Lets Go Bucs 2025!

[MJG75]

Alright I'm nowhere near as optimistic headed into this season than I was last year, and this is with the promise of Skenes for a full year. But I thought I'd start the thread at least so we can share thoughts throughout the season.

Let's see if we can eke out a playoff spot while maintaining one of the lowest payrolls in MLB. I was going to break it down a bit, but it doesn't feel worth it this time. Lots has to go right for a playoff spot to happen. I remain a fan. Let's GO!

[Dan Smith--BYU]

Let's get real, the Dodgers are a serious MLB team, the Pirates are another MLB feeder organization.

[MJG75]

We know this, the only problem for me at least is that I'm not a fan of the Dodgers or any other team other than the Pittsburgh Pirates, so I'm going to stick with them, even though it looks pretty bleak.

[MJG75]

Things I'm excited about:

Skenes, obviously. I'll be watching this young man very closely. I haven't seen a pitcher like this for the Pirates, probably ever. None of the best pitchers I've seen has the potential of Skenes. Will be interesting to see what he has to show off for us this year.

Cutch. Yeah he's about a league average DH, but he still has that gravitas that he brings to the park every day. If he can stay healthy all year, I predict another good OBP and HR year (he was 3rd in HR last year on the club). And it's Cutch, c'mon!

Nicky G. I think this kid can just get better and better at 2B. I'm enjoying watching him come along.

Reynolds. Always a joy to watch this player go about his business on the field. Marginal All Star year in and year out. Consistency.

Bednar. Expecting a big rebound year from The Renegade!

Jones. Very excited to see how he does in his sophomore year. Probably needs to learn one more pitch.

Chandler. Will we see him break out in the spring like Jones did last year? Will be fun to see.

Bart. Had a decent year last year, interested to see if he can keep it up.

Endy. Unknown how he'll do, but he had a lot of hype surrounding him when he first came up, let's see how he does after his injury.

Keller. I know he's been up and down and he's struggled to put together a full quality season. I still like the kid, especially as I got to watch him struggle from being a nothing really to a solid #3 for most clubs.

Cruz. Half way here because not a fan of the attitude he seems to have, but if he can apply himself, he can have a breakout superstar type year and I'm here to wait for it!

PNC Park. Still the best ballpark in the nation.


Things I'm meh about:

Another year of Derek Shelton. Just not sold on the man. Can we actually try doing some hit and run, bunting, moving guys around on bases, you know, small ball since we don't have a lot of power on this club. Jeez, c'mon. How difficult can it be to get players to buy into that approach.

Bullpen generally. Worried about it. GM hasn't shown he's very good at BP construction unlike his predecessor. Bednar HAS to rebound and everyone else has to do their job.

Pham. Horwitz. Frazier. All meh, all the time. I hope they all do well, but I have meager hope that they will do much to help us out.

Suwinski. Davis. I still have some hope, but it's running out.

Another year of Cherington. Also not sold on him at the GM spot.

Nutting. Of course.

[MJG75]

Bucs signed LHP Andrew Heaney to one year 5.25 million.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/02/ ... eaney.html

Not bad for a back end and to shore up in case some of the youngsters and those returning from IL need a little more time. Could also be the prelude of a trade of an arm for a bat, but I don't think so.

[MJG75]

It's Spring Training games, and only a few into it as well, but I'm loving what I'm seeing from Jack Suwinski so far. Yesterday went 2 for 3, double, 3 RBI, 2 SB. If they can fix Jack, that will go a long way to pretty much solving LF. Not a fan of Pham, and hope he goes away, actually, but we'll see. Younger players like Jack have to step up and force the management to make a hard decision on that. Also hopeful for Henry Davis who is looking not bad in the early going. Of course, both can hit AAA pitching, but I'm hopeful they figure it out. If they do, that would mean a lot to this team, though it would also vindicate management's lack of action in the off season.

[StillerInCT]

I'll never understand the Pirates futility over the last few decades. Well I know it's Nutting but it is possible to spend as much as he does now and still win. The Rays do it all the time in a much tougher division. Hell, Cleveland only spends about $6M more and they remain competitive.

Anyway, not a Bucs fan, but I still always root for them to be good. Hopefully this is the year. If Skenes stays injury-free he's going to be one of the top aces in baseball.

[Dan Smith--BYU]

"I'll never understand the Pirates futility over the last few decades"

When your go to move in August is to trade players for prospects (save '13-'15) you can always expect the same result.

[Stlcrtn1974]

So the Pirates are no hit by the Orioles., 3 runs in their last 3 games. This team is like having the Steelers 1976 defense with 2023 Matt Canada offense. This might be a very frustrating year.

[Dan Smith--BYU]

The notion that this team can even be in the same league as the Dodgers is absurd. If this were European soccer, they would have been relegated decades ago.

[MJG75]

No surgery for Jones is good news. Still can't throw for at least 6 weeks.

I'm glad Suwinski and Bae made the team. Not so glad about Pham and Frazier, 2 bums we never should have signed. I'd rather see them give chances to the young guys we traded for at the trade deadline last season, Yorke and Cook. Why not? They're younger and have upsides.

[Rod & Wire Mill]

No surgery for Jones is good news. Still can't throw for at least 6 weeks.

I'm glad Suwinski and Bae made the team. Not so glad about Pham and Frazier, 2 bums we never should have signed. I'd rather see them give chances to the young guys we traded for at the trade deadline last season, Yorke and Cook. Why not? They're younger and have upsides.

