Thursday’s TIOPS Inside Buzz Report
Should the Pirates be quite pleased at where they are in the standings on June 2nd?
At 29-23, they are second in the Central Division and tied for the top wildcard spot. The Pirates are the fourth highest scoring team in the NL with 260 runs scored and tied with the Cubs for first in the NL in on-base-percentage (.354).
Gregory Polanco has emerged as a star with 8 home runs, 36 RBI, while batting .310. Starling Marte is hitting .318. Josh Harrison is looking like Josh Harrison of 2014, batting .328.
All of this despite Andrew McCutchen looking like the Pirates third best outfielder as he nears age 30 and having a career low OPS of .789 through the first two months of the season.
The good news for the Pirates is that it’s Super-Two month and top pitching prospects who weren’t Major League ready two weeks ago suddenly are when the calendar hits June.
The Pirates only have one starting pitcher with an ERA below 4.30 and that’s Gerrit Cole. Their No. 2 starter Francisco Liriano is off to a rough start to the season with a 4-4 record, 4.63 ERA and walking a ton of batters with a 58/34 K/BB ratio.
The Pirates last season had four starters with a ‘WAR’ above 2.4, this season they don’t have one above 1.2. Entering tonight’s game they have a team ERA of 4.00.
Through 52 starts, the Pirates have received 26 quality starts.
Gerrit Cole 7 quality starts out of 10 starts
Jeff Locke 6 quality out of 10 starts
Jon Niese 6 quality out of 10 starts
Francisco Liriano 4 quality starts out of 10 starts
Juan Nicasio 3 quality starts out of 9 starts
A lot of eyes in the coming weeks will turning to top pitching prospects Jameson Taillon and Tyler Glasnow. June is always the time where the Pirates top Major League ready prospects are “deemed Major-League ready” by the Pirates organization.
Days top prospects were called up in the past.
June 3rd, 2009 – Andrew McCutchen
June 16, 2010 – Pedro Alvarez
June 26, 2012 – Starling Marte
June 11, 2013 – Gerrit Cole
June 9, 2014 – Gregory Polanco
Taillon, 24, was the Pirates first round pick in 2010 (2nd overall) and six years later, of course barring another injury before his call up, the Pirates are finally going to get something from him.
While players taken after Taillon in the 2010 draft have become stars like Manny Machado and Chris Sale, who the Pirates almost took, it’s been a frustrating wait for Taillon.
4-2 with a 1.79 ERA, Taillon has been great in Triple-A Indianapolis this season. His last two starts, he’s allowed one run with 11 strikeouts and no walks. He’s throwing his three pitches better than he ever has. What’s interesting with Taillon is the Pirates had a set number of innings they wanted him to hit in Indianapolis before considering a call up. That plan would not have seen a call up until August but the organization’s consensus that is starting to emerge is that Taillon’s ahead of the curve and no longer internally on a set innings number the Pirates must see before a call up.
Glasnow, 22, is one of the best prospects in all of baseball that everyone knows about. 5-2 with a 2.07 ERA in 11 starts. 72/29 K/BB ratio. He earned his 5th win last night in throwing five shutout innings, but walked four batters and threw just 38 strikes on 74 pitches. The command and changeup continue to be the two others the Pirates remain leery about but it’s going to be sooner rather than later that both guys are up.
More Buzz
— Sidney Crosby’s overall game is just on another level right now. He has just 17 points but it feels like he has 35 in the post-season. That’s how impactful he is. But, let’s give the faceoff play a little bit of a rest. It’s getting nauseating on how much coverage it is getting. Even Crosby seemed surprised at how big of a deal everyone was making it out to be when he directs orders on offensive zone draws at least 10 times a game.
— Logan Couture leads the playoffs with 26 points. If you’re going to whine about Sidney Crosby, you better come out and deliver in Game 3.
— We’re always talking about the 09 comparisons, but there’s some 2006 type comparisons to the Carolina Hurricanes team that won the Stanley Cup with Jim Rutherford as General Manager. When Mike Sullivan was hired Rutherford mentioned he saw some Peter Laviolette similarities in Sullivan as he also made a coaching change in 2006 with the Hurricanes and in both situations the coach came in and completely changed the course of the season for their particular teams.
Maybe the most striking comparison is at goaltender.
In 2006 a 22 year old named Cam Ward was a backup in the regular season for the Hurricanes. He went on to take over in the first round of the playoffs, tied a rookie record with 15 playoff wins and won a Stanley Cup.
Matt Murray now 22 years old has 13 playoff wins and is two wins away from 15 wins and a winning a Stanley Cup like Ward at age 22.
— Jim Rutherford tried a lot harder for Andrew Ladd at the trade deadline than what was out there. Let’s just say the Penguins have some info that To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
Yakupov and Oilers 4th ovrall pick or Fleury.
You trying to fill out the baby pens top line or the big club’s fourth next year?
Trying to think of a realistic trade given Fleury’s value. 4th overall alone is probably too much.
Oilers seem to be very happy with Talbot. After his performance at the worlds it is highly unlikely Edmonton would be interested even though I personally think its a big step up from Talbot. Calgary is a more likely destination.
