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Bill Brink's Pirates chat: 04.24.19
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Rick in Orlando
12:22
Buster Olney said the other night that the Pirates can stay in the race because of their starting pitching. From what I've seen it may keep them in most games but the lack of any consistent hitting and below avrage defense will drag the Bucs below 500 again. Thoughts?
Bill Brink
12:24
They need to hope they stay afloat until Dickerson and Marte get back, because if they fall into too big of a hole, I'm not sure if they dig out of it the way their lineup is constructed and producing right now. The defense could continue to be a problem, although with Tucker, they might have their best defensive shortstop.
Moe Szyslak
12:24
will Gonzalez ever play SS for the Buccos again?
Bill Brink
12:24
I'm sure he will, but your point stands: When he's back, the job might not be his.
Rick in Orlando
12:24
I like Tucker at short as he has range and a bit of pop in his bat. I believe Newman and Gonzalez are in way over their heads with weak bats and gloves. I've been beating the drum for Kang to go to short but his Mendoza line BA has nixed that idea for now. Thoughts?
Bill Brink
12:26
I'd agree with most everything you just said: Like Tucker at short, Newman and Gonzalez did not play good defense and did not make up for it offensively, the way Kang is hitting does not merit trying to force him somewhere.
BobbyToledo
12:26
When is Reyes getting shipped back to AAA? Other than that awesome catch in left, he hasn't matched last year's sizzle.
Bill Brink
12:26
Right now he's the backup shortstop. Once that changes, he might be back in the minors.
Mike
12:26
Bill looking back at last year's trade do you think it was a mistake for Huntington to trade of Austin Meadows and Tyler Glasnow for Archer.  I really think we could use Meadows' bat right now.
Bill Brink
12:27
I don't think it was a mistake mostly because of the Glasnow part of the trade. Meadows was always going to hurt to lose. They'd tried most everything with Glasnow and it wasn't clicking. They're happy that it has, but it just wasn't working in Pittsburgh.
Bill
12:27
Is Newman guaranteed to come back after rehab? I think he offers more on the bench than Reyes, if he can play OF somewhat decently.
Bill Brink
12:28
I don't see a scenario where Newman doesn't come back after rehab.
Larry G
12:28
With Diaz back. What do you think the catching splits will be. I assume Cervelli will also get some time at 1st against lefties.
Bill Brink
12:29
Cervelli will get the majority of the starts, but they'll feel better about resting him with Diaz on the roster.
James
12:29
I know evaluators believe Tucker overcame a bad shoulder injury enough to stay at short, but his throwing motion kind of looks funny; is this due to the past injury and surgery?
Bill Brink
12:29
Good question, and I don't know. I didn't see enough of him throwing pre-surgery to adequately compare the two. Could be.
Halo
12:29
Bill why couldn't Bob Nutting just allocate like $20 million more for some needed bats? Payroll would have still been very low(the way he likes it smh) but the offense would be better. Watching our pathetic bats do nothing most nights while our starting pitching is dominating is super frustrating!! Nutting failed this team agree Bill?
Bill Brink
12:31
There are legitimate criticisms to be made of Nutting's payrolls, but I won't fault him for 37 players getting hurt in the first month of the season. We knew Polanco was out; they got Chisenhall, which didn't cost them much but profiled as an adequate fill-in. The real issue was shortstop; they could have spent more/traded for a more experienced one.
Bill
12:31
If Steven Brault was right-handed, would he be in the majors? I know we don't have many LH options, but he is just not good enough out of the pen--IMO
Bill Brink
12:31
He wasn't going to be until Burdi got hurt, and look at his usage: Hurdle was trying to stay away from him.
James
12:32
Based purely on performance, Brault seemed like an odd choice to bring back; was this a matter of timing, or do they still prefer him over the likes of Feliz and Neverauskas, despite him not appearing in a game in a while?
Bill Brink
12:32
If they kept Brault down, they couldn't go get him unless someone else went on the IL, whereas they can go get those two whenever now.
James
12:32
Excited for Endgame?
Bill Brink
12:32
Very. Might go see it midnight Thursday in L.A.
12:33
But I haven't seen Captain Marvel yet. I saw Us instead on the off day in Chicago. So I don't know.
Hank
12:34
With virtually every other MLB team signing players to extensions this off-season/season; do you think the bucs will extend anyone this season? Tallion, Williams, Musgrove, & Bell seem like they would be could candidates. Who do you think is most likely if any?
Bill Brink
12:35
Those are the ones that jump out. I don't think Taillon, who is the union rep and keyed in to the notion of raising the arbitration standards, will, nor will Bell, a Boras client. The other two could.
Captain Crunch
12:35
Hey Bill love the chats. Last season the Pirates were 26-17 and then the roof caved in. They have already lost 3 in a row and the offense looks inept. Is the roof caving in starting a little earlier this year? Heading to LA after these losses is asking for trouble in my opinion.
Bill Brink
12:36
Thanks, Captain! I won't say the roof is caving in just yet. They're still pitching really well, and Dickerson and Marte could be back soon, so there are brighter days ahead.
12:37
Lightning round. Go.
Don Orris
12:38
3 quickies for ya: Does Cervelli get traded before the deadline?Is Kang gonna still be playing every day by the end of the season? Does Reynolds stay up with the club the rest of the year? He's hitting well.
Bill Brink
12:38
No; yes?; no.
Cj
12:38
Do you believe they will get into the playoffs?
Bill Brink
12:39
I hate to discount a team so early, but if I had to make a call, I'd say no.
James
12:39
Is Tucker's service manipulated at some point this season? Needs about another month down to skirt Super 2.
Bill Brink
12:40
That's another excellent question and I think it depends on how well he plays. I used to think the Pirates were hard and fast on Super Two until they called up Meadows last year. So now there might be some wiggle room.
That's it for today, thanks for all the questions! Nubyjas will do this with you next week from Arlington. Don't forget to send me mailbag questions for Monday, @BrinkPG on Twitter or bbrink@post-gazette.com.
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