As I watch this World Series between two elite teams that are loaded with young talent, I can't help but thinking about one painful REALITY over and over:
The Pirates are LIGHT YEARS behind these two teams in terms of elite talent and firepower.
LIGHT YEARS.
REALITY
Moderators: SammyKhalifa, Doc, Bobster
REALITY
I agree. All the more reason I say to tear the whole thing down and start over. Try to be where Houston is now in five years. Find the next George Springer, Jose Altuve, and Carlos Correa and draft them. I'd say we're at best the third best team in our division going into next year. And I'm not sure we're ahead of the Brewers and Reds. I can see the Pirates finishing anywhere between third and fifth next year in the NLC. What I can't see them doing is winning the division. Tear it down. Start over.
REALITY
In addition, when the Astros need pitching help in July, they go out and get Verlander, and the Dodgers get Darvish. In contrast, the Pirates get Benoit and Kontos.
Astros may have some issues with the pen, but they have a great core of young players who can smack the ball around and who play well.
With their current cast of talent, the Pirates need everything to go well to be able to compete. In short, things don't look good for the Bucs in the near-term.
Astros may have some issues with the pen, but they have a great core of young players who can smack the ball around and who play well.
With their current cast of talent, the Pirates need everything to go well to be able to compete. In short, things don't look good for the Bucs in the near-term.
-
SammyKhalifa
- Posts: 3642
- Joined: Fri Jul 01, 2016 4:19 am
REALITY
624E46414A6D5A4C5C2F0 wrote: In addition, when the Astros need pitching help in July, they go out and get Verlander, and the Dodgers get Darvish. In contrast, the Pirates get Benoit and Kontos.
Astros may have some issues with the pen, but they have a great core of young players who can smack the ball around and who play well.
With their current cast of talent, the Pirates need everything to go well to be able to compete. In short, things don't look good for the Bucs in the near-term.
To be totally fair we weren't really vying for a division title at the deadline either. We've made a little better moves in the past competitive years (though not to those guys' levels).
Astros may have some issues with the pen, but they have a great core of young players who can smack the ball around and who play well.
With their current cast of talent, the Pirates need everything to go well to be able to compete. In short, things don't look good for the Bucs in the near-term.
To be totally fair we weren't really vying for a division title at the deadline either. We've made a little better moves in the past competitive years (though not to those guys' levels).
REALITY
73414D4D596B48414C494641200 wrote: In addition, when the Astros need pitching help in July, they go out and get Verlander, and the Dodgers get Darvish. In contrast, the Pirates get Benoit and Kontos.
Astros may have some issues with the pen, but they have a great core of young players who can smack the ball around and who play well.
With their current cast of talent, the Pirates need everything to go well to be able to compete. In short, things don't look good for the Bucs in the near-term.
To be totally fair we weren't really vying for a division title at the deadline either. We've made a little better moves in the past competitive years (though not to those guys' levels).
Yeah....the issue isn't who the Pirates traded at the deadline. It's th fact the Astros have drafted Correa, Springer and Bregman while the Pirates have drafted Alvarez, Mercer and Brock Holt.
Astros may have some issues with the pen, but they have a great core of young players who can smack the ball around and who play well.
With their current cast of talent, the Pirates need everything to go well to be able to compete. In short, things don't look good for the Bucs in the near-term.
To be totally fair we weren't really vying for a division title at the deadline either. We've made a little better moves in the past competitive years (though not to those guys' levels).
Yeah....the issue isn't who the Pirates traded at the deadline. It's th fact the Astros have drafted Correa, Springer and Bregman while the Pirates have drafted Alvarez, Mercer and Brock Holt.
-
SammyKhalifa
- Posts: 3642
- Joined: Fri Jul 01, 2016 4:19 am
REALITY
0F2F3C21204E0 wrote: In addition, when the Astros need pitching help in July, they go out and get Verlander, and the Dodgers get Darvish. In contrast, the Pirates get Benoit and Kontos.
Astros may have some issues with the pen, but they have a great core of young players who can smack the ball around and who play well.
With their current cast of talent, the Pirates need everything to go well to be able to compete. In short, things don't look good for the Bucs in the near-term.
To be totally fair we weren't really vying for a division title at the deadline either. We've made a little better moves in the past competitive years (though not to those guys' levels).
Yeah....the issue isn't who the Pirates traded at the deadline. It's th fact the Astros have drafted Correa, Springer and Bregman while the Pirates have drafted Alvarez, Mercer and Brock Holt.
98-win year would have been a good time.
I didn't believe so at the time, but people have changed my mind. The right time to make a big splash move is not when you're a border team trying to sneak in, but on the top to "win more." Try to decrease the randomness that can happen in short series where the best team doesn't win.
Astros may have some issues with the pen, but they have a great core of young players who can smack the ball around and who play well.
With their current cast of talent, the Pirates need everything to go well to be able to compete. In short, things don't look good for the Bucs in the near-term.
To be totally fair we weren't really vying for a division title at the deadline either. We've made a little better moves in the past competitive years (though not to those guys' levels).
