Pirates Fan Forum: Paul Skenes in the WBC

0:00Редактор субтитров А.Синецкая Корректор В.Сухиашвили Редактор субтитров А.Синецкая Корректор В.Сухиашвили

1:00Редактор субтитров А.Синецкая Корректор В.Сухиашвили Редактор субтитров А.Синецкая Корректор В.Сухиашвили

2:01Редактор субтитров А.Синецкая Корректор В.Сухиашвили Редактор субтитров А.Синецкая Корректор В.Сухиашвили Редактор субтитров А.Синецкая Корректор В.Сухиашвили Редактор субтитров А.Синецкая Корректор В.Сухиашвили Редактор субтитров А.Синецкая Корректор В.Сухиашвили Редактор субтитров А.Синецкая Корректор В.Сухиашвили Редактор субтитров А.Синецкая Корректор В.Сухиашвили Редактор субтитров А.Синецкая Корректор В.Сухиашвили Просто, you know, it needs to be in a short stretch, I think, where everybody is really good and pulling in the same direction, you know, and that's kind of what you get with an Olympic hockey team. No, yeah, it's, you forget about that part, but not easy to throw all that together with all the moving pieces and parts that quickly. They played so well down the stretch, goal-tending was so huge, and I will just say like for

3:02me, it was an interesting kind of morning on Sunday when the men's team won, because my son had a hockey game at the same exact time as the game. So what was great is you are in a hockey environment and you're seeing people, there was one little TV up on the wall, and there were people just a ton of people like standing around it, going in, going out, getting to their games, and by the end of it we got our game done, and it was just getting to the end of regulation. And there must have been like 75 people just standing around this little TV watching this hockey game, and it was just such a cool environment to be in for that. Kids, parents, everybody, so it was just a great weekend, and you're right to like hockey here. How much do we have to thank like Lemieux and Crosby for what this sport is here now,

4:06because you can't go anywhere in this area without that just being plastered all over the place. It's just really cool. Go USA, go USA, that was awesome, for real. It really was. Happy with both. But the downside is what happened to Sid, and I don't think we need to discuss that on here. No, but it bleeds into something. It bleeds into Paul Schien's plan in the World Baseball Classic, does it not, right? I mean, and how weird was it this year that the main story about the World Baseball Classic, all offseason, building up to it, has not been about the epic matchups between these teams. In fact, I haven't heard a whole lot of talk about the rosters quite yet. It's been about the inability to ensure people. It's a bad look for the game, man. If the NHL and the NBA, and you know, and all these other leagues can make it happen

5:10for these Olympic things, and I think that baseball has got to figure out some way to make sure all their stars can play if they want to, right? Well, as we know with baseball, thank God it's the only problem in the game, Gary. The only one we have to sort out, everything else is in great shape, so this should be really simple. I'm being slightly sarcastic there, but the topic I want to talk about really is just that the Sydney Crosby thing, have your antennas go up about Paul being in the World Baseball Classic at all? I mean, it was already up for me, like I just, you know, it's really interesting how these things play out because here you are in hockey, it's kind of, you know, three forces to the season, and boy, these guys are playing all these physical games outside of the NHL, what's that look like when they come back to someone get hurt?

6:13And then in baseball, it's like, you're getting to spring training, and everyone's like, hey, nice and easy, let's ramp it up, nice and easy, right? We don't want to do anything crazy, and then we send all the game's best players to play in this tournament within like two weeks of getting to spring training, and they're competing, they're going to go compete at the best level that they can. Yeah, I think it's odd timing for baseball stars to be ready. You know, most of them that were wanted to participate, I'm sure they put themselves on a schedule to be ready now, you know. So I don't believe like anybody is just showing up there like on first day of spring training with their arm all crack, and every time they lifted up or something, you know, David Wells might do that if he got the chance to, but other than that, yeah. But I've enjoyed the World Baseball Classic last time. I did, and I think I'll enjoy it this time, and I would never want to rob Paul Schienz

7:19of something that, just if you watched him interview about it, it means a lot to him. I mean, and I wouldn't want to take that away from him, like having a chance to do the baseball equivalent of an Olympic, you know, championship, and I think that means a lot to him. I don't know that we have the right to tell them not to play any of the stars. But man, it makes you queasy. It does, and I'm almost curious is to like, how much the teams actually behind closed doors to the hate this, they just have to go along with it. You would think with all the money that is involved in these players and their contracts and whatnot. Maybe that's where the insurance stuff comes in. I don't know why in baseball it's seen as a bigger risk if you, I mean, hockey is a violent sport. I think I understand it more for the pitchers than the hitters, but like, let's just play

8:24this out a bit. Okay. You got, Terrick Scooble is on T-MUSA. He's going to pitch one time. Paul Schienz is on T-MUSA. He's going to pitch twice, he says, if they get to a certain point. Are we not like, this isn't really a representative of what it was last time. Like in the WBC last time, they all just kind of went and they all just played and they kind of gave it all and that's what made it what it was. It was so exciting and like, that's why because these guys really cared about winning. These games, I'm sure they still care about winning, but they're not going because the teams I think are like, wait a minute, sure, I'll let you go do this. But you know, and if you're the Tigers, you got to be like, bro, we just

