You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Bill Brink's Pirates chat: 6.6.18
powered byJotCast
View Full Chat Next Page
Bill Brink
12:09
Sorry about the late start. Here we go ...
12:11
First, some orders of business from previous chats. I talked to Josh Bell, and while he can't speak for all switch-hitters, he did say he sometimes uses a different bat while hitting righty depending on what he's trying to do. Sometimes he'll hit with a heavier, longer bat right-handed. Guys who try to have the same swing from both sides, he said, generally use the same bat.
Is CBA! in the house?
12:13
So, I was half right. Players who are on the 40-man go from making the 40-man minimum, which is roughly $43,000 for their first year and in the $80k range for their second, go back to making that when they return to the minors after a promotion BUT must make at least a certain percentage (I believe it's 50) of their salary the next year in the minors.
12:14
OK! Let's get to Sean Rodriguez, shall we?
DFASeanRod
12:14
Why are we continuing to watch Sean Rod in the line up, as he continues to struggle at the plate and commit errors in the field? Will Kevin Newman be called up soon given his success in AAA? Also, how much slack are they going to give Nova when he returns to the rotation? Kingham is clearly the better option currently and moving forward.
Sean Rod Official
12:14
Why am i still here?
Can I stay at least til my bobblehead day?
PhillyJake
12:14
Moroff.  LesSRod.
Bill Brink
12:16
So the deal with Rodriguez was, he wasn't a great hitter (barring September 2016) but was both versatile and dependable in the field. After three errors in five games and a misplay in another that didn't cost them, he is no longer a dependable fielder. Last night was a different situation with Mercer unable to go minutes before first pitch, but Rodriguez had been playing a lot before then, too, and we've gone from "not a great hitter" to .162/.272/.313, which won't help this offense. I think things will come to a head sooner or later, and it's on my list of things to ask Hurdle about today.
12:18
As for Newman and Nova/Kingham: I don't think they'll call up Newman until they've got an everyday spot for him BUT I thought they'd send down Meadows when Marte returned and they didn't, so maybe they're changing the way they think about that stuff. And if a healthy Nova doesn't produce, they'll make a move at some point.
Larry in KY
12:20
It's been said that the Pirates are a solid "fastball hitting" team.  But they seem to have big trouble with breaking balls, change-of-speed stuff etc.  Do the stats bear this out?
Bill Brink
12:22
The Pirates hit .256 on fastballs, 20th in MLB, which is close to their wOBA (weighted on-base average, a linear-weights approach to measuring the value of each plate appearance), which ranks 18th. On curveballs and sliders they rank fourth in wOBA, which would appear to indicate the opposite.
DFASeanRod
12:22
Do you see Tyler Glasnow as a reliever or a starter as his career progresses with the Pirates?
Bill Brink
12:22
He might get another crack at the rotation but I don't see that happening until either September if they're out of it or next spring. He's been much more competitive in relief in the past month, just looks more locked in out there and the stuff has been better. I don't see them stretching him out midseason.
MjB
12:23
Who is on the farm ready, willing, and able to assist us?  Adam Frazier needs to play every day to find his game again, and that is not going to happen at the major league level. SROD has no business being on the field right now, and Moran, not Freese is our long-term plan.  Who is ready, and please don't say "Max Moroff" because that train needs to stay in the station?
Bill Brink
12:25
OK, I'll try not to be the conductor of the Max Moroff train, though for all the people who want Rodriguez gone, know that he'll probably be the one that comes up because he can play shortstop. Chris Bostick is having a really nice year, as is Osuna, who is ready to help but there isn't really a spot for him (though he'd look good on the bench, yeah?)
OHIO412FAN
12:26
As of right now, what do the Pirates need to do to get back in the winning groove?
Bill Brink
12:27
They can't have Polanco, Harrison and Bell all slumping at the same time. At some point Dickerson, Moran or Cervelli might slump and then they're in real trouble. They need one of the three to break out of their slump, along with the Felipe Vazquez who showed up last night to reappear in games where they lead and Michael Feliz to figure out his slider.
