Pirates Bounce Back Against Dodgers: (17-8)

4/26/23- By Craig W. Toth – @BucsBasement on Twitter

Last night the game turned into a slugfest. Tonight, it was a pitcher’s duel-in spite of the final score-through the first four innings as Roansy Contreras and Tony Gonsolin both put up zeros across the board; and even after that small ball ruled the day.

In spite of struggles with location at times, Contreras was able to hold the Dodgers hitless through five innings; which is no easy accomplishment.

Eventually a well placed hit by Bryan Reynolds-the man of the hour-and a check/poke swing from Andrew McCutchen would get the Pirates on the board, and in the lead to stay.

Ultimately the scoreboard would show a lopsided victory for your Pirates thanks to clutch hits by Jason Delay and Rodolfo Castro.

News & Notes

  • Prior to tonight’s game there was a roster shuffle, with a question lingering about how a spot on the 40-Man would be opened. Ultimately, it was Tyler Heineman being DFA’d that made everything make sense in the end.
  • Everything is official now. Beginning with the trade request, to comments about his eventual trade request and ridiculous propositions about him holding out or guarantees that he would be a distraction to start the year, Reynolds is here for the foreseeable future.
  • Drew Maggi got his first Major League at bat after 13 seasons, 1155 Minor League Games and 4494 plate appearances. To me this is amazing, but to others it was about a roster spot that guarantees at most a game a week, or maybe 5 or 6 plate appearances.
  • Roansy Contreras has leaned on his slider a lot; and, I mean A LOT! Of his 87 pitchers he utilized his slider an equal amount to his four-seamer; 46% of the time.
  • Jason Delay has surprised in his limited usage. Across 38 plate appearances he is slashing .368/.415/.553.
  • Dauri “Money” Moreta showed back up after a full week off-in a non-pressure situation, and looked pretty good in spite of the homer allowed to Freddie Freeman. Aside from this he struck out 4, and didn’t walk anyone across 2 innings.

Pittsburgh looks to take the series from Los Angeles, as Mitch Keller (2-0/3.64 ERA/1.25 WHIP) takes the bump against Julio Urias (3-2/3.33 ERA/.1.22 WHIP) for the Trolley-Dodgers.

Hump Day Pirates Q&A

4-26-23 – By Gary Morgan – @garymo2007 on Twitter

The Pirates are 16-8. They just lost 8-7 to the Dodgers and the team is in such a good place, go ahead and be mad about it. The players are. They know they gave one away last night, and man what a difference that is from “shower it off”.

Lots of good questions this week, let’s go…

Question 1

So is Andy Haines still a terrible hitting coach? Has he changed his philosophy? Does he simply have better players? The Pirates seem to be having better at bats. The question is why? #LetsGoBucs – Scott Nelson (@Piratefan1970)

All of the above? Honestly, it’s always a little about talent, a little about philosophy and a little about the ability to instruct.

I can only look to a couple things to really say Andy Haines himself is doing a “good” job or “bad” job. For Good, I’ll look at Bryan Reynolds, who chose even with everything going on around him to work with Andy Haines all off season.

On the bad side, I’m still seeing the youngsters, the actual prospects called up seem to struggle to adopt much of what is being taught.

So here’s where I land and it’s much like what I went through with Oscar Marin, when he gets talent, as he clearly has this year, does he know when to get out of the way? Does he know when to step in? Is he helping guys adjust when they’re called up?

I’d say right now, he’s doing more good than bad, but veterans who don’t have a ton of need for him to help them find a swing they’ve come to embrace as an old familiar friend help pull the spotlight away from a struggling Ji-Hwan Bae for instance.

Question 2

This one’s short and sweet. Isn’t it time to promote Davis to Indy? Even if Endy gets cleared 🙏🏼, it seemed much deserved. – Michael Kalafut (@Foot33)

If Endy gets cleared, no. If Endy doesn’t get cleared and it’s just going to be a week or two, no.

Couple things here. AA and AAA in the eyes of this management group are both considered to be a step away from the Bigs. Second, both of these kids legitimately need to catch, not just play, a lot.

Catcher is just not like everywhere else and every pitcher on the Pirates staff will glow about Austin Hedges for 20 minutes if you tee them up. There’s a reason, because all of that stuff most fans don’t care about because they just want a guy who can hit in the lineup, matter far more to everyone who pitches.

That stuff is simply not going to be mastered before either of these kids is called up to MLB. Endy will get the call first, and when he does, expect him to catch maybe 2 times a week, if that. In fact they might carry 3 when he comes up. They’ll work his bat in, allow his play to dictate how much more time behind the plate he gets, but they’ll let his bat decide how much he plays elsewhere.

Davis won’t be much different in 2024.

IF everything goes well and they stay healthy. I’m not saying neither of these guys can catch, but I am saying if you like what this pitching staff has been doing, do understand how much the catcher has to do with it, because they sure do.

Bottom line, the level isn’t as important as what they need either of these kids to do, catch.

Question 3

Any news on the TV deal? That seemed to just disappear. Also who’s next from an extension front? Cruz is obvious but what about Keller or Roansy? LH reliever and RH bench bat seem to be gaps for now. Any thought on how those care addressed? – BishopMemorial (@BishopMemorial)

Will be see more extensions this season with the young core? Or will the Pirates remain in wait and see with some of them? – MZylinski (@MZylinski)

TV Deal is easy, for this year ATT Sportsnet will stick around. I don’t necessarily understand why or how, but that’s what I’ve been told and have seen reported. As to next year, I simply don’t know, but if I had to guess, they will work out something that has no blackouts on the MLB dot com site and find a way to make it so non techies will be able to just plug in a channel and turn it on. Either way, MLB will likely take this over. Regional cable is as dead as disco for sports.

Now, to answer both of your questions about the next extension. Keller is the biggest danger, unless you want to get into JT Brubaker who’s TJ procedure knocks him off the list for now. Keller has 2 years of arbitration left, he’d be my absolute unwavering target. Whether you believe him to be an ace or just a good starter, the Pirates can’t afford to lose something they’d eventually have to go get anyway to make a run. He’s struggled here, he’s learned here, and more than anything, he hasn’t been really good for most of his career. Get in now and get it done would be my advice. 5 years and I think you can feel a lot better about their chances to make this window count.

