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Bill Brink's Pirates chat: 6.27.18
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Bill Brink
12:04
Good afternoon and welcome to this week's Pirates chat. We'll get going in just a minute. Thanks for the questions, and keep them coming.
CreightonHavoc
12:08
Bill, with the success that Mitch Keller has had at AA Altoona, is there any timeline for him advancing at this point?
Bill Brink
12:09
The timeline won't be determined much by performance, but if the underlying skills and approaches he uses to generate performances like the other night continue, he could advance soon. Teams sometimes want players to go around the league once or twice in the minors so they see how opposing hitters or pitchers adjust to them. I'd be surprised if he did not reach Indianapolis this summer, though.
C. Moran
12:09
What are your thoughts on me as the solution at third?
Bill Brink
12:13
Hi Colin. On one hand, you've got very sure hands, and what you can reach, you field. You've got an accurate and strong throwing arm -- only yesterday, Hurdle said the only other person with as consistently accurate an arm that he'd managed was Vinny Castilla. You don't have great range, so there's that. Offensively, you've looked good, consistent, able to get on base, putting together good at-bats. I don't want to proclaim you the third baseman of the next decade just yet but you've acquitted yourself well thus far.
Rick
12:13
When do we see players like Newman on the major league roster?
Bill Brink
12:14
I asked Huntington about this a few weeks ago, and he said with players like Newman, the Pirates generally want them to get everyday reps. That won't happen as long as Mercer is here -- the Pirates won't curtail the playing time of a homegrown veteran in his walk year -- so likely not until September call-ups, barring an injury. BUT, I thought they'd treat Austin Meadows this way too and he's still here, so there's always a chance.
nm29
12:14
Why not give Stallings a start while Cervelli is injured?
Bill Brink
12:15
Why not? He might start tonight, although who knows, with three night games and tomorrow's off day. He'll get a start soon, though.
Steve D.
12:15
Chances Hurdle gets fired after this year?
Bill Brink
12:15
Low. He just got an extension and I don't think the front office will want to pay two managers.
mark
12:16
when do the pirates admit they are making a ton of dough, and start spending some of it on the field?...when nobody goes to the games?
Bill Brink
12:18
I think the horse is out of the barn on that one. There's been enough reporting, by the PG and elsewhere, about how much money they make from MLB TV contracts, revenue sharing (though that's decreased) and the $50 million BAMTech dispersement that fans are probably aware. I don't think the team will ever say, "We saved a bunch of money, but now we're going to spend it." But Coonelly said last year's attendance drop impacted this year's payroll, so we can only imagine how this year's more drastic attendance drop will impact next year's payroll. To get fans to come out, they've got to put a good product on the field, and that requires spending.
Kk
12:18
How long will the Pirates let Rodriguez bat below .150 before they bring up Frazier, Newman, Kramer, Kang, etc.
Bill Brink
12:20
Rodriguez has struggled for three months now, and other than Kang's return, which could be soon, I don't know what the impetus could be to make a move with him at this point that hasn't already happened.
Andrew
12:20
Will the Pirates ever send Polanco to AAA and actually try and help him with his struggles? Or is he untouchable like Sean Rodriguez?
Bill Brink
12:22
I don't think triple-A will help Polanco. He's not far enough in the tall grass that he needs a swing overhaul. He needs to stay short to the ball and keep his front shoulder closed, and he needs to do it against major league pitching.
Steve D.
12:22
when does winning start to become a priority over some coaching discrepancies and player performance?  i get it's a business, but this is starting to become a circus.
Bill Brink
12:26
I'm not sure what you mean by coaching discrepancies; as for player performance, they've got to perform to win. On Monday, the team had a little bit of a get-your-heads-right meeting, where they were reminded that losing needs to hurt, that you can't just be happy to be there. They talked about it in spring training and got away from it in May and June, so we'll see if the reminder takes.
Steve D.
12:26
these idiots have no clue....you put a decent product on the field, we show up.  you run out junk, we wont.  it's not that hard to figure out.  there is no reason for the excuses anymore.  people arent going to pay for subpar entertainment.
im starting to get upset if you couldnt tell....sorry for the negativity, thx for the chats
Bill Brink
12:27
No worries, I understand, the frustration. Glad you enjoy the chats, thanks for participating.
John Russell
12:27
The Pirates paid me one year while I wasn't the manager. I know one year is different from 3+, but at least there's precedent.
Bill Brink
12:28
Hey John, long time no see. Sorry about the O's, they're, ah ... yeesh. Good point, there is precedent. I'd be surprised; something would have to change more than just hovering slightly below .500.
