Hump Day Pirates Q&A

7-19-23 – By Gary Morgan – @garymo2007 on Twitter

When you look at your team as currently constructed and pretend you just got back from Germany and are looking at the roster for the first time, you don’t know the record, you don’t know how inept they look at the plate, my guess is on paper, you’d think something like, finally, this looks like a better roster.

You might even think they should score some more runs.

Yeah, kids take time, yeah, some of the vets weren’t ever as impactful as we saw early on, but the talent level should not be producing the weak and dead man walking looking efforts we’re seeing.

Ask for a bunch of questions when the team stinks out loud and it’ll look something like this….

Question 1

Which guys do you think the Pirates will move at the deadline and which ones will they keep around? – PGH Commenter on Twitter

This is tough, for a couple reasons. First, I don’t think they have much left to call up in 2023. I mean, you could bring Bae, Castro, Andujar, CSN, Mitchell back but that won’t really be what you want to see at first base.

I don’t think they’ll move Cutch, and both sides of that have been so vocal about their wink and nod deal, it just doesn’t seem likely.

The other side of this, I’m not sure who would want what the Pirates have for sale. Hedges probably doesn’t have a market, Choi has barely played (which is a whole other question for this team since he appears to be one of the few swinging his bat), but I suppose there could be a buyer or two. He is a professional bat.

Santana could get some interest, but not to be a starter.

Rich Hill is probably the biggest chip, but honestly, I just don’t know if they can afford it with the regression of Ortiz and Contreras coupled with all the injuries. If he got you a return like Quintana did though, maybe you have to just do it.

If someone really wanted Connor Joe he could probably be available, but I doubt they’re shopping him aggressively especially with 1B in 2024 being murky at best.

I’ll be honest, I just don’t know. There aren’t any big ticket guys I think they’d move. Meaning, Keller isn’t getting moved, Bednar isn’t getting moved (I know this is a popular topic but zero chance, right or wrong).

We’ll just have to sit back and watch this one. I haven’t heard one solid rumor. Just wishful thinking from markets that think bottom teams owe them their talent and only like a week and a half out, that tells me the landscape is at the very least not focused on Pittsburgh.

I certainly don’t see any moves to bolster the 2023 club, that ship has sailed on the drifting sea Shelton is operating.

If they were smart (and, they haven’t shown us that) they’d move pieces to address holes they know they’ll have in 2024, but those opportunities take a whole lot of circumstantial things including want to from other teams.

Question 2

What do you make of Bryan Reynolds and his struggles this season? Should there be cause for concern? – JGOR492 on Twitter

Yes John, I think if you aren’t concerned you probably didn’t care in the first place. He flat out isn’t playing good baseball. At the plate, the really frustrating thing is seeing him do exactly what he did in 2020.

His stance is wide and it’s robbing him of power and plate coverage. He’s patient to a fault, exacerbated by a hitting coach who preaches patience as his primary weapon system. He’s trusting to a fault, meaning he trusts umpires to see the strike zone exactly as he does, which next to none of them do.

Look, there’s a good player in there, he’s shown us that, but I also think he’s a player who needs coaching to keep him from getting trapped in his own head.

This is just my opinion, I’m prefacing this because this is a player I’ve written on with some real sourcing and real inside knowledge before and I don’t want it confused that I’ve come up with this from those sources, but Bryan to me struggles to stay mentally checked in when things aren’t going well around him.

In other words, if the team is humming, I think he’ll be in the thick of it, when the team is down he tends to not be the guy that helps pull them up.

I don’t mean he sulks or whatever, I just mean he’s not a guy who is going to lead a charge, but you’d want him on your right hand side when you do get going.

More than anything, he needs to hear from new people, and to have the pressure taken off his every at bat because others are hitting.

I’d drop him in the order for a while and let him hit his way back up. Cutch has done that in the past, but I doubt Shelton has the courage to push that button.

Question 3

I live in Chicago why should I keep rooting for a team that treats their fans this way? – HercyJerky on Twitter

Well, it’s not my job, goal or intention to convince anyone to be a fan or keep rooting. My personal goal is to just try to have intelligent conversations about baseball.

I assume “treat their fans this way” is basically not winning, unless Ben Cherington was peeing on your lawn last night. If so, that’s entirely up to you.

Personally, I believe in some of the talent that just got here, and I like some of what’s coming. I’ve also openly accepted this journey (rebuild) and openly enjoy the team building process. It fascinates me, so much so I watch other teams and how they go about it too.

Maybe I’m just not the right person to ask here. I’d say be patient, but Pirates fans don’t in general want to hear that, and just because I still believe it’s headed in the right direction despite how poorly they’re playing currently, doesn’t mean anyone else should or has to.

