Stuff During the Break - Thoughts & Notes

Life goes on during the AS break.

Thoughts on the trade deadline: Don't expect a lot as the Pirates don't have much to offer a contender. Corey D and J-Hay will prob attract interest, as may Jordy. But remember that the last two will go somewhere as bench pieces, not starters, and that will temper the return. Cervy was the most valuable trade bauble, but now his future behind the dish is cloudy. It's also possible Freeser gets a look; a veteran bench guy always has some value.

Thoughts on Austin Meadows: Surprised that they kept him up here so long. Getting a look at Jordan Luplow, a RH OF'er who could slot as a true fourth man down the line, was a good move. For both financial and developmental reasons, sending AM back to where he can get everyday playing time is also a good move, as was giving him a look at MLB pitching & life.

Thoughts on the team: Starling, Gregory & J-Bell are in good places now, but all three are high maintenance. As long as they're in gear, the offense will be respectable but with no consistent power. There are no real black holes in the lineup, although Harrison is the only guy that provides any positive value with the glove for the infield.

Who will surround Jamo in the rotation going forward? (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

As for the pitching, Jamo looks to be rounding into form while Ivan and J-Grove are what they are. The silver lining behind Chad's injury is that the Pirates have an opening to see what they have in Nick Kingham and Clay Holmes. Willy needs to pick it up to hold them off. The bullpen is a strong, young group, but keep in mind that even the best will have "mama said" spells, and that's especially true of an inexperienced group.

All in all, the gang will be streaky through its growing pains; a couple of games on either side of .500 looks realistic. The middle of the infield could be retooled in 2019 with Meadows in left, Diaz the everyday catcher, and possibly Ke'Bryan Hayes knocking on the door, so the transition will continue into next season.

Notes:

• Clint said post-game that he could have used Felipe Vazquez, Kyle Crick and Edgar Santana on Sunday, but he'd consider it only if the Bucs had the lead. 
• At 48-49 (they were 49-48 at this point last year), the Pirates are still nine games behind the division-leading Cubs. The Bravos hold down the second wild card spot going into the All-Star break and are 5-1/2 games up on Pittsburgh.
• Indy's LHP Brandon Waddell, 24, has been named the International League Pitcher of the Week after tossing a seven inning shutout with nine K last week. He was drafted out of Virginia in 2015 as a fifth-rounder.
• Per John Dreker of Pirates Prospects, Nick Burdi will join Bradenton tonight. Burdi was a Rule 5 pick reliever who had TJ surgery in May of 2017. He was the 46th overall pick from Louisville in the 2014 draft by the Twinkies and was a fastball (98-100)/slider guy before his injury. He added that Chris Bostick is beginning his rehab from appendicitis with the GCL Rookie League Pirates today.
• In the Futures Game played Sunday, US Team starter Mitch Keller tossed a clean opening frame with a whiff on 14 pitches, sitting at 97-99 MPH. 3B Ke'Bryan Hayes homered in three at bats with a walk, run and two RBI as one of just three US players to get in an entire game during a 10-6 US win that saw eight homers pounded by the prospects.