Cole is dissecting the Rays like a skilled surgeon.
10Ks through 5.
Makes me sick to my stomach; what might have been!
Gerrit Cole
Moderators: SammyKhalifa, Doc, Bobster
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JollyRoger
- Posts: 1469
- Joined: Sat Jul 16, 2016 8:31 pm
Gerrit Cole
Through 7, No runs, 2 hits, 13 K’s
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CarolinaBucco
Gerrit Cole
I just can't handle the reality that Cole, Morton and Glasnow were all on the Pirates at the same time.
And the Pirates didn't know how to handle them. The entire thing was botched completely.
And then they all left ... and the Pirates had (virtually) nothing to show for any of them.
If the Pirates actually knew what they were doing, and if all three were pitching at their highest levels in Pittsburgh, together, this team could have won 100 games.
Instead ... nothing.
And the Pirates didn't know how to handle them. The entire thing was botched completely.
And then they all left ... and the Pirates had (virtually) nothing to show for any of them.
If the Pirates actually knew what they were doing, and if all three were pitching at their highest levels in Pittsburgh, together, this team could have won 100 games.
Instead ... nothing.
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Bobster21
Gerrit Cole
6644574A494C4B44675046464A250 wrote: I just can't handle the reality that Cole, Morton and Glasnow were all on the Pirates at the same time.
And the Pirates didn't know how to handle them. The entire thing was botched completely.
And then they all left ... and the Pirates had (virtually) nothing to show for any of them.
If the Pirates actually knew what they were doing, and if all three were pitching at their highest levels in Pittsburgh, together, this team could have won 100 games.
Instead ... nothing.
And it was the model for how TBMTIB promised to create a winner. Draft and develop (Cole, Glasnow) or trade for (Morton) unproven young talent with potential to build from within. They got the players and then didn't know how to bring out the best in them to reach the potential they thought those players had. Yet other teams were able to.
Even Meadows came up last year and looked great when Marte was hurt. But when Marte returned they didn't know what to do with Meadows. So they put him into an OF rotation until he cooled off and then optioned him and traded him. Meadows appeared to be an all around superior player to the poor fielding, poor base running, 250-ish hitting Polanco. But Meadows became the odd man out. This year they didn't know what to do with Newman until they were forced to play him when Gonzalez got hurt. All he did was play a solid SS and finish 8th in the NL in hitting. Reynolds finished 7th. But it took 2 injuries before they called him up. When Dickerson got hurt in April it was Martin who was recalled. Only another injury to Marte opened the door for Reynolds. Otherwise he might have spend the year in AAA. It's scary how bad the Pirate organization is.
And the Pirates didn't know how to handle them. The entire thing was botched completely.
And then they all left ... and the Pirates had (virtually) nothing to show for any of them.
If the Pirates actually knew what they were doing, and if all three were pitching at their highest levels in Pittsburgh, together, this team could have won 100 games.
Instead ... nothing.
And it was the model for how TBMTIB promised to create a winner. Draft and develop (Cole, Glasnow) or trade for (Morton) unproven young talent with potential to build from within. They got the players and then didn't know how to bring out the best in them to reach the potential they thought those players had. Yet other teams were able to.
Even Meadows came up last year and looked great when Marte was hurt. But when Marte returned they didn't know what to do with Meadows. So they put him into an OF rotation until he cooled off and then optioned him and traded him. Meadows appeared to be an all around superior player to the poor fielding, poor base running, 250-ish hitting Polanco. But Meadows became the odd man out. This year they didn't know what to do with Newman until they were forced to play him when Gonzalez got hurt. All he did was play a solid SS and finish 8th in the NL in hitting. Reynolds finished 7th. But it took 2 injuries before they called him up. When Dickerson got hurt in April it was Martin who was recalled. Only another injury to Marte opened the door for Reynolds. Otherwise he might have spend the year in AAA. It's scary how bad the Pirate organization is.
Gerrit Cole
765B56474051460605340 wrote: I just can't handle the reality that Cole, Morton and Glasnow were all on the Pirates at the same time.
And the Pirates didn't know how to handle them. The entire thing was botched completely.
And then they all left ... and the Pirates had (virtually) nothing to show for any of them.
If the Pirates actually knew what they were doing, and if all three were pitching at their highest levels in Pittsburgh, together, this team could have won 100 games.
Instead ... nothing.
