Pirates reliever Génesis Cabrera was outrighted to Triple-A, according to the MLB.com transaction log. Pittsburgh designated the southpaw for assignment on Monday when they welcomed Johan Oviedo back from the injured list. Cabrera has the right to refuse the assignment in favor of free agency.
The Pirates were Cabrera’s third team of the season. He had brief stints with the Mets and Cubs earlier in the year. He pitched nine times for the Bucs after signing a major league contract at the end of June. He gave up six runs in 11 innings, striking out seven while issuing one walk. Cabrera is now up to 28 frames with a 5.79 earned run average. He has recorded a below-average 18.8% strikeout rate.
Cabrera throws hard, averaging nearly 96 MPH from the left side. Teams continue to give him opportunities in the middle innings as a result. The 28-year-old hasn’t translated that into enough strikeouts over the past two seasons. He has also been increasingly prone to the home run ball, leading to an ERA above 4.00 in three of the past four years.
Genesis made another exodus because the numbers don’t lie.
Nice
Pirates brass Judges him to be not worth a roster spot.
And nobody’s as smart as the Pirates’ front office! lol.
Yes GM BS Fraudington THINKS he’s smarter than everybody else while the other 29 GMs KNOW he’s dumb as a box of rocks!
(Oops! I just insulted a box of rocks!)
Is that an old Proverbs?
DudeTheIrony
Another psu psu pseudo move. Woahhh
Clear the deck and raise the Jolly Rodger!
With a trip trip Triple A stent
It is wild how often these marginal relievers change teams. I can’t think of the best way to change the rules to prevent it. But historically, it was very rare for any player to change teams more than once in a season.
Phillies
“I can’t think of the best way to change the rules to prevent it. ”
Larger rosters. Teams clearly aren’t getting by with just 13 pitchers. Maybe a taxi squad of sorts. Let the team carry 10 relievers, or whatever, and have 8 active for each game.
Let players on the taxi squad accrue service time at their regular pay – MLBPA should be happy.
These will be low salary jobs – Owners will be happy.
Players won’t have to change teams and living situations as often – they should be happy.
Can’t see why fans would care – some fans will not be happy. Some fans are never happy. Most fans won’t care.
another train of thought- the issue is with the rapid chase of velocity. guys figure that out, but it takes much longer for then to learn how to pitch against smart, good hitters like you find in the bigs, and some guys with “live arms” dont ever figure it out. gotta think that the art of pitching has been somewhat lost, and that things might not return to the stable rosters we remember.
Pohle
“gotta think that the art of pitching has been somewhat lost”
The art of pitching is at the highest point that is ever been. Teams and players know more about pitching than they ever have. Pitches are crafted by computers measuring air flow and turbulence for [gosh] sakes…
Yet they cannot learn how Max velocity does not translate into more success if you don’t know how to change speeds and actually pitch.
Hitters too with the grip and rip even with 2 strikes instead of trying to protect the plate. Screw strikeouts to the point of stupidity. NL has decided to go all 1968 AL and have only 1-2 hitters over 300.
Sure BA not the important stat anymore. But come on. You can’t tell me that is not some cause for concern that you have this inept of hitters.
Juan – just because teams are using more technology to help with their pitching doesn’t mean that the art of pitching isn’t somewhat lost.
The majority of pitchers now a days are just guys who throw hard but don’t really hit their spots, they don’t really hold runners anymore, etc. The majority of guys who are SP/RP are just throwers now, they’re not really pitchers.
Look no further than Genesis Cabrera and Jorge Alcala, two guys who are currently on the MLBTR front page (and well this article is about Cabrera).
If either of those guys knew how to hit their spots, then they wouldn’t have been released by multiple teams this season.
CB
“Yet they cannot learn how Max velocity does not translate into more success if you don’t know how to change speeds and actually pitch.”
The average pitcher today almost certainly knows more than the average pitcher of any previous time.
“you have this inept of hitters.”
Today’s hitters are almost certainly the best hitters of all time.
Joe
You’ve made an excellent point. There were never pitchers before who weren’t successful
What? How does two guys being fringe MLB talent prove any point?
“The majority of guys who are SP/RP are just throwers now, they’re not really pitchers.”
They are the best pitchers that the sport has ever seen.
@Joemo “If either of these guys hit their spots, they wouldn’t have been released…” That’s what she said.
No they are certainly not the best hitters of all time. But since you want to Yul Brenner all your comments as facts written by you so let it be done. Enjoy your delusion.
Yes pitchers know so much about pacing themselves and everyone is so much better at the craft.
CB
“No they are certainly not the best hitters of all time.”
How could I have been so wrong? Clearly, your comment is the fact and not delusion at all, right, Yul?
