OnlyBucs

Alford looked lost when the season began, but lately he has been putting up decent numbers at Indy. I think the experiment with Tom has reached a final decision, so I wonder if it is time prior to the weekend series against Cleveland that the Pirates add Alford to the roster, and release Tom.

5A56570C050C04090E110B3C0 wrote: Alford looked lost when the season began, but lately he has been putting up decent numbers at Indy. I think the experiment with Tom has reached a final decision, so I wonder if it is time prior to the weekend series against Cleveland that the Pirates add Alford to the roster, and release Tom.
It makes sense. Alford is red hot at Indy and Tom has no value. The argument for continuing to go with Tom and Polanco has been that there is no one at AAA to replace either of them. But now Alford is at .279 with 6 HRs in 29 games for Indy. And in the most recent 15 games he's at .386 with 5 HRs and OBP of .526. They had high hopes for him when they acquired him last year and now he's raking at AAA. Hard to believe they can't find a spot for him with Tom and Polanco ahead of him.

And, if they bring Alford up and he doesn't perform well, it is an acceptable (although unfortunate) outcome, because Tom adds nothing to the roster. Alford appears to offer some hope, while Tom, based on his on-field performance, adds none.



Also, if they offer him back as a Rule V guy, I am certain that his original team as well as the other teams in the majors would decline, which means that the Bucs can keep him at AAA if they so choose.



I previously noted that I believed BC deserved credit for quickly moving on from Alford, Fowler and then Stokes. It is past time to take the same action with Tom.



Unfortunately, Polanco is likely here at least through the end of July, but more likely for the entire season.

7B575F585374435545360 wrote: And, if they bring Alford up and he doesn't perform well, it is an acceptable (although unfortunate) outcome, because Tom adds nothing to the roster.   Alford appears to offer some hope, while Tom, based on his on-field performance, adds none.



Also, if they offer him back as a Rule V guy, I am certain that his original team as well as the other teams in the majors would decline, which means that the Bucs can keep him at AAA if they so choose.



I previously noted that I believed BC deserved credit for quickly moving on from Alford, Fowler and then Stokes.  It is past time to take the same action with Tom.   



Unfortunately, Polanco is likely here at least through the end of July, but more likely for the entire season.
Rule 5 stipulates that the player must go through waivers before his prior team has the option to take him back. So every team could take him off waivers just as the Pirates did. Although it's hard to see any team wanting him.

Alford and Oliva are in the Indy starting lineup tonight. Both have one hit in 4 at bats, and both have struck out 3 times. The Pirates need outfielders, and these two appear to be the next men up. Hopefully they can cut down on the strikeouts. It is unfortunate that Cruz and Castro are only at Altoona, because both are hitting well, and they would look good in the lineup behind Frazier, Hayes, and Reynolds.

6E6263383138303D3A253F080 wrote: Alford and Oliva are in the Indy starting lineup tonight. Both have one hit in 4 at bats, and both have struck out 3 times. The Pirates need outfielders, and these two appear to be the  next men up. Hopefully they can cut down on the strikeouts.  It is unfortunate that Cruz and Castro are only at Altoona, because both are hitting well, and they would look good in the lineup behind Frazier, Hayes, and Reynolds.


Polanco's separation date is about six weeks away.  Tom's is likely sooner.  Alford, if he continues to progress, needs to be here next week to replace Tom, and Oliva, after getting 50-75 at bats, hopefully will replace Polanco.  That day can't get here fast enough.

0E584E5A554F5F54594E7C5B515D5550125F3C0 wrote: Alford and Oliva are in the Indy starting lineup tonight. Both have one hit in 4 at bats, and both have struck out 3 times. The Pirates need outfielders, and these two appear to be the  next men up. Hopefully they can cut down on the strikeouts.  It is unfortunate that Cruz and Castro are only at Altoona, because both are hitting well, and they would look good in the lineup behind Frazier, Hayes, and Reynolds.


Polanco's separation date is about six weeks away.  Tom's is likely sooner.  Alford, if he continues to progress, needs to be here next week to replace Tom, and Oliva, after getting 50-75 at bats, hopefully will replace Polanco.  That day can't get here fast enough.
They decided that Alford, after 11 games and 29 PAs, was of no help. But now it looks like Alford has put himself in position to be of value. Tom has been given 32 games and 99 PAs and continues to be useless. How much more time does he get? >:(

143934252233246467560 wrote: Alford and Oliva are in the Indy starting lineup tonight. Both have one hit in 4 at bats, and both have struck out 3 times. The Pirates need outfielders, and these two appear to be the  next men up. Hopefully they can cut down on the strikeouts.  It is unfortunate that Cruz and Castro are only at Altoona, because both are hitting well, and they would look good in the lineup behind Frazier, Hayes, and Reynolds.


Polanco's separation date is about six weeks away.  Tom's is likely sooner.  Alford, if he continues to progress, needs to be here next week to replace Tom, and Oliva, after getting 50-75 at bats, hopefully will replace Polanco.  That day can't get here fast enough.
They decided that Alford, after 11 games and 29 PAs, was of no help. But now it looks like Alford has put himself in position to be of value. Tom has been given 32 games and 99 PAs and continues to be useless. How much more time does he get?  >:(


I'm not sure why he should get any at this point. He's shown no improvement since he first arrived, nor has he shown much in the way of above average skills. Not sure we should expect anything different. At the same time, if Alford comes here and performs like he did earlier this year, there's no point in keeping him around, either.



I just can't understand how an organization has not one outfielder close to being ready to play in the major leagues.

Geez. The guy hasn't even been here two years, and he had the pandemic to deal with. SOME guys are unrealistic.



If we had guys, we'd have EXPECTATIONS. We'wouldn't want that, would we?

Ka'ai Tom starting again tonight in LF. I can't even understand how he gets to much playing time over Ben Gamel.



I can only surmise that Gamel, Alford, Difo are all in the fold in one way or another right now, and that they have a pre-conceived amount of AB's they want to give Tom.



I don't know what he does well. He doesn't walk much anymore, he doesn't hit, he plays a scary bad LF, he looks fast but really isn't.