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2016 Pirates thread

Punxsutawney said:
I do not know what you suggest they should have done, given that Taillon and Glasnow will be arriving soon.

Even if they wanted, they could not outbid anyone for Greinke, Price or Kashmir. Even Happ got a ton of money for a guy who had only two good months in three years.

The bigger issue for me right now is that neither Cole nor Liriano are pitching up to expectations. Not even remotely so at this point.
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Cole is probably disinterested because the pirates are kinda yanking him around. I don't see us keeping him. Liriano seems to be really good or really bad not much in between. The pirates have had fits luck with fixing pitchers, but at some point that runs out. Some guys are just better than others and if they don't spend money or bring in talent you see what we have now. Hopefully the young guys can come up and solidify things. We also need bullpen help...
 
Punxsutawney said:
I do not know what you suggest they should have done, given that Taillon and Glasnow will be arriving soon.

Even if they wanted, they could not outbid anyone for Greinke, Price or Kashmir. Even Happ got a ton of money for a guy who had only two good months in three years.

The bigger issue for me right now is that neither Cole nor Liriano are pitching up to expectations. Not even remotely so at this point.
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How about spend some ******* money for a change. This team was pretty close last year and what did they bring in? Niese, Vogelsong, Jaso and Friese. 4 players that no one else really wanted.
 
jitter77 said:
Cole is probably disinterested because the pirates are kinda yanking him around. I don't see us keeping him. Liriano seems to be really good or really bad not much in between. The pirates have had fits luck with fixing pitchers, but at some point that runs out. Some guys are just better than others and if they don't spend money or bring in talent you see what we have now. Hopefully the young guys can come up and solidify things. We also need bullpen help...
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Cole's agent is Scott Boras. That means the Pirates have zero chance of ever signing him.
 
Can the pirates blow a 9 run lead..the suspense is killing me
 
Hurdle should have benched Polanco's as in the middle of the inning for that half assed effort on the triple by the pitcher.
 
What's more confusing about the Buc's going after Niese was the Buc's going after Vogelsong. He's terrible.
 
Might be the only team in MLB capable of spotting the lowly Braves 7 in the first inning, scoring 12 overall and making the game a nail biter...
 
Liriano, Volquez and Happ were also terrible before we got them. We think we can fix pitchers.
Might not have to do it for much longer, since talented arms are coming from farm system.

But I predict the Pirates will disappoint and only bring Taillon up in June. I think Glasnow and Kuhl come up next June.
That actually could bring Boscan up to be a long reliever, since I don't think they have long-term plans for him to be in
rotation. They will sign a reliever or two at the trade deadline.
 
21STEELERS21 said:
Liriano, Volquez and Happ were also terrible before we got them. We think we can fix pitchers.
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The common element to all three - and Burnett as well - was the fact those guys deal 94-97 mph and had a FIP waaaay below their poor ERA's. That meant the guys were going to be better after the Pirates obtained them, and had stuff to make them legit starting pitchers on a playoff team.

Niese reminds me of those endless garbage nibblers that David Littlefield obsessed over - Maholm, and Gorzellany, and Duke, and Youman, and Mark Redman, and Dave Williams, and Sean Burnett, and on and on and on and on.

Every time I see Niese nibbling the outside corner at 88 mph, I have flashbacks to those ****** pitchers that Littlefield hoarded. God, I hated those guys and when Huntington started drafting kids that threw 97 mph and targeting hard throwers in free agency and trade, it was like a curse was lifted. Niese - just retire.

21STEELERS21 said:
But I predict the Pirates will disappoint and only bring Taillon up in June. I think Glasnow and Kuhl come up next June. That actually could bring Boscan up to be a long reliever, since I don't think they have long-term plans for him to be in rotation. They will sign a reliever or two at the trade deadline.
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The Pirates bring up Kuhl, Taillon and Glasnow this season. Their pitching is freaking dreadful and needs a ****-ton of help. Huntington is not going to give up value for a relief pitcher when he can simply add Taillon and Glasnow to the rotation, move Nicasio to the pen where he deals 98 mph with a killer slider, and uses Kuhl and his 97 mph fastball and knee-buckling slurve as the long man.
 
Everyone keeps talking about the 2 young pitchers that need to be brought up to save the pitching staff. They're friggn rookies. If we have to rely on them to turn it around were screwed. Bottom line is the front office did a ****** job bringing in a bunch of washed up has beens. The window for this team closed last year.
 
How could the window close for this team last year, when their premium pitching hasn't made it to the majors yet.
Their window opens wide next year for a 6 year run at the WS.
 
21STEELERS21 said:
How could the window close for this team last year, when their premium pitching hasn't made it to the majors yet.
Their window opens wide next year for a 6 year run at the WS.
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The Pirates gameplan is to be consistently in contention, rather than loading up for a one or two year shot. It's basically the approach the Steelers and Rats take. Stay in contention, and figure things will break your way a couple of times, resulting in a championship. Since I like to enjoy every season. I tend to prefer this route, as opposed to selling out for a title, and then falling out of contention as the price paid for taking a short term approach. Obviously, the worst outcome is when a team takes the short term approach and fails. No title, and then crappy ball down the road. The Milwaukee Brewers come to mind.
 
