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Bill Brink's Pirates chat: 9.13.17
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Bill Brink
12:01
Good morning from Milwaukee. Thanks for the questions, and keep them coming. Here we go ...
OHIO412FAN
12:01
Bill, with the offseason approaching fast, what should be the priorities for the Pirates heading into this offseason? I firmly believe this team is better than most people think. How should they address the Bullpen, starting Pitchers, etc?
Bill Brink
12:03
They'll need bullpen help, for sure. Another late-inning reliever will be helpful, even though they're getting a look at Neverauskas and Santana back there this month. Another lefty would be a good addition. They have basically the same projected rotation options going into next year, unless they trade Cole, but adding someone with more experience would be a good idea. I'm interested in what they do with second base. Sounds like Harrison will play some third next year as well, so I wonder if they trust Frazier defensively, and/or Moroff and Rodriguez offensively, or if they'll do something there.
Jim
12:04
Why does no reporter ask Nutting this, "Your team stinks and fans say it's because your cheap.  Why don't you want to pay for needed players?  Look at Cleveland.  Small market and winning."
Bill Brink
12:04
The best questions are often the simplest and most direct, but on the other hand it usually pays to show a modicum of respect for the people you cover.
OHIO412FAN
12:04
Since signing Huntington and Hurdle to new contracts, what do they both need to do in order to show that they are still doing a consistently good job? I believe these were good moves to make for the better of the organization. But, building this team into a playoff caliber team should be the priority.
Bill Brink
12:08
For Huntington, you'd like to see solid drafting and development, especially of position players, going forward. You'd also like to see a good hit rate on the people acquired (I still think Nova's better than this, but Hudson has not given them the type of production in the back end that they hoped for) and and more of a clear direction at the trade deadline than this season. Hurdle needs to squeeze as much production out of the players he's given. I think the extension was a sign that management felt not much of what went wrong this year was his fault and that he's doing a good job with the pieces he's given.
Robby21
12:08
Interleague play was a cool novelty when it started back in 1997. I've grow to throughly hate it. And now, for the second year in a row the Pirates open the season at an American League park, only to have to host the Twins in their home opener! Arrrgh!!!! I'd so much rather play the Phillies 3 more times every year in real games -- you know, games where the pitchers come to the plate!!  Do you share any of my angst over this inter-league overkill?
Bill Brink
12:09
I'm sorry, Robby, I don't. The balancing of the leagues and the frequent interleague series has diluted it, sure, but the schedule is what the schedule is.
OHIO412FAN
12:09
The Pirates are in the mid-lower tiers of the highest payrolls in the league. People would say that the front office along with Owner Bob Nutting don't spend the necessary money to compete and put a quality product on the field for Pirates fans and the city of Pittsburgh. What do you think they could do to boost that?
Bill Brink
12:11
It's a chicken-and-egg argument, in a sense. You gotta spend money to improve the on-field product so people will come to games, thereby boosting revenue ... but people aren't coming to games now and you can't expect them to until the team improves ... which will take money. Or really savvy trades that all work. One option is to spend now, even if the bottom line isn't happy about it, with the knowledge that a new TV deal is coming in two years.
Bobby L
12:11
The Pirates "dream outfield" is a thing of the past. Polanco hasn't delivered as expected, Marte has shown limited power (and this season is a poor bet to not reach base ) and Cutch has had 4 poor months in '16 plus two earlier this season and a subpar Sept.
Buy, sell or trade on the current OF? Previous post sent accidently before finishing!!!
Bill Brink
12:13
I think this is another offseason in which they consider trade, if not actually trade, McCutchen. I don't think they trade Polanco or Marte because they can't get any value for them. Marte would need to prove his performance in the past was not PED-related and Polanco would need to prove he can stay healthy. Plus, I don't think the Pirates want to move either one of them, and if they do, who plays the outfield? We saw glimpses when Marte was suspended and Polanco hurt, and I don't think that's their favorite thing.
Rob
12:13
Have you begun looking at potential free agents the pirates could target in the upcoming offseason?
Bill Brink
12:14
This is right around the time when I start doing that. I'll have some stories on that when the season ends and more when free agency begins in November.
12:16
I would quibble with the outfield. I think not only do they definitely need a fourth, as shown by this season when Marte and Polanco were both out, but they might need a starter if they trade McCutchen and move Marte to center. The Pirates make a lot of moves around the fringe, especially with relievers, so I could see waiver claims there.
12:17
Whoops.
Bobby L
12:17
The 25 man roster is pretty well set for '18.  Position players: C=Cervelli, Diaz/Stewart 1B=Bell, 2B=Harrison/Srod, Moroff, 3B=Freese/Harrison, SS=Mercer, Util=Frazier, OF=no more than 3 (don't need to waste a spot on a 4th) Marte, Cutch, Polanco. Bench=Osuna.   SP=Cole, Nova, Taillon, Kuhl, Williams. RP= Riverio, Contas, Hudson, Never, Brault, Santana, ???. Several of these guys should be replaced.  Do you see trades or waiver wire pickups to supplant anybody?
