Yasmani Grandal is still a few weeks away from coming off the injured list as he recovers from plantar fasciitis. However, he seems to be making good progress, and Stumpf reports that he will begin baserunning in the coming days. He has already been participating in simulated games. The two-time All-Star spent his last four seasons with the White Sox. His days as one of the best catchers in baseball are long behind him, but the Pirates are hoping he can be a capable veteran backup.
In less positive catching news, Jason Delay has been shut down from all baseball activities with little explanation. He has been on the IL since April 3 (retroactive to April 1) with right knee inflammation. The long-time minor leaguer had a mini breakout with the Pirates last year. Although his offensive numbers weren’t so impressive, he played 68 games behind the dish and put up strong defensive metrics, looking like a solid backup option.
On the pitching side, Ryan Borucki is recovering quickly from left triceps inflammation that landed him on the IL retroactive to April 6. Borucki, 30, entered the year hoping to follow up on a strong 2023 season in Pittsburgh. While the southpaw struggled through a pair of injury-riddled seasons with the Blue and Mariners in 2021 and ’22, he was a master of control for the Pirates in 2023. In 40 1/3 innings, Borucki walked just four batters. The only other pitcher with so few bases on balls (min. 30 IP) was Jacob deGrom. Stumpf notes that Borucki will begin playing catch soon, and he shouldn’t be on the IL for much longer than the minimum 15 days.
In other news from around the NL and AL Central:
- The Tigers released a medical update today (shared by Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press) that revealed right-handed pitcher Sawyer Gipson-Long is dealing with right forearm tightness. He was already on the IL recovering from a groin strain. The 26-year-old is undergoing medical evaluation to determine the severity of the injury. Gipson-Long made four starts for the Tigers last year but retains his rookie eligibility for 2024. He is the team’s No. 10 prospect according to MLB Pipeline and No. 19 according to Baseball America.
- Cardinals center fielder Tommy Edman has been approved to begin his hitting progression, reports Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. His first step is hitting off a tee. While Edman will still need plenty of preparation to transition from a tee to MLB-caliber pitching, this marks an important step in his recovery. The Gold Glove-winner has been sidelined all year with a wrist injury.
- Guardians infield prospect Angel Martínez has been on the 10-day IL since Opening Day with a right foot contusion he suffered this spring. Today, he was sent to Triple-A Columbus for a rehab assignment. Although Martínez is on Cleveland’s 40-man roster, he has yet to make his MLB debut. He will likely stay at Triple-A once his rehab stint is up, where he will look to improve upon a poor showing at the plate last season. Martínez, 22, is widely considered a top-10 prospect in the Guardians system. He is a candidate to earn a call-up to the MLB squad in the event of an injury to another infielder.
It’s time to make Chapman the closer. Bodnar is too up and down
Not that I’m disappointed in today’s outcome, but Bednar really shat the bed today.
it’s worth repeating, taking pitches as this offensive coaches recommend in order to get into the opposing team’s game bullpen doesn’t always equate into runs
And striking out 14 times in a game doesn’t put runners on base
Haines’ approach to hitting is pathetic. Too many called third strikes also suggests that players still don’t know the strike zone. You’re supposed to be taught to protect the zone, these guys didn’t last night
I don’t think Bednar is still at 100% from his lat injury during Spring. His pitch speeds are about the same as they were last year, so I’m fairly confident in saying it’s not an arm or shoulder injury. But he just has no idea where the ball is going right now. He threw a curveball behind Baez today and another curveball in the other batters box to another batter. I won’t be surprised if he’s placed on the 10 day in the next 24 hours. Colin Holderman is back from the flu and was on the taxi squad, as well as Mlodzinski at A-Ball starting his rehab, and Borucki feeling better, so the Pirates can weather the storm until he’s back and fully ready.
I agree with you. He will be on the IL tomorrow. Even if he’s not injured. Because that’s what the Pirates do. I mean, something is obviously wrong with him, but it may not he injury-related.
