OnlyBucs

The sense I had with Pedro was that he couldn't see the ball very well. By that I mean he would swing over pitches, not recognizing them as curves until too late, not recognizing pitches out of the strike zone. In my mind that was the only thing that separated him from a true star, but if you don't have it, you don't. Bell seems to have the ability to recognize pitches, and to lay off ones out of the zone. He likely doesn't have Pedro's power, but he should have a more successful career.

5153494F593C0 wrote: The sense I had with Pedro was that he couldn't see the ball very well. By that I mean he would swing over pitches, not recognizing them as curves until too late, not recognizing pitches out of the strike zone. In my mind that was the only thing that separated him from a true star, but if you don't have it, you don't. Bell seems to have the ability to recognize pitches, and to lay off ones out of the zone. He likely doesn't have Pedro's power, but he should have a more successful career.
I agree. I always felt Pedro was a poor batter with incredible power. He didn't recognize pitches. Couldn't lay off bad ones. He was too easy to strike out instead of staying alive at the plate to find a pitch he could drive. But he could deposit a pitcher's mistake well into the bleachers. Most of his HRs were mistakes left out over the plate. But because he had poor plate discipline, too often walked back to the dugout without forcing the pitcher to throw strikes, and had to sit vs LHP, he only had 30+ HRs twice in his career despite that amazing power. Had he been a better overall batter he had the power to be a 40+ HR guy. If Bell can bat against all pitching with good plate awareness he has enough power to be a 20+ HR guy which isn't much different than Pedro's HR numbers.

I think it (plate discipline) is the most impressive part of his game, which I didn't really expect

Ken Rosenthal predicts Bell will win ROY.



http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/gallery/aw ... hal-033017

674A47565140571714250 wrote: Ken Rosenthal predicts Bell will win ROY.



http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/gallery/aw ... hal-033017


He also has this line.



and I don’t rule out his teammate, right-hander Tyler Glasnow, as a darkhorse.


This is why I think the Pirates can be better than anyone, even us, think. It all comes down to our young players. I see no reason why Taillon, Glasnow, and Bell can't play up to expectations. i see no reason why Cole, Cutch, Cervelli, and Harrison can't have bounce back years. I see no reason why Marte can't hit for more power, and Polanco can't blossom as a star.



If all, or even most, of those things happen, this team is certainly a contender. Everybody is counting us out this year. It could be 2013 all over again!