tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6207200414495313452.post4539613547145047461..comments2023-10-10T12:46:47.186-04:00Comments on The Green Weenie: 2016 Pirates: Starting PitchingUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6207200414495313452.post-88650092298274692692015-11-04T08:41:30.806-05:002015-11-04T08:41:30.806-05:00Hey, guys, I do agree pretty much. The Bucs need a...Hey, guys, I do agree pretty much. The Bucs need a couple of more starters, with at least one being mid-rotation quality like Happ to replace AJ and another to bolster the back end. I don't trust Charlie or Jeff further than I can toss them. I did note that the peripherals for both are OK, but unfortunately FIP, xFIP etc don't always reflect what's happening on the field, tho they do reflect the wild inconsistency of both guys.<br /><br />I think starting pitching looks OK down the road; the transition to a younger, more home-grown staff has taken a hit with the inevitable injuries. Still, rotations have to filled from the outside no matter how strong your farm system, and the Bucs have been pretty good at finding at least one bargain per year to help pick up the slack. Hopefully, that process is sustainable.Ron Ieracihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08784507810080514099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6207200414495313452.post-41089542603557482702015-11-04T08:11:15.563-05:002015-11-04T08:11:15.563-05:00DFA Morton now!!!!DFA Morton now!!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6207200414495313452.post-81685527399033756292015-11-03T20:14:26.576-05:002015-11-03T20:14:26.576-05:00They have to get at least one, preferably 2 SP fro...They have to get at least one, preferably 2 SP from somewhere. Happ would be a good start if they can can afford him. The frustration of Morton and Locke is they are capable of better but fail to deliver consistently. JALhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01859600379999763021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6207200414495313452.post-45467815075488773092015-11-03T14:21:56.066-05:002015-11-03T14:21:56.066-05:00If Happ's 2015 performance was truly indicativ...If Happ's 2015 performance was truly indicative of his true talent, then he is the obvious candidate for a free agent signing to my mind. 2 years and $20 million for more of the same would be a "bargain" in current big league terms, and would be about all the time the organization needs to see which arms from among Taillon, Glasnow, Sadler, Cumpton, and Kingham make it back from injury and / or graduate to the majors to take their place in the rotation. <br /><br />I want no part of Jeff Locke, no way, no how. He's awful. <br /><br />But let's say they spend a few bucks on Happ. That has the added benefit of keeping the Pirates' current core more or less intact to keep the ball rolling, assuming you buy the notion that the current edition of the team (read: as they are and will be built while McCutchen is still in town) is truly a contender. I'm not sure that they are, but let's go with that thought for now. Okay. By 2017 we will know for sure which from among the high minors pitchers can reasonably be expected to take somebody's place in the rotation. Ideally, that would be two somebodys, Morton and whomever the 2016 5th starter is. If more than two from among your list pan out, that's a bonus. I'm thinking that Glasnow and Taillon are the most likely, though if Kingham can join them, that's a pretty imposing trio to add to Cole in his final years in Pgh.<br /><br />Mike Leake is an interesting guy because he wins despite lacking overwhelming stuff, he would presumably like a shot at getting back at the Reds, and he's arguably the best hitting pitcher in the game at the moment. The Pirates have really been hurt by the near total ineptitude of their pitchers with a bat in their hands in recent years, so Leake could really help. <br /><br />Beyond all that, let's hope the front office continues its recent trend of smart junkheap signings. I still say they should never have let Clayton Richard get away; he would sure look a lot better as the 5th starter than Jeff Locke. But among the veteran comebackers, my first choice would be Fister. WilliamJPellashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12774466220683142262noreply@blogger.com