To be fair, what team wouldn’t put their all-star closer on the IL after having a shorten Spring Training because of an injury and getting off to a rough start when he’s ovbiously not 100% yet?
Then why is he here? If he’s injured, he should be rehabbing. I agree with everything you’re saying, but why do the fans and the team have to endure so many blown saves to get him whatever help he needs. That seems like poor management to me.
They probably felt he was good enough to start the year in the bullpen in his normal role. Ovbisously that’s not been the case. That’s just my guess.
The other thing we have overlooked, did Bednar know he wasn’t 100% coming out of spring training?
Did Shelton? Did Oscar?
One blown save will happen. The second time should have raised some eyebrows, especially given his last year’s performance
Said that Chapman and Bednar should flip flop a few games ago. Apparently a lot of “fans” here don’t really watch games or think actual play is the same as analytics
Not rocket science but Bednar just hasn’t looked the same so far and one can attribute it to not taking part in spring training or that it’s him favoring some part of his body that may be in pain
No matter. His fastballs are too often red and he’s no longer able to nibble on corners but instead has some crazy wild pitches instead
That said, I’m not sure how the morons in today’s crowd boo the kid. We can laugh at other towns and their fans, but it’s no better here. Bednar has been automatic for a couple years now, a Pittsburgh kid. And he gets booed 12 games into the season after a couple bad outings. Classless
I agree that booing a Pirate hometown fixture of this team is unwarranted if not just indignant.
According to an article on WTAE.com, he’s not injured and Shelton said Bednar’s lack of command is due to rust from not pitching enough during ST.
If that’s the case, then Shelton had no reason to use Bednar as the closer in the first place.
He should have been used either as the setup guy or middle reliever until he was able to get the kinks out of his command issues
Just saying, because he was so automatic the last three years is the reason they gave him the save opportunity today over Chapman. I know he hasn’t looked great but just taking away the closing role away from your two-time All-Star closer less than a dozen games into the season isn’t just gonna happen immediatley. Yes, I agree he needs to be put on the backburner now, but I totally see why they gave him another opportunity.
No one is advocating for Bednar to lose his closer role permanently, just until the pitching coach staff can correct his command issues
As I previously said, this is a team sport that requires team effort, if one player isn’t contributing to the potential for a win, another must step in and do the job
I was there, and I was booing. Not at Bednar, but at the decision to keep him in after the first hit batter. He’s been off all year and if he wasn’t spot on after one walk then it’s time for Chapman to clean up. Decision to keep him in cost the game.
Tigers didnt win that game, the Pirates lost it.
I completely agree, @mazvileroski. Shelton’s decision to not have Chapman loosening up in the bullpen when Bednar initially took the mound cost us the game
I get others views that Bednar historically has been a phenomenal closer but he’s been off kilter in his last two appearances and Shelton should have been prepared in the event Bednar began to falter
That fortifies my belief that Shelton simply isn’t a good manager
To be fair, he literally couldn’t pull him after the first hit batter. He legally had to face Gio Urshela. That was only the second batter of the inning, and he needs to face at least three in order to be pulled from the game unless there was an actual injury.
Problem is, it didn’t come off that way unless you carried a giant placard with you. One look at the comments that came after the Pirates instagram account posted some pictures spoke volumes. We think we have some sort of “classy” fan base here but in the end, we have as much uninformed, never played the game trash as any other
The booing was bush league. Period.
Thanks for the reminder, @mlb1225, I forgot about the 3 batter rule
I wouldn’t look to Instagram for an accurate represenation of a fanbase. As someone who frequents Instragram, IG comments are awful for the most part, sports or any other topic. They’ve gotten worse than Twitter in my opinion.
You must be joking. Really. You can’t be serious.
I’ll keep politics out of it as per MLTR’s wishes, but that’s insanity
Madden’s column nailed it pretty well today.
