OT: Raise the Jolly Roger: Congrats to the Houston Cheaters on their win

[ImporterExporter]

Like DJ and I were talking about last night, he is making in game adjustments. This time vs a pretty decent lefty. Just based on that, I know he'll be better offensively than Polanco long term.

I would like to add, that he's now been on first with 2 outs, twice and we haven't let him run.

Turn him loose DS.

 

[ChaosAgent]

This has been a fascinating game (just catching up on DVR) - probably going to be a loss but very encouraging.

Both our lefty bashers made hay. We don't stand a chance against good lefties unless Chavis and/or Castillo go off. When Castillo gets locked in it looks impossible to send him down. Guy clearly has average-above average hitting ability. We need to keep him here...again, we are so bad against lefty pitching there isn't a single game he shouldn't face lefties. SS, 2B, DH, whatever.

I skipped through a lot of the 2nd inning but that was as good as I've ever seen Keller stuff-wise. Don't know if it's a good or a bad thing that he gives up 3ER on his best stuff/control night ever.

Cruz's 3rd AB was a thing of beauty and huge credit to him for the adjustment on Springs. Best AB he's had so far. Awesome stuff.

 

[Gallatin]

Tip of the cap to Keller. Really battled to keep that 3-3. He's showing progress.

Also, can we take a moment and talk about the fact that Hoy Park could have done everything for you that Chang did, except better. Just strange why teams do what they do. I'm honestly wishing there was a way to talk to Cherington and get a no BS answer.

We need a Cruz moon shot! Come on OC!!

I have no doubt they've seen something in Chang for years. And now they got him, they want to make sure.

I do think the time is near however.

 

[ImporterExporter]

Vieux has been impressive thus far. Man would it be sweet to have another back end lefty out of the pen, long term.

 

[Gallatin]

I feel like Cruz's contact skills are way better than what Fangraphs puts them at.

He sometimes has some bad plate discipline, but I really don't understand the 30/40 hit tool they gave him.

Yeah it's the same thing with Jack Suwinski. The grades are a gross mismatch for what we're seeing on the field right now.

 

[ChaosAgent]

Gorski is becoming an important prospect for us IMO.

Just the ability to potentially bash lefties, hit right-handed and get up here quickly...if he keeps raking in Altoona he should be here end of July. Just my opinion. There is no way that Suwinski and especially Mitchell (and Swaggerty) could hit lefties better than him.

 

[ImporterExporter]

Gorski is becoming an important prospect for us IMO.

Just the ability to potentially bash lefties, hit right-handed and get up here quickly...if he keeps raking in Altoona he should be here end of July. Just my opinion. There is no way that Suwinski and especially Mitchell (and Swaggerty) could hit lefties better than him.

He's got to keep it up in AA but yeah, he's pulling off what Fraizer couldn't so far. He hit his first AA homer in front of me and my son a few weeks back and it was an absolute tank. If he hammers the ball the rest of the year, he'll start to really create some buzz.

 

[NewAgeOutlaw]

Wisler is out here throwing a wiffle ball slider.

What the hell is that pitch? Who throws a pitch like that?

 

[ChaosAgent]

He's got to keep it up in AA but yeah, he's pulling off what Fraizer couldn't so far. He hit his first AA homer in front of me and my son a few weeks back and it was an absolute tank. If he hammers the ball the rest of the year, he'll start to really create some buzz.

Fraizier has low-key been the most disappointing prospect. His momentum just stalled and imploded this year. He went from non-prospect to prospect to non-prospect again. He did do better in May-June but he's still below where he was last year at the same level.

 

[ImporterExporter]

Ho-hum, Bae with another 2 hit night. 2 RBI's.

 

[Gallatin]

This has been a fascinating game (just catching up on DVR) - probably going to be a loss but very encouraging.

Both our lefty bashers made hay. We don't stand a chance against good lefties unless Chavis and/or Castillo go off. When Castillo gets locked in it looks impossible to send him down. Guy clearly has average-above average hitting ability. We need to keep him here...again, we are so bad against lefty pitching there isn't a single game he shouldn't face lefties. SS, 2B, DH, whatever.

I skipped through a lot of the 2nd inning but that was as good as I've ever seen Keller stuff-wise. Don't know if it's a good or a bad thing that he gives up 3ER on his best stuff/control night ever.

Cruz's 3rd AB was a thing of beauty and huge credit to him for the adjustment on Springs. Best AB he's had so far. Awesome stuff.

Yeah I've been playing catch up all night too. I just can't get over how much fun games like this are right now. There's so much going on, and so much possibility.

 

[ChaosAgent]

Wisler is out here throwing a wiffle ball slider.

What the hell is that pitch? Who throws a pitch like that?

It's good to know that you can still have different types of pitchers in baseball. Including one-pitch junkballers whose one pitch isn't a smokeshow but still highly effective.

Hot Take: Matt Wisler is good for baseball

 

[Gallatin]

Gorski is becoming an important prospect for us IMO.

Just the ability to potentially bash lefties, hit right-handed and get up here quickly...if he keeps raking in Altoona he should be here end of July. Just my opinion. There is no way that Suwinski and especially Mitchell (and Swaggerty) could hit lefties better than him.

