NoGo designated for assignment.
Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2021 5:06 pm
787F69616F783F334A6D676B6366246965670A0 wrote: Despite his recent slump, Nogo's .261 BA and .325 OBP as a Pirates (not including his dismal stats as a PHer for St.L.) remain among the best on the Pirates roster. He was likely brought in as a placeholder until Moran returned from the IL with a chance to carve out a spot on the roster if he did well enough. He's got a nice stroke for line drive singles but 1 HR and 7 doubles in 111 Pirate ABs won't cut it for a 1Bman. BC took a flier on him but wasn't sold. Ditto for Tom, Fowler, Craig, Vargas, Stokes and possibly Alford. Next up is Tsutsugo. He should probably rent.
Yeah, Moran spelled the end. But NoGo made the decision relatively easy. To me, he seemed to change his batting approach has he had that early success. Maybe I’m wrong, but he seemed less patient and swinging more for the fences. Too bad.
I love a good underdog does well story and Nogo had a great one going for a few games. And I agree VA that his approach seemed to change - he was very patient at first. But I also thought he was far too emotional slamming his bat on occasion and clearing showing his disgust at a poor AB or just missing a pitch.
You can't let the game get into your head like that. You K, you miss a pitch, you go back to the bench, try to learn your lesson and then clear your head. That constant emotion he was showing can eat you up.
But this is a guy who was taken late in the draft, had a long climb to finally get his chance and wanted it so badly. So I sympathize with why he tended to be so emotional. But I kept feeling it wasn't a good sign as the pressure seemed to mount.
I will really pull for the Legend to continue and hope he grows from what he learned this first time up.
His lone HR was his 20th hit as a Pirate. As of that AB he was hitting .426 as a Pirate (20 for 47). But those 20 hits included 15 singles. I'm sure Nogowski is aware that first basemen are expected to have power. There just aren't many opportunities for a high average first baseman when those hits rarely involve extra bases.
After that HR he went 9 for 64 (.141) with 6 singles and 3 doubles. He went from consistently hitting line drives to consistently hitting fly balls. Maybe it was coincidence but I tend to believe he knew he needed HRs to establish a career in MLB and once he got that first one he kept swinging for more. Unfortunately for him, even if he had maintained his line drive stroke and a high BA with little power, he might not have had a role on the team after Moran returned. Teams expect power at 1B. Maybe Nogowski thought he had nothing to lose by swinging for the fences.
Two good posts.
Utah - I agree with you; I was rooting hard for the guy but we could see the pressure on him each AB. It had to effect him.
Bobster - your analysis confirms what I was seeing. You may well be right about the need for power. But I hated seeing him lose out due to overplaying every pitch.
I think his emotions made most of us root for him all the more. But they probably did him in. I could see him back in the pirates system.
I think there is a good chance that he will be back too as I doubt anyone picks him up now. Maybe his time in Pittsburgh will help him make the adjustments he needs to stay in the majors. He doesn't have to hit a ton of homers if he hits for a decent average and some doubles. But he has to be a threat. He needs to homer every 35 at bats at a minimum and hit 280 and slug around 450 to get regular playing time. The jury is out on whether he can adjust.
Yeah, Moran spelled the end. But NoGo made the decision relatively easy. To me, he seemed to change his batting approach has he had that early success. Maybe I’m wrong, but he seemed less patient and swinging more for the fences. Too bad.
I love a good underdog does well story and Nogo had a great one going for a few games. And I agree VA that his approach seemed to change - he was very patient at first. But I also thought he was far too emotional slamming his bat on occasion and clearing showing his disgust at a poor AB or just missing a pitch.
You can't let the game get into your head like that. You K, you miss a pitch, you go back to the bench, try to learn your lesson and then clear your head. That constant emotion he was showing can eat you up.
But this is a guy who was taken late in the draft, had a long climb to finally get his chance and wanted it so badly. So I sympathize with why he tended to be so emotional. But I kept feeling it wasn't a good sign as the pressure seemed to mount.
I will really pull for the Legend to continue and hope he grows from what he learned this first time up.
His lone HR was his 20th hit as a Pirate. As of that AB he was hitting .426 as a Pirate (20 for 47). But those 20 hits included 15 singles. I'm sure Nogowski is aware that first basemen are expected to have power. There just aren't many opportunities for a high average first baseman when those hits rarely involve extra bases.
After that HR he went 9 for 64 (.141) with 6 singles and 3 doubles. He went from consistently hitting line drives to consistently hitting fly balls. Maybe it was coincidence but I tend to believe he knew he needed HRs to establish a career in MLB and once he got that first one he kept swinging for more. Unfortunately for him, even if he had maintained his line drive stroke and a high BA with little power, he might not have had a role on the team after Moran returned. Teams expect power at 1B. Maybe Nogowski thought he had nothing to lose by swinging for the fences.
Two good posts.
Utah - I agree with you; I was rooting hard for the guy but we could see the pressure on him each AB. It had to effect him.
Bobster - your analysis confirms what I was seeing. You may well be right about the need for power. But I hated seeing him lose out due to overplaying every pitch.
I think his emotions made most of us root for him all the more. But they probably did him in. I could see him back in the pirates system.
I think there is a good chance that he will be back too as I doubt anyone picks him up now. Maybe his time in Pittsburgh will help him make the adjustments he needs to stay in the majors. He doesn't have to hit a ton of homers if he hits for a decent average and some doubles. But he has to be a threat. He needs to homer every 35 at bats at a minimum and hit 280 and slug around 450 to get regular playing time. The jury is out on whether he can adjust.