Fans are fair-weathered. There are true believers where the team can do nothing wrong. And there’s the opposite that are on board only until the waters get choppy. Pittsburgh is no different, no matter how well an athlete has performed over the years. To some, it’s quickly forgotten
By the time Bednar exited yesterday, there were less than 10K in the ballpark. But to deny that the classlessness isn’t here and emblematic of small minorities that are vocal whether in person or via social media is naïveté run amok.
While I believe that booing in general for any reason shows disrespect and contempt, fans that spend their time and money attending games might just be tired of how inept this management is.
And Shelton is inept.
During the introduction of the players and staff on opening day, I don’t recall either Shelton or Haines for that matter receiving a loud applause
Cutch and Bednar received the loudest
So, it could have been some fans booing at the inept manager and not necessarily Bednar
Yeah, and when they cheered that Bradshaw was laying there, writhing in pain, they were actually applauding Noll sending in Joe Gilliam
I get it
Some fans might have fallen into your category. Some.
You make a valid argument, @tiredolderdude. I was trying to look at a fan’s perspective and from a different angle.
As do you, TheMan3. And I get the point both you and maz (above) are making. Innocent enough and yes, a different perspective that’s relevant
Handed the game to them. Even I could see something wrong with that pitcher but somehow the manager left him in there to lose the game. Inexplicable.
Not mentioned in this article , RHP Ryder Ryan was optioned to Indy yesterday and Holderman was activated from the IL, giving the relief staff another potent weapon
Ryan was scored upon 4 times in 5 innings and in my opinion wasn’t worthy of a on the major league roster.
Oscar Marin needs to figure out what is going on with Bednar and until it’s determined, Chapman needs to become the Bucs’ closer
Perez pitched an eight inning masterpiece today until Bednar came in in the ninth and blew his 3rd save opportunity of the young season
Shelton needs to stick to a lineup that produces runs instead of pulling them out of his rear end
One of his hottest hitters sat on the bench today ( Connor Joe) while batting Triolo lead off. He’s not a lead off hitter and takes very few pitches. The lead off hitter should have patience and he doesn’t have any in that spot in the order
As much as I like Tellez, Joe should have played first base today. His bat is too important to sit on the bench
Not only that, but how about a pinch runner for Tellez in the 9th? Why not bring up Joe or Bart to bat for Taylor? Earlier in the game, Greg Brown talked about how good the hitters were on the bench, but they all sat except Cruz. Another poorly managed game and everyone can see Bednar isn’t right. Third blown save already. Such a frustrating loss.
I really don’t think, other than putting in Bednar, Shelton mismanaged anything. Even then, I can see why he put confidence in Bednar for another try. Show some confidence in what has been one of the best relievers the last three seasons. But after this blow-up, I don’t think Bednar is getting another save opportunity until late April, at the earliest. I’m predicting a 10-day IL stint before the start of the series in Philly.
I agree. It’s just the 9th inning that was mismanaged imo. But also, why sit Taylor for three straight games when he was hitting so well? Now he’s back and struggling. I just don’t understand his decision-making at all.
: Bednar, as good as he has been, in previous seasons, would qualify for a long leash.
TO MLB: You hit it on the head!
I forgot about that, @fbf923. You’re right, Shelton should have pinch run for Rowdy in the 9th. I guess Derek thought Rowdy would break up a double play with his lightning speed
During the game Brown said that Williams had been working on his bunting so with Davis on first with no outs, Alike struck out on a check swing instead. It’s almost like Shelton doesn’t manage to win games
It was one choice that’s questionable at worst and they’re 9-3. There really hasn’t been a moment this season where I’ve watched the game and I was like “Why didn’t Shelton do that?” aside from today’s 9th inning. I think there’s some overreaction here.
Remember, Taylor got a late start to Spring Training. He wasn’t signed until March 16th, about four weeks into Spring, and didn’t appear in a game until March 21st, about five weeks into ST. He’s gonna have some stretches where he has some days off to start the season, and with a handful of right-handers starting games after facing a bunch of lefties to start the year, that was probably the best time as ever. Also, I don’t know if I would say that Taylor is “back to struggling.” It was one game, his 10th of the season. Guys are gonna have bad games, whether they’ve had 3 days off, one day off, or have played 100 games in a row.
