The Pirates

[Hairyducked Idiot]

The Cubs finished behind the Pirates just last year. They aren't going to give up forever just because they got blown out this year. Fortunes can change fast.

[raw]

Competitive simply has to be "can we make the playoffs," which they very easily could do next season. They certainly don't have to be as good as we hope the Cubs will be next season to do that.

 

Make the playoffs hasn't been good enough the last 2 years, they've been out after 1 game. To me, it's hard to justify running in mud just to potentially lose your 1 and only playoff game for the next few years (which would be the case if they aren't better than the Cubs). I understand the whole "crapshoot" playoffs thing, but it would be different if we're talking about a division winner, guaranteed a 5-game series. But as long as they're behind the Cubs they face a 50/50 chance of going home after the 163rd game, while they need to beat a Jake Arrieta, Madison Bumgarner, Clayton Kershaw, Matt Harvey, Stephen Strasburg type of pitcher. For a small market team already pushing 90M in payroll and needing to pay arbitration guys in the near future....that's not an ideal scenario, IMO.

 

That's silly. You absolutely keep the pieces in place if you're good enough to be a wild card team. You don't plug the plug and rebuild because you're scared of facing Stephen Strasburg in a wild card game.

 

You don't if you're the Cardinals, who have money and have crapshot themselves to a couple World Series. But if you're the small market, payroll conscious Pirates who have barely anything to show for 3 straight playoff years except an increased payroll.....you think seriously about trading 1 aging piece you have for 3-4 potential pieces that are much younger and cheaper.

[raw]

The Cubs finished behind the Pirates just last year. They aren't going to give up forever just because they got blown out this year. Fortunes can change fast.

 

Again, who's talking about giving up forever? And the Pirates finished 1 game ahead of the Cubs team that beat them in the playoffs with 4-5 rookies and spent on 3 top 15 FAs, something that the Pirates will never be able to do.

[Sammy Sofa]

The Cubs finished behind the Pirates just last year. They aren't going to give up forever just because they got blown out this year. Fortunes can change fast.

 

Again, who's talking about giving up forever? And the Pirates finished 1 game ahead of the Cubs team that beat them in the playoffs with 4-5 rookies and spent on 3 top 15 FAs, something that the Pirates will never be able to do.

 

The Pirates still could very easily beat whoever they'd be playing in the WC game. You ARE kinda talking like they're basically doomed to fail.

[Sammy Sofa]

I mean, we've had numerous conversations here about how pretty much everyone would love it if the Cubs were consistently competitive; I seriously doubt anyone except the saddest meatball was bemoaning the idea that that might mean regularly competing for the WC instead of winning the division.

[raw]

I mean, we've had numerous conversations here about how pretty much everyone would love it if the Cubs were consistently competitive; I seriously doubt anyone except the saddest meatball was bemoaning the idea that that might mean regularly competing for the WC instead of winning the division.

 

The Pirates are not the Cubs, though. That's a key factor. If the shoe was on the other foot, the Cubs could go out and spend money or trade minor leaguers to try to close the gap. The Pirates don't have the ability to spend money. They don't have the ability to trade minor leaguers for huge upgrades because they need their minor leaguers to be successful.

[Sammy Sofa]

I mean, we've had numerous conversations here about how pretty much everyone would love it if the Cubs were consistently competitive; I seriously doubt anyone except the saddest meatball was bemoaning the idea that that might mean regularly competing for the WC instead of winning the division.

 

The Pirates are not the Cubs, though. That's a key factor. If the shoe was on the other foot, the Cubs could go out and spend money or trade minor leaguers to try to close the gap. The Pirates don't have the ability to spend money. They don't have the ability to trade minor leaguers for huge upgrades because they need their minor leaguers to be successful.

 

But that's the point; they're likely not in a position where they need to go out and spend a bunch of money. Plenty of people picked them to be a WC team this year, so unless this season is likely indicative of a downward trend instead of a disappointment then they're likely to be right back in it next season. They don't have to be the Cubs, in any sense, to do that.

