You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Bill Brink's Pirates chat: 10.3.18
powered byJotCast
View Full Chat Next Page
Bill Brink
11:41
Good morning and welcome to our offseason Pirates chat. We'll get going at noon, but you can begin submitting questions now.
12:00
Thanks for the questions, and keep them coming. Here we go ...
Austin
12:00
The main focus for the Pirates outside of adding a lefty in the bullpen is obviously to lengthen out the lineup, what position should the Pirates look to upgrade the most and who do you feel are options? Brian Dozier?
Bill Brink
12:03
So here's the tricky part. You're right -- lengthening the lineup, ideally adding some power, would be a huge help. But as we look around the diamond, with the exception of shortstop, we see a lot of possible incumbents. Let's assume Polanco is back in relatively short order: He, Marte and Dickerson in the outfield; Cervelli and Diaz behind the plate, Frazier probably at second. I don't think Bell's going anywhere at first. Which brings us to Colin Moran at third, and I wouldn't speculate about getting rid of a young player they acquired in high-profile trade who just completed his first full year in the majors, except that twice in September, Huntington alluded to it. "If he's the guy next year," he said in Milwaukee, and in Cincinnati he talked about Kang possibly beating Moran out. Keep in mind Kang is not guaranteed yet to be under contract for next year. So that's the spot I'm keeping an eye on. Moran did hit 18 homers in half a season in the minors last year (Pacific Coast League caveat) so it's not lik
12:04
Wow. Ran out of room. Not like there's no power, but that's the position I'm looking at.
Frederick Warren
12:04
I’m very excited about the 2019 Pirates; should I talk to my psychiatrist?
Bill Brink
12:06
There's reason for optimism, to be sure. I don't know that Williams and Taillon will quite continue the runs they went on, but I believe both will be very good again. Archer should be better with some experience in the division and with his catchers. I think a full season of Musgrove, if he stays healthy, will be good, and while bullpens are unpredictable, the pieces are there for a strong back end. The defense looked better in the second half. So did Frazier. But they need some offense, and some power, and they need more consistency, and as we just saw, 86-76 won't get it done in this division. They'll need 90 wins, and I don't know if it's a 90-win team right now.
Austin
12:06
Do you think the Pirates need to add a lefty in the rotation like a Patric Corbin or do you feel with the expected arrival of Mitch Keller that it is not necessarily or viable?
Bill Brink
12:09
I don't think they need a lefty in the rotation just for the sake of having a lefty. Patrick Corbin, in particular, is a different story. He's going to finish anywhere from fourth through sixth in the Cy Young voting, I'd bet, and is an excellent pitcher. Given that rotation is not a dire need, I don't see the Pirates paying what it'll take, but he would make any rotation better, for sure. As we've see frequently and as Brent Honeywell and Jose De Leon reminded us this spring, relying on a young pitcher is dicey, but Keller appears to be someone who can be a viable contributor soon.
NHarri05
12:10
What are some realistic external options to increase power production?
Bill Brink
12:11
Matt Adams, DJ LeMahieu (ish, for a 2B), Brian Dozier, Donaldson, Michael Brantley.
Mark
12:12
Bill, I think the Pirates would be a contender in 2019 if they can somehow obtain a power hitting shortstop.  I realize they don't come cheap but is there any out there that are possible, assuming the Pirates are willing to pay.  Also, if Kang can return to his 2015 power hitting, is he an option for shortstop?  Thanks.
Lee Foo
12:12
So....is there a SS out there that we can get that will be an upgrade over Newman either offensively OR defensively? I can't find any, at least any that we can realistically trade for or sign in Free Agency. Can you?
Bill Brink
12:15
Similar questions, so I'll take them together. Outside of Machado, there aren't many. Galvis has a little pop. Teams with power-hitting shortstops are generally not in a position to trade them because having a power-hitting shortstop makes teams really good (Lindor, Correa, Story, Baez, etc.). What they can do is find a lockdown defender, like Jose Iglesias or Hechavarria, take the value added on the defensive side of the ball and find offense elsewhere. Huntington has ruled out Kang at shortstop.
Evil Dave
12:15
Are there any candidates you would like to see for hitting instructor?
Bill Brink
12:16
Best to wait until after the postseason to see which staffs are returning intact and which are breaking up. There will be several available given the managerial turnover with the Angels, Twins, Reds and elsewhere.
Tim
12:16
Is Jung-Ho Kang a Pirate in 2019
OUbucn
12:16
Will Jung Ho Kang be the opening day third baseman?
Jaff Ted from Weirton
12:16
Do we know if the Pirates are trying to negotiate a deal to bring back Jung ho for less than the $5+M option? Given the lack of power and how Colin Laroche disappointed, seems eminently sensible to see if Jung ho has some magic left in him.
