Pirates Spring Training LIVE From LECOM Park: Mitch Keller Takes The Mound

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1:05Call, visit us online, or drop into an Atlantic Union bank branch today. Atlantic Union Bank. Anyway, you bank. Welcome to the NS9 pre-game show powered by Fandoo. I am Ryan here in Brainington with me is Nathan. Nathan, how are you? Pretty good, Ryan. It's a great Thursday. It's your first day here. You pumped? First day here, I pumped. This weather couldn't be gorgeous. I'm glad I decided to come later a second week as opposed to the first week. It seemed a little windy and cold last week. Something to be here. The weather's just gorgeous today. So it's always good down here in Brainington. Yeah, we went and got screwed over with like rain and clouds and like 50 degree weather in Florida. Yeah, it's basically what we get in PA every day. Yeah, we do this all week. We're going to be doing more of that. So it's a beautiful day.

2:05It's probably the controls in about an hour, 105, first pitch. When we get some news coming from a relatively baseball, sort of direct pirate news, Angel McCutcheon. Kind of we put the, I guess, clothes on this saga. He signs a merely deal with, you think some Rangers? And we were just sitting over here before the game watching BP talking a bunch. Then I'm surprised what the pirates basically saying. We're moving on now. Why hasn't it cut something like what? And boom, like the news came right after that. So what's your kind of just your first reaction of the whole McCutcheon signing news? Well, you're not even kidding to everyone watching. We were literally watching me, Denardo and Ryan. We're all watching BP, some pirates. They were doing some drills. We get a text from Cody saying, cuch to the Rangers question mark. We're all checking. Turner's like, oh, we got to go film a short really quick. But my first reaction was I'm contempt with it being done. Like we got the three years with him. I wish him nothing but the best of luck with Texas. I think this gives him a shot to like make maybe a wild card push and make give him a chance to make the playoffs.

3:06Yeah, it is a non roster invitee for him. Not even a minor league deal. So it's going to be interesting what happens with him. I think he'll be on their 40 man probably. I would be shocked if he wasn't. But yeah, good for cuch. I mean, it's sad to see how it end. How it at like overall ended. Like you didn't really have the official like, oh, this is the final at bat with Andrew McCutchen at Pancy Park. But at the end of the day, it is what it is. Like I'm a general manager. I don't make the rosters. None of us do. We're just fans. We just have our opinion. So best of luck to cuch. I wish I'm nothing but the best of us is the end of his career. This is final year. Who knows? Maybe he come. Maybe I said, maybe he gets traded to the pirates. It's a trade to headlock. We never ever went with injuries. That's the thing. And who knows? He wants to play more than this year. Who knows? But you said it. I mean, I'm happy for, like I won't touch too well. He really wants to still play. He clearly feels like he still has something left. But I think he does. You know, he still has some power. Still has that great plate discipline and I and everything. So like, maybe he will play more outfield there. I know he had something he expressed on Twitter

4:08as he was very vocal. And it can play the outfield. Like for whatever reason, the pirates, he just didn't want them to be doing that role. But overall, I'm just kind of set to how it ended, as of right now. The condition had been a little better in this off season. That's kind of what was the hiccup for me. Like, why didn't they just meet early and in the off season or meet at all? We don't really know if they did. There were some reports. But, you know, he goes on to Texas. I hope, like I said, minor league deal non-Raster invitee. I think he'll, I don't know if he takes that without some kind of like assurance that he's going to make the team. So we'll see if he does make the damage I'm expecting him to. But yeah, we'll kind of go from there. We got three years with him getting in at the end of his career. So we do that. I think it's things a little less that we were eating over there. You brought up, we've already seen him in another jersey. Yeah. It's not like Joe Otto at the end of his reds career going to the Blue Jays. Not even playing in the major leagues. We've at least seen Couch in multiple jerseys. Thomas, a giant, a Yankee Brewer and a Philly. Like, it's just four different teams. You're like, oh, like the Yankees, that was weird.

5:10But like seeing him in just one, maybe one more jersey. It is what it is. Who knows, maybe comes back at some point. I don't know. But yeah, some like the Couch. Sad to see it ended the way it did. But like the communication maybe like could have been better on both sides. Like I kind of wish if they knew it was done with him, like they were saying farewell Couch. I would have maybe just let him know early in the off season to say like, go explore other opportunities. That's kind of my stance on it, but. Yeah, and this is just pure speculation on me. But I think the pirates, I don't know if you want to say they strung him along or whatever happened. But I think they did kind of want to see what this off season was. Who they could sign. And look, if we had gone into this spring training camp without getting, you know, Jake Mangum or Azul, like, yeah, and we stood inside Couch, I would be a little like, what's going on here? Why were you brought Couch back? But they did upgrade the offense. They absolutely did through trade through free agency. And I think it sets a little better with us and with me as far as Couch not being here. Because if it's like the same team, they wrote out last year

