April 3: It’s right knee inflammation for Delay, per Stumpf.
April 2, 9:41PM: Delay is going to be placed on the 10-day injured list, according to MLB.com’s Alex Stumpf (via X). This will open up room for Bart on the active roster, and while the nature of Delay’s injury isn’t yet known, it now explains the Pirates’ interest in acquiring Bart.
8:32PM: The Pirates have acquired catcher Joey Bart from the Giants for minor league righty Austin Strickland. FanSided’s Robert Murray (X link) was the first to report Bart’s move to Pittsburgh, while NBC Sports Bay Area’s Alex Pavlovic (via X) reported Strickland as the return piece of the deal. The Pirates announced that right-hander Colin Selby was designated for assignment to open a 40-man roster spot for Bart.
The second overall pick of the 2018 draft, Bart has hit .219/.288/.335 over 503 plate appearances since making his Major League debut in 2020. Buster Posey’s decision to opt out of the 2020 pandemic-shortened season gave Bart an early look in the bigs, and after playing in only two MLB games in 2021, it seemed like Bart would get a clear shot at becoming the Giants’ next catching stalwart after Posey’s retirement.
However, Bart’s struggles in 2022 resulted in Curt Casali and Austin Wynns getting a good chunk of the playing time behind the plate. With some injuries also setting Bart back last season, Patrick Bailey (himself a first-round pick in 2020) stepped in and seized the starting catching job, which made it seem like only a matter of time before the Giants moved on from Bart entirely. That reality came to pass last weekend when Bart was designated for assignment, as San Francisco hadn’t been able to find a trade partner during the offseason.
There is some irony that Bart is now heading to Pittsburgh, as the Bucs seemingly had an overload of “catchers of the future” just a few months ago. With Henry Davis as the first overall pick of the 2021 draft and Endy Rodriguez emerging as a top-100 prospect, it seemed like the Pirates were considering using Davis in the outfield in order to use Rodriguez behind the plate and get both players into their lineup. Those plans changed when Rodriguez tore his UCL in winter ball action, and he’ll miss the entire 2024 season recovering from surgery. Davis has now started most of the Bucs’ games at catcher this season, with Jason Delay working as a backup.
This arrangement comes in the wake of Yasmani Grandal’s season-opening IL stint due to plantar fasciitis, as Grandal was signed to a one-year, $2.5MM deal to assume at least a part-time role behind the plate. Since Bart is out of minor league options, he’ll have to stay on the Pirates’ active roster or else face the DFA wire again if Pittsburgh wants to send him down to Triple-A via an outright assignment.
Given how Grandal’s return will shake this catching situation up once more, it would seem like there’s plenty of fluidity within what the Pirates might do behind the plate. Delay could be sent to Triple-A, essentially replacing Ali Sanchez (who elected free agency last weekend) as the top depth option in the minors. Or, Davis might conceivably go to Triple-A if the Pirates want to let him work on his catching defense in a less-pressurized environment than the big leagues. There’s even some chance Pittsburgh could also perhaps use Davis, Delay, and Bart on the 26-man roster, with Davis getting work at DH or in the outfield in order to create playing time for the other two catchers.
Selby posted a 9.00 ERA over 24 innings for the Pirates last season, in his first taste of MLB action. The righty was a 16th-round pick for the Bucs in the 2018 draft, and he has worked almost exclusively as a reliever since the start of the 2021 season. Scouts regard the hard-throwing Selby as having plenty of stuff but with shaky control, as evidenced with his 30.8% strikeout rate and 16.5% walk rate over 30 1/3 innings with Triple-A Indianapolis last season, en route to a 3.86 ERA.
Over Selby’s 24 Major League frames, he had a 26.3% strikeout rate, but again struggled to limit free passes in posting a 13.2BB%. It seems like there’s a decent chance Selby might be claimed off waivers by an interested team, as the 26-year-old seems to have some upside if he can limit his walks.
For San Francisco, there’s some obvious disappointment in the official end of the Bart era, as the team ended up getting very little return on a second overall pick. Hindsight is always 20-20, though it’s easy to wonder what president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi might’ve been able to obtain for Bart had the catcher been traded earlier in his career, though rival executives might’ve also wondered if something was up if Zaidi had been too eager to offer a seeming top prospect. It is also fair to wonder if Bart’s career path might’ve been different if he hadn’t suffered hand and thumb injuries after being hit by pitches in 2019, or if he’d had the benefit of a smoother minor league development path in a world where either the pandemic doesn’t happen, or if the Giants didn’t move him so quickly to the majors.
The return for Bart is a lottery ticket in Strickland, who was an eighth-round pick for the Pirates in last summer’s draft. The University of Kentucky product has yet to begin his pro career, and Baseball America’s scouting report cites his three-pitch mix, headlined by a fastball that usually sits in the 93-94mph range. Strickland generates a lot of grounders and he has mostly worked as a multi-inning reliever, so this might hold appeal to a Giants team that has traditionally been creative with its usage of pitchers.
D’ohhh!
!Ay Carumba!
Joey Bart is much better suited for the Oakland Athletics.
Oakland has better catchers than Bart. Hello.
No, that was Homer.
Well he hit a Homer, so you’re correct.
He’ll be hitting .200 by this time next week.
he wasn’t signed for his offense Mr Know It Nothing
The train has left the station.
I drank a 40 riding the BART train on the way to see a Yankees/A’s game in the late 90s
What flavour 40?
Had to be OE if it was the 90s, right?
YOU BET IT WAS OE 800
Man, genXhere, tried Olde E in the late 90’s. Couldn’t do it.
Got recruited to play slow pitch softball (unlimited arc) in Philly by a squad of loosely conected “organized crime families” guys. Merlino types… Olde E was their go to….
So many unpleasant issues w/ that stuff…..
