2014 Pirates

[Illinest]

Mercer is hitting poorly because he doesn't hit right-handed pitchers very well and that's mostly all he's seen. I wish I had the energy to complain about SS but I'm still more worried about the starting pitching and I also worry about Grilli. Not that we can't replace Grilli if need be, but I'd hate to have to ride out some closer struggles because closer struggles seem to become lost games an awful lot.

I don't think that Snider is hitting well enough to block Polanco but he might be hitting well enough to displace ishikawa. We'll have to wait and see.

 

[element1286]

Scouting the stat line says Mercer has been hitting less line drives and many more ground balls this year, and has a low BABIP. I'm guessing its just SS variation of a guy who hasn't quite found himself at the plate yet this year.

 

[element1286]

Mercer is hitting poorly because he doesn't hit right-handed pitchers very well and that's mostly all he's seen. I wish I had the energy to complain about SS but I'm still more worried about the starting pitching and I also worry about Grilli. Not that we can't replace Grilli if need be, but I'd hate to have to ride out some closer struggles because closer struggles seem to become lost games an awful lot.

I don't think that Snider is hitting well enough to block Polanco but he might be hitting well enough to displace ishikawa. We'll have to wait and see.

Yeah, Grilli is having trouble locating the fastball, I remember that being his problem before he got hurt last year too.

 

[sychmd]

don't think wandy has it and we need to hope locke, cumpton, or stormy is ready.
with mazzaro back with the bucs, we can move stolmy to starter, dump sandy and put vin back in BP.

then when locke builds up he gets a chance and stormy goes back to long relief.
not sure if mazzaro is able to go up and down like a swing man or not. i am not good at these options rules.
i guess someone would also have to leave the 40 man as well.

 

[thedddd]

Grilli has been worrisome. I guess where I was going with Mercer vs the starting Pitching or the bullpen at least the Pirates have options, for instance what sychmd stated above which would work.

As for a player that could be dropped from the 40 man I guess you can go with this group:

Brett Morel
Chris McGinness
or Jaff Decker

 

[element1286]

Polanco's numbers are eye popping right now, batting .500 for the season.

 

[element1286]

I don't see how you just dump Wandy right now. He hasn't been good, but there is far too long a history of him being good to just get rid of him.

 

[thedddd]

I wouldn't dump Wandy right now either but what is nice at least they have options.

Wow didn't realize what Polanco has been doing that is amazing.

 

[sychmd]

i am not saying drop him yet, but give him 5 more starts just in case.
but he has only played 4 months for us and is average. but always with nibbling, walks, and rarely going deep.
a 500 pitcher with limited future for us.
ideally we could trade him for something rather than just dropping him, but i believe we could get the same from one of the younger guys while giving them the exposure and audition for long term play or trade value.

 

[thecrow124]

I don't see how you just dump Wandy right now. He hasn't been good, but there is far too long a history of him being good to just get rid of him.

Wandy is only averaging 86 mph with his fastball, down from 89 last year when he was marginally effective. I don't believe there is any noticeable variance in any of his other pitches. If this is the case, the chances of him being a worthwhile pitcher this year are slim. I am not saying he needs to go now, but if he doesn't start increasing he fastball velocity, he will not be worth keeping on the roster. Locke is at 100 pitches, Cumpton is stretched out and currently either one would be a better option.

The most amazing thing about Polanco's start is that the power that everyone has been projecting looks like it has arrived. 2 HR in the first 10 games and neither was cheap.

I also think it is about time to finish the Ishikawa experiment, Lambo has started hitting again, and provides at least a modicum of hope that he hasn't reached his ceiling.

 

[sychmd]

Wandy is only averaging 86 mph with his fastball, down from 89 last year when he was marginally effective. I don't believe there is any noticeable variance in any of his other pitches. If this is the case, the chances of him being a worthwhile pitcher this year are slim. I am not saying he needs to go now, but if he doesn't start increasing he fastball velocity, he will not be worth keeping on the roster. Locke is at 100 pitches, Cumpton is stretched out and currently either one would be a better option.

The most amazing thing about Polanco's start is that the power that everyone has been projecting looks like it has arrived. 2 HR in the first 10 games and neither was cheap.

I also think it is about time to finish the Ishikawa experiment, Lambo has started hitting again, and provides at least a modicum of hope that he hasn't reached his ceiling.

agree on all points.
i would actually like to see pimentel given a crack at a spot start or two and bring mazarro back to the pen.
let locke and be cumpton be ready for the first injury.

who would you package when polanco, lambo, and a mazarro/other pitcher come up and what do you think we could get for whatever we have to dump or package with another prospect to get some value back.

