Last year right around this time, I looked at the players getting the most starts for each of the affiliates for the Pirates. I am going to do something similar to that this morning. I wanted to see how many starts each team got from a top 50 prospect, using the original list from our 2016 Prospect Guide instead of the mid-season top 50 update. I also included the Pirates. You could add in the mid-season if you would like, where most of the differences would come from the GCL with the new high school pitchers, and Frank Duncan at Indianapolis.
Here are the starters for the Pirates and each affiliate, who were in our top 50 in the 2016 Prospect Guide, along with their starts in parenthesis:
Pirates: Jameson Taillon (11), Chad Kuhl (6), Tyler Glasnow (2), Steven Brault (2)
Indianapolis: Tyler Glasnow (18), Trevor Williams (17), Chad Kuhl (16), Steven Brault (13), Jameson Taillon (10)
Altoona: Clay Holmes (24), Cody Dickson (23), Tyler Eppler (22), Brandon Waddell (17), Tyler Glasnow (1)
Bradenton: Yeudy Garcia (22), Austin Coley (22), Stephen Tarpley (18), JT Brubaker (11), Brandon Waddell(5), Nick Kingham (1), Trevor Williams (1)
West Virginia: Mitch Keller (21), Gage Hinsz (13), JT Brubaker (12), Billy Roth (1)
Morgantown: Luis Escobar (8), Steven Brault (1)
Bristol: None
GCL: Nick Kingham (6)
I was actually surprised by the numbers. It seems like Indianapolis has been using a prospect every night. I’m sure part of that has to do with Duncan being in the top 30 now, plus starts from Gerrit Cole and Chad Hutchison being games I watched with interest. Also, the players for Indianapolis were all rated in the top 24, so that also affects the interest level.
Altoona is actually the leader with 87 games from preseason top 50 prospects, then they are followed by Bradenton. Most of the pitching prospects were in the upper levels this season, so the low numbers for the lower levels reflects that. Things will look different around this time next year I’m sure, just like when Bristol had four top 50 prospects last year, they could have that same amount next year in their rotation.
Bristol had none, but going by the mid-season list they would have 16 combined between Ike Schlabach and Blake Cederlind. The GCL Pirates would have 25 going by the mid-season, which is impressive considering that’s more than half of their games played.
**Keep in mind when you look at the Playoff Push section that each of the top five affiliates have about 18-20 games left, while Bristol and the GCL both end on September 1st. Altoona moved closer to clinching a playoff spot by splitting a doubleheader yesterday and gaining a half game in the standings. Indianapolis had a dim hope that was probably dashed with a loss and a Columbus win yesterday. They each have 18 games left, and only three head-to-head (in Indianapolis) which makes it harder to catch them at nine games ahead. Obviously those three games are now must-win for Indianapolis.
PLAYOFF PUSH
The Pirates trail the second wild card spot by one game.
Indianapolis is in second place in their division, trailing by nine games. They trail by 12 games for the lone wild card spot.
Altoona leads their division by 4.5 games. The top two teams in the division go to the playoffs, with the first place team getting the home field advantage in the first round.
Bradenton won the first half title. They have home field advantage in the playoffs.
West Virginia is tied for fourth place in their division, trailing first by 3.5 games.
Morgantown is tied for fourth place in their division, trailing first place by 12.5 games. They are eight games back for the lone wild card spot.
Bristol is in fourth place, trailing by 7.5 games. The top two teams in each division go to the playoffs.
The GCL Pirates are two games back in their division. This is the only league where you have to win your division to make the playoffs.
The DSL Pirates have been eliminated from the playoffs. Their season ends August 27th.
PIRATES GAME GRAPH
Source: FanGraphs
TODAY’S SCHEDULE
Today’s Starter and Notes: The Pirates won 6-5 over the Giants on Wednesday afternoon. They are now off until Friday, when they return home for three games against the Marlins. Gerrit Cole will be on the mound for the Pirates, while the Marlins will send Tom Koehler to the hill.
In the minors, Gage Hinsz will try again to make his start after a rain out yesterday. He has gone at least five innings in each of his first 13 games. Hinsz has 21 strikeouts over his last 15.1 innings.
Indianapolis is off today, but half of the other teams are making up for that. Altoona, West Virginia and Morgantown all have doubleheaders. Altoona will be finishing a suspended game from Tuesday. It’s a seven inning game and they lead 2-0 in the top of the fourth. Cody Dickson will start the second game, which will also be seven innings. No starters are listed for Morgantown yet. Cam Vieaux was scheduled to pitch last night, so it will likely be him and Matt Anderson during the doubleheader.
