2015 Pittsburgh Pirates Thread

[Troy Loney]

Locke just got shelled today against the Astros. I assume this should end any morsel of a chance he had for the 2015 rotation.

[Dickie Dunn]

Does Locke have any value as a reliever getting regular use or will he just rot away as the long guy until someone gets injured?

Also, Tony Sanchez has put up significantly better spring training stats than Lambo. Any chance he sticks as the 25th guy?

[meow]

Correction. Jeff "MLB All Star" Locke.

[Mr. Colby]

Does Locke have any value as a reliever getting regular use or will he just rot away as the long guy until someone gets injured?

Also, Tony Sanchez has put up significantly better spring training stats than Lambo. Any chance he sticks as the 25th guy?

No and no

[Dickie Dunn]

Thought so and boooo!

[Troy Loney]

Does Locke have any value as a reliever getting regular use or will he just rot away as the long guy until someone gets injured?

Also, Tony Sanchez has put up significantly better spring training stats than Lambo. Any chance he sticks as the 25th guy?

I think they could stash locke as the long man in the bullpen and spot starter. I don't think he has any value as a reliever, he could never come into a leverage situation or as a lefty specialist with his control issues. So yeah, he's pretty much just going to rot away.

I don't think Sanchez is really competing with Lambo, I'm not sure if Sanchez can play anywhere except catcher at the MLB level. Lambo being able to play 1B and RF would probably be more what they're looking for out of that last bench spot.

[Factorial]

Does Locke have any value as a reliever getting regular use or will he just rot away as the long guy until someone gets injured?

Also, Tony Sanchez has put up significantly better spring training stats than Lambo. Any chance he sticks as the 25th guy?

I think they could stash locke as the long man in the bullpen and spot starter. I don't think he has any value as a reliever, he could never come into a leverage situation or as a lefty specialist with his control issues. So yeah, he's pretty much just going to rot away.

I don't think Sanchez is really competing with Lambo, I'm not sure if Sanchez can play anywhere except catcher at the MLB level. Lambo being able to play 1B and RF would probably be more what they're looking for out of that last bench spot.

Given the injury rate of starting pitching that's not a bad thing. Mop up games until he's needed.

[Dickie Dunn]

Sanchez spent 2 games at first in AAA last year. Thought it was more than that. Working on position flexibility might be his best chance to make it in the majors.

[Mr. Colby]

If dickie dunn wrote it it must be true

[FreeCandy44]

So what exactly is wrong with Cutch?

[Dickie Dunn]

So what exactly is wrong with Cutch?

[Rocco]

So what exactly is wrong with Cutch?

Dying alive.

[FreeCandy44]

Mediocre answers at best....

[LeopardLetang]

I've thought Sanchez should be working at first for a while now.

His 24-26 years in AAA show some good hitting numbers. 700+ abs with 55 doubles and 29 hr with a 10% bb 25%k. Such a shame he's not a stand out defensive catcher as advertised. He has struggled done in the majors offensively too, but I think he could be an above average hitting catcher easily. He needs to add versatility to his game. He could stick in the majors as a doumitt type player with his pop.

Probably irrationally, I give pedigree guys like him and Allie better chances to succeed in the majors. Their personalities and confidence/cockiness give them an edge mentally to find a niche of success. For example Sanchez rubs me the right way when I've seen him at the plate in the bigs. He doesn't shrink in the moment. I'd want him at bat when it matters right now.

[LeopardLetang]

I've always optimistically compared Cole to Verlander. It took Verlander time to become an ace. Elite stuff only gets a pitcher moderate success in the majors as a young pitcher. It often takes added experience to create an ace. By these early metrics for Cole he seems on pace to perhaps eclipse Verlander if things go well for him.

