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Bill Brink's Pirates chat: 12.12.18
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Bill Brink
12:47
I was surprised to hear he did not at least casually pursue it, or interview, and it doesn't sound like he parlayed it into a raise or additional promises in Pittsburgh. His reputation across the league is better than what the average fan in Pittsburgh thinks (at least the ones I hear from). The SF situation was surprising, and I'm still puzzling that one out.
Jordan
12:48
Who do you feel are realistic adds in FA this offseason? No question they need to add offense.
Bill Brink
12:49
Freddy Galvis, Jose Iglesias, Jerry Blevins come to mind.
Clark
12:49
With the influx of HR's and K's, fewer balls are in play and defense has become less important. With that in mind, would the Pirates ever consider Frazier at short and finding someone else for second, or are we locked in with Newman and Gonzalez?
Bill Brink
12:49
I don't know about locked in with Newman and Gonzalez, but they really want Frazier to stay at second and continue the defensive improvements he made there last season.
Chuck
12:49
Do you have any words of encouragement for a discouraged Pirates fan.   The Bucs get a Gonzalez I never heard of to play shortstop and a hard to stay healthy Lonnie Chisenhall to play right field while the Cardinals get Paul Goldschmidt to play first base.  It's pretty discouraging right now.
Bill Brink
12:50
... Taillon is really good? The back end of the bullpen? Bell might hit for more power?
Clark
12:50
Are we truly looking at considering three catchers on opening day? Sure, Stallings is solid, but if they open with 13 pitchers again that's 4 bench spots, 2 to catchers. That's not great roster management.
Bill Brink
12:50
I don't know that they'd open with 13 pitchers and three catchers ... unless they do the opener and need an extra roster spot, in which case they'd be in a pickle.
GH
12:50
Ben is the face of the Steelers. Sid is the face of the Pens. Who is the face of the Bucs in 2019?
Bill Brink
12:50
Taillon would be my guess.
Alex
12:51
I feel like if the Pirates go into the season with what they currently have (plus a LH reliever I expect them to add) how can they honestly believe the team will be any better than last year?
Bill Brink
12:51
I would agree. There's upside, like if Kang returns to form and Chisenhall stays healthy and Polanco comes back soon and Musgrove stays healthy, but it's hard to see all that coalescing.
Ethan
12:51
What’s more likely if the pirates continue to spend/trade: a bat, an SP, or an RP?
Bill Brink
12:51
I'd say an RP at this point, although if you count a shortstop as a "bat," then maybe a tie.
Chad
12:51
With a television deal set to expire soon, shouldn't Pirates be interested in spending money/competing in the division this year in order to maximize ratings/interest??
Bill Brink
12:52
I asked this very question to Huntington Monday and he said the goal was to win a World Series, and as Bill Walsh said, the score takes care of itself.
Clark
12:52
Okay, hear me out, because I know it will never happen, but more of a thought experiment. Would the Pirates ever consider a contract like 3/$120 to Machado with opt-outs every season? They are never going to go 10 years because of the risk, so this mitigates that some but still gets the player. Again, more of a thought experiment than realistic expectation.
Bill Brink
12:53
I don't see it with the Pirates because Huntington doesn't like too much of his payroll tied up in one player.
Steve
12:54
The Dodgers want to clear some space haow bout we make a move for Chris Taylor pretty solid bat can play short
Bill Brink
12:54
I don't know that they'll move him with the uncertainty of Corey Seager returning from Tommy John surgery.
Blackhawk Bob
12:54
Do you think the Pirates have ever heard of the adage “You need to spend money to make money” ?It seems that this owner continually does just enough to make it seem like he is trying when in reality all he is doing is fooling the fan base and lining his pockets. I understand Pittsburgh can’t spend like the big market teams but they should at least be within shouting distance of mid market clubs. Will this ever happen?
Bill Brink
12:56
Bob, you make excellent points. They did increase payroll through 2013-15, but attendance also increased during that time. This brings up a good point -- I keep mentioning attendance not to excuse the spending, but to put in context why ownership might decide not to spend.
12:57
I think your question makes a lot of sense and actions would tell us that the Pirates prefer a different tack.
Mark
12:57
Bill, do you think it would have been better to wait until the trade deadline in July to trade Nova, when Keller should be ready?  The return couldn't have been any worse?  That's why it looks like a salary dump.
Bill Brink
12:57
Not if they needed the money for moves now or (gulp) needed the money for moves already made.
Paul K
12:57
Can you see the decline in attendance snowballing further if remaining fans believe ownership is more interested in making money than winning?
Bill Brink
12:57
Absolutely I can.
Joe W
12:57
Bil, how do you usually spend your time in the offseason? Aside from events like this, of course.
Bill Brink
12:58
I golf, I ski, I watch college football and basketball, I cook, I do house projects that I've put off all summer, I read, I try to get my dog to come when he's called and not eat books off my bookshelves.
Casey
12:58
Is the plan to platoon Moran and Kang at 3rd?
Bill Brink
12:59
I don't think it'll be a straight platoon because Kang actually has much better numbers against righties than lefties. Huntington mentioned this to me on the day of the signing.
Charlie
12:59
If the Pirates keep Cervelli, who would start more, Cervelli or Diaz?
Bill Brink
12:59
Cervelli.
Clark
1:00
This may be a much bigger existential question too hard to answer now, but what is your feelings on what the balance should be the Pirates as a business and the Pirates as entertainment vehicle for fans. The dichotomy is fascinating and it's what often rubs fans the wrong way. Business and entertainment decisions just don't play nice.
Bill Brink
1:01
It's a good question. On one hand, they're running a business, and while their objective is to win, they also are responsible to board members and owners, and reckless spending and running it into the ground is no way to win. But they do have an obligation to the fans stewards of a public institution that has been around for more than a century.
Nyger M.
1:01
Do you agree that NH didnt take SF job because he is content in Pittsburgh and knows that people are so apathetic about the Pirates that he is unlimited job security?
Bill Brink
1:02
I've seen that floated, and it's crossed my mind, sure; but I have no evidence that that is the case. Huntington told four reporters on the record his reasons for staying, and while I am as skeptical as they come, I can't lend any credence to those notions.
On the Bill Brink
1:03
Biggest surprise of the meetings so far, in your opinion.
Bill Brink
1:03
Food here costs a million dollars.
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