There’s an unwritten rule that you can’t discuss good things in small sample sizes when they’re working out for the Pirates.
I know that if I write about Gerrit Cole pitching well for the Astros, I’m not getting small sample size comments — whether that’s after one start, or two months. I know because I wrote about him after one start and I’ve written about him since. I’ve yet to see many reactions saying we need a larger sample before saying he’s this good.
On the flip side, if I just state a fact like how the Pirates are winning after about a third of the season, or that Austin Meadows has a higher WAR than Andrew McCutchen, I get a lot of reminders about how it’s early.
I get it. There’s an emotional factor involved there. When you’re a fan of a sports team, you’re emotionally invested, to the point where there is a certain pain when your team loses. To avoid that pain being too great, you proceed with caution, holding back expectations so that you don’t get your hopes too high in the fear that they might be dashed even harder if things don’t work out.
I’m going to break the rule though. I’m going to talk about a few things that are going well after a third of the season.
The first thing is that the Gerrit Cole trade return is looking good. Cole is looking like the ace the Pirates never saw, and I think the Pirates can learn an important lesson from his success in Houston. But it’s not like they got nothing in return from him. Colin Moran looks like, at worst, a league average third baseman who is under control for years, and who could easily improve. Michael Feliz could be a dominant set-up man paired with Felipe Vazquez for the next few years. Joe Musgrove has only had one start, and it’s promising, but doesn’t give us a big indication of his upside. Let’s just say he’s a starter with potential. Then there’s Jason Martin crushing the ball in Altoona, looking like a legit prospect.
The Pirates have four guys who could give them positive value for years, and not just in bench or middle relief roles. Gerrit Cole might end up being the best player in the trade, but getting the production they’re getting from Moran, Musgrove, and Feliz, plus a good prospect in Martin, is looking like a good return so far.
Corey Dickerson looks like a great off-season pickup. That’s not a groundbreaking statement, and not really something that has been contested. But Richard Rodriguez — currently posting an 0.5 fWAR as the third most valuable pitcher on the team — has been another great off-season pickup, and that’s another thing that shouldn’t be contested at this point.
The prospects who are arriving so far have been good. Nick Kingham has been good in his early time in the majors, and is about to get another run through the big leagues. Austin Meadows has been amazing in his brief time in the majors, leaving the Pirates with a difficult decision coming up with their outfield.
Then there’s the catching combo, with Elias Diaz looking like a guy who could take over as the starter of the future, while Francisco Cervelli is playing like a guy who should keep Diaz in a backup role for at least one more season.
Yes, any of these good situations could change, just like any bad situations could change for the better. For now, let’s take a minute to enjoy what is going right after a third of the season.
PLAYOFF PUSH
Bradenton is in third place in their division, 4.5 games behind the leader with 23 games remaining in the first half.
West Virginia is in third place in their division, three games behind the leader with 23 games remaining in the first half.
TODAY’S SCHEDULE
Today’s Starter and Notes: The Pittsburgh Pirates lost 4-1 to the St Louis Cardinals on Saturday. The Pirates will send Jameson Taillon to the mound for his 11th start today. He allowed six runs on eight hits and one walk in six innings against the Cincinnati Reds in his last start. The Cardinals scheduled starter is right-hander Miles Mikolas, who struck out nine batters in a complete game shutout against the Kansas City Royals in his last start. He has a 2.24 ERA in 60.1 innings, with 46 strikeouts and an 0.98 WHIP.
The minor league schedule includes two doubleheaders and a few question marks as to who is starting. Altoona starter Taylor Hearn has allowed three earned runs over his last three starts combined. Bradenton has a doubleheader today. Game one starter James Marvel has given up one run over 12 innings in his last two starts combined. Oddy Nunez should start the second game. He allowed two runs over seven innings in his start earlier this week.
West Virginia has a doubleheader today. Game one starter Hunter Stratton had two straight outings in which he gave up one run over five innings before allowing five runs in four innings last time out. Game two starter will likely be Evan Piechota, but it hasn’t been announced. Indianapolis starter is listed as Clay Holmes, but it could be JT Brubaker, who was originally on the schedule for yesterday.
MLB: Pittsburgh (28-23) vs Cardinals (27-22) 1:35 PM
Probable starter: Jameson Taillon (4.56 ERA, 48:16 SO/BB, 51.1 IP)
AAA: Indianapolis (25-21) vs Charlotte (18-29) 7:05 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: JT Brubaker (2.65 ERA, 12:7 SO/BB, 17.0 IP)
AA: Altoona (22-22) @ Harrisburg (22-24) 6:30 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: Taylor Hearn (4.32 ERA, 43:16 SO/BB, 41.2 IP)
High-A: Bradenton (24-21) vs Jupiter (29-17) 1:00 PM DH (season preview)
Probable starter: James Marvel (3.48 ERA, 37:13 SO/BB, 51.2 IP) and Oddy Nunez (3. 52 ERA, 28:13 SO/BB, 46.0 IP)
Low-A: West Virginia (25-19) vs Kannapolis (29-17) 12:05 PM DH (season preview)
Probable starter: Hunter Stratton (6.23 ERA, 26:10 SO/BB, 21.2 IP) and TBD
HIGHLIGHTS
From Friday night, some defense from Cole Tucker
Leftover from Thursday, a Jordan Luplow double
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
5/26: Starling Marte activated from disabled list. Jose Osuna optioned to Indianapolis.
5/25: JT Brubaker assigned to Altoona. Austin Coley assigned to Altoona.
5/25: Jacob Taylor retired. Kevin Mahala was released (possibly retired).
5/24: Trae Arbet released. Jesse Medrano added to Bradenton roster.
5/23: JT Brubaker assigned to Altoona.
5/22: Jesus Liranzo promoted to Indianapolis. Jackson Williams assigned to Morgantown.
5/22: Tyler Jones released.
5/21: David Lee retired.
5/21: JT Brubaker activated from Temporary Inactive List
5/21: Cody Bolton added to West Virginia roster. Dylan Busby placed on disabled list.
5/20: Pirates activate Josh Harrison from DL. Nick Kingham optioned to Indianapolis.
5/19: Pirates recall Nick Kingham. Max Moroff optioned to Indianapolis.
5/19: Sean Keselica added to Altoona roster.
5/19: Brett Pope added to West Virginia roster.
5/18: Travis MacGregor and Joel Cesar placed on disabled list. Max Kranick added to West Virginia roster.
5/18: Pirates recall Austin Meadows. Starling Marte placed on the disabled list.
THIS DATE IN PIRATES HISTORY
Three former Pittsburgh Pirates players born on this date, plus a game recap from the 1979 season. The players born on this date include center fielder Jacob Brumfield (1995-96), pitcher Ross Baumgarten (1982) and 1954 pitcher, George O’Donnell. Brumfield was a 1983 draft pick, who didn’t make his Major League debut until 1992. He was the Pirates starting center fielder in 1995, then got traded away the following May. Baumgarten went 0-5, 6.55 in 44 innings for the Pirates. O’Donnell won 20 games in the minors in both 1951 and 1953, but he managed just three Major League wins in his career.
On May 27,1979, the Pirates opened the day with an 18-21 record, losers of three straight, sitting in fifth place, seven games out of first place. The day didn’t start off well either, with pitcher Jim Bibby leaving the game early due to a strained rib cage muscle. The Pirates ended up beating the Mets that day by a 2-1 score, then they won another five games in a row, turning their season around. After May 27th, they went 80-41, then defeated the Baltimore Orioles in seven games for their fifth World Series title. You can view the boxscore for this game here.