Just when you thought your family was a mess, check out the Karmanos lawsuit. Three sons suing the dad for $100M. Couldn’t talk that one out over dinner guys.
Fix the PP and Pens should win game 3. One of Malkin or Letang has to come off. Give me Schultz or Bonino.
Or they’re barely calling penalties in the final (which, as an aside, plays to our benefit). The chances of the power play being their a difference maker (due to lack of power plays or lack of effectiveness) is minimal.
Not to be argumentative (new, friendlier me), I dont find your point valid. You only need one power play opportunity to make a difference in a game. Had they scored in one of their two chances last night then there would have been no overtime. I also dont believe they need to score on the pp (Dustin I know this is going to blow your mind). They simply need to gain momentum. Now, their pp is a momentum killer. Kinda like when Fleury is in net.
I view their chances of righting that ship now (combined with the presumed lack of opportunity) to kinda neutralize your point. Some teams rely on the power play. This one does not. And likely won’t start now.
Stanch, I respect your perspective on this matter. But I continue to humbly disagree. If the Sharks win game 3 then we’re likely in for a long series. It’s not too late. The only quibble I have with Sullivan is lack of personnel adjustments on the PP. It’s not working and something should change.
Why are we likely in for a long series if they win game 3? And you can disagree all you want. A power play panacea isn’t coming in game 103. Especially as long as 87, 71 and 58 are on the power play. I wouldn’t let 58 run my second unit.
They will lose game 3 imo, but win 4 and 5. I’ve already taken off Friday so that I can celebrate a little longer after the game on Thirsday. I hope it’s not a sweep, but it very well could be. I over estimated San Jose’s speed. They don’t stand a chance.
2 games into the Stanely Cup final, while playing the next two games in a very tough arena to win in and Simply Dusty isn’t worried about the PP? If not now, when should they start to worry about it? Jesus
Maybe when it starts to be a hindrance? Maybe when their 5 on 5 play isn’t utterly smothering? The power play sucks. They’ve been trying to fix it for a year. It’s dead. Stick a fork in it. What you get from the power play (which is negligible) is gravy.
Not to be rude, or hurt your feelings, but I’ve never heard anyone refer to pp performance in the playoffs as gravy.
That’s because most teams it would apply to are out before it matters because they can’t sustain a shit power play. This team is the exception. Not the rule. 100 some games not enough for you to pick up on that?
Momentum is something that is way over 90% of the posters on this forum. they don’t think it exists.
They probably need someone as perpetually wrong and moronic as you to teach them.
Momentum exists….for about 3-5 minutes. Their PP is such a momentum killer that it has held them to dominating 100 out of 120 minutes. What a hinderance to their chances! Blow it up, along with the rest of the team!!
They’re up 2-0 dominating the majority of the play so far. If they continue as is, they’ll be fine. No worries about the PP.
Replace malkin with Schultz. Geno has been a turnover machine on the PP. stick him on unit 2.
Glad finally someone noticed that about that 9.5 3rd line center fraud
That fraud has two less points in 1 less game than your GOD. But sid wins face offs, so….. Anyone wanna teach sam about 71’s face offs in the playoffs?
Favorite post of the day. Coletrain saying he comes here for insider information from Maloni. That’s good stuff!
Im sure he’s one of many on this site that have benefitted from my superior hockey knowledge, just like you my young son.
Your knowledge is superior to Sam and yoda. So they’ve probably benefitted. This list likely ends there.
Come on Stanch. Stop being such a meanie.
Funny how I’m an idiot but I told you that the pens wouldn’t win until they get a new goalie. Seems to me like I’m the genius and you are a yinzer brainwashed homer.
It is kinda funny how you’re an idiot. #blowitup
Pass on Ladd— dude has no wheels. I’d rather move MAF for picks and prospects and target Okposo with available cap
Throw in Malkin and you have $14M in cap space.
He’s going to end up in Florida. Everyone knows that.
Haha DePaoli. Totally agree about Sid and the magical face off. I don’t have a bad word to say about Sid’s play in the last four games but the faceoff legend is getting out of control
#umbrance
People care what you think. You have an iron clad track record. #zak #sestito #blowitup
Stanch, your rough exterior aside, I know you care. Not trying to bust your balls but did you really think umbrance was a word?
#fatfingers did you think “intertainment” was a word?
Stanch, tell us again how you left Dunkin Donuts to work as a male pharmaceutical sales rep
Tell us some more about how your wife supports you.
so you don’t deny you’re a 50-plus male pharmaceutical sales rep. is your car full of corporate tchotchkes.
Quite a bit younger than 50. And Not in sales. I handle IFRS reporting. But I wouldn’t expect you to start being accurate now. It’s not in your nature.
typo, it happens (a lot to me) but that doesnt excuse the fact you thought umbrance was a word. Dude, dont sweat it. When I was in 6th grade I made up all kinds of words.
Ah yes. Fat fingers. Happens a lot to you. “Lol”
Zac> playoff numbers than at bleury.
You should start analyzing +/- next. Equally as meaningful.
Beerman
Miss that dude. Win it for beerman .