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Bill Brink's noon Pirates chat: 7.11.18
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Bill Brink
12:38
Three years running, yes. Much different from 2015.
Hippo
12:38
Serious question Bill, why with record attendance between 2013-2015 and a team that won 98 games did Nutting slash payroll and not build on it? It makes no sense to me or lots of fans. Nobody expected him to field a 150 million dollar payroll but to start the next season with Niese and Vogelsong? Just awful Bill.
Bill Brink
12:41
This was a salient question at the time and it remains one. They thought they could get away with Vogelsong, Nicasio and Rodriguez, which wasn't going to work. I thought at the time, and I've run this by Pirates people and they agree, that Niese should have been better than he was -- better defense than the Mets, better ballpark to pitch in -- but clearly that didn't work, and moving the outfielders in compounded it all. But yes, it would stand to reason that more should have been done to build on 2015.
seferg
12:42
Do any of the current Pirates batters choke up on the bat?  Watching the 79 series Foli, Moreno and maybe others choked up on the bat and they did pretty well.  Any reason this seems to be a lost art?
Bill Brink
12:43
I will direct your attention to Corey Dickerson, who at any given point has between one and four inches of the handle protruding beneath his right pinky. He believes in grinding his way on base consistently and likes watching Joey Votto do it.
Hippo
12:43
Would mass protests work? Like a huge social media groundswell gathering in front of PNC Park with signs?
Bill Brink
12:44
This attendance drop has to get their attention because it's going to directly affect their revenue. That, I would think, is the surest way to register discontent.
Tommy
12:44
Do you think Meadows struggles the past month have anything to do with inconsistent playing time? He seemed to be in a rhythm but now he isn’t.
Bill Brink
12:44
Not entirely, but in conjunction with pitchers having more of a book on him now, that is likely part of it.
Hippo
12:44
Bill do you think Huntington or Coonelly read the negative articles and columns when Zeise or Cook or Starkey write them? Do you think they read the dozens of comments from the fans? I'm curious to know your thoughts on that. They must glance at them right?
Bill Brink
12:47
The Pirates prepare a package of clips from local and national media regarding their team that is available to the front office. Whether they choose to read some or all of it, I don't know. They have been aware in the past when something is written that they feel is unfair or inaccurate. Sometimes it's helpful (I once miscalculated a pro-rated dollar amount in a trade and was grateful to hear about it) and sometimes not as much, like when they challenged Gene Collier's reporting on their TV deal.
Chris
12:48
Bill do you see any light in the near future on fixing our  our pitching staff both starters and the bullpen?
Bill Brink
12:49
In the sense that I think some of the pitchers are just better than this, yes. I think Taillon is much better than his numbers. I think Williams is better than what he's done recently. I'n not saying the numbers are not accurately depicting how they've pitched, more that there is underlying talent that will lead to better production.
JT
12:49
What are the chances they trade Filipe? Do we have anyone that has value to another club where we could get a decent prospect?
Bill Brink
12:49
Decent to good, especially with the cost certainty of his extension. Hard-throwing relievers are risky.
12:50
I should say, decent to good at some point during his tenure here. I don't think it's as likely right now.
mark
12:51
Hi Bill.  Thank you for the chat.  Has anyone mentioned to Huntington that his theory of delaying the start of a player's arbitration clock as long as possible is not working? #trysomethingdifferent #thedefinitionofinsanity
Bill Brink
12:53
Recently, no, I don't think anyone has mentioned it to him. We were talking Monday about how the Nationals had Juan Soto, a 19-year-old who started the year in low-A, and Jefry Rodriguez, who started in double-A, playing, and how unlikely it would be that the Pirates would do such a thing. Not to advocate rushing young players, but highlighting a difference in organizational philosophy, and worth considering if you're the Pirates.
Lightning round. Go.
Hippo
12:55
Branson gone after the season?
Bill Brink
12:56
The regression from Bell has been troubling. Same, to an extent, with Harrison, though Harrison kind of is what he is. Ditto Mercer. The early offense was impressive and the strikeout numbers are among the best in the league, but it's possible they make a change.
Hippo
12:57
Dickerson starting here next season?
Bill Brink
12:57
That is an excellent question. They could trade him if they don't want to pay him in arbitration, which is entirely possible given ownership's payroll numbers and this year's attendance. They could also want Meadows to play every day.
12:59
That's it for today, thanks for all the great questions! We'll do this again next week (time TBD due to All-Star game travel).
#Chesterin2018
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