Colin Beazley's Pirates chat: 07.10.26
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Colin Beazley
1:30
Addressed this a bit earlier, but they see a multi-inning role as valuable. I can understand that point, but they need Mlodzinski to fill so many roles right now. I agree that Tuesday was not the right spot to put Mlodzinski in.
Tony Soprano
1:30
what can this team do to not win 3, lose 2, etc. what’s holding them back from a type of streak the marlins are on right now. It’s not lost on me that having a month like that in August and September can get them in. But what really gets that done or helps?
Colin Beazley
1:33
There's a quote in the Pirates clubhouse that reads "momentum is as good as the next day's starting pitcher." I'm not entirely convinced it's a real quote, but I do like the sentiment.

The Marlins had the best pitching in baseball (a 3.01 ERA) in June, leading to their streak. The Pirates, at 4.98, ranked 26th. It can be as simple as that.

At some point, the Pirates need to get hot if they want to be a postseason team.
Ben
1:33
Hey Colin - how long til they either use an opener for Keller or they move him to the bullpen. I understand the contract, but this is nuts…
Colin Beazley
1:35
I think we're getting close to seeing an opener, just to try something different.

Ben Cherington was asked about this and here was the most interesting part of the response, in my opinion: "There can be strategic advantage to it, but obviously want to always balance that with the specific pitchers that that decision impacts and just how they're gonna respond to that. There's more than one thing to consider there. That's ultimately Donnie's call." To me, that sounds like Keller isn't particularly interested in giving that a shot... but that's just my read.
Come on …
1:35
Hey Colin - how do you not let jones at least start the seventh with a perfect game going? That was awful from not just a fan perspective but an our bullpen sucks one!
Colin Beazley
1:38
He's coming off a major surgery and hadn't thrown six innings yet, let alone nine. I love baseball history. I really want to see a perfect game. But it's more important to have Jones healthy for the rest of the season/the future than a potential perfect game.

And if he had kept going and hadn't allowed a hit, he would have needed to throw nine innings and roughly 120+ pitches. That would have been medical and managerial malpractice.
Mike
1:38
How aggressive buying do you think the Pirates could do? Is a reliever under contract the most aggressive/expensive package you think they’d get involved in?
Ed Poon
1:38
If the  Pirates are still 5 games out of a playoff spot at the deadline do you see them as buyers or sellers?
Colin Beazley
1:40
Just about wrapping up here... thanks for keeping me entertained on the train.

I don't expect the Pirates to be especially aggressive, both because this isn't their only opportunity and because they're far from guaranteed a playoff spot. But I do think they'll buy if they have a chance. Right now, they have a chance. At five games, they have a chance.

I could see them going up to a Chapman-type reliever, but I don't see them going for a Skubal.
Dan O
1:41
What type of package would it take to bring Mason Miller back home to Pittsburgh?
Colin Beazley
1:43
A monster, monster package. The Padres dealt a top-five prospect to the A's for him and would want something similar back. I don't think the Padres move him, but man would he be worth bringing home.
Tim
1:43
Think the Pirates make the playoffs in the end?
Colin Beazley
1:47
Final question from Tim, sorry if I didn't get to you. We'll do this again soon, I promise! And you can always email me.

I really do think it depends on what they do at the deadline, if there are more injuries, and if they can get Paul Skenes back to normal. (Remember him? Kind of surprised we didn't talk about him.) A "normal" Skenes stabilizes the rotation and the bullpen and should be close to an automatic win for the Pirates. It hasn't been. If they start winning his starts, get and stay healthy, and fix the bullpen at the deadline, I do think we could see Buctober.

That said, that's several ifs. Right now I don't think it all comes together, but the path is there. Despite its faults, this is a good team. We'll see if they can put things together.
1:48
That'll do for this week's chat, a record-breaker! Can't say I expected this many questions, but thank you all for participating on this lovely Friday.

Watch our website and my socials for the next chat/mailbag, I'm already looking forward to it. Thanks again for following along!
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