2014 Pirates

[element1286]

Yeah, Morris had run his course, he can't strike anyone out, and walks too many. He still has some talent, I wish him luck. Seems like a good move for the comp pick, like others have said, since it's such a deep draft.

 

[element1286]

Ike davis was a "minimum" acquisition for me. I was not happy with how the team handled 1b until after they traded to acquire Ike. I would still have preferred that they didn't have to solve the problem with a platoon but i suppose that if you need to platoon a position then 1B is probably the best choice.

Where we've run into trouble in the past is in thinking that we can platoon more than one position. We the fans i mean. Platoons have some disadvantages that aren't immediately obvious - like the fact that if one guy gets injured then the other guy ends up being a weak (exposed) full-time starter.

Regardless - the current arrangement is the sort of good match that you'd like to have. As long as the platoon is working properly there's not much to complain about. I would still prefer to have a full-time player at some point.

Well the first base platoon has worked, you get into trouble when you start platooning two completely different type players, like Pedro and Harrison for example makes me weary, or two guys who are both poor hitters.

I know that the replacements levels are different for each position for a reason, but I think with the way positions are getting blurred and emphasis on defense, it's actually hard to find elite level talent at first base now.

 

[Etrius24]

Harrison has been hitting a little bit lately... The average is up over .300 and the OPS is upto .826...

I know the sample size is small and it may not last... but timely hitting has been something the pirates have taken advantage of in the past couple of seasons..

Pedro is as streaky a player as you are like to find.. So let's ride Harrison for as long as he keeps hitting and wait for Pedro to heat up again and start smashing homeruns in bunches.

 

[thecrow124]

Harrison has been hitting a little bit lately... The average is up over .300 and the OPS is upto .826...

I know the sample size is small and it may not last... but timely hitting has been something the pirates have taken advantage of in the past couple of seasons..

Pedro is as streaky a player as you are like to find.. So let's ride Harrison for as long as he keeps hitting and wait for Pedro to heat up again and start smashing homeruns in bunches.

Better yet, lets hit the rewind button to before the season started and trade Fat Pete.

 

[thedddd]

Pirates first pick is Cole Tucker not sure why they drafted to a need with all the talent out there. Said to be the biggest reach in the first round but if he projects to stay as a SS.

2014 Draft: Cole Tucker, SS | MLB.com

 

[Illinest]

so far they took a SS who won't stay at SS and a C who won't stay at C.

Their pick at 1-24
84th ranked by BA

Their pick at 38
101st ranked by BA


This feels like a big "fuck you" so far.

 

[thecrow124]

This draft is very uninspiring for me. I can understand the team wanting Cole Tucker, but in no way is he a first round pick. They said they drafted him at 24 because they didn't think he would be there at 39. That tells me that he was not the best player available, nor was he the top player on their board. My personal opinion on the first round is that you take the best player available always because outside of the first round, well, not much major league talent comes from rounds 2 and beyond. Round one is not the place you want to save money for future picks. That being said, I am not knocking Tucker as a player since I haven't seen him play and I really hope that he turns into a very good major leaguer. With his age, it could also be that the team sees him as a more advanced July 2nd type.

The Joe pick I am actually ok with simply because he can do the one thing this management group can't seem to teach, he can flat out hit. Maybe he doesn't have the prototypical power of a corner outfielder, but he will hit. Again, probably shouldn't have been taken in the first round, but name me one other guy this group has ever drafted, outside of Meadows, that you were certain was going to hit.

The two HS pitchers, well, they are what Huntington does. Big RHP's, that are projectible. I am not really a fan of this strategy, but it's not going to change. We may get 10 more of these type draft picks in the hopes that one makes it.

In short I am not impressed with this draft, but it will be 4-5 years before we can t ruely grade this one out.

 

[element1286]

Well certainly a different approach from years past, not sure what to say about the kids specifically. I don't have a problem if the Pirates valued these guys differently than BA.

Cole Tucker seemed like a riser, the Pirates didn't think he would get to them at 39, as other teams were attached to him in the late first.

 

[thecrow124]

Well certainly a different approach from years past, not sure what to say about the kids specifically. I don't have a problem if the Pirates valued these guys differently than BA.

