Pittsburgh Pirates in 2024 -- Let the Youth Movement Reign!

The Bonds jersey retirement would be cool but that time in August is bad for me

Lol Chappy

https://twitter.com/thecomeback/status/1798210821237158301?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1798210821237158301%7Ctwgr%5Ec63e71d383bab6f3fa18453c6b8b81c91d80a43a%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.si.com%2Fmlb%2Fmlb-conspiracy-theories-aroldis-chapman-mad-long-fly-out

Reynolds and Skenes both All-Stars. Both definitely deserving, although I am a bit surprised by Skenes simply because he's only been up for about half of the pre-All-Star game part of the season and that usually gets a guy ignored by the powers that be. But if the name of the game is marketing the sport and providing entertainment, it only makes sense to have the game's most dynamic young player considering how good the results are when he's on the mound.

Keller should’ve been there

posted by Ironman92

Keller should’ve been there

I'd agree. His April kind of sucked, but in May/June/so far July, he's been one of the top guys in MLB. And picked up win #10 yesterday. Probably turned into a question of do you pick the guy who's been mostly really good over a full half of a season or the phenom who'll put eyes on the TV screens who's been great, but over a shorter period of time. Going off what my brain says should be the case, it'd be Keller; but understanding that baseball needs to get better at marketing their young players (part of which is on those players; I remember how Mike Trout's prime didn't really get the mainstream splash that a comparable athlete in other sports would have received due to Trout not being comfortable in a "look at me" role), I get why Skenes was the pick.

Really, when I think about it, if the team had a consistent league-average offense this year, they'd be up there with the Brewers at the top of the division. Starting pitching has been very strong with Jared Jones also having a good rookie first half and Bailey Falter being a more-than-serviceable back-end guy, but the offense just disappears. Recent series with the Mets had outputs of 14, 2, 2 and 8. Balance that out and it's a four-game sweep, but as it was, it was a 2-2 draw with one of the other many mediocre teams fighting to be in the wild card race.

Will it be a sellout in Milwaukee this afternoon .........with Skenes on the hill for the Bucs and the Brewers in first place? 

Skenes no-hitter through 7 innings; 11 k's, 1BB.  Then they pulled him; 99 pitches.  Reliever gave up 2 singles in the 8th, and a walk -- bases loaded now, 2 out.  Hope they don't blow it. 

Fortunately they didn't. Holderman made things a bit tense, in part due to the offense doing virtually nothing against a mediocre at best starter, but at least was able to strike out his way out of that inning and Chapman slammed the door in the 9th.

Skenes now 6-0 with a 1.9 ERA. And tied Nolan Ryan as the only MLB starter in history to have two straight outings of 6 or more innings, 0 runs and 11  or more Ks. Which I guess goes to show that the stat nerds can come up with a milestone over absolutely anything that happens anywhere. 

EDIT: 0 hits, not 0 runs. So, even more impressive.

Just read on Twitter that Skenes will start the All-Star game for the NL. The world gets to see its new overlord in action!

posted by Heretic

Just read on Twitter that Skenes will start the All-Star game for the NL. The world gets to see its new overlord in action!

He’ll face Henderson/Soto/Judge I imagine 

posted by Ironman92

He’ll face Henderson/Soto/Judge I imagine 

2 k's and a popout

Cheap bastard owner was on my flight to Pittsburgh today from Ft. Lauderdale, no wonder we won’t sign any players. (Southwest)

Pirates are a hot ticket!

Dang, I was there last month for 2/3 of their games with the Reds and it was $48 or so for those seats on the first base area where it's $128.

I know it's a weekend series instead of mid-week, when I was there. And I think they're having some sort of festival in Pittsburgh this weekend, also. So that might be driving up the price somewhat, but roughly $80 more for a seat is kind of wild, regardless.

posted by Heretic

Dang, I was there last month for 2/3 of their games with the Reds and it was $48 or so for those seats on the first base area where it's $128.

I know it's a weekend series instead of mid-week, when I was there. And I think they're having some sort of festival in Pittsburgh this weekend, also. So that might be driving up the price somewhat, but roughly $80 more for a seat is kind of wild, regardless.

Ton of Philly fans is a nice part of it

Team even has been buyers to a (for them) nice degree as the trade deadline approaches.

Got Bryan De La Cruz from Miami because you can't have too many Cruz/De La Cruz guys in one division. And also because, other than Reynolds, the outfield has been a HUGE part of the overall offensive struggles.

And picked up Isiah Kiner-Falefa from Toronto, who should make up for the injury loss of Nick Gonzales at 2nd, who started well, but had been slumping for a good while. Although that was blunted a bit by how, when he did get hits, they were clutch ones.

Congrats

Meanwhile the Reds call up a kid, he earned player of the week honors and now we get to watch 3-4 other guys not be able to do what he did.

Tonight we are using our top defensive infielder (it’s not close) and using him as the DH….again.

Day before Elly was given a scheduled HOME game of the day after going 3/3 with 4 SB. Just a giant FU by the dumbasses in button up shirts and slacks wearing numbers guys.

Edit: and the guy we traded for (Austin Slater) who was the reason Rece Hinds NL POTW was called up and then sent back down. Now Slater has been moved to the Orioles and Hinds remains in AAA

posted by Ironman92

Congrats

Meanwhile the Reds call up a kid, he earned player of the week honors and now we get to watch 3-4 other guys not be able to do what he did.

Tonight we are using our top defensive infielder (it’s not close) and using him as the DH….again.

Day before Elly was given a scheduled HOME game of the day after going 3/3 with 4 SB. Just a giant FU by the dumbasses in button up shirts and slacks wearing numbers guys.

Edit: and the guy we traded for (Austin Slater) who was the reason Rece Hinds NL POTW was called up and then sent back down. Now Slater has been moved to the Orioles and Hinds remains in AAA

Man, they already sent Hinds down? I knew he'd fallen off after that great start and I knew the scouting report on him was kind of a "boom or bust" thing that, well, about every power guy is nowadays, but that was super-quick. I had seen Elly was out during a home game.

I do know I heard what the Reds were doing was called a "soft sell". I know dumping off Montas was a good idea. At least for my ears. Seems like the last 2-3 times I've watched a Reds game with a Reds fan friend, he was starting and it didn't take long for the pure rage to start flowing out of him, lol. And the last time or two, it was even deserved!

posted by Heretic

Man, they already sent Hinds down? I knew he'd fallen off after that great start and I knew the scouting report on him was kind of a "boom or bust" thing that, well, about every power guy is nowadays, but that was super-quick. I had seen Elly was out during a home game.

I do know I heard what the Reds were doing was called a "soft sell". I know dumping off Montas was a good idea. At least for my ears. Seems like the last 2-3 times I've watched a Reds game with a Reds fan friend, he was starting and it didn't take long for the pure rage to start flowing out of him, lol. And the last time or two, it was even deserved!

Yeah, he had to fall off. As soon as he had 3 not great games IN TOTAL, he was shipped down. Batting .315 with a 1.200 OPS.