3-1-25 – By Gary Morgan – @garymo2007 on X
It’s been quite a while since I’ve done one of these. It hasn’t stopped questions from coming in, but with actual games being played again, and real player news cropping up daily, it’s time to get back on the horse and see what yinz are pondering.
Sincerely, some really thoughtful questions this time. I say it almost every time I write one of these, but the depth of some of these shows that no matter how disappointed this team has made many of their fans, those of you who still have questions are deeply thinking about things. And I love it.
Let’s Go!
Question 1
I can see Endy needing some time in Indy to get consistent ABs and feel completely comfortable with his arm recovery. Is there any real value in Henry being in Indy? Seems he really need ML ABs to sink or swim. – Ed Fleming
What’s the ideal placement for Henry Davis and Endy Rodriquez, MLB vs. AAA action, to start the season? I go back and forth about what would be more beneficial for the former especially. – Nick Cammuso
Yeah Ed, I was just thinking about Endy the other day, and honestly, as much as they featured him in their social media stuff after pitchers and catchers reported, I thought sure they were going to really see a lot of him.
Not so much though, although, it’s super early. I think the thing that most fans have discounted with Endy is that he tore the cover off the ball in 2022, then didn’t in 2023 even though he earned a promotion, it was later in the season than the team intended, largely based on the fact that Henry Davis hit his way right past him.
Defensively he was good, but anyone who says he hit his way on the team in 2023 or whatever is rewriting history.
And before I go too far here, I love the kid and think he’ll make it back and produce. I’m only saying, this isn’t some proven out commodity working his way back, it’s a kid who still needs to prove himself and there’s a more crowded field of players to do it in now than there was in 2023.
I think it would be wise to start him in AAA and let him get back to hitting the baseball.
Now, onto Henry. I don’t know if I want to take it quite that far yet. Like, do I think he’s polished? No, I don’t. Do I think he could get more polished in AAA? Well, he did just change his swing. He looks comfortable with it, but we’ll have to see how Spring plays out.
On the AB front, I think the role of backup catcher on this club could and probably should be more of a 4-3 or 5-2 split of playing time. Joey Bart has never handled a full season of work himself, and assuming his bat remains something you feel you must keep in the lineup I still think you’ll be looking at 4 starts being a fairly typical number in a week for Bart.
If Henry and Endy are both catchers only, as the team has indicated is the working assumption right now, to me you can’t have both of them on the same team and expect the at bats to balance. Not yet anyway, and not without position flexibility.
I also happen to believe Henry is the best defensive catcher of the 3, so there’s that. Again, right now, if Endy does the work he can easily take that mantle back in time.
Question 2
Based on some BC comments, it seems Pham and Frazier’s strength is putting winning as top priority. Pham sounds to hold others accountable. Is this suggesting that winning wasn’t the main goal before? And how much can a couple veterans change the culture in the clubhouse? – Matt Harrison
I’ll add to this thought process before I answer. Bryan Reynolds made quite the deal about his intention to be more outspoken in the room this year. Wants to be the guy who says something when it needs said.
Now, I add that in because while Bryan is an observant guy, he’s not a guy who is necessarily looking to come out of his shell. The Bryan you see in interviews is by all accounts (some much closer than others) the Bryan everyone sees almost all the time.
He’s a lead by action type, so for him to mention this, well, he might as well have told you what the coaches and likely GM have impressed on him they’d like to see from him, you know, what with owning the team’s riches contract extension and all.
I think what it’s suggesting is they don’t feel they developed any of those types internally and the ones who might be are too young to be heard by everyone in the room.
Say what you want about Pham, lord knows I think they could and should have done better here, but he is never afraid to air it out. If he doesn’t think you’re hustling, you’re going to know about it, and so is the local media, and the coaches, and anyone sitting near the dugout, and… well, you get the point.
That’s going to rub some guys wrong, but as long as it stirs up some emotion, the theory is it does the trick to shake up the room and escape the seemingly week long funks they go into.
I have never heard anyone suggest Adam Frazier was one of those guys. Doesn’t mean he isn’t, just means I didn’t hear it, and I had just started writing really, why would I?
So, let’s suppose that he too is a say something type guy. There’s that. One thing he is though, a guy who really wanted to come back and started trying as soon as his contract expired in San Diego.
That’s probably something chalked up to desperation or lack of offers to most, and honestly, to me too, but it’s verifiable that he did indeed try to come back before this year. Maybe the thinking there, and I’m totally making this up as a thought exercise more than anything, here’s a guy who was here when we started this whole thing, and he wants to come back. He can explain to the youngsters here now the difference in where the team was back when he was one of the kids vs now. Walking, talking proof they’ve progressed as a team. Ya know?
I think what they learned last year was having the coaches and executives and players all repeat the “we’re ready to win” mantra all offseason last year wasn’t enough and it certainly wasn’t enough at the locker room level.
The coach isn’t a table tosser, so they signed a cheap one who can play Left Field.