Basically, if you aren’t enjoying it, step away, you won’t be alone coming back if/when they turn it around. That said, you’ve interacted with me enough about this team for me to expect you aren’t going anywhere, just pissed about a team full of kids looking like a horde of zombies.

Question 4

If they were to move on from current manager and/or staff, how much could it set back or help 2024? – FredFye on Twitter

There are two schools of thought. One, stay the course, believe in what you’re doing and who you have doing it. You know, “get better”, the mantra of the last 4 years.

The other is distinctly believing in your talent evaluators and that trust leads you to believe a new administrator could get more out of the horses you bought.

Personally, I don’t think there is much to be set back per se. It’s not like he’s led something that mattered yet.

Heading into an off season with all these kids who will absolutely return and at least get a shot in 2024 to make the club in Spring, each and every one of them will be given an off season plan. You asked what could be a “set back” and this is the best example I can think of. If Shelton and staff stink, and you plan to get rid of them, don’t let them form the offseason plans. Yet, there wouldn’t be time to get a new coach in here and have them evaluate/develop plans for guys.

Probably a bit of a stretch but in an effort to be fair, that’s the issue I see as most relevant.

That said, they hired a former hitting coach who has overseen the longest stretch of piss poor offense I’ve watched in my 45 years of existence. Feels like any set back could be overshadowed fairly easily.

Help? I mean, how much did Hurdle help? Right? Starter coach was replaced for experienced coach who had some success (which sometimes equals buy in) on his resume.

Question 5

Do the Pirates have the same scouting and development people from previous GM’s? Most teams have younger people in these roles. What do you think the reason for lack of very high end -top 5 ranked Dominican players signed each season. They spend to the budget but no top guys – LPBUCCO on Twitter

OK. Let’s start here, Ben Cherington didn’t come in and fire everyone, but he made changes everywhere. They brought in modern tech for development, they brought in development specialists. They also turned the development system over to John Baker, who was a mental skills coach with the Cubs, so it’s a first time gig for him.

As to lack of top ranked Dominican players I’d offer Shalin Polanco and Yordany De Los Santos in the last couple years. Both were top International gets, both are doing well. They’ve also expanded into Asia, and that’s led to guys like Jun-Seok Shim and Po-Yu Chen and even though he predates Cherington, Tsung-Che Cheng.

All of those were top rated international players. You’re 100% correct, this used to be under Huntington more of a quantity over quality endeavor but under Cherington it’s become a yearly event that the Pirates are in on and secure one or two of the top 10-15 guys on the board.

That said, in a market that often has you signing a 16 year old who isn’t even fully grown it’s hard to expect that 3 international drafts in to Cherington’s regime would have any impact as of yet.

For perspective, Oneil Cruz was signed in 2015 by the Dodgers and debuted in late 2021, came up and stuck in 2022. The international market is super important, but Juan Soto is a rarity timeline wise.

The major takeaway on this subject is, Huntington’s success here was almost entirely because of Rene Gayo who was let go in 2017 for receiving improper payments. Even then they were not going after the top of the board as much as nabbing as many as possible and trying to sift diamonds from a ton of sand. Cherington would rather sign 10 good shots. Time will tell which is working better but I like much of what he brought in so far.

Question 6

When Key comes back where does that leave Triolo? He hasn’t hit for a ton of power obviously but is hovering around .300 and is getting on base. I’d like to see him get a shot at 1st now to see if he can be the guy moving forward but I’d be surprised to see them do that – Hernleyt on Twitter

I see Jared as a guy who they can bounce everywhere, and honestly, I think they’ll need that, almost enough to call it a a position.

I’ll also say this, I don’t need to “see if he can be the guy” anywhere, because aside from 3rd, and even that’s close, I think he’s the best defender they’ll have at a given spot, I’m that high on his glove.

That said, this is the type of hitter he is, and while that has a place, if 3B is going to be Hayes, which it is despite silly radio hosts and their click bait, I feel you need power at 1B.

Bluntly though, I don’t know what they’ll do here. Triolo has done nothing to make it seem he can’t stick. When Hayes returns, I think Marcano will go and Jared will stay. Aside from that, hey, I’m here for the show too.

Question 7

Contreras – no bueno. Without pitching the team is going nowhere. Given your insight, what do we really have here and potentially in near future that may help the team really compete? – ZorroRican on Twitter

I love Jared Jones, I think Quinn Priester will eventually find his level, I’m not done with Ortiz or Contreras. Keller and Oviedo both have solidified being part of it at least next year. Even Max Kranick who’s rehabbing from TJ could factor in.

Anthony Solometo looks like a beast, and of course Paul Skenes, and yes, it’s not crazy to think he could be here in 2024.

There’s no denying though, they will absolutely have to sign at least 1 and probably 2 veteran starters.

This is where money really plays a role.

