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Bill Brink's Pirates chat: 9.19.18
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Bill Brink
11:59
Good morning and welcome to today's Pirates chat. We'll start in a few minutes, so keep those questions coming.
12:03
Thanks for the questions, and keep them coming. Here we go ...
MjB
12:03
Two days ago, the MLB Network talked about how the Nationals were still fighting for a wild card, and they talked about what they would have to do to get there.  Ironically, the Pirates had the same record as the Nationals with no mention or discussion of their chances.  This validates my concern that we appear to be playing out the schedule and giving everyone in our system a chance to play at the MLB level, even if they have no chance of being on the roster next year.  Why are we doing that?
Bill Brink
12:06
It's true that the Pirates are not eliminated from the wild card, but they're seven games out with 12 to play and they'd need to pass four teams to get a spot. Any combination of Pirates losses and second wild-card team victories equaling five eliminates them. They're using this time to evaluate players who might have a chance to make the active roster next year -- Newman, Kramer, Reyes, etc. This way they can see if those players could legitimately help the 2019 Pirates.
Nick
12:06
Are Pirates trying to be a spoiler role with Brewers? Shouldn't they be helping any team in NL central penant race (Cubs, Cards, Brewers) to emerge strong since Pirates are out of it any way? Should they be rooting for home division?
Bill Brink
12:08
The only time I hear players talk about playing spoiler is when reporters ask them if they are trying to play spoiler. The players want to win as many games as possible and finish strong. They like playing games that matter to someone, so this weekend against the Brewers and next week in Chicago, but I haven't heard many that are particular about helping or hurting other teams.
Blackhawk Bob
12:09
Usually your  best players are also the hardest working on a team...I don’t see that with the Pirates. Marte and  Polanco and by far the most gifted players on this team but only a fool would consider them the hardest workers. I think it’s time to move on from these two.
Bill Brink
12:11
Marte has had some lapses in effort in the second half of the season, as well as focus, for sure. It got him benched. But if you move on from him, who plays center? Meadows is gone. If you trade him, teams will wonder why, and you'll lose leverage on your return. I disagree with you about Polanco. He works hard, I've seen it over the course of the season. I know he struggles to pick up balls in right field and takes some bad routes.
Ethan
12:11
If Pirates actually play on October 1, is that an extra service day (187), or just considered to be played on 9/9?
Bill Brink
12:13
Despite the new CBA adding four extra off days, the full year of service time remains at 172.  For players in the majors all year, it won't matter, but for those who have less than a full year of service time, it might, and I do not know as of yet. I have a few option and Rule 5 questions to sort out this month and I'll add this to it. How funny would it be if someone got Super Two by a day because they played the Marlins on Oct. 1?
Costanza
12:13
Is Kramer at third a possibility?
Bill Brink
12:14
Yes, to an extent. The Pirates moved him over there in the minors and he felt OK, and in the games I've seen him play there -- just a few innings, just a few chances -- he's looked like he can handle himself. The challenge becomes that he and Moran both bat left-handed, so there's not a good platoon situation.
Ethan
12:15
I was more thinking of an extra day of pay for call-ups, but maybe I'm interpreting that wrong...
Bill Brink
12:16
Oh yes. I believe if they report for work, they're paid for it, but again I'll have to double-check.
Tim
12:19
I fear Kuhl is heading for Tommy John, but that all this back and forth could result in significant "wasted" time. Any insight on the matter?
Bill Brink
12:22
We'll know more today when we speak with director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk. The conservative path does not mean the wrong path. Not all elbow injuries require Tommy John surgery, and not all forearm injuries need a repair to the flexor mass or flexor tendon. Tommy John is nearly foolproof, but not entirely, and a lot can happen in the year-plus recovery process. If it can be avoided, they try to. Adam Wainwright pitched with a damaged UCL for years, and finished in the top five in the Cy Young voting, before eventually needing it. Masahiro Tanaka has not yet needed it. Patience is OK, especially when the timing meant that if he had the surgery in August or now, he probably misses next season anyway.
Neal
12:23
So my pitching staff could be outstanding next year, but there are questions marks everywhere but center and catcher.  Too many gaps to fill for the greatest management team in the history of sport?