I’d be fine with anyone else you mentioned there, but Cruz for instance might take it as taking advantage to approach him while he can’t walk, although I already heard rumblings the team was planning to open discussions with him prior to the injury.

Roansy, I’m not sure. Frankly, I’m not even sure he’ll be better than Ortiz or Oviedo by the time all is said and done. And you can’t keep them all. Probably a bit early there, but again, I wouldn’t flip tables if they wanted to.

A little story to help illustrate what educates my thinking here. I was at the game yesterday, waiting in line with a bunch of Dodgers fans. I was talking because I’m that weirdo, and when I said how much the Pirates signed Reynolds for, most of these guys were like “good for you, gotta keep those mid level guys locked up too”.

I mean, there I was beaming with pride that my team finally handed out a 9 figure deal and I was quickly reminded, that’s just called Tuesday to some fan bases.

Bob Nutting has started spending, but there is a limit. We don’t know what it is yet, but reality dictates, you aren’t keeping every player who looks good. Think about it, we don’t even have 1 of Ben Cherington’s number 1 picks on this team yet, in fact, Ke’Bryan Hayes is the most recent top pick on the team. If you spend everything now, what happens to them?

I believe they’ll get some more done, but I also believe they know they have to, and will pace themselves.

Question 4

What’s the outlook on Smith-Njigba? I noticed the late game substitution for him in games he’s been playing. It feels like a message is being sent to him. Is there a chance that the lack of performance leads to a demotion and brings up another OF? – Paul Swan

Should Canaan Smith-Ngiba spend some time at Indy so he can get some AB’s? – Brian Croasmun (@briancroasmun)

Honestly Paul & Brian the message being sent is that he’s the 26th man as soon as Drew Maggi isn’t there anymore. In fact, a small part of me wonders if they might keep Maggi when Reynolds is reinstated and send Canaan down.

I don’t think this is reflective of what they believe he can be as a player, but go ahead, play manager. Where do you get him at bats? He can only DH or play corner outfield. Connor Joe is hitting the hell out of the ball. Bae might be their best CF option so that pushes Jack to a corner. They can get him in games once, twice a week. They can get him PH opportunities, but most of the time, that would be for who? Cutch? LOL. Joe, again, he’s killing baseballs against right and left handed pitching. I do think for his development, yes, I’d send him down, he simply isn’t playing enough here to pretend it’s good for him.

Question 5

Will they get to a point in this rebuild where they sign a veteran pitcher to anything more than a 1-year deal? I’m thinking of the Nova, Liriano and even Burnett signings. Could Velasquez be that guy if he has a good year? – Patrick Bradford-Kenney (@PRyKenney)

I think next year makes a lot of sense. I also think they’ll go about getting it in a similar way, Nova and Burnett in particular were trades, who turned into signings. Liriano was a flyer most of the league thought was all done.

As to Velasquez, first, I’ve never seen him pitch this well, and even with that, the best he has maybe gets you an exhausted 7 innings. I’m not sure I’d want to make a 3 year commitment to a guy like that, especially since I’m quite sure we’ll see just as many struggles as we see successes with him.

I will say, the free agent market doesn’t look great next year. For the Pirates to go get one of the guys everyone talks about, you’re likely talking more than it would take to extend Keller or Roansy.

It can’t be ignored though, this team has no lefty, and they may need to go get it. Either way, and as fun as this year has begun, next year starts the “expect to win” part of this rebuild and it should last for a while, why not get a piece for a few years?

Question 6

How can the Pirates possibly add more bullpen depth? When do they get rid of Crowe? Why couldn’t they find just one at bat for Maggi? – James Littleton

On Maggi James, winning is, was and will be more important than a feel good story. I’ll also say, his story might not be over as I mentioned above talking about CSN.

Crowe has an option, I think they’d for sure use it before getting rid of him. Bullpen depth for now, will come internally, and they still have quite a few options on the way there. Colin Selby, Carmen Mlodzinski, Cody Bolton, hell, Ortiz could force his way up here and shove Velasquez to the pen.

Come deadline time, if this team is in the conversation, I’m sure they’ll find and execute a deal for someone. It’s just so early.

I’d love Brent Suter from the Rockies. He’s a lefty who can handle just about every position in the pen and he has 1 more year of arb. I’d be all over that already.

Question 7

It appears as though the pitching philosophy has changed with the pirates. It used to be pitch to contact . This staff seems to be striking opposition more. Your thoughts? – Butch Holt

Something has changed, and it’s stuff. This pitching staff has a ton of it. The overall philosophy is to accentuate the strengths of each individual. For instance, Rich Hill is always going to be a pitch to contact guy. Vince Velasquez is always going to be a pitch to contact guy who has some strikeout stuff in his back pocket if he needs it.

I can honestly say, Mitch Keller sometimes needs to and does pull back on his pitches because striking out 11-12 guys might only get him through the 5th, and he wants to be more of a work horse than that so he’ll hunt contact.

Lastly, Hedges. Austin Hedges is a master at calling games, and when the team needs a K, he knows how to go after it.

Marin is all about mechanics, technique, shape, tunneling, speed changes, command, all that stuff, but the talent has to be there to decide you want more K’s.

Question 8

Are there any lineup tweaks you would like to see to manufacture more runs? Bae’s singles always turn into him landing on second and putting hedges right after him seems less than ideal. – Brendon Gallagher (@BrendonGallagh8)

I’ve said before Brendon, I’d have Bae at either leadoff or bat him 9th. Thing is, Ke’Bryan Hayes is kinda killing it at leadoff for now, so I’d pop him at 9th.

Now, Hedges is going to have to hit somewhere, so if you put him 8th, we’re probably complaining about how Joe keeps hitting and then it stalls on Hedges.

Part of me gets the logic, Hedges can bunt, but Bae hasn’t really needed help getting to second so maybe it doesn’t matter.

Aside from that, Shelton has done pretty well, I just don’t think there’s ever going to be a “great” place to stick Hedges.

Question 9

Thoughts on Dauri Moreta – Caitlin (@CaitlinTracy16)

I like him. Next question. LOL

Honestly though, we haven’t heard about an injury, yet Dauri hasn’t pitched since April 19th. So they’re either working with him to see if they can’t get him to cut back on the wildness a bit, or he does have something going on physically.