9:25lost arbitration to you, right? We're paying you 30 some million dollars. Do you really got to do this? Yeah. And it matters more to certain teams, right? Like, the Tigers or the pirates lose Scooble or Paul Schienz. I mean, you know what that effectively does. We have to go and keep talking about this because I don't think we're done yet. No, we're not. Let's take a quick one. All right. At DK Pittsburgh Sports, we take pride and coverage the Connects, our city's fans, to their favorite teams. Now that connection's stronger than ever, introducing our all-new state-of-the-art app. Find expert inside reporting and original podcasts. Check live box scores, track the latest stats, chatted up with our community of thousands of fans, all in one place. The new app from DK Pittsburgh Sports, coverage, the Connects. Hey, everybody, welcome back to the Pirates Fan Forum here on DK Pittsburgh Sports

10:27Podcast Network. All right, Jimbo, let's get back into it. WBC. Yeah. I mean, I know. We talked about it last time. We liked it. We had fun with it and everything, right? We didn't really have a dog in the fight. There was nobody of like great importance in that from the Pirates, right? And not as much as it's fake now. Yeah. True. And now, you know, you're on the cusp of a really good season. He's the most pivotal player that you could possibly have on your roster doing this. He's going to go pitch a couple games. I will watch them. If he wins something in this, I will certainly celebrate it. I'll be proud of him and everything. But I won't feel great until he comes back and starts throwing in black and gold again, man. Yeah. And the funny thing is, Jim, I don't worry every time it's his day, I celebrate that it's his day. Why am I freaking out so much that he's going to pitch for another team?

11:29Yeah, it's funny because, you know, I think there's so many guys you worry about with their arms and for whatever reason, Paul has turned it into, don't worry about me. I'm a big horse and I'll be just fine. And everybody treats it that way. But yes, then this kind of situation pops up. And I think, too, it's like, it's hard to tell in baseball, too. Do arm injuries, are they, are they gradual? And like, it's going to happen regardless. Like if Paul went there and had something go wrong with his arm or shoulder, yeah. Was it going to happen on Thursday against the Braves anyway? Right. Or a month from now, based on it. And so like, whereas Sidney Crosby got in a awkward position because of a hit and, you

12:29know, it's a different scenario to contact sport every time you step on the ice, you can get hurt. Right. And you'll never prove in baseball, in this situation, now when Edwin Diaz did it, I think he was jumping around at the World Baseball Classic, if I recall correctly. And that's how he hurt his knees. He's celebrating after they won. Yeah. Freak injury. Right. So how could you even tell, even if it happens on something like that, that particular way? I don't even know how you could blame it on that. Anyway, but we will. We will. Take it this way. Let's say, let's say you have the NBA participating in the Olympics, okay? And they send LeBron James and he says, pretty early on. I'm only going to play about four games in this tournament. So, you know, and two of them, they're going to be the play in game and the championship game. But, you know, you guys got to get me there though.

13:31Is that really the dream team, right? Or say, listen LeBron, you can't shoot outside of the key. You have to lay up or slam every time you score. That's the same as Shouyotani, not pitching and hitting only hitting for Japan, right? And you're not getting the full product, like, and in that way, the charm of this was that it was a different kind of exhibition type situation where you were spreading out the game and it's supposed to be an ambassador ship for the game worldwide. Well, we're not doing our best or sending our best or giving our best when we go now. So, it's a glorified all-star game again. Yeah, it could trend that way. I think that's, yeah, I'm not saying it is right this second. I'm just saying, like, that's where I feel it's going. You're right. Yeah. Like, this is kind of the, you're seeing the evolution of it, be it good or bad.

14:34And I think that's what makes the Olympics so special and maybe the WBC could never get to that level. It's just because when those dudes strapped it on for their country, it was, if you had to lose a leg, a tooth, an eye, you were, everybody was there and everybody was giving it a go, right? If you were there, you were playing, if you were healthy. And maybe baseball's just not going to be set up or designed that way. And I, for me, it loses a little bit of a luster. We'll see. I'll still watch and like you said, if it's skiing is in there, of course, you're rooting for them. And you just cross your fingers and nothing bad happens. I mean, it could be fun to even do instead of the Arizona fall league, do this tournament with all AAA and AA guys. I think that would be a pretty darn good representation. And like, you know, the equivalent, have a team from Korea, have a team from Japan,