Question 8

Who in your opinion will be the next pitcher called up? – sdgkjsaj on Twitter

If we’re talking just flat out pitching, it could be anyone. Bullpen help is a crap shoot. Colin Selby, who knows. Starters, I think we could see Cam Aldred next, but my wish would be Jared Jones, his stuff will play even if he probably isn’t quite where you want him.

Question 9

Who do you think should be leading off for this team. I don’t think it should be Suwinski but not sure who should. Cutch? Triolo? – Don Jacobsen on FaceBook

What I, and probably you, see as a “lead off type” hitter, likely doesn’t align with what current MLB wisdom sees at this point. Jack with his .348 OBP and 47 walks is only behind Andrew McCutchen at .377 and 49 walks.

Remember that scene form Moneyball? “Because he gets on base!”

That’s the thinking at least.

Now, what would I want? From this mix I think I’d probably lean Triolo. I think he’d set the table well, and in his short sample has a .359 OBP.

People won’t like it, but if Davis keeps doing what he’s doing he’ll find his way up there too based on what this team seems to value in the leadoff spot.

Final answer for me, Triolo. For now.

Question 10

What’s keeping the Pirates from signing Skenes and adding him right to the bullpen or rotation? From all accounts, his stuff is ready right now. – Mike_Illinois on Twitter

Obviously Mike asked this before the signing so let’s just skip past that.

Simple answer, his stuff may very well be ready, but it’s safe to assume they and he don’t feel he has a whole bunch more pitching in his arm for this year. I expect him to do little more than on board this year, maybe throw a few games down the stretch in Bradenton or Greensboro then hit the offseason and get ready.

Paul’s comments at his presser yesterday seemed to reflect that being his expectation too.

If you want the cynical view, which knowing you, you absolutely do. Starting his clock on this dumpster fire so he can hand the ball to Bednar a couple times seems a little unimportant in the greater scheme of things. I’d also say, with the 40-man decisions they will face this Winter, I wouldn’t artificially add one who doesn’t’ need to be on it yet.

If they were somehow still in the playoff race, I still think they’d err on the side of thinking he’s pitched enough this year. If you think fans are worried about taking a pitcher 1:1, you can probably double that for the team execs.

Question 11

Are you still hearing from players that Haines is overloading them with information? That was something you mentioned last season. As a direct result, we are seeing the amount of indecision on pitches because players just aren’t comfortable in what they need to do? – KG_55VFTG on Twitter

Not in the same way, but yes, I’ve heard similar complaints. Even last year, some players really liked and appreciated it.

I can’t name names most of the time, but as he is no longer part of the organization I’ll just go ahead and say one of my best go to’s last year was Bligh Madris. He was an older prospect and raised in a system that at the time simply didn’t use all the tech and analytics so when he got there and started getting pounded with a bunch of stuff he wasn’t thinking about, he felt it was a bit much.

He wasn’t the only one by any stretch, but he’s the only one I can openly mention.

This year, I’ve heard much less of it and from a conversation I had with Jack Suwinski this year, he personally loves it, hell he’d love even more and asks for it. That kid is a studier.

As I see it, Andy Haines is trying to teach people to drive before they know which pedal is which.

For instance, Ji-Hwan Bae probably didn’t need to come up here and be met with launch angle info.

More than anything there simply can’t be one way to do everything, every prospect is a unique teaching experience and I’m not sure Haines has that skill set.

Question 12

Can anyone break down what happened with Roansy? Was there a change in mechanics? Possible injury? I refuse to believe he just sucks all the sudden. – Jeremy Ransom on Twitter

Really, No, including the team.

The only explanation the team has is that he is slow through his delivery. You’d like to think that’s mechanical because if it’s not he just isn’t executing at max speed.

There doesn’t seem to be a dead arm thing here. By all accounts there doesn’t seem to be an injury.

I think it’s fair to say he was trying to carry an innings load he never has, but we also aren’t to the point where you’d expect that to crop up yet.

Mystery, and good teams solve them. They sent him to the lab in the FCL not unlike what the Blue Jays had to do with Manoah. Here’s hoping.

Question 13

What do you make of this nasty rumor that Ke’Bran Hayes (and his old man) want Ke’ to take his talents elsewhere? If true should the organization oblige him? Which team could use him? – TeddyBagODonuts on Twitter

Flatly, nothing.

Spend 20 minutes on Twitter even lightly critiquing Ke’Bryan Hayes and if you’re a fan, writer, journalist, teammate, whatever, Charlie Hayes and Ke’s brother will be there, telling you how little you know about baseball, how lucky you are to have Ke’, how this wouldn’t be a problem if…

All of that supposes that Colin Dunlap is a journalist too, which I don’t feel. Do I believe he talked to Charlie and he said some stuff? Sure. Does it matter or reflect what Ke’Bryan thinks? No and probably no.