Yeah....the issue isn't who the Pirates traded at the deadline. It's th fact the Astros have drafted Correa, Springer and Bregman while the Pirates have drafted Alvarez, Mercer and Brock Holt.
98-win year would have been a good time.
I didn't believe so at the time, but people have changed my mind. The right time to make a big splash move is not when you're a border team trying to sneak in, but on the top to "win more." Try to decrease the randomness that can happen in short series where the best team doesn't win.
REALITY
6C5E52524674575E5356595E3F0 wrote: In addition, when the Astros need pitching help in July, they go out and get Verlander, and the Dodgers get Darvish. In contrast, the Pirates get Benoit and Kontos.
Astros may have some issues with the pen, but they have a great core of young players who can smack the ball around and who play well.
With their current cast of talent, the Pirates need everything to go well to be able to compete. In short, things don't look good for the Bucs in the near-term.
To be totally fair we weren't really vying for a division title at the deadline either. We've made a little better moves in the past competitive years (though not to those guys' levels).
Yeah....the issue isn't who the Pirates traded at the deadline. It's th fact the Astros have drafted Correa, Springer and Bregman while the Pirates have drafted Alvarez, Mercer and Brock Holt.
98-win year would have been a good time.
I didn't believe so at the time, but people have changed my mind. The right time to make a big splash move is not when you're a border team trying to sneak in, but on the top to "win more." Try to decrease the randomness that can happen in short series where the best team doesn't win.
that is why Dodgers made moves at the deadline this year. I think that is right approach too, if farm system is any good it should not set back future.
Astros may have some issues with the pen, but they have a great core of young players who can smack the ball around and who play well.
With their current cast of talent, the Pirates need everything to go well to be able to compete. In short, things don't look good for the Bucs in the near-term.
To be totally fair we weren't really vying for a division title at the deadline either. We've made a little better moves in the past competitive years (though not to those guys' levels).
Yeah....the issue isn't who the Pirates traded at the deadline. It's th fact the Astros have drafted Correa, Springer and Bregman while the Pirates have drafted Alvarez, Mercer and Brock Holt.
98-win year would have been a good time.
I didn't believe so at the time, but people have changed my mind. The right time to make a big splash move is not when you're a border team trying to sneak in, but on the top to "win more." Try to decrease the randomness that can happen in short series where the best team doesn't win.
that is why Dodgers made moves at the deadline this year. I think that is right approach too, if farm system is any good it should not set back future.
-
dogknot17@yahoo.co
REALITY
The Astros took a lot of heat at the original deadline by standing pat (only getting Liriano). It was clear they needed an outfielder and a starting pitcher. Liriano was brought in to be a reliever too.
They landed Verlander just before the playoff rosters had to be set. I believe they had the best record in the AL at the July 31st deadline. They were very close in not getting Verlander. He has certainly been their best pitcher in the post season. I am not sure if it was ever reported the hold up in the Verlander deal, but they cut it very close.
They landed Verlander just before the playoff rosters had to be set. I believe they had the best record in the AL at the July 31st deadline. They were very close in not getting Verlander. He has certainly been their best pitcher in the post season. I am not sure if it was ever reported the hold up in the Verlander deal, but they cut it very close.
REALITY
060D05090C0D165355221B030A0D0D4C010D620 wrote: The Astros took a lot of heat at the original deadline by standing pat (only getting Liriano). It was clear they needed an outfielder and a starting pitcher. Liriano was brought in to be a reliever too.
They landed Verlander just before the playoff rosters had to be set. I believe they had the best record in the AL at the July 31st deadline. They were very close in not getting Verlander. He has certainly been their best pitcher in the post season. I am not sure if it was ever reported the hold up in the Verlander deal, but they cut it very close.
yeah, the Astros definitely took some heat. Aside from talent, I think making acquisitions helps teams psychologically. If their competitors are making moves, players feel their team needs to make some too.
They landed Verlander just before the playoff rosters had to be set. I believe they had the best record in the AL at the July 31st deadline. They were very close in not getting Verlander. He has certainly been their best pitcher in the post season. I am not sure if it was ever reported the hold up in the Verlander deal, but they cut it very close.
yeah, the Astros definitely took some heat. Aside from talent, I think making acquisitions helps teams psychologically. If their competitors are making moves, players feel their team needs to make some too.
-
Bobster21
REALITY
I don't think there's any way that they tear it down and start over. They told the fan base that the goal was to become competitive and remain so consistently. If they have to tear it down and start over it would be an admission that they failed. It would also mean the same mgt team that failed would be beginning the same process all over again with no reason to have confidence they could do any better this time. All of which sounds like a PR disaster. I think it's far more likely that they pick up a player or two as a 2nd or 3rd tier FA and/or reclamation project and sell it to the fan base as a key addition. Business as usual. The way the team has been operated these past 2years guaranteed lower attendance and lower ratings. That doesn't seem to concern this regime. If anything, it provides them with a handy excuse for their penny pinching ways. So PR wise, instead of saying they failed and will now start over, they can say they are doing the best they can with the limited resources due to fan nonsupport. I don't say any of this to bash this regime. I say it because it's consistent with how they operate and I can't see any reason it will change.