Cardinals vs Pirates - Opening Series

[Coach]

The season gets rolling today!!

Liriano takes the bump at 1:05.

Can the Pirates start off hot? April has been a struggle in the past.

[Crimson's Ghost]

Opening Day Lineup


1. John Jaso 1B
2. Andrew McCutchen CF
3. David Freese 3B
4. Starling Marte LF
5. Francisco Cervelli C
6. Gregory Polanco RF
7. Josh Harrison 2B
8. Jordy Mercer SS
9. Francisco Liriano P


Bench:
-- Chris Stewart (R)
-- Michael Morse (R)
-- Sean Rodriguez (R)
-- Matt Joyce (L)
-- Cole Figueroa (L)

Bullpen
-- Mark Melancon (R)
-- Arquimedes Caminero (R)
--Neftali Feliz (R)
--Tony Watson (L)
-- Kyle Lobstein (L)
--Ryan Vogelsong (R)
--Cory Luebke (L)

Rest of Rotation
-- Gerrit Cole (R)
-- Jon Niese (L)
-- Jeff Locke (L)
-- Juan Nicasio (R)




Jared Hughes and Jung-ho Kang begin the year on the DL.

[Crimson's Ghost]

AAA Indianapolis

The Indians will be going with an "All-Prospect" rotation.

1. Tyler Glasnow R 22 years old (Team's #1 prospect)
2. Jameson Taillon R 24 years old (Team's #4 prospect)
3. Chad Kuhl R 23 years old (Team's #16 prospect)
4. Steven Brault L 23 years old (Team's #17 prospect)
5. Trevor Williams R 23 years old (Team's #23 prospect)


The Indy lineup will feature

Catcher - Elias Diaz 25 years old (Team's #8 prospect)
First Base - Josh Bell 23 years old (Team's #3 prospect)
Second Base - Alen Hanson 23 years old (Team's #10 prospect)
Infield - Max Moroff 22 years old (Team's #25 prospect)
Infield - Adam Frzier 24 years old (Team's #27 prospect)
Outfield - Wily Garcia 23 years old (Team's #13 prospect)


11 of the team's top 30 prospects on the AAA team is a nice problem to have.

[crfball]

Chances Nick Kingham ever gets back into that Cole, Taillon, Glasnow, Kingham rotation talk after his surgery?

[Crimson's Ghost]

I would say he has a chance to get back to a strong level, he was never as highly thought of like Cole and Glasnow, but he's definitely a #3-#4 type starter in the majors when all is working for him.

[voncap]

I like the Buccos' chances in game two with Neise on the hill. It appears the Cardinals will have some struggles against LH'ed pitching the season.
Adams does not play much against lefties, and Carpenter, Wong, and Molina all have significant lower numbers against lefties.

Also, reports have the Pirates signing Polanco to a contract extension. JMO, but with Marte and Polanco, both signed through 2019, the possibility of an extension for McCutchen after the 2017 is not looking good. With prospects Austin Meadows, and Harold Rameriz (who will both be with the Curve this season) waiting in the wings, it appears the FO is preparing for the reality that they will not be able to afford McCutchen in two years.

[dadw/2sons]

I agree that Cutch is going to be the most costly, but I think out of the 3 he would be the one to give a "club discount" because of his loyalty. He has already said that he wants to stay a Pirate for his career, if they offer him close to market value he might finish his career with his other two "mates" on the wings. How old will he be at the end of his current contract?

[Crimson's Ghost]

McCutchen will turn 32 during the 2018 playoffs, the final year of his deal.


I don't see the Pirates resigning McCutchen, I don't fault him for leaving and I wouldn't fault the Pirates for not signing him. He's going to get a pretty healthy contract, and he'll start to decline probably midway through that contract.

[voncap]

Just a little perspective on what it will likely take to sign McCutchen. Of the last five high-end OF contracts signed in the last two years, the average salary at the current market value for 2018 is 25 mill. Mike Trout is scheduled to make 33 mill in 2018.

If the market increases 10% over each of the next two years, the Pirates are going to have give McCutchen somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 mill per year just to be around average.