OnlyBucs

Colorado:

Joe LF

Daza CF

Blackmon DH

Cron 1B

McMahon 3B

Grichuk RF

Iglesias SS

Hampson 2B

Serven C

Ryan Feltner SP 7.20 ERA



Pittsburgh:

Reynolds CF

Mitchell RF

Hayes 3B

Gamel DH

Chavis 1B

VanMeter 2B

Castro SS

Suwinski LF

Heineman C

Zach Thompson SP 4.88 ERA



Let's Go Bucs!!!

This is a 12:35 game today.



We're at the point now where I have noticed (and I'm part of this, not pointing fingers) where no matter what lineup is out there, we'll have a complaint.



It has occurred to me that in actuality, all of our complaints are legit. So let me add another one:



Time to let Heineman play starting catcher for a couple of weeks, and let Perez catch only one game a series. His BA is almost below .100! It's a shame because when he was called up, he was hitting very well in Indy, and getting on base a ton.



I know catcher is a weak spot in all of MLB, but not hitting .100 bad for everyone else. I mean if you think about it, the Pirates might actually have a better chance having a DH for Perez, and let the pitcher hit, use a couple of PH in the process.



Most of all, it's about time to bring up Cruz, and move Peguero and Nick Gonzales to AAA.

I should mention, I'd like to see Mason Martin get a shot, let him play first, move Chavis to 2B. They can then send Castillo down, and keep VanMeter for his veteranyess qualities. This of course would mean they would have to release Yoshi.



The Bucs have not wasted a whole lot of time shuffling around the pitching staff. I'd like to see them do the same with the position players. That being said, with Cal Mitchell up now (for who knows how long, depending on Vogelbach's injury) they are doing what some of us have wanted to see: playing the "young" guys. Suwinski, Castillo, Mitchell, Castro along with Reynolds and Hayes.

694F485D54584F59513A0 wrote: I should mention, I'd like to see Mason Martin get a shot, let him play first, move Chavis to 2B. They can then send Castillo down, and keep VanMeter for his veteranyess qualities. This of course would mean they would have to release Yoshi.



The Bucs have not wasted a whole lot of time shuffling around the pitching staff. I'd like to see them do the same with the position players. That being said, with Cal Mitchell up now (for who knows how long, depending on Vogelbach's injury) they are doing what some of us have wanted to see: playing the "young" guys. Suwinski, Castillo, Mitchell, Castro along with Reynolds and Hayes.
I agree. This season should be about transitioning to prospects who are expected to be part of the team's future. I'm glad those players you mentioned are getting a chance. The fly in the ointment is VanMeter, whose presence on the roster is a mystery. He is a below average player, adds nothing and takes PT away from others who could use it to gain experience. The other fly in the ointment is Shelton, whose bizarre managing and seemingly indifferent attitude towards winning seems like the wrong atmosphere in which to introduce their top tier prospects to MLB.

6F424F5E59485F1F1C2D0 wrote:

The fly in the ointment is VanMeter, whose presence on the roster is a mystery. He is a below average player, adds nothing and takes PT away from others who could use it to gain experience.
I have yet to figure this one out. My only guess, and this is kind of out there, is that as he has now moved up the ranks, the Pirates fandom has learned about the transgressions of Ji-hwan Bae, as there has been a lot of buzz about him and how a lot of people aren't happy the Pirates have him in the organization. Hard to imagine he isn't even on the 40 man roster considering the success he's been having.



If they insist on playing VanMeter so much, IMHO they should just send Castillo or Castro down then, and not have any of their playing time decreased just because Shelton has to feel like he needs to play VanMeter. I always thought of players like VanMeter as last guy on the bench, get the occasional PH and a Sunday start here or there. The kind of guy who might get 50-60 AB's all season.

0C212C3D3A2B3C7C7F4E0 wrote: I should mention, I'd like to see Mason Martin get a shot, let him play first, move Chavis to 2B. They can then send Castillo down, and keep VanMeter for his veteranyess qualities. This of course would mean they would have to release Yoshi.



The Bucs have not wasted a whole lot of time shuffling around the pitching staff. I'd like to see them do the same with the position players. That being said, with Cal Mitchell up now (for who knows how long, depending on Vogelbach's injury) they are doing what some of us have wanted to see: playing the "young" guys. Suwinski, Castillo, Mitchell, Castro along with Reynolds and Hayes.
I agree. This season should be about transitioning to prospects who are expected to be part of the team's future. I'm glad those players you mentioned are getting a chance. The fly in the ointment is VanMeter, whose presence on the roster is a mystery. He is a below average player, adds nothing and takes PT away from others who could use it to gain experience. The other fly in the ointment is Shelton, whose bizarre managing and seemingly indifferent attitude towards winning seems like the wrong atmosphere in which to introduce their top tier prospects to MLB.
Release Yoshi- not part of the future. Like your idea of putting Mitchell at first

Hopefully Heinman shows us something today

Zach with a clean first inning.



Interesting Reynolds leading off. They've tried him everywhere in the lineup. If he doesn't start hitting soon, and I mean like today, they should think about dropping him down in the lineup.

I get that it sucks Thompson has been victimized by weak contact finding the right spots.



It also sucks that the Pirates can't put balls into play like that when there are guys on, instead of striking out or grounding into double plays.



Thompson can't put anyone away this inning. We're down 3-0 right now, and there is nothing that suggests that even if the Bucs can hold them to just 3, that they can overcome that deficit.



Someone on this team needs to really step it up and start being "The Man" and knocking people in

VanMeter gets the Bucs first hit. Go figure, he must read this board.