OnlyBucs

2A2221160025020D630 wrote: I’m sorry, but I just don’t see it with Kang. Admittedly, I haven’t watched anything this spring. But he has five hits, all of them dingers. I know for a fact that one came off a journeyman minor leaguer. I suspect others have as well. Beyond that, he’s struck out in half of his ABs. I’d like for him to succeed, and he certainly offers more with the glove than Moran. But I’m going to predict that by the end of the year, either Hayes will be starting, or Bucs fans will be clamoring for him to start and will have completely turned on Kang. Just wait...when he’s hitting .185 on May 15, it’s going to be ugly. I would love nothing more than to eat crow on this.
I've watched a couple of games he's played in this year he looks slimmer than before which I assume he's more fit. He made a couple of dazzling plays at 3rd, so much better defense than Moran and I hope he starts hitting. He certainly deserves a chance, give him a month and half of starts then re-evaluate. Moran is awful defense and a slap hitter with little upside, Pirates have little to show for Gerrit Cole. Once again shows how poor NH is at evaluation of talent. The throw in outfielder Jason Martin may be the only thing he got of value from them.

I'm not worried in the slightest.  Just like you don't forget how to field, you don't forget how to hit at 32 years old either.  He's been a human windmill in ST both years he played with us.



He never was going to make it back, after a small number of games in the Dominican. Remember?



He struck out 6 times in 45 PAs last year AAA and MLB. He is going to K quite a bit, he's not a contact hitter.



He's just getting his timing down, relax.

252C24353B410 wrote: I'm not worried in the slightest.  Just like you don't forget how to field, you don't forget how to hit at 32 years old either.    He's  been a human windmill in ST both years he played with us.



He never was going to make it back, after a small number of games in the Dominican.  Remember?



He struck out 6 times in 45 PAs last year AAA and MLB.      He is going to K quite a bit, he's not a contact hitter. 



He's just getting his timing down, relax.      






Man, I hope so. I realize this team probably isn’t going to win the WS or even make the postseason, but I’d like to be watching meaningful baseball until at least, say, June? Is that too much to ask?

Remember, It's spring training. Kang's stats in his previous spring trainings with the Bucs are basically the same. The real season begins next Thursday.

555D5E697F5A7D721C0 wrote: I'm not worried in the slightest.  Just like you don't forget how to field, you don't forget how to hit at 32 years old either.    He's  been a human windmill in ST both years he played with us.



He never was going to make it back, after a small number of games in the Dominican.  Remember?



He struck out 6 times in 45 PAs last year AAA and MLB.      He is going to K quite a bit, he's not a contact hitter. 



He's just getting his timing down, relax.      






Man, I hope so. I realize this team probably isn’t going to win the WS or even make the postseason, but I’d like to be watching meaningful baseball until at least, say, June? Is that too much to ask?


Never too much to ask!  Fans ask and have asked much too LITTLE of this org.   For me, the standard is division title every year, not a 1 and done "playoff" game.   



We aren't trying hard enough to win it. 



I feel like a 2021 strike is the only realistic hope I have of ever seeing a pennant, let alone a WS.  Restructure this whole darned thing.   



Unfortunately, that requires our wonderful owner to actually care about fighting for more revenue parity in the league... and to accept the salary floor that's going to come with more revenue balance.

I don't believe for a second that he will do it.   He's pulling 30-50 million per year right now, plus his equity is skyrocketing.   



It's up to the MLBPA to save baseball.   

And you know what folks?  If any of us really want to see an example of just how LOW the bar is as a Pirates Fan, here it is:



[highlight]“We feel like we got a young Freddy Galvis. His name is Erik Gonzalez,” Huntington said.[/highlight]



Freddy Galvis?  That's the mark?   The "old" Freddy Galvis is 29 this year.  Erik Gonzalez is 27 this year.   



Galvis had his first productive season as a starter last year and signed only a 1yr/ 5 million deal with the blue jays (which includes, a 2020 team option.)





Welcome to the Pittsburgh Pirates.  This is normal for us.   Up is down, left is right.   29 is old, 27 is "young" . our GM believes the guy we've targeted has the potential upside of a guy that signed this offseason for a more team friendly contract than we paid Sean Rodriguez the last two seasons.

I hate when Hurdle or NH make comments like this, but what are they supposed to say --- 'We were really pushing for Machado and thought that he would be a great addition at SS, but the Padres simply made an offer that we couldn't compete with.'



Don't get me wrong, I am no fan of Hurdle and believe that he is part of the problem with accepting mediocrity. I continue to believe that NH could be a GM, particularly if he had more resources with which to work.



I am looking for a run-off this year when it comes to spin - Sarah Huckabee Sanders vs. Clint/NH (consider them as one). Huckabee has a tough and thankless job, but I believe that Clint/NH may give her a run for the money.

1F333B3C3710273121520 wrote: I hate when Hurdle or NH make comments like this, but what are they supposed to say --- 'We were really pushing for Machado and thought that he would be a great addition at SS, but the Padres simply made an offer that we couldn't compete with.'



Don't get me wrong, I am no fan of Hurdle and believe that he is part of the problem with accepting mediocrity.  I continue to believe that NH could be a GM, particularly if he had more resources with which to work. 



I am looking for a run-off this year when it comes to spin - Sarah Huckabee Sanders vs. Clint/NH (consider them as one).  Huckabee has a tough and thankless job, but I believe that Clint/NH may give her a run for the money.   






IMO, NH and Clint just go overboard on a lot of their comments. Why not just say we are going to hustle, we have good players. If Gonzalez's upside is Freddy Galvis that is not setting the bar very high.



I know talking to the press is part of their jobs and maybe they are trying to convince themselves that players are better than what they are but it just gets a little nauseating to me. Luckily I live far enough away that I don't see clips of these guys talking on television and I don't watch them on the internet.

616860717F050 wrote: And you know what folks?  If any of us really want to see an example of just how LOW the bar is as a Pirates Fan, here it is:



[highlight]“We feel like we got a young Freddy Galvis. His name is Erik Gonzalez,” Huntington said.[/highlight]



Freddy Galvis?  That's the mark?   The "old" Freddy Galvis is 29 this year.  Erik Gonzalez is 27 this year.   



Galvis had his first productive season as a starter last year and signed only a 1yr/ 5 million deal with the blue jays (which includes, a 2020 team option.)





Welcome to the Pittsburgh Pirates.  This is normal for us.   Up is down, left is right.   29 is old, 27 is "young" .   our GM believes the guy we've targeted has the potential upside of a guy that signed this offseason for a more team friendly contract than we paid Sean Rodriguez the last two seasons. 
Actually, Galvis has been fairly consistent these last 4 years. And he's considered one of the top fielding SSs. He hit 20 HRs in 2016. But his slash line is an unimpressive .246/.290/.374/.664. Jordy Mercer was .256/.316/.383/.699. I guess if Gonzalez can field as well as they hope and just be a slightly below average hitter, NH will have his version of Freddy Galvis. A big part of NH's job is to spin the moves they make and don't make. Equating Gonzalez to Galvis sounds better than saying they think Gonzalez will be a better fielding, worse hitting Jordy Mercer.



https://www.baseball-reference.com/play ... fr01.shtml

I see Reyes was reassigned to minor league camp this morning, so I assume that means Newman stays as the infield backup. No idea how safe an assumption that is.