Gorski's my top breakout hitter this year. He's turned himself into a real prospect. One with impressive power.

 

[ChaosAgent]

Yeah I've been playing catch up all night too. I just can't get over how much fun games like this are right now. There's so much going on, and so much possibility.

My attention span has definitely been ruined by screens at this point.

That said, I don't watch sports for the 25-30 seconds between the action where the announcers yuck it up and the players adjust their junk. I watch for the action itself. If I am able to step away for 15 minutes and do something else and then go back and watch both halves of an inning - each pitch - in 2 minutes...it's a no brainer.

 

[NewAgeOutlaw]

These teams are really bad at hitting, as advertised.

 

[ChaosAgent]

If we got an org's 5-6th prospect - let's say a RHSP in High-A - for Chavis and Quintana at the deadline - would we be opposed?

I think there will be a lot, a lot, of interest in Chavis. Playoff teams will hoard guys who can bash a lefty. He plays very good D at first too. That said I'm no longer interested in trading for purely lottery tickets. If we have to bundle our guys to get a more material asset back in return, let's do that.

 

[Gallatin]

My attention span has definitely been ruined by screens at this point.

That said, I don't watch sports for the 25-30 seconds between the action where the announcers yuck it up and the players adjust their junk. I watch for the action itself. If I am able to step away for 15 minutes and do something else and then go back and watch both halves of an inning - each pitch - in 2 minutes...it's a no brainer.

Matt Gorski Has Been Getting Work at First Base This Year | Pirates Prospects

www.piratesprospects.com

Matt Gorski is the Pirates Prospects Player of the Month for May - Pirates Prospects

Matt Gorski had an incredible month for power with Greensboro, which resulted in him getting promoted to Double-A Altoona for the last week of May. Before leaving Greensboro, he put up a 1.409 OPS with 12 homers in 71 plate appearances in the first three weeks of May. He then homered in his...

www.piratesprospects.com

Matt Gorski Named as South Atlantic League Player of the Month - Pirates Prospects

MiLB announced the monthly award winners around the minors yesterday, and the Pittsburgh Pirates were represented on that list by outfielder Matt Gorski. He won for the High-A South Atlantic League, though he's been with Double-A Altoona for nearly two weeks. Gorski was recently named as the...

www.piratesprospects.com

 

[ChaosAgent]

Matt Gorski Has Been Getting Work at First Base This Year | Pirates Prospects

www.piratesprospects.com

Matt Gorski is the Pirates Prospects Player of the Month for May - Pirates Prospects

Matt Gorski had an incredible month for power with Greensboro, which resulted in him getting promoted to Double-A Altoona for the last week of May. Before leaving Greensboro, he put up a 1.409 OPS with 12 homers in 71 plate appearances in the first three weeks of May. He then homered in his...

www.piratesprospects.com

Matt Gorski Named as South Atlantic League Player of the Month - Pirates Prospects

MiLB announced the monthly award winners around the minors yesterday, and the Pittsburgh Pirates were represented on that list by outfielder Matt Gorski. He won for the High-A South Atlantic League, though he's been with Double-A Altoona for nearly two weeks. Gorski was recently named as the...

www.piratesprospects.com

I've always enjoyed Dreker's logic, even if he has no additional access.

That said, he's talking AAA by next year and I think the org has shown that it will blur the lines between AA/AAA/MLB. We are in desperate, desperate need of guys that can hit lefties. If he keeps going at the current rate, I expect to see him in Pittsburgh pretty soon.

 

[Gallatin]

I've always enjoyed Dreker's logic, even if he has no additional access.

That said, he's talking AAA by next year and I think the org has shown that it will blur the lines between AA/AAA/MLB. We are in desperate, desperate need of guys that can hit lefties. If he keeps going at the current rate, I expect to see him in Pittsburgh pretty soon.

Agreed. The thing about Gorski that I just love is he's a legit CF, a legit 1B, and a strong Corner Outfielder. With all that power...

I didn't buy-in until I saw the power translate to AA, but now that it has, I'm open minded to him forcing his way into the MLB line-up this summer. The tool-kit's quite intriguing.

 

[td_ice]

Ugh, not a good AB there by Cruz.

 

[ChaosAgent]

So Hayes wasn't even available off the bench. Hope it's only 1 more day down and then he's back up.

Ultimately any organization that has 5+ lefties on their pitching staff should beat the Pirates every time. It's Chavis, Castillo and no one else.

 

[Gallatin]

So Hayes wasn't even available off the bench. Hope it's only 1 more day down and then he's back up.

Ultimately any organization that has 5+ lefties on their pitching staff should beat the Pirates every time. It's Chavis, Castillo and no one else.

And there's a good reason we might see Gorski this year.

 

[ChaosAgent]

Banda getting himself back in the circle of trust. Badly needed given the Croweplosion.

 

[DJ Spinoza]

Basically a toss up now with this stupid extra innings stuff, which given how the game started, we would have easily taken. Lots of individual positives in the game -- winning would be great, since we've got basically no chance on Sunday.

 

[td_ice]

Ok, guy at 3b, no outs.