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Bill Brink's Pirates chat: 02.13.19
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Bill Brink
11:26
Good morning from rainy Bradenton and welcome to today's Pirates chat. We'll get going at noon, but you can begin submitting questions now.
12:01
Thanks for the questions, and keep them coming. Here we go ...
Michael
12:01
if gonzalez wins the ss job does newman backup or go to aaa?
Bill Brink
12:04
My guess would be he'll be a bench guy. Hurdle likes having multiple guys who can play shortstop, so unless they go get someone, Newman seems like that guy
Nutting to See
12:04
Bill, so the owner of the franchise cannot clear his schedule to face the dreaded fans once a year at the biggest promotional event? What did Pittsburgh do to deserve this guy?
Bill Brink
12:04
I was surprised he wasn't there, after attending the year before.
Matt P
12:04
With how low the salary cap is. Do you think this leaves room for the Pirates to make big splashes at the trade deadline if they are in contention?
Bill Brink
12:05
They've got plenty of room in relation to where they finished last year, but the fact that they haven't spent it tells us either they don't want to or they can't, with maybe attendance affecting it. I would have said no in the past, but then they made the Archer trade.
Too Tall Ball
12:05
Bill, how will we see you and Nubyjas dividing up coverage of the Bucs this year?  Will you both be doing chats throughout the season?
Bill Brink
12:06
We'll be splitting it up pretty evenly, home and road. We're going to alternate chats and inboxes, which reminds me: Send me questions for the first inbox of the season at bbrink@post-gazette.com.
Mike
12:06
What is the chance of Keller cracking the rotation this spring??
Bill Brink
12:06
He won't make the team out of spring, but he could come up in June or July, after the Super Two deadline passes and after a more seasoning in triple-A.
Too Tall Ball
12:06
What are your thoughts on the Melky signing, in terms of his chances to make the team and how Clint would likely use him if he does go north with the club?
Bill Brink
12:08
He can still hit, for sure, though I don't know if an everyday role is realistic (though he played 156 games in 2016 with a .746 OPS and 17 homers). A fourth outfield type would be my guess, insurance for Chisenhall's calf injuries or just another OF option in general, and I think he has a good chance of making the team.
Larry in KY
12:08
The 2018 season started in March -- never seen that before.  Why did that happen?
Bill Brink
12:09
The most recent collective bargaining agreement added four more off days to give players more rest. That and the addition of the wild-card game required the season to start a bit earlier.
Michael
12:09
is nick burdi good enough to keep on the roster for the first 2 months of the season?
Bill Brink
12:09
Don't know. Too small of a sample size in the majors last year to tell. This spring should tell us more.
12:10
From our friend Kayla, a frequent Twitter-er who unfortunately had to go to lunch during the chat: "Do you think Frazier will fill the role in at 2nd nicely?"
12:11
I do. I was impressed with his defensive improvement in the second half of last year, because it was an adventure out there at times. The adjustment of the hands in the minor leagues really took hold after July 25, when he came back to the majors for good, and while I don't think he'll hit quite as well as he did in August and September, I think he'll produce offensively.
Richard
12:12
Any chance pirates still sign a big time free agent,like keuchel or Iglesias.  Since they’re  not going to get what they want.
Bill Brink
12:12
Iglesias more likely than Keuchel, who is looking for more years and money and the Pirates don't need a starter enough to go that high. Iglesias would make a ton of sense, though they say their scouts really like Erik Gonzalez.
Richard
12:12
Can Kang and Moran give us a strong one two punch at third. Similar or better then Moran and Freese.
Bill Brink
12:13
That'll be interesting, because Kang has reverse platoon splits, so it won't be a strict lefty-righty thing, and we also have to see how Kang holds up and produces after nearly two years off. That would be a big help if that were the case, though.
Richard
12:14
Are the liriano and Cabrera moves good moves or waste of time?
Bill Brink
12:14
Good moves. Hard to qualify a minor league deal as a waste of time, it's not like they're taking away reps from someone more deserving. Liriano has a history of being good here and Cabrera has hit well for a long time.
Richard
12:14
What’s the chance Liriano makes the rotation as our left handed starter.
Bill Brink
12:14
I don't think it's likely. I see him as a reliever.
Pete K
12:14
If you were Clint Hurdle, and today was opening day, what would be your Lineup?
Bill Brink
12:14
Lemme think.
...
12:17
Frazier 4 Marte 8 Dickerson 7 Bell 3 Cervelli 2 Moran 5 Chisenhall 9 Gonzalez 6 Taillon 1
Not perfect, but a good start
Canyon swartz
12:17
Do you think cervelli can hit 20 homers like he wants too?
Bill Brink
12:18
I think he can if he stays on the field, yes.
PhillyJake
12:18
Wither Nick Kingham's Pirates career?
Bill Brink
12:18
He'll get a chance in relief this year because he's out of options (unless they trade him before the end of spring) so I'm not quite ready to say that.
Nutting to See
12:18
Hayes seems to lack the power potential to be the long term answer at third, no?
Bill Brink
12:19
I will agree with you that it hasn't shown yet, but he just turned 22, and I'll never rule out power for a 22-year-old. It takes time to develop, and time to figure out how to tap into it.
Pete K
12:21
Same lineup I drew up, except I pencilled in Kang.. maybe a little over-hopeful
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