Way back in 2020 I wrote a piece about Hayes and expectations for when he got called up, not unlike what I do for most players. It was optimistic, but realistic. Essentially I said he could be very good, but stopped short of believing he would be a transformative bat. My DM’s were filled to the gills. An absolute nobody writer who was just getting started had a Major League player in my DM’s blasting me like I wrote for USA Today or something.

If I were a radio host, I think I could come up with a topic or two from it. Feel me?

As to which team could use him or should they move him, I truly doubt they’ll even consider it, yet, IF this was true. A team that is stacked offensively and just wants to sure up their infield and bet they can get more out of his bat would be the target. I’m not seeing anything obvious anyway.

Also…

This morning Ke'Bryan Hayes addressed the report that he's unhappy here: pic.twitter.com/gdubfVqbT4

— Jason Mackey (@JMackeyPG) July 19, 2023

Colin Dunlap is a joke. When I see stuff from him I assume it’s crap and work my way backwards.

Question 14

Why did the Pirates dfa Travis Swaggerty? Is there something behind the scenes that we don’t know? – Buddy Turney

Travis is almost 26 years old, drafted out of college in 2018 10th overall, it just hasn’t happened. He’s been injured, he’s had strange illnesses, his family has also had a litany of awful situations to deal with.

I don’t hate the kid, or even think he can’t ever care out a niche for himself at the MLB level, but the 40-man is a capped bucket, and when you get to this stage all 40 need to have a realistic chance to contribute either in the current year or bare minimum, early on next year.

The truth is, he’s never been impressive in his minor league career. Take all the injury stuff, the unfair stuff like COVID season, the family stuff that simply can’t be accounted for and flush it. He just hasn’t hit. Not enough.

Is there something you don’t know? Yes, and I’d assume it’s that the team simply doesn’t think he’s good enough to impact this club.

Further, look at the roster, he has no home. Even if you think his defense does, I’d rather have Bae.

Question 15

Can you see a Dauri Moreta trade by the deadline? And would YOU trade Bednar? – CaliBuccosFan

No I wouldn’t trade Bednar. I think they’ll need bullpen pieces next year and I’m not giving away one of the only ones I trust. Yeah, I know it’s a luxury bad teams don’t need. Yes, I know they don’t use him because of it. I just don’t think this team at this point should be creating questions out of answers.

Now, Dauri, I don’t think so. For one thing, people are dealing for “reliable” bullpen arms, not hit or miss relievers who have developed a strikeout pose and a persona. A team like the Pirates might be interested, but then, how often to two teams out of it find a match at trade time?

I think both of them are here, for now.

Question 16

The Pirates have been shut out 11 times. When veterans such as Cutch and Reynolds are struggling at the plate, is it really as simple as coaching? Or is it possible there’s something more intrinsic or complicated going on that’s not as obvious? – PGHPirateQueen

It’s never just one thing. I blame the hitting coach (more and more as time goes on) because he’s now had almost two seasons worth of roster choices to work with, and while I don’t expect any hitting coach to get through to everyone, I can count on one hand the number of guys who I feel he’s helped, and I’d have to be generous to use my pinky and thumb.

It’s also eerily similar to his time in Milwaukee. And it’s also very close to what Shelton did in Tampa.

All this evidence might be circumstantial, in fact, it is, but at some point it becomes enough to convict.

Even if it isn’t, this roster is right this second chalk full of guys this GM believes will be here for the winning. Lets just say, they aren’t firing all the players, and if they’re wrong about this many players, fold up the friggin’ tent.

It’s interesting you bring up Cutch, because he is one of the very few who are capable of executing Haines system. If you have 9 Cutch’s in a lineup (I know, just go with it), you could feasibly walk in 2-3 runs a game. But that’s the eye of a borderline HOF player, we’re asking Nick Gonzales to do the same.

It doesn’t work because kids by in large don’t have the experience or skill to do it. It can take a good player half a decade to learn how to hit with 2 strikes, this approach demands that proficiency from the jump.

Question 17

Would you consider locking Vince Valesquez up before he officially hits FA again? Sign him for two years to get him through rehab and tack on a team option. It really seems like something was unlocked with him before his injury. – Brian O’Donnell

It’s really rare to see a guy who starts the season on the IL sign a deal. Bluntly Brian, even if he would be willing, we really should have our sights set higher than that in 2024. They’ll enter next season with Keller and Oviedo as virtual locks if things hold true here. Then a host of maybes like Contreras, Ortiz, Jones, Priester, Solometo, Kranick, and even Skenes before too long.

I’d prefer they go get two vets and one of them on a longer (2-4 year deal) so we don’t have to play musical rotation every year.

Vince would be a fine addition to the bullpen or spot starting, but I certainly wouldn’t make it a priority. He’s the type and in the situation where he’ll be around even as the season is starting.

Again, I don’t hate the idea, I guess I just hope they’re past that sort of hope signing, honestly, they kinda need to be.