12:29
What other questions do we have today?
Nick
12:32
I know your probably tired of Hurdle questions but why isnt he even mentio ed as a firing candidate?   His team was good enough to be 9 games over 500 and bad enough to lose 24 of 34. This happens every yr with him. Personally im so tired of him. He doesnt fit this team or city. His whole lets get em next time is old and boring. Need new blood and fast. This team is hard to watch and it may not start with him but it for sure includes him
Bill Brink
12:35
It's a good question. I generally answer questions about Hurdle in the mindset of, will he or won't he actually be fired, not, does he deserve to be on the hot seat, so I'll delve into that a little bit here. I don't think much of what happened in previous years was his fault. Sure, the occasional pitching move didn't work, but overall, no. This year, he has continued to play Sean Rodriguez while Rodriguez is not producing, and he left Kontos in the setup role (before eventually removing him) when he struggled. Some of that relates to the front office as well; Hurdle likes having two guys on the team that can play short, and (Rodriguez's defensive issues this year notwithstanding for the time being), no one else can. So more toward the hot seat this year, given the slide? Possibly. Actually at risk? No.
Andrew
12:35
Is Nova back do you think? His last few starts have been promising and I hope its not a fluke!
Bill Brink
12:36
I'm beginning to think maybe the sprained ring finger really did affect him. Tonight will be a good referendum.
Skyler
12:36
I have to disagree, at least as far as BAMTech goes. That was a one time payment that reportedly happened 1Q 2018, so it's possible it wouldn't have been budgeted (even though a similar, smaller payment did happen last year). With payroll down across the league, it's not as if all other teams rose their payroll $50M either. Finally, it's a one time payment, so assuming a big long term contract with it would be silly, as those funds are only available this year. A one-time, capital investment would certainly make more sense for its use.
Bill Brink
12:39
All correct. The issue is not that the Pirates didn't go sign Alex Cobb for four years and $50 million; it's that they didn't sign anyone. It's hard to make the argument that you're trying to compete in 2018 when you don't add to a team that won 75 games last year. I know they added Musgrove, Moran and Feliz, but that came at the expense of Cole. They also, to my knowledge, and we've asked, have not said what they did with it, so the already-skeptical Pirates fan base can run wild with their imaginations. Pirates can't control what people think, but if they said, this much went to PNC Park, this much to payroll, this much to hiring new scouts, this much to a new clubhouse in Altoona, fans might still not be happy but at least they'd have an answer.
Alex
12:40
I used to be a big supporter of the front office but it seems like the game has passed them by.  They are still preaching pitching to contact but they have the worst defensive efficiency on ground balls.  Strikeouts are up because more batters are selling out for power so logically you should be trying to miss bats not hitting more of them.
Bill Brink
12:42
I think the pitch-to-contact thing is a little overblown, and I know I'm partially to blame: I wrote a lot in 2012-15 about their sinker approach, shifts and excellent infield defense. Hurdle feeds into it a bit in postgame press conferences when he talks about how many hitters were retired in three or fewer pitches. It's still a part of what they do, but not entirely so.
Ali
12:42
Is cervelli one of the more dramatic and injury prone players you’ve seen while covering the pirates?
Bill Brink
12:43
He gets hurt like all catchers do, though the recent two years have been really rough on him. Dramatic: yes. Any ball on the inner half and it's, as Hurdle would say, a yard sale.
mark
12:43
Bill, thanks for the chat.  I don't understand the call (by fans only) for Hurdle to be fired.  He didn't forget how to manage.  This team doesn't have one great player, due to frugal ownership, where other teams have several.  I am surprised they are doing as well as they are.  Your thought?
Bill Brink
12:44
We were actually talking about this last night in the press box, about the lack of a star or stars. Marte is a four-win player and has been for four years (before the suspension). Meadows could be a very good player. That's about it, star-wise. I think Hurdle has done things this year that contributed more to losses than in previous years but I don't think it should fall on his shoulders yet, other than in the Parcellsian sense of "you are what your record says you are."
Pat
12:45
What is the most promising aspect of the pirates for fans to be excited about? Our defense is terrible, our bats are streaky at best, our starting staff has no clear ace or even number 2 option, and our bullpen has no solid reliable option
Bill Brink
12:45
They can get excited about the prospect of the rotation clicking all at once, which I think is the most likely thing among those you mentioned to happen. They all have talent.
David
12:45
Any word on Chad Kuhl's injury last night?  Any chance he goes on DL and they recall Kingham?
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