The Bristol Pirates wrapped up their season with a 9-8 loss in ten innings last night. It was the end of a very tough season for that team, as they posted a 25-43 record. They didn’t pitch well, they didn’t field well, and the hitters had a lot of problems. We will have a season recap for them in a couple weeks, along with every other affiliate in the system. I just wanted to point out how bad this team really was all around.
The Pirates finished last in the Appalachian League in doubles, triples, homers, batting average, on base percentage and slugging. Their team OPS of .631 puts them 26 points behind Danville, the team in next-to-last place. Bristol actually scored three more runs than Danville, but due to a Danville rain out they never made up, the Pirates scored less runs per game.
The team ERA of 4.66 gives them the worst mark in the league, and .21 behind the second worst team. I’ll point out that Danville had the second best ERA, so they finished a lot closer to .500 than the Pirates. Bristol also finished last in strikeouts, next to last (by .02) in WHIP, and they allowed the most runs in the league. In total, they scored 255 runs and allowed 376. They also committed 110 errors in 68 games. Possibly the worst part is that they had the oldest team in the league, with players averaging 21.2 years of age.
If you’re a fan of Bristol, the team looks like it could be a lot more fun to follow next season, at least on the pitching side. If all goes well, they will get Braeden Ogle, Travis MacGregor and Max Kranick, the three high upside high school arms taken in the first 11 rounds of this year’s draft. It is possible they also get Austin Shields, who currently lacks the control the other players have, which might keep him in the GCL next year. You want him to be able to get his innings in and that’s easier to do if he isn’t facing hitters with a slightly more advanced approach. There’s also a chance for the million dollar outfielder of Edison Lantigua, Yondry Contreras and Jeremias Portorreal to be there, but that will depend more of their performance at Pirate City from March until mid-June. I’d like to include the draft possibly adding high-end talent, but that hasn’t been the case yet. They either go to Morgantown (college player) or the GCL (prep player).
**Altoona has unnecessarily made things interesting in their playoff run, but they could finally clinch a playoff spot tonight. While they are on the road for these last four games, they are playing a bad Richmond team, so I’m fairly sure they will wrap things up today or tomorrow. Just a reminder, we will have live playoff coverage for the home games of both Altoona and Bradenton. The Morning Report and Prospect Watch both run through the end of the minor league playoffs.
PLAYOFF PUSH
The Pirates trail the second wild card spot by a 2.5 games.
Indianapolis has been eliminated from the playoffs. Their season ends September 5th.
Altoona leads their division by three games. The top two teams in the division go to the playoffs, with the first place team getting the home field advantage in the first round.
Bradenton won the first half title. They have home field advantage in the playoffs.
West Virginia has been eliminated from the playoffs. Their season ends September 5th.
Morgantown has been eliminated from the playoffs. Their season ends September 5th.
Bristol’s season has ended.
The GCL season has ended.
The DSL season has ended.
PIRATES GAME GRAPH
The Pirates were off on Thursday
TODAY’S SCHEDULE
Today’s Starter and Notes: The Pirates were off yesterday. They start a three-game series at home against the Brewers tonight. Jameson Taillon will be on the mound. His last start was against the Brewers and he lasted just three innings, giving up five runs on seven hits and two walks. That outing broke a string of eight straight starts in which he went at least six innings. Taillon also faced the Brewers twice in July and allowed three runs over 12 innings. The Brewers will counter with Junior Guerra, who has a 2.93 ERA in 107.1 innings, with 90 strikeouts and an 1.09 WHIP. He faced the Pirates twice in July and allowed a total of three runs over 14.2 innings. He hasn’t pitched since the first week of August due to right elbow inflammation.
In the minors, Frank Duncan gets the start and he could use an extended outing for a chance to win the league ERA title. The International League leader has a 2.50 ERA, while Duncan is at 2.04 through 106 innings. The problem is that he needs about six innings to make the list after tonight, and a complete nine inning outing to have enough to remain on the list, though that might not be enough. To qualify for the ERA title, you need .8 IP per team game. Over 144 games, that comes out to 115.2 innings (not 2/3 of an inning, meaning 2/10 in this case). I don’t know how the league rounds off, but if they go up to 1/3 of an inning, then Duncan could literally miss by one out if he threw a complete game. It’s unlikely he’s throwing a complete game, so it’s a moot point, though he will have a throw day after his start and there is no reason that can’t be made out of the bullpen for an inning…so stay tuned.
Clay Holmes gets the start today after his last attempt at a start was rained out eight pitches into the game. He threw a shutout inning, but that game was canceled, so it won’t show up in his stats. Bradenton had their game suspended last night with the score 2-1 in the fifth inning. The Marauders took the lead in the top of the inning on a home run by Jordan Luplow. They will finish that game in it’s entirety tonight, then play a seven inning game. The DSL season ended Saturday, while Bristol and the GCL Pirates had their season end yesterday.
