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

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I really don’t know why Robbie has a job. He’s there to do interviews but he’s just so cringy they’re often painful to watch. Why not just stick with Potash now that the Pens are done
 
ImporterExporter said:
The good news



The bad news?

Another error. Cost runs. That's 5 in the last 3 games. 13 on the year. Please explain the metrics that make him a serviceable MLB SS. It's not even June and this guy is on pace to clear 40 errors over the course of a full MLB season.
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Maybe this is what he needed. To prove to himself he can't do it at SS, and actually commit to learning the OF.
 
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Suwinski's just been so intriguing this month. Love the power, love the attitude, and when was the last time a Bucs Outfielder looked so good and so comfortable working the Clemente Wall?

It's been a different story in LF & CF IMO, I have really enjoyed watching some of our guys work those positions defensively over the years.

But this kid looks great in PNC Park's Right Field IMO. And I freely admit, I'm used to seeing guys like Polanco awkwardly moving around the position, especially near the Wall. I'm looking for some perspective though - who's looked better at that position in Pittsburgh?
 
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ImporterExporter said:
Jesus H Christ, Oneil Cruz with 2 more errors today. That's 4 in the last 2 games and 12 on the year. On a day where Indy put up 16 runs he went 1-5 with 2 K's. Average still below the Mendoza line, OPS south of 700.



I'd like to see the "internal positives" on his D play. I want to see him get a shot in the bigs, but to say he's been a disappointment so far, especially playing AAA ball, is an understatement.

Great news is Mason Martin is clearly in the middle of another dominant offensive surge. 3-5, with his 10th dinger, Now at .260/.947 with 26 extra base hits in 39 games. Also 34 RBI's. There is no justification for him to continue to labor at Indy, especially when we need the help at 1B from the left side of the batters box. I'm more pessimistic on Martin against MLB pitching that I am Mitchell, but again, he's clearly earning a shot with the big club.

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Speaking of the "Eye Test" Mason Martin looks light years better than he did in April. I've been able to catch a lot of his AB's, and I saw quite a few last year. I may be a few weeks late in realizing it, but he has for sure turned a corner.

My biggest concern has been his inability to command the strike zone. The K's have been a big issue for sure, but I can't recall seeing him actually work a Pitcher for a BB last year. Most of his walks in previous seasons were formalities, the opponent just couldn't get close to the zone IMO. He didn't look comfortable.

Well that's all changed. He's still striking out a lot, but he does appear to be commanding the zone much better in May. He's more confident in his swing decisions. When he takes a walk now, he likely earned it. Thus - he's getting more BB's, and better pitches to hit. April doubles have become May home runs.

Actually I think his K-rates been fine for a couple of weeks now, at least for the modern age power hitter. Not sure exactly what it is at the moment, but it's under 30% lately.

So I'm climbing back on the train I got off of last year. You Go Mason Martin! I think he's actually going to make it to the Bigs - something I seriously questioned after last season.


Now for some regurgitated stuff. Pirate Prospects has kicked up the content this week. A lot of it's free for any of you that want to check it out, this stuff wasn't though, so it's filtered through me.

Endy Rodriguez had a really bad April - 4% walk-rate, 32% K-rate, .650 OPS - he looked lost compared to what we saw last year.

Greensboro manager Callix Crabbe doubles as the Pirates’ assistant hitting coordinator during Spring Training, and had a technical breakdown of what was happening with Rodriguez.

The reasons for those struggles were two fold according to Crabbe - Endy likes to swing at pitches low in the zone. He's geared towards it with his vision, and chases balls. The other part is his lower half loading, which is very busy, and power hitter oriented causing him to be inconsistent and swing through pitches in the zone.

The goal right now is to change his vision. Endy's focusing only on the top two thirds of the zone this month, retraining his vision and his brain. He's also quieting down his lower half, getting more consistent.

So the May numbers through last weekend had improved dramatically as he worked on these specific two issues. 15% Walk-rate, 22% K-rate, and an 1.100 OPS.

This is the kind of coaching and development you want to see from the Pirates IMO. Endy's far from a finished product, but I like the player and the process here. Very excited to be following a kid like this from A-ball up, and possibly even understanding the path he took on his way to the Major Leagues.
 
