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

[Gallatin]

Endy Rodriguez 3-4 with a homer & 2 doubles so far tonight.

 

[Empoleon8771]

The kind of stretch the Pirates have had recently is enough to destroy any sort of optimism you have with this team going forward.

I'm jumping on the Mariners train at this point, since I already live out in Seattle. I just can't watch a Pirates game at this point because they're so god damn bad. The stretch since the Orioles series (4-17) should result in this entire coaching staff getting fired tomorrow, but they appear to have no problems with being so atrociously awful.

 

[ChaosAgent]

The kind of stretch the Pirates have had recently is enough to destroy any sort of optimism you have with this team going forward.

I'm jumping on the Mariners train at this point, since I already live out in Seattle. I just can't watch a Pirates game at this point because they're so god damn bad. The stretch since the Orioles series (4-17) should result in this entire coaching staff getting fired tomorrow, but they appear to have no problems with being so atrociously awful.

It is truly appalling how the brain trust has allowed a lack of belief and loser culture to seep into the team.

This is going to ruin more prospects. All of whom are getting downgraded to begin with, sans Endy and maybe Priester.

 

[MrBrightside]

It is truly appalling how the brain trust has allowed a lack of belief and loser culture to seep into the team.

This is going to ruin more prospects. All of whom are getting downgraded to begin with, sans Endy and maybe Priester.

They were 24-28 on June 5. Since then they are 23-51, a 50-win pace for almost an entire half of a season. It’s just unacceptable no matter how you viewed this season. Obviously the regression or lack of development of prospects is the bigger deal, but they’ve played at a historically awful level for three months and no one cares.

 

[Gallatin]

They were 24-28 on June 5. Since then they are 23-51, a 50-win pace for almost an entire half of a season. It’s just unacceptable no matter how you viewed this season. Obviously the regression or lack of development of prospects is the bigger deal, but they’ve played at a historically awful level for three months and no one cares.

Personally, never expected anything from this season except 50 something wins. Then the Fighting Suwinski's started changing my mind, and then it all came apart again.

 

[cookthebooks]

shelton is the definition of replacement level (being generous) as a manager. get rid of him and at least send a message

 

[DJ Spinoza]

I think the most significant problem is how big the gap is between what this team needs to be and what this team is. Washington is god awful and even a few weeks ago, it seemed like it would be difficult to sink down to their level in the standings. Now, they are entirely within reach, and I think you can probably make an argument that they are a better team. We probably have some better guys and look better on paper, to an extent, but it's just impossible to overstate how bad the current situation is.

Even setting aside the new draft lotto which will make it a crapshoot whether we pick 1st or 6th, if we want to go full-on shameless optimism and make analogies to how bad the Astros stretch was before they got good, there's always a big step missing from that comparison: they spent lavishly in free agency to bolster their team and then still continued to spend (including prospect capital) when they got good.

The Pirates are both not at that level and not going to spend anywhere near what the Astros did. Other than just pure financial guarantee, I have no idea why I'd want to sign an extension this winter if I were Reynolds. I highly doubt one will even be offered to him -- I have no real idea what the actual plan is, and Hayes' contract needs to be set to one side, I think. Until there's actual effort around extending Reynolds, adding talent, or extending a prospect long-term, the plan seems to simply amount to tanking and hoping for the best.

 

[NewAgeOutlaw]

I could not care less about the draft lottery. The first round of the baseball draft is much more of a crapshoot than any other sport's.

At this point, I would simply be happy if they release Van Meter before the season is up. The fact that he has lasted until near september is a testament to how this organization has no serious desire to improve.

 

[ChaosAgent]

I could not care less about the draft lottery. The first round of the baseball draft is much more of a crapshoot than any other sport's.

At this point, I would simply be happy if they release Van Meter before the season is up. The fact that he has lasted until near september is a testament to how this organization has no serious desire to improve.

