WEBVTT - Pittsburgh Pirates team Preview

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<v Speaker 1>You only have so many more years of Paul Schemes

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<v Speaker 1>for cheap, Jared Jones for cheap. This is the time

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<v Speaker 1>to start building around these guys.

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<v Speaker 2>Here we go Noah Hailes, Pittsburgh Post Gazette, joining us

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<v Speaker 2>to talk about the Pittsburgh Pirates. But first, Noah, did

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<v Speaker 2>you enjoy your Super Bowl experience? I saw you doing

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<v Speaker 2>a little bit of live tweeting action.

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah.

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<v Speaker 1>I always enjoy the Super Bowl. I'm like a super

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<v Speaker 1>Bowl nerd one year when I was sick. When I

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<v Speaker 1>was little, I watched like every NFL film stock for

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<v Speaker 1>every Super Bowl, so it's like one of my favorite

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<v Speaker 1>days of the year.

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<v Speaker 3>Didn't win many bets, but still had a good.

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<v Speaker 2>Time, perfect way to pass time. And if you somehow

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<v Speaker 2>had access to watch every World Series of all time,

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<v Speaker 2>you'd be very old by that point. So good thing

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<v Speaker 2>you are with NFL for the younger league to baby league.

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<v Speaker 2>All right, we're going to dive into a team that

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<v Speaker 2>definitely causes some frustration but also has some promise in

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<v Speaker 2>terms of young talents. So let's hit the storylines with Noah.

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<v Speaker 2>Top four storylines in our minds A full season of

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<v Speaker 2>Paul Skeins. He was ridiculously good. And he started his

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<v Speaker 2>season obviously a little bit late because he was marinating

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<v Speaker 2>in the minor leagues. Now you get a full season

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<v Speaker 2>of skins. How's that gonna look lineup?

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<v Speaker 3>Flat?

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<v Speaker 2>Is it boosted with Spencer Horowitz and Tommy fam Is

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<v Speaker 2>there enough on base for them to do more damage

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<v Speaker 2>this year? What about the bullpen? David Bednar was kind

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<v Speaker 2>of a mess last year and they don't have big names.

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<v Speaker 2>So can they get it together? And the theme in

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<v Speaker 2>Pittsburgh when you talk about the pirates for the past,

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<v Speaker 2>I don't know fifteen years. Please, Bob nuttings sell the team.

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<v Speaker 2>So let's start at the top here. Noah Paul Skeens

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<v Speaker 2>full season? What do you think and how much will

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<v Speaker 2>they let him eat?

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<v Speaker 1>I think they're gonna let him eat a lot. If

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<v Speaker 1>you look at the way they built him up last year.

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<v Speaker 1>He finished with about one hundred and sixty total innings

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<v Speaker 1>between the minor leagues and the majors. I think that

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<v Speaker 1>puts him on track to throw close to two hundred

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<v Speaker 1>this year. I also think that they were pretty conservative

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<v Speaker 1>with him, where they might let him eat a little

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<v Speaker 1>bit more, take on a little bit more of a workload.

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<v Speaker 1>But the big things with Skeens entering year to his

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<v Speaker 1>first full season to me are one. I think we're

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<v Speaker 1>gonna get to see him pitch in a five day

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<v Speaker 1>rotation now where last year for the bulk of his

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<v Speaker 1>time up in the Majors, they were using a six

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<v Speaker 1>man rotation and that extra day of rest. Yeah, that

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<v Speaker 1>aided him a little bit, but that also kind of

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<v Speaker 1>hurts the team because you want Paul Skeens to pitch

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<v Speaker 1>as much as possible because.

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<v Speaker 3>He gives you a really good chance to win when

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<v Speaker 3>he's on the mound.

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<v Speaker 1>So getting him, you know, five man rotation will make

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<v Speaker 1>the team better, I think, and it'll be a new

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<v Speaker 1>challenge for Skins to attack. And then I think the

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<v Speaker 1>other thing you get from Skiens in a full year,

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<v Speaker 1>with it being year two, is he's going to be

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<v Speaker 1>a leader for this team, something that I think the

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<v Speaker 1>Pirates are missing a little bit.

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<v Speaker 3>He was a rookie last year. He was willing to

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<v Speaker 3>be a rookie. You know, he knew his place. But

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<v Speaker 3>now he looks around and he kind of sees the

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<v Speaker 3>writing on the wall. I mean, this is his team,

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<v Speaker 3>and I think that you're getting a guy who's gonna

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<v Speaker 3>make an impact more frequently because of him being able

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<v Speaker 3>to pitch on four days rest now and make an

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<v Speaker 3>impact in the clubhouse as a leader and kind of saying, hey,

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<v Speaker 3>get on my back. I'm gonna take you as far

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<v Speaker 3>as I can.

