Let's Go Bucs!! 2026

[MJG75]

Hey folks, pitchers and catchers reported this week, so it is time to kick off a seasonal thread. And, who knows, if the Bucs catch fire, interest may pick up!

They had probably the best off-season [and it isn't quite done, perhaps] since those "glory" days a decade or more ago. Picked up some guys who can hit: O'Hearn and Lowe, and just recently Ozuna. I am not happy at all with the way they handled Cutch here, and with the moves they made, they effectively shoved him out the door in a ridiculous and unceremonious fashion. Despite my favorability rating for the off-season, I have nothing but contempt for Hillbilly Bob, moronic Ben Cherington and their band of data-driven idiots. Who once again failed to calculate fans in their machinations.

But from a purely baseball standpoint, they definitely improved the offense. Also love Mangum, a stellar defender, has speed, doesn’t strike out much and gets on base. Wish they could figure a way to get him in the lineup and at leadoff as much as possible, but it is unlikely without injury. They have a logjam at 1st and DH, almost nobody to play SS and 3B.

One wild card to watch for is will they bring up Konnor Griffin, the 19 year old #1 prospect in baseball who hasn't logged a minute at AAA. A bold GM would bring him up, but we lack that here. In any case, they will have to find a SS or 3B or a guy who can play both.

They could have done a lot better. They swung and missed with Mario Mendoza bats at some big fish who would have solved all sorts of problems in one player, but of course they refused to overpay, which is what they would have had to have done to get any of them. They weakened their starting pitching a little bit, possibly more than folks may realize but we will see. Their bullpen is a question mark, it might be serviceable, it might not.

I see them as hitting .500 this year, and will be much more competitive, possibly into September, but I, unfortunately, do not see them making the post-season without both a lot of things going right for us, and a whole lot of things going wrong for some of the teams in our way. Despite that, you still have to play the games. And for the first time since Clint Hurdle was fired, we have a manager in Donny Kelly who I actually like and believe in. Let's go, Bucs!!

[JackLambert58]

I wish I could share your enthusiasm, MeanJoe. Nutting and the organization has beaten me down to having absolutely no expectations for a winning team. I do know this offseason has been busy, but we'll see. It seems to me that when new blood comes to Pittsburgh, they either shit the bed or get injured. I guess .500 is the goal, and that's definitely familiar for a Pittsburgh sports fan. We're on 47 years since We Are Family. I was a senior in high school then. I'm 63 now. Beat 'em Bucs! I hope.

[Dan Smith--BYU]

The preseason is looking promising but:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=242H7F8DKHA

[Ice]

Opening Day!

Some great WBC play and some promise shown last year in preseason... I'm in.

Let's Go Buccos!

[Jobu]

First two batters…bloop single, homer.
Next three batters…K K K

[jeemie]

O'Neill Cruz with an inning to remember...

[Jobu]

Skenes struggling and O’Neil Cruz just played a routine fly ball into a three run triple, then gives up another run losing a pop up in the sun.

Skenes is ugly. Just hit a batter. 5 runs 37 pitches and pulled in the 1st with runners on 1st and 2nd.

Yep a lot to be excited about.

[jeemie]

Pirates forgot the season started today.

Defense has been atrocious.

And that's supposedly what they emphasized working on in the spring.

[Rod & Wire Mill]

Cruz misplays three balls and Skenes gets charged with five earned runs!

[Rod & Wire Mill]

After that second strike I think that if Cruz is not on drugs then perhaps he should be

[jeemie]

First ABS challenge nails Cruz.

[Stlcrtn1974]

Cruz cost them last years home opener too. He's a bum.

[jeemie]

Our two new additions Lowe and O'Hearn- literally the only Pirates that are hitting.

Everyone else is as lame as they were last year.

[Stlcrtn1974]

Our two new additions Lowe and O'Hearn- literally the only Pirates that are hitting.

Everyone else is as lame as they were last year.

Leaving 27 guys on base in the last 2 games isn't a recipe for winning.

[MJG75]

How about those Bucs???? Big difference from last year! Loving Lowe, looks like a great teammate! Rhino looks great! Oz not so much and may end up being our Achilles heel. Great starts by Mitch and Carmen and bullpen looks great early going! Santana and Soto, sure, but Mason Montgomery came into a fireman situation in the opener, veins of ice, dealing triple digits on the gun! Loving that weak bats like Triolo, Yorke, and Davis are contributing. Loving the vibe and the winning! Lets go Bucs!

[jeemie]

Konnor Griffin doing his best Willie Mays impression.

RBI double his first AB, 0-8 since.

Mays started his MLB career going 0-12, then popped a home run, then went hitless his next 13 AB to plunge to .038, before catching fire and finishing up with a respectable rookie campaign.

Hope Griffin can figure it out- so far, MLB is the only level he hasn't coming tearing out of the gate in.

[Stlcrtn1974]

Konnor Griffin doing his best Willie Mays impression.

RBI double his first AB, 0-8 since.

Mays started his MLB career going 0-12, then popped a home run, then went hitless his next 13 AB to plunge to .038, before catching fire and finishing up with a respectable rookie campaign.

Hope Griffin can figure it out- so far, MLB is the only level he hasn't coming tearing out of the gate in.

I'm good with letting him figure it out, especially how he is playing D. He made a great play today, diving to his left, up extremely fast and firing strike to 1st for the out.

[Obviously]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPw-3e_pzqU

Should we start game threads again? JL58 raising the Jolly Roger?

[jeemie]

Konnor Griffin doing his best Willie Mays impression.

RBI double his first AB, 0-8 since.

Mays started his MLB career going 0-12, then popped a home run, then went hitless his next 13 AB to plunge to .038, before catching fire and finishing up with a respectable rookie campaign.

Hope Griffin can figure it out- so far, MLB is the only level he hasn't coming tearing out of the gate in.

I'm good with letting him figure it out, especially how he is playing D. He made a great play today, diving to his left, up extremely fast and firing strike to 1st for the out.

Yeah I've seen some of those highlights.

Has he been at least making good contact? If he's making good contact, I'm not concerned about the bat.

[jeemie]

And of course, with Griffin's call-up we have the best #1 and #2 Significant Other pairing with Livvy Dunne and Dendy Griffin.

Yowza!



And Hoist the Cone is right up there with Zoltan as funny schtick!

[Stlcrtn1974]

Konnor Griffin doing his best Willie Mays impression.

RBI double his first AB, 0-8 since.

Mays started his MLB career going 0-12, then popped a home run, then went hitless his next 13 AB to plunge to .038, before catching fire and finishing up with a respectable rookie campaign.

Hope Griffin can figure it out- so far, MLB is the only level he hasn't coming tearing out of the gate in.

I'm good with letting him figure it out, especially how he is playing D. He made a great play today, diving to his left, up extremely fast and firing strike to 1st for the out.

Yeah I've seen some of those highlights.

Has he been at least making good contact? If he's making good contact, I'm not concerned about the bat.

He hasn't been since his double. Beating alot into the ground. Struck out a few times tonight, he was getting jammed tonight too.

[MJG75]

Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!! 9 years 140 million, Konnor Griffin!! Signed!! Yeah baby!! NOW they are getting serious!! Lets go, Bucs!!

https://www.mlb.com/news/konnor-griffin ... -extension

[MJG75]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPw-3e_pzqU

Should we start game threads again? JL58 raising the Jolly Roger?

Yes!! Let's do it!! Not sure Jack is up for it though