OnlyBucs

6644574A494C4B44675046464A250 wrote: 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.



They just scored six runs.

Virginia

Based on how both Kuhl and Williams pitched the last 2 months of last year I likely was higher on these folks than many. My view of them prompted my 'quick' judgement that they were pitching as expected.

I also looked at Marte bouncing back after the long lay-off and climb back from the suspension. I have been very encouraged by his play in the field, his skill and running the bases and some of the power he has flashed. That said, he still remains a 20 HR player.

With the way the rest of the pen is performing, Glasnow may be one of the three best candidates to bring in when a game is in the balance, particularly if he can enter with no one on base. Some of his stuff is downright nasty. Like others, I am hoping that he is overcoming whatever has afflicted his initial adjustment to major league ball. While his stuff may play better coming out of the pen, the Pirates should not write him off as a starter.

Conclusion - I may have been a bit less enthusiastic than I should have been in considering the play of each of the above 4 players.

6F687E76786F28245D7A707C7471337E72701D0 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.


Honestly I was never worried about Marte. He is an elite talent without the juice.