OnlyBucs

497B77776351727B76737C7B1A0 wrote: a parallel between the Pirates and Chernobyl




DAMN YOU NUTTINGS




>:(



Let's just say I hope Nutting doesn't go into the nuclear power plant business!  Homer Simpson stating in RF, I mean at the right steering wheel!!>:(
:D



I agree with your main argument that we made (and never seem to make) contingency plans expecting absolutely everything to work perfectly.  No, people are right in that we couldn't have expected the injuries and the Marte thing, but that's kind of the point isn't it?  It's not like picking up an offseason flunky AAAA outfielder would have cost anything either, so I am not even sure I buy the argument that it's because of money.  We just didn't plan for the unexpected.




Yeah my point (perhaps lost in cold-war intrigue) was that you can't blame cascading events when there should have been enough bench players to begin with ESPECIALLY given the complete lack of MLB depth in the minors.



You're right - what would it cost to carry a AAAA guy?



The Pirates model pretty much requires everything to go right. That's how the world gets blown up by Homer Simpson! :'(

No you were clear. I just thought the "Bush Did 9/11" "Nuttings did Chernobyl" angle was too fun to pass up.

The Kang back up should have been better. Gosselin, of course, came in and had his worst year ever.



I am not sure how many teams would survive with two starters gone (probably the two best overall hitters too) and the two top bench guys out with injuries and now a top rotation pitcher missing time? Four players who were going to get significant playing time have missed a lot of time. Not an excuse, but an unfortunate fact.



If the others were just average, they probably would be at .500 or above. Even with this shotty defense. They are 2-18 when scoring three runs or less.

It is certainly a list that would hurt any team no matter what the planning. There are things they could have done to mitigate that. I would not expect them to get a starting outfielder "just in case"; but, they knew that they weren't bringing up Austin Meadows right away (and they're right), and they knew what else they had in the Indy OF. Who was their 4th outfielder breaking camp? Frazer/Harrison I guess. They had to know that wasn't a great solution.

7D4F43435765464F4247484F2E0 wrote: a parallel between the Pirates and Chernobyl




DAMN YOU NUTTINGS




>:(



Let's just say I hope Nutting doesn't go into the nuclear power plant business!  Homer Simpson stating in RF, I mean at the right steering wheel!!>:(
:D



I agree with your main argument that we didn't make (and never seem to make) contingency plans, instead expecting absolutely everything to work perfectly.  No, people are right in that we couldn't have expected the injuries and the Marte thing, but that's kind of the point isn't it?  It's not like picking up an offseason flunky AAAA outfielder would have cost anything either, so I am not even sure I buy the argument that it's because of money.  We just didn't plan for the unexpected.






Isn't planning for the unexpected part of managements job? And if you don't have a plan and the unexpected happens maybe management makes some adjustments rather than staying the course?

Yes. And even if they couldn't have possibly envisioned a need for an outfielder in the offseason, they certainly can now and for the past month or so.

Frazier was/is their 4th outfielder. How many outfielders do most teams carry? But it is really bad they had no one in the minors and the Freese injury leaves Harrison in the infield.



At least they were trying Jaso and Osuna in the outfield in the spring and minors. So, they were planning for worst case scenario if two outfielders went down. It just so happens they are really bad out there. There was a plan. It just turned out pretty bad.

3631272F2136717D042329252D286A272B29440 wrote: Watching Urias, 20 years old and no hitting the Buccos through 6, I can't help but think about a 16 yo can't miss prospect the Pirates signed from Mexico.  Could use him about now.


The problem is that 16 year old is now like 30 years old and weighs about 300 pounds.

7E757D7174756E2B2D5A637B7275753479751A0 wrote:



First step should always be back until you pick up the ball. 


That's just wrong, Dog. First of all, you pick up the ball off the bat. You don't stand in the OF taking a step back and wondering where it is until you locate it. If the ball is hit to one side or the other of you, you go laterally as soon as the ball is hit. If you've already taken a step back you probably won't catch up to it. If it's hit toward you, you move in or move out immediately depending on the trajectory. If you take a step back on a ball that's going to land in front of you, you probably aren't going to get to it in time to catch it. Polanco misjudged the ball off the bat and then circled instead of running straight for it. There's no way to put a positive spin on that. We know he's weak defensively. This was just one of those times he blew it.

First --- I was thrilled to hear that the Bucs have finally noticed that Polanco is not a LF'er and that they decided to move him back to RF.



Secondly --- In watching the play in the 9th, it looks like he has decided to bring the indecisive play that he exhibited in LF to RF with him last night. And in the 10th, even though there was virtually no chance that he could make the play at home, he fumbled the ball at the wall rather than cleanly picking the ball up and making a good throw.



Continuing --- In looking at all of the Pirate's OF play this year, I can't remember any of the outfielders making an extraordinary play. I am likely wrong and I am sure that there must have been at least one really good play, but nothing stands out. Last year, Marte was often a highlight reel, even though he too botched one now and then (which even Clemente did now and then). Due to an inability to sleep last night (Thank you Trump) as I contemplated issues even greater than baseball, I watched the MLB Channel and waited for the Premium Plays of the Day to see if Mercer's great recovery in the 9th made the list (it did not). One of the plays that did was Cargo fully laying it out in RF to make a really good diving catch. Unfortunately, I don't think we will see any of that this year from the Bucs.



Very disappointing loss. Hard to feel good about where the Pirates are at right now, even though the Cubs have clearly returned to earth so far this season. And now with Tallion out, our overall rotation likely has gone from a real plus to a push, and the pen is iffy after Rivero and (hard to believe I am typing this) LeBlanc.