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Nubyjas Wilborn's Pirates chat: 06.26.19
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Ritz
11:58
Can you pick up any under-current from management?  Does this surgery mark the end of Burdi’s career or does he have a realistic chance to come back from it?
nubyjas wilborn
12:00
Hello and welcome to today's chat. I look forward to answering all of your questions. We're gathered to talk Pirates but I'm open to other topics as well.
12:01
@ritz, I think Burdi will come back. He's a tough young man. He will do the work.
Ritz
12:02
We get mixed messages about Tallon; his season is over AND he starts pitching in the next two weeks. Can you shift through the spin and see the truth?
nubyjas wilborn
12:04
@ritz, I know he wants to come back & is working hard. I've spoken to him quite a bit and he wants to pitch. But there also needs to be caution expressed. At this point, I'd be surprised to see him pitch this season, but it won't be because Jamo didn't try everything possible.
Ritz
12:04
Can the Bucs really risk losing Stallings by trying to sneak him through waivers again if/when Cervelli comes back?  With an eye to future value, wouldn’t you trade Cervelli for Stallings straight up?
nubyjas wilborn
12:06
I was shocked that Stallings got through waivers the first time. I'd have to think a team could use a good backup catcher. It'll be interesting to hear from Todd Tomcyzk on Cervelli's health. The team still believes he can contribute.
Jeff
12:06
I have been reading The MVP Machine. The book talks about video systems like Edgertronic and TrackMan. Do you know if the Pirates are using these? Would be an interesting story to know what new analytics are used or not in the Pirate system
nubyjas wilborn
12:08
They're using Rapsodo. Brink wrote about it during the spring.
Larry in KY
12:08
What happens next?  Kang is DFA's?  Frazier goes down and Kramer comes up to reunite the "Seinfeld" DP combo?  Or Gonzales replaces Kang?
nubyjas wilborn
12:11
I'd have to think that time is about up on the Kang experiment. He can still field, but his bat isn't coming around and it doesn't appear it will. Gonzalez is making good progress and could provide depth. I don't see Frazier getting sent down yet.
SalemPirate
12:11
Too early to determine Bucs buyers or sellers?
nubyjas wilborn
12:11
yes. but it's coming soon.
SalemPirate
12:11
Does Stallings get replaced by Cervelli.
nubyjas wilborn
12:12
it's rare to carry three catchers so we'll see.
George
12:12
Do you think the Pirates were short-sighted in not trading Marte or Polanco to Tampa instead of Austin Meadows?
nubyjas wilborn
12:12
we don't have enough information to answer that. Also, how do you know what Tampa would've taken?
Kent
12:12
With the glut of good outfield options why don't we hear about trading Polanco.  If Pirates were serious about winning wouldn't he be the choice to go?  I know he is cheap, but he is a poor in the field and although he can get hot is a career 250 hitter with ok power.  I don't get why we don't just get what we can and use his salary to pay Dickerson and keep the young guys.  What am I missing?
nubyjas wilborn
12:14
Show me statistical evidence that says Polanco is "poor in the field"?
D.J. Spin
12:14
What's the best case scenario "buy" situation you can see us end up in at the deadline? Even assuming solid performance between now and then, leaving us let's say 3 games out of the division, are we basically standing pat with fingers crossed about Taillon's health, and maybe adding a Jake Diekman-type reliever?