Until Shelton sat Taylor for 3 consecutive games, he was the team’s most consistent hitter and was tied in the league lead in hits. Then Shelton plays him and he’s out of sync.
I don’t expect this team to win every game but having the lead going into the 9th and losing, is a bitter pill to swallow.
Plus the offense only managed 6 hits until the 9th inning. And against a starter who didn’t make it through the 4th inning in his last start
Suwinski should have been benched for Joe or Rowdy benched for Joe. The latter has been one of the team’s hottest hitters as of late
Again, Taylor didn’t appear in Spring Training games until the fifth week of Spring Training. He’s gonna have some days off in April
I didn’t say “back to struggling,” I said “back and struggling.” He looked so good at the plate prior to his hiatus and today his timing was off and he was struggling. I know it’s just one game and I know he came to spring training late. But why does that matter if he was hitting well in every game since the start of the season? He’s like 33 and in top physical health and he was performing well. Why take three days off?
I think the frustration some of us have with Shelton extends well past this season. So maybe we’re more sensitive to the managerial mistakes he makes. But if you believe in momentum at all for hitters, you must recognize that if a Pirate player seems to have it, Shelton will give him a few days to cool off. He does it all the time and it’s frustrating as hell.
I get your point about Taylor arriving late for spring training but he was still their best hitter in the first 6-7 games and this happened without him playing much during spring training so apparently it didn’t matter.
Every player will have off days but benching your hottest hitter doesn’t help your team win games
It’s an excuse for how Shelton mismanages his lineups
@theman
Taylor was never going to lead the league in hits, if that’s what your implying. He has splits that have made him a platoon player the majority of his career, and his defense, not his offense is his calling card. As to Mize only going 4 innings, its not because of his ability being poor. Its because he just missed 2 years to TJ and back surgury. They are moving cautiously. Finally, if the Pirates are relying on Connor Joe, expect disappointment.
What do you think I am, a. baseball moron? I never suggested Taylor would lead the league in hits for the season, maybe read my opinion again
And Connor Joe has been a more consistent player than Jack, Rowdy, Trilio, Cutch and Davis so far. He might not be the team’s best hitter but this is a team sport and most of those guys aren’t contributing right now like Joe has been doing
I think Rowdy should bunt! LOL!
Mr Shelton is no Sparky Anderson, playing the same 8 guys 90 percent of the time. I realise the Pirates are not loaded with HOF players.
It matters because he still is shaking off off-season rust, even if it doesn’t look like it. His first game of 2024 was March 21st, the Pirates 26th game of Spring Training. He only appeared in 4 games and had less than 10 plate appearances. Honestly I’m not shocked they didn’t start him for three games. I think it was the right call in the end.
Normally I’d say “you must be joking” but in your case, it figures. He’s had numerous occasions where he’s thrown out the baseball logic book in favor of gut feelings, analytics and the nice guy—give the guy a day off—shtick. Not about to give a rundown here—TheMan3 and I make note on almost each Pirates thread—but the bases loaded and no out ordeal against the Orioles Saturday was a classic. Where you would “see no problem” with Shelton’s management, a number of guys like Cutch, Davis, Hayes, Taylor sat the bench in late innings when it was logical to make batting or defensive switches
That’s one example, of course. Yeah, they’re 9-3. In your book, that says it all. But the team wins in spite of their manager, who’s often asleep at the switch.
Ah, fbf, so this logic explains why Bart played consecutive games while Davis sat. Problem is, he came to town and was inserted the next game. And then another. Yeah, nice that he homered and doubled. How did his last two AB’s go?
