2015 Pirates thread

[madinsomniac]

I believe we took an Arrietta game to extras this season and won the game, so there is always a chance.

I think we lost it in several extra innings... when Worley blew it

 

[Steelers Rule!]

My god, the announcer jizz was everywhere when Wainright went out to the mound. Second coming of Jesus.

 

[jitter77]

I think we really blew it after the all-star break when I think it was the brewers who destroyed us. The way I look at it arrietta is due for a bad game, hopefully it happens against us. I know we sure cant make stupid baserunning errors. I think we are the worst baserunning team in baseball.

 

[JMM]

Not sure why but they seem to save their worst games for ESPN broadcasts. I might have seen one win this year. Maybe its me and the bad early 1990s mojo still following me around

 

[Sarge]

They rolled over and gave up the division this series. ****. A one game playoff against the Cubs and Arietta. Good luck with that.

 

[swal75]

Not to mention all the injuries that Cards have had you would think that if the Pirates were going to win the division this was the year. Hate to say it but we might have seen the high water mark for this team.

They still should be really good thru the end of Cutch's deal. It's not our fault that we're the second best team in the NL and the best team is in our division. I suspect they can find a 5th starter or convince AJ to go one more year. We should have at least one good pitcher and hitter to come up in June. Marte and Polanco are still fairly young and can break out. Cole still has 4 more years. They also have trade chips. I know we are conditioned to think the worst, but this team has a pretty significant shelf life and has one of the best GMs in sports.

I do kinda think perhaps a 1 and done and another slow start should possibly bring about a consideration of a managerial change. But he's basically had unprecedented success here since Leyland left and they'll give him at least 2 more full seasons.

 

[swal75]

I think we really blew it after the all-star break when I think it was the brewers who destroyed us. The way I look at it arrietta is due for a bad game, hopefully it happens against us. I know we sure cant make stupid baserunning errors. I think we are the worst baserunning team in baseball.

I'll go hide in my parents basement if you want, but Fangraphs has us as the overall 11th best team on the bases in the majors. I'm not 100% sure what the correlation from runs to wins is(I think its 10), but the tigers have literally lost almost 3 games in baserunning(combo of all stats) and we're actually positive for the year.

But I'll gladly cede that you've watched more baseball than I have this year and it's hard to say how good baserunning stats actually are.

 

[hook]

That loss last nite was all on hurdle. Morton NEVER pitches well against the cards. He was horrid in the first and he keep him in there too long to fill the bases for Hayward to clear them with the slam. As soon as that ball cleared the fence I turned the game off.

 

[madinsomniac]

I think we really blew it after the all-star break when I think it was the brewers who destroyed us. The way I look at it arrietta is due for a bad game, hopefully it happens against us. I know we sure cant make stupid baserunning errors. I think we are the worst baserunning team in baseball.

Nope, the sad part is we arent close to the worse baserunning team. Our third base coach is a buffoon, by the way, but regardless MLB team's minor league systems pretty much quit teaching fundamentals a generation ago. the idea was supposedly that this stuff was taught in little league and school ball and it was a waste to spend time with... MLB coaches have always thought it benieth them to tech fundamentals to MLB players... the steroid era whitewashed the issue for years, as poorly taught north american players who masked their flaws with fake power and more international players with shakier instruction came into mlb.

trust me every team is griping about the same lack of baserunning and fielding fundamentals... its epidemic

 

[21STEELERS21]

Not sure why anyone would think Pirates are on downside after this year. They have the strongest top 20
prospect list than they have ever had. Most current starting position players have upsides from 2015 performance.
I would like to see them sign Happ, bring in another free agent arm to fix and see Glasnow in June.
The 2016 rotation could easily be stronger than 2015.

Hanson and Bell could be up next year as well and Alvarez and Walker could be trade options.

In 2017 you could see a rotation that leads with Cole, Glasnow and Taillon. Liriano might be a #4.

 

[Turd Ferguson]

Complete pucker factor when it counts. In three of the last four games they could only muster 1 run. I had to turn off the Card game Monday, three times with the bases loaded with one out and zero runs to show for it. I would love to see the Bucs meet the Cards in the playoffs but not holding my breath.

 

[Steelers1356]

2 straight innings in a row Hurdle didn't bunt the lead off runner down to second in extra innings resulting in double plays.

 

[steelermania]

2 straight innings in a row Hurdle didn't bunt the lead off runner down to second in extra innings resulting in double plays.

Bunting is overrated unless it's the pitcher at bat. The stolen base is a better option and it's not that great either unless you have an elite base stealer.

 

[swal75]

Bunting sucks, don't even get me started. Maybe Stewart or Mercer are only people go even consider it with. And they're a no since the Pitcher spot follows soon.

Do we have the Budget to make Happ a QO? I normally wouldn't think it's worthwhile but going 1/15 on him and hoping he rejects may be a decent play. We hopefully only need a bridge starter for one year. I guess it depends on if AJ quits. We love to throw away money on Corey Hart types. Just combine all those 2M misfires into Happ's salary next year. (Admittedly I have not done a deep analysis on Happ's advanced metrics)

 

[steelermania]

Bucs are going to be heading to Chicago if they don't get back on track with the bats. Cubs have won 7 in a row since the Bucs beat them last week.

 

[swal75]

Never mind on the Happ QO thing. Forgot we couldn't do that

 

[Buster]

What happens if the Bucs and Cubs end up tied? How is home field decided?

 

[steelermania]

What happens if the Bucs and Cubs end up tied? How is home field decided?

Season series, which the Cubs won.

 

[clinton]

I cant see this team going into wrigley and beating arrieta. Spacious PNC keeps their power in check also. We have to play at home to have any shot at seeing the NLDS. I think both pirates and cubs are chomping at the bit to get at that overrated Cardinal team(Yes, I know they won 100, but they are the 3rd best team in the central right now)

 

[steelermania]

Cubs are already up 3-0 on Milwaukee. Bucs better take care of business today, or they'll be Chicago bound.

 

[Steelers1356]

Another Hurdle head scratcher, pulling Alvarez for Morse with a man on 2nd in the seventh when facing a righty????? If he wants Morse in for defense let Alvarez bat and put Morse in the next inning.

 

[stillerfaninfl]

Bucs win. Host the Cubs on Wed nite at 8 EST.

I must eat crow. I never thought they would get this far and do this well. Figured Burnett was done, Alvarez was still, uh, Alvarez. Made no worthwhile trades nor picked up any decent free agents in the off season. Glad they proved me wrong.

 

[steelermania]

Bucs win. Host the Cubs on Wed nite at 8 EST.

I must eat crow. I never thought they would get this far and do this well. Figured Burnett was done, Alvarez was still, uh, Alvarez. Made no worthwhile trades nor picked up any decent free agents in the off season. Glad they proved me wrong.

Uh, Kang!

 

[madinsomniac]

Today ended a string of me attending Pirate games they lost that stretched back into the 90's... this day will live in my memories for a while... as far as I am concerned this is a team of destiny... they broke my streak!

 

[JMM]

98 wins. Not too shabby. I'm sort of a baseball purist but it would have really sucked to not have a sniff of the post season with that many wins. Wednesday night win or lose no doubt will be another gut wrenching game where at some point I'll question why I still put myself through watching Pirate post season play. Afterall the last time they won the last game of the season, I was in 4th grade, a guy named Pops played 1st base, a Mad Dog played third, there was a cobra in the outfield and a rubber band man would come in and save every win.

LETS GO BUCS!!