 

[thecrow124]

agree on all points.
i would actually like to see pimentel given a crack at a spot start or two and bring mazarro back to the pen.
let locke and be cumpton be ready for the first injury.

who would you package when polanco, lambo, and a mazarro/other pitcher come up and what do you think we could get for whatever we have to dump or package with another prospect to get some value back.

Pimentel for the most part is assured of a rotation spot next year, so doesn't have as much to prove to the Pirates as Locke or Cumpton, that's the only reason I see them getting a shot before him. But, yes I would like to see him get a shot as well.

Unfortunately, there isn't much of a package that can be made to open a spot for Polanco. But since we don't have to worry so much about Mazarro now as long as he stays at Indy or comes up to stay, I don't see a pressing need to move him. I think Tabata will be the odd man out in the outfield, so it will likely be a package of him for whatever we can get in return. I don't think there are many teams out there chomping at the bit for him like the Braves did for McLouth. Then again, all it takes is on injury.

 

[sychmd]

which or how many (P plus OF - not meadows) prospects would you package with tabata to get something back for middle IF, 1B, catcher(till mcguire ready).

i agree with you that tabata alone or with ishy won't bring much unless staggering injury to a contender, so package them with what to get a return.

 

[thecrow124]

which or how many (P plus OF - not meadows) prospects would you package with tabata to get something back for middle IF, 1B, catcher(till mcguire ready).

i agree with you that tabata alone or with ishy won't bring much unless staggering injury to a contender, so package them with what to get a return.

Right now I don't think there is a whole lot out there. Chase Headley will probably become available at some point, but I am not a huge fan of his.

As for who I would package with Tabata in the minor leagues, that is a good question. I guess it would depend on how the season plays out. However, the following players I would really have no interrest in trading from our minor league system:
Polanco
Taillon
Glasnow
Meadows
Bell
McGuire
Mathisen
Kingham
Sanchez
Jhang

There are others, but I could probably be talked into trading them the preceding few however represent players at positions that we need to develop.

 

[element1286]

Wandy is only averaging 86 mph with his fastball, down from 89 last year when he was marginally effective. I don't believe there is any noticeable variance in any of his other pitches. If this is the case, the chances of him being a worthwhile pitcher this year are slim. I am not saying he needs to go now, but if he doesn't start increasing he fastball velocity, he will not be worth keeping on the roster. Locke is at 100 pitches, Cumpton is stretched out and currently either one would be a better option.

The most amazing thing about Polanco's start is that the power that everyone has been projecting looks like it has arrived. 2 HR in the first 10 games and neither was cheap.

I also think it is about time to finish the Ishikawa experiment, Lambo has started hitting again, and provides at least a modicum of hope that he hasn't reached his ceiling.

Yeah his velocity looks down a mile or two, according to pitchfx. I'm not sure what that means, was he not stretched out enough? But yeah, if he continues down that road maybe two more starts, I think they need to put him on the DL and then give him some rehab starts to see if anything changes.

 

[element1286]

Tony Sanchez will be the catcher till McGuire is ready, the past few weeks notwithstanding defense-wise there is nothing really stopping him.

 

[Darkstone42]

Sanchez might already have a better bat than Martin, but he definitely needs some work on playing catcher. When he's not having throwing issues, he's not bad at throwing out runners, but we can't give up free bases/runs with pointless throwing errors from our catcher, either. He's also a terrible pitch framer. I think he's cost the pitchers he's caught at least a few strikes per game.

 

[element1286]

Really SSS with Tony, 35 innings, and we are comparing him with one of the top 3 defensive catchers in the majors. Might be a little unfair. And I think catching is one of those things that gets easier with more rhythm and more playing time.

Not saying he is great at defense now though, just things its a little early to start making proclamations.

 

[Darkstone42]

Really SSS with Tony, 35 innings, and we are comparing him with one of the top 3 defensive catchers in the majors. Might be a little unfair. And I think catching is one of those things that gets easier with more rhythm and more playing time.

Not saying he is great at defense now though, just things its a little early to start making proclamations.

He's better defensively than McKenry, but I don't see him even as average just yet. His ceiling is good, and he really just needs work and familiarity with the pitching staff, I think, but I would really rather have Stewart on the roster right now, which is why the team had the plan they did.

Next year, he'll be trained to be the starter. And I think he'll be ready for it.

 

[Illinest]

The starting pitching is what worries me most. I never wanted wandy and volquez in the same rotation. Wandy's velocity is just the first problem. Then you've got a season-ending injury to Taillon and that's problem #2. Morton, Cole and Liriano haven't exactyl aced it up so far. Not to suggest that i'm unhappy with any of them, but none of the trio is pitching like an ace so far.
Locke and Cumpton won't help. They may be able to outperform Wandy right now, but we need more help than that. Kingham is the only guy left who seems to have the upside that we need. I really hope Kingham can help us.