fjk090852-7 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 16, 2025 12:46 am
With 11 days remaining before the beginning of the season I think the following 10 position players are locks to be on the Opening Day roster.
Gonzales
Frazier
IKF
Hayes
Triolo
Bart
Cruz
Reynolds
Cutch
Pham
The 3 remaining regular players who could come north are either Endy or Davis as backup catcher
Suwinski, Bae, Stewart, or Yorke, only two of them will fill out the roster.
Bae and Suwinski have looked much better so far in ST.
I know Bae's had a nice spring but, for me, he'd be my last choice. I just don't see what he can bring to winning. At best he's a pinch runner, and the Pirates can't afford a roster spot for that. Suwinski's earned one last chance so I think I'd have him platoon with Pham in hopes that he out produces him so that the Pirates can release Pham. I also wouldn't be disappointed if McCutchen retired. I don't think he has enough to help as a DH anymore. The Pirates are at a disadvantage with him in that role. I'd give Davis every opportunity to fill the DH spot. If he can't, then there's no point in keeping him, either. He has no position to play.
If these ideas seem like giving up on the season, I get that. But the owner gave up on this season when he built the budget last fall.
fjk090852-7 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 16, 2025 12:46 am
With 11 days remaining before the beginning of the season I think the following 10 position players are locks to be on the Opening Day roster.
Gonzales
Frazier
IKF
Hayes
Triolo
Bart
Cruz
Reynolds
Cutch
Pham
The 3 remaining regular players who could come north are either Endy or Davis as backup catcher
Suwinski, Bae, Stewart, or Yorke, only two of them will fill out the roster.
Bae and Suwinski have looked much better so far in ST.
Frazier was a bad signing, but he'll make it at least half the season because he has contract. We can't forget Horwitz. I don't trust Hayes is going to contribute much, and I think he's going to end up on the 60 day IL at some point in the season. It's sad to think they've painted themselves into a corner with Hayes and Frazier, because that's two spots on the roster we are not going to see much production, and I've never rooted for a nonspecific soft tissue injury more. At the same time, no one has done much to stand out above them.
We don't know if Horwitz will be back for the start of the regular season or not. Stewart and Hall have grabbed most of the 1B time of what's left in camp. If Horwitz isn't ready to go, I think they'll go with Hall, he has more of a MLB pedigree than Stewart. So I see Suwinski because I think they'll want to give Bae more regular playing time at AAA until they dump Frazier, they'll keep Endy because I think they'll want to do the same with Davis and if he keeps hitting there start converting him to an OF/1B/DH type to match up with Horwitz, and the future DH to replace Cutch and a spare OF to take Pham's spot.
Two names that I see mentioned in the Pirateverse, are Bae and Gorski. People need to take a huge step back on Gorski. All of his production has come against AA or scrap heap pitching. The same thing with Bae. However, it's encouraging at the very least they are putting up numbers, regardless who it's against. Bae I think is going to be sent to Indy so he gets regular playing time. Gorski might have been able to nudge himself onto the 40 man roster. It wouldn't be the worst move, they can give him Peguero's spot, because he's out of options, and hasn't exactly shown he's a major league player. In fact, if they want a utility guy for the sake of having one, I'd give Alika Williams Peguero's spot. He is a much better defender, and neither of them can hit. But if Gorski does get on the 40 man, I think it will come at the expense of Peguero's spot.
fjk090852-7 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 16, 2025 12:46 am
With 11 days remaining before the beginning of the season I think the following 10 position players are locks to be on the Opening Day roster.
Gonzales
Frazier
IKF
Hayes
Triolo
Bart
Cruz
Reynolds
Cutch
Pham
The 3 remaining regular players who could come north are either Endy or Davis as backup catcher
Suwinski, Bae, Stewart, or Yorke, only two of them will fill out the roster.
Bae and Suwinski have looked much better so far in ST.
Frazier was a bad signing, but he'll make it at least half the season because he has contract. We can't forget Horwitz. I don't trust Hayes is going to contribute much, and I think he's going to end up on the 60 day IL at some point in the season. It's sad to think they've painted themselves into a corner with Hayes and Frazier, because that's two spots on the roster we are not going to see much production, and I've never rooted for a nonspecific soft tissue injury more. At the same time, no one has done much to stand out above them.
