Chapter 1: What are the pressing questions for the Pirates this spring training?
And a high drive to right field. That's a no-doubter. Wow. Crushed by Brandon Lowe. His second home run of this young season gives Tampa Bay a 6-0 lead in the fourth. Here's the 2-1 offering. And a high fly ball to deep right center field. And just how far is it going to go? Clear the deck. Cannon ball coming. Anchor down.
Brian Reynolds leads off the third with his 16th of the year over the right center field fence. 1-0 is hit sharply out to left field. Benson turns around. There it goes. Home run number 20 for O'Neal Cruz. He goes the opposite way in Cincinnati. And the Pirates have scored four times here in the second. 4-0, Pirates trying to spoil the party in Cincinnati. 0-1, he's hit the right base hit.
Hey, that's a veteran hitter right there. Ozuna goes to right field, knocks in Baldwin, and Atlanta leads 1-0. Here's the 2-1. The swing of the ball hit well out to right center field. This ball is going to head to the wall and hit right off the foot of it. It bounds over Harris. That affords Horowitz a chance to score. And no relay from Wisely. He'll score on a belly flop slide.
It's a double for Nick Gonzalez. He knocks him in and the Pirates have a 2-1 lead here in the sixth. Hitting a .281 OPS well over .800. There goes Triolo. Pitch is swung on and belted. Out to right. This ball is deep. Cruz chasing it back. And there it goes. Home run for Spencer Horwitz. A two-run shot to right. And the Pirates lead 3-0 here in D.C. It feels like spring.
It feels like baseball weather. It feels like you and your buddies this weekend, well, until it snows on Sunday, should go outside... play a game of catch, take some BP, and get ready for some baseball because tomorrow, just over 24 hours from now, the Pirates will play their first spring training game against the Baltimore Orioles in Florida. Austin Bechtel with you, Sports Radio 93.7 The Fan.
In for Joe, who is in Florida golfing. Bob, a very well-deserved day off, has a lot of TV obligations today as well. Our friend Donnie Football is in Florida on his bachelor party. They are already getting after it early and often at a brunch. I think there were some early mimosas that were being drank by our guy Donnie. So a very exciting weekend in store for him in Florida.
Jack Hillgrove also a part of the festivities. So expecting to hear a lot of fun stories there. Sean Myers is behind the glass. Sean, is there any FOMO for you of not being at the Donnie bachelor party? I'm sure it's a good time. I've gone to a WrestleMania with Donnie and some of his crew there. That was a fun time. Now, there was no mimosas on that trip.
There was a lot of icy mangoes, but I'm sure they're going to have a blast. I believe they're going to be going to a Pirate Spring training game on Sunday, but they're trying to figure out if they're going to see Conor Griffin potentially in that one or not. So, They're going to have a good time, and I hope that everyone comes back in one piece. That's the biggest goal.
Yeah, that's definitely a big part of it. And Connor Griffin is partly where we begin today because he is the biggest topic in Pirate Spring Training. Does Connor Griffin make the team? And I was going to keep this for last, but we'll lead with it. Six pressing Pirates questions. It's like a six-pack. It's six Pirates pressing questions.
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Chapter 2: How did Connor Griffin perform in the minor leagues?
But we did see there was really no adjustment period for schemes, right? I mean, I know he had some walk issues maybe very early on. I think in his first start maybe he had like three or four or five walks. But he was right out of the gate pretty dominant. And the Pirates were close to getting to the playoffs that year. But there's no doubt you could argue ā
that, what was it, five or six weeks that he was not up with the team, that they would have probably won more games had he broke camp with the Pirates, you would have got that compensatory draft pick for him winning Rookie of the Year as well. I think this does go back to your question, did Sherrington do enough this offseason?
If they had signed Suarez or a comparable player at third base, you wouldn't probably have to lean so heavily upon the hope that Griffin comes up and is great right away. Not at all. Now, if he proves that he's ready... But that's why I'm okay with, even if it's just a month, because of the other additions that you made. because O'Hearn is likely going to bat right around 5th or 6th.
Ozuna is your cleanup guy. Maybe Lau bats 2nd or 3rd. You added guys that can hit in the middle of your order, where if you bring up Griffin, he's either going to hit leadoff, or I would bat him 6th or 7th just to start. Ease him into it a little bit. Don't immediately bat him 3rd, or immediately bat him 4th. You can, but...
