8/5/24 By Drew Cagle – @cagles_bagels on X
This past weekend’s series against the Arizona Diamondbacks was filled with ups and downs, slugfests, and low-scoring affairs. Arizona prevailed in the finale by a 6-5 final, serving a critical blow to the Pirates’ postseason hopes and dropping them to 56-55. With only 51 games left to play, time is winding down on the Bucs’ playoff push. Though it was only a 3-game set, there were multiple items that came to the forefront of this series.
Deadline Dynamos
Trade deadline acquisitions Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Bryan De La Cruz look like the right pieces to help this team compete. Not that I’m breaking any news, but both have slid into the top of the lineup rather quickly, and made their presence felt. Kiner-Falefa to the tune of a double, triple, 2 RBIs, and a run scored on Sunday. De La Cruz has been much colder at the plate, going 1-for-14 with a single RBI in his time with Pittsburgh. His glove has been decent at worst, and his arm in right field is a cut above any other outfielder on the team. I have confidence that his bat will heat up. After all, he’ll be starting nearly every day as the team’s right fielder.
High-leverage bullpen changes
Sunday’s losing pitcher, Colin Holderman, has an 18.90 ERA over his last four appearances. That won’t cut it. To me, this was a final straw that it’s likely that one or both of two things is going on with Holderman. One, this isn’t just a bad game or two, it’s a trend. A trend that can’t be what a setup man of a playoff team puts out there. Two, he may be injured, and should be dealt with accordingly if so.
For the frustrated fans calling for him to be designated for assignment: I get it. He needs to be better. The Pirates need him to be a part of a bullpen trio with David Bednar and Aroldis Chapman to get where they want to go. But I’d ask those fans: do you believe that this is just what Holderman is at this point? Is the sub-1.00 ERA reliever who many (including me) were calling to receive All-Star buzz this same season, “dead to you?”
I say all that to say that Kyle Nicolas should be the 7th-inning guy moving forward, with Chapman handling the 8th. If Nicolas begins to falter, or if Holderman regains his form, I’m open to switching things back. But if the Pirates are serious about contending for the postseason, it’s very difficult to see them continuing to trot out a scuffling Holderman in high-leverage scenarios.
Joey Bart, catcher of the future?
I’m ready to have the conversation about Joey Bart as the Pirates’ starting catcher for Opening Day 2025. He could be the long-term answer behind the plate, especially if Henry Davis isn’t able to figure things out himself. Key word: could. I’m not committing major salary to him, but I’ve seen enough of a sample size this season to be a believer. The 27-year old has brought a power element to the Pirates offense that has lacked it for much of the season. An .854 OPS is nothing to take lightly, and he’s a capable defender (above-average caught stealing rate of 23%). Endy Rodriguez, Jason Delay, and Davis will no doubt be competing to be the Pirates’ backstop, but Bart continues to take steps towards locking down that position for 2025.
Oneil Cruz will be fine
I wouldn’t have blamed you if you criticized Cruz’s attention to detail after Wednesday’s 3-error game in Houston. But Friday’s game, let alone the entire series, was proof that you have to take the good with the bad when it comes to Cruz. A 5-for-5 showing where he peppered line drives around the diamond (three over 95 mph) showcased his hit tool (that was also absent against the Astros). While the bad can be pretty rough with Oneil, the good can be a top 15-20 player in baseball. You play that player through their struggles, and let them figure it out.
This team’s resilience is infectious
Friday night’s game may not have ended in the Buccos’ favor, but it was impossible to ignore the fight that the Pirates showed. Battling back from a 5-nothing deficit before taking a single at bat, then coming back to take a 7-6 lead in the sixth. This is nothing new for this team. They have 21 comeback wins, including 4 ninth-inning comebacks. Even if 2024 does not bear fruit in terms of the postseason, Pittsburgh can be proud to have a team that never says die, even when they may be outmatched in talent.
Steel City Pirates 