Juan- The pitchers are so smart now that they blow their arms off routinely and get two years off at full pay.
The routines and maintenance and speed and physicality are clearly all much better than even twenty years ago.
But it doesn’t take any brains to throw 95 mph.
The hitters also have the same current attributes.But they do not know what to do with two strikes anymore and too many go for one of the three outcomes that they are judged on- walk,strikeout,home run.
Batting average is not an important hitting statistic to many younger fans.
Hitting to the opposite field with shifts on is discouraged.
Ty Cobb would have hit 467 with that type of defense.
I have seen these all or nothing arguments on here for all nine years that I have posted here and they are almost never close to being true except in somebody’s mind because they do not see the overall picture.
@Juan That would be the science of pitching, not the art of pitching.
ML
“I have seen these all or nothing arguments on here for all nine years that I have posted here and they are almost never close to being true except in somebody’s mind because they do not see the overall picture.”
Hmm. Makes me think. Let me try something
I have seen these [just make contact] arguments on here for all nine years that I have posted here and they are almost never close to being true except in somebody’s mind because they do not see the overall picture.
Interesting
“Ty Cobb would have hit 467 with that type of defense.”
Let me try again
Ty Cobb would have hit [.267 against today’s velocity and moment].
How about that?
You and Coy come back when you have sone substance
It is meaningless to compare players from different eras. Ty Cobb played in an era when baseballs were not tossed out after they were hit or when they hit the dirt. He played in an era when baseballs became increasing dirty and hard to see. He played in an era where baseballs became increasing soft as the balls were not thrown out after they were hit or hit the ground.
How would today’s players do if they were transported back to the early twentieth century and had to play under the same conditions? Poorly maintained fields, small paychecks, no buffets, no nutritionist, having to wash their own uniforms, no batting gloves, smaller fielding gloves, etc.
I read that the average baseball game goes through 700 balls per game from fouls and balls hitting the dirt on pitches
We’re back Juan.
You have no clue.
No substance either.
See Skeptical below.
He evidently is skeptical of your post also
I gave you some agreement on your theory Juan.
But you are like the home run,walk,and strikeouts Juan.All or nothing.No overall view.Just all or nothing.
In your case Juan.
Nothing.
ML
“Ty Cobb would have hit 467 with that type of defense.
I have seen these all or nothing arguments on here for all nine years that I have posted here and they are almost never close to being true except in somebody’s mind because they do not see the overall picture.”
This you?
Totally empty comment
Back up your words with some substance
What is substance to you Juan?
Statistics?What players look like?How snazzy the uniforms are?
Do you think that someone like Ty Cobb if playing under today’s benefits as Skeptical has outlined would not be a HOF?At 267?
Do you not think that given modern conditions he would not be smart enough to place the ball into areas of the diamond that are uncovered?
Do you think that he would not be smart enough to foul off borderline strike pitches that would be strike three?
What is empty is you parroting what others have said and saying they are empty comments?
Sorry Juan.
No substance there.
You bring nothing to the game Juan.
ML
“Do you think that someone like Ty Cobb…”
“Ty Cobb would have hit 467 with that type of defense.”
I don’t think they would hit .467
Support your statement. With whatever lead you to believe that.
Because unlike you some of us have studied baseball history for years and lived through some of it and understand what went on in different eras.
We have opinions on it.
You are just playing games Juan.
No substance.
Hasta la vista.
ML
“…”
Support your statement.
I just did.You have no substance.
ML
“Because I think so”
Isn’t support
You don’t even know enough to know what support is. People literally learn this on elementary school.
Support your statement.
You’re right. His condescending answers and show your work or else it’s false. You can say it’s subjective that players were better now than then. Even players. Coaches. FO people from the past and present have stated that players are not taught some of the basic fundamentals anymore. They eschew it in order to just get with the program of how things are done now.
I better go find my work though or else Juan Manos hand of fate Jazz hands will give his condescending no answer retort.
CB
“You’re right. His condescending answers and show your work or else it’s false. You can say it’s subjective that players were better now than then. Even players. Coaches. FO people from the past and present have stated that players are not taught some of the basic fundamentals anymore. They eschew it in order to just get with the program of how things are done now.
I better go find my work though or else Juan Manos hand of fate Jazz hands will give his condescending no answer retort.”
This you?
“But since you want to Yul Brenner all your comments as facts written by you so let it be done. Enjoy your delusion”
It really is not you Juan.
It really is the rest of the world.
ML
“It really is not you Juan.
It really is the rest of the world.”
You, accidentally, bring up a good point
The average commenter here isn’t exactly what you’d call intellectual.
So, yeah. Posting stupid stuff here doesn’t get a lot of push back. And even garners some agreement.
