Concerns
Moderators: SammyKhalifa, Doc, Bobster
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SammyKhalifa
- Posts: 3642
- Joined: Fri Jul 01, 2016 4:19 am
Concerns
Well I certainly agree that a lot of things went wrong, that's for sure.
I'm not sure if I'm more comfortable with the team this offseason going into the year, or with the team last year at this time.
I'm probably feel better about the rotation by default, at least its floor (didn't like last year at all though I mistakenly thought Niese would be "Okay"). Tad less about the offense though I think we'll still be good.
I'm not sure if I'm more comfortable with the team this offseason going into the year, or with the team last year at this time.
I'm probably feel better about the rotation by default, at least its floor (didn't like last year at all though I mistakenly thought Niese would be "Okay"). Tad less about the offense though I think we'll still be good.
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Bobster21
Concerns
5B6965657143606964616E69080 wrote: I think Nova is an upgrade from 2016 version of Liriano.
I think Kuhl is upgrade over Niese/Nicasio/Vogelsong/Locke.
I think Taillon is an upgrade over Niese/Nicasio/Vogelsong/Locke.
(depends on how you rank the pitchers 1-4, people love those numbers for some reason)
Bell is an upgrade over Jaso.
Marte in CF is an upgrade over McCutchen in CF.
Then bench is a question mark, but we all were pretty surprised last year when Rodriquez was very good and a minor league free agent in Joyce made the team.
Kang is the biggest blow to the team.
The bullpen can be very good with Watson, Hudson, Rivero, Nicasio, Bastardo. Watson's new role is in question, but can Rivero step in?
I just hope that some of the question marks will be solved right away. Either by players performing or being replaced.
The problem with many of the "X is an upgrade over last year's X" is that at the beginning of last season we would have said the same thing, on paper going into the season.
I agree with Dog altho Sammy's point is well taken. Let's face it; this is what the Pirates offer their fans: a chance to be good and competitive on a small budget. They don't obtain topnotch veteran, accomplished players whose production is a given. They won't buy or trade for a slugger but the lineup still has the chance to be very productive. They won't pay the growing price of starting pitching and looked forward to the time they could build a homegrown rotation. And they paid for Nova--not a star but possibly a good starter--to help stabilize it. So while this team could fall flat like last year, there's also a decent chance that they will be competitive for a WC spot all year. I'm actually more worried about Cole than the rest of the starters because he needs to be excellent and last year he was scary bad. Taillon looks like the real deal, Nova is decent or better, Kuhl is encouraging and Glasnow may be ready or close to it. It's not a team of bad players hoping to improve their play. We're just looking for potentially good players to play to their ability. So as Dog says, there's a realistic chance for a lot of improvement over 2016. But as Sammy says, there's no guarantee that will happen. But as Pirate fans, I think this is the best the org will offer. And maybe it's enough. I hope!
I think Kuhl is upgrade over Niese/Nicasio/Vogelsong/Locke.
I think Taillon is an upgrade over Niese/Nicasio/Vogelsong/Locke.
(depends on how you rank the pitchers 1-4, people love those numbers for some reason)
Bell is an upgrade over Jaso.
Marte in CF is an upgrade over McCutchen in CF.
Then bench is a question mark, but we all were pretty surprised last year when Rodriquez was very good and a minor league free agent in Joyce made the team.
Kang is the biggest blow to the team.
The bullpen can be very good with Watson, Hudson, Rivero, Nicasio, Bastardo. Watson's new role is in question, but can Rivero step in?
I just hope that some of the question marks will be solved right away. Either by players performing or being replaced.
The problem with many of the "X is an upgrade over last year's X" is that at the beginning of last season we would have said the same thing, on paper going into the season.
I agree with Dog altho Sammy's point is well taken. Let's face it; this is what the Pirates offer their fans: a chance to be good and competitive on a small budget. They don't obtain topnotch veteran, accomplished players whose production is a given. They won't buy or trade for a slugger but the lineup still has the chance to be very productive. They won't pay the growing price of starting pitching and looked forward to the time they could build a homegrown rotation. And they paid for Nova--not a star but possibly a good starter--to help stabilize it. So while this team could fall flat like last year, there's also a decent chance that they will be competitive for a WC spot all year. I'm actually more worried about Cole than the rest of the starters because he needs to be excellent and last year he was scary bad. Taillon looks like the real deal, Nova is decent or better, Kuhl is encouraging and Glasnow may be ready or close to it. It's not a team of bad players hoping to improve their play. We're just looking for potentially good players to play to their ability. So as Dog says, there's a realistic chance for a lot of improvement over 2016. But as Sammy says, there's no guarantee that will happen. But as Pirate fans, I think this is the best the org will offer. And maybe it's enough. I hope!
