OnlyBucs

79727A767372692C2A5D647C757272337E721D0 wrote: Williams is no fluke. He was a 2nd rd pick in 2013 and put up good AAA stats. He was compensation for Marlins taking Jim Benedict, so he wasn't some scrub. He was also the best by far in the ST "competition" for the 5th starter spot awarded to Glasnow with about a 7 ERA. He's only given up more than 3 runs once since June 16. And he's only 25. I'm thinking the Marlins are wishing they could have held onto him.


Was this a good trade overall?



The Pirates pitching has got worse since Benedict left.  Was that due to him or the personnel?  Was Benedict even replaced by the Pirates?  Do they have a VP of Pitching Development, the title the Marlins gave to Benedict?


How can we know that now? What kind of career will Williams have for the Pirates? How will we ever know what long term effect Benedict's leaving will have on the Pirates? What long term benefit will the Braves get from Benedict?

Your opinion. We can speculate. We speculate and make predictions a lot on this message board.

Like the way Williams is competing and he seems to be learning and understanding there is more to pitching than just throwing the horsehide as hard as possible. Lots of Pirates pitchers have not been hard throwers and been successful...Doug Drabek, Zane Smith, Larry McWilliams, Rick Rhoden and Jim Rooker were not hard throwers as Buccos if my memory is correct.



The old saying, pitching where they can't hit it has to have some value here...



Would love to see Kuhl have another good start tonight. Beat'em Bucs!

5A5F585E565C455851424449300 wrote: His velocity was down, though.  He was throwing 89-91.   Have to see if that continues.   Not a concern if he pitches well, but I wonder if he is wearing down a bit.
From what I've heard that was by design. More 2 seam fast balls with movement. He said it was realized that he couldn't just throw it by people at 94 in MLB so he is working to improve movement on his pitches.

0E0F1405135354600 wrote: His velocity was down, though.  He was throwing 89-91.   Have to see if that continues.   Not a concern if he pitches well, but I wonder if he is wearing down a bit.
From what I've heard that was by design. More 2 seam fast balls with movement. He said it was realized that he couldn't just throw it by people at 94 in MLB so he is working to improve movement on his pitches.
You may be right. I didn't see the game but some of the highlights showed him throwing at 94. Maybe he just mostly chose not to.