MLB: Pittsburgh (62-56) vs Marlins (62-58) 7:05 PM 8/19
Probable starter: Gerrit Cole (3.25 ERA, 28:86 BB/SO, 102.1 IP)
AAA: Indianapolis (63-63) @ Louisville (61-65) 1:35 PM 8/19 (season preview)
Probable starter: Drew Hutchison (5.40 ERA, 7:13 BB/SO, 16.2 IP)
AA: Altoona (67-54) @ Portland (46-74) 5:00 PM DH (season preview)
Probable starter: Cody Dickson (3.87 ERA, 82:86 BB/SO, 121.0 IP)
High-A: Bradenton (63-58) vs Palm Beach (50-71) 6:30 PM (season preview)
Probable starter: JT Brubaker (5.18 ERA, 20:35 BB/SO, 57.1 IP)
Low-A: West Virginia (61-59) @ Lexington (44-76) 5:35 PM DH (season preview)
Probable starter: Gage Hinsz (3.31 ERA, 17:54 BB/SO, 70.2 IP) and Dario Agrazal (4.57 ERA, 15:72 BB/SO, 124.0 IP)
Short-Season A: Morgantown (25-31) vs Vermont (21-35) 6:00 PM DH(season preview)
Probable Starter: Cam Vieaux (3.81 ERA, 17:36 BB/SO, 52.0 IP) and TBD
Rookie: Bristol (22-30) vs Johnson City (30-23) 7:00 PM (season preview)
GCL: Pirates (20-25) vs Tigers West (24-23) 12:00 PM (season preview)
DSL: Pirates (26-37) vs Yankees1 (30-33) 10:30 AM (season preview)
HIGHLIGHTS
Here is a two-run triple from Austin Meadows from earlier this week. He now has 11 triples on the season.
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
8/17: Josh Smith assigned to Indianapolis.
8/15: Yeudy Garcia and Chase Simpson placed on disabled list.
8/15: Hector Garcia assigned to GCL Pirates on rehab.
8/15: Nick Kingham and Justin Topa assigned to Bradenton.
8/14: Tyler Glasnow assigned to Altoona on rehab.
8/14: Jason Creasy assigned to Altoona.
8/12: Chris Stewart assigned to Altoona on rehab.
8/10: Christian Kelley promoted to Bradenton. Raul Hernandez assigned to West Virginia.
8/10: John Kuchno assigned to Altoona.
8/9: Chad Kuhl promoted to Pirates. Curtis Partch optioned to Indianapolis.
8/9: Erik Lunde retired.
8/9: Kyle Lobstein placed on disabled list. Kelvin Marte activated from disabled list.
8/9: Raul Hernandez assigned to Bradenton.
8/8: Delvin Hiciano assigned to GCL Pirates on rehab.
8/8: Josh Outman assigned to Indianapolis.
8/7: Austin Meadows activated from Indianapolis disabled list.
8/6: Arquimedes Caminero traded to Mariners for two players to be named later. Curtis Partch recalled from Indianapolis
8/6: Jason Creasy assigned to Morgantown on rehab.
8/6: John Kuchno assigned to Indianapolis. Josh Outman assigned to Altoona.
8/6: Chris Harvey assigned to Morgantown
8/3: Colten Brewer suspended.
THIS DATE IN PIRATES HISTORY
Five former Pittsburgh Pirates players born on this date, including the great Roberto Clemente. Two years ago in the Morning Report, I paid tribute to him on his 80th birthday. That article can be found here. Four years ago, I posted an article relating to the day the Pirates took him in the Rule 5 draft and the reactions around baseball to the news. You can see that article here. Other players born on this date include another Hall of Famer.
Burleigh Grimes spent five seasons with the Pirates but it took three different stints with the team to amass those five seasons. He was at his peak with the team in 1928-29, when he won 42 games. The next year, he had very high salary demands and the Pirates shipped him away. He came back four years later to finish off his career with 270 wins, which got him elected to the Hall of Fame in 1964.
Mike Lavalliere, catcher from 1987 until 1993. Hit .278 in 609 games for the Pirates. Came over from the Cardinals as part of the Tony Pena trade.
Paul Popovich, middle infielder for the 1974-75 Pirates. Hit .211 in 84 games for Pittsburgh.
Roger Bowman, pitched for team in 1953 and 1955. Won 22 games in the minors in 1954 and 131 games total in minors, but he picked up just two Major League wins in five seasons.
Bernie Duffy, 1913 pitcher. Made two late-season starts and one relief appearance in his only Major League action. Won 15 games in a row in the minors prior to joining Pirates.
Wally Gerber, 1914-15 shortstop. Pittsburgh gave up on him to soon and he turned into a star player, getting into 1,500+ games in his career. Hit .207 in 73 games for Pirates.
The link at the beginning includes two trades of note on this date, including the 1989 swap of outfielders Billy Hatcher and Glenn Wilson.