And it was the model for how TBMTIB promised to create a winner. Draft and develop (Cole, Glasnow) or trade for (Morton) unproven young talent with potential to build from within. They got the players and then didn't know how to bring out the best in them to reach the potential they thought those players had. Yet other teams were able to.
Even Meadows came up last year and looked great when Marte was hurt. But when Marte returned they didn't know what to do with Meadows. So they put him into an OF rotation until he cooled off and then optioned him and traded him. Meadows appeared to be an all around superior player to the poor fielding, poor base running, 250-ish hitting Polanco. But Meadows became the odd man out. This year they didn't know what to do with Newman until they were forced to play him when Gonzalez got hurt. All he did was play a solid SS and finish 8th in the NL in hitting. Reynolds finished 7th. But it took 2 injuries before they called him up. When Dickerson got hurt in April it was Martin who was recalled. Only another injury to Marte opened the door for Reynolds. Otherwise he might have spend the year in AAA. It's scary how bad the Pirate organization is.
I find the scariest part is how good they think they are.
And the Pirates didn't know how to handle them. The entire thing was botched completely.
And then they all left ... and the Pirates had (virtually) nothing to show for any of them.
If the Pirates actually knew what they were doing, and if all three were pitching at their highest levels in Pittsburgh, together, this team could have won 100 games.
Instead ... nothing.
And it was the model for how TBMTIB promised to create a winner. Draft and develop (Cole, Glasnow) or trade for (Morton) unproven young talent with potential to build from within. They got the players and then didn't know how to bring out the best in them to reach the potential they thought those players had. Yet other teams were able to.
Even Meadows came up last year and looked great when Marte was hurt. But when Marte returned they didn't know what to do with Meadows. So they put him into an OF rotation until he cooled off and then optioned him and traded him. Meadows appeared to be an all around superior player to the poor fielding, poor base running, 250-ish hitting Polanco. But Meadows became the odd man out. This year they didn't know what to do with Newman until they were forced to play him when Gonzalez got hurt. All he did was play a solid SS and finish 8th in the NL in hitting. Reynolds finished 7th. But it took 2 injuries before they called him up. When Dickerson got hurt in April it was Martin who was recalled. Only another injury to Marte opened the door for Reynolds. Otherwise he might have spend the year in AAA. It's scary how bad the Pirate organization is.
I find the scariest part is how good they think they are.
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Bobster21
Gerrit Cole
4A6C6D7A6C7C0F0 wrote: I just can't handle the reality that Cole, Morton and Glasnow were all on the Pirates at the same time.
And the Pirates didn't know how to handle them. The entire thing was botched completely.
And then they all left ... and the Pirates had (virtually) nothing to show for any of them.
If the Pirates actually knew what they were doing, and if all three were pitching at their highest levels in Pittsburgh, together, this team could have won 100 games.
Instead ... nothing.
And it was the model for how TBMTIB promised to create a winner. Draft and develop (Cole, Glasnow) or trade for (Morton) unproven young talent with potential to build from within. They got the players and then didn't know how to bring out the best in them to reach the potential they thought those players had. Yet other teams were able to.
Even Meadows came up last year and looked great when Marte was hurt. But when Marte returned they didn't know what to do with Meadows. So they put him into an OF rotation until he cooled off and then optioned him and traded him. Meadows appeared to be an all around superior player to the poor fielding, poor base running, 250-ish hitting Polanco. But Meadows became the odd man out. This year they didn't know what to do with Newman until they were forced to play him when Gonzalez got hurt. All he did was play a solid SS and finish 8th in the NL in hitting. Reynolds finished 7th. But it took 2 injuries before they called him up. When Dickerson got hurt in April it was Martin who was recalled. Only another injury to Marte opened the door for Reynolds. Otherwise he might have spend the year in AAA. It's scary how bad the Pirate organization is.
I find the scariest part is how good they think they are.
Yes! They always seem to think they are smarter than everyone else with their analytics, sabermetrics, NBA resting formula, shifting, etc. And yet everyone else seems to do better. The philosophy seems to be that they will find modern, intelligent ways to make the team better without getting top notch players. It all sounds good sitting in an office looking at a computer. But when the players trot out onto the field to face better players it all falls apart.
And the Pirates didn't know how to handle them. The entire thing was botched completely.
And then they all left ... and the Pirates had (virtually) nothing to show for any of them.
If the Pirates actually knew what they were doing, and if all three were pitching at their highest levels in Pittsburgh, together, this team could have won 100 games.
Instead ... nothing.
