OnlyBucs

I like that Mercer is steady and dependable on everything he gets to. Sometimes those SSs with more range aren't as reliable on the routine plays. If they find someone better, that's fine. But I'm satisfied with him.

654845545342551516270 wrote: I like that Mercer is steady and dependable on everything he gets to. Sometimes those SSs with more range aren't as reliable on the routine plays. If they find someone better, that's fine. But I'm satisfied with him.   


Me too. Of all of the things to gripe about, Mercer is hardly one of them, IMO. He almost always makes the plays he should. He is uber dependable. I'll take that. He has been a really solid player for the Pirates over the last 5 years or so.

6E434E5F58495E1E1D2C0 wrote: I like that Mercer is steady and dependable on everything he gets to. Sometimes those SSs with more range aren't as reliable on the routine plays. If they find someone better, that's fine. But I'm satisfied with him.   


Alan Hansen for example!

1) loss of Harrison is a big deal in my mind. 

-It seems Clint was being very effective in using his bench and that will change.

-The biggest loss is josh’s leadership.

-Im ok giving Frazier an extended look at 2nd, but no way he’s equal replacement.



2) Brault - weak link in rotation. zack Duke part II.  This is where the FO drives me nuts: Neal is apparently pretty close to proving a lot of people wrong.  Once again, I really like this team. Why repeat the same mistakes of the past?  If Neal truly liked this team at the beginning of the season, why not add one strong presence in the rotation?  Why should they ALWAYS flirt around one or two guys short?  Push Williams and Kuhl to ##4&5, adding a legit #3 (or better in my dreams) and quit playing around with that last possible dollar of payroll. 



One more pitcher.  That’s all.  But instead it’s  déjà vu all over again.

6265737B7562252950777D71797C3E737F7D100 wrote: 1) loss of Harrison is a big deal in my mind. 

-It seems Clint was being very effective in using his bench and that will change.

-The biggest loss is josh’s leadership.

-Im ok giving Frazier an extended look at 2nd, but no way he’s equal replacement.



2) Brault - weak link in rotation. zack Duke part II.  This is where the FO drives me nuts: Neal is apparently pretty close to proving a lot of people wrong.  Once again, I really like this team. Why repeat the same mistakes of the past?  If Neal truly liked this team at the beginning of the season, why not add one strong presence in the rotation?  Why should they ALWAYS flirt around one or two guys short?  Push Williams and Kuhl to ##4&5, adding a legit #3 (or better in my dreams) and quit playing around with that last possible dollar of payroll. 



One more pitcher.  That’s all.  But instead it’s  déjà vu all over again.


Second base is probably where the team has the most depth. Frazier, Rodriguez, and now Moroff are all on the team. Two top prospects in Indy are middle infielders in Newman and Kramer. Tucker is in Altoona. Harrison is the best of the group, but there is depth.



They used Brault the way people wanted them to use young pitchers. He was very good as a starter last year in Indy. Did he win Pitcher of the Year (I forget)? He pitched briefly out the bullpen last year. He was the next man up if there was an injury this year. There was an injury. In three starts, he has won two games. I am not a huge Brault fan, but he deserved his shot for sure.



The Pirates are still rebuilding. They have a lot of young pitchers with no experience or not much experience. They have to figure out if some of these guys can stick around in the majors. If they don't have any winners, then they can go out and get some arms. Brault and Glasnow might fail, but way too early in their careers to say they have already failed.

202731393720676B12353F333B3E7C313D3F520 wrote: 1) loss of Harrison is a big deal in my mind. 

-It seems Clint was being very effective in using his bench and that will change.

-The biggest loss is josh’s leadership.

-Im ok giving Frazier an extended look at 2nd, but no way he’s equal replacement.



2) Brault - weak link in rotation. zack Duke part II.  This is where the FO drives me nuts: Neal is apparently pretty close to proving a lot of people wrong.  Once again, I really like this team. Why repeat the same mistakes of the past?  If Neal truly liked this team at the beginning of the season, why not add one strong presence in the rotation?  Why should they ALWAYS flirt around one or two guys short?  Push Williams and Kuhl to ##4&5, adding a legit #3 (or better in my dreams) and quit playing around with that last possible dollar of payroll. 



One more pitcher.  That’s all.  But instead it’s  déjà vu all over again.


I still think I'd move Kuhl to the pen instead.  How often does he go over 5 IP anyhow?  He's good, just throws a ton of pitches.  Put him on the back end and tell him to unleash it.

I'm not ready to give up on any of the starters yet. To me, this is an interesting season to see how they do. Taillon and Williams have been very good. Nova's doing well too. Kuhl has been problematic and Brault inconsistent. But Kuhl showed last year he can do better. It's gotta be tough pitching in cold weather and even snow. Let's see how they all do when the weather improves.

1F323F2E29382F6F6C5D0 wrote: I'm not ready to give up on any of the starters yet. To me, this is an interesting season to see how they do. Taillon and Williams have been very good. Nova's doing well too. Kuhl has been problematic and Brault inconsistent. But Kuhl showed last year he can do better. It's gotta be tough pitching in cold weather and even snow. Let's see how they all do when the weather improves.


I agree with this. I think three starts is too quick to pull the plug, especially given these conditions.

Yeah I guess I'm thinking more down the line, if (and big if) we get more/better rotation pieces. Give him more time to start but I can see Kuhl being a monster in the pen

2A2221160025020D630 wrote: I'm not ready to give up on any of the starters yet. To me, this is an interesting season to see how they do. Taillon and Williams have been very good. Nova's doing well too. Kuhl has been problematic and Brault inconsistent. But Kuhl showed last year he can do better. It's gotta be tough pitching in cold weather and even snow. Let's see how they all do when the weather improves.


I agree with this. I think three starts is too quick to pull the plug, especially given these conditions.


I actually like Kuhl. I would give him some more time for sure. Back on topic. Get Moroff on the field and use Frazier as the 4th OF.