Bill Brink
12:25
To me, the biggest question marks are in the infield. Can Moran and Bell hit for power and improve defensively? Who plays shortstop? Can Frazier play solid defense at second all year? Some of those answers will have to come from the players and coaching staff, to get more out of the players they have. The trick will be finding a shortstop. I think that is the biggest offseason to-do item for them.
OHIO412FAN
12:25
The Bullpen and Rotation have been very strong as of lately. Is this a good sign moving forward?
Bill Brink
12:25
It is, especially because all of those players are coming back next season and most of them are under control for a while.
OHIO412FAN
12:25
Bill, with the Pirates playing for the future, such as next season, is this team on the ups with their recently strong play as of lately from their prospects being called up, core guys, etc?
Bill Brink
12:26
It certainly helps morale to finish well, and it gives the young players confidence in themselves if they can head into the offseason knowing they have had at least some success at the highest level.
Nick
12:26
As a general rule are bullpen pitchers used only every 2 days? But I have seen them used on 2 days and the off one day. At what frequency do they wear out?
Bill Brink
12:28
This is a complicated equation with no easy answer. The Pirates track pitches per inning, high-leverage vs. low-leverage pitches and a lot of biometric data, plus feedback from the pitchers themselves, to figure it out. It varies from pitcher to pitcher. They shut down Kela for the final month but Rodriguez is still going in there after pitching 23 games in winter ball and most of the regular season. Hurdle will generally allow a reliever to go three days in a row if his pitch count from the previous two is less than 30, combined, but there are exceptions.
OHIO412FAN
12:28
Do you feel confident in the Pirates farm system? I know I do, but it never hurts to add more assets.
Bill Brink
12:30
It's nice that they have Keller at the top, because he is a legitimate top prospect throughout baseball, and Hayes looks like he'll be very good. But the rest of their elite talent -- Oneil Cruz, Calvin Mitchell -- was a ways away at low-A this year. It'll be interesting to see how Kramer and Newman continue to translate their triple-A success to the majors.
Dinosaur
12:30
With the pirates currently at 76-74 (2 games over with 12 to play) what are the odds that they finish with at least 81 wins!
and if they finish with at least 81 wins will it be considered a success?
Bill Brink
12:31
With one more game against the Royals, three against the Reds and maybe one or two against a Cubs team that's clinched and is resting guys or lining up their rotation, I'd say good. As for a success, I'll refer to Neal Huntington's comments Sunday: He said the season is not a success because they did not make the playoffs.
OHIO412FAN
12:31
Is Reyes the real deal? Newman, Kramer, etc? Are they worthy of being full time starters? I like the direction the Pirates are heading towards in terms of the long term outlook.
Bill Brink
12:32
Promising, but the sample size is too small for me to decide someone is or isn't the real deal just yet.
Blackhawk Bob
12:32
What do you see the future being for JHay and Mercer? Is their careers over in Pittsburgh’s?
Bill Brink
12:33
The Pirates could bring back Mercer as a transition player until they think Newman is ready to be the everyday guy, but if he finds more regular playing time or more money elsewhere he'll probably take that. Huntington implied that Frazier was ready to be an everyday second baseman, and $10.5 million is a lot given the production Harrison has provided. If they pick up the option, they could trade him, so they don't lose him for nothing, but I don't see them getting much in return. They might have to pay down some of it.
OHIO412FAN
12:34
I’m hearing the best things about Mitch Keller. He’s got to be the real deal, isn’t he? He would add onto an already strong rotation.
Bill Brink
12:34
My thoughts on the real deal still stand, but from what I've heard and seen from Keller, yes, he is a very promising prospect who should contribute sooner than later. Good makeup, good stuff, knows how to adjust.
OHIO412FAN
12:34
What can we expect the starting lineup to look like, roughly, for next year? Do you think they are rounding into a more solid contender?
Bill Brink
12:35
Frazier 4 Marte 8 Polanco 9 (when he's healthy) Bell 3
Oops
12:36
Frazier 4 Marte 8 Polanco 9 (when he's healthy) Bell 3 Dickerson 7 Cervelli 2 Moran 5 ???????? 6 Taillon 1
Dinosaur
12:36
Off the top of your head how many games have the pirates had the lead late and blown the game. How many games have they stole from the other team when it looked like they were going to take a loss? I ask because with a strong finish it looks like they will finish just a handful of games out of a wild card spot. I’d be interested to see if they had won the games they should have if they would have at least earned a wild card spot.
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