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Bill Brink's Pirates chat: 02.27.19
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Bill Brink
11:44
Good morning and welcome to this week's Pirates chat. We'll start at noon, but you can begin submitting questions now.
11:52
I'll answer the questions as I get to them, so don't worry if you don't see yours right away.
12:00
Thanks for the questions, and keep them coming. Here we go ...
Blackhawk Bob
12:02
Do you think the Pirates players question the commitment to winning by team ownership ?
Bill Brink
12:03
I know McCutchen questioned the strategy when he was here, and we heard Taillon say he would love it if the Pirates were in on everybody at PiratesFest, and last year Freese questioned the organization's commitment to winning as whole, and Rodriguez called out ownership at PiratesFest last year, so gleaning from those four on-the-record examples that I can recall, I'll say yes, in some instances, but I don't think it's a clubhouse-wide thing.
ke'bryan mays hayes
12:03
With Elias Diaz probably starting the season on the IL, we'll see Jacob Stallings on the 25-man roster. Do you anticipate any moves to restructure his contract so that he can bounce between Pittsburgh and Indianapolis now that he's out of minor league options?
Rick
12:03
What is the Pirates plan for catching depth.  Are they leaning towards keeping Stallings?  Would they be able to stash him in AAA if not?  What's the plan b if he's not on ML roster and gets claimed by another team?
Bill Brink
12:07
Good day for these questions, Ke'Bryan and Rick, as we just learned that Diaz is not participating in baseball activities because of an undisclosed illness. We don't know whether or not Diaz will start the year on the DL, but we do know it's now a possibility. Unfortunately for the Pirates, Stallings' contract has nothing to do with his ability to go to the minors without being exposed to waivers. Because he's out of options, they'd have to remove him from the 40-man and expose him to waivers, and my guess would be that someone in need of catching depth snags him. Even if he clears, he's been outrighted before, so he could reject the assignment, become a free agent and sign with a team that has a major league opening. Plan B would be Arden Pabst, Steve Baron and/or Christian Kelley, or possibly a catcher who's not on the roster yet.
Justin
12:07
How has Erik Gonzalez looked so far on both sides of the ball?  Has there been any talk of a swing change with him?  Pretty sure he's had a high exit velo and absurdly low launch angle so far in his career and adding loft would  make him a lot more interesting.
Bill Brink
12:14
Gonzalez ranked 105th in exit velo among players who had at least 100 PAs last year, out of 390, so in the upper quarter-ish. But he ranked 377th out of 390 in launch angle, at 3.3 degrees on average. Good looking out, Justin. I'd imagine Rick Eckstein and Jacob Cruz will try to put him in a better position to do damage, and while I don't think he'll be a constant home-run threat with a big uppercut, they'll help him maximize his swing arc and where he impacts the ball to get it in the air a bit more. Unfortunately I'm at a coffee shop in Pittsburgh and haven't seen him play an actual game, but I will when I go back in early March.
Rick
12:14
In the post Cutch Pirates era, are there any potential breakout stars in the system with peak Cutch star potential?  Pirates seem more interested in depth than top end talent.  To my mind Oneil Cruz and maybe Hayes are the only players in the system  without big breakout potential.  Are there any others?
Bill Brink
12:16
Cruz and maybe Ke'Bryan Hayes are the two that come to mind. I think Hayes can add more power as he gets older.
Mark
12:16
Hey Bill.  What's big Joe M's status?  Will he be pitching soon?
Bill Brink
12:16
So far, so good, just taking things deliberately after offseason surgery.
bweber183@comcast.net
12:16
Are Bill Virdon and "Spanky" (Mike L.) helping this year?
Bill Brink
12:16
I did not see Bill, and I did not hear Spanky, because I'd hear him before I'd see him. Maz was in uniform, was as Blass.
PhillyJake
12:17
This isn't the first time Diaz has been sidelined by illness, is it?
Bill Brink
12:17
He had an infection in his leg in 2016.
12:19
What other questions do we have today?
PhillyJake
12:20
Too early in preseason to form any good questions!
Bill Brink
12:20
True true. Not much has happened yet.
IndyFan
12:20
Happy (baseball) New Year Bill, glad to have you and these chats back! I think it's going to be a very exciting year here in Indy this year. I think the whole future infield will be here, starting with day 1, Hays, Tucker, Kramer, and Craig, what do you think?
Bill Brink
12:21
Glad to be back with yinz. I agree that will be Indy's starting infield but I'm not as convinced that'll be the starting infield in the majors. Hayes, yes, Tucker, probably. Kramer, unclear, with Frazier, and Bell still has the potential to be a good offensive first baseman.
Rick
12:21
Whats the organization's rationale for doubling the DR academy?  Given the spending limits on international signings, it just seems like another depth play as everyone is competing in the same talent pool.  And where are the fruits of DR academy in the may of MLB ready players?
Bill Brink
12:22
Their rationale is to invest in sustainable endeavors that will affect the maximum number of players rather than spend big on a couple players who will be gone soon or that they'd have to trade. It's the way they choose to maximize their limited resources (some of which are self-imposed).
Bill
12:22
Do you think Brault has a real chance at being #5?
Bill Brink
12:23
They'd like it to be Lyles, but if Brault is the best of the three and his mechanics changes look legit, he's got a shot. They gave the fifth starter job to Nicasio one spring when he was so good, he forced their hand.
BobbyToledo
12:23
Brault is such a strong reliever, why do they even waste their time trying him as a starter?
Bill Brink
12:24
In case of an injury to a starter, they'll have another pitcher stretched out and ready to go at the end of camp. They're doing it with Kingham, Davis, Holmes too.
Rick
12:24
Whats the early word on Lyles?  Is he looking primed for 5th starter or will they consider using a bridge?
Bill Brink
12:25
They would like for him to win the job, and it's only been one outing so far, so I don't think much has changed.
BobbyToledo
12:25
Does Kang have a legit chance to win the third base job?
Bill Brink
12:25
Absolutely.
Rick
12:25
Follow up on DR -- but they haven't signed or developed anyone significant in DR in years.  Is this just a PR play?
Bill Brink
12:25
I don't think Nutting would spend free money from the sale of BAMTech for a PR play. This is probably aimed to address the fact that they haven't done as good of a job in the DR in recent years.
Bill
12:26
Why do you think Cervelli is getting time at 3B specifically?  Between JHK and Moran, I would think that was locked up from an organizational standpoint.  Usually catchers adapt better to 1B as well.
Bill Brink
12:26
Sounds like they want him to get ABs but not be behind the plate, so they're finding ways to mix him in, while possibly seeing what they've got if continued head injuries force him off catcher.
BobbyToledo
12:26
How has the Cleveland contingent — Melky, Lonnie, and Erik — looked so far?
Bill Brink
12:27
They've shown up for the first four games, so that's a good start. It's too early to glean much. We'll have a better idea as camp goes on.
Shrek
12:27
I was at the game against Philly Saturday. Was nice to hear Bucs fans cheering McCutchen. When Polonco is healthy, are we expecting him to push Chisenhall to the bench? Whats the deal with Melky?
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