6:12and you're like, Couch isn't here, like, what are we doing? But it is what it is at this point. Couch, you know, we'll move on. And we'll see what the pirates play. And Tess doesn't play, like, says he's going to get to see his mother tripping. So, yeah, we'll see what happens. That's not in Pittsburgh. I know. I know. It's not what I set that up perfectly. It would have been in a bigger rocker's game with one of the Steelers season. Right. But yeah, well, that's the Couch news. I'm just kind of a big news that was brought straight before the game today. But yeah, so let's give it to a work from Exponsor here right now. This episode is brought to you by IQBAR, our exclusive snack hydration sponsor. IQBAR protein bars, IQBix hydration mixes, and IQ Joe mushroom coffees are the delicious low sugar brain body fuel you need to win your day. The ultimate sampler pack is a great way for you to try all IQBAR products and flavors. You get nine IQ bars, eight IQ mix sticks,

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8:12All right, thanks Cody. I miss Cody. I get down here and Cody leaves. This is my day. I know, I know, I'm sad about that. But so let's talk about the game today in about 50 minutes, which color on the mound again, making his third appearance the spring hasn't given up a run yet, so he's, I don't know, is he in like the first half mid season, Mitch Keller form already? What are you looking for him today? Yeah, I'm just excited to see Mitch Keller be as efficient as possible today. First start against the Cardinals here in spring training. You're gonna multiply, probably see multiple Mitch Keller starts against the Cardinals this season. So let's start it off on a good note. Get a spring training done for Mitch Keller. Don't probably pitch like two or three innings today, then they'll probably come out here again. But I'm excited to see what he does. Some other pitchers go in today, but Mitch Keller, I'm just looking for just efficiency. Stay healthy and get the job done. Do what you do, do what you do to us. Yeah, he's been, like I said, he's been great this spring. I love Mitch Keller, and there was a lot of talk about he's gonna get trained in the off season. Clearly, he didn't, and I like that move that they kept him, he's that stable innings eater.

9:14You just need to see, you really hope he can put together a second half with the first half this year. And I think that's where he's looking to go too. And he's just steady out there and early in spring, so I'm looking to see, maybe he said, maybe he goes a little longer today, but probably three innings and stuff. And then we have a bunch of pitchers coming in after it, which, you know, the countless news last night, the trade, whether you're gonna make the bullpen or not. I like, you know, Chris Devinsky's going today, Evan Siss, Cam Sanders, Johan Ramirez. So like, it's kind of like a group of guys that really can make the bullpen on this team. So what do you, what do you wanna see out of those guys? I'm just looking for overall official stance and good outing. So you're cleaning in and out of each. I'm looking, whoever has the cleanest sitting, I'm gonna be most intrigued by today. I really like this pass purple up like game. We saw Mason Montgomery have a pretty good outing. Brandon Bedroa as well, like those are guys that are on that 40-man roster you expect to be. But like, it's here, Johan Ramirez is the kind of like, we've seen in the big leagues many times.

10:15It's not the most exciting name, but it's like, can he be efficient or build on a year that wasn't really the greatest for him last year. So I'm excited to see what he can do today. Evan Sisk, who they brought in in the Bayley Fall Turtrade as well. That's another guy that I'm kind of curious more about. He's one of those left handers as well. He's kind of against forgotten about too. Like the pirates seem to be higher on him than like, I think a lot of fans. Yeah. But he, and now there's a real opening in that bullpen where, you know, I don't even, like, Clevver, we were talking about him, does he make it now? Even if he's not the fifth starter, does he maybe make the bullpen and kind of does like a piggyback roll? But there's options here and these guys have opportunities now, especially. The same thing with like your key, if your key eats your five starter, like, Clevver's probably, he's good enough to make this team in my opinion. He goes into your bullpen. But like, other guys going today, you have cam sanders, who is basically at AA Altoona guy gets called up out of nowhere and he's kind of just stuck with the team for a little bit. And then of course, he brought up Chris DaVinsky, a guy who Bill Murphy's worked with in the past with the Asher. So I know a lot of fans are intrigued with that one.