15:38to, you know, do all the teams and do that as the Arizona fall league. It becomes the world baseball tournament or something. You know, I do want to explore other things, I think the other thing with baseball is like so many games just for a regular season, like 162 games, you're talking pitchers that are your workhorses are going to be between 30 and 40 starts, right? How do you, how do you manage all that? Interesting. Bottom line is, yes, I'm always going to be nervous every time Paul Skins does something extra, he doesn't have to for when it comes to the pirates. We kind of need him here, Gary. I think you're right. So let's talk about somebody else that we need, right? Because there's all this buzz that has done nothing but grow ever since we talked about it. For Carter Griffin to, to start on, on opening day and, and there's been an awful lot

16:39of even talk recently about these two sides, both being willing to talk about an extension. But I got to be honest, the Pirates have said that a couple times now. And I have a feeling really that Griffin kind of just answered off the cuff, like sure, you know, like, so I don't know how much of like, they're both like, chomping at the bit to do this situation it is as much as, I think it's more of a situation of like, yeah, I think they're both willing. You asked a cool question, you know, basically, okay, let's say he starts. What does he give you? You know, and you wanted to see what the fans actually like thought, and we're going to read a lot of them because I want to talk about how unrealistic, slash realistic they are. And I think it's going to be a fun exercise, Jim. We don't have to read them all, but let's, let's just read a few, right? Some of the extremes, especially we got 290 with 24 homers and 80 RBI and a scientifically

17:48written out 812 OPS. Well, I asked for something, I asked for very specific. So to be fair, I said average, homer, RBI, stolen bases and OPS. So people were 65 stolen bases that that gentleman had. So there's that we got now, go ahead, man. Now I've seen, you know, people up there with the steals, I actually agree with that, I don't know about 65 stolen bases. But the one thing I do think would be projectible for him in his rookie season would be the steals. I could see his speed is speed and he's got good instincts as long as he's on base even marginally. I could definitely see him being in the 30 plus stolen base range. I don't think that's, I think that's maybe the easiest one for me to call. All right, obviously you'd be happy with those numbers.

18:50That would be a pretty darn good rookie campaign, that's a rookie of the air campaign right there. We've got one better from our own James Littleton, how about 305, 24 homeruns, 71 RBI, 56 stolen bases and an 835 OPS with the addition of don't come at me. But here we are coming at him. So James is more optimistic than the other James that they're read from. Yeah, they think that the gems are all in on Conor Griffin. Those are some pretty big numbers there. You're talking on VP votes if you're up doing that, right? Right, right. Here's one I could see Nathan Hirsch says 272 average, 12 homers, 61 RBI, 33 steals and a 742 OPS.

19:53I could sign off on that one. I think that's, if I was projecting myself in these numbers, I like that Gary. What about who else, who on here do you see and go, okay, that's kind of where I am at? I'm probably a little north of what Nathan just said there. That's not bad though. I think he'll probably hit more than 12 homeruns personally if he was to have a full season. But everything else I'm right there. I would never project hardly anybody that hasn't already done it in Major League Baseball an OPS north of eight. I mean, I would hope for it, you know, I think he's capable of it, but I would never project somebody for north of an eight OPS when they haven't ever done it, just I can't. And I think Rich Thompson here may be a little bit low to 45, 17 homeruns, 75 RBI, 26 stolen

21:00bases, 707 OPS. I agree with his home run total a little bit more than Nathan's, you know, I think that's a little more in line with where I'm at. I think his average will be more than that though. He's just too fast to not get some cheapos, you know, and I think that helps his OPS too because he really does turn singles into doubles a lot more than you've seen. He just doesn't need too often, you know. Right, right. I think too, it's like when you look at maybe what he can do, so much of this maybe is predicated to on where is he batting if he's playing, right? Like if he's starting out the gate, where are they going to bat him? Because obviously that's going to have a say in some of these numbers. If it was Derek Shelton still, I would tell you eight or ninth because that's where

22:04everybody debuts in the Derek Shelton system. I don't know that I've seen Don Kelly practice that as as religiously. Is that in your head? I don't think so. No, and I don't think you do that with a guy like this. I would think you lead off, frankly. Yeah, lead off or sixth or seventh somewhere in there? I think I would just if he's making the opening day roster, man, I'm just having him lead off. Just start, just do what we think you can do, man. You've shocked us every step of the way. I'm done with the training wheels at this point. Take the stick out there and do what Daddy showed you. Just let me step back and watch it happen. I think if he makes the opening day roster, I'm not playing any kind of rookie kid games with them. I'm not having a plan of he's only going to play five days a week or not doing anything like that.

23:08Personally, they might. I'm just asking you if you saw any trends with the way that he's onboarded any other kids, but I don't think so. I think like every case is different. And when you've got someone this special, I do think if you're going to calm up, you don't put them at eight or ninth. I mean, like, you don't have the training wheel in that bad, do you? I don't think so now. How about Greg here said whatever Bay, Bay Bruth was, and then double it. That's that's fair. That's a very fair. I like, I like the confidence there. I mean, that was for, that was before OPS was even a thing. So who knows. I'm sure that math now, Jim. Well, yeah. Let's Gary, let's go, let's go way back. Let's wine the clocks back, if you will. All right. That's my Joker, sad Joker impersonation.

