In a grab bag of roster moves, the Pirates have announced the activation of reliever Richard Rodriguez from the injured list, the optioning of pitcher Montana DuRapau to Triple-A, the reinstatement of infielder Jose Osuna from suspension, and the long-delayed placement of pitcher Kyle Crick on the suspended list.
Rodriguez, 29, has been on the IL since August 12th due to a shoulder issue. When healthy, the right-hander has mounted a 3.72 ERA in 48.1 innings in 2019–his second full-year in Pittsburgh. His last outing was an August 9th appearance against the Cardinals in which Rodriguez allowed 3 earned runs in just one-third of an inning. His K/9 rate is just 7.63 this year–a stark drop from the 11.42 rate he displayed in 2018. Fielding independent metrics have been summarily unimpressed with his work this year (5.51 FIP).
DuRapau will return to Triple-A Indianapolis after receiving another run up from the Pirates taxi squad. In 2019, his first taste of the big league environment, DuRapau has logged a 7.56 ERA in 16.2 innings.
As for the suspension movements involving Osuna and Crick, yes, the Pirates are still dealing with the fallout from their unforgettable July 30th fracas with the Cinncinatti Reds. Though it may seem like that high-intensity dustup occurred a lifetime ago, Osuna just began serving his five-game suspension on August 14th, and Crick had been fighting his suspension since it was issued. Osuna returns with a healthy 147 wRC+ in 135 at-bats this year, while Crick has logged a 4.43 ERA, 10.88 K/9, and 6.45 BB/9 in 44.2 innings in 2019.
C’mon buccos, push for 60 wins!
Can we switch Crick and Kela’s suspension so we don’t have to watch Crick blow 4 run leads?
Send Kela and Crick packing. They are both useless punks!
Someone’s over the age of 40
More so talking about their antics. Their ability is overshadowed by their childish acts on the field.
Lastly, under 40 haha.
Someone’s IQ is under 40.
Crick came off 2 good seasons. Blame the coaching staff for not getting him back on track.
Crick is a crybaby.
Hopefully he gets his act together during this suspension.
Searage and Hurdle cannot pitch for him.
He did pitch very well last year.I think that he was only up a little while with the Giants the year before.
Something changed this year but it may have been his attitude.These guys have to act like adults to make it in the ML.
Crick is a better than league average reliever. Not sure how that is useless.
He is? With a 1.52 WHIP and an inability to find the strike zone?
They all like to fight it seems baseball canr have it bad for the game. .
It’s ok. Huntington will undoubtedly attribute all of this to just an incredible run of bad luck and that the team is really a .500 team on the upswing.
It’s becoming clear that the only aberration during the last 25 years were the Pirates 3 winning seasons
Just when you think it can’t sink any lower…
Actually, in a few years, it will probably get worse…
When the next CBA begins, the union (unless Tony Clark botches it again) will negotiate to put more money in the hands of younger player, possibly by reducing the amount of service time needed for free agency.
If it goes from 6 years (7 if you wait a few weeks a la Kris Bryant) to 4 or 5, it will decimate the small market teams.
Ex. instead of 3 more years with Josh Bell, the Pirates would have one.
The good free agents would be younger and even more expensive and more likely to sign with big market teams, leaving an army of retreads for the small market teams to divvy up.
Appreciate you putting it all in perspective. At this point, I’d be happy to just let the kids play for the next couple years—the guys with promise and potential. Don’t bother with the standard dumpster dives in late winter, and if you’re gonna lose the few stars you have, so be it. But no more BS, just play the kids, from Hayes to. Craig, Newman, Kramer and Tucker
Of course, no idea who will pitch for them besides Keller lol
At that point I think it to be time to get high level draft picks back from the signing team.If smart,cherry pick minor league players also.
The ML clearly does not really care about the small market teams.Perhaps a salary floor based on income would be to the Pirates advantage as it would force the issue with Nutting.
The same teams will be competing and winning every year as they are now.
Excellent point. Bottom line is that the Pirates need an owner willing to spend more on payroll and make a more modest profit
Pirates are gonna miss crock he is a elite reliever
Don’t elite relievers have sub-1.50 WHIPs usually?
Elite reliever? Hahaha that’s a good one. Open your eyes please. He’s prob better than average, at best. Huge issue with walks too.
Crick
No…as a fan who has watched too much of him, crock seems to fit.
Dyme-I agree with Dave.You were right the first time naming him Crock.You clearly have not seen him pitch this year.
Neil Huntington, best GM in baseball! I just finished running a simulation 10,000 times…hope all of us Pirate fans are wearing your boots cause his bullsh!t is getting deep.
So, when will the Pirates announce that they’ve sent Hurdle and Huntington to the trash heap where they both belong?
I am a fan of the Indians. I have been to PNC Park several times. It is too bad that the Pirates don’t have a team worthy of the nice venue in which they play.
They and the Rays should trade ballparks, so it is equivalent to the team playing there.
Cinncinatti?! I’ve seen people get the “N’s mixed up, and the two T’s, but, you’ve managed to do both.
Inekskusable.
Dylan!
“…has mounted a 3.72 era…”
You slay me!
What IS on your mind!!??
Pirates should have sold this year! Marte, Valquez, Frazier, and Bell would have brought some pieces to the organization. Draft picks, prospects, and depth to areas in desperate need (like SP and catcher). Marte alone could have been a nice haul! Valquez would have landed some pitching. Frazier a prospect or two. Bell (at the time before All-Star break) would have landed some high end talent and possibly a draft pick.
But the front office continues to throw away potential deals to benefit the club. Anything remotely positive, they give us fans some “trash excuse” to why they haven’t started a rebuild phase. This organization is suffocating itself of any chance of winning in the near feature. It’s like living the 20+ years of losing all over again. Only the brainwashed fans, think this type of front office is ok.
Frazier? Lol yeah ok.
And it’s Vazquez, not Valquez hun
Who cares about spelling. I get the point
Not eye.
I surely don’t trust that the GM would get any solid pieces. Check out the Archer & Cole trades. Best to develop your own players, sign mid level free agents for depth and keep and resign solid players like Marte , Vazquez, Bell
Won’t see the pirates win a World Series in my lifetime. Was lucky to see them win in 71,79 but those days are gone. Cheap owner and overall baseball smarts are missing from current management and scouting system. Go pens and Steelers
Unfortunately 109 I think that you are an accurate prognosticator.
Without a salary cap the small market teams are doomed.