I laugh at the Taylor commentary here. Yeah. It’s like he’s been sitting, eating bon bons on the couch ever since last season ended
It’d be one thing if Suwinski showed some semblance of improvement at the plate. He hasn’t. Maybe he ate bon bons all winter. So why the allegiance? And while I like Bryan Reynolds, continually playing him in different parts of the OF only lead to misplays as we saw in Sunday’s game
We’re sensitive when Shelton allows better hitters to sit the pine in rbi situations late. We’re sensitive to lineup cards that often come from the lunatic fringe. We’re sensitive for not playing percentages:
-not batting a lefty against a lefty
-bringing in a lefty to face a left handed power hitter
-not bunting a runner up in a late game situation with bats coming up
-not bringing in a pinch hitter capable of hitting a sac fly to win a game
“Frustrating” doesn’t begin to describe it. That some here “see nothing wrong” with the style is just hilarious
Shelton couldn’t manage a win in a stratomatic game. He should of let the starting pitcher at least start the 9th. I’m so sick of these mismanaged pitching moves by a clueless manager. 9-3 is a fantastic start. But they aren’t winning because of Shelton.
I’m with you. I’m excited about this team and I only hope Shelton doesn’t get in the way of their success.
Don’t let STYMEEDONE bother you. He’s a baseball moron whose posts are always stupid. He’s a condescending fool who thinks he’s smarter than everyone else when the exact polar opposite is true!
I hope you’re right…but as the season progresses and IDIOT makes more questionable moves, it’s going to put a damper on a potentially great season. He’s an ANALytic believer. Which I think ruins not only baseball but other sports. ANALytics were dreamt up by geeks who couldn’t throw a baseball 2 feet without getting tendinitis.
He’s not alone, of course. There are many fans—younger fans—who think the numbers supersede the eye test
And as stated to DreamGM a while back, Shelton isn’t alone in this style. He’s an average manager who puts a great deal of faith in such things.
Every manager can have their moves questioned. It’s been this way since the game began. But gone are the days of old style baseball logic
TheMan3 gets laughed at for bemoaning the fact that the bunt is a relic now. And yet, they won a game the other day by using it in extra innings
There are some absolutes that transcend the analytics angle
Offensively, you try to put constant pressure on the defense. On defense you put your best fielders out there to preserve leads. You play percentages where pitching match ups are concerned
And you use your bench
In these regards, Shelton continually fails miserably
But hey, they’re 9-3. Let’s stop complaining
Numbers are going to tell you a more subjective story than the eyetest, that’s why it supersedes them in the eyes of MLB organizations. The eyetest is fully based on opinion. I don’t know what you consider analytics, but in most cases, they’re going to tell you a more unbiased story than the eyetest.
On the point of Taylor, while I get he got off to a hot start, he also went 0-for in his game before the Pirates sat him for three straight. Now would I have sat him for three straight? Maybe two, but probably not three, that is if I was in charge. I also don’t think they’ll sit him for that many games in a row again, unless he is partially injured or something. But the Pirates also faced a vain of right-handed pitchers after facing a vain of left-handed pitchers to start the year, and Taylor is a lot better against LHP than RHP. Like we’re getting on the team for not resting Bednar more to start the year because he had a short Spring and also getting on them for not playing the match-ups better with Tellez, but that’s kind of what they’ve been doing with Taylor by sitting him for a few games.
Agree to disagree here. So much of the basic logic of the game has been lost in the era of the long ball and in a pitching sense, the fastball
I’ll go out on a limb here and say an old school manager, be it Sparky, Earl, Tommy or even Billy Martin, would beat a similarly matched team that relies on analytics
But again, we’re in a new era
I don’t expect younger fans to see the beauty of doing the little things. We’re surely not see them in Pittsburgh, at least, not often
I knew someone would come back with the right handed pitching idea
While that point is well taken in many cases, it’s not pertinent where Shelton is concerned
How do you play Bart two straight games and sit Davis?
How does Cutch sit two straight games and especially in situations that calls for a guy who can hit a fly ball?