He’s walked 7 and struck out 8, and while he’s gotten the job done when called upon but that split isn’t sustainable.

I’ll say this much, they can’t just keep carrying a guy if they’re either afraid to or unable to use him.

So I expect to hear something soon. I was asking where the hell he was 2 or 3 days ago, and now here you are wondering. Something doesn’t smell right in the state of Denmark.

Question 10

What do you think will be the move when DeJong comes back? – PGHcommenter (@412pghcommenter)

If I had to guess, and honestly, I do, I’d think either Crowe is sent down using his option, or the team sends Moreta to the IL/down to AAA.

I suppose they could just decide to DFA DeJong, but I do believe they think this injury had something to do with his performance.

Personally, I think they have better options, but either way, we’re talking the fringes of the roster here.

Question 11

What r some realistic pitchers they could get at the deadline – BigE97 (@E97Big)

To know this, we’d have to know who’s in and who’s out. That’s super hard to say in April. I already mentioned Brent Suter as a relief target earlier, but man I’m not even sure they’ll think they need one.

Another factor, they could very well still look to ship Hill or Velasquez themselves.

Jose Leclerc from Texas might be available, but they’d almost for sure want MLB help in exchange. I’d imagine Aroldis Chapman will be available, but I’m not sure I’d want him in the room.

Brad Keller will for sure be on the block, but ‘m not sure he helps all that much. Complete rental and he’s really only had one good season.

Andrew Chafin makes a ton of sense, a veteran lefty who’s been one of baseball’s better left handed set up men for a while now. He has a club option for 2024 too, but the Diamondbacks would need to start losing.

And I’ll wrap up here, Paul Blackburn is a 29 year old starter with Oakland, they’ll trade him, but I’m not sure he’s more than depth on this Pirates team. The upside is, he’s been an average starter and has 2 more years of arb, so he could be a 5th starter type for a few years.

That’s what I got, let’s see where we are come July…

Question 12

Can you draw some parallels between Cheringtons’ worst to first Boston Red Sox of 2012-13 to today – Chuck Shubat

This is tough Chuck, for one thing Cherington made them worst by dumping 262.5 million dollars from their payroll in Boston, and was overruled on his choice of coaching hire which made 2012 predictably awful. They were also close to getting some youth infused and he signed some relatively low level free agents and his acquisition of John Farrell from Toronto might have been the best one.

It was a special team, and their whole was greater than the sum of their parts. If you want a parallel, that might be the closest one you’ll get.

Let’s just hope when and if he gets to sign big money free agents, he chooses more wisely than Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez.

Question 13

Why the urgency to extend Shelton now, after a 20 game run of good play? That seems like an overreaction to the dreaded “small sample size” no? I mean, why not at least ride through the All Star break and see just how permanent this improved play really is. – Ed Fleming

The 20 games had nothing to do with it.

Bluntly, they put him through the wringer, and asked him to shepherd a team through what was sure to be awful baseball. If there was a feeling he’d be a starter coach for this club, Cherington saw everything he felt he needed to see in those three years to at least not have him coach all year as a lame duck.

The players love him, and he’s done everything the team asked him to. I think that’s about all you’re going to get. In fact, you might not even get details about how long he’s been extended. MLB clubs don’t have to disclose that stuff, and many don’t.

Question 14

Most surprising player so far?- James Moorcroft

I’ll give you a good one and a bad one.

Good – Connor Joe, I truly didn’t know this was in there. It’s not just a hot streak either, he’s pounding the baseball all over the field. I never thought he’d make it hard to take him out of the lineup, but he’s doing exactly that.

Bad – Wil Crowe, he had me convinced that slimming down would give him the stamina to make his start to 2022 stretch into a longer spell in 2023, but he looks out of sorts in just about every way he could.

I have a bunch more, but gotta stop this somewhere. So if you asked one and it didn’t make it, you can expect it next week.

Thanks everyone.

Positive Pirates Talk With Rob Biertempfel

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-b3ttd-13f04f5

Craig welcomes back Pirates Beat Reporter from The Athletic, Rob Biertempfel, to talk about Shelton’s Extension, Pittsburgh’s 2023 Hall of Fame Class, Pleasant Surprises Thus Far This Season and Much More! 

Brought to you by ShopYinzz.com! Craig Toth covers the Pirates for Inside The Bucs Basement, and joins his buddy Chris at a 9-foot homemade oak bar to talk Pittsburgh Pirates Baseball. Listen. Subscribe. Share. We are “For Fans, By Fans & All Pirates Talk.” THE Pirates Fan Podcast found EVERYWHERE podcasts can be found and always at BucsInTheBasement.com!

Pirates Blow 7-2 Lead, Win Streak Ends At 7 v LA Dodgers: (16-8)

04/25/23 – By Ethan Smith – @mvp_Ethan on Twitter

Well, my run had to end at some point right?

After opening a 7-2 advantage through four, the Pirates couldn’t hold on to the advantage as the Dodgers scored six unanswered runs to defeat the Pirates 8-7 and snap Pittsburgh seven-game winning streak on Monday night.

After a two-run first inning on some unfortunate circumstances from Pittsburgh that included an error and a catcher’s interference, Pittsburgh would answer back quickly in the first as Carlos Santana would score Tucupita Marcano to makes things 2-1. Connor Joe nearly made it a tie ballgame, but David Peralta made an impressive diving grab to prevent a run from scoring.

Despite the missed opportunity from the first inning, Pittsburgh would take the lead in the bottom of the second, scoring two runs from a Ke’Bryan Hayes hit-and-run double that scored Ji-hwan Bae and Austin Hedges.

The fourth inning from the Pirates was very kind to them as they would pick up four runs in the inning from a Hedges RBI single and an Andrew McCutchen three-run home run that would extend the Pirates lead to 7-2. This would chase Noah Syndergaard, who finished with 4.0 IP, 9 H, 7 ER, 0 BB and 2 SO.

Danger would come for the Buccos in the sixth with Johan Oviedo’s evening coming to a close and leaving the bases loaded for Robert Stephenson with a 7-4 advantage. Oviedo would finish with 5.1 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 2 BB and 4 SO.