Had to be Colt 45 or Mickey’s, only ways to go
I drank colt 45, OE 800, Silver Thunder and Crazy Horse. I was sipping a St. Ide’s when I watched Clemens throw that broken bat at Piazza in the subway series lol
St. Ide’s now that takes me back
@cp So did you play against Gino’s Cafe?
I agree could never do OE. I had forgot about St Ide’s, that’s was always good. My go to was Colt 45 tho.
That IS The Power
I didn’t see 4 Loko on that list Craven…
Mentioning 4 Loko with classic 40oz Malt Liquors is blasphemy….
Hey Tigers, nah never played against that man. If I remember he was a pitcher. Very few of the guys on the team were actually in the same room with him ever and only a certain few could actually address him.
Agreed on the Colt45, Back then I was a Molson / Moosehead guy and well they didn’t enter the 40oz field…
Lol I don’t drink anymore. I just remember the 4 lokos was about the only 40 I got my hand on in high school…
@Guard Good for you man. For some people drinking can just lead to trouble. Pretty much all trouble I ve ever been in were a involved drinking and or vxgzna or the pursuit thereof.
St.Ides was legit!
Hell yeah bruthur. I’m really friggin happy that this has turned into a 40oz enjoyers discussion on an MLB site 🙂
@Tigers sounds like life. You lived and you learned… Well I hope you learned lol.
You can’t handle the booze and the vag controls you. Sounds like a personal weakness you have.
Baseball Purist…I smoke weed. Don’t need the booze. Getting a divorce was the best thing I ever did. I can enjoy my land with no worries. But it sounds like you drink away your soul with your negativity. Hope you get the hug you need big guy. Hang in there champ. Thanks for playing tho!
Ok, pull it in… Group hug
Did you enjoy the game after the OE 40?
they used to sell budweiser in 40oz glass bottles here in stl.
I know they obviously had deuces but I believe Budweiser also had 32oz for awhile.
Colt 45, Mickey’s, and OE had 64oz we used to call them the tooth chippers.
@tigers3232
i think they still sell 32 in rural areas, but not sure because haven’t been out that way in a long time
King Cobra?
King Cobra 100% of the time. Also we used to mix king cobra and orange mad dog 20/20 and call it a Locust street (used to be a rough spot in San Jose) mimosa.
I gotta ask, did that even taste good? I guess it would kill the sweetness of the MD, but man that just sounds like it would want to come back up.
if you drank it before it got warm
it was just a budweiser in a bigger bottle
It wasn’t exactly good but it wasn’t really bad either
Strap on that eye patch and get to work !
Sincerely hope he does well.
BLACK BART
Black Bart’s cave! Awesome!!
Healdsburg area I believe.
Isn’t Bart white?
Goodbye Yasmani Grandal
Might be heading to the 60 day.
Delay still has options so he might be sent to Indy
Actually Delay supposed to be going on the 10am IL per Alex Sumpf. Not sure what he hurt though.
So Bart shouldn’t rent monthly, as he’s only guaranteed 10 days in Pittsburgh.
Needs to be sent packing once he comes off of IL. Davis is proving they don’t need Grandal
My guess is when they need the 40 man spot Grandal will be put on the 60 of not healthy and if is be activated and then DFAd.
That won’t happen because Nutting will veto it because $2.5 M will have been spent for Nutting.
Not a chance. Bob does NOT throw away contracts this early in the season
After signing Garcia in 2023 offseason and he never played in a single game, Nutting isn’t about to eat another $2 million + contract by releasing Grandal
2018 draft first 2 picks were Mize and Bart. 2019 first 2 were Adley and Witt Jr. Giants picked a bad year to be horrible
The 2016 Philly Phillies draft prep squad still feel the pain of such circumstances.
Will still remain a Moniak truther….to a certain degree.
Could be! But, just as likely that players from the 2018 draft had their development derailed disproportionately when the 2020 milb season was shelved due to Covid. Totally plausible that it makes a bigger difference if development is disrupted early, middle, or late in minors trajectory.
Good Gamble Pittsburgh. You need C. Glad to see.
I’ve wanted this for MONTHS. Should give him a good look at DH/1B/C and pinch hits wherever they can.
It’s either an anthony alford move or it’s a win. I’ll take it.
I don’t want him taking AB’s away from anyone other than playing when Delay would normally play or when mccutchen isn’t DHing
I totally agree. If he catches fire somehow then I think you could expand that list to include a few others.
It won’t matter, Shelton pulls his lineups out of a hat and will sit even a hot player just to give him a day off
Ripken would never had set a record if shelton was his manager. Can’t understand why a 20 something player needs a day off this early in the season.
Not to mention that in April, cancellations are common due to the weather
Last year Shelton said that he schedules players off time weeks in advance to give them a break
They can have a break when the season is over
It a nothing like basketball.
They regularly take days off.
What I do not understand is why there are so many injuries in Spring Training if these guys have been working out all year round.
I can tell you from experience that the players may work out all year, but their diets are often awful. I used to work at a hotel that hosted every single visiting team who played our home team and all but two teams let their players eat whatever they want, whenever they want, and how much ever they want. Two teams held some meal functions on site but most just let their players do whatever and assume their workout regimen will balance it out.
I got dumped on for bringing up how much food Alek Manoah ordered when he stayed with us but I can tell you it wasn’t shocking to see him be critiqued about his weight after seeing his diet on the road.
I don’t like drafting catchers high. Mets drafted many in their early years and few worked out except for Todd Hundley – thanks to steroids. Sign them as IFAs instead or trade for All-Stars later. JMO!
Are you saying they should have passed on Buster Posey?
Or Jason Kendall for that matter.
The next highly drafted catcher to take the league by storm will be Kyle Teel for the Red Sox. Above average defender who can also rake at the plate. He should be ready for the 2025 season and might get a taste of MLB this year if/when the Red Sox fall out of contention.
Boston better trade him before he demands an extension.
Red Sox are the A’s of the East.
And Patrick Bailey..
The Braves took the Langeliers dude 9th and turned him and some others scrubs into Matt Olson.
