Brian Householder

So let's actually do the math on this "supress salary" argument The current payroll of all teams combined is 5,430M The proposed cap and floor is $160M - $240M Assuming everyone above lowers to 240 and all below raise to 160, the total would become 5,700M!! Almost 300M more in payout, even including the current hyper inflated Dodgers total coming down 150+! So who's suppressing whose salary, Chris Bassitt and "executive subcommittee"? The top 5% of PLAYERS are suppressing salary for the other 95%! And for what?! For a small elite's super privilege. That's the ACTUAL purpose of a union, to AVOID that. The fans want it, the owners want it, most players want it (remember executive subcommittee voted 0-8 against last CBA, while the players rep group voted 20-8), but the super douche subcommittee wants to gaslight us into being the victim

@GMBCSuperfan @AlexJStumpf @NorthShoreNine It's not statistics bro, it's in zone FBs!! Whiffing on them. Hasn't faced pitching above the high A level. Let yourself grow instead of being stuck in ignorance mode

Spring training stats being lifted up as justification for much of anything is unfortunate, Alex. If you were excited by what KG did last year, short of falling on his face, what he did this spring shouldn’t factor in too much. I believe he could easily overcome his troubles with heat while playing in Pittsburgh, and still offer much more upside than who they are trotting out there. Using spring statistics to justify Griffin starting in Indianapolis is just a paper tiger. I don’t know what else to call it. Especially from respected sources.

Konnor Griffin will be a great player one day, but when you consider that he slugged under .100 against fastballs this spring and these were his fastball whiffs… I can see why he didn’t make the Opening Day team. I talked about it for today’s OffBeat: northshorenine.com/the-pirates-hi…

@FoulTerritoryTV @ErikKratz31 WTF are you looking at Erik? 40% whiff rate on in zone FBs. Has never faced high level pitching, needs seasoning. His 21 games in AA was so far into the season the best AA pitchers had already moved on, basically hasn't faced above high A pitching. You should know this!

"I just hope there's not something else going on." @ErikKratz31 doesn't agree with the Pirates' decision to not put Konnor Griffin on the Opening Day roster.

@GMBCSuperfan @NoahW_25 Yes, at the beginning of the AAA season absolutely. Beginning of year minors is significantly different than mid or late season minors. End of year AA is essentially beginning of the year high A. The better arms move on as the year does

But will he see 95+ MPH fastballs consistently in Indianapolis? Or 2300+ RPM movement? Average fastball velocity in AAA is 92.7 mph vs. 93.7 mph in the majors. MLB pitchers throw 95+ mph fastballs at a higher frequency (32%) compared to Triple-A pitchers (19%). mlb.com/news/minor-lea… Where else will he acquire the experience he needs than at the major league level?

I love Griffin, but he also had a whiff rate voer 35% on fastballs 95+ MPH or fastballs with 2300+ RPM in Spring Training. I understand why they sent him down, even if I'm not totally on-board with it.

This couldn't be more wrong. You can think whatever you want, but it 100% has to do with plate approach. He has had 21 games above high A and it was glaringly obvious to those that know what they're looking at. "90 days minimum in Indy" is what an ex big leaguer personally told me And the "internet shill" comment is also exactly backwards. The Pirates media manufacture outrage for their own benefit. It's why grown men have talked shit about them to kids for decades. And is also the exact reason their revenue has stayed so low. That group of fans and media are FAR more responsible for the 30 years of losing than any ownership (3 different ones in the span)