Photo: Gary Morgan

Mookie Betts drove a ball to left field that would have given the Dodgers the lead but Jack Suwinski committed highway robbery to maintain a 7-5 lead for the Pirates in what has to be the best defensive play we’ve seen from the Pirates all season in a night that featured lots of errors for the Buccos defense.

Colin Holderman, who has otherwise done pretty well all season, gave up his first big-league home run to Chris Taylor, giving the Dodgers an 8-7 lead in the top of the eighth.

Andrew McCutchen had an opportunity to score a run or even give the Pirates the lead in the eighth with the bases loaded and two outs, but he would pop up to Austin Barnes to end the eighth.

Shelby Miller would come on for the Dodgers in the ninth, retiring Carlos Santana, Jack Suwinski and Connor Joe to shut things down for LA and pick up the victory in game one.

Photo: Gary Morgan

Roansy Contreras will take on Tony Gonsolin in the second game of the series tomorrow.

News & Notes

  • Bryan Reynolds signed 8-year extension prior to tonight’s game
  • Johan Oviedo final line: 5.1 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO
  • Noah Syndergaard final line: 4.0 IP, 9 H, 7 ER, 0 BB 2 SO
  • Jack Suwinski picks up first hit against a lefty this season
  • Michael Busch would record his first MLB hit for the Dodgers

Top 5 Pirates Prospect Performers: Still Looking At Small Sample Sizes

4-25-23 By Craig W. Toth (aka @BucsBasement on Twitter)

The Minor League Leader in plate appearances is Michael Busch of the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers with 102; who on a completely unrelated point, was just called up to the Big League Club. In the Pirates Organization Miguel Andujar and Nick Gonzales are tied with 85 plate appearances a piece.

On the mound Chi-Chi Gonzalez-clearly not a prospect-and Easton McGee have both tossed 28.2 innings for their respective teams, the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp and the Tacoma Rainiers; both in Triple-A for the Miami Marlins and Seattle Mariners. Luis Ortiz is the only pitcher to throw over 20 innings in the Pittsburgh’s Farm System; coming in at 23.1.

That’s 23.1 innings over 5 starts, or not even 5 innings per start.

Yet, somehow we think we can judge a player’s performance on just over 20 innings, or less than 100 plate appearances.

Guess what? We can’t.

At the plate it takes around 200 plate appearances before a hitter’s average even starts to level out to what it really is going to be; and, not take ridiculously jumps up or down based on a good or terrible day with the bat.

For pitcher’s we see obnoxiously high-or low-ERAs and WHIPs based off of one bad-or good-outing.

Sure, at this point, you can start to tell if a player is trending in the right direction or not; but it’s impossible to extrapolate out their numbers for the remainder of the season.

A guy can get shelled early on and end up having a pretty nice pitching line at the end of the season.

Just look at Mitch Keller in 2022.

Through his first six starts of the season Keller posted a 6.61 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP across 32.2 innings, before being relegated to the bullpen for two outings. From that time, through the end of the year, his ERA and his WHIP were 3.21 and 1.36; allowing both to adjust to the respectable numbers of 3.91 and 1.40, that had us looking forward to what he could do in 2023.

From the batters box we only have look back at Bryan Reynolds for the first week of the season; or Jack Suwinski on the other side of the coin.

Did we really think Reynolds was going to bat .405 with a 1.334 OPS and a 240 wRC+ for the rest of the season; or, that Suwinski would bat .067 with a .317 OPS and a 10 wRC+ for the entire season?

Small sample sizes.

They are only useful if you are trying to prove a narrative that you already believe to be true.

1) Jase Bowen-OF (Greensboro)

Back in July of 2022, Bowen into MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 Pirates Prospects with the graduation of outfielder Cal Mitchell, after tearing up the Florida State League. Over the previous month, which included 24 games and 107 plate appearances, the Pirates former 11th Round Pick-and Michigan State Wide Receiver Commit-slashed .309/.393/.553 with 5 homers, 11 total extra base hits and a 169 wRC+.

Ultimately, he would be promoted to High-A Greensboro; where he would struggle to gain traction over the last month of the season. Across 109 plate appearances, Bowen would slash just .176/.211/.324 with a 31.2% K to 4.6% BB-rate and a trio of homers.

So far this season that high K-rate hasn’t gone away; but we’ll get to that.

On the year, in only 56 plate appearances, Bowen has posted a .353/.411/.706 slash line with 5 homers and three doubles.

Now as many of you already know, I kind of throw out that last number in the slash line for the guys in Greensboro; focusing on the OBP (On Base Percentage), along with the K and BB-rates.

Well the first number is a solid .411; but the K-rate is still about 30%-landing at 33.9%. And, the BB-rate is below the 10% one would be hoping for; coming in at 7.1%.

In order for Bowen to remain successful with the Grasshoppers-and hopefully as he moves up from the system-those percentages are going to have to move closer together.

2) Luis Ortiz-RHP (Indianapolis)

23.1 Innings. Only 5 starts.

Yes those numbers are small, but to his credit, he has performed well most of the time.

Still, when he has struggled, it has gone down hill pretty fast; especially with his command/control.

On the season he has a 2.31 ERA with an elite .940 WHIP, but also only has 20 strikeouts across those 23.1 innings.

On a positive note-to wrap things up-he has started to become fully stretched out; lasting 6 innings during his last appearance, and consistently tossing 75+ pitches.

3) Enmanuel Terrero–OF (Bradenton)

Signed in July of 2019 to the tune of $600K, Terrero didn’t make his professional debut until 2021 in the Dominican Summer League; an assignment where he struggled slightly, yet did show patience at the plate by walking 33 times to 24 strikeouts.

Then last year in the Florida Complex League he showed a little bit more of the bat to ball skills that was the focus of his original scouting reports, while continuing to display his advanced eye. Across 130 plate appearances he struck out just 17 times, took 23 free passes and slashed .330/.446/.433.

Now, with the move to Low-A Bradenton-and set to be 20 years-old for the entire season-Terrero will look to take another step forward; which is looking pretty likely at the moment.

In 63 plate appearances-extreme small sample size-he is slashing .353/.460/.549 with 10 walks and 11 strikeouts.

4) Cody Bolton-RHP (Indianapolis)

Last season there was some uncertainty surrounding whether the Pirates would take the starter or reliever route with Bolton after missing the previous two seasons due to a pandemic, followed by an injury; using him in every role imaginable on the pitching staff.

