Let's Go Bucs 2024!

[ol skool]

Swap of former 1st Rounders with Boston:

https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/pir ... 2407230127

[ol skool]

Two more:

https://piratesprospects.com/2024/07/pi ... -cruz.html

https://piratesprospects.com/2024/07/pi ... ronto.html

Not the guys I wanted, but at least they help for multiple years.

[Dan Smith--BYU]

At least the Nutt is trying without breaking the bank or throwing away solid players for prospects.

[ol skool]

An expendable SP to SD for a lotto ticket. Hardly worth the effort to post this:

https://piratesprospects.com/2024/07/pi ... adres.html

A promising young arm for a AAA super-sub:

https://piratesprospects.com/2024/07/pi ... -deal.html

Ho fucking hum…

[SteelPro]

They improved on the margins. De La Cruz at least offers some power. Isiah Kiner-Falefa is having a really good year, is very versatile, and puts the ball in play. Much happier to have him in the lineup than Jared Triolo.

[MJG75]

They improved on the margins. De La Cruz at least offers some power. Isiah Kiner-Falefa is having a really good year, is very versatile, and puts the ball in play. Much happier to have him in the lineup than Jared Triolo.

Agreed, which is about all I expected, at most. I was a little bummed to lose McAdoo in the Kiner-Falefa trade, but I guess we figured we needed a major league ready second baseman now that Gonzalez is out for a while. De La Cruz improves the lineup and we really didn't have to give up anything to get him. We basically held onto all of our key prospects, with exception of Quinn Priester, which I saw as a move swapping two first rounders, one pitcher, the other a hitter, and we need hitters, so that's a wash, IMO. Basically overall pleased with the moves made, and with the moves not made. Only one (Perez for nothing) seemed a money dump, and there likely could have been more. Have to believe they had offers on Chapman, apparently they had one on Bednar as well.

[Stlcrtn1974]

Oneil Cruz single handedly cost them this game.

[K_C_]

This team is making losing one run games an art form.

No fucking way they see the postseason.

No fucking way.

[Stlcrtn1974]

This team is making losing one run games an art form.

No fucking way they see the postseason.

No fucking way.

I think they are a year away. It's a shame too because with those starting 3, anything is possible. Skenes may be hitting a rookie wall too.

[K_C_]

This team is making losing one run games an art form.

No fucking way they see the postseason.

No fucking way.

I think they are a year away. It's a shame too because with those starting 3, anything is possible. Skenes may be hitting a rookie wall too.

While I don't particularly disagree, so much can change in a year, The Cubs and Cardinals are sleeping giants in that, both organizations have plenty of money to spend to get better and they likely will. The Brewers seemingly contend every year.

The Pirates? Who knows what they'll look like a year from now. The sad part is just how many winnable games they've pissed away recently. Skenes could be hitting the rookie wall or it could also be a case of; "Oh fuck. No wonder this team hasn't been in the playoffs since Gerald Ford was president."

[MJG75]

This team is making losing one run games an art form.

No fucking way they see the postseason.

No fucking way.

I think they are a year away. It's a shame too because with those starting 3, anything is possible. Skenes may be hitting a rookie wall too.

While I don't particularly disagree, so much can change in a year, The Cubs and Cardinals are sleeping giants in that, both organizations have plenty of money to spend to get better and they likely will. The Brewers seemingly contend every year.

The Pirates? Who knows what they'll look like a year from now. The sad part is just how many winnable games they've pissed away recently. Skenes could be hitting the rookie wall or it could also be a case of; "Oh fuck. No wonder this team hasn't been in the playoffs since Gerald Ford was president."

Jimmy Carter actually, but just about the same point, taken. No, actually would have been George Bush senior in 92, he was still prez when Bucs were last in playoffs.

Don't think they quite have enough this year to make it. They'll likely compete down to the wire, but I think they'll fall short this year. Couldn't beat the Dbacks, the team they needed to beat, for second series in a row. Their lineup looks tough, ours often looks rough. Along with that, the other issue we've had all year has been an inconsistent bullpen and it bit us in the ass yet again yesterday.

We should be better next year, but your point is taken well. Others will get better too, and they spend a lot more money than we do. Most of our improvements will be through players getting better internally.

[ol skool]

I think they are a year away. It's a shame too because with those starting 3, anything is possible. Skenes may be hitting a rookie wall too.