Bill Brink
12:17
... was the question I just answered.
G. Cole
12:17
What are the odds I get dealt this winter?  If Kingham is for real, seems like I could be expendable, for the right return.
Bill Brink
12:18
Hi, Gerrit. There's a non-zero chance you're traded this winter. The most likely scenario I see is if the Pirates are out of it by next trade deadline and you're doing well and healthy, they'll look to move you.
Brian
12:18
If Kuhl Nova Cole's starting for the next series, does this mean Brault's start is skipped? And what about Glasnow? Is his start guaranteed? (6 man rotation)
Bill Brink
12:19
Glasnow's start for tonight is guaranteed. All we know right now is the Reds rotation. Hurdle talked Monday about skipping Kuhl, but now it'll be Williams who is skipped, so it could be Kuhl next week. As for Brault and Glasnow's next start, we don't know. They might just piece this together series by series.
Brian
12:19
Any reason why Polanco is starting? (I don't care if he hits or not, he already has a long term contract with us. He had three hamstring injuries this season. Pirates aren't competing. Seemed like he's trying to avoid running too hard few games he started after activated too.)

Why not just rest him so he doesn't re-injure himself and play Frazier at LF and Moroff at 2B?
Bill Brink
12:20
They want him, and he wants to, finish strong and head into his revamped offseason conditioning on a good note rather than finishing the year hurt or on the bench. I thought he was running gingerly too at first but he booked it down the line last night on a grounder, so he might be picking his spots.
Buc'nnutz
12:20
Is Cole still considered the ace we thought he would be, or is someone else emerging? If he is traded, who assumes his role?
Bill Brink
12:21
He's certainly looked like it at times, especially in two of his past three starts, but there has been inconsistency. I think better days are ahead for him. If he goes, who knows? Taillon is the best bet.
Andrew
12:21
Hurdle, Huntington, and Searage all extended. Would this imply that everyone is safe for 2018 regardless of the W-L record?
Bill Brink
12:21
I would agree with that, yes.
Bob
12:21
Has Nick Kingham been added to the 40 man roster? Does he have options left ?
Bill Brink
12:23
Kingham is on the 40-man roster. He has used his three minor league options but could qualify for a fourth. Those are rarer nowadays (one way to get them was to use up all three options before spending five full years in pro ball, so when players were allowed to sign big-league contracts out of the draft, you saw that happen) but another way is to spend less than 30 days on an active roster in a season. Kingham was injured early enough in 2015 that he should qualify for a fourth option.
Les Lee
12:24
How is a triple a roster constructed? Do they carry extra players and only have a set number of players available for each game?
Bill Brink
12:24
They have a roster limit like in the majors, but in the minors it's easier to manipulate the roster a bit with the seven-day DL.
Brian
12:25
I don't know what we're doing right now. Can we just focus on one thing: play young, question mark players? Let Brault and Glasnow start over Nova who's regressing hard to his norm (I'm sure he's better than who he is now, but he's a 4 ERA pitcher, has been a 4 ERA pitcher and will be a 4 ERA pitcher), Luplow over Jaso and Polanco, Moroff and Frazier over Rodriguez and Freese?
Bill Brink
12:27
There's a balance to be had. Players pay attention to, and hear from other players, how teams use or don't use certain players. If the Pirates sit Nova down and he doesn't reach his games-started bonus incentives (next one is 30 starts for an additional half a million) free agents might notice and go elsewhere. And players want to play regardless of the record. I think they're doing a good job of balancing getting the young guys a look and respecting what the older players have done and want to do.
Pierre
12:29
Why did Clint Hurdle last night say that it was "exciting to watch" Cole pitch and gave him lots of compliments when Cole has been mediocre to bad all season, has an era over 4.00 now and has given up close to 30 HR's?? Do you see why lots of fans are sick of being misled and lied to by this manager and the ownership?
Bill Brink
12:31
I can absolutely see why Hurdle's comments would anger fans, specifically after a start like Cole's. His job is not to appease fans but to extract the best from Cole and his players, and his method of doing that is looking for positive aspects of Cole's start to build on for next time. I don't think Hurdle has lied to anybody. If fans feel misled with regard to the payroll and the moves the front office has made, that's a different story.
Brian
12:33
I don't know. Moroff is hitting very well since mid July and if he can keep this up, he's a better candidate for starting 2B role. We don't need to assume his ceiling is a bench player. He has the power and good enough gloves at 2B. But we won't give him the ABs. We were doing that at one point and then it stopped again.
Moroff can share playing time with Freese AND play at 2B while Harrison is out. Don't know why we're so convinced Freese HAS TO start everyday
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