OnlyBucs

Fortunately, spring training stats don't mean anything. Otherwise, after the last week, I would start to become concerned.

44465C5A4C290 wrote: Fortunately, spring training stats don't mean anything. Otherwise, after the last week, I would start to become concerned.


again filed under "it's early," Nova got rocked today after a decent first start.

6D6C7766703037030 wrote: I watched the game yesterday and I've caught some of the highlights of Hays so far the spring.  There is a ton to like with him.  He looks a lot like a minor league version of McCutchen.  He's not real big, but is thick in the thighs/butt.  He has great bat speed and can turn on an inside pitch really well.  Unlike McCutchen, he's a good field with a great arm.



I saw him live 2 years ago and wasn't this impressed with him.  He looks like a different player now.
That's good to hear. He's only 22. Signed at age 18 so this will be his 5th season of pro ball. Hit well at AA last year altho just 7 HRs, but the power will likely improve. Seems like he's not far away at this point. 



Which raises another question. Last year Moran was a disappointment both on defense and with the lack of the power they hoped he would show after hitting 18 HRs in AAA the year before (those PCL stats are always suspect). So how much effort should be given to developing Moran this season? If Hayes has a good AAA season, he's likely at 3B in 2020 and Moran would likely go to the bench or be traded. So should the Pirates suffer with poor fielding from Moran at 3B especially if he doesn't put up power numbers? If Kang shows he can be productive while being the better fielder, should he get the bulk of the time at 3B this year as a placeholder for Hayes next season? 


Moran shouldn't get much time at all. He doesn't have a future here.


  He has 1 realistic chance, and that's drive the baseball.   Get an extra 25 feet on everything.   Looks like he may have added about half of a pound of muscle in the offseason.   Love that commitment!  Hard worker! Like Pedro was a first base

'Cutch had power without bulk. Moran may just need some swing changes. I am hoping the new batting coach can help him find that power. I am not very optimistic tho because Moran does not have a ton of bat speed like 'Cutch.

7A7F787E767C657871626469100 wrote: 'Cutch had power without bulk.  Moran may just need some swing changes.  I am hoping the new batting coach can help him find that power.  I am not very optimistic tho because Moran does not have a ton of bat speed like 'Cutch.
Cutch is very thick through his lower body and weighs 190 at 5'10. Moran looks thin at 6'4 and 205. Big difference in body types IMO.

good outing by Williams yesterday. Hopefully he can continue the output he had in the 2nd half. Pretty dominant run he had going.

The top four in the rotation look good.



The top three in the lineup look locked in already (Frazier, Marte, Dickerson). Last year Dickerson forfeited some power to improve contact, thus far it looks as though he has maintained the contact and incorporated the power in to that approach. Him and Frazier both have more extra base hits than strike outs this spring.



Cervelli and Kang will contribute, hopefully Bell, Moran and Chisenhall find ways to help the team win.

0439272A252F24062E39282E2F4B0 wrote: The top four in the rotation look good.



The top three in the lineup look locked in already (Frazier, Marte, Dickerson). Last year Dickerson forfeited some power to improve contact, thus far it looks as though he has maintained the contact and incorporated the power in to that approach. Him and Frazier both have more extra base hits than strike outs this spring.



Cervelli and Kang will contribute, hopefully Bell, Moran and Chisenhall find ways to help the team win.
HRs in ST are hard to assess in those stadiums. McKechnie Park usually has a strong wind blowing out to LF. But I notice that last year Dickerson had 0 HRs in ST. So hitting a couple this year at least shows improvement. It would be great if he could hit 20+ since they have so little power.

033E202D22282301293E2F29284C0 wrote:



Cervelli and Kang will contribute, hopefully Bell, Moran and Chisenhall find ways to help the team win.


This line of thinking still strikes me as odd--that Kang is more or less a "sure thing" while Bell will disappoint. Bell has "done it" more recently than Kang has, if anything I'd give them both about an equal chance of mounting a comeback.

42707C7C685A79707D787770110 wrote:



Cervelli and Kang will contribute, hopefully Bell, Moran and Chisenhall find ways to help the team win.


This line of thinking still strikes me as odd--that Kang is more or less a "sure thing" while Bell will disappoint.  Bell has "done it" more recently than Kang has, if anything I'd give them both about an equal chance of mounting a comeback.
I think it is more likely that Kang hits for power, whereas Bell we aren't sure about.