It's still a lot of pressure to put on a 19-year-old, and I know it seems like he's cut from a different cloth, and the way that he goes about his business, and he's very mature beyond his years, already married at 19 years old. But maybe take a little bit of a step back. Curb your enthusiasm just a little bit. He's going to be here, and he's going to be here very soon.
But based on what Jason Mackey's saying and a couple others, they think that he has to leave, no doubt, and so far he has. But that's why they play the games, Sir Ron. That's why they play the games. Would you then champion for adding a third baseman between now and the start of the season? I would trade for Paredes from the Astros, trying to include Joey Bart and a couple other pieces.
Why are we so confident that the Astros want to do that? Why they want to trade Paredes? Because their general manager has basically come out and said he's still on the roster now and he'll be in camp, but he's basically been so noncommittal to Paredes and the additions that they've made has basically forced him into not having a clear roster spot.
Yeah, I would be curious what the Pirates would have to give up. But to me, if you bring him in, that's the guy that you're going to pencil into the lineup. on a regular basis. So then you probably have Triolo just as a placeholder. And then Nick Gonzalez is maybe a utility guy, maybe doesn't even start at the major league level.
My pirate lineup right now, and we'll see what you think of this, Sean. I have Horwitz leading off, playing at first. I have Brian Reynolds in left, batting second. Lau at second base, batting third. Ozuna cleans up, DH-ing. O'Neal Cruz in center field, batting fifth. Ryan O'Hearn in right field, batting... What, sixth? The shortstop is Nick Gonzalez batting seventh.
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Chapter 3: Did Ben Cherington do enough to improve the Pirates' lineup?
Yeah, like a lot of the speed skaters and figure skaters and like Malanin, the great skater for Team USA. I think he's been done for like three or four days. And there are some people that competed in the early portion of the Olympics. Now they're just kind of hanging out and hanging around for the closing ceremony.
When I become an Olympian, which is probably inevitable at this point, that's what I want. What would be your sport? There's multiple sports I could probably compete in.
um we'll say table table tennis go with that skeleton no i don't want to hurt myself severely badminton someone yeah maybe that someone on the text line was mad at me uh yesterday with my argument that three on three hockey would be a horrible idea in overtime of the nhl playoffs and they said limits stick to badminton and wiffleball i've never picked up a badminton before i don't think that's a thing it's a shuttlecock
That proves my level of knowledge about badminton. Anyway, when I'm an Olympic athlete, I want to be done early. I want to compete right off the bat and then win or lose, hopefully win. But even if I lose, then you get to sit around and enjoy the rest of the Olympics there as a spectator. All the pressure's off, right? Well, I mean, curling just never stops.
The grind never ends when you're curling in the Olympics. Did you have to give a speech in school and you were one of the first speakers? Oh, yeah. I always tried to be in the middle. You could just sit back and kick your feet up. But when you're the last, like the very last, you're stressed the entire time. Yes. Well, in college, I would try to be the first or second speaker.
I would try to go second. I never wanted to be the first, but I would try to go second so that one, I got it out of the way, and two, I set the tone. Yeah, first is a tough spot to be in as well. The level of confidence from freshman Austin as just a moron that had no idea who I was to where I was in college that finally got some confidence in myself.
I was going to say some people would say not much has changed, but. Listen to the Papa Joe show every Wednesday to hear about Starkey's car of the week from the baseball car castle in Cranberry. One person who never changes is the general. He's always awesome and always brings it. Contest run every Wednesday through Friday at noon at the 937thefan.com. Contesting page, 412-928-9370.
Bucks and pucks on the table. Here is Justin to chime in. What's up, Justin? Hey, how's it going, guys? Doing well. So, first of all, you guys, So do you guys feel like the Pirates, with all the new signings, with all them on the team now, do you feel like they can go further than what they've done in the past in the season?
Or do you feel like they could stay the same if things were to go what they've been going? Are you saying win a playoff series? Is that what you're saying? Like win a three-game wildcard? Yeah, and with the new signing, do you feel like they could go further with that? Yeah, thanks, Justin. I think it's possible because of the rotation. Bubba Chandler is a big wild card.