@dugmet: Steve Chilcott over Reggie Jackson?
Also keep in mind that some drafted catchers become stars after changing positions in the minors.
If you don’t like drafting catchers high then for gods sake maaaaaaaan, put down the weed.
Trust me, it’s not the weed. That’s just someone not knowing what they’re talking about. Weed is our friend lol
Adley Stan Rutschman
@greatwhiteangus: What do you have against a little ganja?
I keep beating this drum but it seems obvious to me that the lowest hanging fruit to get a competitive advantage is finding not one but two catchers who can hit instead of wasting 1 of their 9 batting order slots on wet noodled pitch framers.
One of those two catchers has to be able to play elsewhere and then you can keep both worthy bats in the lineup AND always have a solid hitting catcher in the lineup.
Adding Bart to the mix while the other catcher (Rodriguez?) is hurt seems like a low risk move to keep this possibility alive this season…if he can turn it around, of course.
Dumb drum.
Must be a broken drum cause whatever sound is coming from it isn’t making a lot of sense.
So you propose that although it’s hard for many teams to find even one decent hitting catcher they should plan for having two? I mean I get the logic if you could just find a Posey and a Pudge every offseason and sign at a discount. But here in reality that is just bot feasible.
The Pirates have Davis and Rodriguez (and Bart if you count him).
All you have to do is not shrug your shoulders, give up and settle.
“Why have two good catchers when you can just have averages ones????????????? That’s dumb.”
MLB execs evidently agree, so….OK.
“So you propose that although it’s hard for many teams to find even one decent hitting catcher they should plan for having two?”
I believe that is the definition of a competitive advantage, yes.
Being strong in areas where most of your opponents are weak.
But your “nah, just be as weak as everyone else” counterargument is compelling, I must admit.
It’s not that other teams don’t try to accomplish this. It’s that the commodity is so rare that they *can’t* acquire two of them most of the time.
Besides, many of them wouldn’t agree to sign as a backup in the first place. For another thing, even when such an opportunity may present itself, it would likely be very expensive in either payroll or trade capital that the team would be better off using the money or existing players to fill other bigger holes elsewhere on the roster.
Draft a lot of bat first catchers and teach them to field.
Trade for former #2 overall picks when you can.
I didn’t say it would be easy to do, but easy or not, it can be done if you try, and so few teams actually try…it’s easier than it SHOULD be even if still hard and is of great benefit to do so.
Teams need to draft who they consider the best overall player available most of the time, or they’ll ruin their farm systems.
What do #2 overall picks in general have to do with offensive catchers? If you’re just looking for talented prospects, that’s a very dumb way to go about it. If those guys are available in trade, they’re probably not very good prospects anymore.
No, it CAN’T be done most of the time no matter how hard the teams try, at least not without making their teams significantly worse overall.
The problem is that it’s hard enough to find one good hitting catcher (whose defense is MLB playable), let alone two of them. Teams like the Blue Jays, Braves, and perhaps the Cardinals are very lucky in that regard (at least when both catchers are healthy in the former two cases).
Besides, catcher is the one position (not counting catcher) where his defense (yes, including pitch framing, but far from just pitch framing) is almost as valuable as his offense is.
Sorry, I meant “not counting pitcher.”
The most important thing that catchers do is working with the pitching staff. Next is framing, controlling the running game, and blocking. Then comes hitting in rank of importance. Bad catchers that can hit give away more runs than they provide.
Well said Jean. Catchers working with pitchers and helping them be successful is paramount. Any offense is just a bonus.
If a team gets a catcher with an OBP or AVG say 0.70 higher. They get on base just under 1 out of every 10 plate appearances more. That extra offense is rarely going to offset the positives that a catcher who is good at his position provides. Yes ideally you just get a guy who can do both, but they are just not that easy to find.
Worth a barter.
Pirates only had two catchers on their 40-man roster. Makes some sense they went out and acquired Bart.
They had Davis Delay and Grandal, Bart makes 4
Endy makes 5, but on IL, out for year
I’m sure he meant 2 healthy
Yeah, Endy is technically not on the 40-man right now.
2 of them are injured
Okay but Grandpap and delay are hurt
That sucks cuz Grandpap can hit the curveball to right, with power. And he’s out of options.
Coming into the draft in 18’ he was said to have the best power bat at the catcher position since Eric Munson. It’s unfortunate he hasn’t lived up to those expectations. He’s still young and can figure it out. Sometimes a change of scenery can be good.
His power has somehow gotten worse since they drafted him
@ActionDan: Eric Munson with 49 homers across 9 seasons? That Eric Munson?
Yes- He is now the hitting coach for the Indianapolis Indians which is the Pirates’ AAA team.
I would agree with this if it were 1993. Seems like players, no matter the pedigree, only get a limited time to improve on their performance before teams move on. Bart literally has one season of MLB ball under his belt and the Giants decided on moving on because of Bailey. It took Clemente a few years in MLB before he became Clemente. If he had come up these days he’d have been traded for Bailey Falter.
You’ve pretty much encapsulated the SOP for all professional sports now Short shelf life as kids now wait in the wings with heretofore unheard of skill abilities at younger ages
When he was drafted I thought he’d be an all star.
I hope he somehow turns into one In Pittsburgh.
As a giants fan, I truly hope he does too. Hopefully he follows in the the tracks of there last top pick they traded there.
As a Pirates fan I’d hope you are wrong, only because that would mean Davis probably gets hurt. At worst he’s in Pitt until Grandal heals his heels.
Oh boy !
Another Strickland.
Maybe this on won’t have homer balls and anger issues..
Fun fact, the other Strickland also was a Pirate
Have seen a few interviews w/ the dude. Seems like a solid guy.
Hope he can carve out a career as a platoon type.
Good on the Giants for getting anything back at all.
Granted Strickland has a live arm, but he’s a relief pitcher that didn’t even have good results in college. There is some untapped potential there, but more than likely he’s a minor league filler.