And it was the model for how TBMTIB promised to create a winner. Draft and develop (Cole, Glasnow) or trade for (Morton) unproven young talent with potential to build from within. They got the players and then didn't know how to bring out the best in them to reach the potential they thought those players had. Yet other teams were able to.
Even Meadows came up last year and looked great when Marte was hurt. But when Marte returned they didn't know what to do with Meadows. So they put him into an OF rotation until he cooled off and then optioned him and traded him. Meadows appeared to be an all around superior player to the poor fielding, poor base running, 250-ish hitting Polanco. But Meadows became the odd man out. This year they didn't know what to do with Newman until they were forced to play him when Gonzalez got hurt. All he did was play a solid SS and finish 8th in the NL in hitting. Reynolds finished 7th. But it took 2 injuries before they called him up. When Dickerson got hurt in April it was Martin who was recalled. Only another injury to Marte opened the door for Reynolds. Otherwise he might have spend the year in AAA. It's scary how bad the Pirate organization is.
I find the scariest part is how good they think they are.
Yes! They always seem to think they are smarter than everyone else with their analytics, sabermetrics, NBA resting formula, shifting, etc. And yet everyone else seems to do better. The philosophy seems to be that they will find modern, intelligent ways to make the team better without getting top notch players. It all sounds good sitting in an office looking at a computer. But when the players trot out onto the field to face better players it all falls apart.
Gerrit Cole
715C51404756410102330 wrote: I just can't handle the reality that Cole, Morton and Glasnow were all on the Pirates at the same time.
And the Pirates didn't know how to handle them. The entire thing was botched completely.
And then they all left ... and the Pirates had (virtually) nothing to show for any of them.
If the Pirates actually knew what they were doing, and if all three were pitching at their highest levels in Pittsburgh, together, this team could have won 100 games.
Instead ... nothing.
And it was the model for how TBMTIB promised to create a winner. Draft and develop (Cole, Glasnow) or trade for (Morton) unproven young talent with potential to build from within. They got the players and then didn't know how to bring out the best in them to reach the potential they thought those players had. Yet other teams were able to.
Even Meadows came up last year and looked great when Marte was hurt. But when Marte returned they didn't know what to do with Meadows. So they put him into an OF rotation until he cooled off and then optioned him and traded him. Meadows appeared to be an all around superior player to the poor fielding, poor base running, 250-ish hitting Polanco. But Meadows became the odd man out. This year they didn't know what to do with Newman until they were forced to play him when Gonzalez got hurt. All he did was play a solid SS and finish 8th in the NL in hitting. Reynolds finished 7th. But it took 2 injuries before they called him up. When Dickerson got hurt in April it was Martin who was recalled. Only another injury to Marte opened the door for Reynolds. Otherwise he might have spend the year in AAA. It's scary how bad the Pirate organization is.
I find the scariest part is how good they think they are.
Yes! They always seem to think they are smarter than everyone else with their analytics, sabermetrics, NBA resting formula, shifting, etc. And yet everyone else seems to do better. The philosophy seems to be that they will find modern, intelligent ways to make the team better without getting top notch players. It all sounds good sitting in an office looking at a computer. But when the players trot out onto the field to face better players it all falls apart.
The sad thing is that they were a smart organization at one point. They were pioneers in things like pitch framing, defensive shifts, explaining to players the analytics of their performance, manipulating draft bonus pools etc.
The problem is that the league caught up (or the league took away their advantage) and management didn't really have any new ideas.
Neil constantly brings up comparisons of this team with the 2013 team.
It's not 2013 any more.
And the Pirates didn't know how to handle them. The entire thing was botched completely.
And then they all left ... and the Pirates had (virtually) nothing to show for any of them.
If the Pirates actually knew what they were doing, and if all three were pitching at their highest levels in Pittsburgh, together, this team could have won 100 games.
Instead ... nothing.
And it was the model for how TBMTIB promised to create a winner. Draft and develop (Cole, Glasnow) or trade for (Morton) unproven young talent with potential to build from within. They got the players and then didn't know how to bring out the best in them to reach the potential they thought those players had. Yet other teams were able to.
