2024 Pirates Season Thread

[King Colby]

He had all 375 pounds of rowdy right in his view

[MrKennethTKangaroo]

O’s ate doing lots of things that good teams do in this game

Gr8 observation

[Ad@m]

[Sam's Drunk Dog]

This is fun

[dodint]

For now...

[faftorial]

Someone ban him from this thread.

[dodint]

[willeyeam]

[MrKennethTKangaroo]

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

[Troy Loney]

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.

[Troy Loney]

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.

[King Colby]

9K

[Troy Loney]

I like rowdy pushing Cruz there

[Ad@m]

[willeyeam]

Raise it

[MrKennethTKangaroo]

Reassuring start by mitch

[willeyeam]

Best record in baseball

[Troy Loney]

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.

[MrKennethTKangaroo]

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.

[Troy Loney]

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

[genoscoif]

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.

[Troy Loney]

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,

[King Colby]

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

[King Colby]

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

[Troy Loney]

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)