24:13Let's go back to 1989 and another decent player. Let's go back to Ken Griffey and let's look at Ken Griffey's rookie season. OK. Hey, you know what? Didn't Harold Reynolds or Harold, who's the guy on the MLB network? Harold, yeah, Harold Reynolds, right? He just compared it to the junior. OK. He said, I know what I see. When I see generational, I know I've been around a long time and I saw it. Yeah, I mean, he had a front, he had a front row seat to it. He's claiming he's seeing it again. So, and so let's look at Ken Griffey's first year. And it would be the same situation if we're talking connoisseur on the opening day roster. Because that would be, Griffey was the last to do that. Last guy at 19 to be on the opening day roster starting. Griffey played 127 games that year and had 455 at bats.

25:16He did miss a little bit of time in there with like a broken bone in his hand. So, just for context sake. But in those 500-500 played appearances, he ended up with 16 homers, 61 RBI, 16 steals, a 264 batting average and an OPS of 748. And, you know, I like that. I like that those numbers because as we know, then Griffey just the next year took off into the stratosphere. And hitting in the kingdom too. Right, right. So, yeah, so I just, some of those numbers really sit right with me. I think the steals, Griffey's got much more than 16 in them. But the 16 homers, 661 RBI's, the 264 batting average, an OPS in the 740's,

26:19I would take that all day long and I would be super happy with it. Yeah, I would too, Jim. I mean, I think for his, for the, you got to say for his age, I don't know how else to put it. It's incredible the eye that he's got. It's amazing how rarely he chases and just the kind of authority he can put behind his swing decisions at this age is just, you see a lot of people swing hard at his age. You don't see a lot of people swing hard with purpose. Yeah, he does and when he does swing hard, it's a little bit of an effortless swing hard too. That it doesn't look like he's ever overdoing it, but it's still really hard. And I think what you're seeing now is, too, I think it's a big distinction for people when you watch prospects.

27:23We talk all the time about tools, right? Four-tool guy, five-tool guy, he's toolsy. Okay, all that can be true about any person you're talking about. But are you using the tools right away, like to a major league level? That's the difference, right? You can have tools and they're just not ready to go yet at the major league level. And then there are tools that you're actually using right away, all of them, and can be effective right away. And that is something that I think people, you want to make the differentiation between, and the distinction is, is that Connor Griffin is using all the tools already. He doesn't just have them. They're activated and being used to compete at this level. It's a difference between a natural athlete and a trained athlete. And he's very much so trained to be what he is.

28:24And we are seeing baseball trend younger in the lineups. Oh, very much so. And we're seeing guys more ready for the majors by the time they get drafted, whether it's out of college or high school at this point. We're seeing a lot of high school kids come up faster. I'm not saying what he's done hasn't been special, but he is part of a wave that is beginning to build of guys getting drafted and then immediately, or within a year or two, potentially if you were drafted in the first couple rounds, you're in the mix for helping your team. Boba Chandler is a great example of somebody that if he was drafted even 10 years ago, you're probably talking about him scraping double A this year. Right, I think I read something where Max Sherzer was still doing that at 24 ish 25. So the game has changed to agree where like,

29:26I'm not saying like it wouldn't be shocking still for a 19 year old to make the opening day roster, but doesn't happen very often. And I still don't think it's going to become a regular occurrence. But maybe we need to be a little more open minded to like the draft in Major League Baseball. It still isn't immediate like euphoria of something has changed your team forever like the NFL could be, or even the NBA could be or hockey we've seen. But it's getting closer. It's getting closer to having real immediate impact. Paul Schienz was here in what a year, you know, Boba two or three. It's moving. And it feels like the number is barred out like it makes you think Seth Hernandez is a possibility in a couple of years. I was literally just thinking that I'm like, but that's when we start talking about the pipeline and you're, you know,

30:26you used to go like push off. They're down in single A. I'm not even going to worry about that yet. Well, watch what they do with that word for antenna this year. Because I bet he flies. I mean, like, they're not holding them back anymore. And I don't mean just the pirates. I mean baseball. Yeah, I think too. It's like when you got guys that. That just they grade out so highly teams just simply aren't afraid anymore. What once they have those types of grades on guys. They're not as if there's enough of a track record with dudes like that that you can feel more comfortable getting that happening. If you look at. I mean, just in the last 10 years, Gary, if you look at guys that have given have graded out 70 or above by scouts, here's the list.

31:32It's Connor Griffin. Before that was Jackson holiday. Before that was Julio Rodriguez, then Bobby Whit, then Adley Rushman, then Wander Franco. Eloy Jimenez is in there. I'm kind of surprised junior Caminero wasn't. Yeah, I guess it's because they're grading out all the tools, right? Like so you're looking at everything collectively on that. Tatis Guerrero Acunia, that takes you back to 2018. If those guys have those types of grades, you've now got enough of a track record to say, OK, I think they'll be OK. I think they'll be fine. Yeah, and I think honestly he's going to show you as spring continues, whether he can do it or not. You wanted to lay some kind of a percentage down right now. And I told you I would as long as I left myself a trap door to talk about it, evolving as the as the spring goes on.