Even Meadows came up last year and looked great when Marte was hurt. But when Marte returned they didn't know what to do with Meadows. So they put him into an OF rotation until he cooled off and then optioned him and traded him. Meadows appeared to be an all around superior player to the poor fielding, poor base running, 250-ish hitting Polanco. But Meadows became the odd man out. This year they didn't know what to do with Newman until they were forced to play him when Gonzalez got hurt. All he did was play a solid SS and finish 8th in the NL in hitting. Reynolds finished 7th. But it took 2 injuries before they called him up. When Dickerson got hurt in April it was Martin who was recalled. Only another injury to Marte opened the door for Reynolds. Otherwise he might have spend the year in AAA. It's scary how bad the Pirate organization is.
I find the scariest part is how good they think they are.
Yes! They always seem to think they are smarter than everyone else with their analytics, sabermetrics, NBA resting formula, shifting, etc. And yet everyone else seems to do better. The philosophy seems to be that they will find modern, intelligent ways to make the team better without getting top notch players. It all sounds good sitting in an office looking at a computer. But when the players trot out onto the field to face better players it all falls apart.
The sad thing is that they were a smart organization at one point. They were pioneers in things like pitch framing, defensive shifts, explaining to players the analytics of their performance, manipulating draft bonus pools etc.
The problem is that the league caught up (or the league took away their advantage) and management didn't really have any new ideas.
Neil constantly brings up comparisons of this team with the 2013 team.
It's not 2013 any more.
Gerrit Cole
Theres a ton of truth in this thread. A ton. The Pirates were at the forefront of analytics six years ago. But as has been said, the league caught up. But in addition to catching up, most teams in the league are still willing to augment weaknesses from outside of the organization. Look at the LDS teams:
The Twins signed Nelson Cruz. The Yankees went out and got Chapman and Stanton. The Astros went and got Cole and Verlander. The Rays got Morton, Glasnow, and Meadows.
Over on the NL side, the Braves went out and got Josh Donaldson and Dallas Keuchel. The Cards traded for Ozuna and Goldschmidt. Even though the Nats let Harper go, they signed Scherzer as an FA and have already made a competitive offer to Rendon, rather than just accepting that he'll walk at the end of the year.
It's disgusting what this organization has done to baseball in Pittsburgh. Even if they WANTED to bring a big player in, could they do it? Cole left and immediately trashed the organization. Our All-Star closer was having sex with a child. There's multiple reports of fighting in the clubhouse.
This is why I say the whole thing needs to be torn down. Trade everyone. Including Newman, Bell, and Reynolds. Start completely over. Trade O'Neil Cruz, Hayes, Keller, Taillon, the whole lot. Nutting needs to wake up and realize that even if NH and FC are good guys, they've allowed the organization to get into this sad state. Any additions that happen this offseason are purely cosmetic. They're putting a new addition on a home with a cracked foundation, with a basement that floods every time it rains, a leaky roof, and is rat-infested. The only solution is to tear down the house and rebuild. From the ground up.
I'll actually be disappointed if Josh Bell is wearing a Pirates uniform on Opening Day 2020. Make the hard decision, go all-in on a rebuild. Lose 110 games next year, and make 2022 a target of being competitive, with playoffs a realistic goal by 2024-2025.
The Twins signed Nelson Cruz. The Yankees went out and got Chapman and Stanton. The Astros went and got Cole and Verlander. The Rays got Morton, Glasnow, and Meadows.
Over on the NL side, the Braves went out and got Josh Donaldson and Dallas Keuchel. The Cards traded for Ozuna and Goldschmidt. Even though the Nats let Harper go, they signed Scherzer as an FA and have already made a competitive offer to Rendon, rather than just accepting that he'll walk at the end of the year.
It's disgusting what this organization has done to baseball in Pittsburgh. Even if they WANTED to bring a big player in, could they do it? Cole left and immediately trashed the organization. Our All-Star closer was having sex with a child. There's multiple reports of fighting in the clubhouse.
This is why I say the whole thing needs to be torn down. Trade everyone. Including Newman, Bell, and Reynolds. Start completely over. Trade O'Neil Cruz, Hayes, Keller, Taillon, the whole lot. Nutting needs to wake up and realize that even if NH and FC are good guys, they've allowed the organization to get into this sad state. Any additions that happen this offseason are purely cosmetic. They're putting a new addition on a home with a cracked foundation, with a basement that floods every time it rains, a leaky roof, and is rat-infested. The only solution is to tear down the house and rebuild. From the ground up.
I'll actually be disappointed if Josh Bell is wearing a Pirates uniform on Opening Day 2020. Make the hard decision, go all-in on a rebuild. Lose 110 games next year, and make 2022 a target of being competitive, with playoffs a realistic goal by 2024-2025.