Try commenting to a more knowledgeable crowd, and see who it is
I actually think now that you are the first instance of an AI bot used on this website.
I know that you look down on others when they do not share your opinions or bring new ideas that you casually reject.
That is pretty clear.
But your consistent use of the same dumb phrases tells me that you are not the intellectual that you think that you are.
Just a simple bot.
ML
“I know that you look down on others when they do not share your opinions or bring new ideas that you casually reject.”
I love new ideas
Do you actually think “ball players (or whatever else) were so much better in my day” is a new idea? LOL
Support your statement.
(You haven’t done it. You can’t do it. So I keep asking until you admit it).
Good luck Juan.
ML
“Good luck Juan.”
Right
You have more substance to your claim
I’ve known that all along
More than “luck” I’d need a miracle to get something from you that doesn’t exist.
I intentionally made it vague.
I meant good luck to you.
I expected a retort like you just gave.
You will need good luck with your tendency towards arrogance and game playing.
Good luck Juan.
This is not a terrible idea, however the 40 man roster would need to increase or the AAA clubs would be operating short plus the high budget teams would just load up with more premium relievers because they have what seems to be unlimited resources.
Champs
“the 40 man roster would need to increase or the AAA clubs would be operating short”
No. There’d just be more non-40 players in AAA and a couple more on the taxi-roster.
The easiest fix would be to remove the 3 batter minimum rule and go back to the days of the LOOGY and other specialized relievers. Your idea isn’t necessarily a bad one either, though i don’t know if the owners would really go for two more roster spots getting paid but being “healthy scratches” and not eligible to play on a game by game basis.
RSox
“i don’t know if the owners would really go for two more roster spots getting paid but being “healthy scratches””
I know
Damn cheap owners
Less roster spots also gets rid of drifters like Cabrera
Real question is why it happens and if there is a reason to prevent it.
Epic name.
I think that the league is finally figuring out that while he might have “live” stuff”, he also has almost no idea where it’s going.
The Book of Genesis: 96 MPH from the left side and all straight over the plate…
There’s a reason the cardinals gave up on him so quickly
More like Exodus Cabrera amiright
There’s an Organization/ Pitching Coach… somewhere who thinks..” I can fix him..” ( one less pitch, placement on the hill, “move your eyes, not your head..). He’ll have a new team before the weekend is over..( didn’t say.. which.. weekend..)
Cherington signed him to a major league contract so he will probably elect free agency
And then head to Asia
Pittsburgh. The gateway to the Orient
The allure of his 96mph heater will keep him employed but he has all that velocity yet can’t fool hitters.
A previous MLBTR article stated that Manfred was considering implementing a minimum amount of time a waiver claim had to remain on the roster after being claimed, such as 30 days.
Depending on the amount of time involved this could be an improvement on the situation. On the one hand it’s difficult on the players to be changing organizations so quickly. On the other, a requirement that is too long could discourage a potential claiming team from providing a major league roster spot to a player they only see needing for 1-2 games. Even 1 game is still major league pay.
Another partial solution might be in the reasons (other than poor performance) that a player is waived. As a team you DFA a player because 1) You need the roster spot for someone else and 2) The player can’t be optioned to the minors.
Similar to your taxi squad idea, what if a player a team claimed received a one-time option to accept a temporary minor league assignment (no more than 30 days) at major league minimum pay if the team offered it following the conclusion of their initial MLB stint with them? Teams would only offer this to players they envision using again in tbe short term without exposing them to waivers. This would offer some players, particularly productive ones caught in roster crunches, to have a bit more stability and control.
Again, only a partial solution. The root of the problem is that these days players who are not part of teams’ cores are more disposable than ever. As an owner you would ideally like to pay only 26 players to get you through a season. Unfortunately that never happens because of injuries and poor performances. At some point there’s a change from “Get the best 26 players available to us” to “Just get us through this game/week/month” and there’s an increased reliance on temporary players, whether they are recalled minor leaguers or waiver claims/players released by other teams. Often there’s not a huge emphasis on quality when teams go “dumpster diving”, so these new workers are as temporary as you get. 1 game, no games..they get tossed around because they’re not intended to do more than fill short-term roles. Until MLB teams start to value non-core players more (not likely) they will find ways to callously churn through personnel.
Nice to see that a guy they didn’t want after he did all they asked and resurrected his hitting ability—Andujar—has homered today.
Naw, they couldn’t use him
Better to have Suwinski and his .119 batting average out there
That is one thing that we do agree on Old Timer.
Andujar is not an all star and does not have the power that we would want but he has played for the Reds for two weeks and even the Reds’ broadcaster said that he is an rbi machine.Shelton said the same thing two years ago.