32:36It's February. So yeah, I mean, I think can be set in stone right now. Well, I mean, but I would say for right now. I want to do better than the 50 50 crap because I think I think right now. I'm probably about 75% that he starts opening day. This is this is your your prediction on what the team will do. Yes, OK. And what I don't learn. Yeah, OK, impossible for them not to. Well, I love I love so far that he's absolutely bullying them into saying yes, because even when he's getting out, he's still hitting the ball hard. I'll go 70% I think that. He has a chance to in the next couple of weeks wrap that up. And I'll say 70% right now.

33:38So next couple of weeks or big Gary, they really are. Yeah, and I guess like let's hope that they don't act like he just had his foot half amputated. You know, from from getting hit with that pitch. I mean, I think they pulled him out for precautionary reasons. And nobody said anything. So I'm guessing it's fine. But let's hope that we don't see them hold him out for a couple of days and you know. Well, it sounds good. It sounds silly, but all it would take is for him to have a little bit of a. Oh, and there's the ready made excuse. It's not. Yeah, if he missed a week or 10 days of spring, then then all bets would be off. And honestly, I wouldn't even I wouldn't even fault them for it. You know, because I mean any kind of disruption to the spring where he can't showcase himself. And then I think that you go with the original script. I would think the one that you were trying to have him disprove.

34:39But anyways, Jim, I think we I'm kind of surprised we've both moved on this subject already from before spring started, I think. Yeah, yeah, I think we were both open to it. I obviously as as he starts, you know, let me ask you something. Them not getting an outside third baseman. Does that has that affected your percentage? I know that you said that it's all about the player and what the player shows you. But you're also a fan. They didn't get anybody else. To me, logically, this is why I'm at 75%. I can't go into a season with Jared Trola starting at third base. Nick Gonzalez starting at shortstop. And then Jared Trola being the only true backup for shortstop. Because if I keep Nick York on the team to be like the utility or Vargas or whatever.

35:40Whatever's whatever's name is and manual about this. If you keep him as a utility to cover third base while Jared has to roll over to short. It's going to be a lot of parlor tricks to avoid some common sense. I would think and I think them not getting anybody makes it that much more plausible that the pirates have boxed themselves into a corner here. Yeah, I think maybe for the first month or so, you could get away with it. But over long term, I just can't see it being long term, even if he was down. You know, looking into this with these with young I really do. First of all, it's just fascinating to go back through the game. The history of the game and see how these guys were graded out.

36:43How they performed what the hiccups were. Interestingly enough, when Mike Trial got called up, he got called up and then got sent back down 12 games later. Did not play real well. Got sent down then came right back up and then never ever sniffed the miners again. So there are some instances where it doesn't always work out perfectly, even for a guy like even for a guy like Trial. So when he's got the right head on his shoulders to recover from it anyway. So when we were talking about this earlier, I was worried about that, you know, that aspect of the stutter start. I'm just not anymore, like just listening to it. The kids already talking like a five year bet. I mean, he's he's ready for what's coming. Right. But the point is even if he did something like that, you shouldn't over react to it.

37:43Not you, but the maniacs that are that are sports fans, because it won't mean a damn thing. Right. You know, if it did happen. Also one other thing too. I wanted to bring up and then if we want to wrap it up and go to our third segment. But I'm going to give you a bit of history trivia question here, Gary, because this kind of blew my mind. Looking at the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie season. Ken Griffey Jr. did not win Al Rookie of the Year that year in 1989. Two pitchers placed first and second on this list. And it's a tough one because you'd have to know that they were rookies in 1989. But the one really caught my eye for obvious reasons. Can I at least give a team?

38:46I'll do you I'll do you that for the second one on the list, the royals. Oh, man. Is it that guy that pitched one season for the pirates? And we traded him. I can't remember his name right now. It's not that guy. Yeah, I don't know man. Tom Gordon flash Gordon. Fireballer guy for the for the royals. Yeah, yeah, yeah, he was second. And I'll let you off the hook for number one. I love the show former guest Greg Olsen. No way as a reliever. As a reliever, he had 26 first place votes ran away with it. And he was the first relief pitcher to win the Al Rookie of the Year Award.

39:46And I'll bet you when we had him on the show, Gary, we didn't even talk about that. Somehow that somehow we missed it. Because I'm just learning about it for the first time right this second. Yes, he 27 saves in a 1.69 ERA. You go Greg Olsen. This is awesome. All right, let's take a quick break and come back. Let's talk about a few camp observations, like things we've seen. Yeah, it's awesome. At DK Pittsburgh Sports, we take pride in coverage that connects our city's fans to their favorite teams. Now that connection's stronger than ever. Our all new state-of-the-art app find expert inside reporting and original podcasts. Check live box scores, track the latest stats, cat it up with our community of thousands of fans all in one place. The new app from DK Pittsburgh Sports, the coverage that connects. Hello everyone and welcome back to the Pirates Fan Forum here on DK Pittsburgh Sports Podcast Network.