Probably means Grandal’s injury is worse than originally expected. Bart gives the Pirates three catching options again and Delay will probably be optioned to AAA. Good buy low candidate. Maybe a change of scenery does him good, but even if not he won’t be worse than Delay as the backup.
His injury could take a long time to come back from. Maybe most or all of year. Maybe never comes back from it. But I wouldn’t read into anything. This is a no brainer trade that Cherington wouldn’t pass up on even if Grandal was fully healthy and raking. The easiest trade a gm could make. I would fire my gm if they didn’t want to make this trade. Somehow Cherington already has like a dozen of these trades. Impressive he can keep from smiling laughing dancing shouting out in celebration during trade acceptance.
Grandal has plantar fascitis, plenty of players have came back from it. Very doubtful he misses even a month. He’s currently on 10 day IL and scheduled to run this week.
Tigers, it really depends. Sometimes it can heal relatively quickly, but sometimes it can linger for months. I’ve had it before and it wasn’t fun (and caused other leg ailments). I was much younger than Grandal when I had it, so I don’t doubt the Pirates are a little concerned.
Albert Pujols played with it for the last 19 years of his 22-year future Hall of Fame career.
Plantar fasciitis, can be chronic. It was the problem that Evan Longoria had, and he averaged less than 75 games a season for his last 4 years. He could still hit, he averaged a 109 OPS+ over those years, and was a good defender, but his lack of availability was why he averaged only a 0.9 bWAR.
Grandal is also older and a catcher, and plantar can linger in us old folk
You can never have enough catchers
@Chuck I agree you can’t have enough catchers. The original response though he had mentioned teams should just have 2 good hitting catchers. As if there’s this abundance of good hitting catchers readily available.
Yes, and as your assistant GM, what else could you possibly glean from this move? It’s only been spring training and 5 games but it appears Davis has done a pretty nice job in repairing his reputation as a catcher and hopefully the bat will become more consistent.
Just means he’s not available right now and they need a catcher to fill delays spot. Nothing more
Did I say anything different? Plantar Fasciitis is not joke, especially for a catcher. If you’ve had that injury before it can linger for months sometimes and the only remedy is rest and physical therapy. I think it’s good on the Pirates to beef up depth in case Grandal misses a large chunk of the season (especially with Delay injured now as well).
Stearns will make a move for Selby.
3.9 BB/9 rate in AA, 3.5BB in college, 3.9 at all levels.
10K/9 rate in high A, 11K/9 in AA and AAA. You can work with that, particularly with a pen as weak as the Mets. You have to wonder if he’s going through some arm trouble, though, The BB’s only went out of control in 2023, in AAA and MLB both.
As a Pirates fan I think Selby is a legit MLB reliever with some upside. Turned into a numbers game for him in Pittsburgh. Pirates have one of the best bullpens in baseball, and have a TON of good depth in AAA as well. Just not an opportunity for Selby to get a legit shot.
Thanks for the context. It’ll be interesting to see where Selby lands. Cheers,
Jack- He pitched fairly well last year his first three or four games but then they started using him as a bullpen starter when they only had two viable starters.I think that it messed with his head.
He will be worth a waiver wire pickup for a number of teams and hopefully the Pirates can get someone decent for him.
He needs to cut down the walks though.
Mets with Stearns will be possible. Other NY team likes Pirates pitching. Rays Giants Mariners would be in the frontrunners as well. Miami Oakland.
Someone called this in the Chat, didn’t they?
Probably. Cherington can’t resist a former top prospect so Pirates should be at the top of the list for any of them.
As a Pirates fan, meh. He can’t sit in the minors for depth, and not sure I want him in the majors with Delay going down who already has relationships with the staff. Not a huge deal either way.
He won’t catch much until he works with the pitcher. Maybe they carry 3 catchers for a week.
I think that Cherington figures to try to stash him at AAA eventually because the Pirates have no AAAA catchers there.Carter Bins is the best and he is a 200 hitter there.He was the fruit of the Tyler Anderson deal with Seattle.
If Delay goes on the IL Bart will have two- three weeks to show what he can do and if he is better than Delay then they will option Delay without delay.
The day of decision will occur when Grandal comes off the IL.I do not think that Bob will be happy if he pays Grandal to sit all year like he did with Garcia last year.
If Bart had options the Giants would have sent him to Sac. He does not.
Usually when a 27 year old moves from the Bay Area to Pittsburgh is to get a PHD at Carnegie Mellon.
Or he’s a guy who marries a woman from the burgh of Pitt.
Or someone who just wants to get out of California.
@Mendoza Line 215,
You should visit sometime, it’s nice.
Or maybe he’s a Pittsburgh local.
Parts and things of any state are nice.
I visited when I was a kid many many years ago,and also a week there a few years ago.
It is certainly a beautiful state.
But there has been a exodus from there now for several years.
And Pittsburgh was voted the most livable city in the country just a few years ago.
You should visit sometime.
And yet, our county had the same type of exodus last year
I figure that Bart is taking the same route as many have. Come to Pittsburgh. Enjoy the stadium and pierogi races, then sign with an Asian team next year
I split my time between Philadelphia and Palo Alto, so I’m familiar with both Pennsylvania and California. Tell yourselves what makes you feel good, but no one is fleeing Nortthern California for Western Pennsylvania.
Drop us a line next time you’re in Palo Alto. Winters here are pretty wonderful.
Uh Bart, while I’d agree, please don’t lump us in with Philadelphia. That’s eastern PA and one ugly town
tiredold,
Now you’re trolling fellow Pennsylvanians? You might consider travel or a hobby to escape your unhappy little town.
But you’re still saddled with Southern California.
No thanks.
Yippie Ki Yay, Mendozaliner.
Mendoza Line, I know Pittsburgh well. It is a beautiful city. I used to go there once a month for several years when I was working on Magee Women’s Hospital. Coming through the tunnel, on the way from from the airport, is spectacular. An approach, that’s maybe better than any other city in the world.
