fangraph WAR is 0.0 (bluto blutarsky). his ops is 17th out of 21 for qualified third basemen. 19 out of 21 in home runs.

maybe jung ho helps out. maybe they swing for the fences (lol) and try for josh Donaldson.

Postby **Troy Loney** » Wed Jul 25, 2018 9:20 am

i dont know if Musgrove is going to end up being a worthwhile pitcher in the long run, but if nothing, pirates fans and yinzers in general should be in love with the guy because he is an athlete that pitches, hes kind of a tough guy, hustles on the base paths, etc. plus he looks and talks like some dude from plum that you see in the south side every once in a while

He also seems like a super high floor rotation piece, his performance this year actually compares really well to what Cole had been providing for this team in the past.

Postby **Troy Loney** » Wed Jul 25, 2018 9:24 am

hot take warning:

id also be interested in a third baseman. yes, moran is having a nice rookie season and yes I think he might be a worthwhile player in the future.

but his fangraph WAR is 0.0 (bluto blutarsky). his ops is 17th out of 21 for qualified third basemen. 19 out of 21 in home runs.

maybe jung ho helps out. maybe they swing for the fences (lol) and try for josh Donaldson.

Doesn't seem like Jung Ho is in the picture this year. Do you know why Donaldson has been trash all year? I agree with the Moran sentiment, I think adding another piece to the 2B, rotation is important, if it's even something that can move Harrison and Moran into more part time roles, I think that makes the IF stronger.

Postby **DigitalGypsy66** » Wed Jul 25, 2018 9:38 am

Man, I had forgotten that Josh Harrison swings at bad pitches all the time. His second or third at bat last night he struck out and not a single ball pitched to him was a strike.

Postby **Dickie Dunn** » Wed Jul 25, 2018 10:01 am

hot take warning:

id also be interested in a third baseman. yes, moran is having a nice rookie season and yes I think he might be a worthwhile player in the future.

but his fangraph WAR is 0.0 (bluto blutarsky). his ops is 17th out of 21 for qualified third basemen. 19 out of 21 in home runs.

maybe jung ho helps out. maybe they swing for the fences (lol) and try for josh Donaldson.

Every qualified 3B in MLB except one is having a better season, both offensively and defensively, than Moran. That's setting the bar pretty damn low for defining a "nice rookie season". Drop the number of qualifying PAs down to 250 and he ranks 29 out of 32 third basemen, 28th in offensive WAR, 29th in defensive WAR, 27th in HR, 29th in ISO, 27th in flyball %, etc. etc. etc. No matter how many "unqualified" players you add to the list his numbers still suck just as bad.

Dude is a 6'4" beanpole who can't field, can't run the bases, and can't hit for power. Before the season Fangraphs did a profile detailing Moran's transformation from ground ball hitter to fly ball hitter:

2013: 46% ground balls
2014: 53%
2015: 44%
2016: 47%
2017: 34%

This year he's back up to 43.2% ground balls with the number getting worse with each month (40.0%, 41.0%, 44.6%, 48.1%). Now some of that could be just trying to adjust to a full season of MLB pitching, but in general I don't think his bat is ever going to make up for his defensive deficiencies at the position. I expect he'll get moved to 1B before his career his career is over and as a Pirate the best case scenario is for him to be an adquate placeholder at the position until Ke'Bryan Hayes is ready, which could be as early as September of next season.

Postby **Troy Loney** » Wed Jul 25, 2018 10:24 am

Getaway lineup for the ages today.

Luplow LF
Marte CF
Polanco RF
Moran 3rd
Bell 1st
Freese DH
Rodriguez 2nd
Mercer SS
Stallings C

I think they need to start seeing something from Moran today. His OPS has dropped 50 points this month to a Mercer like .733. I like him when he was in the 770-780 range, but this is not what you want from your everyday 3B.

Postby **DigitalGypsy66** » Wed Jul 25, 2018 1:34 pm

Welp, Marte was hit in the hand with a 95 mph fastball and left the game. Frazier was called up this morning, Sadler optioned. So now Frazier's batting second behind Jordan Luplow.

Fun while it lasted.

Postby **Dickie Dunn** » Wed Jul 25, 2018 2:35 pm

The dream is dead.

Postby **willeyeam** » Wed Jul 25, 2018 2:40 pm

sell everyone