OnlyBucs

7A7271465075525D330 wrote: This really angers me. I'm glad they're bringing him up, but there's nothing that he learned in the last six days to suddenly be ready for MLB. I totally understand the idea behind debuting him at home. But that means they just played six very important division games with less than their ideal lineup. Would it have made any difference? Probably not. Honestly, he'll probably be overmatched at first. But it's tough to do worse than 0-6 on a six game trip. Maybe he wouldn't have helped. But maybe he would have.
bullpen blew 3 of those games on their own. Though the offense wasn't exactly spectacular, it did well enough to win half of the games

727A794E587D5A553B0 wrote: This really angers me. I'm glad they're bringing him up, but there's nothing that he learned in the last six days to suddenly be ready for MLB. I totally understand the idea behind debuting him at home. But that means they just played six very important division games with less than their ideal lineup. Would it have made any difference? Probably not. Honestly, he'll probably be overmatched at first. But it's tough to do worse than 0-6 on a six game trip. Maybe he wouldn't have helped. But maybe he would have.


I think he's going to be at the bare minimum- acceptable.



If the morons in charge do as the Orioles did with Adly and tell Hedges to get lost, I expect Henry do a lot better than who we've had to put up with all season so far.  It's like Yoshi or VanMeter back there., hitting-wise.



This idea of putting Davis all over the place is standard Pittsburgh. 

161E1D2A3C193E315F0 wrote: This really angers me. I'm glad they're bringing him up, but there's nothing that he learned in the last six days to suddenly be ready for MLB. I totally understand the idea behind debuting him at home. But that means they just played six very important division games with less than their ideal lineup. Would it have made any difference? Probably not. Honestly, he'll probably be overmatched at first. But it's tough to do worse than 0-6 on a six game trip. Maybe he wouldn't have helped. But maybe he would have.
But when do they ever play their best lineup? It's always a priority to rest someone or to give a weak hitter a turn to start. I don't think that playing their best lineup even ever occurs to Shelton/Cherington. I don't say that to bash them. There really seems to be a disconnect between what are obviously their best options and what they choose to do. It's bizarre. Shelton doesn't seem to comprehend a good decision from a bad one and Cherington is totally on board with him. I watch every game just waiting for management of the team to create obstacles that must be overcome. And it always seems to quickly become apparent. If there's any way to misuse Davis, I'm sure they'll exploit it. Not because they want to. But because they're too stupid not to.

4F626F7E79687F3F3C0D0 wrote: This really angers me. I'm glad they're bringing him up, but there's nothing that he learned in the last six days to suddenly be ready for MLB. I totally understand the idea behind debuting him at home. But that means they just played six very important division games with less than their ideal lineup. Would it have made any difference? Probably not. Honestly, he'll probably be overmatched at first. But it's tough to do worse than 0-6 on a six game trip. Maybe he wouldn't have helped. But maybe he would have.
But when do they ever play their best lineup? It's always a priority to rest someone or to give a weak hitter a turn to start. I don't think that playing their best lineup even ever occurs to Shelton/Cherington. I don't say that to bash them. There really seems to be a disconnect between what are obviously their best options and what they choose to do. It's bizarre. Shelton doesn't seem to comprehend a good decision from a bad one and Cherington is totally on board with him. I watch every game just waiting for management of the team to create obstacles that must be overcome. And it always seems to quickly become apparent. If there's any way to misuse Davis, I'm sure they'll exploit it. Not because they want to. But because they're too stupid not to. 


I'd rather they go all out and play all the bench players together. Just punt a game rather than give Cutch a day off here, Santana there, Reynolds this day, then Suwinski, etc. Yes, the old Sunday lineups were annoying, but at least it meant Monday-Saturday you were putting your best foot forward. I could live with this Sunday lineup:



