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Bill Brink's Pirates chat: 4.18.18
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Bill Brink
12:01
Good afternoon and welcome to today's Pirates chat. We'll get going right now. Thanks for the questions and keep them coming.
OHIO412FAN
12:02
With the Pirates rolling at 11-6 and atop the NL Central, what do the Pirates need to do in order to keep their dominance thus far?
Bill Brink
12:05
They'll need to continue to get solid production from their rotation. They rank third in the NL in innings pitched from the starters, which, if it continues, will help a volatile middle relief unit stabilize. Their offensive start has been great, but might regress not because of lack of skill but because pitchers adjust/luck (the batting average on balls in play already dropped from .318 last week to .290 today). Solid starting pitching will keep everything running smoothly.
OHIO412FAN
12:05
Are there any Indy prospects worthy of a call up this season?
Bill Brink
12:05
Nick Kingham could get a look. He's off to a very nice start down there.
OHIO412FAN
12:05
If the Pirates had to choose any position to address now at the trade deadline, which one would it be?
Bill Brink
12:06
Trade deadline is more than three months away. If their situation right now remains the case then, which it almost certainly won't, you'd figure a reliever would be in the cards. Or ...
Sean from cumberland
12:06
Will the pirates pick up another starting pitcher if Musgrove shows no sign of good progress?
Bill Brink
12:06
Possibly, yes. They've got depth with Kingham, but rotation depth is a must and they might look for more. But with Musgrove returning to the mound, we're a bit away from that.
12:07
Which brings us to ...
Virginia Tom
12:07
What is Musgrove's condition and prognosis? When is he expected back?
Bill Brink
12:07
He says he feels good, better than the first time he tried to come back from shoulder soreness in spring training. He'll get off a mound for a bullpen session Thursday, then possibly Sunday again. The next steps will be simulated games and a rehab assignment.
OHIO412FAN
12:08
If the Pirates keep up this play, will we all look at each other and know that Nutting and company had it right moving forward, but just that it took time?
Bill Brink
12:09
I don't know about Nutting; I do think it might change people's minds on what Huntington got in return for Cole. Moran is off to a nice start and Feliz has moved on well from a bad first outing. Jury's out on Musgrove just because we haven't seen him yet.
gary@northernVirginia
12:10
Bill....I haven't seen Will Craig listed anywhere as one of the Pirates top 10 prospects. Do you think he has a legitimate future or more likely he ends up another draft miss?
Bill Brink
12:12
If you're going to be corner infielder, you need to hit for power, and he only had six home runs in 542 PA in the Florida State League last year ... but he's halfway there already in 43 PA for Altoona. So I'd say closer to legit future than bust right now, though maybe not All-Star or starter. For whatever it's worth, MLB.com's prospect ranking has him 18th in the Pirates system, so not top 10 but on there.
OHIO412FAN
12:12
Do you think they need to make any lineup adjustments? Why is Kuhl in the starting rotation? I feel hasn’t quite lived up to his hype.
Bill Brink
12:13
Kuhl's in the starting rotation because he went post to post last year and is one of the five best starters they have healthy (I know Kingham is shoving, and I'm high on him, but he has no major league experience). Right now the results are not matching the stuff. They did more frequently in the second half of last season, and I think we could see that soon.
Ryan Alan
12:13
Hey Bill, any ideas being tossed around that you've heard in regards to Polanco and his sudden slump? I would think that moving him from 2nd to 5th in the lineup may be a good idea (flipping with Dickerson).
Bill Brink
12:13
Too early and he was too locked in to drop him. He's off today, day game after a night game against a lefty with four righties coming up, so that could help.
GPT
12:13
The average is down for now, but I'm encouraged by the power and walks drawn by Polanco.  Is this finally the year for him?
Bill Brink
12:14
If he stays healthy, I believe so. The body's in a good spot, so is the approach and mindset.
FR
12:15
What types of workouts do the Buccos' players use to stay in shape?  Strength training workouts using weights?  Cardio?  Do you have an exercise schedule you follow?
Bill Brink
12:16
All of the above. Some do yoga. They lift, they run, they do a lot of stretching. The pitchers have arm and shoulder care programs involving bands and light weights. They wear shirts that say "pitchers don't do pushups," but Liriano told me years ago his body stopped hurting when he went home one offseason and started doing push-ups. I asked Ray about it and didn't really get anywhere. So.
J Hay
12:16
I fear my injury is going to hurt. Some people don’t realize how much I mean to this team. Concur?
Bill Brink
12:17
Concur. He's not a typical leadoff hitter, but the lineup sets up nicely with him there, somehow, and he's a dependable defender at second
JustinNash
12:17
Do you think if fans actually came out to home games to support the Pirates, maybe it would provide a boost to the team and they may play better? Staying home does no one any good.
Bill Brink
12:18
Oh, of course. No players want to play in front of half-empty ballparks. I don't blame fans thus far, when they have to dress like they're going to that Steelers AFC championship game in the snow, and I understand fans' frustration with the front office and the fact that they want to make it felt with their wallets. But I'd have to imagine there'd be a slight boost.
GPT
12:18
Any rumblings around the organization about changing, or at least tweaking, their pitching philosophies after watching Morton and now Cole rack up the Ks and not 'pitching to contact'?
Bill Brink
12:19
I'm really curious about this too. They're not going to come out and say, "Gerrit's doing real well so we're tearing up the blueprint;" if anything I think the shift might be more toward catering to pitchers' individual strengths rather than ground balls and pitching to contact. They already do this to some extent, though; all teams do.
GT
12:19
If performance continues, when is Nick Kingham worthy of a rotation chance?
Bill Brink
12:21
Yes, he is. I don't think they'll promote him without either an injury or serious lack of performance, but he's pitched well for a while now and this is his year.
Jim
12:21
If you had to circle a date for Musgrove's first start, which date are you looking at? (assuming no setbacks)
Bill Brink
12:22
Let's see. Side on Thursday, another side on Sunday, maybe a three-inning sim game next Friday the 27th, rehab outings May 2, 7 and 12, so maybe mid-May? I made this up in my head, this is not based on any info from the Pirates (other than bullpens Thursday and Sunday) but that's a rough outline.
Jim
12:23
What do you make of the Brewers and Cubs slow starts?
Bill Brink
12:23
Rough goes of it out of the rotation, which we knew would happen in Milwaukee but has been a surprise for the Cubs. Losing Rizzo hurt. The Brewers have been striking out a lot, too.
Mark
12:24
If the Bucs get swept today and with Jake the Snake waiting in Philly tomorrow, this could turn sour real fast.  Any reason for optimism?
Bill Brink
12:24
They're 11-6, it's April 18 and they're in first place, so there are some reasons for optimism.
Hippo
12:25
IS it time for us Pirates fans and mgmt to accept Polanco for what he is, a bust? 10 days doesn't make up for a guy who just is not at all consistent and has prolonged slumps. .197 now batting and falling.
Bill Brink
12:26
A week ago he's raking, now he's a bust. If he stays healthy, I think his production will look closer to the first week and a half than the last week.
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