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Bill Brink's Pirates chat: 8.8.18
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Bill Brink
2:03
I've heard some names and I'm working to track them down, but until I do, I don't want to speculate on it.
Casey
2:03
Do you see an “obvious” free agent the Pirates will be targeting this off-season? If one of their minor league SSs aren’t ready or will be subject to super 2, they need a SS, preferably not named Mercer.
Bill Brink
2:04
Given the fact that the Pirates played their way back into contention, I have not spent a lot of time yet focusing on the specific names in this year's free-agent class, but I agree, a shortstop would make a lot of sense. So would a lefty reliever.
Steelmike58
2:04
Do you see a potential starter added in the offseason,  or is the rotation  set at: Archer, Taillon, Musgrove, Williams, Nova and Kuhl?
Bill Brink
2:05
Knowing how much Huntington values starting depth it would not surprise me if they acquire a starter, but probably not an established guy, given what they have in-house.
Sonny
2:05
Will we ever figure out how much of Adeiny's salary the Rays paid down?
Bill Brink
2:06
The Associated Press reported that the Pirates are paying a pro-rated portion of the $545,000 minimum, so if that is accurate the Rays are picking up most of it.
Steelmike58
2:07
Seems like Moran is a work in progress, do the Bucs hedge their bets by signing Freese to a 1 year deal or does Hayes come up?
Bill Brink
2:07
The Pirates hold a $6 million club option on Freese for next year, so maybe they pick that up. Hayes has not played in triple-A yet so he won't be up until midway through next year at the earliest.
Mike
2:09
I saw an article noting the reasons why we need a left reliever with all the good lefty bats in our division. But do you see that as a bigger priority than signing a middle infielder and or another’s starter?
Bill Brink
2:09
I'd put it at about the same priority of finding a shortstop. They don't necessarily need to sign one, they can trade for one, but they need to get one some how some way.
Americangypsy
2:09
I would think it unlikely but what would you think about Cutch landing back in Pittsburgh this season?
Bill Brink
2:10
I agree with you that it's unlikely, given the lack of need in the outfield.
Tyler From Brookline
2:11
If the Wild Card game were to be played tonight, would you start Archer automatically or do Taillon and even Musgrove deserve a look?
Bill Brink
2:12
I'd have to know who they're facing to get a true sense of the matchup, and also how they had to line those guys up to reach the wild-card game in the first place, but I think Taillon and Archer would be the two most likely to be considered.
DrDon
2:14
How many games, in your estimate, have the Pirates lost this season by fielding a lineup with second-stringers (especially those hitting less than .200)?
Bill Brink
2:15
A few, probably. Five? Three? Somewhere in there, though that's entirely unscientific. And it works both ways. They beat Kluber and deGrom not that long ago.
Steelmike58
2:15
I know Marte has success swinging early in counts, i.e. last night HR on the first pitch, but why doesn't he work the count a bit to give himself a better chance to get on base or see better pitches? Same questions for Jhay, is it me or is he always 0-2?
Bill Brink
2:16
They both swing at pitches outside the strike zone and opposing pitchers know this, so they exploit them with sliders and curveballs away. They're aggressive hitters, which can be a good trait at times, but a more discerning eye would help.
Steelmike58
2:17
Is it me or do we lead the league in hitting into double plays? Especially recently Moran, Jhay, Marte are grounding into DP's, why are they not trying to elevate in that situation?
Bill Brink
2:17
The Pirates are actually sixth in the NL in GIDP. Sometimes it happens.
Casey
2:17
After watching Vazquez pitch these last 2 yrs, I’m convinced that something isn’t quite right this yr! Any idea if he’s tipping his pitches, or maybe he’s just not locating as well?
Bill Brink
2:18
He's been tipping his pitches on and off for a year, as we learned in St. Louis earlier this season. Last year the stuff was filthy enough that it didn't matter. This year, maybe it mattered more; sometimes you hear pitchers talk about tipping pitches when they really just got smacked around. Recently he's been much, much better than the first two months.
Wayward
2:18
Is there a market for Mercer as a FA?  He would seem to be a good candidate for the Bucs to bring back on a one year deal to hold down SS until Newman is ready and then to become a utility kind of guy swinging between SS, 2B and maybe even a little 3B but am not sure if that would be appealing to him versus the open market.
Bill Brink
2:18
I would agree with everything you just said. I don't imagine much of a market, given the way last year's free-agent market played out, and he seemingly fill a need with the Pirates in those areas.
2:19
Lightning round. Go.
Tyler From Brookline
2:21
Do you feel the Pirates need a more legitimate 4th OF, as Luplow hasn't proven overly consistent during his time in the MLB?
Bill Brink
2:21
Probably, but I don't think that's a make-or-break thing.
Guest
2:21
Do you really think that they're worried about the Super Two with Kramer and Newman, esp the latter? They have Tucker, a superior prospect coming up right behind him.
Bill Brink
2:21
Past action would indicate that Super Two is important to this team.
Wayward
2:21
Your biggest positives and negatives about the Bucs so far this year?
Bill Brink
2:23
Positives: Musgrove, the trade deadline, the outfielders, Taillon, Crick/Santana, catchers. Negatives: Bell, Sean Rodriguez, defense, Harrison.
Tyler From Brookline
2:23
Is Diaz a legitimate starting option at catcher?
Bill Brink
2:23
Yes he is.
Casey
2:23
Month/yr for Keller’s 1st Pirate start?
Bill Brink
2:24
Um ... July 18, 2019?
Andy van Stryke
2:24
How worried are the Bucs about Cervellis head injuries?
Bill Brink
2:24
Concerned and monitoring very carefully but not to the point where he's been told not to catch anymore.
That's it for today, thanks for al the great questions!
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