We don't know if Horwitz will be back for the start of the regular season or not. Stewart and Hall have grabbed most of the 1B time of what's left in camp. If Horwitz isn't ready to go, I think they'll go with Hall, he has more of a MLB pedigree than Stewart. So I see Suwinski because I think they'll want to give Bae more regular playing time at AAA until they dump Frazier, they'll keep Endy because I think they'll want to do the same with Davis and if he keeps hitting there start converting him to an OF/1B/DH type to match up with Horwitz, and the future DH to replace Cutch and a spare OF to take Pham's spot.
When I made my proposed non pitcher 13 man Opening Day roster I figured Horwitz wouldn’t be ready when they leave Bradenton. He could miss the first couple of weeks of the regular season. When he returns a roster move will need to be made to make room for him. Gorski has had an interesting spring, but I would not expect to see him in Pittsburgh unless they have a significant injury.
Bucs with the split squad doubleheader day. The squad on the road against Detroit loses 9-6. Of note, Falter gives up 3ER in 2.1 IP, Strzeleski went a scoreless inning with 2BB, 2K, and a hit. IKF went 3-4, Suwinski had a 2B, Endy had a 3B. Endy had an error and a passed ball; Cook threw a runner out at home.
In the home game against the Twins, the Bucs won 4-2. Skenes goes 4.2IP and gives up 1ER, 7K, 3BB, and threw 85 pitches, 51 for strikes. Hayes, Bart, and Reynolds all hit HR's for the Bucs, accounting for all of their runs (Hayes was a 2 run blast). Caleb Ferguson and Ryan Borucki (who is not on the 40 man-yet) both struck out the side in their inning of work. Santana gave up a solo HR. The Bucs managed only two other hits besides the HR's, both of them by Yorke, who played 1B. The Bucs pitchers struck out 16 Twins in this game.
Surgnbuck wrote: ↑Tue Mar 18, 2025 12:41 am
Bucs with the split squad doubleheader day. The squad on the road against Detroit loses 9-6. Of note, Falter gives up 3ER in 2.1 IP, Strzeleski went a scoreless inning with 2BB, 2K, and a hit. IKF went 3-4, Suwinski had a 2B, Endy had a 3B. Endy had an error and a passed ball; Cook threw a runner out at home.
In the home game against the Twins, the Bucs won 4-2. Skenes goes 4.2IP and gives up 1ER, 7K, 3BB, and threw 85 pitches, 51 for strikes. Hayes, Bart, and Reynolds all hit HR's for the Bucs, accounting for all of their runs (Hayes was a 2 run blast). Caleb Ferguson and Ryan Borucki (who is not on the 40 man-yet) both struck out the side in their inning of work. Santana gave up a solo HR. The Bucs managed only two other hits besides the HR's, both of them by Yorke, who played 1B. The Bucs pitchers struck out 16 Twins in this game.
If Skenes has a wart it’s that his control isn’t quite there yet. I suspect that, as he gets older, he’ll tighten that up. It’s going to be great fun watching him get better and better while he’s here. There’ll be a day when it’ll be news when he doesn’t go seven, eight, or all nine innings.
Surgnbuck wrote: ↑Tue Mar 18, 2025 12:41 am
Bucs with the split squad doubleheader day. The squad on the road against Detroit loses 9-6. Of note, Falter gives up 3ER in 2.1 IP, Strzeleski went a scoreless inning with 2BB, 2K, and a hit. IKF went 3-4, Suwinski had a 2B, Endy had a 3B. Endy had an error and a passed ball; Cook threw a runner out at home.
In the home game against the Twins, the Bucs won 4-2. Skenes goes 4.2IP and gives up 1ER, 7K, 3BB, and threw 85 pitches, 51 for strikes. Hayes, Bart, and Reynolds all hit HR's for the Bucs, accounting for all of their runs (Hayes was a 2 run blast). Caleb Ferguson and Ryan Borucki (who is not on the 40 man-yet) both struck out the side in their inning of work. Santana gave up a solo HR. The Bucs managed only two other hits besides the HR's, both of them by Yorke, who played 1B. The Bucs pitchers struck out 16 Twins in this game.