While I don't particularly disagree, so much can change in a year, The Cubs and Cardinals are sleeping giants in that, both organizations have plenty of money to spend to get better and they likely will. The Brewers seemingly contend every year.

The Pirates? Who knows what they'll look like a year from now. The sad part is just how many winnable games they've pissed away recently. Skenes could be hitting the rookie wall or it could also be a case of; "Oh fuck. No wonder this team hasn't been in the playoffs since Gerald Ford was president."

Jimmy Carter actually, but just about the same point, taken. No, actually would have been George Bush senior in 92, he was still prez when Bucs were last in playoffs.

Don't think they quite have enough this year to make it. They'll likely compete down to the wire, but I think they'll fall short this year. Couldn't beat the Dbacks, the team they needed to beat, for second series in a row. Their lineup looks tough, ours often looks rough. Along with that, the other issue we've had all year has been an inconsistent bullpen and it bit us in the ass yet again yesterday.

We should be better next year, but your point is taken well. Others will get better too, and they spend a lot more money than we do. Most of our improvements will be through players getting better internally.

Obama was President when the Pirates made the playoffs in 2013-2015, FWIW.

Anyway, the Buccos' post-ASB schedule is brutal. It was always gonna be an uphill climb. Still think they can finish with a winning record and get agonizingly close, which we can hope fuels them for next year. The whole Division is iffy, and will be up for grabs in 2025.

Where are the Pirates now? They've gone from the tear-down phase of the rebuild, to the find-bargains-and-flip-them-at-the-deadline phase, to the contending phase. There will be moves made at the winter meetings and off-season to improve the club; moves of the legit-prospects-for-legit-MLB-talent variety.

Hell, you could even see MLB-player-for-MLB-player moves (Falter, Ortiz, Oviedo being a few chips that would interest another team).

The key to whether we can capitalize on the contending phase with a Championship is whether Cherrington knows when the right time to push all his chips in at the deadline. Will it be in 2025? 2026? 2027? And I mean you'll read about the trade and wince at the prospect cost. That kind of trade. Much like Dayton Moore pulled off in Kansas City.

All will be forgiven if the Buccos' bring it home for the first time since 1979, but it will condemn us to another rebuild not long after.

Are you ready for that?

What they have to work with now is depth at Starting Pitchers throughout the system that is the envy of the league, as well as high-quality bullpen arms on the big club and down on the farm. The pitching alone can keep this team competitive for many years to come.

What they lack is obvious to anyone with an above-room-temperature IQ: offense.

We have yet to see if the personnel changes Cherrington has made in the Minors and the scouting department can turn things around there in terms of developing hitters. Fortunately, he can trade from his Pitching surplus to acquire the bats in the meantime.

The moves made at the deadline help this year and next. BDLC should hold down RF for multiple years and hopefully provide the kind of power that makes you forgive his K-rate. IKF - even if this year is a fluke - gives you what Nick Gonzales has managed to produce and plays all over the infield; a far better sub than we've been trotting out there in the form of Triolo, Williams and Bae. Cook and Yorke down in AAA project as average bats and cover a number of defensive spots; better depth than we've had in Indy recently.

That's not a bad head-start on the coming off-season. And BC can cast a wide net in FA or more likely via trade to add to the MLB roster, given that so few positions can be considered "filled" at the moment.

We just have to wait and see.

[K_C_]

Is Bednar and actually the entire bullpen throwing games?

[ol skool]

Is Bednar and actually the entire bullpen throwing games?

It’s the flukey nature of relief pitching.

I feel like I’m alone in thinking that there’s no such thing as a Closer or Set-Up Man, but basically all of professional baseball disagrees with me.

If I was in charge, we’d employ a balanced LH/RH late-inning bullpen of guys who can throw two deadly pitches, rounded out with a couple long-relief types who are groundball-heavy. And we’d use them situationally instead of trotting them out according to their designation.

The Closer/Set-Up designation strikes me as a way to inflate trade value to other teams.

[ol skool]

In other words, Bednar/Holderman/Chapman/Nicolas/Borucki could be an example of a shutdown collection of BP arms next year, but there’s no reason to designate any one of them with the title of Closer or Set-Up.

[Stlcrtn1974]

This is how a young team plays, very streaky. Probably will go 3-3 over the next 3 vs LA and SD

[MJG75]

Is Bednar and actually the entire bullpen throwing games?

