OnlyBucs

Man I have a lot of concerns right now:



* Not nearly enough starting quality pitching. I would rate our rotation as a C- compared to other contending teams in the NL. We have 2 guys who SHOULD be a given. Nova will hopefully be good. Kuhl fingers crossed. 5th starter hold your breath. That's not the way to enter a season.

* I'm worried that Cutch 2016 = Cutch 2017

* Worried about Polanco's shoulder. He may not be playing in Boston.

* No Kang (and his power), maybe for the entire season.

* Is Watson going to be able to close out games?

* Bench drop-off from last year to this year could be significant.



I realize all teams have question marks and concerns. But that is a lot of concerns for a team that considers itself a playoff contender.



That's why I predicted 77-85. Truly hope I am very wrong.

Oh and I forgot to add that Bell is hitting .103 this spring.

I'd feel a lot better if the Pirates went out and traded for Quintana. Cole, Taillon, and Nova are really going to have to carry the load for this team as far as the starting pitching is concerned. Overall though I agree with you Carolina I have some concerns about this team early on to start this season. The Pirates have to get off to a good start this season as well. They can't afford to have a slow or bad start with a team as good as the Cubs being in their division. I think it's very important that Cutch gets off to maybe not a great start the first week or so but at least a decent start to where he is making a difference early on in the lineup. If Cutch has a poor first week or two and starts off something like 2 for 20 or worse he is really going to start to hear it from the fans and already start to put pressure on himself at the plate.

Fangraphs has us as the 11th best rotation in baseball, but the 7th best in the NL. But, I think that they are underestimating us a bit. 1.7 WAR from Nova seems low. I could him being in the 2.5 range. I could see Kuhl in the 1.5-2 range. I could also see Cole going out and putting up his best year yet, and producing something in the 5 WAR range.



Anyway, I'm not as down on our rotation as others. I'm not as down as I was on the rotation last year for sure. Do I think they are going to be worldbeaters? No. But, if we stay healthy, our rotation can be a strength.



http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/2017-pos ... tion-1-15/

I think Kuhl can also be a solid 4-5 guy. I definitely think he is an upgrade over running out guys like Locke and Niese every 5th day like the Pirates were doing the first half of the season last year. I'll keep saying that if Glasnow can somehow put it all together at some point this season and figure it out the Pirates will be a very good team. Having Glasnow emerge will change everything.

I share the concerns of everyone who has posted.



This Pirate team has some significant strengths but the uncertainty of rebounds by Cutch, Cole and Cervelli, the 5th spot in the starting rotation, someone in the bullpen stepping up as a reliable closer, and finding enough offense to compensate for the loss of the 52 HR and 160 RBI the Bucs got from Joyce, Rodriguez and Kang last year give me pause.



To a lesser extent I have concerns about the defense from Bell and Frazier, both of whom I believe will be getting quite a bit of playing time. The biggest worry I have though is about what happens if one (or more) of Cole, Taillon or Nova should sustain an injury. So much of the success of this team will depend on the health of those 3.

3317030B0E620 wrote: I share the concerns of everyone who has posted.



This Pirate team has some significant strengths but the uncertainty of rebounds by Cutch, Cole and Cervelli, the 5th spot in the starting rotation, someone in the bullpen stepping up as a reliable closer, and finding enough offense to compensate for the loss of the 52 HR and 160 RBI the Bucs got from Joyce, Rodriguez and Kang last year give me pause.



To a lesser extent I have concerns about the defense from Bell and Frazier, both of whom I believe will be getting quite a bit of playing time. The biggest worry I have though is about what happens if one (or more) of Cole, Taillon or Nova should sustain an injury. So much of the success of this team will depend on the health of those 3. 


I agree about Cole, Taillon and Nova. They probably need to combine for close to 600 innings for team to have a good staff. I expect Nicasio and Hudson to be good in bullpen and they will be needed a lot. I don't think it is fair to expect more than 5 or 6 innings from Kuhl and whomever 5th starter is.

I have zero confidence in Watson. Just not the same pitcher anymore.

I think Nova is an upgrade from 2016 version of Liriano.

I think Kuhl is upgrade over Niese/Nicasio/Vogelsong/Locke.

I think Taillon is an upgrade over Niese/Nicasio/Vogelsong/Locke.



(depends on how you rank the pitchers 1-4, people love those numbers for some reason)



Bell is an upgrade over Jaso.

Marte in CF is an upgrade over McCutchen in CF.



Then bench is a question mark, but we all were pretty surprised last year when Rodriquez was very good and a minor league free agent in Joyce made the team.



Kang is the biggest blow to the team.



The bullpen can be very good with Watson, Hudson, Rivero, Nicasio, Bastardo. Watson's new role is in question, but can Rivero step in?



I just hope that some of the question marks will be solved right away. Either by players performing or being replaced.

29222A262322397C7A0D342C252222632E224D0 wrote: I think Nova is an upgrade from 2016 version of Liriano.

I think Kuhl is upgrade over Niese/Nicasio/Vogelsong/Locke.

I think Taillon is an upgrade over Niese/Nicasio/Vogelsong/Locke.



(depends on how you rank the pitchers 1-4, people love those numbers for some reason)



Bell is an upgrade over Jaso.

Marte in CF is an upgrade over McCutchen in CF.



Then bench is a question mark, but we all were pretty surprised last year when Rodriquez was very good and a minor league free agent in Joyce made the team. 



Kang is the biggest blow to the team. 



The bullpen can be very good with Watson, Hudson, Rivero, Nicasio, Bastardo.  Watson's new role is in question, but can Rivero step in? 



I just hope that some of the question marks will be solved right away.  Either by players performing or being replaced.


The problem with many of the "X is an upgrade over last year's X" is that at the beginning of last season we would have said the same thing, on paper going into the season.