It’s not that I’m a Taylor fan, but you can’t use circular logic here and say the guy should sit a couple games or in this case, three. I get that Suwinski *could* explode against a right hander, but truly, he’s done nothing to earn a spot over a guy who’s better defensively and has come through with some hits
Point is, Shelton is all over the road here. His lineups—at least in the final game of many series—almost tend to wave the white flag. For a team that has struggled to win for what seems like eons, that’s outrageous
I generally think spring training is too long, especially when most of these guys begin work outs as the calendar changes. I know MLB itself has considered shortening things
I think the excuse about Taylor is misguided but in Bednar’s case, the injury is a different story
Truthfully, he hasn’t looked the same this year. Physically pitching, that is. Whether it’s a mechanics issue or there is still some lingering pain, who knows?
But like Cutch and Taylor, you signed Chapman. Why sign guys if you’re not going to use them properly?
I like Bednar. I think the boos were reprehensible. I think national media picking up the story—when the crowd was just 10K—was outrageous
But Shelton is here to win games and not soothe egos. Too often times, he forgets his bench
I’ll be very shocked if Taylor ever sits out more than two games at a time if he’s not injured. They’re taking it slow with Taylor after his super late start to Spring Training, and that’s fine. I don’t know if I agree with sitting him for three games in a row, but any team is going to take it slow for a player who saw less than 10 plate appearances during Spring. Jordan Montgomery didn’t make his 2024 debut until yesterday at Triple-A. J.D. Martinez also just made his minor league 2024 debut. Blake Snell just made his 2024 debut with the Giants and was kept to just three innings. Would you rather have him play the first week of the 2024 season at Triple-A?
The bunt is a lost action in today’s baseball strategy. Like moving the runner up,the stolen base. The pitch out another lost strategy. Baseball in its efforts to shorten the game to appease the fans,is unknowingly destroying a lot of managerial strategy. NOT LIKE SHELTON KNOWS OR WILL EVER KNOW BASEBALL STRATEGY
Right now, the Pirates average the most sac-hits per game on average, which isn’t too disimilar from last year when they had the 3rd most sac-hits per game on average, or in 2022 when they had the 8th highest sac-hits per game rate. We’re not stealing nearly as often as last year, but we don’t really have that many fast guys. Only Triolo and Cruz are above the 80th percentile in sprint speed in baseball, but they’re probably not going to have Cruz steal too much this year given his ankle injury last year.
@mlb1225 I’m not anti-analytics, but at some point—often at crucial points in the game—managers have to manage. Analytics for game planning, sure. Analytics when the situation seems so obvious that a bunch of guys on a message board all see the same solution to a game scenario, maybe not. Otherwise, why do you even need a manager? Just use AI to run the game. At some point, the manager has to make a decision that supersedes the analytics and that’s where I see Shelton failing more often than he succeeds.
mlb relies a great deal on numbers to form opinions. Again, he’s not alone as this is where the game has gone
Situational strategy is a lost art
It relies less on a given player’s foot speed as opposed to placing a great deal of pressure on defenses
I’ve discussed it—as have others—until the face becomes blue. Unless basepaths have been shortened, the ability to put that pressure on a defense remains but is pushed to the back seat in hopes of a long ball
The most natural example is extra innings. Runner at second base. You would think managers would see bunting the runner to 3rd as a natural. Then all you need is a fly ball
And yet, you rarely see this. It’s comical that in girls softball, it’s almost automatic
There are many other instances that involve situational steal attempts, hit and run, hitting to the opposite field and the like. These are basic tenets of the game that still would be effective but have been pushed aside in favor of power
No amount of numbers will change this thinking, and to analytics lovers, it’s almost like speaking a different language.