Question 3
Now that we’ve added another lefty, what do you think our starting five will look like? – Wilbert Matthews
Mitch Keller, Paul Skenes, Jared Jones, Bailey Falter, Andrew Heaney are the 5 we’re talking about here, and early on the order might have more to do with planning out who gets the opening day start against the Yankees.
Like, they have 7 games before the Home Opener. So say you go with what I put up there, Keller gets the Opener and Jones gets the Home Opener. Maybe that’s ok, but I bet you want to get Skenes in one of those, so you could see them go something like Keller, Heaney, Skenes, Falter, Jones potentially. that would have Keller go on opening day and Skenes get the home opener plus it splits the lefties up which could help keep lineups off balance.
That’s about the only intrigue if you ask me, this starting 5 barring injury in my mind is set.
Question 4
Would be interested to learn how SPs manage their offseason. The only innings pitched that “count” are regular season although I assume there are different philosophies to either stop or slow down after a season and then ramp back up again to have optimal endurance. – Ryan Macaluso
We’ve had Eric Minshall from the the Ohio Baseball Science Academy on our show several times. So, I can at least tell you I’ve asked the same questions, and I’ve asked experts.
The truth is, every guy is different and so is every organization. If anything, I can maybe use ranges to answer this one.
Most guys shut down throwing for anywhere from 2 weeks to a month.
Most guys have a plan. Adding a pitch means you have to add full exertion throwing into the mix a bit earlier. Trying to add velocity, you’re throwing a ton building mechanics and crafting a delivery over time and repetition.
I can tell you this team is very involved. That doesn’t mean they can’t go off and work independently, but when they do, it’s almost always with the team at the very least being kept in the loop.
For instance, Carmen Mlodzinski didn’t show up in February and find out he was going to be stretching into a starter, that was communicated and planned for in the offseason, so his plan was probably far different than it was last offseason for Carmen.
Again, this franchise does a lot wrong, but they have Dewey Robinson, Brent Strom and Oscar Marin a phone call away, you aren’t going to stray too far when you have that at home.
Question 5
I have been listening and looking for evidence of our new hitting coach’s efforts. Have you noted anything? Players worked on their own a lot which seems good. – Douglas Smith
There have been some noticeable swing changes, and some guys who look like they have a bit different of an approach, but not much.
I haven’t even seen him formally interviewed this Spring yet. Not for anything in depth anyway.
Part of me is actually happy. Maybe he’s one of the few hitting coaches who don’t think they’ve invented “the way”. Maybe we’re not hearing a lot of it because he’s not doing a lot more than letting guys have more space to be themselves. You know, like maybe he’s trying to just let them deprogram a bit so he’s not building on rotten joists.
I don’t think his MO is to stand there and adjust your elbow, and shout mantras. I think he’s more of a go play baseball, I’ll watch the video and if we need to talk we’ll talk type.
The only sign I can see that Haines is gone is nobody is going out of their way to praise someone actively not doing a good job from the dugout. Well, maybe that and Jack swinging at a first pitch strike.
Question 6
Gary – why must we suffer with the ineptitude of this owner and his minions? That really is the 64 thousand dollar question. All else is window dressing, hyperbole, and subterfuge. – Golf Patriot
It’s funny how 64 thousand dollars doesn’t sound like very much, certainly not a grand prize.
I mean, first, you don’t have to suffer with anything like that, you choose to. And you know why you choose to? Because you like baseball.
I’ve said this a billion times, but a new owner at best gets you a team that spends every cent they can and you’re Milwaukee. The owners sucks, the league itself sucks, but I love the game of baseball.
I love the game, I love the building aspect, I love the levels, the roster decisions, the positional challenges, the quirks of certain players, and damnit, I love my Pirates.
I don’t ignore all the BS, I just don’t focus on it. Largely because I think you could go without a GM for the next 3-5 years and win a lot of games. But also because until this league changes, the team in this market is only has so much room a new owner could bring.
If it brings you misery, don’t watch. I get it. Just don’t ask me to join you or see it the same way, I never will.
Question 7
Do you think Gorski and Suwinski can supply this team some much needed power this season and what percentage chance do you give them to make the opening day roster? – James Littleton
I mean, I’m open to it, and I’d have to imagine so are they.
Suwinski has an excellent chance, and he’s had the kind of early Spring he has to have, but he needs to run through the tape. If the team does in fact make another addition as has been reported, I’d imagine this changes, but Suwinski has to be the leader in the club house for the 4th outfielder and I’m sure they hope he takes over 3rd. They’ve also handed him a first base mitt so I’d imagine they think he has a role here.
Gorski has a hill to climb. Not on the 40 man, and next year he’ll be a MiLB free agent, so much like Bligh Madris, I could totally see Gorski staying hot in the minors and getting a use it or lose it call this year.
You know I have a soft spot for Gorski too.
