OT: Raise the Jolly Roger: New season of plundering begins

[Empoleon8771]

Gonzales hits the ball hard because he has a very fast swing. Bat speed was lauded coming out and it was just a matter of him finding a better consistency against the spinning stuff. If he can do that moving forward, he's a regular because when he does make contact, it's often loud.

Yeah that was exactly his issue. He has all of the tools you want out of a 2B, he just needs to make consistent contact. I don't know what he changed, but he has absolutely been doing that this year.

 

[NewAgeOutlaw]

Skenes getting squeezed on fasballs down the middle at the knees meanwhile Hendricks gets the call anytime the ball is within 8 inches of the strike zone.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Grandal isn't a legitimate starter anymore but he's been quietly solid for the Pirates so far.

3-0 now

 

[WickedWrister]

Is Grandal our best hitter lol?

 

[ImporterExporter]

The ump has made Skenes throw like 10 extra pitches already because he apparently has no idea where somebody's knees are.

It's just what happens to shitty teams. They get shit on lol.

To be real, every fanbase thinks they get jobbed but damn if the Buccos haven't been on the wrong side of a lot of shitting umpiring in my lifetime.

 

[sovietsanta87]

Gonzales hits the ball hard because he has a very fast swing. Bat speed was lauded coming out and it was just a matter of him finding a better consistency against the spinning stuff. If he can do that moving forward, he's a regular because when he does make contact, it's often loud.

His problem was always having too steep of a path. It’s in the zone and then quickly out. Idk if he’s fixed that but he’s definitely been making more consistent contact

 

[Empoleon8771]

The bottom third of the lineup came to play today, awesome to see.

Also absolute LOL from the Cubs defense.

 

[WickedWrister]

It's just what happens to shitty teams. They get shit on lol.

To be real, every fanbase thinks they get jobbed but damn if the Buccos haven't been on the wrong side of a lot of shitting umpiring in my lifetime.

I saw one Umpire scorecard from a couple of games ago where they had sub 80% strike accuracy lol.

Holy shit, run support!!

 

[ImporterExporter]

Skenes with some breathing room now. I want to see him hit 15+ K's. Let him throw 90-100 pitches. None of this white glove nonsense.

 

[NewAgeOutlaw]

That might be the worst throw I've seen at the major league level.

 

[WickedWrister]

Rowdy is absolutely gassed hahaha

 

[DJ Spinoza]

LOL umpire got in Rowdy's way and now he's giving Skenes a bigger zone

 

[ImporterExporter]

Can't wait until Shelton yanks him after 5 innings.

It's video game level pitching today. This is peak Skenes and it's glorious.

 

[WickedWrister]

This is insane.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I think Skenes likely goes 6 innings and then comes out, I figure his pitch count limit is more like 90-95 today. I'd be hoping for him to get a couple of easier groundouts on fewer pitches, I think pitch efficiency is the biggest area of growth I see for Skenes at this point.

That's one big difference between him and Jones. I think Jones is super efficient with his pitches, he usually only spends like 4 or 5 pitches per batter. Skenes is more like 6 or 7, so that could come down a bit.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Another great AB for Gonzales with another hard-hit sac fly.

98.3 MPH EV flyout to score Reynolds.

 

[DJ Spinoza]

6 should be the goal and plenty achievable for him. If he keeps them hitless, I'm sure they will be discourse about it, but if he goes 6, he's going to be around 85 pitches at bare minimum unless he has like a 4 pitch inning.

My take on him has continued to be that he'll be a more efficient pitcher than many think, and less of a huge K guy, but I think today it's a combo of stringing up that many to start the game and the Cubs also just being fairly off his stuff. It seems insane to say this but he would be having an even more dominant start if he could locate that front door fastball to some of the lefties.

 

[sovietsanta87]

What is happening

 

[Empoleon8771]

They're absolutely smoking the Cubs at this point. Grandal with another 2 RBIs.

This has been one of the most lopsided Pirates games that I can remember. Between how much the bats are beating up on the Cubs and how Skenes is mowing down the hitters, I don't remember seeing anything this lopsided recently.

 

[WickedWrister]

They're absolutely smoking the Cubs at this point. Grandal with another 2 RBIs.

This has been one of the most lopsided Pirates games that I can remember. Between how much the bats are beating up on the Cubs and how Skenes is mowing down the hitters, I don't remember seeing anything this lopsided recently.

The difference in velo between Skenes and Hendricks is hilarious.

 

[Scandale du Jour]

10Ks.

 

[ImporterExporter]

Skenes has probably had to throw an extra 10 pitches today because of the ump.

 

[WickedWrister]

Skenes has probably had to throw an extra 10 pitches today because of the ump.

And then he calls one probably 6 inches off the plate a strike

 

[DaveG]

Paul Skenes doing Paul Skenes things. Let's not walk in half a dozen f***ing runs this time please.

 

[The Great Mighty Poo]

Paul David Skenes is here to burn down your village and impale the common folks on metal pikes.