40:49All right, Jim. I love it. Those things are so fun. I think it's awesome, too. That was a fun first couple of segments, man. Love it. Let a good meet there. But let's talk about some things we've seen early on in spring. Just things we've noticed. And we didn't prepare this at all. So we may overlap. We may not. And I'll start and you go second. How's that? Cool deal. I have noticed a much, much more mature looking O'Neill Cruz at the plate. Much better approach. Shortening is swing with two strikes. Seeking opposite field of the pitches out or third. Pulling it if it's inner third. Disciplined. Patient. Very much improved against lefties and righties. I am happy. Now the defense has some improvement to work through. Still, I think. But I do like how they're trending there.

41:50You lost that in the sun the other day. It was. It was a weird play. I don't know that I've ever seen it be that that much losing in the sun. But it's just a play in spring training. I had a two week vacation in Bradenton one year and went to see. I think six or seven Rodgers games. I've seen it. Just going to say I've seen it. But I love Jake Mangum's answer today to playing the outfield. Like Hannah asked him, like, you know, how do you handle playing the outfield here at Bradenton? And he goes, I've played a lot of games in Florida. So I'm good. You just get used to it. It's a challenge. It's a challenge back to Cruz. Looks. Looks more filled out. I think that that's noticeable. I don't know, you know, people talking about 15, 20 pounds of muscle. I'd relax on that.

42:50But he definitely looks like he has a little bit more ball to it. I don't need to guess because I'm not Joe Reagan. I'm not going to prescribe his AG one shots or anything. I don't care what he's doing. Gary, Gary me and you would be on new genics right now. We're way past that stuff. He's hitting the ball. Yes. Who do you got? What have you noticed? I mean, clearly, I will just start out with Nick York. Right? I mean, Nick York's so good. Yeah. I mean, and there is an open utility spot on this team. One way or another. Yeah, well, that's why I bring it up too, right? Because again, spring training, we all know that. But all you can do is go up there and hit the ball hard and let the rest play out. Right? And so far, he's done that. I don't know if it, you know, I don't know what it would take for him to actually make the team out of spring. But there's certainly an opportunity there and he's looked pretty good.

43:52As have most of the hitters, we look a little ahead on the hitting side right now. They do. I mean, still not, I mean, I like Henry Davis's stance better. Like his approach better. He's made some good contact. It's not all extreme pull. He's gone the other way a couple of times. I've seen some signs of encouragement. I still see some problems up high. And to me, I fear if he hasn't conquered that high fastball. I'm probably carrying a little too much optimism for what I'm going to see offensively out of him. Yeah. And I'm sorry. I just stole number two or now you did Nick York. Never mind. No, you're good. You're good. It's, it's only right if we talk some pros. We talk some cons. And clearly Henry's trying. That's never the cat.

44:52Never the issue with him. He's now, thank goodness, trying some different things at the plate. I got to say it's three years of when he does get a chance to hit at this level. He's struggling. And I imagine you could be the most confident guy in the world in baseball, but. That's a lot. That's a long time to be scrambling. Yeah, and I'm kind of overreacting to two at bats and there that I saw. And I do like a lot of what I see. I just feel like that area was something I specifically wanted to see that he had at least gotten to the point where he's going to foul it off. That's what he's got to be able to do. And maybe that'll come. I don't want him to give up on this change. And that's why I'm I'm wanting him to see some success because I want him to feel that it's working for him.

45:55So he sticks with it because you make a change like this. I don't think you get overnight. Awesome. You know nor nor can you panic if it doesn't. Right. Like he like he's done this. You have to buy into it. You have to believe it. And this is the first time he's actually getting to use it even in semi game situation. Like you can try it. You can hit hitting the cage all day long and feel pretty good about what you're doing. Oh, these changes. I think I'm making some progress. You won't know until you actually get out there and start facing guys in game situations. Here's one from the gallery. Nick Gonzalez is looking good. He has the first couple games on. I thought he was. I thought he kind of looked a little out of sorts. The first couple games defensively. I just didn't like some of the body language at second. Just things that I thought he had kind of conquered last year. Didn't expect them to kind of come back with.

46:56And then again, a lot of that is just swapping partners for for double plays. So not really being familiar with the new positionings and things like that. Trying to take too much of any of that as a big deal at the plate. Yeah, he looks pretty good. I wish that I felt like he added power. I don't think he has. I think Nick Gonzalez is an okay player, but you're going to have to just admit. He's a doubles guy that's going to maybe pop 10. You know, and that's okay if that's a bench role for you. Probably. Yeah, and you know, if he can get the on base percentage up. That's still a usable piece, right? There'll be interesting to see how the event situation works out. Because what we talked about earlier with Griffin and then. If something were to happen to allow you'll be you'll be praising Jesus that you have Nick Gonzalez.

