OnlyBucs

5C54574056565A350 wrote: Polanco is fast but was never very graceful and the extra bulk did him no favors while he was trying to figure out left field.  I tend to be overly optimistic but it seemed every time he had a little something going with the bat that he would get hurt.  The injuries had to hamper (pun intended) his performance last year.  Hopefully, the training here will help his flexibility and improve his performance. 


I’m trying to be optimistic as well. Give him the benefit of the doubt. I was very excited about him initially. But... injuries don’t explain his cartoon character defense or his long swing. Unless bulking up would contribute to his actual problems I guess I wonder if the new routines will help his deficiencies. But I do love his attitude. I’m hoping.

39323A363332296C6A1D243C353232733E325D0 wrote: I think Polanco gets a bad reputation as he hasn't lived up to his great expectations (yet). 



I still have hope based on his age.  Polanco is 26 years old and entering his fifth season.  To put that in perspective, he is one year older than Colin Moran who has played in 16 major league games.  If Moran puts up Polanco's 2016 season, people will get excited. 



With that said, this is a big year.  We need to see what a healthy Polanco can do.  Last year was a wash.
If Moran is putting up Polanco's 2016 season in his 4th year in MLB, it will be very disappointing. Just as it was with Polanco. Polanco's 4th season was not too much different from his first season. That's the problem. Polanco's 2016 season would be ok for a rookie. It will be minimally acceptable for Moran but I wouldn't call it exciting. I don't think we can justify Polanco's very disappointing 4th season by saying it would be acceptable for a rookie 




I think we can based on their age.  That was my point.



If Moran did that this year, people would be excited and expect more going forward.  Do you expect Josh Bell to get better and improve?


Dog, do you actually believe a player's age is a more relevant factor to his performance than his experience??? Gift Ngoepe was 27 last year. Phil Gosselin was 28. Jacob Stallings and  Danny Ortiz were 27. Should all of them have been better than Polanco because they were older even tho they had not been starters for 4 years?

7F747C7075746F2A2C5B627A7374743578741B0 wrote: I think Polanco gets a bad reputation as he hasn't lived up to his great expectations (yet). 



I still have hope based on his age.  Polanco is 26 years old and entering his fifth season.  To put that in perspective, he is one year older than Colin Moran who has played in 16 major league games.  If Moran puts up Polanco's 2016 season, people will get excited. 



With that said, this is a big year.  We need to see what a healthy Polanco can do.  Last year was a wash.


To put that in perspective, Polanco is almost a bust. Another year, and it's essentially over while Moran has had such a poor showing in the minors, he's just getting started in the bigs, at 26.



Perspective indeed

I think Polanco is growing into his body. I predict a breakout this year. I think Moran will be an above-average major leaguer.

516C616671776C31323B030 wrote: I think Polanco is growing into his body. I predict a breakout this year. I think Moran will be an above-average  major leaguer.


The Pirates need to have both those happen (and others) to have any hope of a good year.