11:15He was one of those minor league signings where you're like, hmm, I see something in this possibly. I'm not really as high on DaVinsky as many people might be, but I'm curious to see what he can do. If he makes the team better, he makes the team better. I'm not going to complain at all about it. But like, my overall vibe today with watching these bullpen names in Johann, Evan Siss, cam sanders and DaVinsky, I just want efficiency. I want some quick things. But whereas Clevver's the cleanest inning, I'm going to be most intrigued by, but let's be honest, it's spring training. And if there's some bumps on the way, maybe a couple of them go two innings, who knows. But yeah, I'm curious what this pitching overall today. Yeah, DaVinsky's a guy to me. Like, when they signed him, you know, minor league deal, a lot of these guys were, I was intrigued by it. And I think he has the role of opportunity to make the team. Obviously, if he's healthy, like, you know, he's done it, he's done it in the majors before. Like, we know he's been there. He's had some struggles and some injuries. But if he's healthy, much like Clevver, like in Clevver's show and it's so far, they can make this team easily out of camp. So I'm interested to see DaVinsky today.

12:17I'd like to pick up when they got him. I think he could make this team, you know, now you get the call Nicholas trade. And it's like, yeah, you can really do. But since Ramirez, yeah, you get some guys that are in that, in that position to make the pen. So it should be a good game. And everybody, we thought spring training stats. Yeah, they don't matter. But like everybody's performing pretty much. I mean, besides like a couple of bats that have been a little slow. Everybody's been hitting, guys have been pitching well. So it's solid, it's great to see. So we'll see what comes of that. Yeah, and it's something I'm looking at the line. I was for the Cardinals too. I don't know if you saw it today. I did not. There you go. Weather hole batten second. Top Cardinals probably is going to be, is this a preview of what maybe he'll do to the Pirates for his whole career as a Cardinal? Don't say that, Nathan. Another guy like Cardinals have that's, this is a big year for him. Like you talk about O'Neill Cruz, this is a big year. This is a big year for Jordan Walker. Thank you for Cardinals. He's one of those guys who was a top prospect. He just hasn't figured it out. Right. And Cardinals fans, like Yon Tsuchman is like, where what's going on with Jordan Walker? He's hitting for them today. Of course, I brought a Dustin May.

13:18He's making a start for Cardinals. Long time dodger. He's been flopping around ever since. It's one of those, wow. He's wearing a Cardinals jersey. And you were saying like, Cardinals would be good to fix them up. This is going to be the perfect Cardinal signing. We're all of a sudden, you know, Dustin Mays. It'll be healthy, it'll be pitching grade, or one of like 15 games, you know. But yeah, we'll get to see him today against the Pirates bats. Yeah, and against the Pirates bats, they'll bring up the lineup really quick. Jake Mangum's going to be in a lot of the, will he win tonight. Yeah. Brian Lawrence. Ryan or her Joey Bartz. The aging today followed by Henry Davis at Ketcher. An interesting one here. Jared below is the short stop today. Nick York at third and Billy Cook's in right field. No countergrip and today. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Cal he ran, he ran, no, no, no. Not here yet. Right. Not your third basement. It's going to be a pressing. Is there any. I think it's the first day. Obviously kind of good for that. We have to mention them so many times. I think but now obviously want to see that

14:18Maybe tomorrow because you have the wbc guys that are you know, they're with their countries and stuff for that So we will see in kind of more of the regulars, but grypham out in a lot of today but definitely um random wow, I know a lot of the talk about like His stature and everything and it's like in the power. How does he generate the power from from that? But I'm interested to see him today and Joey Bart D.H. you got Henry Davis like I think Henry Davis We talked a lot about crews about What he could do Going into this year and kind of not breaking out, but being more consistent in their Hit it all around Um, and I think for Henry Davis is the other guy like if Henry Davis is you know, he's going to be there catching because of the because of the receiving skills He's fall skiing sketcher, but King cave he's take a step forward with that bat and that's what we want to see So he's catching he's batting today, so we'll see that um, but those are two of the men guys. Jake Mangum I mean, I heard nothing but good things about him. He's just kind of flat, you know Plays all over he's getting out. I think he's going to play a lot this year in different spots and uh

15:19Just a good solid like fundamental baseball player, so I'm looking forward to that And I like it with the line of today like you brought up Henry Davis You're getting a chance to see both of the very probably you're one and two catchers Like something happens with part down the line But you got to do you bar and Henry Davis batting back to back today I'm excited to see Henry behind the play. I know he had a couple almost throw him out at second basic I think actually had one by first game here on Monday Yes, better defense than Bart behind the plate, right? It's fun to watch, but it's just developing that And Henry had one on Monday, but he was caught down the left field line It was ripped by Henry Davis, but it was like one of them is like oh, but the other just got there It's I would have been a double at a time But it's like one of those things like can he figure it out because Henry Davis is a big piece of this puzzle like We talk about O'Neal Cruz can't figure it out. We talk about all these other guys can they figure it out? Jerk Triel is one of those guys too, but like Henry Davis was a first overall pick a few years ago And the hitting is his calling card It wasn't calling card, but now it's kind of a defense is calling card like sure They found something that is as offensive catcher, but like it's like I don't I hope he's not an Austin edges