If Skenes has a wart it’s that his control isn’t quite there yet. I suspect that, as he gets older, he’ll tighten that up. It’s going to be great fun watching him get better and better while he’s here. There’ll be a day when it’ll be news when he doesn’t go seven, eight, or all nine innings.
Just thinking about Yorke, I would have no problem if he broke camp with the team. He has had a decent ST, and even in today’s game he hit a big sacrifice fly. Sure it wasn’t against a top closer, but he still hit the ball to right field to plate the runner. He and Triolo could handle first base until Horwitz returns from the IL.
fjk090852-7 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 16, 2025 12:46 am
With 11 days remaining before the beginning of the season I think the following 10 position players are locks to be on the Opening Day roster.
Gonzales
Frazier
IKF
Hayes
Triolo
Bart
Cruz
Reynolds
Cutch
Pham
The 3 remaining regular players who could come north are either Endy or Davis as backup catcher
Suwinski, Bae, Stewart, or Yorke, only two of them will fill out the roster.
Bae and Suwinski have looked much better so far in ST.
I know Bae's had a nice spring but, for me, he'd be my last choice. I just don't see what he can bring to winning. At best he's a pinch runner, and the Pirates can't afford a roster spot for that. Suwinski's earned one last chance so I think I'd have him platoon with Pham in hopes that he out produces him so that the Pirates can release Pham. I also wouldn't be disappointed if McCutchen retired. I don't think he has enough to help as a DH anymore. The Pirates are at a disadvantage with him in that role. I'd give Davis every opportunity to fill the DH spot. If he can't, then there's no point in keeping him, either. He has no position to play.
If these ideas seem like giving up on the season, I get that. But the owner gave up on this season when he built the budget last fall.
The Frazier signing was awful and not needed. I understand the Pham signing but both of these players are now blocking better talent. I disagree on Bae. I would like to see him in the lead off spot for at least a couple of months. You can’t teach speed. I know it’s only spring but he has been amazing both offensively and defensively. Has Suwinski figured it out?? I don’t know but he has also looked good. Davis needs to be on the opening day roster. I would like to see Endy on the roster as well but I think they will send him to AAA initially. I feel bad for Gorski. I don’t know what you need to do to get a shot at the ML Level. He could have been a platoon at 1B.
I have not been impressed with Falter or Heaney and I hope they don’t waste a lot of time before bring Chandler and possibly Harrington up to take their spots
fjk090852-7 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 16, 2025 12:46 am
With 11 days remaining before the beginning of the season I think the following 10 position players are locks to be on the Opening Day roster.
Gonzales
Frazier
IKF
Hayes
Triolo
Bart
Cruz
Reynolds
Cutch
Pham
The 3 remaining regular players who could come north are either Endy or Davis as backup catcher
Suwinski, Bae, Stewart, or Yorke, only two of them will fill out the roster.
Bae and Suwinski have looked much better so far in ST.
I know Bae's had a nice spring but, for me, he'd be my last choice. I just don't see what he can bring to winning. At best he's a pinch runner, and the Pirates can't afford a roster spot for that. Suwinski's earned one last chance so I think I'd have him platoon with Pham in hopes that he out produces him so that the Pirates can release Pham. I also wouldn't be disappointed if McCutchen retired. I don't think he has enough to help as a DH anymore. The Pirates are at a disadvantage with him in that role. I'd give Davis every opportunity to fill the DH spot. If he can't, then there's no point in keeping him, either. He has no position to play.
If these ideas seem like giving up on the season, I get that. But the owner gave up on this season when he built the budget last fall.
The Frazier signing was awful and not needed. I understand the Pham signing but both of these players are now blocking better talent. I disagree on Bae. I would like to see him in the lead off spot for at least a couple of months. You can’t teach speed. I know it’s only spring but he has been amazing both offensively and defensively. Has Suwinski figured it out?? I don’t know but he has also looked good. Davis needs to be on the opening day roster. I would like to see Endy on the roster as well but I think they will send him to AAA initially. I feel bad for Gorski. I don’t know what you need to do to get a shot at the ML Level. He could have been a platoon at 1B.
I have not been impressed with Falter or Heaney and I hope they don’t waste a lot of time before bring Chandler and possibly Harrington up to take their spots
To me, Bae's a guy without a position. He's not better than Gonzales at second and I don't see him as a starting outfielder because of his lack of power. I just don't see room for him.
