2014-2015 Pirates Offseason Thread

[ulf]

Probably 2016 deadline when one of them gets traded

[columbia]

It sounds like Stan wants to trade El Fatso asap and move Walker to 1B. That wouldn't be the worst outcome.

[FreeCandy44]

The Kang quotes on Twitter are incredible.

[columbia]

Mercer's primary distinction is that he we waited long in enough in the weeds to out hit Barmes.

[Rocco]

Over the 2nd half of the year Mercer was 4th among SS in MLB in weighted OBA, 5th in OBP, 3rd in SLG, 4th in RC+, 6th in homers and 6th in WAR according to Fangraphs. Defensively he ranked 5th in Defensive Runs Saved for the season. The Mercer hate confuses me.

[Sam's Drunk Dog]

There are people that actually hate on Mercer?

[ulf]

Well there were when some of us were hoping to see him in the lineup and were deemed the cult of mercer

[FreeCandy44]

There are people that actually hate on Mercer?

On here? Oh yeah...

[pittsports87]

I've been a big Mercer fan ever since he got the walkoff against the Mets in 2013.

[Bioshock]

There are people that actually hate on Mercer?

On here? Oh yeah...

Yeah. On LGP's you could find someone to hate anything.

[Troy Loney]

Well there were when some of us were hoping to see him in the lineup and were deemed the cult of mercer

I see the cult of mercer as the natural product of the anti-Barmes movement. Going into last season, there were questions about Mercer's defense, even if those with the questions weren't fully versed on every defensive fangraph statistic to infer that Mercer being a defensive liability was an exaggeration. There was the reality that the 2013 pirates would pull mercer for barmes in close games, So there was at least the fact that the Pirates didn't trust his defense.

Then for the first two months of last season, Mercer's slash line could make some pine for the days of Barmes' empty 225 batting average. I remember having to condition every mercer criticism with the statement that said criticism was not an endorsement for Clint Barmes.

Then Mercer turned it around and I don't think anyone refused to acknowledge that Mercer established himself as the answer at short stop for this team.

He was hitting .199 at the end of may, the "mercer love" that Rocco maybe professes to have even had then was definitely more a Barmes aversion.

[ulf]

tldnr, yes those who wanted more of Mercer were right

[thehockeyguru]

It sounds like Stan wants to trade El Fatso asap and move Walker to 1B. That wouldn't be the worst outcome.

I'm not a fan of selling low on Pedro and thats exactly what we would be doing.

[Rocco]

Well there were when some of us were hoping to see him in the lineup and were deemed the cult of mercer

I see the cult of mercer as the natural product of the anti-Barmes movement. Going into last season, there were questions about Mercer's defense, even if those with the questions weren't fully versed on every defensive fangraph statistic to infer that Mercer being a defensive liability was an exaggeration. There was the reality that the 2013 pirates would pull mercer for barmes in close games, So there was at least the fact that the Pirates didn't trust his defense.

Then for the first two months of last season, Mercer's slash line could make some pine for the days of Barmes' empty 225 batting average. I remember having to condition every mercer criticism with the statement that said criticism was not an endorsement for Clint Barmes.

Then Mercer turned it around and I don't think anyone refused to acknowledge that Mercer established himself as the answer at short stop for this team.

He was hitting .199 at the end of may, the "mercer love" that Rocco maybe professes to have even had then was definitely more a Barmes aversion.

It had more to do with the belief that he wouldn't continue to strike out nearly 20% of the time with a .204 BABIP like he did in April. His minor league/2013 track record suggested he could be a respectable SS. In August, I wrote "(t)hose of us who believed Mercer could be a completely competent league average SS are feeling as vindicated as one can about someone being a completely competent league average SS".

[Mr. Colby]

I like mercer's game. Hes average to good at pretty much everything plus he does a pretty nice job of situational hitting. All that said its not like he's a guy you absolutely must have starting every day

[Rocco]

Was looking at the defensive projections and they pretty much hate the Pirates players individually. The metrics last year weren't kind to the players but the Pirates still finished with 36 defensive runs saved- 6th best in the majors. Either that was a fluke, or the shifting has broken sabermetrics.

[Avyran]

A bit off-topic, but asked a friend of mine who follows the Korean baseball league pretty closely about Kang Jungho... he said this:

Just had his best season in 2014, with .356 average, 40 HRs and 117 RBI. Defense was not very impressive in his early career but has improved over the years; although his main strength is his batting, not defense. His defense was a little above average for the Korean league, but overall he's been the best shortstop in the league for a couple years.

One nickname of his among fans is 강게이 ("Gay Kang") due to his fashion.

[SolidSnake]

Maybe his nickname here will be Kay Gang

[FreeCandy44]

Yinzers pronunciation of Kang's name is going to be incredible. I for one welcome our korean overlord.

[columbia]

I'm guessing it will be "Keng"

[FreeCandy44]

Its going to butchered...and if he sucks it will be even better.

[LeopardLetang]

Until he hits a cannonball with Greg Brown announcing

[Crankshaft]

I doubt Kang will be mispronounced. Its pretty straight forward.

[Factorial]

Its going to butchered...and if he sucks it will be even better.

I haven't heard his name spoken yet. How does one pronounce his name?

[columbia]

Well, people call you Crunkshaft, so anything is possible.