2024 Off-Season Thread

[Doc]

Of course, this isn't news to any of us. The Pirates have had black holes at first and third bases, and in right field, since before moving into PNC Park. It's remarkable that little to no offense has come from those positions over the past 30 years of both drafting and signing guys internationally.

To expand on this, it's not just these positions. When the discussion is confined just to position players who the Pirates have signed as amateurs, only about six since the last World Series title have been really good players for the Pirates: Bonds, McCutchen, Kendall, Marte, Bonilla, and Walker. There's no Tony Pena behind Kendall - Jacob Stallings may be their second-best homegrown catcher. Adam Frazier may be #2 at second base.

Then look at the six good players. Of the five subject to the draft, four were number 1 picks. Three of them are the sons of major leaguers. How much "development" is actually occurring if half of your good players are #1 picks who grew up in major league households?

Good points, all. I looked at Huntington’s body of work once and discovered that he drafted only one position player who contributed to the Pirates over an extended period of time. That was Jody Mercer. I liked Jordy, but he was only serviceable because he was surrounded by some really good players so he didn’t need to do much beyond play SS at a steady rate. The GMs, their scouts, and their development staffs have been, to say the least, wanting since 1993. Thirty two years! Four winning seasons! There needs to be some arrests made.

[mouse]

A special thank you to all you veterans out there for your service in keeping us all safe.

[3pirates3]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/m ... 119621007/

[Doc]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/m ... 119621007/

The author of the article included the Pirates among the teams trying to win. Does he know something we don’t?

[3pirates3]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/m ... 119621007/

The author of the article included the Pirates among the teams trying to win. Does he know something we don’t?

His source (a GM) included Pittsburgh in that group. I wonder if it was Cherington?

https://x.com/Braves/status/1856121018902864152

[Doc]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/m ... 119621007/

The author of the article included the Pirates among the teams trying to win. Does he know something we don’t?

His source (a GM) included Pittsburgh in that group. I wonder if it was Cherington?

https://x.com/Braves/status/1856121018902864152

HAHAHA!! That makes the most sense.

[3pirates3]

https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press ... s-d-arnaud