Poor kid. No matter how hard he tries he ain’t going to be 6’4. If he’s going to make it he’s gotta learn fast how to play within his frame. Seems obvious but whatever. Can’t coaching/management help. It’s just a shame watching it happen in real time.

[Stlcrtn1974]

Skenes pitched well.
No offense, only 4 hits
Bullpen stinks.
Can't blow a 4-1 lead.

[MJG75]

Skenes pitched well.
No offense, only 4 hits
Bullpen stinks.
Can't blow a 4-1 lead.

Yep. We've seen this episode before. Skenes pitches well, can't score enough runs, bullpen collapses. They had several opportunities to add on to their total and it would have made the difference, but failed each time. This is pretty much why I was fairly unexcited about this season. Well, need to pick themselves up off the floor, and get going. Let's Go!

[jeemie]

Wow- Holderman and Bednar may truly be toast, huh?

When is the last time Holderman looked any good at all?

[Rod & Wire Mill]

Skenes pitched well.
No offense, only 4 hits
Bullpen stinks.
Can't blow a 4-1 lead.

Yep. We've seen this episode before. Skenes pitches well, can't score enough runs, bullpen collapses. They had several opportunities to add on to their total and it would have made the difference, but failed each time. This is pretty much why I was fairly unexcited about this season. Well, need to pick themselves up off the floor, and get going. Let's Go!

And….We’re Off! and limping

[Stlcrtn1974]

Wow- Holderman and Bednar may truly be toast, huh?

When is the last time Holderman looked any good at all?

Holderman started off last year on fire, then of course he fizzled out down the stretch. I see Bednar tried to blow it this evening as well.

[franco>madden]

That opener was pretty symbolic of the overall crummy state of the modern-era Pittsburgh Pirates .... Almost no offense to support our #1 drafted future Yankees pitching star .... Idiotic little league-level fielding gaffes .... The guy who finally busts out with a 2-run bomb, also busts his ankle during or right before his home run trot .... And the 2 "closers" give up the lead late and lose the game to one of the (other) worst teams in baseball. Can't make this up.

https://nypost.com/2025/03/29/sports/pi ... -run-trot/

[Rod & Wire Mill]

Bednar=Has Been, As in has been done for a while now.

[Stlcrtn1974]

Shelton should of been fired last year, nothing has changed.

[jeemie]

Thomas Harrington being called up.

Looks like the Pirates will be trying to see how many 1-0 ballgames they can win.

Not many unless they start getting bullpen help.

[Rod & Wire Mill]

Starting the “June Swoon” early

[Rod & Wire Mill]

1B — the last stop for Cruz before permanent DH

[jeemie]

Wow the Pirates are going to give 2020's futility a run for its money...

[Stlcrtn1974]

Well, this is the opposite of how they started last year. This team offensively is somehow worse then last year.

[gpclay]

Wow the Pirates are going to give 2020's futility a run for its money...

I was thinking more like the 57-104 season in 1985 (my senior year of HS). Joggin’ George Hendrick, Sixto Lezcano and Steve Kemp were the “big” free agent signings that off-season. José Deleón went 2-19. 2-19!!!! There were some gems on the team, like Tony Peña, Johnny Ray and Bill Madlock and the Ricks (Rhoden and Reuschel). I guess their futility led to Chuck Tanner leaving, making room for Leyland and there was the early 90s resurgence, so….

EDIT: I went back and looked and the 1952 team’s 42-112-1 record sets the “modern” era’s mark for futility (the 1890 team was worse at 23-113-2 for a .169 winning percentage but…). And the ‘52 team was part of a string from 1949-1957 where they never got higher than a .461 winning %

[MJG75]

Harrington didn't look very good. I'm starting to seriously wonder how good some of these young arms really are in our farm system. Whenever they try one out, they typically fail hard, aside from slam dunk Skenes, and surprisingly Jones.

It is certainly starting out very poorly. We may be buried by June if we don't figure things out and quickly. Thing is, not sure they can figure things out with the lack of talent, lack of fundamentals (that should not be happening at this level for veteran players). They are facing a tough road.

[franco>madden]

Just a cryin shame how hard this ownership sucks, and for so many years. Grateful at least for the powerful Pirates teams of my youth, but these greedy, heartless, clueless bastards Nutting and predecessors have certainly tainted the memories.
My "free" MLB. tv package from T-Mobile is almost not worth it ...

[jeemie]

Just a cryin shame how hard this ownership sucks, and for so many years. Grateful at least for the powerful Pirates teams of my youth, but these greedy, heartless, clueless bastards Nutting and predecessors have certainly tainted the memories.
My "free" MLB. tv package from T-Mobile is almost not worth it ...

That's the really shitty part about it.

TMobile began offering MLB TV for free to its users in 2016...the year AFTER the Pirates' 2013-15 run.

We have sucked ever since.

I am moving on towards rooting for the Phillies but as I live in Philly I don't need MLB TV for that

[MJG75]

So nice to watch a pretty clean looking Paul Skenes outing, having gone 7 strong with 1 unearned run. The rest of the team got some timely hitting, some ouch defense at times (that collision in the outfield looked bush league), but enough solid bullpen work to hold down the victory. Raise it! Let's GO Bucs!

On a downer note, Bryan Reynolds is experiencing some right triceps soreness. At the moment, they have limited him to DH duties only, which also means we won't see Cutch much for a bit.