21STEELERS21 said:
How could the window close for this team last year, when their premium pitching hasn't made it to the majors yet.
Their window opens wide next year for a 6 year run at the WS.
Click to expand...

If you are expecting two rookies to ride in and save the day this season, it most likely won't happen. They're rookies.

The Walker for Niese trade is still a head scratcher. I've watched the Mets for years because the Mrs. is a Mets fan. Niese has never impressed me. He gives up a lot of long balls, has always had a high ERA, and always seems to cool down as the season progresses.

Cole will be gone next year. Boras is his agent and there is no way Nutting/Huntington will agree to his demands. Can't really blame them on this one because Cole will be asking for ace money when he's not really an ace pitcher. He's pretty good, but not an ace. The play in game proved that last year.

Vogelsong is horrid. Nothing much more to say there. Bad pick up. He is certainly no A.J. Burnett.

'Cutch's contract is up after 2017 I think. He is going to want (and deserve) huge money. Not sure management will want to pay that.

Melancon scares the **** out of me every time he comes in. It's never 3 quick strikes or outs when he comes in. Always seems to give up a run or two and make it interesting.

I'm not saying they need to chase after a bunch of free agents. This team is pretty close, but they do need some help with that pitching staff. Need to make a trade for a vet starter.A long ball threat at first would be nice also. I will give Jaso props. He's done better than I expected.
 
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hook said:
If you are expecting two rookies to ride in and save the day this season, it most likely won't happen. They're rookies.

The Walker for Niese trade is still a head scratcher. I've watched the Mets for years because the Mrs. is a Mets fan. Niese has never impressed me. He gives up a lot of long balls, has always had a high ERA, and always seems to cool down as the season progresses.

Cole will be gone next year. Boras is his agent and there is no way Nutting/Huntington will agree to his demands. Can't really blame them on this one because Cole will be asking for ace money when he's not really an ace pitcher. He's pretty good, but not an ace. The play in game proved that last year.

Vogelsong is horrid. Nothing much more to say there. Bad pick up. He is certainly no A.J. Burnett.

'Cutch's contract is up after 2017 I think. He is going to want (and deserve) huge money. Not sure management will want to pay that.

Melancon scares the **** out of me every time he comes in. It's never 3 quick strikes or outs when he comes in. Always seems to give up a run or two and make it interesting.

I'm not saying they need to chase after a bunch of free agents. This team is pretty close, but they do need some help with that pitching staff. Need to make a trade for a vet starter.A long ball threat at first would be nice also. I will give Jaso props. He's done better than I expected.
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Cole was really good right out of the gate in 2013.

Between Taillon, Glasnow and Kuhl, I do not think it is overly optimistic to believe one or two of them can come up and perform better than Niese or Locke right away.

Also, what makes you think Cole is gone next year? He's under contract for three more seasons.

Both he and McCutchen are ultimately gone, but the young pitching and outfield talent in the organization may render both of them expendable by the time those situations arise.
 
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Team's problem is pitching. Plain and simple
 
quietly beating on teams they should....staying within striking distance.
 
I've noticed that too USDA...Didn't want to get too excited and spook them. They are a skittish bunch. :)

I see by today's box score that Cole pitched 5 innings. Gave up 1 run, struck out 5, he did walk 3 and allowed 7 hits. Schugel (there is a household name) comes in for one inning, allows 2 runs, blows the win for Cole and winds up getting the W for his efforts. Baseball is a cruel *****...
 
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hopefully Boscan can keep it up....much needed middle relief.

starting to wonder if hitting Cutch #2 is really working....and he looks distracted or something this season.

Mercer finally starting well at the dish, SRod going off, Jaso working out, Cervelli signs the "I Luv daBurgh" contract.

lots going right so far....if the pitching would just shape up.
 
Bucs are limiting Tallion and Glasnow down on the farms other will have enough gas in the tank should they be called up later in the season.
 
JeffLocke threw a complete game. Something Cole hasn't. Crazy.
 
At the start of the year if you would have been able to look into the future, and see the Pirates ranked the number 2 team in hitting in the MLB in June, you would assume they would be the one atop the NL Central standings. Instead they are 9.5 back with a brutal month ahead.

Sad.
 
Not sure it is all that sad. That hitting is going to be around for a number of years. The pitching is behind because it is in the minors.
I believe Taillon could be up by this weekend. If they remain patient, Taillon might be the only one up before September.

Next year Meadows, Bell, Glasnow and Kuhl will be up in June. They are being set-up by mid-year 2017 to be
one of the best teams in baseball with at least a 6 year run at a championship. The plan could be to have Taillon, Glasnow and Kuhl
at the top of your rotation for 6/7 years, moving Marte to center, Polonco to left and Meadows slipping into right, Bell at first with two coveted
trade chips in McCutchen and Cole to bring in the finishing touches on a Championship team.
 
Get your tickets, Taillon announced as starter Wednesday evening against the Mets.
 
Planned on going to Wednesday night for awhile now, this makes it even better.
 
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