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Bobster21
Gerrit Cole
70787B4C5A7F5857390 wrote: Theres a ton of truth in this thread. A ton. The Pirates were at the forefront of analytics six years ago. But as has been said, the league caught up. But in addition to catching up, most teams in the league are still willing to augment weaknesses from outside of the organization. Look at the LDS teams:
The Twins signed Nelson Cruz. The Yankees went out and got Chapman and Stanton. The Astros went and got Cole and Verlander. The Rays got Morton, Glasnow, and Meadows.
Over on the NL side, the Braves went out and got Josh Donaldson and Dallas Keuchel. The Cards traded for Ozuna and Goldschmidt. Even though the Nats let Harper go, they signed Scherzer as an FA and have already made a competitive offer to Rendon, rather than just accepting that he'll walk at the end of the year.
It's disgusting what this organization has done to baseball in Pittsburgh. Even if they WANTED to bring a big player in, could they do it? Cole left and immediately trashed the organization. Our All-Star closer was having sex with a child. There's multiple reports of fighting in the clubhouse.
This is why I say the whole thing needs to be torn down. Trade everyone. Including Newman, Bell, and Reynolds. Start completely over. Trade O'Neil Cruz, Hayes, Keller, Taillon, the whole lot. Nutting needs to wake up and realize that even if NH and FC are good guys, they've allowed the organization to get into this sad state. Any additions that happen this offseason are purely cosmetic. They're putting a new addition on a home with a cracked foundation, with a basement that floods every time it rains, a leaky roof, and is rat-infested. The only solution is to tear down the house and rebuild. From the ground up.
I'll actually be disappointed if Josh Bell is wearing a Pirates uniform on Opening Day 2020. Make the hard decision, go all-in on a rebuild. Lose 110 games next year, and make 2022 a target of being competitive, with playoffs a realistic goal by 2024-2025.
The problem I see is that any plan for being competitive or being a playoff team requires more than just hoping enough prospects are ready by a certain year. Building from within is essential but no team will field a great team just by having every hole filled with an inexpensive young prospect. You noted all the veteran acquisitions contending teams have recently made. Ideally, you develop a solid core and then spend for that productive veteran or 2 who can put the team over the hump. But that's where the Pirates substitute dumpster diving for making a few key additions to a young core. The commitment from the top simply isn't there.
The Twins signed Nelson Cruz. The Yankees went out and got Chapman and Stanton. The Astros went and got Cole and Verlander. The Rays got Morton, Glasnow, and Meadows.
Over on the NL side, the Braves went out and got Josh Donaldson and Dallas Keuchel. The Cards traded for Ozuna and Goldschmidt. Even though the Nats let Harper go, they signed Scherzer as an FA and have already made a competitive offer to Rendon, rather than just accepting that he'll walk at the end of the year.
It's disgusting what this organization has done to baseball in Pittsburgh. Even if they WANTED to bring a big player in, could they do it? Cole left and immediately trashed the organization. Our All-Star closer was having sex with a child. There's multiple reports of fighting in the clubhouse.
This is why I say the whole thing needs to be torn down. Trade everyone. Including Newman, Bell, and Reynolds. Start completely over. Trade O'Neil Cruz, Hayes, Keller, Taillon, the whole lot. Nutting needs to wake up and realize that even if NH and FC are good guys, they've allowed the organization to get into this sad state. Any additions that happen this offseason are purely cosmetic. They're putting a new addition on a home with a cracked foundation, with a basement that floods every time it rains, a leaky roof, and is rat-infested. The only solution is to tear down the house and rebuild. From the ground up.
I'll actually be disappointed if Josh Bell is wearing a Pirates uniform on Opening Day 2020. Make the hard decision, go all-in on a rebuild. Lose 110 games next year, and make 2022 a target of being competitive, with playoffs a realistic goal by 2024-2025.
The problem I see is that any plan for being competitive or being a playoff team requires more than just hoping enough prospects are ready by a certain year. Building from within is essential but no team will field a great team just by having every hole filled with an inexpensive young prospect. You noted all the veteran acquisitions contending teams have recently made. Ideally, you develop a solid core and then spend for that productive veteran or 2 who can put the team over the hump. But that's where the Pirates substitute dumpster diving for making a few key additions to a young core. The commitment from the top simply isn't there.