The Myth of Sending a #1 Prospect Down for Seasoning Konnor Griffin is getting sent to AAA ostensibly to acquire the theoretical ‘final refinement’ parroted by armchair critics and influencer neckbeards. “Can’t hit a major league fastball? Befuddled by spin? Let’s send him to the minors…” Because that surely makes sense. A prospect like Griffin, even a consensus #1 prospect, is likely going to struggle initially at hitting 98+ heat, or major league sliders that fall off the table, because he’s not seen them before. So it would make sense to many to send him to a place where he won’t see those pitches at all, where the talent is substantially below that level. Surely that will fix whatever people perceive was not working for him in less than 50 PAs of spring training. It’s worked so well in the past! Henry Davis had trouble hitting major league pitching, so he was sent down multiple times where he would rake like the 1.1 draft pick he was. And that fixed him, right? I hope you’re picking up the sarcasm. Only One Path for Real Talent Mike Schmidt hit .196 in 1973, his first full season as a 3B for the Phillies. It’s my favorite go-to comparison because it’s so apt -- a highly-talented future HOF infielder was allowed to play 132 games, go up to bat 443 times, and hit below .200. The next year, Schmidt put up a 9.7 WAR, best in the league, and was 5th in MVP voting. What if the Phillies decided before the 1973 season that Schmidt wasn’t ready and needed more mythical ‘seasoning.’ What might have happened with his career? The assumption is that talent emerges regardless, so it’s possible he goes down, mashes, and everything eventually works for him. It’s certainly possible. But it could also have been that he destroyed AAA pitching and came up in 1974… and hit .190. Instead of a transcendent season, the Phillies might have delayed his eventual maturation. Or worse. Who can know? What often separates AAAA guys and successful major leaguers is the gift of time -- the opportunity to look overmatched for a period (even a full season), work it out in real time, and emerge stronger for the experience. The only way out is through, and teams can do an active disservice to the talent they are stewarding. Consensus Talent is Just Different So who are we talking about here? Am I suggesting every player needs to be given ample time to hang themselves in a major league lineup? I am not. There’s a big difference between a lower-round draft pick or international signing with make-up flaws. A player with a gap in their game will have it exploited. I’m not talking about players like that. Griffin is the all-around #1 prospect in the game. He exploded last year through three levels. He is not only the sum of his outcomes, but of the evaluation of his skills. He is the best physical specimen in the game right now. But we should expect him to struggle as he sees major league pitching for the first time. And it isn’t proof that he needs to go to AAA. “You doubting Thomases! You turncoats! He doesn’t immediately show success and you waiver in your own conviction? What kind of fan are you?” - My Inner Narrative We’ve been so lucky to experience Paul Skenes, who was dominant from day one. But it doesn’t typically work like that. Bottom Line 📌 Maybe the real Moneyball is the manipulation of Internet influencers, who for a plastic lanyard will shill the team’s party line to other fans who swallow it hook, line and sinker. Because sending Griffin down isn’t about his play. It’s convenient that he gave them a plausible excuse, but it has nothing to do with that. It’s about money. It’s always about money. In fact, sending him down may just be a ploy to get him to sign the offer they’ve made. We’re out here reading tea leaves and ownership is doing what all owners do -- maximize profits. He’ll sign and then, what do you know, he was ready after all! Sorry, feeling extra spicy today. Let me hear it below. ⬇️

@ChiefJustice106 @JaredLankes I think there's more in the bat too. And if there is that's just a bonus, like you said it's worth the sacrifice with the rest of the moves

@BHouse50 @JaredLankes Exactly. Great glove. Sacrificing a bat for a glove, and I'm ok with it for now. They added bats at almost every position. It will be fine

The Pirates traded their 3B away last year, now don’t have a 3B. They moved their SS to CF two years ago and now don’t have a real SS (until Griffin comes up). They traded their closer for a catcher who is in AAA and can’t get on the roster ahead of Davis and Bart.

