Pittsburgh Pirates - A new beginning...

[moore4807]

All good things must come to an end... Pirates four game winning streak is over. Diamondbacks P Matt Andriese limited us to 4 hits, our lowest total in a while.

Of course while watching the game from Pirates Owner Robert Nutting's Skybox, I was surprised when he, and his lovely bride Pamela, strode in after the first inning. "I've been hearing good things about this team you got here Jim" was his first comment as we shook hands. They seemed to enjoy the game even though it was a loss. He remarked "It's a long season, but we're competitive, which is all I asked of you... Good Job"

Last week I put out a needs request for a starting CF, which only Atlanta's insulting offer came back. CF Trayvon Robinson has played better than expected, his offense and defense are above great at first glance, and I may just pull down that request if he keeps this level of play keeps up.

[moore4807]

Uh-oh! I'm thinking our team is starting to believe its own press clippings. 13 hits and 8 stranded runners scoring only 3 times - ARZ only had 9 hits and left 7 onboard and still scored 5 runs. This team has to bear down harder when playing teams with losing records...Not play down to their level of competition!

Erik Gonzalez gets a start at 2B, has a nice 2-3 day AND gets himself thrown out arguing with he ump over strike calls!! We're not that good a team!

C Cervelli is injured and no report yet from our training staff, is not a good sign!

Well we now head out west to take on the Dodgers to complete our week.

[moore4807]

Looking over the scouting report, the Dodgers are dominating their games. At least we have out top 2 pitchers starting this series.

In manager/coaches meeting we discussed the lackadaisical play, Clint defended the team to me and got a little upset that I was still doubting the team. I pointed out that the scoresheets don't lie, the cardiac kids label is well deserved, and while nobody expects us to contend, I DO!!!

The meeting kinda broke up at that point and I made sure to apologize to Clint afterwards before the flight about my outburst, Clint actually grinned and said "I liked that, you proved right there that you care about the team and what we do, that's what the manager wants from his GM!"

I meant to include these news items from MLB, losing Freddie Freeman hurts, but it's also a sign how frustrated the Reds are this early in the season. Chris Sale in Boston is just DOMINANT... I think we're looking at a Cy Young season from him, if his health holds out.

As we are getting ready for the flight - team trainer Bryan Housand walks by and I ask him about "Cisco" Cervelli, he looks around for a minute and shakes his head which alarmed me, I pull him into the nearby manager office and close the door, he says its not too serious but at this point he thinks we're looking at 7-10 days. He won't say anything else, saying the team doctor makes the call, not him. I immediately have Penny Layne put "Cisco" on the 10 day IR and to get C Elias Diaz on a flight to LA. I advise Clint about the change in plans and he shakes his head and says ok.

[moore4807]

We had it - and let it slip through our grasp. Our 5-0 lead turns into a 6-5 defeat. Can you tell I'm a LOT disappointed? sigh... Really good play through 8 innings, we're up 5-3 against a really good team.

The bullpen that has been so strong this season, finally has a bad game. Oh well have to chalk it up and get back out there tomorrow.

3B Colin Moran went 2-4 and had an inside the park HR to RF, also driving in a baserunner for a 2 RBI day. 2B Kevin Cramer also went 2-4 and accounted for the other three RBI's. C Elias Diaz looks confident at the plate after that long layoff on IR.

CF Trayvon Robinson was caught twice stealing, he's going to have to adjust to the pitcher/catcher being aware of him now.

[moore4807]

Well our team Dr. says "Cisco" Cervelli only had a strained oblique, looks like it was bad info from our trainer. The upside is C Elias Diaz will get some steady work for the week before Cervelli is back from 10 IL.

The MLB News

Our division rival Cubs whipping ARZ. Just makes our job tougher since we let ARZ off the hook this week.

CL Ryan Madson who was just recently signed by the Astros, went down with a season ending injury. I guess that puts the Astros back in the market for a closer...

Oh Look at that! The Astro's division rival, the Texas Rangers just took CL Craig Kimbrel off the market Now That is sticking it to your rivals

Finally PHI SP Aaron Nola had a injury setback and will take another week to heal.

[moore4807]

So if I'm figuring this out right, we only win when we are down a couple runs in the later innings.

In reality it was getting to the Dodgers bullpen that seemed to do the trick. LF Corey Dickerson had a very nice evening, going 3-5, 1R, 2RBI.