To be honest even the draft itself isn't that important compared to prospects you acquire via trade.

Like, look at the 2020 draft. Gonzales is probably our 7th-9th ranked prospect, Mlod is in the 30-40 range and Jones is 10-12. You'd take the Taillon trade over the 2020 draft.

It's on BC & his front office to prove they can develop players. Having a hard time caring about any minor leaguers when all of them blow chunks when exposed to the majors.

 

[since70]

I'm watching the pre game, and I realized everything about the product the Pirates put out is mediocre to below. The pregame is awful. We all know about the on field product, and the announcing crews are flat and uninteresting, and the post game is practically a rinse repeat of the pre game, it's like the entire organization is devoid of any thing resembling a reason to watch.

 

[sovietsanta87]

I'm watching the pre game, and I realized everything about the product the Pirates put out is mediocre to below. The pregame is awful. We all know about the on field product, and the announcing crews are flat and uninteresting, and the post game is practically a rinse repeat of the pre game, it's like the entire organization is devoid of any thing resembling a reason to watch.

Dont forget the atmosphere around the park on gameday. no energy. No fun. There are days you can walk around the park and not even know a game was about to take place.

I honestly don’t know how the league can continue to allow this to happen this off-season. There wont be a mandatory decision but you have to think someone calls this front office and says “you need to do better “

 

[Gallatin]

Dont forget the atmosphere around the park on gameday. no energy. No fun. There are days you can walk around the park and not even know a game was about to take place.

I honestly don’t know how the league can continue to allow this to happen this off-season. There wont be a mandatory decision but you have to think someone calls this front office and says “you need to do better “

Luck with that.

I noticed when Cruz started the game there was an exuberance to his movements, he looked excited, appeared locked in and confident. Was thinking to myself he's looking very dangerous - and boom - 110mph Triple.

Those harping on him batting 1st have more ammunition IMO.

 

[since70]

He should bat first every time he's in the lineup, if it gets him additional at bats.

 

[Gallatin]

Loving how Contrares is battling through fastball troubles today. That slider is ++ today.

And Syndergaard is a bonus.

 

[Gallatin]

Really enjoyed Predator's 8 pitch 3rd AB against Syndergaard today. Even though they got him out, the process was there IMO.

In particular, noticed him sitting on & swinging under a breaking ball. Haven't seen much of that from him so far, and it's essential we do in the future IMO. I feel like today's Oneil Cruz has a shot at greatness. Most days so far, not so much.

We're at that point this Summer where we see what this guy is really made of. A month before the call-up I was on here insisting he needed to fail first in order to succeed. The last month has been failure and I'm seeing a response I can get behind here, at least today.

 

[since70]

Someone needs to overhaul Hayes approach to hitting this winter, it's like he intentionally opens his hips every at bat to stay back on the ball, and all it does is generate nothingness to right. He just looks consistently overmatched to me.

 

[ChaosAgent]

Someone needs to overhaul Hayes approach to hitting this winter, it's like he intentionally opens his hips every at bat to stay back on the ball, and all it does is generate nothingness to right. He just looks consistently overmatched to me.

The thing that's discouraging is that I don't think it's a "simple adjustment" of being able to then convert his exit velos into actual production.

The whole package of him as a hitter is this slap happy, slicey, early extension crap and that's how he squares up baseballs.

I think it's possible that if he changes his approach he may lose what he's good at. Still probably worth trying but the long and short of it is that the guy isn't a very good hitter. If you can make good contact while playing pepper to 2B/RF that's all you are.

 

[since70]

When they showed the replay of his single today his hands were so far in front of the bat head it looked like he was dragging a telephone pole thru the zone

I can't believe I'm about to win money on the Pirates today. Had them to win and a nice parlay on the side

 

[ChaosAgent]

When they showed the replay of his single today his hands were so far in front of the bat head it looked like he was dragging a telephone pole thru the zone

I can't believe I'm about to win money on the Pirates today. Had them to win and a nice parlay on the side

Congrats!