[Aaron_Kennelly]

I get the sentiment: Small-market teams need to pick and choose when to make a run, and this isn't a great time to make a run. But, that's just poor timing. They're ready to keep their run going right now, with a number of good players already in place and Taillon and Glasnow on the horizon. You never delay things when you are ready. Never. Who knows if you'll get back? And, especially with the Wild Card being an option (though one that hasn't been favorable to them in the past), you try to put yourself in the playoffs as much as possible and hope things go your way. "Drat, the Cubs are going to make things more difficult." Big deal. Man up. Your fortunes might change.

 

As far as trading McCutchen, I think it might be a decent idea, actually. Get more years of control. Get younger. Maybe get out before he deteriorates completely. There are certainly concerning signs. His speed has all but dried up. He's making less and less contact each year. The defense in center has always been poor, but it's more of an eyesore when he isn't hitting. He's done this before, starting off a season slowly and then going into Beast Mode in the second-half, though. So maybe he rebounds and gets back to normal. But, I would have to think about trading him if the price were right. It might help extend their window a little. It might also set them back in the immediate future, though. It's a tough call. I lean towards keeping him, because, though Taillon and Glasnow are just getting going, guys like Marte and Polanco and Kang are in their primes now. Hell, they could still bounce back and get a Wild Card this year.

[Derwood]

So do we start a Brewers thread soon? They're only 2.5 back of Pittsburgh

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I get the sentiment: Small-market teams need to pick and choose when to make a run, and this isn't a great time to make a run. But, that's just poor timing. They're ready to keep their run going right now, with a number of good players already in place and Taillon and Glasnow on the horizon. You never delay things when you are ready. Never. Who knows if you'll get back? And, especially with the Wild Card being an option (though one that hasn't been favorable to them in the past), you try to put yourself in the playoffs as much as possible and hope things go your way. "Drat, the Cubs are going to make things more difficult." Big deal. Man up. Your fortunes might change.

 

As far as trading McCutchen, I think it might be a decent idea, actually. Get more years of control. Get younger. Maybe get out before he deteriorates completely. There are certainly concerning signs. His speed has all but dried up. He's making less and less contact each year. The defense in center has always been poor, but it's more of an eyesore when he isn't hitting. He's done this before, starting off a season slowly and then going into Beast Mode in the second-half, though. So maybe he rebounds and gets back to normal. But, I would have to think about trading him if the price were right. It might help extend their window a little. It might also set them back in the immediate future, though. It's a tough call. I lean towards keeping him, because, though Taillon and Glasnow are just getting going, guys like Marte and Polanco and Kang are in their primes now. Hell, they could still bounce back and get a Wild Card this year.

 

The Pirates also have outfielder Austin Meadows at AAA. If they go this route, it might be easier to trade McCutcheon in the offseason, move Marte to center and call up Meadows when he's ready.

[Tim]

I get the sentiment: Small-market teams need to pick and choose when to make a run, and this isn't a great time to make a run. But, that's just poor timing. They're ready to keep their run going right now, with a number of good players already in place and Taillon and Glasnow on the horizon. You never delay things when you are ready. Never. Who knows if you'll get back? And, especially with the Wild Card being an option (though one that hasn't been favorable to them in the past), you try to put yourself in the playoffs as much as possible and hope things go your way. "Drat, the Cubs are going to make things more difficult." Big deal. Man up. Your fortunes might change.

 

As far as trading McCutchen, I think it might be a decent idea, actually. Get more years of control. Get younger. Maybe get out before he deteriorates completely. There are certainly concerning signs. His speed has all but dried up. He's making less and less contact each year. The defense in center has always been poor, but it's more of an eyesore when he isn't hitting. He's done this before, starting off a season slowly and then going into Beast Mode in the second-half, though. So maybe he rebounds and gets back to normal. But, I would have to think about trading him if the price were right. It might help extend their window a little. It might also set them back in the immediate future, though. It's a tough call. I lean towards keeping him, because, though Taillon and Glasnow are just getting going, guys like Marte and Polanco and Kang are in their primes now. Hell, they could still bounce back and get a Wild Card this year.

 

The Pirates also have outfielder Austin Meadows at AAA. If they go this route, it might be easier to trade McCutcheon in the offseason, move Marte to center and call up Meadows when he's ready.