But I believe, and I’ve told many people this, that the best thing I ever did was move to California. Housing prices and taxes may be higher, but so are salaries. But even if it does cost more, IMO, it’s well worth it. I wouldn’t even consider moving anywhere else.
Western PA humor, Bart. For a guy who’s ‘ been here many times’ and somehow thinks Pittsburgh and Philly are in the same vicinity, you sure seem to know very little. Unhappy? Pittsburgher by the grace of God, pal
Someday when you actually make it here instead of relying on pictures from the 60’s, you’ll understand
Well said. And job opportunities, prosperity, and beautiful weather sure seem to take the hard edges off of people.
Bless your tired, old heart.
I respect your thoughts, Jean. I guess I’m left to wonder whether higher salaries mean much if your housing prices and taxes are substantially higher
But I digress
I still haven’t been to California but have nephews in LA. Like you, they were here but love it
I’m sure I would too, from north to south. Looks beautiful and the climate alone makes it more appealing.
I lived outside of Philadelphia for 10 years. It is 10 years I would like to have back
Didn’t care for your local suburban cultural institutions; i.e., Olive Garden/Cheesecake Factory/Applebees/Buffalo Wild Wings?
You are truly an amazing young man BHJ!
I never thought that a two year old would remember Bruce Willis let alone Roy Rogers!
Your family must be wealthy,as I see that you have not one but three first names.And I know that you could not elucidate these lines because no two year old could do so no matter how super intelligent he or she is,
So,one of your parents is no doubt expressing yourself,but you are doing the talking,because no self aware and truly intelligent adult would tear down others just to make himself feel superior.
Now would they?
WC Fields’ gravestone says it best. “Better here than in Philadelphia”
And Bart, at least get your fine dining establishments right. Primanti’s. Mineo’s Pizza. Burgatory.
Jean.I have no doubt that what you are saying is true.
But California is not for everyone,even Northern California.
If it was all of Southern California would move north.
I am not knocking Northern California.My expression was that people are moving out of California and was in response to others who are not nearly as classy as you are.
ML2,
As you know, my pediatrician, Dr. Skull did say I’m the most aggressive baby he’s ever encountered. That said, and to answer your question, projection is apparently the highest form of flattery.
I grew up north of Pittsburgh and have lived southwest of Philadelphia for 46 years.
The City has its problems as many cities do.It is a rabbit hole when it comes to spending.
But many of the suburbs are nice,and the area in and around Philadelphia has a history going back to the 1700’s.
To each their own.
It is certainly much more laid back,but God help you when the state goes bankrupt and you want the federal government to take you off the hook.
Thank you.You are quite advanced for such a young person.
You probably had to root for the Phillies during their lean years.
How would a two year old know about culture?
You’re smart BHJ but not that smart.
Through thick and thin.
tiredolderdude, You’ve got that wrong. The epitaph, which Fields wrote himself ,was “I’d rather be in Philadelphia”. It’s a rather low bar, choosing Philly over death, but at least it’s not as bad as what your version says about Philly.
Mendoza Line, I totally agree that California is not for everyone. Which is fine. You could say the same about every place. I’m glad since there’s already too many people in some areas.
I was speaking only for myself though. My father was a career army sergeant. We lived all over. I went to 8 different schools by the time I entered the 8th grade. I was born in KS. Lived in NE MO, CO, as well as the mid-Atlantic, DC, MD, and VA. I also lived in Panama and Germany. I Went to college in Boston. Though CA isn’t for everyone, it’s my favorite place of all the places I’ve lived.
@Jean Matrac
A little additional clarification. According to local historian, Charlene Mires:
“W.C. Fields proposed the fictional epitaph for himself in a 1925 Vanity Fair interview: ‘Here lies W.C. Fields. I would rather be living in Philadelphia.’
Variations persisted in popular culture, but it did not ultimately find a place on the entertainer’s tomb.”
Fort Ord?
Zactly!
tiredolderdude, As @Mendoza said, CA is not for everyone. But climate is maybe more important to me than it is for others. I went to school in Boston, and wound staying there for longer than I wanted. At the time, the economy wasn’t good for jobs, but there were jobs in Boston in my profession.
I never liked living there because of the weather, especially after moving there from places which had much better weather. It wasn’t the severity of winter, but the seemingly never-ending aspect of it, followed by a 2 week spring. Summer wasn’t bad at all, but then an early winter after a far too short summer and fall.
In CA I can do a lot of things year round, like golf, or bike-riding, where I was limited to the better weather months on the east coast. And as you say it’s a beautiful part of the country, for the most part. To me, it’s as close to ideal that I could ask for.
Bart Harley Jarvis, Thanks for the clarification. It’s too bad it never made it to his tomb.
TheMan 3, No, but I wish my father had been stationed there. He had been sent to Korea, as punishment for a 4 year dalliance in the Air Force. We had to stay in the U.S. When a tour is up, you’re allowed 3 requests for the next posting. Ft. Ord was one of his. I forget what one of the choices were, but he got sent to Walter Reade Hospital in DC, his other choice.
@Jean Matrac,
Agreed, and apologies for dragging you into the fray. I know better than to mention fast food chains to people that live ‘just outside City X’. It never ends well.
I enlisted in the Army after high school and first stationed at Fort Meade in Maryland then upon re-enlisting, I was assigned to Karshule Germany
I contemplated making it my career but was discharged in 1980
My father went from Walter Reade to Worms Germany, and was stationed at Ft. Meade when that that tour was up. I wasn’t interested in joining since I felt like I’d been the army for 18 years when I graduated HS. 30 years after I graduated, far from my actual retirement age, I thought, damn, if I’d made a career in the military, I could retire on full pay now.
