Hump Day Pirates Q&A

6-21-23 – By Gary Morgan – @garymo2007 on Twitter

Couple things here, first I thought since the Pirates played in the afternoon, and it’s the end of another sweep to a division foe, I’d just wait and do this one in the evening. You know, in case it spawned some extra questions.

I’ll also apologize in advance, there were very many Andy Haines questions. I’ll have a few in here that I feel represent them all, no hard feelings if you’re isn’t one, I hope I catch you in the answer.

Question 1

With the call up of Henry wondering what their first day consists of. I’m not meaning hitting/fielding practice. I’m sure they may have meetings with coaches and such. Also, does the team put them in a hotel? Bunk with a teammate? If call up is on the road they obviously go to the team hotel, but what about when at home park? – Drew Caryll

Hi Drew, interesting question, and one I won’t be able to definitively answer. First, it’s obviously different for a 1:1 or an MLB Top 100 type, just from the requirements aspect. Press conferences don’t happen for everyone for instance. Might not even take a picture of the locker for some.

As to the hotel, I know that’s an option because Liover Peguero stayed in one last season. Truthfully I just don’t know, maybe a teammate takes him in, maybe it’s a corporate loft situation they have set up, I’ve never even thought to ask players about this so I’ll make it a point next time.

Good stuff, this was fun.

Question 2

What do you think our record would’ve been so far if we stayed healthy the whole season? – O’Neil Cruz Simp on Twitter

I suppose I could just say better, but that’s too easy.

I guess I could do the WAR game and add up the Zips projected numbers for each player and then try to figure out all the guys who played but wouldn’t have if not for the injuries, but man, that just feels exhausting.

Instead, I’ll just focus on what I feel hurt the most, Cruz (of course I know) and Brubaker. I highlight those two for the collateral damage their losses created. Short stop is still a mess honestly, Marcano has steadied it, but as his bat slowed so did the interest in his average SS play. Castro had to play a stretch at a position he can’t play, and it certainly wasn’t pleasant to watch. Bae there, yeah, don’t get me started. None of that even discusses the plate, where the offense had no answer for what was to be such a huge piece.

The rotation needed the not too high, not too low steadiness that JT Brubaker can bring. He ate innings, could sprinkle in a great effort often enough and would have stretched this whole thing out.

On the other hand, Oviedo probably would have waited for a shot. I actually think it’s good we’ve gotten to see this much of these three middle infielders, because before too long we’re probably going to add in a few more and we’ll have that playing time to compare it to.

Same with Youngsters like Ortiz, Bido, Oviedo, Bolton, Mlodzinski, Yerry, in many ways, without the injuries, I’m not sure how much of this we see, and I really do place value in that.

Would they have a few more wins, maybe, but a whole lot of what’s here still might be sniffing around anyway. I’ll say 5 games better just to give you some kind of guess.

Question 3

Will Bednar be traded before the deadline? Zero reason to have an elite closer on a team that is going nowhere. – Patrick Ferrell

I sincerely doubt it. I understand why you ask it, and honestly, it might be smart to do, but I don’t think so, not with this much control and so few real lynch pins they’ve discovered.

The PR shouldn’t play in on this but it kinda has to at this stage of the build. The idea being next year they’re more in it, and he’s just got so much team control left, yeah, I can’t see it right now.

Thing is Patrick, personally, I might be tempted. He’s got a ton of value, and since the alternatives are probably to either extend him a couple years beyond arb, which is always risky with a reliever, ride his arb which could get costly and end right in the middle of things heating up is on the table I guess. I’d hate to see them move him in 25 or something. Really might need another top line pitching prospect and or even a steady MLB ready made contributor and he’s the only currency getting it.

Still, I don’t think that’s in their plans.

Question 4

Did the early good start unfairly raise expectations for a team that is still in the middle of a build? – James Littleton

Who we talking here James? Fans or the Players?

Cause if it’s the players, I think its fair to say they’re pretty good at knowing what they are and what they’re capable of.

For fans, hell yes it did, and it raised the expectations for what in the actual hell could be done too. It erased almost every signing the Pirates made this offseason, even the ones that seemed to be one too many in spots. All flipped on it’s head so it looks instead like he was morbidly unprepared for the season.

At the end of the day James, when the Pirates were 20-8 and I kept getting asked if I would change my prediction from 74, I always declined. The start (even still) gives them a chance to outperform that, but it’s slipping fast.

Question 5

What value could be brought back from the middle infield log jam with the exception of Cruz? Could Castro, Bae, Marcano, and some pieces at triple and double A teams being back controllable arms? – wvsteve on Twitter

I suppose I’d look at them like Sosa who was traded from the Cards to the Nats last year. He was kinda the toss in MLB “help” part of their deal. So you kinda have to find a team looking for guys who’ve shown an MLB floor and hopefully some upside, like the Pirates did when trading Gerrit Cole to the Astros.