This is his walk year and it will be interesting to see who signs him and for how much.
There was a vast void in right field last year as everyone knows except Cherington.Andujar would have been a good temporary fix for one or two years until one of the young outfielders that Cherington has acquired over the last six years became a regular there.
All of these young outfielders are knocking at the door now.
Not sure of their names though,but they will be up any day.
We actually agree on quite a lot in basis
As you know, the Pirates signed Andujar with the hopes he could work out his problems with the bat and show some semblance of his time with the Yanks
All he did was tear it up at Indy
They bring him up and platoon him and demote him again after a couple weeks. He goes back down, continues to excel and is called up in September and provides consistent power over the last month of the season….and after the season is sent packing
I know that none of this is news to you but it stands as a microcosm of the Cherington era
There was no one here or in the minors providing any type of power and yet, his contract would mean too much of a paycheck
It’s almost unbelievable.
I loved your sarcasm in the bottom of your post. Agreed. There is no cavalry coming over the hill here and unless your bag is exit velocities, no answer at the big league level
Again, if you actually tried to run a franchise into the ground you still couldn’t do a better job than what this front office has done
We do agree on most things.
I have also appreciated your complete,well written,and straightforward posts,all consistent even through your numerous names. It has become somewhat of a game to me to figure out if the post was made by you.I also remember the name that you were born with of Tired Old Dude.
I sometimes use sarcasm and probably shouldn’t because some posters do not get it as there is no physical interaction but it has been useful in my anti troll work and when I smell arrogance in a poster.
I think that Ben has tried to do a good job and in some instances has succeeded.I have generally agreed with most of his personnel decisions but the problem has been that his weaknesses are so bad that he cannot get off the mark in providing a better than average team even under Nutting’s penuriousness and the inherent competitive weaknesses of a small market team.
I’d love to tell you the name changes were done on purpose. But I repeatedly lose passwords or close email accounts associated with the site. No, instead I have been a bumbling fool
I like to think this name is the last as I actually saved the password and still have the email account
We can agree about Cherington in this regard:
We have no understanding about the dynamics in the front office. We have no clue as to what constraints he is under thanks to an ultra frugal owner and no idea about the constraints he must consider in making any move
I’m not about to give Cherington a free pass but one must consider these ideas and contrast them with the general incompetence he’s demonstrated. We have had some GMs in this town who were in over their heads. But like you, I go back to the 60’s and my childhood fandom, and I can say I’ve never seen an owner this frugal and unwilling to spend, not even McClatchy.
McClatchy’s problem though was he ran out of money.
That is why he had to trade Ramirez for Bobby Hill and money.
I have always said that Nutting will spend more,like $30M a year,if they have a contending club and are one or two good players short.
He did that in the middle of the last decade.
Really,how many of these big ticket free agent players actually earn their keep?
I do think though that he should spend more on mid level free agents than he does while he has Skenes.But like AI says,those guys need to be available and want to play in Pittsburgh.
I do not think that Nutting gets into the nuts and bolts of trades other than Oking trading Bednar and Hayes.He has no idea as to the return.That is where both he and Cherington are deficient as they basically gave Bednar away although the Hayes return was OK.Other teams know that he will dump players.They should have kept Bednar until the off season and traded him then.
Cherington kept Shelton far too long.That is on him.
I think that the constraints are simple and straightforward,not unlike any business.
Cherington has to work within the budget,or get approval to do otherwise.
All in all you and I are close in agreement but to some extent different.That is what makes this site interesting.
Well, I don’t believe that going after a Soto or Alonso this past off season would have made sense. In fact, I think the idea of a big timer signing in a small market is a rather “pipe dream” way of thinking about the Pirates someday turning it around
What needed to happen last off season was exactly as you described: signing a few mid tier guys to surround your young pitchers and you’ve automatically taken guys like Cruz, Reynolds and Hayes out from under the microscope
But that didn’t happen
Now at this point in time, that tactic is irrelevant. The team has often looked like it has given up, and that has been the case since May. And you’ve given away some foundation pieces for nothing. And you only have pitching and Griffin in the minors (this GM’s biggest failing). As you said, why would any bonafide player sign here?
The only thing they can do now is to first replace the front office and then, burn it all down. Get young, hungry, knowledgeable execs in place, and then trade anyone of value to restock the minors with legitimate prospects with talent
It’s what they SHOULD do because they’re going to be a 90-or-so loss team for years ahead…
But they won’t do it.
They’ll play the patchwork game this off season
You’ll get the same scrap
I remember the Pirates teams in the mid 80’s. I remember the McClatchy-Russell-Tracy-McLendon eras
This team is worse, this franchise at a much lower level.