It’s the flukey nature of relief pitching.

I feel like I’m alone in thinking that there’s no such thing as a Closer or Set-Up Man, but basically all of professional baseball disagrees with me.

If I was in charge, we’d employ a balanced LH/RH late-inning bullpen of guys who can throw two deadly pitches, rounded out with a couple long-relief types who are groundball-heavy. And we’d use them situationally instead of trotting them out according to their designation.

The Closer/Set-Up designation strikes me as a way to inflate trade value to other teams.

This is the way. Players union would likely never go for it, but it's the right way to approach it, I agree. Bucs have 2nd most blown saves, only outpaced by the tanking Chisox. When it was supposed to be a strength, it hasn't even been league average. It's a shame, because we're close enough that a few of these going the way they should have would have been huge for us.

[K_C_]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lWJXDG2i0A

[Rod & Wire Mill]

“Abandon hope, all ye who enter here!”

[Dan Smith--BYU]

what a shit show

[MJG75]

Bucs avoided this type of thing all season long up until about a half month ago. I waited for it, I'm sure most fans expected it, but they avoided it every time it looked like they would sink, their starters would pull them back up. Now, even that isn't helping much. Unfortunately, this is their second half collapse, as often happens when teams just aren't deep enough, nor strong enough, to withstand the heat and pressure. Guess it's not going to be 2024 after all. I'd like to see them right the ship at least and go out on a high note, but I suspect it may take until September to do that. By then, it will be far too late for this year. Let's see what Nutting is made of this off-season.

[Jobu]

Let's see what Nutting is made of this off-season.

Really MJG??? You need another off-season to see what Nutting is made of?
Yeah…I’m pretty sure you know exactly what Nutting is made of!

[MJG75]

Let's see what Nutting is made of this off-season.

Really MJG??? You need another off-season to see what Nutting is made of?
Yeah…I’m pretty sure you know exactly what Nutting is made of!

Yeah, you're right, what's wrong with me there. I know full well what he'll do. Force Cherington to hunt for deals and garbage heap FAs. Yep, usual stuff. If we're going anywhere at all, it will always be despite the Nut.

I did think Cherington would be better than this. 5 years in and this is all we have? I guess it's something. More than past 7 but damn, man.

[Rod & Wire Mill]

Rowdy benched today. No surprise, even for this management team.

[Stlcrtn1974]

Losing is a disease.
https://youtu.be/UImuMJlUJzA?si=MCIuNEtZMVrAusHW
Best baseball movie, in my opinion.

[MJG75]

Amazing how we went from contenders to pretenders in just about a half month. All that promise of the first several months, just flushed down the drain. 4th worst record in the NL as of now. Yeah, it's been more than a disappointment. I get all those who have long ago abandoned any possible hope for this team, I still refuse to join them, but damn, this is rough. They just never really solved their bullpen problems and that came back to bite them big time this half month. If the pen was even halfway decent, they would have at least salvaged some wins during this time. Damn. Yet another tanked season for the Bucs. At this point, they may as well tank. Clawing back to .500 may not even be possible at this juncture anyway. At least they can hope for yet another high draft pick, as aside from Skenes, we haven't really done much there either.

[MJG75]

Losing is a disease.
https://youtu.be/UImuMJlUJzA?si=MCIuNEtZMVrAusHW
Best baseball movie, in my opinion.

Definitely one of my all time favorites.

[Stlcrtn1974]

Shelton and Tomlin should both be catapulted the fuck out of Pittsburgh.

[MJG75]

I never get the sense from Shelton that he's in command of the room. I just don't get that from him. I'm not sure you get it very much anymore from managers the way it used to be back in the day. But yeah, when you watched guys like Jimmy Leyland, Clint Hurdle, you had the sense that they were in charge of how the daily operations went at the major league level. I never really get that from Shelton, just that he's a company man who will implement the plans that they have already agreed upon with the GM and team leadership. Do we need a better manager? I would agree. But does any manager need better options? Definitely feel that way as well.

[franco>madden]

Nostrodomus-like skills are evident. One month ago:

Not sure it's sustainable but if they can keep winning series' at the same pace like they've been at over the past month, would project to 92 wins ...

We'll see what they've got in the tank ...

What a sad almost half-century of this franchise. It's a damn shame.

As Dan or somebody here said, has there ever been a worse time to be an overall Pittsburgh sports fan?