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KesselMania said:
I really don’t know why Robbie has a job. He’s there to do interviews but he’s just so cringy they’re often painful to watch. Why not just stick with Potash now that the Pens are done
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I feel exact opposite.
I turn the channel when Potash comes on. King of Cringe.
 
How was that Hayes' first homerun of the year?

I don't care though, Hayes just gave the Pirates a 4-2 lead in the 9th. This series has been great to watch. The Pirates are playing legitimately competitive and strong baseball against a strong team.
 
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Really looking forward to watching Contreras vs Gore today. Matchup of 2 of the best P prospects in the game. Still grinds my gears that we could/should be going for the sweep today but I've been happy with the team's play the last 2 nights, minus the defensive issues at 1B.

Pretty insane that Hayes went almost 2 months without hitting a homer, but damn was that an important one last night.
 


I don't understand what exactly Cherington is doing with these kind of acquisitions. They already have so many shitty depth guys who should be in AAA.
 
It is hard to believe an above-.500 team like the Friars can't muster a better 2nd baseman than Canó at this point.

He was late on a nothing hanging slider in that last ab. Stick a fork in him.
 
Contreras just didn't have location with the breaking stuff today. Got away with a few and then one finally goes for a 2 run homer. Still, not even at his best, he's still the best pitcher in the rotation after Quintana right now.

Gore is going to be a problem for a while.
 
Tough loss but encouraging series in terms of effort.

Cruz homers again, 2-2 so far today so the bat is definitely going in the right direction.

BUT, his 6th error of the week. 14th of the year. This time a throw.

Why are we continuing to put him at SS with these performances.
 
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ImporterExporter said:
LOL @ the Oneil Cruz SS crowd.

Just booted another routine grounder. 2nd of the game (fielding/throwing) and 15 on year.
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If the bat is as good as his stans claim, he shouldn't need to be at short. Not should he, because it would be irresponsible and an insult to our pitching staff to put him here. Letting Ryan Doumit play catcher type of stuff.
 
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DocEmrickSkitters said:
If the bat is as good as his stans claim, he shouldn't need to be at short. Not should he, because it would be irresponsible and an insult to our pitching staff to put him here. Letting Ryan Doumit play catcher type of stuff.
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Botching this many balls/throws/catches (he's had them all) is mental. Has to be. You don't f*** up that many plays at that level, with his athleticism unless you're inside you're own head.

Get him into the OF and train him there as well as 1B. I'd rather have a gold glove caliber, near empty bat at SS and Cruz playing somewhere the glove/arm will be of little concern. Certainly much less so than SS. You can get by with that. Plenty of teams over history have.
 
Bryan Reynolds sucking for the 2nd time in 3 years is especially killing this team offensively, as we're over matched at almost every other spot in the lineup, sans Hayes, and even he's been reduced to a good (not great) average hitter with very little pop, though he has pulled a couple of hard hit balls the past 2 games, which is refreshing. I mean Gamel is giving you a nice return for the money spent. Hut now though. The OF is just a wasteland until someone steps up. I don't think Suwinksi is that guy. Maybe he's a bench bat, but I don't see a starter. Not for a winner. Mitchell? Too early to tell of course.

As I've been pointing out, you cannot give Cruz starts at SS the way he's playing right now. It's embarrassing to be frank. Not when you A, don't have the SP to begin with and B, don't have a lineup currently able to make up stupid defensive mistakes. He's got to get a shot sooner than later just because of the bat, but it needs to be in the OF/DH for the time being.

Bae needs to be up sooner than later. Ripped another triple, pair of hits. On the plus side of .300 and ISO nearing 200 which is a really nice number for a player with his contact skills. He's Marcano but with a bit more pop. Both can run really well.

Gotta think Burrows, provided he's good the next few starts, will be up in AAA by the 4th of July break with an eye on a September call up.
 
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Cruz is playing his way into being a 1B/DH for me. I don't care about what kind of athleticism you have if you're botching plays with that sort of regularity.

I've heard comments from people that he looks super uncomfortable in the OF and he obviously can't stick at SS. The only position he has left really is 1B.
 
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