OnlyBucs

2423353D3324636F16313B373F3A7835393B560 wrote: Meadows takes such professional ABs.
Bell lacks any of the discipline.

Watching those two in the Box - one looks like a future star, the other does not.
I like Bell. But "undisciplined" is the perfect word for him. When he gets his pitch and puts a good swing on it he can hit a hard line drive or a long HR. So he has the potential to hit fpr power and average. Unfortunately, he doesn't often get his pitch (takes strikes and swings at balls) and too often doesn't put a good swing on the strikes he sees (lots of short arming). At this point, he belongs in the cavalcade of #7 hitters. But Hurdle designated him the #4 hitter so nothing can be done about that. ::)

06213034312C13273031312C550 wrote: From 26-17 eleven days ago to now 28-26 about 12 days later. Something tells me that if this team falls under .500 even one time this year they won’t reach it again this season

big loss tonight. I left with a 3-0 lead to go see Solo and am glad I didn't have to follow this game closely. After yesterday really needed to win this one. Very disappointing. Just 10 or 12 days ago I thought the team had put together what would usually be a lights out bullpen.

Now I think the high watermark of the season has been passed. Feliz is certainly hit and miss out there, he Rivero and Kontos have had more bad appearances this season than they should have had in half a season for the bullpen to be strong.

4D606D7C7B6A7D3D3E0F0 wrote: Meadows takes such professional ABs.
Bell lacks any of the discipline.

Watching those two in the Box - one looks like a future star, the other does not.
I like Bell. But "undisciplined" is the perfect word for him. When he gets his pitch and puts a good swing on it he can hit a hard line drive or a long HR. So he has the potential to hit fpr power and average. Unfortunately, he doesn't often get his pitch (takes strikes and swings at balls) and too often doesn't put a good swing on the strikes he sees (lots of short arming). At this point, he belongs in the cavalcade of #7 hitters. But Hurdle designated him the #4 hitter so nothing can be done about that.  ::) 


Kind of like all our #4 pitchers - somebody has to be misplaced and pitch #1!

Until this year, I always had the impression that Bell was a disciplined "professional" hitter.

I no longer have that same impression. Very disappointed in Bell this year. It's still early in his career and he's still young, so maybe he can figure it out.

Unfortunately Bell is sliding down towards the 1b bust bin. Long way to go for him. 1b is no joke! You gotta hit!

Both of our corner IF spots are questionmarks moving forward.   Some troubling signs for the future.

Kang can't get back here fast enough! 

79707869671D0 wrote: Unfortunately Bell is sliding down towards the 1b bust bin.  Long way to go for him.  1b is no joke!  You gotta hit! 

Both of our corner IF spots are questionmarks moving forward.   Some troubling signs for the future.

Kang can't get back here fast enough! 


Unfortunately, even if Kang regains elite level, which will be shocking IMHO, the Pirates only have him through next year I think. So Kang doesn’t really help the Pirates’ future in all likehood.

I agree on Kang.  I've got to be one of the most optimistic on him, I know.   

I guess I feel like he's already been elite not long ago, so there's a better chance he will be there again in short order than some of these guys we're hanging our hats on that have never been close to that level of hitter yet. I'm very optimistic on him.  We shall see.  I expected him already to be on a minor league assignment in AA or something, if not already up with the club, so who knows what's going on with him?  Certainly not I.

In general though, I'm tired of the future planning. Lets get some very good to elite production now, and worry about two years from now when we get to that.

Another in an increasingly long list of frustrating losses.

It appears that all of the relievers had a 'secret' meeting in the pen and said that we are going to collectively suck over the next 2 weeks or so in honor of Kontos's release. I get one or two relievers regressing, but a whole pen?

Pirates are now at the 1/3rd mark in the season.

A few players are outperforming expectations: Cervelli, Diaz, Dickerson (but with less HR power), and Meadows, with Kingham in the rotation and Rodriguez in the pen.

More are performing at or near expected levels: Harrison, Mercer, Moran, Marte (he is generally playing well), Freese, Kuhl, Williams, Brault, Santana (at least until last night), and Crick.

Unfortunately, many are also underperforming: Bell and Polanco lead the list on the position player side, Frazier and Rodriguez as reserves, Tallion (has rarely looked like a #2 starter), Nova, Vasquez, Feliz, Kontos (gone), and even Glasnow (although there are some encouraging signs).

Hoping that the team can end this slide against the Cubs today. Musgrove is going to have to go 6 - 7 of nearly no run pitching. A real challenge.

Musgrove is going to have to go 6-7 innings of nearly no run pitching.

And if he does that, that means the game will be tied at 0-0 when he exits and it will come down to the bullpens again.

And we know how that story will end.

Musgrove needs to hold the Cubs to -1 runs, so that the Pirates can win 0 to -1.

032F27202B0C3B2D3D4E0 wrote: Another in an increasingly long list of frustrating losses.

It appears that all of the relievers had a 'secret' meeting in the pen and said that we are going to collectively suck over the next 2 weeks or so in honor of Kontos's release.  I get one or two relievers regressing, but a whole pen?

Pirates are now at the  1/3rd mark in the season.

A few players are outperforming expectations:  Cervelli, Diaz, Dickerson (but with less HR power), and Meadows, with Kingham in the rotation and Rodriguez in the pen.

More are performing at or near expected levels:  Harrison, Mercer, Moran, Marte (he is generally playing well), Freese, Kuhl, Williams, Brault, Santana (at least until last night), and Crick.

Unfortunately, many are also underperforming:  Bell and Polanco lead the list on the position player side, Frazier and Rodriguez as reserves, Tallion (has rarely looked like a #2 starter), Nova, Vasquez, Feliz, Kontos (gone), and even Glasnow (although there are some encouraging signs).

Hoping that the team can end this slide against the Cubs today.  Musgrove is going to have to go 6 - 7 of nearly no run pitching.  A real challenge.         

Funny how there can be different perceptions:
To the "exceeding expectations" level: agree on your choices of Cervelli, Diaz, Dickerson, and Meadows, with Kingham in the rotation and Rodriguez in the pen.  I would add Marte, Williams and Kuhl.  The biggest surprise of this group is Marte I think. After the PED, who expected him to perform at the level he is?

But the biggest surprise: I would move Glasnow to the "better than expected" level and I will add that his improvement is the most significant on the team IMHO.

sunday on pregame show, Neal was all over Glasnow's improvement.  Super high on the progress he's making.