47:57Or whoever you pray to. But Nick Gonzalez is not a bad player. It's not what I'm trying to say, but they've filled this roster to a point where Nick Gonzalez is probably a bench role player. And if he had a better arm. I could argue that the bats better than Trola. And then you could have him play a third. I don't think he can handle third. I just don't think he's got the arm. Like York can. I'd like to see it a little bit more. Because I think if he's going to make the utility role, it's key that he can play a third base because he can't play short. Right. Yeah. Yeah, I think. Looking instead of focusing on a particular player, what I will tell you is what I've noticed in these early games. And they went at six of them. So got a ways to go. It's just how many more good at bats.

48:57You see it just because the quality is better. I know that sounds obvious. But you know, when you've got a hern and you've got ozuna. And Horowitz is healthy out of the gate. And you have loud. Like the bats just look so much better across the board. It's the sense of urgency to drive in a run to that you see from them. Like, I know a lot of people kind of don't believe that RBI's are like a stat that should really kind of impact your thoughts about a player. And that's not necessarily, but because it can be it can kind of depend on where you hit the line up, but there is something to a guy that just knows how to get them. And knows what to do in a situation to make sure that run scores no matter what I may not get a hit here. But I'm going to get the ball in that general direction and that guy's going to score one way or another.

50:03To see Marcelo Zuna do things like that, bro. Like that's exactly what this team has needed. RBI Hounds, Mangum 2. Yeah, you listen, and then when you have enough of them, where you don't feel you have to do it all yourself. Yeah, right. And I think I'll bet you that has played a part sometimes with Brian Reynolds. I'll bet you that plays a part sometimes with O'Neal Cruz the last couple of years is like, if you don't think guys can can press in those situations, I will tell you you're 1,000% wrong there. And I just read something the other day and you know who it was from it was from Shohei Otani and he talked about playing with the angels. And he talked about when it came time and there was a big situation in the game and he was up with guys on base. He felt he needed to do more there.

51:03He got himself in trouble trying to do more in those situations because he felt he was the only one that could. And so listen, you can, if that's the space you want to stay in headwise that, you know, it doesn't matter. It plays out over time the same way RBI's or Total Happens Dance. All I will tell you is the best player on the planet, just talked about how yes, you can get in certain situations where you can do too much, you can press. And I would say that in the Pirates in the past, these last few years, I 100% believe you've seen some of that. No, I think you're totally right. So let's talk about some pitchers. Wilbert Dattal, very impressive. Very impressive young man. Almost assuredly starting in AAA. But climbing the ranks quick.

52:03I mean, he looks good. They got a lot of arms, man. They really do. They really do. And like, you know, a lot of untested arms. Man, they've got a lot of guys who can throw the ball hard. And can reasonably control it. Dattal put in a solid AA season last year. He will be a good pitcher this year too. He could make it. And it's a crowded field, man. You got Barca who's like probably not going to make the opening day roster, right? And Kelly is. You know, I think going to be good, but probably a little early to have had to protect him. Yeah, I would agree with that. So you probably he's behind Dattal, I would say. You've got Bidwa who still looks good. I mean, he's got a forces way up this year. The pirates. I heard somebody say a lot of these guys are only signed for one year.

53:06They could really. They could really be one and done. We shouldn't get that excited about what they've done here. They put 2027 and what we think is going to happen out of our head. The next wave is here. Think about how hard it's going to be to cut somebody like Esmeralyn Waldes. He's hidden in spring. Like Garcia looks great. He's not guaranteed a spot on this team. Like there's a very real possibility he doesn't make it. Well, and I think this is all you all we've wanted is for to go into spring training. And feel like guys have to really fight to nail down their spots. And I think that that is something that. Can further advance where you're trying to get, which is from spring training. You're in 100%. Compete mode and I think it just sharpens everything.

54:07There's another guy wanted to bring up Jim because I think we were both. I think reasonably down on him because it had been so long really since he had played. Right. Andy Rodriguez. Yeah. He has looked tremendous. Now he had one real stinker of a throw that made me like kind of park my eye. Because it was the same kind of stinker of a throw he had before he. You know, was in trouble. And ended up having the although issues the first time and the second time. So. I guess somebody asked me could he beat Bart. For a spot. On this team. And I was thinking to myself, well, they've already considered training Bart. I can't imagine why he wouldn't. But Andy's hidden from the right hand left side in spring. I think you both when I both felt like some triple A time was going to be a no brainer.

55:08But man, you got to have some offense at the catching position. Don't you? And like Bart hasn't done anything this spring either a base hit here and there. But you need to see the boom back in Bart's bad if he's worth less and less. Yeah. It's interesting to catching situation. You know, I still think Andy would be better served. It's been so long to go down. Could Bart. Could Bart be moved from now till till the start of the season. I would take would be for an injury somewhere for that to maybe happen. You know what I mean? Like you could see Bart still getting moved. But it's a it's a log jam right now. But Andy has looked really good. And I will say he's even looked really good. I thought behind the plate so far. Yeah, I thought so too. So I think that I think the catching position.