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Chapter 4: What are the implications of Sidney Crosby's potential return for Team Canada?
Pony is still in here talking. Well, yeah. Team Canada. It's a 2-0 game against Finland right now. This Sidney Crosby discussion might end up being a moot point. Get him suited up for the third period. Get him out there. As they are halfway through the second period of play, Team Canada still without a goal. Oh, what would that say about Connor McDavid? The discourse in Canada.
Chapter 5: How does the discussion shift to the Pirates' performance and player statistics?
McDavid becomes the captain for one game and they lose to Finland? Well, Sidney Crosby is the first overall pick, and my next number will relate to another first overall pick. 181. That is the career batting average for Henry Davis. And at this point, it's not that small of a sample size. He has played 186 games, 581 at bat. So about a season or maybe more than a full season worth.
And his batting average is 181. Well, I have a number to coincide with that, John. 0.7.
Chapter 6: What are the key takeaways from the analysis of the Pirates' batting averages?
Henry Davis had a 0.7 war a year ago despite a 167 batting average. He had a higher war than O'Neal Cruz. A higher war than O'Neal Cruz did Henry Davis because of how strong his defense is. If Davis can become just an average hitter, 230 range? 235, 240? Hit you 10-plus home runs and driving around 50 RBIs? Would you take it? At least this year, I think that's a considerable step. Yes.
Chapter 7: How does the conversation conclude with thoughts on future drafts and player acquisitions?
I mean, it still feels like a massive disappointment for what the expectations were when you drafted him. But if you go... to 220 when your career batting average is 180, that is a significant step forward. People forget in 2013 when Russell Martin played his first year with the Pirates, he only hit 226 with 15 home runs and 55 RBIs.
People think Russell Martin was like the catalyst of that offense outside of McCutcheon and Pedro Alvarez. At least that's kind of the perception I view it. He was a four-win player because of his defense and his value, but... And he was also a terrific running catcher. If you get some solid numbers there... That could be a huge number for them. To go along with O'Neal Cruz, 200.
That was his batting average last year. And I'll give the number that I gave in the first segment. Cruz hit 133 in August, 167 in September, and just fell apart similarly to how Mitch Keller typically does late in seasons. Keller had an ERA of four in September last year, but his ERA was in the fives the month prior. All right, so you're talking about pitchers.
I got a couple here for notable starters for the Buccos. Three is my number. The number of games in which Paul Skeens has racked up 10 or more strikeouts in his career, over 55 starts, three times 10-plus. Now, a lot of that is pitch count. I think he will shatter that this season alone.
I could see him getting at least five or six games of 10 strikeouts this season alone, but for two years, just three games with 10 or more strikeouts. Are you ready for another O'Neal-Cruz number, Sean? I'm very ready. 11. Why was O'Neal-Cruz war so low? O'Neal-Cruz committed 11 errors in the outfield last season. One of the highest numbers in all of baseball. That's a crazy stat. 11 errors.
It's a wonderful number, although not a wonderful number for Pirates fans. Well, I will give a little bit more of a hopeful number. 2. That is the number of qualified pitchers last year who had a lower whip, walks and hits per innings pitched, than Bubba Chandler. Wow. .093 was his whip. Now, small sample size, 31 plus innings.
But the only two pitchers who had a better whip than him, Tarek Skubal and Jacob DeGrom. I don't know that he could count on that over the course of a full season for Chandler, but it shows the potential that is there, and I think we're probably underrating his potential a little bit. And that's why he is the No. 11 prospect in all of baseball, according to MLB Pipeline.
Spring training coverage is brought to you by Hampton Beer Outlet, Route 8 in Hampton. Drive a little, save a lot. Sean, can I give you another number regarding Bubba Chandler, please? You may. 20.2. In 20 and two-thirds innings outside of one start where he allowed nine runs in two and two-thirds innings. So in one start, he allowed nine and just two and two-thirds.
In those other 20 and two-thirds innings, Bubba Chandler had a 218 ERA. He had one start that significantly fell apart for him. Gave up almost 10 runs. Couldn't even get out of the third inning. Outside of that one very bad outing, Just a .218 ERA. I can only imagine what his whip would be if you take out that one outing as well.
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