16:21Right, it's all about the glove and that's what's hanging in the getting the league I want to see that bat develop like we all know Jim loves them It's a Louisville connection, but like still like you want to see that bat develop we saw it in triple a nd We saw it in double a out tuna even before that back in college, and we just haven't seen in the majors This guy it to home runs off a show. Hey Otani just a few years ago. Yeah, the talent's there Back with Otani was an angel before Facebook. You know, yeah, the talent's there along. Yeah, it's just it's just and like say We don't need him to be a 30-hit run 320 hitter like he just needs to take a step forward and and produce something and you know Just like Cruz Cruz out in the lineup today. I was kind of disappointed if that was another cruises I want to see down here Yeah, so yeah, it's just it's I'm hoping to see more from Davis and Yeah, well, maybe we'll start today. Yeah, I'm hoping to see some at least a hit from him today I want to see like it maybe like hold up. I know we all talk about him pulling towards love just spread it across You know, that's something I've wanted him to work on like don't be swinging for the fences Then I know Doug has brought this up before noticing it with Cruz. He hasn't been swinging for the fence

17:24So that's something I've noticed about the pirates so far in my two games. I've been here so far. He's changed the approach Changing the approach and that could be something like you got to just spread the ball all across the field Don't be don't be trying to hit home runs if you're not at home right here You shouldn't you shouldn't need to see Jake Manglin try to swing for the punches that is not the player Jake Manglin Right Davis is not the player to be swinging for the fences I think he can give you gap or power or something like that Sure, just driving some runs gets get on base and all I asked right and once they started once you started doing that like the home runs will come Like for Cruz and stuff. I know it is home runs. That's not a problem But it's just kind of being more consistent and not not sort out always for the home run um Well, we could talk you know The pirates today all our favorite In the favorite it was minus 160 and then I checked it about Our half hour before half hour ago and it was down to 142. So still still favorite I mean the pirates have been pretty hot this spring I made a great big runs through Braden. That's right. You know, so home the wind the wind was blowing in today at times It was blowing in pretty

18:24significantly. So Um, yeah, I don't know. We'll see if anybody's getting them out out of the ballpark today But uh funny when you're talking about the wind we were up there reporting The intricate kitchen of emergency short now the emergency podcast emergency short so go check that out Denardo was on that um denardo I was editing a cap like short on cap cut something else we were doing then I was like you might you guys like want to move And they're doing bp. I was like oh, we're doing bp, right? Almost got hit by a ball. Yeah, not too much came out But uh there was some some warning track, but yeah, yeah, there were a lot of times It's just wind guests that blown in so we'll see what happens with the game and the pirates man See they can kick this group for me record moving forward. Yeah, Yankees right on there. It's any of them both nine and two Right now, so we got to get that great green league banner hanging up soon. It's all in gold in the lineup. Did you see that? I think he is uh It's said mostly the regular so I'm kind of interested to see what he was this year. I'm excited to see what AJ Weatherhole can do. He's a top pro. I would see him in Griffith both in the lineup. No one gores So your car does got wind weather hole burles and gorman walker work areas almost pirate

19:28The bone areas. Yeah, one of those guys for me and Pahit is in scottice Okay, we'll see what happens here buckles and codeners coming up Um any other anything else with today or what you're looking for We wrap this up live. I'm not getting sunburned I've been like Listen right now It's coming down right out our tape. Also. It's a lot of it's going to be interesting to do this today to see if the street goes But only one more gate after this you only get two games I know But yeah, you quick trip for me. You excited. I am my I love spring training. I you know, I've been down there years ago and you know The palm trees are swaying and blue skies and it's 80 some degrees like I just Can't you know when baseball is going on like it's it's awesome So I'm looking forward to my my brief time down here You guys have been doing a great job and uh, yeah, we'll just try to keep it rolling Yeah, let's do this thing. All right guys. Well, we'll be we'll be back later today after the game for the recap And uh, that's all I got to keep an eye on some interviews, too That's right interviews short soon as we got content pump it out

20:31So we'll we'll try to get you guys whatever we can, but uh, that's all for us when we come pork Bye-bye. See you guys All right that wraps up this episode of North Shore 9 Thanks so much for tuning in whether you're listening on the podcast or catching us on YouTube If you enjoyed the show, please give this video a thumbs up and don't forget to hit that subscribe button If you haven't already it really helps us grow And if you're listening on the podcast a quick review goes a long way in helping others find the show Plus be sure to tell a friend about us There's always room for more here in the NS9 community And for those looking to support us a little more consider joining our patreon Become an MVP member and get exclusive perks while helping us continue to bring you more of the pirates content You love thanks again for all your support and let's go bucks

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