Verlander age, W/L IP H HR BB K FIP WHIP
23 17 9 186.0 187 21 60 124 4.35 1.32
24 18 6 201.2 181 20 67 183 3.99 1.23
25 11 17 201.0 195 18 87 163 4.18 1.40
26 19 9 240.0 219 20 63 269 2.80 1.17
27 18 9 224.1 190 14 71 219 2.97 1.16
28 24 5 251.0 174 24 57 250 2.99 0.92

Cole age, W/L IP H HR BB K FIP WHIP
22 10 7 117.1 109 7 28 100 2.91 1.16
23 11 5 138.0 127 11 40 138 3.23 1.21


It took Verlander 600 innings to become an ace. Cole already has superior numbers. It could take a few years before we see Cole's best, but this is a normal progression for an ace pitcher. He hasn't disappointed. He's simply a great pitcher that isn't really that close to his prime yet. I bring this up just to temper expectations for him and future prospects. His peak could be four years away with some "just solid" years in between

[Idoit40fans]

Cole is fun to follow, but he's gotta show what he looks like over 200 innings at some point before you can accurately project things.

[Rocco]

Stewart is out for the next two weeks. Looks like Sanchez will make the team out of spring training.

[FreeCandy44]

Twitter rejoices...I look forward to him shotgunning 3-4 beers at a time after each victory.

[Dickie Dunn]

He seems like he's grown up to a degree. And hasn't been on Twitter since January. Guess he realized he's a soon to be 27, former first round pick in danger of never making it.

What baffles me about Sanchez is his defense is what has held him back, yet when he was drafted his defense was lauded as "Major League ready" and it might be his bat that held him back from being an impact player.

[Troy Loney]

He seems like he's grown up to a degree. And hasn't been on Twitter since January. Guess he realized he's a soon to be 27, former first round pick in danger of never making it.

What baffles me about Sanchez is his defense is what has held him back, yet when he was drafted his defense was lauded as "Major League ready" and it might be his bat that held him back from being an impact player.

His receiving and blocking skills have always been good, his defensive issues are mostly about his erratic throwing. It seems like something that developed as he moved up in the system and weren't present when he was drafted.

As to the bat, he seems to have decent power, but weak batting average and obp skills. The HR power will play, but right now he kind of seems like a JP Arenciba with less power.

[Troy Loney]

http://www.piratesprospects.com/2015/03 ... -more.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Some important points.

Huntington said that they see Marte as more of a run producer than a run scorer.

Right, Marte is not a leadoff hitter. I just hope this means that if Harrison falters or gets injured, Marte isn't put back in the leadoff spot.

The Pirates moved Sanchez to first base at the end of last year to create more playing time for Elias Diaz behind the plate. It sounds like Sanchez has worked his way back into the catching mix, with the first base plans on hold.

Getting Sanchez position flexibility is no longer a priority. With Cervelli and Stewart the ML catchers, they are going to need Sanchez in the mix. I think he will end up catching a lot of games for the ML team this year. I think he's moved to third on the organizational depth chart, and there's a lot of playing time for that slot.

[Mr. Colby]

With Sanchez likely starting the year in Pittsburgh, here is an excellent article on how they have been addressing his throwing issues written by one of our own:

http://www.piratesprospects.com/2015/03 ... blems.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Dickie Dunn]

With Sanchez likely starting the year in Pittsburgh, here is an excellent article on how they have been addressing his throwing issues written by one of our own:

http://www.piratesprospects.com/2015/03 ... blems.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

They worked on his mechanics by hiking up the velocity on the pitching machine to 127 MPH with cutting and sinking movement.

That sounds terrifying.

[Mr. Colby]

With Sanchez likely starting the year in Pittsburgh, here is an excellent article on how they have been addressing his throwing issues written by one of our own:

http://www.piratesprospects.com/2015/03 ... blems.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

They worked on his mechanics by hiking up the velocity on the pitching machine to 127 MPH with cutting and sinking movement.

That sounds terrifying.

Yeah uhh catchers have to be crazy people

[ulf]

With Sanchez likely starting the year in Pittsburgh, here is an excellent article on how they have been addressing his throwing issues written by one of our own:

http://www.piratesprospects.com/2015/03 ... blems.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Who's Pete?