Shelton would have said that he wouldn’t use Chapman because he had pitched the game before, despite to only 2 batters that he struck out on only 8 pitches if someone had asked why he didn’t use him
Funny that he used Bednar in consecutive game save situations last year
Of course I am speculating but he’s very predictable and always has an excuse that doesn’t make sense
He very much wants to be the “players’ manager” that Leyland was, a guy who looks out for his players. Days off, allowing them to hit or pitch in situations where either the percentages go against it or as a confidence building tactic after some tough outings. That’s nice but he not only doesn’t have Leyland’s—or Hurdle’s—roster, he’s supposedly trying to turn around a franchise that’s been sinking for years
These actions lose a great many games and when you look back on a season, they sure add up
I don’t get the Bednar decisions as much as I don’t get the days off or starting Bart two successive games while your top draft choice, who’s looked much better this season(including spring training) and who knows the pitchers—a real plus in late innings of close games—rides the pine. The Taylor situation, Cutch warming the bench in obvious pinch hit situations at the very least, continually batting overmatched Tellez or Suwinski against left handed pitchers—-I’m still trying to understand fans who preface their thoughts with “I see no problem…”
I don’t know if I’d say that Davis has looked much better this season than Bart, at least during the regular season. Davis is making good swing choices, but he looks lost at anything in the top of the zone.
Davis has been impressive behind the plate and his handling of the pitching staff, despite the efforts of critics that said he wouldn’t
His batting has thus far regressed from last year. Yes it’s early, but he is swinging at pitches either above the zone or below the zone, and is so far 5 for 35 with 2 doubles and 2 runs batted in
That all said, part of his failures at the plate can be attributed to where Shelton puts him in the lineup. Hr had been penciled in at the #5 or 6 spot when he’s clearly a #7 or 8 hitter
Batting higher is putting pressure on him to produce runs and it’s clearly not working
Dear God. Are we watching the same game?
I didn’t say Davis was ready to challenge for batting crowns or that he would be a home run hitter. But you drafted the kid number one overall. You gave him no opportunity -zero-behind the plate last year, his natural position. You go to spring training with the idea of improving his catching. Endy gets hurt and it becomes paramount
By all accounts, he caught well. His hitting can still improve but you drafted him thanks to his bat. You messed with the kid’s head in ‘23 and it again looks like the road they’ll proceed upon
You don’t play Bart, a guy who has drastically underachieved for SF (see story and threads) for two straight games as soon as he gets off the train
You don’t catch him in the late innings of those two close games as he has to handle pitchers he’s never had experience with before
You don’t bat him twice in late innings, after two poor at bats and with big bats on the bench is a close game
What is the overall message they are sending to Davis here, anyway?
Oddly enough, I read last year that players really didn’t want days off, but didn’t want to complain because their belief is the manager knows what is best for the team.
My belief, players can have days off depends upon the pitching matchup, an injury that doesn’t require a trip to the IL or when there’s no games scheduled
Otherwise they can rest when the season is over
Agreed 100%
And I think in Shelton’s case, the strange lineups mess with players’ heads
To me, Davis’s problems at the plate last year were very much in line with playing an unnatural position *and* the days off idea
I try to imagine what guys like Taylor and Cutch were thinking after last weekend.
This new era idea of “load management” I believe started in the NBA and has a disciple in Shelton.
I dunno. I think I understand it more for NBA players than MLB’s
Stumpf
Forearm tightness and a groin strain… hmmmm, been there, done that
The Cardinals really need Edman, Carlson, or Nootbaar for centerfield. Scott is way overmatched by big league pitching. He needs to go back to Memphis.
You got a lot of Talent on the Injury list. Miss watching those guys play!
Pirate fans: QUIT COMPLAINING! You are in first place! Heads Up!!!!!
You are worthy of being muted Super
consider it done
I understand his thought, TheMan3. He just has a short memory. At one point last season, they were 20-8
Gipson-Long’s injury is concerning, but I’m more concerned about Kreidler. Can that dude catch a break? No pun intended….
I keep hoping they do something about Baez and Kreidler comes in to save the season.