This year things have become much clearer.

He’s a reliever. A role that he has embraced, and has been successful in thus far.

In 11.1 innings of work Bolton has a 2.38 ERA and a. 882 WHIP with 14 strikeouts to 2 walks.

5) Tres Gonzalez-OF (Bradenton)

Eduardo Alberto Gonzalez was selected by Pittsburgh in the 5th Round last year out of Georgia Tech, and signed to a bonus of $347,500 ($67,100 under slot); thanks mostly to a .314/.442/.461 slash line with 91 walks to 74 strikeouts in a Yellow Jackets uniform, and a .331 average in the Cape.

After only 37 games in a Marauders jersey-13 so far this season-Gonzalez is slashing .337/.447/.417 with 20 walks and 19 strikeouts.

To be honest, if this continues, a quick promotion to Greensboro might be in order.

Bonus: Braxton Ashcraft-RHP (Greensboro)

When the 2021 Minor League Season began, Ashcraft was set to be in the Greensboro rotation alongside Mike Burrows, Quinn Priester and Carmen Mlodzinski. Unfortunately as the year progressed every single one of them was placed on the IL at one point or another; with Ashcraft on the shelf for the longest period of time following Tommy John Surgery.

Now, he’s back; and still just 23 year-old.

So far, in two rehab starts and a return to the Grasshoppers, Ashcraft has yet to surrender a single run, while striking out 11 and walking one.

Conclusion

There you have it! My Top 5 Pirates Prospect Performers-plus one-for the week of April 18th through the 23rd.

Now remember, let me know if I missed anyone, and who your Top 5 would be. And, be sure check back each and every Tuesday during Minor League Baseball Season!

Pirates & Bryan Reynolds Reach New 8 Year Pact

4-25-23 – By Gary Morgan – @garymo2007 on Twitter

Today your Pittsburgh Pirates locked up their best player through 2030 with a club option for 2031. 8 years, $106,750,000. There is no opt out and a modified no trade clause baked in.

Jason Mackey from the PG reported it first this morning.

Once the two sides agreed on money almost a month ago, this moment felt inevitable, albeit the terms left cloudy. It felt like the Pirates were going to have to accept something less than ideal from an opt out standpoint, but they were able to get past it and work out a record setting deal for the franchise to ensure a key part of the core will be here through the end of the decade.

The importance to the team is clear, but what it says to the fan base might be more important still. The Pirates are going to try to keep this core together when they identify players they want to be a part of it, but make no mistake, this deal simply doesn’t happen if Bryan Reynolds himself didn’t so vocally want to be here.

I’ve heard from sources that many of his representatives wanted him to walk away from the table, but he held steadfast that he wanted to be a Pittsburgh Pirate and now he could very well wind up playing his entire career in black and gold.

Good for the fans, good for the city, honestly, good for Bob Nutting, he’s been more responsible for every instance of smoothing communications between Reynolds’ camp and his representatives. Laugh if you want, but this doesn’t happen if he wasn’t relentless that he wanted it to.

We’ll obviously have more on this as the story continues to unfold as well as next steps for other possible targets.

Enjoy it Pittsburgh, the Pirates are back.

Pittsburgh Pirates vs Los Angeles Dodgers Series Preview

The Pirates welcome the Dodgers to PNC Park to finish up their brief homestand

When & Who

Game 1 – (4/25, 6:35 EST)

Probable Pitchers:

For the Pirates – Johan Oviedo (2-1, 2.22 ERA)

For the Dodgers – Noah Syndergaard (0-3, 4.91 ERA)

Game 2 – (4/26, 6:35 EST)

Probable Pitchers:

For the Pirates – Roansy Contreras (2-1, 4.57 ERA

For the Dodgers – TBD

Game 3 – (4/27, 12:35 EST)

Probable Pitchers:

For the Pirates – Mitch Keller (2-0, 3.64 ERA)

For the Dodgers – TBD

Team Trends

The Dodgers are coming to Pittsburgh fresh off taking three of four games from the Cubs at Wrigley, and are looking to get some traction going after starting the season just 12-11. The Dodgers rotation ranks in the upper half of the league with its 3.95 ERA, but with Clayton Kershaw being responsible for a majority of that, the Pirates will catch a break avoiding Kershaw in this series. The Dodgers bats are no joke, ranking 4th in MLB with their .787 OPS, including a .797 OPS on the road. The Dodgers also rank 2nd in MLB in home runs with 43, with obvious power up and down the lineup.  

There are few teams hotter in MLB than the Pirates right now, who have won  seven straight including two straight sweeps over the Rockies and Reds. The Pirates rotation has been an absolute force as of late, posting a 2.15 ERA over their past 13 games, best in all of baseball. The Pirates bullpen has continued to be an unforeseen strength, ranking in the upper half of MLB with their 3.36 ERA. The Pirates also rank inside the top 10 in MLB with their 27 home runs, and 7th in MLB in OPS at .765. The Pirates 88 walks rank near the top five as well.

Who’s Hot

For the Dodgers – Max Muncy: Plenty of choices here, but Max Muncy has reached base 6 of his past 7 games, and has recorded two three-walk games and two multi-hit games in that span. Muncy’s OPS is at an alarming 1.129 this season, so getting him out must be a top priority for Pirates’ pitchers. Muncy will miss at least part of the series as he’s been placed on the Paternity list.

For the Pirates – Ke’Bryan Hayes: Hayes is the Pirates choice for the 2nd straight week, but how could I not pick him. Hayes has been on a tear since being moved to the leadoff spot, and has hits in nine of his past ten games. Hayes’ bat had been a worrisome spot early in the season, but he’s turned it around and looks to be a solid leadoff batter for the Bucs lineup.

Who’s Not

For the Dodgers –  Jason Heyward – Heyward had just one hit in the Dodgers series against the Cubs, finishing 1 for 9. The Dodgers outfielder has had somewhat limited attempts this year, but had has had little production as of late and it has brought his average for the year down to .179.

For the Pirates – Ji Hwan Bae: Bae had a great start to the season, including a walk-off home run against Houston that really made people start to pay attention to his name. Recently, he hasn’t had the same success. Bae went hitless in his three starts against the Reds, and has racked up a lot more strikeouts than we would all like to see.