Gerrit Cole
507D70616677602023120 wrote: Theres a ton of truth in this thread. A ton. The Pirates were at the forefront of analytics six years ago. But as has been said, the league caught up. But in addition to catching up, most teams in the league are still willing to augment weaknesses from outside of the organization. Look at the LDS teams:
The Twins signed Nelson Cruz. The Yankees went out and got Chapman and Stanton. The Astros went and got Cole and Verlander. The Rays got Morton, Glasnow, and Meadows.
Over on the NL side, the Braves went out and got Josh Donaldson and Dallas Keuchel. The Cards traded for Ozuna and Goldschmidt. Even though the Nats let Harper go, they signed Scherzer as an FA and have already made a competitive offer to Rendon, rather than just accepting that he'll walk at the end of the year.
It's disgusting what this organization has done to baseball in Pittsburgh. Even if they WANTED to bring a big player in, could they do it? Cole left and immediately trashed the organization. Our All-Star closer was having sex with a child. There's multiple reports of fighting in the clubhouse.
This is why I say the whole thing needs to be torn down. Trade everyone. Including Newman, Bell, and Reynolds. Start completely over. Trade O'Neil Cruz, Hayes, Keller, Taillon, the whole lot. Nutting needs to wake up and realize that even if NH and FC are good guys, they've allowed the organization to get into this sad state. Any additions that happen this offseason are purely cosmetic. They're putting a new addition on a home with a cracked foundation, with a basement that floods every time it rains, a leaky roof, and is rat-infested. The only solution is to tear down the house and rebuild. From the ground up.
I'll actually be disappointed if Josh Bell is wearing a Pirates uniform on Opening Day 2020. Make the hard decision, go all-in on a rebuild. Lose 110 games next year, and make 2022 a target of being competitive, with playoffs a realistic goal by 2024-2025.
The problem I see is that any plan for being competitive or being a playoff team requires more than just hoping enough prospects are ready by a certain year. Building from within is essential but no team will field a great team just by having every hole filled with an inexpensive young prospect. You noted all the veteran acquisitions contending teams have recently made. Ideally, you develop a solid core and then spend for that productive veteran or 2 who can put the team over the hump. But that's where the Pirates substitute dumpster diving for making a few key additions to a young core. The commitment from the top simply isn't there.
Oh, I don't disagree. I'm not saying that will happen. It most likely won't. But, I'm hoping we can do Step 1 before we get to Step 2.
The Twins signed Nelson Cruz. The Yankees went out and got Chapman and Stanton. The Astros went and got Cole and Verlander. The Rays got Morton, Glasnow, and Meadows.
Over on the NL side, the Braves went out and got Josh Donaldson and Dallas Keuchel. The Cards traded for Ozuna and Goldschmidt. Even though the Nats let Harper go, they signed Scherzer as an FA and have already made a competitive offer to Rendon, rather than just accepting that he'll walk at the end of the year.
It's disgusting what this organization has done to baseball in Pittsburgh. Even if they WANTED to bring a big player in, could they do it? Cole left and immediately trashed the organization. Our All-Star closer was having sex with a child. There's multiple reports of fighting in the clubhouse.
This is why I say the whole thing needs to be torn down. Trade everyone. Including Newman, Bell, and Reynolds. Start completely over. Trade O'Neil Cruz, Hayes, Keller, Taillon, the whole lot. Nutting needs to wake up and realize that even if NH and FC are good guys, they've allowed the organization to get into this sad state. Any additions that happen this offseason are purely cosmetic. They're putting a new addition on a home with a cracked foundation, with a basement that floods every time it rains, a leaky roof, and is rat-infested. The only solution is to tear down the house and rebuild. From the ground up.
I'll actually be disappointed if Josh Bell is wearing a Pirates uniform on Opening Day 2020. Make the hard decision, go all-in on a rebuild. Lose 110 games next year, and make 2022 a target of being competitive, with playoffs a realistic goal by 2024-2025.
The problem I see is that any plan for being competitive or being a playoff team requires more than just hoping enough prospects are ready by a certain year. Building from within is essential but no team will field a great team just by having every hole filled with an inexpensive young prospect. You noted all the veteran acquisitions contending teams have recently made. Ideally, you develop a solid core and then spend for that productive veteran or 2 who can put the team over the hump. But that's where the Pirates substitute dumpster diving for making a few key additions to a young core. The commitment from the top simply isn't there.
Oh, I don't disagree. I'm not saying that will happen. It most likely won't. But, I'm hoping we can do Step 1 before we get to Step 2.