After last night, I’ll say it again; catch Davis and let the kid get settled, physically and mentally. He’s going to be fine unless Shelton insists on playing him two games and then sitting him the next two
Why is Jack batting cleanup? He has 5 hits in 36 plate appearances and only 3 runs batted in
Today in the 3rd inning with runners at 2nd and third he does what he does best
Called third strike
I agree with you about Davis though. His bat is starting come around but he still has a tendency of taking strike three which I again have to question whether these players even know where the strike zone is or if they are taught to protect the plate when the pitch is borderline
I blame this lead loss on Shelton for switching the 8th inning pitcher to the 7th inning pitcher
And of course there’s the countless called third strikes and batting left handed hitters against left handed pitchers. It’s worth repeating, Suwinski has no reason for batting against lefties
It’s as if Shelton really doesn’t want to win
Cutch, Triolo and Bart, all righties sit on the bench watching their teammates strike out and repeatedly
As usual, we think alike here. If it’s not his strange line-ups, it’s his failure to manage in strategic situations
It’s funny. The entire town was all over Bednar after his rough patch and after Friday night’s outing, you’d think we’d hear the same about Chapman
In theory, I get the thinking of why he’s in the game in the 7th. Get the Phillies left handed power hitters out, bring in Holderman in the 8th and close with Bednar
But like Friday, he stayed way too long with Chapman, and how is he pitching to Bohm?
Aside: if you’re a fan and interning to Joe Block, you’re lost. To hear him justify Chapman as being a ‘high strikeout, high walk’ pitcher should earn him a spot in the PR Hall of Fame
Sell those tickets, Joe. Never mind the obvious
“Interning?”
Uh…listening
Sheesh
Joe Block is not a native yinzer or had no Pirate connection before joining the broadcast team
Every one else on the broadcast team has either played for the Bucs or are born and raised yinzers
For those reasons and for much of his inferior knowledge about the franchise, I pay no attention to him when he calls a game
through nine innings, 10 strikeouts, 5 called third strikes
Five hits through 9 innings in pathetic and they deserve to lose
Someone has to explain why Shelton didn’t use, Taylor, Triolo, Cutch or Bart as pinch hitters yesterday when facing left handed pitchers?
Tellez and Jack each struck out twice against lefties
Connor Joe struck out looking once against a lefty
It’s almost like Shelton doesn’t want to win
15 games in and there are some things that jump out at you
Impressed by their starting pitching so far
That’s the big take away, no doubt, and it harkens back to their 20-8 start last year
Reynolds, Hayes, Cruz give them some offensive hope
Davis, Triolo evolving, however slowly
Olivares a nice surprise and Taylor in center is a plus. And Joe has performed well
But Shelton is still Shelton
Suwinski looks like the Jack he has been at the plate since he got here.
Is it just me or does Cruz fail to get grounders in the hole that good shortstops get to?
And while I think Davis is progressing behind the plate, a guy like Chapman pitching really magnifies this shortcomings, no? Often has trouble blocking balls in dirt or has glove at wrong angle.
Today they face Wheeler. Will be interesting
Wheeler, unless he’s not on his game will easily strike out in double digits
Here’s another question, why doesn’t allow certain pitchers to go more than one inning?
Stratton is always limited to one inning as is Chapman but Ortiz and Contrares pitch multiple innings per game
Yes, Cruz under plays his position, and regularly. I don’t know if it’s due to his size or his ability.
The angle that Davis places his glove when it appears that the pitch is likely to hit the ground, I think is part of his problem. Other catchers in our organization try to smother the ball, Davis positions his glove with the thought that the ball will bounce into it and often it’s called a passed ball
Lastly, several of the hitters tend to check swing more often than not and often times they can’t hold the bat back enough which contributes to striking out
It only took 5 innings for Wheeler to reach double digits in strike outs, five so far, looking
Granted Wheeler is an exceptional pitcher, after seeing his pitches once through the order the hitters should have an idea where the pitch will end up.
Cruz leads the team with 25 strikeouts in 13 games. He’s on pace to strike out 311 times if he can’t change his approach
Haines has become a failure as hitting coach as this offense isn’t any better than it was last year