Episode 13 of The Pirates Prospects Podcast can be downloaded or streamed below. This episode includes analysis from Tom Bragg (@TomBraggSports), James Santelli (@JamesSantelli) and myself (@timwilliamsP2) on the Pirates. Highlights of the show include:
**With Jose Tabata returning with a hot bat, we ask whether the Pirates need to trade for a right fielder. One factor that could impact the decision is that right field has been the most productive offensive position across the league, and the Pirates haven’t been getting consistent offense this year.
**The bench has also been an issue. We talk about building from the top down by upgrading the lineup and moving a good player to the bench. The Pirates also don’t have a big threat off the bench. Could that be Garrett Jones if the team upgrades at first base?
**I talked about platoons this week, looking at the spots that need them and the value of those platoons. We discuss the strategy of platoons for the Pirates bench.
**The bench talk got into the topic of Brandon Inge and how he’s the weakest link on the team.
**Most of the upgrade talk has been focused on hitting, but the Pirates have been winning because of their pitching. Should the Pirates be focused on adding a starting pitcher? They might not need a top starter for the rest of the season, but a top starter could help them in the playoffs. The Pirates have an 86% chance of making the post-season based on the recent projections.
**The Pirates have had a great bullpen this year. James argues the Pirates should add a strong reliever to add to the Jason Grilli/Mark Melancon/Justin Wilson group. I don’t like the idea of paying for relievers. The Pirates have had success going with low-cost upgrades, which is an approach I think they should continue. So we debate, and that leads to the idea that Gerrit Cole could be a dominant reliever in the playoffs.
**Music: ‘Let’s Get it Started’ by Oh No Not Stereo. Courtesy of BeatPick.com
Click here to download the show (right-click and “Save Link As”) or stream it below.
‘Let’s Get it Started’ by Oh No Not Stereo. Courtesy of BeatPick.com