Put differently, can you talk me back into my false hope of adding Marcus Stroman to the mix?
nubyjas wilborn
12:19
If they do it and give up let's say Keller & Will Craig to do it, would you pan it like people are doing the Archer trade?
GSMP
12:19
Who is more likely to be traded between Melky Cabrera and Corey Dickerson? Or do you think both may get moved?
nubyjas wilborn
12:19
both could be moved, but you won't get as much as you think considering they're on expiring deals.
GSMP
12:20
Is there a player in the lower minors that may not have great stats but is exciting to the organization? I like to periodically look at how the minor league players are faring and none really stand out based upon stats.
nubyjas wilborn
12:21
Will Craig. But he's a natural 1st baseman & well, there's a guy named Bell there. O'Neil Cruz is one but he's been injured. Also, we've seen a lot of the top prospects in the majors. The Pirates have had seven players make big league debuts
Bill Maloni
12:21
All one has to do is watch Polanco in RF to see he has no arm strength (bad thing for a Right Fielder) and his leg injuries has sapped his speed.
nubyjas wilborn
12:22
that's part of why he's on the IL. Also keep in mind he rushed back from the shoulder injury. They knew arm strength was going to be an issue but both sides took the risk.
Mr. I Test
12:23
Please don’t tell us you are still going down the rabbit hole of defending GPs defense?
nubyjas wilborn
12:24
I just answered the questions that are asked and replied with a question, Thought we were having a conversation ;)
Wayward
12:25
If the Bucs decided to sell/get younger by getting rid of Cervelli (if healthy and there are takers), Dickerson, Cabrera and DFA Kang, are they really taking that much of a step back?   They have some wrong talent here with Keller, Kramer, Tucker ready now and hopefully Brubaker later in the year with Hayes added next year.  To me this team isn't far away from being better with younger players.
nubyjas wilborn
12:25
They have a good young core to build around. The next couple of seasons could be interesting.
Jeff
12:25
So using Rapsodo. That was just 1 of tools mentioned in book, but it only tracks spin rate. There are a number of other video options for pitching and hitting. Now that the book is out with a host of analytics options that teams are using, might be a good time to revisit?
nubyjas wilborn
12:28
Rapsodo does more than track spin rate, from what I've been told by Pirates people and others around the game. That said, I'm always open to exploring. A lot of teams, the Pirates included are rather buttoned up on how they use info. But it is worth delving into.
Rick in Orlando
12:28
Tonight looks like another opener scenario where the opener goes 3 innings and gives up 5 runs and the bullpen gets overused again! This is front office negligence that they don't have a contingency plan in place for this situation. In addition, these types of games don't help the confidence of these openers when they get shelled every time. Why is Nutting not held to the fire to answer why he is not giving Huntington something to work with? Does he not do Q and A's? Is Huntington his "yes" man? We fans are being teased by the possibilities  during a minor winning streak and then crushed when reality hits.
nubyjas wilborn
12:30
What would be a contingency plan for 3/5ths of the starting rotation going down? The Pirates aren't using an opener. Dario Agrazal will be expected to pitch as a normal starter. Can he? I don't know but we'll find out.
Mr. I Test
12:32
You are new to town. Yinzers  have seen him out there for years. It has not been a sight to behold
nubyjas wilborn
12:34
Yinz kill me with this. You do realize I've watched and covered baseball before I got here, right? I know yinz do because yinz swear I talk about the Braves too much. I was familar with Polanco before I get here. And as I've said before there's plenty of evidence that shows when he's healthy he's an average to above average right fielder.
D.J. Spin
12:34
Re: Stroman for Keller + Craig – it's a tough call. I wouldn't pan it, because it would mean sticking with the aggression that believes this team can defy the doubters and make a run. It would be a follow-up move to the Archer and Kela deals, which IMO was lacking this winter, although Lyles has turned out well.

I think with less control on Stroman than Archer had, I'd want another asset coming back, like a reliever with another year of control. Max out the chance to win now, and if it doesn't work, start tearing down and rebuilding winter 2020.

The way I see that deal, it moves a depth piece in Craig who is blocked, and a high ceiling prospect in Keller for more security in the rotation. My guess is fans would pan it badly, but prospects are fickle and I want to see the team try to go for it if we are in a position like 2-3 games back July 20th. This division is much more winnable this year than in previous seasons. But that's a major if, so I'm not sure I'm fully talked back into it. Guess wait and see?
nubyjas wilborn
12:36
This is a reasoned and smart reply. Wow. Thank you. I can't argue with any of it. I'm not sure if the Pirates would do it, but you make a strong case.
Learn what an Opener is
12:36
before complaining about it Rick in Orlando
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