If you’re looking for this year help, a reliever, maybe a reliever they’d be interested in flipping to the rotation? A bad contract with one as a throw in to get them to eat more of it.

I don’t see anyone straight up coming for them if you know what I mean.

That said, are you comfortable you know what Castro is? How about Bae? Marcano we’ve seen for parts of a couple seasons, so maybe he’s more clear. I’d hate to just toss a guy who could pop 25 at this level, even if he is a platoon guy.

I honestly think you’d get more help this year with some control by moving a Peguero or Gonzales, but if you do that, it better be for 3 or 4 years of a guy.

Question 6

Who replaces Andy Haines as Hitting Coach if/when he is dismissed? Short term and long term. – Voice from the Graves on Twitter

A big part of me doesn’t care. If in fact he’s in charge of the plan, and the plan is indeed implemented all through the system, I’d figure most any of the MiLB hitting coaches from AA or AAA like Jon Nunnally “should” already be preaching from the same Bible and at this point, I’ll settle for someone new in MLB for guys to turn to. Clearly Christian Marrero and Haines at the very least aren’t helping guys execute what their plan is supposed to look like.

At least on an interim basis I’d move on from Haines, bring up Nunnally and see if just changing the speaker fixes something. If not, go get someone who knows a better method, cause this ain’t it.

In fact, some of this speaks to another question from JW – If Haines runs the hitting philosophy throughout the system, why does it seem the approach of hitters is different in MLB, than MiLB? Or is it the same approach just the pitching is way too good in MLB vs. MiLB for this particular approach to work?

For one thing in the minors if you sit on a zone and a pitch type, you just might get it, and more than once on a given night. So there’s that.

That said, the broad strokes of this plan aren’t horrible, the implementation is.

Broad strokes: Be patient, swing at your pitch, swing with purpose.

What it’s turned into is: Walk or strike out.

I think your last point there is brilliant, but I think as I was saying to Graves there is something to be said for being able to help a guy come out of a struggle and stick to it for a while. At least some guys hit in the minors right?

Long story short, I’m just not sure you can point to anyone you’d say is thriving. In a season and a half. I think it’s time to admit a mistake and move on. Poach one next year.

Question 7

Will it be harder to call up Endy to the majors given that it doesnt seem like they are willing to move on from Hedges? Seems a bit more complicated with Henry Davis up here now. – John on Twitter

I feel like they’d have to move on from one of the catchers. Let’s start there.

If only to ensure they both get the at bats they need, room needs made. This issue for Endy gets muddier with Choi rehabbing.

He could come back on 7-1 and I think they need an opening at first base too to make this work.

If I had to guess, unless he gets torrid, we’re talking after a trade or two is made. I’d also be expecting “Team Player Hedges” to have an IL trip if and when they kinda sorta want to see a kid back there.

I believe they truly do value the catching position, but at some point they will do what must be done.

Question 8

How much of the blame for the current state of the team lies with the organization’s player development program? – Kenny

As a franchise? Lots of it.

For this management group, hard to say, probably too early to hand them much of it quite yet. That said, the clock just started ticking harder with the callups of Davis and Mlodzinski. Toss in the other kids they had here young like Bae, Castro, Suwinski, Keller, Cruz, and I guess you could say it’s mixed.

Probably have to be a bit more patient to really know with this group.

Question 9

If you could make 3 changes on the team (roster, coaching, etc.) what would they be? – Schappy

Well Schapp,

1. Fire Andy Haines and promote Nunnally
2. Purposefully, small ball runs across the plate. Get on Bunt, move em over, remember how to score, then add to it.
3. Get Santana down in the order in any way possible.
4. And one more, if Cutch or Reynolds are even kinda hurt, IL and get it over with before it turns into a problem.

Question 10

At what point will Cherington be on the hot seat? – SPorts Corner

Not anytime soon. That’s just the truth. He’s had 2 draft picks make the league, and there’s just absolutely no way he has any heat on his position yet. Trust me, he told Bob and Travis the plan, and despite the start in 2023, this is very much so the plan.

Question 11

Thoughts on Moreta – Caitlin

He’s kinda got a history of being wild, so I’m not shocked to see him struggle with it a bit now. Overall, I think he’s been a terrific find, and I think they’ll get him through it. We saw them just about bench him earlier in the season to work on some things, could see that again soon.

Has a very unique pitch though, those kind of guys either get consistent and stick or flame out like Kyle Crick. We’ll see.