Bill Brink
12:19
Best guess now is yes. If you're another team, you're looking at a 31-year-old third baseman with three DUI convictions and a sexual assault allegation (no charges filed) who, save for three games, has not played in the majors in two years, with a serious knee surgery and a minor wrist surgery in recent years, and who knows how his visa issues play out next spring? But the Pirates have a history with him and he fills an obvious need. Judging from the way Huntington has talked about it, it sounds as though they'll decline the option and try to bring him back for less.
Guest
12:19
Bill while credit should be given to the GM for the starting pitching staff & how they pitched for most of 2018, how can anyone have any hope for 2019 when this cheap owner & GM are the ones who need to acquire bonfire offensive weapons & additions
Bill Brink
12:22
It's a fair question, and a conundrum of sorts. Power used to be expensive and hard to acquire. Then the Brewers non-tendered Chris Carter after he led the league in homers and the Yankees signed him for $3 million. So the Pirates might be able to afford a pure masher -- but they don't want someone like that, with 180+ strikeouts who's limited defensively, at least judging from how they talk. Hitters with power who also get on base and play adequate defense, now those guys cost money, and the Pirates haven't shown an interest in spending to market value on someone like that. So your skepticism is valid.
JamesinNYC
12:22
What do you think the Pirates do with Dickerson?
Bill Brink
12:23
Hopefully, tender him, pay him in arbitration, put him in left field and watch him hit .300 with Gold Glove defense. Moving him now with Polanco out seems unlikely.
Lee Foo
12:23
What do you think that we will do with RF until Polanco is ready? Will we stay in house with Luplow, Reyes, et al or will we bring someone in similar to a Matt Joyce type? I'm assuming that they're gonna play Frazier at 2b.
Bill Brink
12:24
I get the sense that they'll stay in house with Luplow and Reyes while possibly going the Nava/Saunders/Brentz minor acquisition route, unless they fear Polanco will be out longer than anticipated.
Wayward
12:25
Surprised Cora's still got a job?
Bill Brink
12:26
Little bit, given both the sends at third and the infield defense, especially at the corners. But Hurdle likes Cora's experience as an infielder and the program he runs, Frazier's defense got better and Hurdle might not want to punish someone for being aggressive, as that could set a bad example.
Same old Cheap Owner
12:26
Bill, credit the team, GM, etc for putting together a quality starting staff. BUT, this team’s history of always pursuing the cheap option when acquiring talent dooms the possibility that this team will legitimately add offensive talent & contend in 2019.  Forget Kang, he’s not the solution (accept a cheap option).  It’s the same old crap.
lucabrasi
12:27
How large would the PowerBall jackpot have to be before Nutting could afford Machado?  In other words, what will the Dodgers end up paying him?
Bill Brink
12:27
Large. Shortstops who do what he does offensively and hit the market at 26 get paid.
Larry in KY
12:27
How did the umpires do this past season on having their calls overturned by replay?  Better than last year?
Bill Brink
12:28
41.4 percent overturned, down from 47.4 percent last season.
Jaff Ted from Weirton
12:29
Has Michael Feliz won his last, and only, game as a Pirate? A total LOSER! We shouldn't be overly optimistic about this pen, which stunk for large chunks of 18. Santana will miss 19, Rich Rod had one good year (two if you count his 07 season at WVU), and Crick's stuff is dubious. Who else can we get?
Bill Brink
12:31
While I agree with you that Feliz was bad, I'm more optimistic about the bullpen. The key is to get some better middle relievers, but if they're middle relievers, that means they can't start and can't pitch high-leverage innings, so maybe they're not very good. The key will be to find pitchers who can thrive with a small tweak or different info, like the Astros did with Ryan Pressly, because I don't imagine them paying big for relievers.
PhillyJake
12:31
If the Pirates decline The Notorious JHK's option, would they still hold his rights, seeing as he's only had 2+ years in the majors?
Bill Brink
12:31
Good question. His contract, like many for players who come from Japan or Korea, stipulates that he become a free agent after its conclusion regardless of service time.
Evil Dave
12:34
Yesterday, Coonelly stated (and I paraphrase) that it's not about the money to have a winning team..ala the Oakland A's.  It sounds like he is setting the scene the Pirates spending will be virtually non-existent in 2019.  So I guess we can all get ready for a 4th place finish.
Bill Brink
12:35
I didn't hear it, but read about it after, and it must be pointed out that Khris Davis led the major leagues with 48 home runs.
Also, he's hit exactly .247 for four consecutive seasons, which is remarkable.
Connecting…