Series Overview & Prediction

When you compare the two rosters, the Dodgers team is flooded with talent. The Dodgers capabilities go well beyond their early 12-11 record, and means next to nothing for a team that will likely finish with 90+ wins again.

The Pirates are fortunate to avoid Clayton Kershaw in this series, and will themselves field their three best pitchers in Mitch Keller, Roansy Contreras and Johan Oviedo. The Pirates are hot, and with their pitching being some of the best in baseball recently, this series is shaping up to be a thriller. Both fans and players alike are more than familiar with the Pirates success against the Dodgers last year, so how will this series play out?

The Pirates offense stalled in the last few games against the Reds, where the Dodgers picked theirs up. I’m going to say the Dodgers take two out of three here, based on offensive production. The Pirates rotation has been solid, but this matchup will be right up with Houston as the most challenging so far this season for pitchers. That said, if Hayes, Reynolds, and Carlos Santana can continue to play the way they have, this series is anyones for the taking.

Five Pirates Thoughts at Five

4-24-23 – By Gary Morgan – @garymo2007 on Twitter

Here I sit, preparing to write this week’s Five Pirates Thoughts at Five, its something like the 145th time I’ve done so give or take, but it’s the first time I’ve done so while the Pirates solely owned the best record in the National League.

This doesn’t matter to the overall result this season will produce, but I do think it’s a kind of neat way to look at this team, and at least my coverage of the club as the weeks have gone by since late in 2019.

I’ve spent considerable time explaining the thinking behind the stages of this process. I’ve chronicled ways I thought they could do it better. I’ve wasted entry upon entry discussing players like Ka’ai Tom and Josh VanMeter, knowing all along they were just a small cog in the overall project but still annoyed they were.

Where they are now, well, it’s nowhere near the goal, but it is an interesting time to sit here and reflect a bit. I’ve covered a lot of bad baseball on the way here, and I like to think we’ve done it while keeping our eyes peeled on where this was headed.

That might be what’s so remarkable about what this team has done early on here, even we didn’t see THIS level of competitiveness in 2023.

Super fun.

Let’s go…

1. Worry About Later, Well, Later…

Nobody is blind here, we all know the Pirates planned to shop and move guys like Rich Hill, Vince Velasquez, Carlos Santana, Ji-man Choi, and the like this year and replace them with youngsters. That WAS the plan, and it still may wind up being the case should things revert to the expected, but folks, that’s then, and this is now.

I can honestly say if this team is in the throws of playoff contention come deadline time, they won’t feel they have to move anyone that’s contributing positively. They may want to. They may actually feel moving one could help the ball club, but they aren’t going to sit back and say, “trust the process” while they move all these guys for prospects and watch the record and contention slip away.

Plans change in baseball, and nothing changes plans more than unexpected performance.

Make no mistake though, this team as currently constructed, is a one off. This mix of players won’t reunite in their entirety come 2024. Some of these guys are very much so twirling in their last dance, or at least performing in their last Summer where they aren’t “holding on” but contributing.

They’ll be replaced by younger players as the year plays out naturally, or in Spring next year, and augmented by more veterans. Maybe some of them will be veterans we’re watching right now, maybe a whole new crop, but the development system ultimately will still write the story of how this whole thing turns out, despite what 2023 brings.

I don’t say this so you keep your walls up and try not to embrace these veterans or what they’re doing for the team, I say it because by in large, the plan was for most of them, really everyone but McCutchen was intended to be here to be beaten out eventually or to ultimately be dealt for more fortification and provide opportunity for youngsters. Again, performance can, and will change plans if they force it to.

Keep this in mind, I can just about 100% guarantee had the Pirates not traded Jose Quintana last year they don’t lose 100 games, but they also don’t have Johan Oviedo who just looks incredible. Is Oviedo worth the pain of once again reaching that awful milestone as opposed to adding maybe 3-4 more wins in 2022?

This year, they could be asking themselves is holding that prospect more important than the 4-5 wins we could get from acquiring another veteran?

The team will tell us what makes sense by how this group performs.

2. The Value of Catching Excellence

Austin Hedges and Jason Delay have been a huge part of what this team has done. Ask any of the pitchers, they’ll all point to the excellence of how they call games, the confidence they have to throw any pitch in any situation, the masterful way they’ve helped control the run game, basically, being the brain that tells the body what to do.

We’ve seen it on display in games with tangible things like well timed mound visits. Knowing when a guy needs slowed down a bit. In general, having a great plan for opposition hitters too.

Endy Rodriguez, the team’s top catching prospect is in AAA and on the IL with a forearm strain, the hope is obviously that this isn’t a long term injury but let’s be really honest, to become the CATCHER that a guy like Hedges, or even Delay is, well, that isn’t going to happen by June. He can improve, he can be good, but what Hedges does in this aspect of the game is elite. Elite is a word that gets tossed around too often, but when it comes to everything a catcher can do to influence a game when he doesn’t have a bat in his hand, there simply isn’t anyone better.

I don’t say that to make you ok with Endy being in AAA, or to pretend he isn’t being kept there for contractual reasons. We all know what’s happening, and folks, I’m sorry, for that position, I get it.

Endy could be a great bat here, but I’m nowhere near ready to hand him the keys to this pitching staff and pretend they’ve been this good because they suddenly know how to pitch.

If this injury turns out to be insignificant, great, I believe he’ll still be called up in June and when he is, I think the Pirates might be wise to carry 3 catchers.

Hear me out.

Look at how much trouble the Pirates have had getting at bats for a guy like Canaan Smith-Njigba, maybe just making Endy that role, and his position flexibility plus catching a couple games a week under the tutelage of Austin Hedges is the play here.

I say keep 3 because if you have Endy as the backup or starter, it’s hard to use him elsewhere. Backup catchers playing elsewhere happens, but having one on the bench makes the decision to start your top 2 in different roles a bit easier.

None of this is because I think Endy will never be able to handle this position, but I can’t get past this one fact, I give the Pirates catchers a ton of credit for what this staff has done, so does the staff, so does the coaching staff, I can’t fathom just handing it to a rookie because some arbitrary date passed.