Yes, I like Hayes' eye but at this point I consider the hard hit balls and the contact spray charts with the 0 degree EV and the right field fixation part of the same package

I'm no swing mechanics genius but when you see the arms extended so early and the head dipping so much, there basically isn't any room to actually release the bat head through the zone. As such getting ahead of baseballs will be unnatural to him. Aside, occasionally, from down and in pitches where he has the space to get the bat going through. He's "stuck."

 

[DJ Spinoza]

I think it's going to be an extreme uphill battle for Hayes to overhaul his approach simply because this kind of offensive player is the player he always was. He has the raw tools in terms of bat speed and strength to tap into a lot more power, but I am skeptical he would do it. I hope I am wrong.

Nice to see the Pirates win in person and put together a solid game from top to bottom today. Cruz needs to just be stapled to the top of the order and I guess bumped down for the LHPs. Marcano was an absolute stalwart on defense today, and Roansy was sharp if not overly efficient.

I do have to say, totally unrelated but the Phillies gameday experience is truly awful. The ushers simply do not even do anything at all, so people are constantly, constantly coming in and out during the games. The speakers are blaringly loud, and the pretty good seats I had on the 1B side were basically not tilted towards the plate, so it's an awkward view which makes the people standing and moving around even worse. The stadium itself isn't as bad as I used to think, I guess, but everything else is terrible. It's like there's no norms around how you should behave at games, and given the skulldragging morons who populate metropolitan Philadelphia, especially the suburbs where almost all Phillies fans are from, it's not really a surprise.

I was mercifully spared from last night's game, but Friday was miserable and then boring. Glad I got to see a good Roansy start and a Cruz triple (though I have no idea why Vierling dove for it).

 

[ImporterExporter]

People already freaking out over Johnson's awful start in FCL/low A.....If he's doing this by next summer, OK, panic.

 

[DJ Spinoza]

Yeah I mean he's played 4 games in Bradenton. FCL (and DSL for that matter) are not even really anything you can draw conclusions from, stats-wise. If he plays every day for the rest of Bradenton's season, he'll end up with like 12 or 13 games total. It's a cup of coffee to get his feet wet in pro ball.

 

[Gallatin]

I think it's going to be an extreme uphill battle for Hayes to overhaul his approach simply because this kind of offensive player is the player he always was. He has the raw tools in terms of bat speed and strength to tap into a lot more power, but I am skeptical he would do it. I hope I am wrong.

Nice to see the Pirates win in person and put together a solid game from top to bottom today. Cruz needs to just be stapled to the top of the order and I guess bumped down for the LHPs. Marcano was an absolute stalwart on defense today, and Roansy was sharp if not overly efficient.

I do have to say, totally unrelated but the Phillies gameday experience is truly awful. The ushers simply do not even do anything at all, so people are constantly, constantly coming in and out during the games. The speakers are blaringly loud, and the pretty good seats I had on the 1B side were basically not tilted towards the plate, so it's an awkward view which makes the people standing and moving around even worse. The stadium itself isn't as bad as I used to think, I guess, but everything else is terrible. It's like there's no norms around how you should behave at games, and given the skulldragging morons who populate metropolitan Philadelphia, especially the suburbs where almost all Phillies fans are from, it's not really a surprise.

I was mercifully spared from last night's game, but Friday was miserable and then boring. Glad I got to see a good Roansy start and a Cruz triple (though I have no idea why Vierling dove for it).

Congratulations on catching one of the few good games in recent weeks. Thought that was the best we've seen Roansy's slider. And 3 Triples!

 

[ImporterExporter]

He's our best prospect. Dude is OPSing like 1200, just completely dominating across the board.

 

[NewAgeOutlaw]

I do hope Endy is one of those guys who gets up and never looks back because having a catcher who can hit at all is such an asset even if they aren't the greatest catcher in the World.