Welcome to Joe Starkey's mailbag, where the Post-Gazette columnist and 93.7 The Fan radio host answers your questions about sports, life, Lawrence McCutcheon and everything in between. If you want to ask Joe a question, tweet him at @JoeStarkey1 or email him at jstarkey@post-gazette.com. On to the questions, which this week were laced with Ben Cherington rage ...
Brian’s Misadventures, @G950Brian: Does any organization develop/build talent worse than the buccos? Seeing guys like Taillon while we move our SS to CF and call up our 1-1 catcher we already tossed in RF hurts. Esp when our roster also has Feigl, Joe, Bae, Grandal, German, Triolo. operational incompetence …
Starkey: You forgot Old Heller, Dr. Adventure, but he’s actually had a turnaround after posting a 400-something ERA early on. I’m not sure where Taillon fits in this. He had horrible luck with his health while he was here. But your point about not even knowing what positions your premium prospects play is rather disturbing, yes.
Think about it: Where is Henry Davis going to play next year? Catcher? First base? Back to right field? DH? Where is Endy Rodriguez going to play? Catcher, first, second, outfield? Is Joey Bart actually a first baseman? Will Termarr Johnson be a closer by the time he hits the majors? Is Rowdy Tellez going to be re-signed and put in the rotation (his pitching appearance a few days ago was funny; the one Monday night was a franchise embarrassment in a game that might have marked the low point of the Derek Shelton era). How about Oneil Cruz — are the Pirates sure he’s a center fielder now? He didn’t take too kindly to his last outfield stint and they always seem afraid to offend him with any kind of public rebuke. Are they sure his concentration lapses at shortstop won’t carry over to the outfield?
This reminds me of the Steelers taking an undersized guard out of Illinois and trying to turn him into a center even though he didn’t want to play center and starting him as a rookie and in the process ruining Ben Roethlisberger’s final year here. Or their habit of drafting left tackles every year and then not playing them at, you know, left tackle. But they have a long way to go to reach Pirate-levels of incompetence — although we do have Feigl.
This is a disaster.
Largie Condios, @waywaylarge: if you had to defend Cherington to save his job, what would be your defense?… thanks
Starkey: That he should get one more year to see if some of his babies — Rodriguez, Davis, Gonzales, etc. — pan out (and actually find a position they can settle into). And that he made the right call, and a historically crucial call, in drafting Paul Skenes when many in the baseball industry would have taken the everyday player in Dylan Crews.
That said, Dr. Largie, and as I recently wrote, I couldn’t criticize Bob Nutting if he fired Cherington today. How could anyone? I’m a guy who was giving Cherington and Shelton the benefit of the doubt. Games like Monday’s erode such benefits real quick.
This is a disaster.
Gregory Michelangelo, @GregoryMichela1: How in the heck did the Pirates give up eight stolen bases? Lol.
Starkey: Mitch Keller didn’t do a great job holding runners, but Grandal is among the worst in the league in all the key catching metrics when it comes to throwing out runners. Mostly the actual act of throwing. Eight stolen bases? The Cubs hadn’t done that since 1911 or something like that.
This is a disaster.
Once Upon A Time in DC, @MjedwarMary: Will Cruz’s career thrive with the @Pirates or should he look to go elsewhere? Same question about @KeBryanHayes. Don't believe either player has had decent coaching. They get reps, but that's about it.
Starkey: Well, Hayes went back to his Double-A coach last year for some guidance and had a big rebound, and instead of promoting the guy, the Pirates fired him. That seemed odd. Neither player controls his fate, though, Dr. Time. Both are under club control for many years.
I don’t know how to solve the Hayes issue. He was the most disappointing player on the team. Is it all related to his back issues? Is anybody ever going to figure out those issues? I’d try to trade him.
As for Cruz, how do you blame coaching for his constant lapses in concentration? Why doesn’t he hustle out of the box all the time? It’s maddening — but he remains an enticing talent at the plate, and he’s been scorching hot for a while.
All of that said, the dream left side of the Pirates infield, kind of like the dream outfield of Marte, McCutchen and Polanco, will apparently never be realized.
This is a disaster.
Bill M., @pghez: Tellez pitching 2 out of last 3 games. Cherrington said 2 weeks ago Cruz is a SS then today they drop the bomb he’s going to CF. Can this circus they are running on year 5 finally cost both their jobs?
Starkey: Yes it could, Dr. M., although I would expect at least Cherington back next season. The level of humiliation reached Monday night was Mt. Everest worthy. If Nutting fired both of them today, nobody in baseball would be surprised. Many would ask, what took so long?
This is a disaster.
Ben’s #1 Hater, @myfe214: Hey Joe. Ben Cherington’s # 1 fan here. Do you think Ben keeps his job into 2025 and beyond? I personally want to see him accomplish the most last place finishes in a division by a GM all time. Thanks for your time and Go Buccos!
Starkey: Hahahahahaha. I appreciate the creativity, Dr. Hater. How far is he from the record?
Tom Mosser Design, @tommosser: Hi Joe. What are your thoughts on the fashion trend of the ever shrinking football pants and shoulder pads on today’s football uniforms? Has tackling been affected by the tiny shoulder pads?
Starkey: Hi Tom. I hadn’t thought of this, and I don’t plan to start now.
Jay, @Crossland895: Better Steelers wide receiver core: This years group — Pickens, Jefferson, Austin, Wilson. Or the infamous Duck Hodges group: Juju, Johnson, Washington, Cain?
Starkey: The first, because of Pickens. But I have a better one for you, Dr. 895. Take away Pickens and tell me who you’d rather have right now: The Steelers’ current 2-3-4, whoever they might be, or the current forms of Antonio Brown at age 36, Martavis Bryant and JuJu. I’m easily going with the latter.
paul christopher, @paulchr06587000: 5 years from now will Pitt be in the ACC,Big 10,Big 12 or playing as an independent?
Starkey: Man, is that a great question, Dr. Paul, and it could just as easily be asked of West Virginia. My guess is they’ll both be playing in a newly formed conference outside of a Super League that features the best of the SEC and Big Ten. I hope I’m wrong. I hope they sneak in.
Then again, a newly formed conference that makes some geographic sense could be fun. Something along the lines of the old Big East. But if your conference doesn’t have a spot in a national playoff, that would certainly cut back the fun.
Guy, @brenneman1026: The team has regressed this year. When will they make actual changes to change the product on the field in 2025? What can they really do to make those changes?
Starkey: Spend money. Find a star to add. But that won’t happen.
I mean, I could make out a Pirates lineup right here, but would it be any good?
C — Rodriguez, Davis
1B — Bart
2B — Gonzales
SS — Kiner-Falefa
3B — Hayes
LF — Reynolds
CF — Cruz
RF — De La Cruz
DH — McCutchen
SP — Skenes, Jones, Keller, Chandler, Oviedo
Bullpen — Who knows?
All those position players are major leaguers, I guess, but you win with stars. Are any of them actual stars, like present or future MVP candidates? Are some of them bound for the minors before the season is half-done?
This is a disaster.
Joe Starkey: jstarkey@post-gazette.com and @joestarkey1 on X. Joe Starkey can be heard on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on 93.7 The Fan.
First Published: August 27, 2024, 1:54 p.m.
Updated: August 27, 2024, 6:07 p.m.
