8/24 game. How do you top yesterday?
Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2017 2:26 pm
4F626F7E79687F3F3C0D0 wrote: Someone on here suggested the brain trust gave up on the season when Kang failed to get a Visa and Marte had his issue. It certainly appears that is the case.
It sure looks that way. Seems they decided to just get by with whatever internal options they had either on the bench or at AAA. And at that time, they had also handed a starter's spot to Glasnow despite his ST ERA/WHIP of 6.23 and 1.85 even tho Williams completely outpitched him in ST with a 2.04 ERA and 0.91 WHIP in what turned out to be a fictional "competition." So the FO had already decided to just let Glasnow try to learn on the job rather than giving that slot to someone who provided a better chance to win games. And the opening day roster didn't even include a legit 4th outfielder, as that job was to be handled by Jaso and Frazier. And even when Polanco's injuries took him out of the OF, they still just looked to internal options while already shorthanded in the OF.
IMHO, the evidence points to the FO having decided before the season even began that this was one of their "bridge years," they didn't expect to compete and therefore losing Kang and Marte wasn't that big a blow to a team not expected to achieve anything away. They got a lucky break when the rest of the division didn't pull away, letting fans get excited about "being in the hunt" even when that only required a sub- .500 record. But the Pirates never got more than 1 game over .500 and that only happened twice. They were never serious contenders despite what fans wanted to believe. Getting S-Rod and Kontos seems to be more about 2018 than 2017. Benoit was just a body to fill in. It sure doesn't look like a team that would make a splash at the trade deadline. They could even move others (Nicasio?) by 8/31.
well if they decided that the season was over that early, shame on them. If that was the case they should have been trying to make moves to focus on 2018 (maybe they just waited for S-Rod to be available).
If focus was on future, then how come Diaz hasn't played more? Why not leave the youngsters in the bullpen longer rather than shuttle them back to Indy? Why not deal LeBlanc to create a spot for someone younger?
It just doesn't seem like they have done much yet to prepare for next year either. Did they take vacations this summer?
Sure there is plenty of time between now and next spring training but I have little confidence in the front office.
It sure looks that way. Seems they decided to just get by with whatever internal options they had either on the bench or at AAA. And at that time, they had also handed a starter's spot to Glasnow despite his ST ERA/WHIP of 6.23 and 1.85 even tho Williams completely outpitched him in ST with a 2.04 ERA and 0.91 WHIP in what turned out to be a fictional "competition." So the FO had already decided to just let Glasnow try to learn on the job rather than giving that slot to someone who provided a better chance to win games. And the opening day roster didn't even include a legit 4th outfielder, as that job was to be handled by Jaso and Frazier. And even when Polanco's injuries took him out of the OF, they still just looked to internal options while already shorthanded in the OF.
IMHO, the evidence points to the FO having decided before the season even began that this was one of their "bridge years," they didn't expect to compete and therefore losing Kang and Marte wasn't that big a blow to a team not expected to achieve anything away. They got a lucky break when the rest of the division didn't pull away, letting fans get excited about "being in the hunt" even when that only required a sub- .500 record. But the Pirates never got more than 1 game over .500 and that only happened twice. They were never serious contenders despite what fans wanted to believe. Getting S-Rod and Kontos seems to be more about 2018 than 2017. Benoit was just a body to fill in. It sure doesn't look like a team that would make a splash at the trade deadline. They could even move others (Nicasio?) by 8/31.
well if they decided that the season was over that early, shame on them. If that was the case they should have been trying to make moves to focus on 2018 (maybe they just waited for S-Rod to be available).
If focus was on future, then how come Diaz hasn't played more? Why not leave the youngsters in the bullpen longer rather than shuttle them back to Indy? Why not deal LeBlanc to create a spot for someone younger?
It just doesn't seem like they have done much yet to prepare for next year either. Did they take vacations this summer?
Sure there is plenty of time between now and next spring training but I have little confidence in the front office.