Today's Game - 4/26

[Bobster21]

5D7F6C717277707F5C6B7D7D711E0 wrote: I just want to know WHY VanMeter has to play every game. At MOST he should start once a week to rest someone else.



That's all I want to know.
Because they're the Pirates. If something doesn't make sense, they'll prioritize it.

[GreenWeenie]

Uh oh. You're going to hear it now.



Or, not.

[Surgnbuck]

7D485F5F546D5F5F54535F3A0 wrote: Uh oh.  You're going to hear it now. 



Or, not.
No Bobster doesn't troll. He actually makes informed criticisms, because he watches the game.



You just look for tag items to troll. You're in midseason form. You don't make singular comments about anything. Just a never ending diatribe of negativity and bashing, sideways and directly on. You never change, and when they go on their next two or three game win streak, you'll just sit off to the sidelines waiting for your next trolling barrage.

[Surgnbuck]

Now back to the people who actually watch the game.....



Did anyone else get a chuckle when Cutch stole 200, and acted like he wanted the bag like Ricky?

[DemDog]

486E697C75796E78701B0 wrote: Now back to the people who actually watch the game.....



Did anyone else get a chuckle when Cutch stole 200, and acted like he wanted the bag like Ricky?


It's a shame that Lloyd McClendon was not around because he could give Cutch a lesson on how to steal a bag! ;D ;D ;D

[Bobster21]

I think a difference between last season and this team is that for the most part, they can fill needs with decent players in the pipeline instead of constantly dumpster diving. Last year needs were plugged (quite unsuccessfully) with people like K'ai Tom, Stokes, Fowler, Evans, Nogowski, "Wrongway" Craig, Ildemaro Vargas and Todd Frazier. All stopgaps who had no future with the team. This year, other than VanMeter, who seems like a 2021 type of dumpster dive, needs can be filled with players like Castillo, Suwinski and Marcano, who can have significant roles with the team in coming years. And they still have Cruz, Rodolfo Castro, Mason Martin and Cal Mitchell at Indy waiting for their chance. I would much rather see prospects get a shot in MLB than watch little K'ai Tom try to draw a walk.



On the flip side, it doesn't look like anyone currently in the starting rotation has a future with the team.

[Bobster21]

In a starting rotation where everyone averages less than 5 innings and three of the five average less than 4 innings, you would think they wouldn't pitch long enough to give up enough runs to ruin their ERAs. However, only Quintana at 3.86 is respectable. The other 4 all have ERAs over 6.00 with one over 10.00. Even in their 3 or 4 inning starts, they are killing the team. Under the circumstances, the 8-9 start is better than expected. But last night we saw what happens when the BP is less than spectacular. The Pirates scored 8 runs and lost by 4.



What's really discouraging is that the only decent starter (in his brief stints) is Quintana, who was basically a dumpster dive reclamation project. Keller was supposed to be their stud ace. Brubaker was their 2018 minor league pitcher of the year and was expected to be a solid major league pitcher. And Wilson and Thompson were acquired in trades with the idea that they could become effective starting pitchers. This team better figure out a way to identify, evaluate and develop pitching. Hoping for a nightly miracle from the BP is not a sound strategy.

[GreenWeenie]

No offense, but it's not even May. Why bother wondering about some of this? So much not only might change, but will change? We have the now.

[ChillinStation]

Pirates need to trade some position prospects for starting pitching. Enough of Keller as a starter.