OnlyBucs

25243F2E38787F4B0 wrote: Kang 0-1 with 2 walks last night.  He's not going to be pitched to very much in A+ after destroying the pitching for a couple straight games.



I guess it's good that he's getting the defensive reps at short.  He's not made any errors yet.
He's played 2 games at short and 2 at 3B. Hurdle said, "we are just trying to move him around to give him some versatility."



I wonder if he can play 1B.



http://triblive.com/sports/pirates/1372 ... in-pirates


I'm sure he can play it better than Josh Bell.  Whatever gets his bat in the middle of the lineup works.   


If the Pirates want to put their best lineup on the field Kang will eventually be in it. I'm not sure if he can play 1st but I would be willing to find out.
Hurdle doesn't believe in that concept.

Kang met with the American Media today. I am sure stories will be posted. His interview with Rob King is being aired tonight during the Pirates pre-game show.

I have been disappointed with Bell this season just as anyone, but are we surprised? I mean this is essentially his 2nd year in the league. To expect him to hit .300 with 30hr's and 100+ rbi's this year was a bit premature, was it not? Hope he can have a better 2nd half and at least give us 16 to 18 home runs.

2C22272E38312E2E4B0 wrote: I have been disappointed with Bell this season just as anyone, but are we surprised?  I mean this is essentially his 2nd year in the league.  To expect him to hit .300 with 30hr's and 100+ rbi's this year was a bit premature, was it not?  Hope he can have a better 2nd half and at least give us 16 to 18 home runs.
What really bothers me about Bell is that his lack of hitting seems to be because he has a terrible looking swing. And in the few instances he takes a legit swing, he usually misses. He's in very bad need of instruction and allowing him to bat 4th like this is irresponsible and detrimental to the team. Bell is below Mercer in BA/OPS/SLG/OPS. And Mercer is relegated to 8th because of his lack of hitting. But the guy hitting worse is allowed to bat 4th every night because it seemed like a good idea prior to the season and Hurdle doesn't want to change it even if it doesn't work. IMHO, Hurdle has regressed from a run of the mill, formula following manager to a very bad one who manages as if winning doesn't matter and isn't a priority.

It's not uncommon for second year players to have difficulties. The league adjusts, the player has to adjust back. It just depends on how long that process takes (and whether the player can do it at all).

212F2A23353C2323460 wrote: I have been disappointed with Bell this season just as anyone, but are we surprised?  I mean this is essentially his 2nd year in the league.  To expect him to hit .300 with 30hr's and 100+ rbi's this year was a bit premature, was it not?  Hope he can have a better 2nd half and at least give us 16 to 18 home runs.


Yes, I am surprised. He had the same amount of HRs in the month of (March)April last year than he has total this year. I expected at least the same amount of power with a little increase. He had 16 HRs in the first half of last year. His OPS is much lower than I thought too.

2022383E284D0 wrote: It's not uncommon for second year players to have difficulties. The league adjusts, the player has to adjust back. It just depends on how long that process takes (and whether the player can do it at all).
That's very true. That's why I'm concerned about Bell. His awful swing won't be productive anywhere, anytime. Unless that's fixed, no amount of adjusting to what the pitchers are throwing him will matter.

0F222F3E39283F7F7C4D0 wrote: It's not uncommon for second year players to have difficulties. The league adjusts, the player has to adjust back. It just depends on how long that process takes (and whether the player can do it at all).
That's very true. That's why I'm concerned about Bell. His awful swing won't be productive anywhere, anytime. Unless that's fixed, no amount of adjusting to what the pitchers are throwing him will matter.




It is hard for me to believe what is happening to Polanco and Bell. Three years ago it looked like the Bucs had a couple potential star players in the minors (could count Taillon and Glasnow too). Have to wonder what the Pirates thought of them and if they consider their performance thus far to be something that was hard to predict.

I'm surprised he's this bad for this long.  His BA and OBP are comparable to last year.   He's hitting the baseball like a 170lb shortstop though. 



On the ground, not enough barrels.   Doesn't not seem like he's even close.  I think he needs to be optioned for a while.  Get the thump in that bat going and stop looking like a fool swinging like he does

1B363B2A2D3C2B6B68590 wrote: It's not uncommon for second year players to have difficulties. The league adjusts, the player has to adjust back. It just depends on how long that process takes (and whether the player can do it at all).
That's very true. That's why I'm concerned about Bell. His awful swing won't be productive anywhere, anytime. Unless that's fixed, no amount of adjusting to what the pitchers are throwing him will matter.


I've always thought Bell had a particularly ugly swing. It sure seems to have gotten worse this year. I too am concerned about him moving forward.