When it’s time, by all means, get his friggin’ bat up here, play him wherever you have to, work him in slowly, but make sure he doesn’t have to be the go to back there, at least not immediately.

I don’t want the Pirates to carry 3 catchers forever, but if this team is in contention in 2023, I don’t think they can afford to just go all in on a rookie backstop, even if he can outhit all other options since June of last year.

3. Andy Haines

Fair is fair.

Overseeing a historically pitiful Pirates offense that had players like Jack Suwinski, Bryan Reynolds, Oneil Cruz, Rodolfo Castro, Ke’Bryan Hayes, it was really easy to pin blame on the hitting coach. He had a plan, and let’s be really clear, it didn’t work. Guys were more interested in walking than hitting and every swing was about hitting the ball hard somewhere, even with 2 strikes, 1 out with a guy on third. There was just too much talent to be that pathetic at the plate. Not enough to WIN, but surely enough to not hit like a Junior College playing a Spring Training tune up game.

Hearing that Haines worked closely with many of these guys over the offseason, honestly, I was worried. I simply didn’t like a damn thing he’d shown me.

23 games in to the 2023 season, credit where due, Haines has these guys almost universally taking good at bats. Hitting for power, but adjusting in at bat to hunt contact. Situationally hitting to the correct side of the field, bunting when needed, taking off-speed to the middle of the field, just in general, looking in command of every at bat.

My job here isn’t to be critical, it’s to evaluate. So that’s what I’m doing. I was critical of his poor performance, and now I’m praising the much improved performance. Even if the credit belongs with the veterans and improved talent, I have to give him the same ownership of the process that I gave him when it wasn’t working.

I already went through this metamorphosis with Oscar Marin in 2022, and I’m happy to do it again in 2023 for Haines. Solid chance I extend it to recently extended Derek Shelton too. Lord knows the players love him.

I still think the system Haines likes to instruct is difficult for rookies to grasp, it requires at the very least a professional eye at the plate, so expecting many to come up ready to spit on pitches that have more break or velocity than they’ve experienced on the way up is a lot to ask.

But even that is more about the development system needing to create an easier path to onboarding talent, as opposed to directly blaming the hitting instructor.

It’s a long long season, so much can happen, but seeing positive things like Jack, Rodolfo and even Cruz before getting hurt walk as opposed to strike out perpetually, that in and of itself is a win.

Good stuff so far.

4. Even Feel Good Stories Don’t Trump Winning

Drew Maggi was called up from AA Altoona to fill a roster spot for Bryan Reynolds who was placed on the Bereavement list yesterday. We all obviously aren’t excited Bryan and his family are dealing with the pain of loss, so all appropriate condolences obviously extended, Maggi was a feel good call up.

He’s been promoted before, back when he was a Minnesota Twin, but never got in an actual game, a trend that continued yesterday when he was unable to get into the Pirates series wrap against the Reds on Sunday.

Why is this important? Why do we care? Why didn’t thy just put him in the damn game?

We care because in baseball, and sports in general, we all root for stories. Maggi has played over 1,000 MiLB games, he’s 33 years old, clearly nearing the end of his journey. He’s now the veteran and emotional leader of the AA Altoona Curve and everyone on the MLB roster just watched this 33 year old career MiLB player kick their butts all over the field all Spring long.

Everyone knows his situation, everyone knows they themselves are a draft position, or timely injury away from being him. Everyone loves his constant hustle, his willingness to play anywhere, his ability to keep wearing a smile even as he rides a bus for the 1,021st time to the middle of nowhere to play a game where every at bat he takes is at the expense of someone who “matters” far more than he does.

And yet, none of that mattered more than winning the fourth game of a series against the Reds at the end of April.

Up 1-0 late in the contest, Derek Shelton was actively using his bench to try to create some insurance for the back end of his bullpen, and Maggi’s name was never called. Despite Shelton’s personal relationship with him. Despite every member of that team actively wanting to get him in there, let him get his at bat, winning that game yesterday took precedence.

Bryan will return to the lineup on Tuesday, and Drew Maggi will in all likelihood head back down, if not be DFA’d. He may very well have had his last chance to get that one swing.

Everyone cared, but again, nobody allowed it to matter more than getting this team to 16 wins.

Even so, this choice of callup was exactly the right call by Ben Cherington. Think of the message it sends all through the system. Imagine you’re a guy like Mason Martin who’s just about to turn 24 and after playing the majority of a season in AAA has been asked to head back to AA this year and work on all the same stuff he failed to improve on last year.

Think he’d like to know as long as he keeps working the team won’t forget him?

How about Osvaldo Bido who’s 28 years old and has never been on the top of anyone’s prospect board, yet he’s the most seasoned AAA starter the team has as we speak. Think he might like to know this team rewards dedication and hard work?

Winning matters more than any of this feeling stuff, but that doesn’t mean the feel good stories have no place.

In this case, everyone in that room knows if they wanted to see Drew swing a bat on Sunday, they all needed to do more with theirs earlier in the game. Cause they were never going to let this story get in the way of the story this team has become.

Know what? Drew knew it too. So he stood there on the dugout railing, cheering and staying involved even as he watched his opportunity slip away out after out. He high fived guys who were chosen ahead of him, he celebrated with teammates he knew he’d be saying goodbye to in a mere 48 hours. He was Drew Maggi.

Teams are built on the backs of men like him and when he reaches his next stop, even if it’s right back in Altoona, he’ll relay the story of his time up there and get right back to helping the dream stay alive or come closer to fruition for his teammates.

That’s why it matters, even if he didn’t get that at bat. He was still part of a win, and more importantly, a key lesson in the constant effort to build the culture of a winner.

No one player is more important than the collective outcome of any one contest.

5. Jack Suwinski Isn’t Going Anywhere

Jack Suwinski was chosen to make this club over someone like Travis Swaggerty for one big reason. 19 homeruns in the Bigs, means far more than anything anyone has ever done in AAA.

His slow Spring was never going to be outweighed by another player’s hot Spring. This team needs his power, and more than that, the team trusted they were making adjustments that would eventually bear fruit for Jack.

They were right.

It’s ok, you can say it. And you don’t have to join some “I hate Swaggerty” club to do so.

All you really have to do is say Jack has taken 432 plate appearances in MLB and he’s hit 24 home runs in the process.