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SammyKhalifa
- Posts: 3642
- Joined: Fri Jul 01, 2016 4:19 am
Concerns
Haha, I do think they'll be much better than last year (I picked 87 wins after all). Even if things go wrong, I still don't think it'll be as many things as last season.
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OrlandoMerced
Concerns
I'm not as concerned about the starting pitching as other folks. Even with the Niese/Locke/Nicasio disasters, this team was in a position to make the WC if either Cole, Liriano or Glasnow had emerged as options for the rotation. I think the bullpen will be excellent with a back end of Watson/Rivero/Hudson/Nicasio, and the back of the rotation can be sorted out either with one of the AAA guys emerging or an in season trade.
I think my primary concern is the infield, Harrison needs to be better, Mercer and Cervelli HAVE to stay healthy and Bell needs to not Pedro Alvarez himself out of the lineup at 1B.
But, any hint of a playoff run is going to be contingent on two things, Cole, Taillon and Nova starting over 80 games for this team and McCutchen being a 4+ WAR player again. I think McCutchen being worthless again can be managed, but if those three guys don't anchor this rotation, nothing else will matter.
I think my primary concern is the infield, Harrison needs to be better, Mercer and Cervelli HAVE to stay healthy and Bell needs to not Pedro Alvarez himself out of the lineup at 1B.
But, any hint of a playoff run is going to be contingent on two things, Cole, Taillon and Nova starting over 80 games for this team and McCutchen being a 4+ WAR player again. I think McCutchen being worthless again can be managed, but if those three guys don't anchor this rotation, nothing else will matter.
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OrlandoMerced
Concerns
There are a lot of moving parts with Kang. I would say that best case scenario is that Frazier becomes the everyday 2B and leads off every game. You don't want Freese to be your everyday 3B, maybe you make Harrison the primary 3B and let Freese and Jaso split the time as the back up corners.
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dogknot17@yahoo.co
Concerns
If Frazier can play SS, I bet he can play 3B too.
I really don't know what is going on right now. Frazier and Gosselin were playing some SS this spring. We know that Frazier is not a very good fielder (yet).
Harrison is very good in the infield. I am not sure if I would want to move him around so much based on what bench player is starting. I like consistency and keeping a starter in the same position.
I really don't know what is going on right now. Frazier and Gosselin were playing some SS this spring. We know that Frazier is not a very good fielder (yet).
Harrison is very good in the infield. I am not sure if I would want to move him around so much based on what bench player is starting. I like consistency and keeping a starter in the same position.
Concerns
764B5558575D56745C4B5A5C5D390 wrote: There are a lot of moving parts with Kang. I would say that best case scenario is that Frazier becomes the everyday 2B and leads off every game. You don't want Freese to be your everyday 3B, maybe you make Harrison the primary 3B and let Freese and Jaso split the time as the back up corners.
True, but our problem is that there's no combination of Freese, Frazier, and Harrison manning 2nd and 3b that isn't a big offensive downgrade.
If we can get the great production and durability you had mentioned from Cole -> Nova, Cutch rebounds and Kang shows up with a Visa in short order, I believe we're contenders.
If Kang shows up, it's going to be a big difference in our lineup. If JHay is somehow able to recreate his awesome season, that could help to. A lot of ifs, but I agree it all starts with the top 3 of the rotation. If any combination of those guys falter, we're going to have a very hard time to stay in it over 162.
And really, the season is in two parts for me. Opening day until July 31st, and then the rest. In the respect that if we aren't a couple games out of the 2nd WC mid-july, Cutch is going to be traded. Good year or not.
True, but our problem is that there's no combination of Freese, Frazier, and Harrison manning 2nd and 3b that isn't a big offensive downgrade.
If we can get the great production and durability you had mentioned from Cole -> Nova, Cutch rebounds and Kang shows up with a Visa in short order, I believe we're contenders.
If Kang shows up, it's going to be a big difference in our lineup. If JHay is somehow able to recreate his awesome season, that could help to. A lot of ifs, but I agree it all starts with the top 3 of the rotation. If any combination of those guys falter, we're going to have a very hard time to stay in it over 162.
And really, the season is in two parts for me. Opening day until July 31st, and then the rest. In the respect that if we aren't a couple games out of the 2nd WC mid-july, Cutch is going to be traded. Good year or not.