@vlachjordan Almost as crazy as the hate for the Pirates organization

Crazy the hate for Jack Suwinski lol a lot of weird people out there

@KodyDuncanPGH @Veno202 Everyone does know... you're talking out of your ass. It's a real shame you have absolutely no idea what you're looking at and pretend to be this huge fan

Just so everyone knows, Konnor Griffin was the best option for SS to start Opening Day. Spring Training stats do not matter so don’t bring up 40 plate appearances as an excuse to why they did this. They rather have Alika Williams on this team and that’s pathetic imo

@rounder829 That's why Alika should be the last bench piece. But Yorke will do just fine at 3rd as an off day replacement

@BHouse50 Yeah who will have to move to short when Nick G, who isn’t a SS, needs a day off or just needs off the field cause his defense is gonna be bad.

The Pirates not getting a good third baseman this offseason is looming large here. And they had a very good offseason, it just was one move short.

@JimBowdenGM Definitely the right call! Far more 2 than 1 IMO. 32% k rate in 41 ABs and some were egregious. Just needs to adjust to being the hunted vs high level pitching vs being the hunter. He will though, can't hit fast forward on life

The #Pirates did the right thing by reassigning Konnor Griffin to minors for a couple of reasons. 1. It gives them a chance to secure an extra year of control which for a small market team like PGH is huge. 2. He wasn't quite major league ready w/ the bat. However Pwr & de is ready.

@SchwarBurgh @colin_beazley Thank goodness. But who's the last bench spot then, Cook? Guess they run with Gonzo at short primarily and shift Tri over and play Yorke at 3rd some. I'd prefer the infield glove of Williams on the bench but Cook deserves it

@BHouse50 Per @colin_beazley…

Not even remotely a question at this point. As much as we'd all love to hit fast forward, Alika's getting that last spot Griffin is gonna be a star. Can't blow his confidence. 32% k rate in 41 ABs this spring

@JustinBenson13 @SteelCityBucs30 Too dumb to realize that you're just programmed by the Pittsburgh sports media. Keep thinking those thoughts are original though 🤣

@SteelCityBucs30 I've already been to two games this year and I'll keep going. I'll continue to point out the negatives when yinz weirdos only highlight the positives. Have a great day!

Here’s the top 3 accounts 🧵

@efisher330 It's not even remotely a question at this point. 32% k rate now. Could be a disastrous result to start KG in the show and further blow his confidence. 60-90 days in Indy, the last spot is Alika's

So the Pirates need to trim this group down to 13: Davis Bart Flores Horwitz Lowe Triolo Gonzales Griffin Yorke Williams Reynolds Cruz O'Hearn Ozuna Mangum Cook Probably safe to cut Cook and Flores, which leaves one of Griffin/Williams

@StoliHazU300 @KodyDuncanPGH Glad you think so 👍. He will be soon enough. Can't risk his confidence out of impatience

@BHouse50 @KodyDuncanPGH Even with the Ks at 19 in spring training which is beyond normal for superstars at that age (which I can prove) he’s still the best player in that lineup

Konnor Griffin is still on the team after the most recent “cuts” from camp. There is still a chance he makes it. Hopefully he gets an extension soon and is our starting SS. Would be massive

@StoliHazU300 @KodyDuncanPGH With 10 Ks. Including these 2, way out in front on back to back breaking balls and 3 whiffs on down the middle fastballs. Not bashing the kid, he's gonna be great...with some seasoning

@BHouse50 @KodyDuncanPGH In 33 abs leads your team in spring HRs and rbi. 33 abs. Playing twice a week.

@BurghFan99 @JustBB_Media @jmstaph24 I will when the media stops pushing the opposite, manufacturing outrage

@BHouse50 @JustBB_Media @jmstaph24 Give it a rest already. Sheesh.

Pirates top prospect Konnor Griffin deserves the opportunity to become the first teenage hitter to debut since Juan Soto in 2018. Our @jmstaph24 explains why Griffin has nothing left to prove: justbaseball.com/mlb/pirates-ko…

@Panther49547104 @Pirates Holy meltdown Batman! The game ended like 6 hours before this tweet, how could a ST boxscore possibly trigger you this much

Nice outing for Keller today wtf No Griffin Pirates @Pirates no chance at winning season in 2026 #FireCherington