A typical MLB starter will average around 550 at bats, some will get as much as 650 but that’s reserved for some of the most elite of the elite.

Now, think of what Jack can do in an entire season. Further, consider he’s actually on more of a pace this year early on. He’s had 60 plate appearances and drilled 5 already.

Even if they hadn’t lost Cruz early, this team needed alternate power sources and Jack having already done so at this level was always going to get a chance.

None of this is to tell you Swaggerty shouldn’t or won’t get his shot, but more to serve as a cautionary tale. Spring training numbers aren’t as important as actual MLB playing numbers. Rookies who hit double digit dingers in the bigs, great bet to be back on the roster the following season.

Many of the principles that led to the choice to stick with Jack can be ascribed to Rodolfo Castro as well. He too is walking more, striking out less, hitting the ball hard and in general proving the team was right to keep giving him opportunity.

Why? Well, 440 plate appearances, 18 homeruns.

This isn’t rocket science folks. Youngsters with power, they tend to struggle with some other aspects of their game. When the power has been displayed, they tend to get a shot to show they can take the next step in the following season.

It helps when your team is winning, because you can afford to make a mistake working on something and not wind up being the town pariah.

Patience my friends, Endy will struggle too at some point, and that too will in all likelihood not be the end of his career or the world.

Back-to-Back Sweeps Behind Velasquez Gem, Bucs Win 2-0 (16-7)

4/23/23- By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on Twitter

Coming off a series in Colorado where the bats posted 33 runs, the offense has been notably quieter during the home series versus Cincinnati. In its place, the pitching has been ELITE! 

Following the 11 game quality start stretch ending yesterday, Vince Velasquez posted his best start of the season: 7 innings, 2 hits (both singles), 2 walks, 0 runs and 10 strikeouts over 100 pitches (64 for strikes)

Ke’Bryan Hayes led off the game with a double to center. Tucupita Marcano followed with a bloop single to left and Andrew McCutchen grounded sharply into a double play, which scored Hayes. 

That was all the offense the Bucs would get and all they would need as Velasquez, Colin Holderman and David Bednar shut down the Reds bats to finish up the sweep.

Jack Suwinski would double in Carlos Santana in the 8th to add onto the lead.

News & Notes

  • Velasquez generated 15 swings-and-misses, mostly behind his sweeping slider
  • Santana stole 2nd in the 8th inning. It was his first stolen base since 2021.
  • Suwinski walked twice and stole two bases.
  • Career minor-leaguer Drew Maggi was called up prior to the game when Bryan Reynolds was placed on Bereavement List. Maggi has played 1,155 minor league games prior to this call-up.
  • Bednar is currently leading all of baseball in saves after securing his 8th save today
  • The 7-game win streak is their longest since July 2018, when they won 11 in a row
  • Pirates are off to their best start in 31 years! The 1992 Pirates also started 16-7 through their first 23 games.

The Pirates have the day off tomorrow before hosting the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday, First pitch is scheduled for 6:35PM. Let’s Go Bucs!

Pirates Top The Reds In A Pitching Duel: (15-7)

4/22/23- By Craig W. Toth – @BucsBasement on Twitter

Things feel different this year-at least early on-because they are different. It obviously starts with the record, aided by the current 6-game winning streak; but for the 2023 Pittsburgh Pirates it seems to go beyond that.

The chemistry in the clubhouse is unmatched at the moment, the starters are giving the team a chance to compete day in and day out, players are coming up with clutch hits, fundamentals and defense are on point, the bullpen is starting to gel, and most importantly the Pirates are finding different ways to win each and every game.

Even in contests Pittsburgh has been behind, you never doubt their ability to come back; and, once they are up, you can imagine the Jolly Roger raising up the flagpole.

After Pirates Starter Rich Hill didn’t come back out to start the 6th, wheels probably began to turn, in an attempt to figure out just how Derek Shelton would deploy the bullpen in order to get the final 12 outs of the game.

David Bednar and Colin Holderman had pitched on Thursday and Friday, so they were more than likely unavailable. Stephenson went the night before, so he might have be an option. Dauri Moreta was a little wild his last time out, so it could be tough to go to him in such a close game.

Instead he turned to Yohan Ramirez and Duane Underwood, Jr.; with the later being a reliever that many have said they would not deploy in late inning and/or high pressure situations.

To their credit, the duo struck out five, walked one and only allowed two hits; ultimately sealing the Pirates 2-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

News & Notes

  • Jack Suwinski drove in what ended up being the game winning run in the bottom of the 4th, with a double.
  • Rich Hill pitched long enough to be the pitcher of record, but just shy of extending the Pirates Quality Start Streak to 12. During his last outing in Colorado, Dick Mountain threw 105 pitches. The start before he tossed 95. So, when he got up to 96 gain, there was no way he was going 6. On the day he posted a line of 5IP/6H/1ER/3BB/7K.
  • Bryan Reynolds broke an 0 for 12 hitless streak with back to back doubles in the the 5th and 8th.
  • Luis Cessa had a fairly solid start after giving up 16 runs in a little over 6 innings in his previous two; finishing with 4.2IP/6H/2ER/0BB/4K.
  • Derek Shelton has received an extension. At the moment, the exact terms of the agreement between the field manager and the Pirates are not known; however, he clearly is no longer the lame duck we perceived him to be at the beginning of the season.
  • Contrary to the earliest reporting on Pirates Top Catching Prospect Endy Rodriguez, that he was “OK” after being removed from the Indianapolis Indians contest on Friday night, Endy was placed on the 7-Day IL with a right forearm strain earlier today. After conversations by a slew of Pirates Beat Reporters with Manager Derek Shelton, it was discussed that he would meet with doctors in Pittsburgh at some point this week.
  • Ke’Bryan Hayes is just so fun to watch at the hot corner. It’s almost like you can’t blink, or you will miss him doing something special.

The Pirates and Reds are back at it tomorrow afternoon-1:35 PM to be exact-to close out their 4-game weekend series; as Pittsburgh goes for their second sweep in a row, and third on the season.

For your Buccos, Vince Velasquez (2-2/5.12 ERA/1.50 WHIP) will toe the rubber against Hunter Greene (0-0/4.24 ERA/1.53 WHIP) for the Redlegs.