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Bill Brink's Pirates chat: 4.11.18
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Henry
12:28
What are your thoughts on adding a starting pitcher.chad kuhl  concerns me I think he will better on the pen
Bill Brink
12:29
I'm never against adding a starting pitcher if the pitcher is an upgrade, but I'm not worried about Kuhl at this point.
Jon L in Miami
12:29
There have always been guys on the Pirates who have taken a louder/leadership approach. Who do you view as the vocal leaders in the Pirates clubhouse?
Bill Brink
12:30
It's the guys you'd expect -- Nova, Rodriguez, Mercer, Freese, Harrison. Keep in mind this is based on conversations with players, we're not in the clubhouse or dugout when much of the leading is being done, so the reality could sway somewhat in one direction or other.
Mark
12:32
Bill, could you refresh my memory about who the Bucs got from SF in the Cutch deal and how they are doing?  Thanks.
Bill Brink
12:33
They got righty reliever Kyle Crick, who did not make the team out of spring training, and outfield prospect Bryan Reynolds. He just got going in Altoona, in his first experience at double-A, but he sprained a wrist and he's on the minor league DL.
Wayward
12:34
This lineup seems to have nice offensive balance to it for now.  Where do you think the strengths and/or weaknesses are in it ultimately?
Bill Brink
12:36
I like Polanco hitting second as long as he's healthy, and having someone like Moran who can put together an AB all the way at seven lengthens the lineup. Going right-left-right-switch-left-right-left-right is a really nice way to set it up. Harrison leading off could become an issue, though his OBP was up last year and he's walking more this season.
Hank
12:37
I saw a stat the other day that the Pirates have given up the majority of their runs in the sixth inning, which seems to be when the bullpen is taking over more often than not. Do you think there is a concerted effort to get the bullpen more innings earlier in the year to help a young starting rotation limit their innings and get through an entire season?
Bill Brink
12:38
I think part of it is taking their eight relievers for a spin and taking advantage of the early off days because of the three home openers they've played in, and part of it could be the cold. They are cognizant of limiting innings and do so when a pitcher has thrown a lot out of the stretch or threw a lot of pitches in one inning. But they also let Taillon go the distance Sunday when he was cruising.
Jon L in Miami
12:38
Last year Cole was a fixture at Penguins playoff games when he was in town.. and really fun to watch in the stands. If you had to make a wild random (I won't hold you to it) prediction.. which Pirate do you predict goes to a playoff game this year?
Bill Brink
12:38
Frazier for sure.
12:39
Lightning round. Go.
Jack
12:40
Over/under on how many games into the season Hurdle gets his first ejection?
Bill Brink
12:40
21.5
12:41
19-10
oops
Jim
12:41
Favorable April schedule, prediction for record through April?
Bill Brink
12:41
19-10
Andy
12:41
What's the percentage chance right now you think the Bucs make it to October?
Bill Brink
12:41
56%
Hippo
12:42
Bill why have Cole and Morton had so much success in Houston so far after leaving the Pirates? I blame Searage and in my opinion his days of making pitchers better are over. Cole has looked amazing and so has Morton and Searage didn't help. Maybe Benedict did and when he left they got worse?
Bill Brink
12:43
With Cole, it's been two starts. Morton had success last year. I don't see how one can blame Searage for something a player does somewhere else; the more appropriate way to look at it is, what skills of the player's did his new team help him accentuate. Both of those pitchers worked closely with Benedict and while I don't know how to quantify it, I'm sure that had an effect.
12:44
That's it for today, thanks for all the questions. We'll do this again next week.
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