Yeah, I was going to say this, too. I could see them moving Cutch at some point soon, whether it is at the deadline or the offseason. If they fall far enough back before the deadline, I could see them doing it sooner as opposed to later. They aren't giving in on next year, they're just reloading.

[Banedon]

Erik Kratz pitched a scoreless 9th for the Pirates in a 15-4 blowout.

[sneakypower]

and he fooled Brandon Belt pretty good

 

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[Tryptamine]

I see no problem with trading McCutchen. Austin Meadows is a top 20 prospect and could fill into the OF in 2017. Use McCutchen to land a stud pitcher and 3B then in 2017 you have Cole/Liriano/Glasnow/Taillon/Cutch Trade

C:Cervelli

1B:Bell

2B: Harrison

SS:Kang

3B:Cutch Trade

RF:Polanco

CF:Meadows

LF:Marte

[CaliforniaRaisin]

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[Tim]

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oof

 

So glad the Cubs went with a hitter first rebuild.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

The Pirates did jump over .500 with their win today, which means the Cubs added their 8-1 record against the Pirates to their record against teams over .500.

[stitchface]

The Pirates did jump over .500 with their win today, which means the Cubs added their 8-1 record against the Pirates to their record against teams over .500.

 

I think we're cheering for the pirates these days, right?

[Tim]

The Pirates did jump over .500 with their win today, which means the Cubs added their 8-1 record against the Pirates to their record against teams over .500.

 

I think we're cheering for the pirates these days, right?

They're only 1.5 in back of the Cards, so it doesn't matter that much. Personally, though, I'll always cheer for anyone vs the Cards.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

The Pirates did jump over .500 with their win today, which means the Cubs added their 8-1 record against the Pirates to their record against teams over .500.

 

I think we're cheering for the pirates these days, right?

They're only 1.5 in back of the Cards, so it doesn't matter that much. Personally, though, I'll always cheer for anyone vs the Cards.

 

I'm rooting for them in this series since they're further behind.

 

And obviously anything can happen in short playoff series so this might be a bit presumptuous to say, but the I'd rather face the Pirates than many of the current WC contenders.

[TruffleShuffle]

ummmmm

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-jung-ho-kang-accused-sexual-assault-in-chicago-20160705-story.html

 

Chicago police are investigating a sexual assault allegation against Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Jung Ho Kang over an incident that allegedly took place when his team was in town last month, a police spokesman confirmed Tuesday.

 

...

 

Kang, 29, has not been charged with a crime. His status with the team was unchanged.

 

According to police, the Chicago woman met Kang through Bumble, a location-based dating app that allows only women to initiate conversations. Kang invited the woman to his Magnificent Mile hotel room on June 17, hours after the Pirates had lost a day game to the Cubs.

 

The woman told investigators she arrived at Kang's room at the Westin Hotel around 10 p.m. and he served her an alcoholic drink, police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said. She said she blacked out about 15 to 20 minutes later, then drifted in and out of consciousness as he sexually assaulted her.

 

She told police she did not fully awaken until she was in a taxi and on her way home, according to Guglielmi.

 

The 23-year-old woman, who is not being identified because she is an alleged victim of a sex crime, went to Northwestern Memorial Hospital to have a rape kit done on June 19, Guglielmi said. She filed a formal complaint with police 10 days later, sources said.

[Clem Fandango]

Well if that's true then now I'm glad Coghlan broke his leg

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Well if that's true then now I'm glad Coghlan broke his leg

YUP

[Splendid Splinter]

Did she do a drug test too or does that come with the rape kit?

 

Just wondering since she blacked out in 15-20 mins she was served a drink.

[Clem Fandango]

Did she do a drug test too or does that come with the rape kit?

 

Just wondering since she blacked out in 15-20 mins she was served a drink.

 

Yes.

 

http://www.endthebacklog.org/information-survivors-dna-and-rape-kit-evidence/what-rape-kit-and-rape-kit-exam

 

At least I would assume that's one of the things that they would do with saliva, blood, semen, urine, skin cells and hair samples.