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<v Speaker 4>Okay. I got to ask this because I saw what

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<v Speaker 4>they did with Skeens. Excuse me, last year, we all

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<v Speaker 4>saw what they did. They kind of held them back. Well,

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<v Speaker 4>now they have Skins, they have Jared Jones, they have

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<v Speaker 4>Mitch Keller. When's Papa Chandler going to get there? Because

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<v Speaker 4>you throw those four in the top of a rotation

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<v Speaker 4>in that division before we get to the next storyline,

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<v Speaker 4>which I'll ask you about after he has this one,

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<v Speaker 4>But that's a pretty good force him to start your

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<v Speaker 4>rotation with. Are they gonna baby Bubba Chandler the way

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<v Speaker 4>they kind of did Paul Skins, Or are they going

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<v Speaker 4>to Jared Jones them and say, hey, you made the

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<v Speaker 4>team out of spring, go get them.

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<v Speaker 1>I think it'll be something in the middle there. Jared

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<v Speaker 1>Jones made the opening day roster last year because they

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<v Speaker 1>didn't have a choice. I mean, if you look at

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<v Speaker 1>this time last year, it's kind of ironic. By the

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<v Speaker 1>way things played out, But starting pitching was the biggest

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<v Speaker 1>question mark for this team heading into spring training twenty

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<v Speaker 1>twenty four, and they needed a guy to step up,

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<v Speaker 1>and Jered just happened to be that guy.

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<v Speaker 3>Where this year.

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<v Speaker 1>I mean, you look, you just named Skeens, Jones, Keller,

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<v Speaker 1>and then you have Bailey, Falter, Johann Oviedo.

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<v Speaker 3>Those will probably be your four or five.

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<v Speaker 1>They don't necessarily need to rush Bubba Chandler into the

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<v Speaker 1>starting rotation. I think if he has a great spring,

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<v Speaker 1>he could earn a spot. But I think that this

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<v Speaker 1>is a guy they probably still want to see him

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<v Speaker 1>make five seven starts in Triple A, get him built

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<v Speaker 1>up where you know, come June, when he's firing on

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<v Speaker 1>all cylinders, that's when we're gonna see him make his debut.

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<v Speaker 1>And it's also interesting with Chandler is he's not the

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<v Speaker 1>only arm in Triple A that can come up and.

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<v Speaker 3>Give these guys a boost.

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<v Speaker 1>I mean, you have Mike Burrows, who I could see

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<v Speaker 1>getting time in both the bullpen as a starter, and

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<v Speaker 1>then you have other top one hunder prospects like Braxton Ashcraft.

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<v Speaker 1>He's already on the forty man roster and Thomas Harrington,

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<v Speaker 1>a guy who I think will come after Chandler, but

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<v Speaker 1>could also be, you know, a back end rotation starter

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<v Speaker 1>for a lot of years into the future, so they

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<v Speaker 1>have options. I don't think they're gonna rush Bubba, but

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<v Speaker 1>I do think they're excited to get them up here because,

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<v Speaker 1>like you said, I mean that one, two, three, four,

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<v Speaker 1>it's gonna be special, agreed.

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<v Speaker 4>I mean, if I listen, if I'm the Pirates and

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<v Speaker 4>I'm the Pirates fans, I want them there now because

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<v Speaker 4>I want him to learn from schemes and from the

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<v Speaker 4>big leaguers that they have there, Jared Jones, So listen,

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<v Speaker 4>they know more than me.

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<v Speaker 5>So we're just gonna go with that.

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<v Speaker 4>Now offensively, what are they gonna do offensively, because they

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<v Speaker 4>didn't really I mean, yes, but Cutching coming back is

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<v Speaker 4>is cool, and Horowitz coming over from Toronto. But who's

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<v Speaker 4>gonna hit? I mean, They're big moves last year were

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<v Speaker 4>IKF and Dala Cruz. Dala Cruz. They fired into the

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<v Speaker 4>into orbit, and the IKF is gonna be their starting

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<v Speaker 4>shortstop no offense. I KF, but he's not known for

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<v Speaker 4>his bats, So who's gonna hit for the Pirates?

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<v Speaker 1>That's a big question, and I think the answer, if

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<v Speaker 1>it's gonna be a good answer that the Pirates are

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<v Speaker 1>hoping hoping for, it's gonna come from from internal improvement.

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<v Speaker 1>There's a lot of guys who are coming off of

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<v Speaker 1>a really bad season last year for one reason or another.

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<v Speaker 1>You look at Kibrian Hayes, a guy who is one

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<v Speaker 1>of the best fielders at his position, if not the sport,

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<v Speaker 1>but has trouble staying healthy. And in twenty twenty three,

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<v Speaker 1>when we saw him at full health in the second

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<v Speaker 1>half of the season, that bat looked better than it

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<v Speaker 1>ever did. But we never saw that bat in twenty

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<v Speaker 1>twenty four because he had a lot of health concerns

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<v Speaker 1>and issues. And if he can stay healthy, then they

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<v Speaker 1>get some more offense at third base. You move around

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<v Speaker 1>the diamond, you look out in the outfield. Actually, Jack

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<v Speaker 1>Swinski was a guy that they depended on for a

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<v Speaker 1>lot of power last year, and he didn't give him much.

