Posts by WTM

Are the Pirates OK With Incompetence?

Analysis
This is a follow-up, or follow-on, to the recent discussions about the Pirates playing sub-replacement players.  It’s great to think that the team could improve substantially through addition by subtraction, but having and realizing opportunities are two different things.  The latter isn’t likely to happen if the Bucs don’t develop…

What’s Left to Be Done With the Pirates’ Roster?

Analysis
I think I’m suffering from anticipatory boredom, if there is such a thing.  It’s only been a few days since the owners locked out the players, and the Pirates normally sit out the off-season, anyway, once they’re done slashing the payroll.  But there isn’t going to be much baseball news…

Pirates News: Another Starter in Plans, Don Kelly Candidate for Mets

News
Just a couple Pirates-related news items, and one potentially Pirates-related one: — You’ve probably seen this one, but Ben Cherington told reporters that the Pirates are interested in adding another starter.  He added that nobody goes into spring training with a rotation slot secured, which makes sense because all their…

No Rule 5 Draft?

News
According to Baseball America, the major league portion of the Rule 5 draft has been “canceled.”  The minor league phase will take place as usual. This makes sense, because players selected in the major league phase have to be added to the 40-man roster, which in turn makes them union…

DOWN Goes Baseball

Analysis
The long-expected lockout has arrived.  No more Hot Stove League, unless you like to gather ’round to discuss labor law. There’s plenty that happens in the normal off-season that won’t now.  No free agent signings.  (FYI for Pirate fans:  Free agent signings are a thing that major league teams do…

It’s Non-Tender Tuesday — What Will the Pirates Do Next?

News, No Quarter
MLB has moved the non-tender deadline up a bit to fit it in before the billionaires lock out the millionaires, as they fight over how to divvy up your money.  I actually thought this deadline would be a nothingburger (or nuttingburger) event for the Pirates.  I thought they’d probably retain…

Pirates Release Cody Ponce

Transactions
According to their transactions page, the Pirates have released RHP Cody Ponce.  There’ve been indications that he might head to Japan, which would explain why he wasn’t designated for assignment, and why this move came when the Pirates didn’t need roster space. Ponce came to the Pirates in 2019 from…

Thoughts on the Pirates’ Free Agent Signings

Analysis
I started off writing a comment on Tim’s article this morning, but got carried away, so now here’s a whole article. Anyway, I think the signings of Yoshi Tsutsugo and Jose Quintana were probably pretty good moves, but it’s hard to see them as triumphs or anything. That’s especially true…

Baseball America Takes First Look at Rule 5 Draft

Analysis
Baseball America has posted their first look (sub. req’d) at the possibilities in the 2021 Rule 5 draft.  Of course, it may be premature or even moot, as all the rich guys haven’t decided yet whether to let us peons have baseball in 2022.  But it’s something. Specifically, BA has…