2K24: Pittsburgh Pirates

[madducks]

Francisco Cervelli now has 18 RBI after totaling 43, 33, and 31 the last three seasons.

[joncarlos]

Francisco Cervelli now has 18 RBI after totaling 43, 33, and 31 the last three seasons.

I think he's just feasting on bad pitching, but actually being healthy has helped a lot. I also think he's trying to be a swing change guy, but I don't think he's actually strong enough to make it work. At least not for HRs. It's weird though, because while his flyball % has gone from 27 to 52 (!) he is actually pulling the ball less.

[madducks]

Not sure how this will play out with Moran doing a decent job at 3B so far.

Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic reports that Jung Ho Kang has been granted a work visa to re-enter the United States and "will rejoin the Pirates in the coming days."
Kang's immigration lawyer posted a photo in a now-deleted tweet of Kang arriving at an airport Thursday afternoon in New York City. Biertempfel notes that it's unclear what kind of shape Kang is in and now long it will take him to actually return to the Pirates' active roster. The South Korean third baseman was not allowed into the United States last year after being arrested for his third DUI in Seoul in December 2016. This is a rather surprising turn of events.
Source: The Athletic/Rotoworld
Apr 26 - 3:34 PM

[madducks]

Kang is under contract with the Pirates in 2018 for $3 million and has a club option in 2019 for $5.5 million or a $250,000 buyout.

[joncarlos]

I don't think anyone really wanted Kang back. He hasn't exactly come across as a good guy lately. Really interesting and bizarre development. With Freese also on the 25-man I am not even sure how they squeeze Kang on the active roster when he does get ready.

[Hornsby]

10 foot pole, meet Jung Ho Kang...holder of pole drops it and flees.

[mjl]

https://www.mlb.com/pirates/news/austin-meadows-makes-history-in-first-week/c-279029676

quote that includes most of the article:

Meadows hit .439 with a 1.282 OPS, eight extra-base hits, seven RBIs, three steals and only three strikeouts in his first 11 games. He was in Wednesday's lineup at PNC Park, starting in center field and batting second.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Meadows is just the fifth player to debut in the expansion era (since 1961) and hit .400 with at least four home runs in his first 40 at-bats. The other four were Albert Pujols, Jeff Francoeur, Brian Giles and Yasiel Puig.

Three of Meadows' first four homers were against lefties. He saw 158 pitches in his first 11 games and only whiffed on eight of them. According to Statcast™, 43.6 percent of his balls in play qualified as "hard-hit."

[swampdragon]

Is it worth buying low (or even grabbing off waivers) - 12 team mixed on
Polanco

[pitbull]

He seems like the perennial tease. It would depend on who you are replacing him with. Right now he is lock into battle with Meadows and if Meadows continues to hit Polanco PT is going to take a big hit. Depending on your roster like if your have a reserve bench and want to take a shot that he will eventually start hitting then waiver wire is good if he is available. Trade-wise I wouldn't give up much.

[Hammer]

Is it worth buying low (or even grabbing off waivers) - 12 team mixed on
Polanco

Polanco stinks

[joncarlos]

Dickerson was gangbusters early in 2017 and then cratered. If that happens again, Polanco could work his way back into Hurdle's good graces. I agree, Polanco looks like a hot mess right now.

In other news, Adam Frazier got demoted. So did Kingham, despite having the best WHIP of any Pirates starter.

[madducks]

We're streaking!

[madducks]

Gregory Polanco had the labrum in his left shoulder repaired on Wednesday and will miss 7-9 months. I would bet on the 9 months. He's always been a slow healer. After the All-Star break sounds about right to me.

[fuhrdog]

Gregory Polanco had the labrum in his left shoulder repaired on Wednesday and will miss 7-9 months. I would bet on the 9 months. He's always been a slow healer. After the All-Star break sounds about right to me.

Too bad, had high hopes for him next year. Wonder after a major shoulder injury what he will even be like?

[onejayhawk]

Too bad, had high hopes for him next year. Wonder after a major shoulder injury what he will even be like?

No longer young.

Did I just say that about a28-year old?

J