@bookruledouble

The 2024 Pittsburgh Pirates are a good baseball team There I went and said it

I’ll admit that I once thought Braxton Ashcraft was destined for the bullpen. But after seeing him start at the end of the year and what he worked on this winter, he could be the Pirates’ No. 2 starter. More on the rotation’s wild card for today’s OffBeat northshorenine.com/why-braxton-as…

@DanClarkSports Soto should be higher on this list

My Top 10 WBC Disappointments • Ken Rosenthal • Cal Raleigh • Jazz Chisholm Jr. • Nolan McLean • Mark DeRosa • Juan Soto • Brazil/Nicaragua/Czechia • Byron Buxton • Aaron Judge • HP Umpire Cory Blaser

@theFortMcKenry Good for him. I hope he rakes

👀

As the season approaches, it’s pretty clear that the Pirates are better than the Reds and the Cardinals. It wouldn’t take much of a break out for them to put themselves in the mix with the Cubs and Brewers. I’m thinking this is an 85 win team, but the ceiling is higher than that.

@_NoahHiles Death threats? What the actual hell? What is wrong with people?

“I’m glad I did not give into the fear." Spencer Horwitz played for Team Israel in this year's World Baseball Classic. The Post-Gazette asked him to journal his experience. From home runs to death threats, here's everything he documented: post-gazette.com/sports/pirates…

@JMackey_PGH Looking like you got some rotten sources

Source confirms.

Not every pitcher in your rotation has to be the guy. That’s kind of the point @AlexJStumpf is making here with Mitch Keller. The Pirates have enough upside around him. What they still need is someone who can take the ball every fifth day, give them real innings, and keep things stable when the rotation gets tested. It may not look as electric as some of the other arms, but there’s real value in that role. At this point, Keller being a steady hand might matter just as much as anything else.

@FootballJason12 @td_nash Poor tackler

@td_nash Deion was more versatile on the football field and shut down half the field in football so I'll take him

Out of these two, who do you think was the greater “dual sport” athlete?🧐

@td_nash Not even close. Bo

@caseybatts @AlTheBoss03 He once homered in four straight starts

@AlTheBoss03 Ken Brett, George's brother.

Name a pitcher who could rake at the plate 🔥⚾️ Not just survive… actually HIT. Who you got?

@AlTheBoss03 Ken Brett

@nut_history Soto was very entertaining

I’m sure the outcome of tonight’s game won’t really change your opinion, so I might as well ask now. Out of 10, how would you rank your enjoyment of the World Baseball Classic? Ten being the highest score. I give it a ten. My only complaint is the pitch count limit. But I get why it’s a rule.

Unpopular opinion here. I love Connor Griffin. I think he is the future and I would love for the Pirates to to extend him. All that said, he is hitting .206 in spring training with a 30% strikeout rate and zero walks. I would start him off in Indy and see what Nicky two bags does

@northsiden0tch @AlexJStumpf Good post at. I liked the point about the team needing to find a long term option internally at second base.

.@AlexJStumpf breaks down a second base situation that feels solved for today and wide open for tomorrow. Watch/listen to today's OffBeat: northshorenine.com/the-pirates-ha…

@lady_valor_07 Not worth eating

First word that comes to mind when you see this cake?

@SportsCenter @JeffPassan There are players who are winners, and there are players who are not. Guess which category Soto belongs in?

Juan Soto had one message following the D.R.’s loss to the U.S. in the WBC semis 👀 More from @JeffPassan: spr.ly/6019B6uk63

@RGIII Strike

Dear baseball fans, this is a Safe Space. The USA and Dominican Republic just had one of the best baseball games of all time. Was this a ball or strike?

The catcher conversation isn’t going away. On the latest OffBeat, @AlexJStumpf breaks down the Pirates’ uncertainty behind the plate, why Joey Bart may be the safest option, and what still needs to click from Henry Davis, Endy Rodriguez, and Rafael Flores. Watch/listen now on North Shore Nine. youtu.be/ldrzonP-CGU?si…

I don’t know Henry Davis, but that bomb had to feel good

@AlexJStumpf Interesting podcast

Carmen Mlodzinski struggled as a starter last season, especially against left-handed hitters. Then he started attacking lefties differently, and it’s worth giving him another look as a starter. I talk about the 5th starter candidate today on OffBeat: northshorenine.com/is-carmen-mlod…