We now have a chance at winning the series tomorrow afternoon. That's going to tell me a lot about the character of this team.

At the press conference a LA reporter asked me if I minded that we don't use the longball to score more runs. I replied " I don't care if we NEVER get a home run, as long as the team keeps putting W's in the column".

[moore4807]

Did I really say this game was going to show the character of this team? How silly of me to pin it on one game!

This game started out bad, we got a 2 run lead in the top of the first , survived the bottom of the first 2-1. We were DOOMED I'll tell ya!

Our bullpen gave up 6 runs in 3 IP, not our usual performance, RP Michael Feliz has had a pretty bad week pitching. Feliz was tagged for 4 runs, but in his defense, the game was already in doubt, he just left it effectively over before the last out was counted.

On to the week in review and manager/coaches meeting to see what/where we go from here.

[moore4807]

a 3-4 record for the week and no series wins. Not exactly something to write home about.

We have fallen to 4th place in the standings, yet are only one game out of 1st place.

We moved up to 11th place in the power rankings. that is nice considering our record this week.

I spoke earlier of CF Jared Olivia not being ready for prime time when we brought CF Trayvon Robinson up for help. Well Neal Huntington moved CF Olivia down to A+ Bradenton to help out, since he was struggling a little at AA. Jared has responded nicely to the challenge - nailing the player of the week honors in the Florida State League.

In MLB news - the injury bug is striking the Astros hard. SS Correa reportedly has a hamstring injury and is out for 4-5 weeks.

[moore4807]

The first two pix are for pitcher/player weekly stats, the third and fourth pix are pitcher/player season stats. (effectively March/April minus 1 game on 4/30/19)

Weekly pitchers report is a nice snapshot of the week, I use WAR to quickly zero in on poor performers, then compare them to their monthly and seasonal metrics. This weeks "Biggest Loser" is RP Michael Feliz, but checking his monthly/season stats tells me (7G, 10.0 IP, 3HR, 8R, 4W, 16K, 7.20ERA, .243OBA, WHIP1.30, 3.6BB/9, 14.4K/9, K/BB 4.0, WAR -0.1) his season wasn't bad before this week, so my initial instinct to churn him back to the minors is tempered by his body of work so far.

SP Chris Archer had a similar week but slightly better numbers and a weekly WAR that's still in positive range!, CL Philipe Vazquez is a similar situation and also has a +0.2 WAR for the week.

The weekly batters report is average and unimpressive overall, All players WAR is 0.0 for the week. 1B Josh Bell continues to play well with a 7H/24AB .292AVG, .433OBP, 4R, 7RBI, 6W, 7K.

Reserve OF Patrick Kivlehan had a unusual week batting line 4AB, 0-for, but 2W (both IBB) and 2 K's for a .000 batting average. his season numbers are 0-13 and that may cause a change as IF/OF Pablo Perez is still hitting well at AAA and he has much more versatility than Kivlehan at this point.

[moore4807]

My tablet starts its alarm exactly at 7AM, a near faithful occurrence.

First is the scouting report on our opponent tonight which I will peruse a little later.

The second item gets my attention - a trade offer! The Philadelphia Phillies want to do business? As usual the offer itself is laughable, my top batting prospect for a speedy otherwise unremarkable OF.

However this time I do need some CF depth and will reject their proposal - but will counter with an inquiry as to who else they are willing to trade for him.

[moore4807]

After reading GM Matt Klentak's trade offer, I knew this wasn't happening as requested. I called and forwarded GM Klentak's e-mail to Asst. GM Neal Huntington and the manager/coaches for their input. By the time I got out of the hotel shower, the replies were already in.

Neal had the same reaction as me, and was going to put together a list of possibilities from the minor leagues. Mgr. Clint Hurdle and his coaches were pretty unanimous that no one on our 40 man roster was lesser a talent than this prospect currently.

By 930AM I had forwarded our rejection of the trade, and a list of available minor league prospects we had to offer. When GM Klentak's list came back it was still pretty incredible, he wanted me to virtually "give" him one or several of our best players with only two possibilities from the minors. I forwarded this to the rest of the management team and we met in my hotel room (suite?) for debate. The coaches gave their opinions first because they had practice to run, then it was Mgr. Clint and me there, and Asst. GM Huntington on the phone.

