We wanted the Pirates to add three bats, and they've done that
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What bats did the Pirates add this offseason?
We are in the fast lane with that song as we bring you back to Pomp and Joe's show. Austin Bechtel behind the glass. 412-928-9370. Got a lot of X reaction here concerning the Pirates. Jake Stain, 2020, I think his handle is, and says, they need to do more. You're not going to impress me until you get another bat. Okay. I would agree with that, but, I mean, it has to be a third base bat, but I don't know how that market is right now, and it would have to require a trade.
I'm going to say this, Bob. At the start of the offseason, myself included, Joe, I think you were the same.
What impact will the new bats have on the Pirates' lineup?
We said, OK, the Pirates need two very impactful bats or three bats. Like if it's not like a Kyle Schwarber included in one of those two bats or something outlandish like that, it needed to be three guys. They've added three starting bats. So I do feel like we're moving the goalposts a little bit because they still have a hole at third base. No one is denying that. But they've pretty much done what we've all wanted them to do and ask. Two All-Stars from a year ago and someone who finished fourth in the MVP voting two years ago and was dealing with a hip problem all year. I've been very critical of them in recent years, but I'm giving them credit for what they've done this offseason. I've moved my—I'm right around a B+.
Once they add another left-handed starter, if it is a Quintana or a Tyler Anderson and a third baseman, I'm looking at an A through the microphone or through the magnifying glass right now, Bob.
How does the Pirates' offseason compare to previous years?
Yeah.
B-plus is what I thought because they did add bats. They added basically over 200 runs batted in among those three guys. So they didn't make a big splash, but they made enough splashes. I would have liked Suarez at third just because I think that's the right-handed bat and you solve a position need. Now, if Triolo starts at third base this year, that's fine. But at some point, he's going to make way for a shortstop. Connor Griffin will be that, and that's the case. Again, I'm not down on Nick Gonzalez. A lot of people seem to think that he's not an answer anywhere.
What are the expectations for the Pirates this season?
I don't know that he's defensively at third base, what he may need to be, but he's a better bat than Triolo on a consistent basis, I think. So I'd be looking that way and have Triolo be the ultimate guy who's going to do all sorts of stuff. whether it's at second, short, third, or wherever they want to put him because he's that kind of guy. So I think that's kind of the way I'm looking at it. And hopefully they'll have enough to compete. I still don't think they've closed the gap on the Cubs. I don't think they've closed the gaps on the Reds. I think the Reds are going to be a surprisingly better team than most people think. So that'll still be an interesting division. Got this tweet, or X, and this is concerning the Hall of Fame of 2027.
Who are the potential Hall of Fame candidates for 2027?
You see the amount, and it's from girlcity62. You see the amount of people who are going to be eligible as first-timers. How many of these will be first-timers? So we saw that we talked about this. I think Ben Roethlisberger is and should be a first ballot Hall of Famer. I do. I do think Peterson, Adrian Peterson, will also be one. Gronk has to be one, right? Yeah. So those are three.
Will Eli Manning overshadow Ben Roethlisberger in Hall of Fame voting?
Beyond that, I don't know. Richard Sherman, he'll get in eventually. Who was the first you said, Ben? Ben. Okay, Ben, Adrian Peterson, and Gronk. I agree. Okay. But they have others in there too who are worthy of consideration. The problem is if those three get in as first-timers, that's not going to leave a lot of room for the guys who are still left behind and may never get an opportunity. Will Eli Manning hold out Ben for a year?
What are the arguments for and against Antonio Brown's Hall of Fame status?
I hope not. I mean, if you're going to cancel out because he's a quarterback getting votes from – I think Ben Roethlisberger has a better resume than Eli Manning. So he should be that guy. Antonio Brown is the other guy on that list that – I've said, and I still believe, he's a Hall of Fame player. Again, based on his time here and based on what I saw from him here, he's a Hall of Fame player.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What bats did the Pirates add this offseason?
0:01–0:38
2
What impact will the new bats have on the Pirates' lineup?
0:38–1:38
3
How does the Pirates' offseason compare to previous years?
1:38–2:12
4
What are the expectations for the Pirates this season?
2:12–2:50
5
Who are the potential Hall of Fame candidates for 2027?
2:50–3:19
6
Will Eli Manning overshadow Ben Roethlisberger in Hall of Fame voting?
3:19–3:46
7
What are the arguments for and against Antonio Brown's Hall of Fame status?
3:46–4:19
8
How does the discussion of Hall of Fame candidates affect current players?
4:19–15:35
Speakers
5 identifiedMore from The Pomp And Joe Show
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