It’s funny, Jean. I knowingly repeated the oft-misstated epitaph that often goes for humor, even today. Poor attempt at humor. Apologies
Well stated, Bart. It’s funny that jokes of this nature aren’t really rooted in fact. I still wonder if Bobby Knight actually said—let alone left directions—to be buried upside down “so the world can kiss my a$$”
I can’t speak for Boston but while our winters are still an exercise in daily gloomy skies, we don’t get anywhere near the snow or cold we did when I was young, in the horse and buggy days. But that said, I’m amazed that all of my old athletic injuries revisit me often in the form of arthritis that seems to go hand in hand with gloom and the onset of coming rain or snow flurries. Sure makes California or Arizona seem like heaven
tiredolderdude, No apologies necessary. Clearly I didn’t have it quite right either. Not the first time for me.
Now I wonder about my favorite W.C. Fields quote: “Some things are better than sex; others not as good. But nothing else is quite like it”.
You must not be too far from the home of the best manager not in the Hall. Danny Murtaugh lived in Woodlyn,PA. He must have sponsored the town’s youth baseball team since they were the envy of the league wearing their Woodlyn Pirates uniforms that looked just like the major league version.
@panj341,
Thanks for bringing this up. I’ve been a baseball fan since the mid-1960s, but i never knew Danny Murtaugh had a Philadelphia (Chester, PA) connection.
Danny Murtaugh’s early 1970s Pirates were a fun team to root for when all we Phillies fans had was Steve Carlton every fourth day (and we were very lucky to have him).
But into the mid and late 70’s, wow, those were some epic battles between the Phils and Pirates ( and Cardinals, for that matter). Great rivalries I’m not sure we’ll ever see here again. With anyone
you’re basing your opinion of the suburbs of Pittsburgh on several cookie cutter restaurants that are in every suburb of America?
Had you dined on the North Shore or Station’s Square or even Robinson Township, you would have found a variety of privately operated restaurants and bars that serve food
Expanding your travels in Pittsburgh reveals more than just what you saw
@The Man3,
Thanks for completely missing my point, but rambling on nonetheless. Please try to stay on point.
You snarked, “I lived outside of Philadelphia for 10 years. It is 10 years I would like to have back”. To which I replied, “Didn’t care for your local suburban cultural institutions; i.e., Olive Garden/Cheesecake Factory/Applebees/Buffalo Wild Wings?”
This isn’t rocket surgery.
I used to go back to Bethlehem and Horsham for work. I am no fan of San Francisco but a day in Philly was enough for me and a week in the suburbs plenty. Unfortunately I spent many months there. I am biased though, I have lived outside of San Francisco for 25 of my 43 years. It would be cool if they hadn’t burnt down Tun Tavern, would have loved to have gotten a beer there instead of just seen a plaque.
@David White,
Yeah, because Stanford and Cal just ain’t cutting it.
Some Bay Area residents probably didn’t realize there was an H in the name before moving.
I’m happy for him. I hope he finds a home and a major league career in Pittsburg
Theman ain’t gonna like this comment.
Actually it was spelled that way for about 20 years around the turn of the last century.
TheMan3 just isn’t that old, Mendoza, achy bones notwithstanding
Those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it.
Dream and I pre empted the inevitable comment.
I’m 68, take 7 prescribed pills every day for Neuropathy, Chronic Kidney Disease, Anemia, Arthritis and HBP
When I retired 2 years ago, I was only diagnosed with Neuropathy. Much can change in two short years
My older brother on the other hand has endured 3 separate bouts of cancer and has recently been diagnosed with liver cancer and has been placed on the national transplant list
It sucks getting older and whoever coined the phrase “ Golden Years “, didn’t know what they were talking about because there’s nothing golden about it
Living isn’t easy. Keep up the fight.
No, it’s not easy. But it sure beats the alternative. God bless, TheMan3. Green grass and high tides to you, and everyone else who’s partaken in this attempt at humor
I read The Road Less Traveled by Scott Peck when I was 32 years old.
The first line in the book was “Life is difficult.”
Not many people have a totally charmed one.
Moving Davis from C when they have been winning with him at C, would not be the smart thing to do. Bart can be the back up, or they can try to pass him through waivers.
Delay will be sent down is my guess. If they thought Bart would pass through waivers they would have just put in a waiver claim. They could try to get a better prospect. I think they want to keep Bart though. I would.
It seems we are experiencing the Keller of post AS 2023
He’s given up 4 runs in less than 2 innings
Yes, and again it’s reflective of how he’s been here. I like Mitch—feel I have to say this. But he still has these periods that preclude him from being called one of baseball’s elite. Where’s Ray Searage, anyway?
Mitch as never been anywhere close to elite.
He had a real good run there but I am not sure how good of a deal the Pirates got on this one.
The starting pitching has an ERA of over 5 now.
The bullpen is pretty good but one cannot expect them to always carry the load.
A+ good of a deal Mendoza A+
My biggest issue about this offense is their ability to strike out in numbers and last night’s game was no exception
Against a pitcher they knew, who had an ERA last year of almost 6, led the league in homers given up and swung at pitches no where close to the plate
Granted Williams didn’t k all of the 13 batters but he set the stage for the rest of the game
Called third strikes is yet another issue. It’s like the Pirates need a course in protecting the plate
Will be interesting if—a big if—these young guys progress to being reliable starters at the MLB level. I’ve seen folks posting the dream staff of Jones-Skenes-Solometo-Chandler-Ashcroft and/or Burrows. Would be nice to see Keller progress to be the anchor in such a staff, but they can’t all start
You’re right, TheMan3. Plate discipline continues to be a problem and their approach collectively against relievers in a close game was appalling, as usual
Everything is A+ for you with the Pirates.If it really was they would have not lost yesterday and would go 162-0.
By the way,TheMan and Tired are correct on this strikeout thing.
The Pirates cannot get out of their own way.
Good teams do not make the fundamental mistakes that the Pirates do.And that is just one of them.
