OnlyBucs

I still can't believe we brought in Nava. In an org filled with young 4th OF types, we're going to instead use a 35year old walking injury who can't hit left handed pitching.



Bostic Frazier, luplow? No. Dan Nava. Lol.



"Oh it's just a ST invite!". Sure it is. Just like Brandon Inge's and Morrell and John McDonald and Craig Monroe. And Jaso ..well we actually brought him in to start...



A good GM would be trading SRod and Freese right now... especially if you want to hold JHay. You cannot give Hurdle veteran bench players. You need to take his veteran options away not increase them.

767F776668120 wrote: As much as hurdle uses the bench, why would it matter if the org guys like Moroff are the backups?



I'll take 250 ML ab over 400 AAA at bats all day long.    (Moroff for example).   



The cards always have young bench players who get looks once in a while and then slide right in when a starter goes down.



Better to do that than to call up some wide eyed kid to start when the injury occurs because you wanted him to "play everyday" against AAA scrubs instead of 3 days a week vs the best in the world.



It's a losing mentality and losing approach and losing strategy.  See the cards


I don't think it is a loser mentality. Not many teams bring up their star prospects/rookies and sit them on the bench. The Astros and Cubs certainly didn't do it in their latest post-season runs. The Yankees didn't do that with Judge.



I do think you make some interesting points. I always thought bench players should be veterans who don't get many at bats or take away playing time over younger players. It just seems that guys who are expected to make the big impact aren't bench players first. They come right in and start.



Do you think the Pirates are better off if they bring up Meadows or Newman to be the back ups this year? Is it better for the player going forward too?

I think it's good to let prospects who are expected to become impact starters get their feet wet as reserves. Whenever Meadows is ready (and I don't think he is yet) let him be the 4th OFer for half a season or so before making him a regular in the lineup.

002D20313627307073420 wrote: I think it's good to let prospects who are expected to become impact starters get their feet wet as reserves. Whenever Meadows is ready (and I don't think he is yet) let him be the 4th OFer for half a season or so before making him a regular in the lineup. 


That's what September is for.



Maybe I am just old school and think the back up only plays on Sunday or blow outs? I know more rest is given today. I am not a fan of that. I want my best players in there more than not. The "Sunday Line Up" is becoming a norm lately.

414A424E4B4A511412655C444D4A4A0B464A250 wrote: I think it's good to let prospects who are expected to become impact starters get their feet wet as reserves. Whenever Meadows is ready (and I don't think he is yet) let him be the 4th OFer for half a season or so before making him a regular in the lineup. 


That's what September is for.



Maybe I am just old school and think the back up only plays on Sunday or blow outs?  I know more rest is given today.  I am not a fan of that.  I want my best players in there more than not.  The "Sunday Line Up" is becoming a norm lately.


September's not enough. They need to get used to the travel, seeing many different pitchers and opposing batters, playing in different parks, dealing with media. Reserves play more often than Sundays and blowouts. Last year Jaso was a reserve but appeared in 126 games with 302 PAs. Between giving starters days off, filling in for injured starters, entering in double-switches, PHing, and defensive replacements, there are plenty of opportunities for a reserve, especially a 4th OFer who is the backup for all 3 starting OFers.

Is that a good thing? I think there is way too much rest for the starters. I am curious how many times the said starters actually played together last year for the Pirates. It wasn't like there was a set platoon either.

656E666A6F6E753036417860696E6E2F626E010 wrote: Is that a good thing?  I think there is way too much rest for the starters.  I am curious how many times the said starters actually played together last year for the Pirates.  It wasn't like there was a set platoon either.


on the current roster these are they guys who should play most days:



Bell, Harrison, Mercer, Marte



Players who may be able to earn a chance to do that in spring training are:



Moran

Luplow

Polanco



maybe Frazier if he can hit lefties and shows he can play second better.

123435223424570 wrote: Is that a good thing?  I think there is way too much rest for the starters.  I am curious how many times the said starters actually played together last year for the Pirates.  It wasn't like there was a set platoon either.


on the current roster these are they guys who should play most days:



Bell, Harrison, Mercer, Marte



Players who may be able to earn a chance to do that in spring training are:



Moran

Luplow

Polanco



maybe Frazier if he can hit lefties and shows he can play second better.


At this point, I think Marte, Polanco, Harrison, Cervelli, Moran, and Bell have to start. I would have Luplow and Frazier platoon.

4249414D4849521711665F474E4949084549260 wrote: Is that a good thing?  I think there is way too much rest for the starters.  I am curious how many times the said starters actually played together last year for the Pirates.  It wasn't like there was a set platoon either.
I am also not a fan of so much rest for starters. But, like it or not (and I don't), that's how Hurdle manages. So a 4th OFer stands to get significant playing time.

Did this help Jose Osuna last year?



(He has 275 PA in Triple A and has 215 PA in MLB)