Question 8
When should fan expect to see the 1st round of cuts to the major league camp roster? – Voice from the Graves
I’d expect to start seeing some as early as tomorrow. There’s no reason to risk anything on some guys like Griffin for instance, Johnson, maybe even Harrington or Ashcraft. Sunday afternoon feels like where some of that should start.
Nothing that should surprise anyone I’d wager though.
Question 9
Gary, after 3 relatively productive power seasons in the minors do you think Gorski deserves a “shot” at First while Horwitz heals. It almost seems Shelton has him on the black list and would prefer a Frazier or Triolo there as a fill in. – Mike Petrosky
Gorski is kinda like a pack of crackers you keep in the pantry for eons. If you ever open them, you have to be pretty desperate, and when you do, you might just find out they were stale and then they’re just garbage you held on to for no reason and you have a bad taste in your mouth.
In many ways, Matt Gorski makes a ton of sense, like I told James earlier in the Q&A, it’s a use him or lose him year. If you’re going to try, well, try. That said, you might want to see if this carries into his regular season. He’s done this before, like a lot. Horwitz isn’t going to miss a whole lot of regular season time I’d bet, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a hole for Gorski. Like James noted, they sure do need the power.
Question 10
Kyle Nicolas has 4 walks in 3 ip. Control was a big issue for him last yr. I like him long term but would it be smart to sign a vet RP and let him start in Indy? – Adam Yarkovsky
I don’t think they necessarily need to sign another vet reliever to make this happen, I also don’t think it’s an issue that’s going to go away in another level. In some ways he’s an effectively wild pitcher and that either improves or you turn into Yohan Ramirez. He isn’t a guy who is going to get hit often, and you’re right about the control issues, I’m just not sure it outweighs what he does do.
When he’s at his worst he can obviously not be counted on, so if anything, until proven otherwise, you have to have a really short leash with him.
I have no issue with him starting in AAA though, if they think they have 8 more ready, cool by me. Even if 4 of them wind up being lefties.
Question 9
Even though spring numbers you gotta take with a grain of salt. Do you see anything promising with the small sample size? – Neal Kokiko
I mean, you said it, barely any numbers period.
I’m impressed by Jack Suwinski, he looks better, more relaxed, less predictable in what he’ll take or take a hack at. Henry Davis looks like he’s made some very productive changes this year. Love what I’ve seen from Henry so far, both at the plate and behind it.
Question 10
Will the change in hitting instruction translate into fewer called third strikes and a more aggressive approach at the plate? – John Hoover
I mean, it’s early to suggest you can see any kind of trend really, but individually with guys who’ve really struggled with that aspect of things, I think the early signs are good. Like I mentioned in 9 today, Jack and Henry look much different, relaxed even and Jack just keeps producing no matter which side of the mound you throw from.
This is impossible to answer. Even if they’re a lot better, how much is because they’re all a year older vs rid of Haines? Ya know? I I’m no fan of Haines, I’m just saying we need to start hearing those stories of players crediting him and stats to pile up and prove out the truth.
Question 11
Is there a chance that we see Nick G. at short more than one might expect? – Timstrader
I think he could well serve as the backup there. The thing is they just don’t have a lot of natural solutions. I’d love to think Liover Peguero would figure things out, but he makes a ton of errors for a guy who isn’t carrying or at least showing thunder in the stick.
At some point this team needs to invent a way to carry both Nick Yorke and Nick Gonzales on the same team. I think they’re both MLB bats, and they can’t afford to leave many of those in the minors for something as silly as position preference. IKF is going to start there, I have little doubt, but if he hits the way he always has prior to early last year, yeah, I think we could wind up seeing a lot more Nick Gonzales.
Triolo is also a potential option, but as slick as he is in the field, that’s the one place they haven’t seemed all that interested in using him.
Question 12
Help me make sense of Frazier. Is it only to avoid sitting a young player? When Horwitz returns, there’s even more of a logjam. York, Cook, Jack, all the NRI’s, let alone, Davis and Endy.
Another. What do you see happening with LHP in the rotation? Will they continue with 1 year deals? People like to pencil in Bubba and Oviedo, but I can’t see that. Need LHP plus change from all power pitching. They’re ok for now, but decisions are coming. – Michael Hall
Well, I’m really happy you asked two, because I can’t help you with the Adam Frazier signing, it doesn’t make sense to me, even in that context.
Falter is under team control through 2028 via arbitration, so it’s fair to say until he gets pushed out of the rotation, he’s a LHP they have under team control for years to come yet.
After this year, I’d be shocked to see them need or want to sign any starter. Now you toss in a TJ or two and we’ll talk, but this team should have plenty of SP for the next few years.
I’m not a big believer in Anthony Solometo, but we’ll see. Hunter Barco is the next big internally developed lefty on the way and he’s a late 2026 or 2027 guy.
Long story short, if Falter, um… falters, yeah, they’ll probably sign a one year stop gap type.
I’d add, they’ve done really well with these little signings.
Steel City Pirates 