Hey what's up. Glad to see you're actively posting again. I don't believe it's a honda. Just not a whole lot of excitement in the off-season so far. I think the team will compete for another WC if Cole can stay healthy/effective, Taillon is a serviceable # 3 and they can get something out of some of the young guys (although I have concerns about Glasnow). The outfield is still pretty darn good. Bell will hopefully be an upgrade at 1st compared to the slop that we've had at that position for many years. The rest of the infield is ok but nothing special.monessen said:A honda? Fred, what's up? Is something wrong?
Yours is actually a more favorable viewpoint than mine. The health of this club ought to be a concern. Except for McCutchen and Mercer---neither of whom tore it up last season---the other starting players missed chunks of time last year. No word if Cole is 100%, and other key pitchers have an injury history. Further, overall depth is more suspect than usual. If this crew wins 80 games, that'd be an achievement.Hey what's up. Glad to see you're actively posting again. I don't believe it's a honda. Just not a whole lot of excitement in the off-season so far. I think the team will compete for another WC if Cole can stay healthy/effective, Taillon is a serviceable # 3 and they can get something out of some of the young guys (although I have concerns about Glasnow). The outfield is still pretty darn good. Bell will hopefully be an upgrade at 1st compared to the slop that we've had at that position for many years. The rest of the infield is ok but nothing special.
Yup my view is definitely optimistic and everything probably needs to break right for them to make a WC run. The Cubs will be great but I think the Cards may finally have a down year.Yours is actually a more favorable viewpoint than mine. The health of this club ought to be a concern. Except for McCutchen and Mercer---neither of whom tore it up last season---the other starting players missed chunks of time last year. No word if Cole is 100%, and other key pitchers have an injury history. Further, overall depth is more suspect than usual. If this crew wins 80 games, that'd be an achievement.
Did well in a start versus Tampa. Baltimore? Not so much.Well, Drew Hutchison was on a roll
Boston today? Rather poor showing by Hutchison. Looks grim. May make the squad and pitch in long relief so as to prevent the Liriano trade from resembling a total fiasco.Did well in a start versus Tampa. Baltimore? Not so much.
It may have been teams did their research on Kang, which is why the Bucs' modest bid was the winner a couple of years back. Teams didn't want to risk a lot on the player. He was denied a work visa to leave Korea today, so his season's in doubt.Was Kang known to have potential issues before he came to the USA?
Including the posting fee, the Pirates committed $16M for Kang. That was unprecedented for a Korean hitter. I don't recall any recall any public discussion of personal issues but there were plenty of concerns about his leg kick and how his KBO stats would translate.It may have been teams did their research on Kang, which is why the Bucs' modest bid was the winner a couple of years back. Teams didn't want to risk a lot on the player. He was denied a work visa to leave Korea today, so his season's in doubt.
And, considering his best position may be DH, since his MLB fielding skills don't exactly inspire a lot of confidence in a pitching staff . . .Including the posting fee, the Pirates committed $16M for Kang. That was unprecedented for a Korean hitter. I don't recall any recall any public discussion of personal issues but there were plenty of concerns about his leg kick and how his KBO stats would translate.
Am a little worried that Polanco's shoulder has flared up this early. That's a lefty power bat sorely needed. Yes, his performance in the WBC was encouraging. Let's hope he stays on track. I guess they'll bat him 5th, though clean-up wouldn't be a bad choice.
Thanks for starting this up, mon. I'm reading some good things about Polanco out of the WBC so far. Being in the same division as the Cubs and Cards makes it tough to be optimistic when you shop at K-Mart while they shop at Tiffany's, but I think the lineup looks solid, especially if Cutch can bounce back. We're going to need someone to emerge in the rotation, though.
Hurdle is loyal to a fault. I think they've gotta give Cutch a couple weeks to see if there's any hope. I don't think there's any baseball related thing that I want to happen more than Cutch figuring it out, but I just don't think it's going to happen.Can anyone tell me why Cutch is batting 3rd?
Yeah. They gave him all of last year to shake out of it and it really hurt the team. I would rather they drop him to 6 or 7 and if he starts hitting then move him up then.Hurdle is loyal to a fault. I think they've gotta give Cutch a couple weeks to see if there's any hope. I don't think there's any baseball related thing that I want to happen more than Cutch figuring it out, but I just don't think it's going to happen.
1. OffenseThe Red Sox are helping the Pirates pinpoint targets for team improvement.
Since today's game is sold out, it will be played, irrespective of 35-degree weather and snow flurries.If there are no other games postponed for the next 10 days, Ivan Nova may have to pitch a series finale in New York against the Yankees. Am not sure the Bucs want that scenario. Wouldn't be a surprise if Brault or someone is called up to pitch April 13th in Boston.
Drunken Cowboy said:Slow to post about the buccos this year. I am excited for today's game though. Glasnow is a key to the season if he can throw the ball over the plate, the Pirates should have a string starting rotation and I think win 90. Big if though.
Well I guess not. Not even sure he gets another start before being sent down. That was terrible.Drunken Cowboy said:Slow to post about the buccos this year. I am excited for today's game though. Glasnow is a key to the season if he can throw the ball over the plate, the Pirates should have a string starting rotation and I think win 90. Big if though.
Coming back to win the game would help Glasnow's psyche.The good news is that Finnegan can't find the plate either. Rally caps!
Honestly I doubt it. I agree that he needs to be sent down and next time he's brought up should be in the bullpen. I know it's WAY too early to make a judgment on him but I'm not sure that he'll ever be a legitimate starter in this league. He only has 2 pitches and has always had control issues. That won't work against major league hitters. I'm just hoping he can become a dominant reliever at some point.Coming back to win the game would help Glasnow's psyche.
The bats will warm up.fred_1_15301 said:This team is a disaster and I don't see it changing anytime soon.
You can add that Glasnow is a complete disaster.Bucs are going to use Frazier at short to spell Mercer today versus Arrieta. Didn't know Frazier had any experience at short, and figured Hanson is on the roster for that purpose. This bench is not a team strength, bullpen's been shaky, everyone's shown inconsistency in some capacities. First-base has been a vast wasteland. Must improve in many areas for this squad just to be considered decent.
This weekend was the first time I have seen the Pirates this year. What stuck out the most was how aggressive they were on the basepaths. It seemed like they were always pushing for that extra base, and that unnerved the Cubs defense which led to bad and hurried throws (on Sunday Heyward had a brutal throw to home that opened the floodgates).Sweep of the Cubs ?
I hope that trend continues. They're not as talented as the Cubs so they need to do something to gain an advantage.This weekend was the first time I have seen the Pirates this year. What stuck out the most was how aggressive they were on the basepaths. It seemed like they were always pushing for that extra base, and that unnerved the Cubs defense which led to bad and hurried throws (on Sunday Heyward had a brutal throw to home that opened the floodgates).