Cole Tucker seemed like a riser, the Pirates didn't think he would get to them at 39, as other teams were attached to him in the late first.

About Tucker, if another team drafts him before 39, then you let them. He is not the type player you spend a 24th pick on when there are more talented players on the board. The way NH talked about him just makes me think he wasn't the top player on our board at the time.

 

[element1286]

Fair point, I don't disagree.

 

[thedddd]

Just saw the posts about this and made me think that I am glad Appel not signing (since he is getting hit hard in single A) and the positive to that now the Pirates have Austin Meadows who is hitting well so far.

 

[element1286]

Michael (Pittsburgh)

Klaw can you tell me what the Pirates were thinking with their first two picks? Do their scouts use a different system evaulate players than the rest of the industry?
Klaw
(1:09 PM)

After they took Tucker I heard from a couple of other clubs that were disappointed because they'd hoped to grab him shortly after that selection. Apparently he was a favorite of a few clubs. I didn't like the Joe selection at all - he can't catch and was probably a 5th rounder or later - but then they took two very good high school arms, so as long as the net of the four picks was positive, I don't think any Pirates fan should be upset.
Klaw
(1:09 PM)
Oh, and yes, I'm pretty sure each team's scouts uses its own methods for evaluation. Otherwise predicting the draft would be a lot easier.

 

[steelparrot]

Tucker was mind boggler, that answer makes me feel alot better about the draft.

I can see taking signable players in the comp rounds as you dont get one the next year if he doesnt sign.

 

[sychmd]

i think tucker has appeal as he is only 17. projecting him one year from now as an 18 year but still in HS, maybe he would be a top 10 pick. if that is the case, then i agree with taking him with a 24. he seems healthy and the other reaches of potential big talent were injured guys who fell or had an off ear in college.

not sure how other teams produce hitters but we don't. is it drafting or development.
or both. good to see sanchez has done well hitting at AAA and MLB level this year and last.
now if he could only make a 90 and 120 foot throw that most HS starting catchers master.

 

[Illinest]

Other teams produce hitters because they draft hitters. In all the time Neil has been in charge of the draft there has been:
1. Alvarez - overwhelming consensus selection. Obvious.
2. Bell - Looking like a nice get
3. Meadows - obvious selection. Would've been dumb to pass on him.
4. Dickerson - gone already


Most of the draft picks outside of that group has been catchers, SS, CFers and projectable RHP.

 

[thecrow124]

Other teams produce hitters because they draft hitters. In all the time Neil has been in charge of the draft there has been:
1. Alvarez - overwhelming consensus selection. Obvious.
2. Bell - Looking like a nice get
3. Meadows - obvious selection. Would've been dumb to pass on him.
4. Dickerson - gone already


Most of the draft picks outside of that group has been catchers, SS, CFers and projectable RHP.

Actually I don't think Alvarez was an overwhelming consensus, pretty sure it was a toss up between him and Posey. But Alvarez was supposed to have more power and be closer to major league ready.

However, I have been wrong before.

 

[element1286]

Actually I don't think Alvarez was an overwhelming consensus, pretty sure it was a toss up between him and Posey. But Alvarez was supposed to have more power and be closer to major league ready.

However, I have been wrong before.

There was a consensus of about 3-4 guys at the top of that draft, I know Hosmer, Alvarez, and Posey were in there, it was a consensus in that as long as you took one of those guys it was a good pick.

 

[Illinest]

Alvarez wasn't the consensus top talent - i remember posey had plenty of fans - but he was the consensus best choice for the pirates.

Alvarez was set apart from the rest by virtue of his power potential and perceived upside, and in the wake of the Weiters debacle any other choice would've been perceived (fairly or not) as more of the Pirates being cheap. Posey wasn't thought to be as necessary due to the presence of Paulino and Doumit. Bautista was not percieved as a good solution at 3B and the minors was barren of 3B prospects at that time.


In other news - Cole missed his bullpen session and Searage had "no comment" about it.

Maybe Burnett wasn't a luxury? Gee willikers!

 

[Illinest]

Shoulder discomfort.

We're fucked.

 

[thecrow124]

Shoulder discomfort.

We're fucked.

2nd.