MLB: Pittsburgh (67-64) vs Brewers (57-76) 7:05 PM
Probable starter: Jameson Taillon (3.39 ERA, 12:63 BB/SO, 77.0 IP)
AAA: Indianapolis (69-71) vs Louisville (68-72) 7:15 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Frank Duncan (2.04 ERA, 26:89 BB/SO, 106.0 IP)
AA: Altoona (75-61) @ Richmond (59-78) 7:05 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Clay Holmes (4.27 ERA, 59:98 BB/SO, 130.2 IP)
High-A: Bradenton (69-64) @ Ft Myers (68-67) 6:00 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: TBD
Low-A: West Virginia (68-67) vs Greenville (69-66) 7:05 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Bret Helton (4.09 ERA, 48:95 BB/SO, 132.0 IP)
Short-Season A: Morgantown (35-37) @ Auburn (28-42) 7:05 PM (season preview)
Probable Starter: Danny Beddes (2.48 ERA, 20:52 BB/SO, 65.1 IP)
Rookie: Bristol (25-43) (season preview)
GCL: Pirates (22-34) (season preview)
DSL: Pirates (27-42) (season preview)
HIGHLIGHTS
Here is an RBI triple from Tomas Morales. He doesn’t get prospect recognition as a backup catcher, but he’s had quite a season, jumping between Bradenton, Altoona and Indianapolis this year. That’s from a guy who was a platoon catcher for Bristol last year.
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
9/1: Jung Ho Kang sent to Indianapolis on rehab.
9/1: Pirates receive Jake Brentz and Pedro Vasquez from Mariners to complete earlier trade for Arquimedes Caminero.
8/31: Pirates trade Kyle Lobstein to Baltimore Orioles for Zach Phillips.
8/31: Logan Ratledge promoted to Bradenton. Alfredo Reyes activated from West Virginia disabled list.
8/31: Pirates release Raymond Rodriguez, Ramy Perez and Ramon Garcia.
8/31: David Whitehead assigned to Morgantown.
8/30: Tito Polo and Stephen Tarpley sent to New York Yankees as part of Ivan Nova trade from August 1st.
8/30: Jason Creasy and Jhondaniel Medina promoted to Indianapolis.
8/30: Justin Maffei and Trace Tam Sing assigned to Indianapolis.
8/30: Henry Hirsch and Junior Lopez promoted to Altoona
8/30: Nick Neumann activated from Bradenton disabled list.
8/30: Alen Hanson promoted to Pirates. Jameson Taillon and Steven Brault assigned to Bristol.
8/30: Pirates purchased contract of Kelvin Marte. Kyle Lobstein designated for assignment.
8/30: Mitch Keller and Sean Keselica promoted to Bradenton. Scooter Hightower and Matt Frawley promoted to West Virginia
8/30: Mike Wallace promoted to Morgantown.
8/29: Pirates recall Steven Brault. Gerrit Cole placed on disabled list.
8/28: A.J. Schugel recalled from Indianapolis. Adam Frazier optioned to Bristol.
8/28: Pirates activate Tyler Glasnow from disabled list. Optioned to Indianapolis.
8/28: Justin Topa placed on disabled list. Henry Hirsch activated from temporary inactive list.
8/27: John Kuchno promoted to Indianapolis.
8/25: Nick Kingham assigned to Altoona. Chase Simpson activated from disabled list.
8/22: Kyle Lobstein activated from the disabled list.
8/21: Evan Piechota promoted to Morgantown.
8/21: Yeudy Garcia activated from disabled list. Henry Hirsch placed on temporary inactive list.
8/20: Jung Ho Kang placed on disabled list. Josh Bell recalled from Indianapolis.
8/20: Stephen Alemais promoted to West Virginia. Alfredo Reyes placed on disabled list.
8/20: Ke’Bryan Hayes assigned to GCL Pirates on rehab.
8/20: Pirates release Edgardo Leon
THIS DATE IN PIRATES HISTORY
Five former Pittsburgh Pirates players born on this date, plus one transaction of note. On this date in 1972, the Pirates sold pitcher Bob Veale to the Boston Red Sox, ending his 11-year career in Pittsburgh. Veale was actually in AAA at the time of the deal. He didn’t pitch well in 1971 or early in 1972, but at one time he was a dominating pitcher when he was on his game. His 1,652 strikeouts are second in team history and he owns four of the top seven strikeout seasons in franchise history
Players born on this date include:
Gaby Sanchez, first baseman from 2012 until 2014. He had a .722 OPS in 309 games with the Pirates and he was slightly better over five seasons with the Marlins.
Yamid Haad, pinch-hitter for the Pirates on July 5, 1999. Signed as an amateur free agent by the Pirates out of Colombia, Haad was called up after Jason Kendall had his season-ending ankle injury in 1999. Haad grounded out to third base in his only at-bat. He was called up again later in the season when Keith Osik got hurt, but he never played. Haad made the majors briefly in 2005 with the Giants, his only other big league experience during his 14-year pro career.
Sean Lawrence, lefty pitcher for the 1998 team. He was a sixth round pick of the Pirates in the 1992 draft. Had a 7.32 ERA in 19.2 innings during that 1998 season, his only time in the majors.
Luke Walker, lefty pitcher during the 1965-66 seasons, then again from 1968 until 1973. Won 15 games during the 1970 season, then ten during the 1971 WS winning season. Started game four of the Series, but couldn’t make it out of the first inning. Walker had a 3.47 ERA in 733.1 innings with the Pirates.
Ben Sankey, shortstop from 1929 until 1931. Hit .213 in 72 big league games, all with the Pirates. Played over 1,500 minor league games.