RF--McCutchen

CF--Suwinski

LF--Palacios

1B--Joe

2B--Mathias

SS--Bae

3B--Castro

C--Delay

DH--Reynolds/Hayes/Cutch/whomever

547974656273642427160 wrote: This really angers me. I'm glad they're bringing him up, but there's nothing that he learned in the last six days to suddenly be ready for MLB. I totally understand the idea behind debuting him at home. But that means they just played six very important division games with less than their ideal lineup. Would it have made any difference? Probably not. Honestly, he'll probably be overmatched at first. But it's tough to do worse than 0-6 on a six game trip. Maybe he wouldn't have helped. But maybe he would have.
But when do they ever play their best lineup? It's always a priority to rest someone or to give a weak hitter a turn to start. I don't think that playing their best lineup even ever occurs to Shelton/Cherington. I don't say that to bash them. There really seems to be a disconnect between what are obviously their best options and what they choose to do. It's bizarre. Shelton doesn't seem to comprehend a good decision from a bad one and Cherington is totally on board with him. I watch every game just waiting for management of the team to create obstacles that must be overcome. And it always seems to quickly become apparent. If there's any way to misuse Davis, I'm sure they'll exploit it. Not because they want to. But because they're too stupid not to. 


Not trying to be a SA.  I just wonder whether I'm alone in my question:



Do you (the fellow member) feel that the brass believes as much in this team's chances of winning this less-than-desirable division as, perhaps, the players feel that they can with the right moves and right decisions being made? 



Of course, the answer to that question would tell us how we, on this board, believe in our ability to do it.



I think with the right moves and placing our ultimate best players on the field, there would be that chance, and that's taking into account that the Brewers, Reds, and Cubs will adjust their rosters, too.



No.  I don't mean ridiculous notions like "go out and trade for Otani."  I'm talking 'reasonable' moves. 



We're not a fantastic team.  I just don't think that any of the others are all that great shakes, either.

626A695E486D4A452B0 wrote: This really angers me. I'm glad they're bringing him up, but there's nothing that he learned in the last six days to suddenly be ready for MLB. I totally understand the idea behind debuting him at home. But that means they just played six very important division games with less than their ideal lineup. Would it have made any difference? Probably not. Honestly, he'll probably be overmatched at first. But it's tough to do worse than 0-6 on a six game trip. Maybe he wouldn't have helped. But maybe he would have.
But when do they ever play their best lineup? It's always a priority to rest someone or to give a weak hitter a turn to start. I don't think that playing their best lineup even ever occurs to Shelton/Cherington. I don't say that to bash them. There really seems to be a disconnect between what are obviously their best options and what they choose to do. It's bizarre. Shelton doesn't seem to comprehend a good decision from a bad one and Cherington is totally on board with him. I watch every game just waiting for management of the team to create obstacles that must be overcome. And it always seems to quickly become apparent. If there's any way to misuse Davis, I'm sure they'll exploit it. Not because they want to. But because they're too stupid not to. 


I'd rather they go all out and play all the bench players together. Just punt a game rather than give Cutch a day off here, Santana there, Reynolds this day, then Suwinski, etc. Yes, the old Sunday lineups were annoying, but at least it meant Monday-Saturday you were putting your best foot forward. I could live with this Sunday lineup:



RF--McCutchen

CF--Suwinski

LF--Palacios

1B--Joe

2B--Mathias

SS--Bae

3B--Castro

C--Delay

DH--Reynolds/Hayes/Cutch/whomever




To a point raised by Surg----we have to consider the pitching; particularly, the relief pitching.  We had a number of recent losses where the lineup (baffling as it sometimes is) did its job.  The relievers did the Cubs and Brewers' lineups' job for them.



We probably need to improve upon that as much as anything else that we do.  I realize that's off subject, so will apologize for that.

477265656E5765656E6965000 wrote: This really angers me. I'm glad they're bringing him up, but there's nothing that he learned in the last six days to suddenly be ready for MLB. I totally understand the idea behind debuting him at home. But that means they just played six very important division games with less than their ideal lineup. Would it have made any difference? Probably not. Honestly, he'll probably be overmatched at first. But it's tough to do worse than 0-6 on a six game trip. Maybe he wouldn't have helped. But maybe he would have.
But when do they ever play their best lineup? It's always a priority to rest someone or to give a weak hitter a turn to start. I don't think that playing their best lineup even ever occurs to Shelton/Cherington. I don't say that to bash them. There really seems to be a disconnect between what are obviously their best options and what they choose to do. It's bizarre. Shelton doesn't seem to comprehend a good decision from a bad one and Cherington is totally on board with him. I watch every game just waiting for management of the team to create obstacles that must be overcome. And it always seems to quickly become apparent. If there's any way to misuse Davis, I'm sure they'll exploit it. Not because they want to. But because they're too stupid not to. 