I don’t expect a perfect season, but I do expect progress instead of regression
They managed 4 hits against a pitching staff that isn’t as good as the final statistics showed
Plate discipline continues to happen and again I have to question whether Haines’ decision for these players to take as many pitches each plate appearance to get into the opposing team bullpen early is a good thing
All the experts said Perez was the best free agent. Looking like it so far.
Henry Davis and Bart can talk about their obscene signing bonuses and how little they have done to earn that insane amount of money
Henry will be fine, I think he has crazy potential at the plate. Light years ahead of Bart.
Yep, Davis will be fine. He’s not getting HBPs every game, he’s looked better hitting and his defense has improved. Last year he played RF alot, and it’s plausible that the position switch diminished his offense.
Henry’s responsibilities when drafted: Work at a peak effort and knowledge gathering level to improve your game. ie. be a professional. In what way has he not met that obligation and when you hear about him he seems to have been the model employee. Joey Bart may have actually worked just as hard but has not been successful.
If your complaint is a general that athletes are paid too much then get into the business and make a change or quit following or spending money on sports but don’t call out the individuals.. Capitalism.. love it or hate it, the money is there because it is the chosen entertainment of many of us and people are willing to pay.
Jeezus man, Davis has barely even been in MLB. Give him some time.
Henry Davis hasn’t even played for an entire season yet you’re lambasting him for not being a superstar already
Is that the same insane amount of money that the Yankees have spent on payroll without winning a championship?
A+ Pirates. #2 overall pick for a 8th round reliever. I think he is a good backup as is. Good enough to start on some teams. I see some realistic improvements to make him even better.
A+ Giants. No idea why they got rid of him. Guess they have 2 great catchers or the locker room didn’t like him. Whatever. I hate the return. Nice upside arm it’s just they passed on this reliever 6 7 times. But apparently it was the best offer.
Side note. Expanded opinion piece. I know tiredolderdude likes these usually and he may be the only one. I was putting together my top 100 list back in the day and I was much lower on Bart than the public list mlb ba fg etc. But I heard from someone in the know that Giants pitchers even veterans like or even loved throwing to Bart. I am usually a numbers guy but he got a boost from me because that. Seems at one point he was a hard worker like Davis. I don’t know if following Buster was too much. Rushed. Upset over playing time or being sent down. But there used to be a good staff leader in Bart. Change of scenery could do him good. I was never as big on his bat. Literally everyone liked it more than me. But I think he can still have some pop. Really think he can have the obp where you want it. Truly a A+ trade.
Dream, they’ve had a corner on poor hitting catchers for decades now. So why not?
I questioned the Grandal signing at the time and still do. Not a great defensive catcher, had a rep as a guy who pouts and with the Pirates budget, it seemed like insurance in case Davis was as bad as everyone apparently thought.
Davis has proven that wrong so far and as you say, I’m doubtful we ever see Grandal here
To me, this was the answer to Sanchez declining the option. Nothing more. Depth and insurance
Pirates knew Davis improved. Grandal was just depth. Veteran knowledge. Makes opening day roster and Delay starts at Indy if not for the planter. I can see Bart taking the backup job moving forward. I think fans like Delay more than management does. Endy will be back next year but he can play 2b outfield 1b. If Cutch retires that opens up DH for Davis. So Bart may be around next year if he does well enough. If the Pirates were able to get Bart sooner they probably don’t sign Grandpal.
I think management really likes the idea of Delay being the catcher at AAA to help the young pitchers like Jones/Skenes/Chandler etc.
He’s good org guy who never lets anyone down when called up to MLB.
Personally speaking, I am not a fan of Delay and prefer him being at Indy
He might handle the pitching staff well but he can’t hit his weight, has no power, and his arm just isn’t strong enough
The next Matt Wieters!
I think that he must be missing something.To be a good catcher you have to be able to think on your feet and some people are just not designed to do that.
He may never have developed a rapport with the Giants’ pitching staff either.
Not sure how long it takes for a new team to figure that out.
I think that Delay has always done a decent job as the backup catcher and I think that his strengths may be the ones that I mention above.
good for joey. he goes to an undefeated first place team. we get another strickland.
Change of scenery might be what he needs.
I’m trying to follow the timelines here. Didn’t the Giants take Bart off the table in the Bryant trade? Instead the gave up Caissie. *ques Curb Your Enthusiasm theme*
Sorry I screwed that up it was Canario
Man his picture looks like a DUI mugshot. Smile Joey, your in the big leagues.
Too many of them seem like they are for a driver’s license.
Hopefully Bart will be successful with this opportunity with the Pirates
I think Delay is still in trauma from Shelton not doing a manager’s review of what should have been a double the other day. Hence the 10-day DL.
Pirates are pretty deep in most areas. Catching isn’t one of them due to injuries to Endy, Grandal, and now Delay.
It appears Bart will be given a 2-4 week tryout to prove he’s worthy of backing up Davis. Let’s hope a change of scenery does him some good.
Love the pickup!
Bart rhymes with Swihart. Just thought I would point that out. I doubt his clout will be enough to tout about, but we shouldn’t pout should he wow.
Tuh.
What does Davis have to do to not be mentioned as a “send to the minors” candidate, in every article about pirate’s catching?
5-0 Pirates are going all in!
given the situation with Delay, great pickup.
Always had good potential that didn’t develop in SF. IIRC good backstop with a fringe arm.
This is a low risk high reward move for the Pirates. Davis was the everyday left fielder when Indy was playing. Bart had a nice spring this year. Moving to a more friendly ballpark and division, maybe he finds his bat and Davis returns to everyday left field. If not, he’ll be DafA’d again for minimal loss.
Davis isn’t going to the outfield. Certainly not left field. Isn’t going to Indy. He is going to be catcher 1 this year. May move to DH 1 down the road because of his bat and Endy, not his lack of catching.
DH is usually for older players who can still hit like Cutch.Other teams use good hitting starters to give them rest.
Sometimes it is for younger players like Schwarber who cannot field anywhere,even first base.
