OnlyBucs

With the Stock Market plunging, the Pirates have come to the rescue for their beleaguered fans.

The over/under in Vegas for Pirate wins this season was 71.

I don’t see how they will avoid a 100 loss season. So for the first time in my life I am betting against the Bucs and took the under.

This is probably as close to a sure thing as there is in sports betting. Maybe some extra cash can make the season less disappointing for suffering Bucco fans.

I think 71 is pretty a pretty good line actually. Even with all the faults, it's also true imo that lots of parts of the team underperformed last year. There's also reason to believe that that change in pitching philosophy could realistically turn some of those under-performances around.

As well, I'd like to think the defense will be improved, which will help the pitching, and there will be less injuries. Take the over.

5E5C464056330 wrote: As well, I'd like to think the defense will be improved, which will help the pitching, and there will be less injuries. Take the over.


You make fair points but what may well lead to fewer wins than a year ago are the likely eventual trades of any number of guys, beginning with Bell, and possibly including Frazier, Kela, and Archer, if any or all are having decent seasons.

774549495D6F4C45484D4245240 wrote: I think 71 is pretty a pretty good line actually.  Even with all the faults, it's also true imo that lots of parts of the team underperformed last year.  There's also reason to believe that that change in pitching philosophy could realistically turn some of those under-performances around.


But Reynolds won't be as good. Neither will Newman. Bell probably won't hit as well either. We had Vazquez all last year, aside from the last 10 days or so. And Marte is gone in exchange for Dyson. Ouch.



They can improve in a lot of areas but still lose 100. And I think they will.



And by the way I'm the kind of guy who always thinks they're going to surprise and win 90. This year I'll be shocked if they're not the worst team in baseball, and I don't see a plan to escape from that in future years either.

4F434A47500C564B4F4D564A5B101262454F220 wrote: I think 71 is pretty a pretty good line actually.  Even with all the faults, it's also true imo that lots of parts of the team underperformed last year.  There's also reason to believe that that change in pitching philosophy could realistically turn some of those under-performances around.


But Reynolds won't be as good. Neither will Newman. Bell probably won't hit as well either. We had Vazquez all last year, aside from the last 10 days or so. And Marte is gone in exchange for Dyson. Ouch.



They can improve in a lot of areas but still lose 100. And I think they will.



And by the way I'm the kind of guy who always thinks they're going to surprise and win 90. This year I'll be shocked if they're not the worst team in baseball, and I don't see a plan to escape from that in future years either.




my concern is while it is likely the pitching will improve the offense (while not great in 2019) will be worse because of a little regression of Newman, Reynolds, possibly Bell overall. Will still have a black hole behind the plate, center won't be as good as Marte and who knows what Polanco can do?



It takes a lot of things going right to even match the 2019 offense.

386E786C637969626F784A6D676B636624690A0 wrote: As well, I'd like to think the defense will be improved, which will help the pitching, and there will be less injuries. Take the over.


You make fair points but what may well lead to fewer wins than a year ago are the likely eventual trades of any number of guys, beginning with Bell, and possibly including Frazier, Kela, and Archer, if any or all are having decent seasons.


Agreed. While I don’t expect this, I think this team has the potential to lose 120. It is not a crazy idea.

4740565E5047000C755258545C591B565A58350 wrote: As well, I'd like to think the defense will be improved, which will help the pitching, and there will be less injuries. Take the over.


You make fair points but what may well lead to fewer wins than a year ago are the likely eventual trades of any number of guys, beginning with Bell, and possibly including Frazier, Kela, and Archer, if any or all are having decent seasons.


Agreed.  While I don’t expect this, I think this team has the potential to lose 120.  It is not a crazy idea.


120 losses would be 1962 Mets-like. Like you, I don't expect that, nor do I expect another awful stretch like they had after the All Star Break last year. Stuff like that rarely happens. But I can't imagine anyone being surprised if this team averages four to four and a half losses per week. They'll have a few modest winning streaks, like all teams, but I'm afraid it'll be all-to-common to see them lose four of five routinely.

7A2C3A2E213B2B202D3A082F25292124662B480 wrote: As well, I'd like to think the defense will be improved, which will help the pitching, and there will be less injuries. Take the over.


You make fair points but what may well lead to fewer wins than a year ago are the likely eventual trades of any number of guys, beginning with Bell, and possibly including Frazier, Kela, and Archer, if any or all are having decent seasons.


Agreed.  While I don’t expect this, I think this team has the potential to lose 120.  It is not a crazy idea.


120 losses would be 1962 Mets-like.  Like you, I don't expect that, nor do I expect another awful stretch like they had after the All Star Break last year.  Stuff like that rarely happens.  But I can't imagine anyone being surprised if this team averages four to four and a half losses per week.  They'll have a few modest winning streaks, like all teams, but I'm afraid it'll be all-to-common to see them lose four of five routinely.
I agree I don’t see another string of loses like they had last season after the All Star Break. I think they will win a few more games than last season, but I expect April and May to be tough months. Come June whenever Hayes arrives, and possibly a couple other minor league players such as Martin, I can see their season turning the corner.

040809525B525A57504F55620 wrote: As well, I'd like to think the defense will be improved, which will help the pitching, and there will be less injuries. Take the over.


You make fair points but what may well lead to fewer wins than a year ago are the likely eventual trades of any number of guys, beginning with Bell, and possibly including Frazier, Kela, and Archer, if any or all are having decent seasons.


Agreed.  While I don’t expect this, I think this team has the potential to lose 120.  It is not a crazy idea.


120 losses would be 1962 Mets-like.  Like you, I don't expect that, nor do I expect another awful stretch like they had after the All Star Break last year.  Stuff like that rarely happens.  But I can't imagine anyone being surprised if this team averages four to four and a half losses per week.  They'll have a few modest winning streaks, like all teams, but I'm afraid it'll be all-to-common to see them lose four of five routinely.
I agree I don’t see another string of loses like they had last season after the All Star Break. I think they will win a few more games than last season, but I expect April and May to be tough months. Come June whenever Hayes arrives, and possibly a couple other minor league players such as Martin, I can see their season turning the corner.


It would be so sweet to see two or three players come up from the system this summer and play like stars as we've seen with youngsters in Atlanta and Washington. But as of now, the immediate future doesn't look particularly bright. I believe Cherington has to restock the minors from one end to the other, or the development guys he's hired have to be able to work miracles with the players currently there. Either way is fine by me, I just want to see something good happen.