Pirates@Reds 3/31 Game Thread...

IABucFan · Post by **IABucFan** » Mon Apr 01, 2019 2:02 am

1C313C2D2A3B2C6C6F5E0 wrote: Is it nuts to think Williams might win a Cy Young at some point? His stuff is so "normal" looking, but he just somehow mows through lineups.

Someone on MLB.TV (I don't remember who.) predicted he would win it this year.
It was Bill Ripken.

That’s crazy. Getting him in a trade for a pitching coach was pretty astute, but CY? Heck...he’s not the best pitcher on his own team. , Kershaw, Buehler, Bumgarner, Nola, Scherzer, Syndergaard, DeGrom, Flaherty, etc. Lots of good pitching in the NL.

maher.timothy20@gm · Post by **maher.timothy20@gm** » Mon Apr 01, 2019 10:26 am

If you go by results instead of reputation or "stuff," he is, in fact, the best pitcher on his own team.

OrlandoMerced · Post by **OrlandoMerced** » Mon Apr 01, 2019 11:43 am

His pitches have movement and he had excellent command. I was also impressed with how well the umpire was calling the strike zone yesterday. There was no give to it, maybe gray was used to the yankee strike zone because he looked bewildered out there.

I’m sure it’s cliche comparison, but Williams has some hints of Maddox in the way he pitches.

PMike · Post by **PMike** » Mon Apr 01, 2019 12:27 pm

1528363B343E35173F28393F3E5A0 wrote: His pitches have movement and he had excellent command. I was also impressed with how well the umpire was calling the strike zone yesterday. There was no give to it, maybe gray was used to the yankee strike zone because he looked bewildered out there.

I’m sure it’s cliche comparison, but Williams has some hints of Maddox in the way he pitches.

I have made that Maddux comparison before. I think it is an apt comparison.

It makes me ask the question, "What is 'stuff?'" Would people say Maddux had great stuff? Williams may not throw 95+, but he throws in the low 90s and has movement on all of his pitches. That 2 seamer that comes back in on a right handed batter is an awesome pitch. He almost never misses in the zone. That simulated batters box helps you really appreciate Williams. He has such good control as he peppers the boarders. He is great to watch on TV. He has a curveball he is working on this year that should give him another dimension of speed change. It sits in the mid 70s. He threw a few yesterday.

OrlandoMerced · Post by **OrlandoMerced** » Mon Apr 01, 2019 12:31 pm

Command trumps stuff. The ability to locate and change speeds will always keep hitters off balance.

Scouting tends to focus on strike outs and velocity. But Williams was a leader in soft contact, and that will always lead to results.

DemDog · Post by **DemDog** » Mon Apr 01, 2019 12:49 pm

I'm not concerned if Williams wins the CY or not. I would like to see him win 17-20+ games and keep the Bucs in the ones he does not win or gets a no decision. that's what helps a team become a winner.

Bobster21 · Post by **Bobster21** » Mon Apr 01, 2019 1:01 pm

5E637D707F757E5C7463727475110 wrote: His pitches have movement and he had excellent command. I was also impressed with how well the umpire was calling the strike zone yesterday. There was no give to it, maybe gray was used to the yankee strike zone because he looked bewildered out there.

I’m sure it’s cliche comparison, but Williams has some hints of Maddox in the way he pitches.
I noticed the same thing about the ump. I can't recall a better umpired game on balls and strikes. The close pitches (and there are many when Williams pitches) were largely called correctly. Williams has great command and puts the pitch where he wants it. He hits corners for strikes.

In his last 13 starts last year, Williams pitched 76.2 innings giving up 11 ERs for an ERA of 1.29 with a BA against of .216. And he just started this season with 6 shutout innings. He's fun to watch. And he's currently tied for the team lead in RBIs!

MaineBucs · Post by **MaineBucs** » Mon Apr 01, 2019 1:22 pm

Hoping that Williams can continue to be the dominant pitcher that he appears to be becoming.

With respect to leading the team in RBI's, sure hoping that such is not the case the next time he takes the mound.

Most of us (and rightfully so) give the front office a ration of do-do from time to time. I don't know who suggested that the Pirates take Williams from the Marlins in return for Jim Benedict (assistant pitching coach), but selecting Williams now looks like a stroke of genius.

Nice to see the Pirates win their second outing of the season.

OrlandoMerced · Post by **OrlandoMerced** » Mon Apr 01, 2019 1:38 pm

Overall the offense had a pretty rough weekend. Hopefully the Melky era will be as short as possible as Polanco will add a needed middle of the order bat to the group. Bell, Kang and Cervelli all had productive weekends, while Gonzalez is as bad as advertised and Frazier and Dickerson were not productive. Moran is a good bat off the bench, and I think that he could provide a lot of value in that role this season.

SammyKhalifa · Post by **SammyKhalifa** » Mon Apr 01, 2019 1:52 pm

I mean Dickerson came though in one big situation and not in another. Nobody's had more than two hits--he's had one (a HR) and walked twice.