I think that Davis is young enough and a good enough athlete and determined enough that he can learn another position.But he has to be taught how to play there first,and not expect him learn on the fly like is common with the Pirates.
If Bart becomes the backup catcher,then both Endy and Henry will need to have another position.The two left are first base and right field.They can still catch 1/3 of the time each.They can also DH.
You know Davis started 49 games in right field last right? So instead of LF he’ll play RF. They had him in LF for quite a few spring training games. Probably when Reynolds wasn’t playing.
Didn’t know that
Problem is, sooner or later one of these kids in the OF is going to squeeze Davis’s playing time if this is the trek. I get why they played Davis there last year, but I’m guessing he or Endy also will be playing at 1st, too
I have been a Triolo fan but so far, he’s not regained the hitting from last year’s final stretch. And that misplay of grounder late in last night’s game—that was luckily erased by a DP—is the kind of play that often comes back to haunt you. Had to laugh at the Pirate broadcast team’s defense via the “in-between hop” rationale. Jeez. Major leaguer?
Davis will be doing the bulk of the catching injuries notwithstanding.
When Grandal comes back he will be the second catcher.
Delay will go to AAA if Bart plays well over the next three weeks.
If Bart plays well they will then go with three catchers to keep Bart from being lost on waivers.They will DH Henry some in that event.
Henry played right field last year and the Pirates will have to determine where he and Endy play next year.One May play some first base and Henry may go back to right field part time if his bat is worth it.
These are the kinds of problems that good teams have.
Hypothetically, @Mendoza, if they go with 3 catchers when Grandal is activated, which position player goes to Indy?
Paul- Good question.
If Bart plays well they will not want to lose him to waivers.
They do not have to carry 13 pitchers.
I could see them releasing Grandal eventually or maybe trade him at the deadline.He would not last the whole year in any event.
But you know Nutting and he will not let BC get rid of Grandal sooner rather than later.
Bay Area residents like myself will possibly enjoy any Bart-Delay references here.
Just missing someone named Orinda in the mix.
If Pirates get pitching, they can win this division! Next year this team makes big move up! 1979 long time ago for this guy!!!
Agreed here. Still think ‘25 is the year they contend.
Sure! Absolutely! There’s just this weird violence at the top of the NL Central. The Brewers have this crazy vibe. They’re gonna be tough! The back end of the rotation is a little shaky there. But good lordy are they fast! 162 game marathon. Pirates need to beat their division
Chourios is for real! He’s flashing Trout and Acuna skill levels. Sounds wild…but the book on him is correct.
Hope springs eternal.
Don’t clown Bart. Bart done got his fart now he’s gonna bash!
until Suwinski can be a more selective hitter, he has no business batting cleanup and Davis should be batting 9th because he swings at everything regardless of where the pitch goes
you aren’t going to score runs when your team strikes out 12 times
what a pathetic performance by this team today
Don’t worry, TheMan…. Buccos will get ’em today with Falter on the mound!
you forgot the sarcasm symbol, Terrier1980
What is the +/~ for the number of runs he gives up before Shelton pulls him in probably the 3rd or fourth inning?
I’d be surprised if he gives up less than five earned runs.
He’s notorious for giving up multiple runs in the first inning alone including at least one homer
Again with Shelton’s lineup
Hayes gets 2 hits of the 6 they had yesterday and he’s been given the day off.
I just don’t get why Shelton thinks it’s good to give his best players rest, especially this early in the season
Surprisingly, Falter pitched an impressive game but the reliever who replaced him, Ryan came close with blowing the lead for us
We don’t have a better pitcher in the minors than this guy? He gave up runs his last outing
Furthermore , Williams doesn’t belong in the majors. He can’t hit and can’t play defense despite the fact that’s the reason he’s here
Lastly, called third strikes continues to be an issue. Cruz never took the bat off of his shoulders in 3 straight pitches
In a close game like this, you don’t have Bart catching in the late innings. No way. He doesn’t know the pitchers yet and it’s just stupidity to have him in there. Not saying the “wild pitch” was his fault but a good catcher keeps it front of him
In fact, I’m not even batting him in the bottom of the 8th
And with Cutch on the bench, I’m not batting Olivares either
And why was Triolo so far off the line in the 8 th?
All of this is indicative of a manager who isn’t playing to win, at least not with his best options
And truthfully, I’m flip flopping Bednar and Chapman for awhile
Come to think of it, with Hayes on the bench I’m not batting Triolo in the bottom of the 8th either
Bottom of the 10th Tie game. Bats Tellez against a lefty. Pops him up. Bats Triolo. Weak ground ball. Bats Bart. Strikes out
Cutch, Hayes, even Davis. On bench
Is this manager asleep?
Hayes pinch hit for Aliki in the 9th and struck out but I completely agree with everything else you said including how incompetent Shelton is as the manager
Yeah. I’d forgotten that. Thx
Why didn’t Shelton use Cutch to pinch hit for Rowdy against the lefty?
With the bases loaded no less
This offense has not improved from last year nor has the management decisions
Davis should have ph for Bart also with the bases loaded in the 11th
They deserve to lose
Yeah, I asked as much
This is the kind of stuff that doesn’t occur to brain dead fans. You know, the true believer fans
Why have a bench at all?
Jack is batting cleanup again and Cutch isn’t in the lineup at all for the 4th game this season
I think Rowdy is a better choice at cleanup and has been drawing more walks than Jack so far.
At least Alika isn’t playing
Our third base coach is almost as bad as the last one they had, waving Triolo around when it was obvious that he had hesitated going around second.
With 2 on and one out, Reynolds’ deep fly would have scored Triolo.
Otherwise Jack sucks and hasn’t improved from last year, 5 hits in 37 plate appearances, he has no business batting 4th
This offense sucks, either these players aren’t major league caliber or my real opinion, Shelton doesn’t know how to write a lineup and Haines should be fired
Accumulating a paltry 5 hits is someone’s fault and it can’t be just the players
It seems to happen every year, every player in a slump at the same time