OnlyBucs

Yeah, for some reason I was thinking Musgrove was older.

11212D36362B2C0F233131420 wrote: So if things get figured out with Glasnow and he can get into the rotation for 2019 (not 2018), the rotation could look like:



Taillon (27 y.o)

Keller (22 y.o.)

Kuhl (26 y.o.)

Musgrove (26 y.o.)

Glasnow (25 y.o)



This doesn't include Trevor Williams (26 y.o.) or Brault (26 y.o.)


Do some think Keller makes it to the big leagues this year? I didn't have that in mind. So many young arms right now, Keller being the youngest.

1531252D28440 wrote: From an article by Rob Biertempfel in The Athletic, Hurdle's comments regarding Musgrove and Glasnow:



Hurdle expects Musgrove to be part of the starting rotation on opening day. The right-hander was a spot starter and long reliever last season with the Astros.

“We’d like to plug him into the rotation and let him run with it,” Hurdle said. “We believe he has the tools to do it. The experience he gained in bullpen … he had some pretty good guys to learn from last year. We envision him being in that rotation moving into the season.”



That means former top prospect Tyler Glasnow, whose 22 big league outings over the past two seasons have ranged from inconsistent to downright awful, will open the season as a long reliever.

“Tyler is going to have an opportunity to pitch, to show us the consistency to get outs in this spring training vacuum — whether it’s finding a way to the rotation, somehow, some way, or it’s (as) a multiple-inning reliever in the bullpen,” Hurdle said. “He just needs to pitch. Give him the ball and see what he can do with it.”



I love the "spring training vacuum" Hurdlism  ;D
Funny this is exactly what Glasnow should have been last year, long reliever. I am afraid they may have damaged his psyche.  You talk about mishandling a great young arm, Hurdle and Ray should have been fired.  Funny Houston knew not to throw Musgrove to the wolves and Hurdle didn't know how to handle Glasnow, just one more example of why Hurdle should have been gone.

464D45494C4D561315625B434A4D4D0C414D220 wrote: So if things get figured out with Glasnow and he can get into the rotation for 2019 (not 2018), the rotation could look like:



Taillon (27 y.o)

Keller (22 y.o.)

Kuhl (26 y.o.)

Musgrove (26 y.o.)

Glasnow (25 y.o)



This doesn't include Trevor Williams (26 y.o.) or Brault (26 y.o.)


Do some think Keller makes it to the big leagues this year?  I didn't have that in mind.  So many young arms right now, Keller being the youngest.


I would not want to rush him this year unless the Pirates are within a couple of games of making the playoffs come August and he is pitching well. Otherwise, give him the entire year at AAA and pencil him in next spring.

775A57464150470704350 wrote: If Brault is solid in the spring I think he should be in the rotation above either Musgrove or Kuhl, if one of them has a bad spring. I think it's important to have at least one lefty to mix things up.


How do you bump either Kuhl or Musgrove out of the rotation?  Kuhl was very good in the second half last year and Musgrove has some experience and should be ready to go.



Might be talk of a rotation battle, but I think it is pretty much set too.


I don't know how Musgrove will turn out but I was impressed with Kuhl. The big surprise last year was that he found a plus FB he didn't have a year earlier. That gave him and his coaches something else to work with and I suspect he will get better. It was his first full season and a different approach to pitching. And at 25, he's just a year older than Glasnow, who we're supposed to have patience with due to his age.


Agreed. He also introduced a curve about mid-season that at times was highly effective---one more tool in the toolbox. He was a stumbling colt at times, but if you look hard enough you might see a true thoroughbred coming. At least a good workhorse.

54537F687E1D0 wrote: If Brault is solid in the spring I think he should be in the rotation above either Musgrove or Kuhl, if one of them has a bad spring. I think it's important to have at least one lefty to mix things up.


How do you bump either Kuhl or Musgrove out of the rotation?  Kuhl was very good in the second half last year and Musgrove has some experience and should be ready to go.



Might be talk of a rotation battle, but I think it is pretty much set too.


I don't know how Musgrove will turn out but I was impressed with Kuhl. The big surprise last year was that he found a plus FB he didn't have a year earlier. That gave him and his coaches something else to work with and I suspect he will get better. It was his first full season and a different approach to pitching. And at 25, he's just a year older than Glasnow, who we're supposed to have patience with due to his age.


Agreed.  He also introduced a curve about mid-season that at times was highly effective---one more tool in the toolbox.  He was a stumbling colt at times, but if you look hard enough you might see a true thoroughbred coming.  At least a good workhorse.




Right, I don't know how you can pencil out a rotation with out Kuhl or Williams. The two of them had really solid 2nd halves last year and kept the bottom from completely falling out by being solid every time out. I don't like Nova in the rotation. They are not competing this year. No need to keep him. Trade him for low level, high upside prospects and run out a rotation like this:



Taillon

Williams

Kuhl

Brault

Musgrove/Glasnow



Musgrove/Glasnow

Kingham

Holmes

Insert name of (likely washed up) vet who has had middling success.



Lets find out what we have with these young pitchers.

I fully agree with P Mike.



At the end of last year, I believe Kuhl was looking pretty sharp. Perhaps it was an illusion, but I believe he was pitching better than Cole. Williams also looked like a keeper.



I don't know what the Pirates could get for Nova, but if I am the Bucs, I am shopping him hard during spring training. I would not expect a great return, but there is no reason for the team to be devoting $20 mil or so to him over the next 2 years. If Pirates' young pitching does not mature and carry the day, this team is doomed anyway. So, let's see what we got in Tallion, Wililams, Kuhl, Musgrove (and his ailing shoulder), Brault, Glasnow, and Kingham with Keller to follow in 2019.



If they could move most of Nova's contract, and with the savings already experienced from moving Cutch and Cole, they could (be wouildn't) sign a free agent in the $15 mil.year territory or trade for a player making about the same.



I hate half-way measures and that is where I believe this team is at right now.