Not trying to be a SA.  I just wonder whether I'm alone in my question:



Do you (the fellow member) feel that the brass believes as much in this team's chances of winning this less-than-desirable division as, perhaps, the players feel that they can with the right moves and right decisions being made? 



Of course, the answer to that question would tell us how we, on this board, believe in our ability to do it.



I think with the right moves and placing our ultimate best players on the field, there would be that chance, and that's taking into account that the Brewers, Reds, and Cubs will adjust their rosters, too.



No.  I don't mean ridiculous notions like "go out and trade for Otani."  I'm talking 'reasonable' moves. 



We're not a fantastic team.  I just don't think that any of the others are all that great shakes, either.




I think they would have to try to find a trade partner for Hedges rather than outright release him and own up to the remaining contract. Davis while good, isn't the team savior.

251007070C3507070C0B07620 wrote: This really angers me. I'm glad they're bringing him up, but there's nothing that he learned in the last six days to suddenly be ready for MLB. I totally understand the idea behind debuting him at home. But that means they just played six very important division games with less than their ideal lineup. Would it have made any difference? Probably not. Honestly, he'll probably be overmatched at first. But it's tough to do worse than 0-6 on a six game trip. Maybe he wouldn't have helped. But maybe he would have.
But when do they ever play their best lineup? It's always a priority to rest someone or to give a weak hitter a turn to start. I don't think that playing their best lineup even ever occurs to Shelton/Cherington. I don't say that to bash them. There really seems to be a disconnect between what are obviously their best options and what they choose to do. It's bizarre. Shelton doesn't seem to comprehend a good decision from a bad one and Cherington is totally on board with him. I watch every game just waiting for management of the team to create obstacles that must be overcome. And it always seems to quickly become apparent. If there's any way to misuse Davis, I'm sure they'll exploit it. Not because they want to. But because they're too stupid not to. 


Not trying to be a SA.  I just wonder whether I'm alone in my question:



Do you (the fellow member) feel that the brass believes as much in this team's chances of winning this less-than-desirable division as, perhaps, the players feel that they can with the right moves and right decisions being made? 



Of course, the answer to that question would tell us how we, on this board, believe in our ability to do it.



I think with the right moves and placing our ultimate best players on the field, there would be that chance, and that's taking into account that the Brewers, Reds, and Cubs will adjust their rosters, too.



No.  I don't mean ridiculous notions like "go out and trade for Otani."  I'm talking 'reasonable' moves. 



We're not a fantastic team.  I just don't think that any of the others are all that great shakes, either.


I think the players take the field every day wanting to win and would love to win the division or be a WC team. That's just a natural competitive instinct.



But the front office...not so much. It's always easier to be planning for the future than to declare that "now is the time" and be judged on the success or failure of that plan. The 20-8 start this season was great but totally unexpected, even by management. The 14-28 record since then suggests that, other than that brief 28-game window, they have improved little over recent seasons. But those first 28 games count and even at 34-36 the weakness of the division puts them in a competitive position instead of being a bottom feeder. IMHO, team management will continue to plan for the future but would love to win the weak division by default. But whether they win it will have to depend on how poorly the other teams do, rather than making efforts to put the Pirates over the top. The starting pitching is weak. Other than Bednar, Moreta and Ramirez, the bullpen is unrecognizable from how it looked a week or 10 days ago. The hitting is chronically weak.



Hopefully, Davis will get a chance to help and not spend too much time on the bench watching Hedges and Delay catching. Endy Rodriguez needs to be promoted and Cruz returns in August. I don't see this front office doing much else.

So they stick Davis in the OF and the poor guy is hoping like hell nobody hits the ball to him. Thats just a terrible position to be in.

775C5D58585D5A674055405D5B5A340 wrote: So they stick Davis in the OF and the poor guy is hoping like hell nobody hits the ball to him. Thats just a terrible position to be in.


He's played 13 games this year in RF. When you have a fantastic catching duo like Hedges and Delay, it's hard to crack the lineup. ::)