OHIO412FAN
12:27
Is it me, or is it that the Pirates fade away mid season more often then not these days? Why won’t they make immediate upgrades to the roster? There are several areas like bullpen and basemen they could address. They significantly lack the talent to go deep in the playoffs.
It seems very simple to understand: you have to spend money (or at least some) to win. Why aren’t the Pirates doing that? They always seem content with the same style of roster year in and year out. When will things change?
Bill Brink
12:29
I agree that you generally need to spend money to win, but this year feels less like a spending thing and more like the players they have not producing. Polanco hasn't produced much after two hot weeks, Bell hasn't produced, Harrison has slumped after coming off the DL, Feliz and Vazquez have struggled, so did Kontos before he was released. As far as when will things change? When someone in charge decides this isn't going to work anymore.
BobbyToledo
12:29
Hope this isn't too far off topic, but when the Pirates invite former players to come back, throw out the first pitch, hang with the TV announcers, etc., how come its always the ancients? Home we never get to see Brian Giles or Jason Kendall? Or rookie of the year Jason Bay or batting champ Freddy Sanchez? Those players are just as meaningful to fans may age, 45, or younger and I think if they were welcomed back now and then it would be some good PR. What do you think?
Bill Brink
12:30
You make a good point, and I don't know the answer. I do know the people who would, and I'll ask this week and see.
Austin
12:30
Gotta ask again lol. Were you able to find out if switch hitters use different bats for the side of the plate they bat from?
Bill Brink
12:31
I was about to say scroll up, Austin, but then I saw when you sent the question. My bad.
OHIO412FAN
12:31
I really liked the Pirates draft picks. How about you?
Bill Brink
12:32
From what I can gather, I do too. Taking an athletic outfielder who can stay in center field with a little pop and some speed is usually a good thing, and they might be able to get him at or under slot so as to sign two high-upside prep arms, about whom there's a lot to like. I got off the phone about an hour ago with Gunnar Hoglund's high school basketball coach and it sounds like Pirates fans are going to like him.
OHIO412FAN
12:32
Will they be buyers or sellers at the deadline? If they buy, who will they target in trades? If they sell, who will they let go?
Bill Brink
12:33
It's hard to tell because the trajectory and the record contrast. 30-30: about where many thought they'd be during spring training, but a far cry from nine games over .500 like three weeks ago. Which team are they? They could look to move veterans like Nova or Freese if they sell, and add bullpen pieces or a starter if they buy (and need a starter).
Guest
12:34
Have you heard any plans on where they plan on starting Swaggerty?  Additionally is there any information on terms of the alleged Hoglund deal?
Bill Brink
12:36
I haven't heard any specific plans, though short-season West Virginia would make sense given previous assignments. No bonus details, but his slot value is just under $2 million, so maybe a shade over $2 million to sign him away from Ole Miss.
OHIO412FAN
12:36
Are any of the management on the hot seat if they don’t make the playoffs again this year, or are they expecting that since they said they are in a “quick rebuild?”
Bill Brink
12:37
I don't think so because they just signed extensions last season, unless things really go south.
IndyFan
12:37
Watching Kevin Kramer crank a 3 run homer Saturday night in Indy, was a thing of beauty. I've been impressed with his power this year, both in Indy and in Spring Training. What kind of numbers do you think he'll put up, in the majors, 20+, 30+?
Bill Brink
12:38
I am no good at projecting how minor league numbers project in the majors, but I do know Kramer really benefited from the Pirates working with him on pitch selection and impact. Not necessarily launch angle, but sort of: Looking more for pitches he could drive and finding a swing to do damage to them.
Jim
12:39
Kang ETA???
Bill Brink
12:40
Probably not for a little bit yet, they'll want him to see better pitching. I guessed the All-Star break when he came back and I'll stick with that, although if he keeps hitting it might be sooner.
OHIO412FAN
12:40
In your mind, where do they Pirates need to invest in order to win?
Bill Brink
12:41
Pitching. They've got good young pitchers and I still think Taillon can be a No. 1 in their rotation, but with today's offensive climate I think investing in pitching is the way to go. It's also risky because pitchers get hurt, but they're hard to find and expensive if you don't develop them.
Connecting…