Interestingly one player (C Grant Koch) was pretty equal in both ours and OSA scouting with CF Muzziotti. Clint asked Neal where Koch was in the list of C depth, Neal said he was around 25th ranked and two stars max ceiling. Clint stated he had to get going but he would vote yes to that trade. Neal thought we were on a slight disadvantage as Muzziotti OSA scouting numbers were slightly worse than Koch was, but I announced our decision based on the thought we had plenty of depth to compensate for the slight inequality.

I sent our counteroffer to the Phillies by 11AM, and received GM Klentak's approval by 1145AM! My first trade accomplished...

[moore4807]

I just noticed that the comparison pix I took of Koch / Muzziotti didn't go on the last post. So here they are, and we'll have results of Game 1 Pittsburgh @ Texas shortly

[moore4807]

As I went to the Stadium I called and asked Penny Layne if there was a afternoon flight out of Indianapolis to our game before tonight. She checked and said yes but it would be a private plane - costing way more than commercial or charter. I told her to get it done, called our AAA affiliate owner and told him to get OF Pablo Reyes loaded up on the private plane and get his butt to Texas! I also told him that OF Patrick Kivlehan would be sent down later today.

Pablo got to the stadium around 5pm, dressed and has a limited practice - I still think Mgr. Clint is a little miffed at me. When the starting lineups were announced, Clint put OF Reyes in CF for Robinson and started him leadoff! Guess he's showing me!

The game itself wasn't as nice as I hoped, we got spanked and it wasn't as close as the score indicated. Enough said about that.

[moore4807]

This is our Scouting Dept. evaluation of our MLB and minors for April 2019.

[moore4807]

Here is the second page of evaluations on MLB team and Minors.

[moore4807]

Just a view for the fans..

15-13 so far, only 2 games out of 1st place.

OK here is my challenge - tell me who you would make changes (Trade, Waive or Demote) off the 40 man roster and why.

I see a scrappy team here but

3B Anderson's - I am getting a little disappointed with his bat, his defense has been ok, I just hoped for a better bat so far.

RP Michael Feliz is my pick to go down to the farm. He got hit around today too.

[moore4807]

Maybe just maybe I'm needing a lucky rabbits foot or something. May has not started off well and I'm not quite sure what to do about it. We have lost 3 straight.

[moore4807]

We come home for a 3 game set vs. Oakland they are not doing well at the moment and hopefully we can add to their woes.

Team News - Gregory Polanco comes off the IL today. Mgr. Clint Hurdle wants him directly placed on the team to shake up the troops some. I agree and as fast as OF Reyes got here, he is handed his ticket back to AAA.

MLB Injuries - AJ Pollack was injured in our middle game against the Dodgers, now MLB News is reporting he's out for at least 6 months, dealing the Dodgers a blow. Our Head Scout believes the deep pocket organization will likely go outside the minors to get competent CF replacement (can you say Kevin Pillar TOR???)

Giants RP Ray Black will be out for the year due to a UCL ligament tear.

[moore4807]

Well the Pirates have opened up 0 for May. GM isn't happy with our 4 game losing streak.

Speaking at the postgame press conference GM Moore is feisty and steamed..."This team is leaving men on base like they are Santa giving kids presents!!!" Manager Clint Hurdle whispers in the ear of Moore... GM Moore went on, "I know restraint is needed, however some of these players need to understand WE need to win! Its not a walk in the park we here for today and EVERY day..."

Taking questions a little later, GM Moore calmed down some, he actually amplifies his Managers comments about SP Jameson Taillon's start today.; "Taillon was on fire for the first 4 innings, No hits, 8 K's, and then the wheels fell off.. I don't know anything else, I haven't spoken to him yet..."

[moore4807]

The Pirates took charge! Led by SP Chris Archer's 15K, one hit, no run, effort today. As he was mobbed by teammates after the game, dunked with Gatorade, and hit with a shaving cream pie. Archer made sure to say to the reporter, "This team effort is all due to my GM, Jim Moore!!" Archer continued pumped up... "He said what he said to the press, and to his credit, he came into the locker room and said it again straight to our faces. He challenged us to respond and play the way we can... and we weren't doing it, but tonight we answered back!"

In the press room while the sports reporters are still filing in, the longtime and well known sports anchor, leans in to GM Moore as he walked in and says "You found the right buttons to push.." Gm Moore looks at him quizzically and says "That wasn't a tactic, I REALLY do care about winning with this team".

Mgr. Clint Hurdle said little after the game, preferring to let the players speak for the team.