56:10Maybe should have a little more flexibility than we gave a credit for it to be getting. I'm not saying that Henry's not going to make it he is. There's just no doubt he's one of the spots. For a lot of reasons. Andy I think has every chance to beat Bart though. And I think Flores has a chance to make this team too. For the same reason, Andy did a couple years ago his ability to play first stand catcher. Yeah, the versatility is really important. But just it's like you said to this lineup is still not to the point where you can have black holes in the lineup a lot of it. And if Davis and Bart can't don't hit you would essentially be having that. You'd like to be getting some production of that offensively. And I'll just add there aren't an awful lot of baseball teams that like to carry four catchers on their 40 man. They're just aren't.

57:10And if that doesn't scream change coming to you, then you haven't been around a lot of baseball organizations. They will not carry four catchers into the season rarely. Do you see that? Yeah. That would tell me that Bart is probably as good as gone. I think they'll shop him. I think they'll DFA him, but I think they'll try to move them. Yeah, and I think somebody would be willing to take that. I think so too. You know, if you're just looking at a backup guy or whatever, I think that could happen for sure. Well, and you put him in the right ballpark. That with with. He might get even a little bit of boost offensively there when he had to play. So I think if there was a guy that I thought maybe you might see on the move from now till till the season starts, it would be Bart. Floors is look good. He's even look good at first base. I thought. Yeah, and they're playing him there a lot too. So I mean, I do think that it has to be open.

58:12And you can't just prevent the entire second wave from coming. If they're going to win, they're going to win. Like I've been watching Garcia this spring. He's very, he's impressive. The arm's great. It gets. He gets to everything in the outfield. He's a great fielder. I got no issue. Maybe he's a little casual on on a few things out there. You know, doing the side catches or basket catches or whatever. He can be. He can be. He can be. Hey, how many Ramirez are many, many Ramirez? But I like the bat. And it's it seems pretty mature. You know, he doesn't look like he's swinging for home runs all the time. A lot of the strikeout issues. He doesn't seem to be showing those who looks more patient. И мне нравится Джейк Мангом. Я думал, что он был очень хороший.

59:14Я думал, что он был более сильный than people. Я думал, что он был на опыре today. Джейк Мангом — это очень easy to root for. Но он уйдет на baseball и не уйдет. Уйдет уйдет уйдет уйдет уйдет уйдет. Я думал, что он был более сильный than we thought offensively. Во-первых, бенч может быть деферс-мейкером.

1:00:17Бенч может быть более сильным than we thought offensively. Бенч может быть более сильным than we thought offensively. В общем, я не думал, что я думал, что я думал, что я думал, что я думал, что я думал, что я думал, что я думал, что я думал, что я думал, что я думал, что я думал, что я думал, что я думал, что я думал, что я думал, что я думал, что я думал, что я думал, что я думал, что я думал, что я думал, что я думал, что я думал, что я думал, что я думал, что я думал, что я думал, что я думал, что я думал, что я думал, что я думал, что я думал, что я думал, что я думал, что я думал, что я думал, что я думал, что я думал, что я думал, что я думал, что я думал, что я думал, что я думал,

1:01:30и просто по-кантурулить, сделать что-то. Да, очень приятно, стараться спринть их, я думаю. Да, да, так и так. Это очень хорошо. Молодец, Джим, я always love talking to you. We'll do it again next week, huh? Да, let's see what the week brings. And hopefully at 5 o'clock, too. Like, I like this 5 o'clock thing whenever we can do it. That's nice. And what's nice is they've gotten off to a good start, and you can see right away some of the things that they've done are making an impact even though it's just spring training game, so. You're right, and it was fun watching Derek Shelton be sad today, even though they intentionally didn't show him once and they didn't even dug out. Oh, he's dead to Greg Brown now that he's on another team. No more Shelty. They didn't, how did they barely mention them? They barely mentioned them. Yeah, and I saw one quote from Derek Shelton.

1:02:32I forget who asked him, but basically about what do you think when you look across at the other dugout? This will be our ending point, because it's fun. He just goes, yeah, at some point you kind of wish there would have been that kind of an investment. But hey, good for Ben. I'm glad he was able to go out and get some guys. So that was a dig for sure that he knows it was not on Ben before that they didn't get guys, right? Yeah, that caught my attention too. It'd be funny to get inside Derek Shelton's head and see what he's thinking as he sees across the diamond. But hey, don't feel too bad for Derek Shelton. He's still a major league manager. Right, and he's still probably not a good major league manager, which that will be borne out this time in Minnesota, I'm sure. And there will be whiskey-stained tears on a Minnesota twins pillow instead of a pie. T-shirt companies are going to be happy these there.

1:03:32Yes. All right, everybody, let's go bucks. See you guys.