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<v Speaker 1>He was coming off of back to back twenty plus

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<v Speaker 1>home run seasons. I think you only had nine last year.

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<v Speaker 1>He got sent down to Triple A multiple times and

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<v Speaker 1>finished the season in Triple A. He's a huge question

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<v Speaker 1>mark they're gonna need him to really step up, because

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<v Speaker 1>if you look around the lineup, yeah, they added some

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<v Speaker 1>on base with Spencer Horowitz, who I think, will you know,

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<v Speaker 1>give them a nice little top of the lineup presence

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<v Speaker 1>that they were missing in the leadoff spot. They're really

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<v Speaker 1>lacking slug here, and you would hope that Oneal Cruz

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<v Speaker 1>gives you a little bit more in his second full

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<v Speaker 1>big league season. You're gonna get what you normally get

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<v Speaker 1>from Brian Reynolds. McCutcheon's gonna give you something. Joey Bart

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<v Speaker 1>maybe a full season of him can give you a

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<v Speaker 1>little bit more. But guys like Sawinsky, guys like Henry

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<v Speaker 1>Davis figuring it out at the major league level, Guys

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<v Speaker 1>like to Brian Hayes, they're all gonna have to rebound

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<v Speaker 1>after very poor showings in twenty twenty four if this

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<v Speaker 1>lineup hopes to produce enough runs to make a push

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<v Speaker 1>for the postseason.

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<v Speaker 5>Back to back All Stars in twenty two and twenty three,

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<v Speaker 5>bed Nark came in looking like twenty twenty four was

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<v Speaker 5>just gonna be another All Star season. Solidified closer role.

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<v Speaker 5>His ERA was five seven seven, which in era whatever

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<v Speaker 5>his whip was almost up forty percent. Is there bounce

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<v Speaker 5>back in him? Is there something in the metrics that

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<v Speaker 5>we don't know that's like, ooh, he's gonna solidify this

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<v Speaker 5>closer role again.

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<v Speaker 1>I don't know if it's in the metch if you

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<v Speaker 1>look through I mean, the metrics weren't pretty last year.

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<v Speaker 1>But I think it's just the story of David Bednar's

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<v Speaker 1>twenty twenty four. It was kind of everything that could

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<v Speaker 1>have went wrong went wrong. He had a very limited

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<v Speaker 1>spring because of injuries. I think he only threw twice

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<v Speaker 1>in a game. I'm not sure why when they they

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<v Speaker 1>didn't give him a rehab assignment. They just put him

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<v Speaker 1>on the opening day roster and they immediately threw him

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<v Speaker 1>into leverage situations in the first month of the season,

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<v Speaker 1>despite having little to no build up throughout spring, and

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<v Speaker 1>it showed he was rusty, and then he found a rhythm.

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<v Speaker 1>If you look in late April May June, he saved

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<v Speaker 1>I think nineteen straight he converted nineteen straight save opportunities,

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<v Speaker 1>and it looked like the guy that we were more

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<v Speaker 1>familiar with. But then another injury hit and he never

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<v Speaker 1>found his footing. I think injuries led to this guy

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<v Speaker 1>experiencing some major inconsistencies, the first of which he's experienced

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<v Speaker 1>since he's become, you know, that all star caliber player

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<v Speaker 1>that we know him to be, and then get hit

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<v Speaker 1>his psyche a little bit. The command really struggled. And

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<v Speaker 1>I think the key for him is coming into Bradenton.

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<v Speaker 1>They report Wednesday, and he needs to have a really

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<v Speaker 1>good spring training. He needs to lay that found out foundation.

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<v Speaker 3>To get off to a good start.

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<v Speaker 1>He needs to prove that twenty twenty four was just

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<v Speaker 1>a fluke and this is still, you know, an above

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<v Speaker 1>average reliever who for the last couple of seasons prior

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<v Speaker 1>to twenty twenty four was among the best closers in baseball.

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<v Speaker 4>Okay, now let's get to the real storyline of the

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<v Speaker 4>Pittsburgh Pirates. All right, Bob Nutting in the payroll, Well,

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<v Speaker 4>when's he gonna spend money? This is the time. You

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<v Speaker 4>look at their pitching rotation. We talked about it. They

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<v Speaker 4>got some back end guys that they like, right, and

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<v Speaker 4>if you look at their top four again skens Chailor

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<v Speaker 4>when he gets there, Jared Jones and Mitch Keller and

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<v Speaker 4>then whoever that fifth guy is, Right, that's a pretty

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<v Speaker 4>good baseline to start off of. Then you look at

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<v Speaker 4>their bullpen. Bennar comes back the rest of their bullpen.

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<v Speaker 4>They found some pieces in the back end of the bullpen.

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<v Speaker 4>But then you have the offense. When are they gonna

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<v Speaker 4>spend the money? Because this tweet came out this weekend,

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<v Speaker 4>I'm gonna read it to you. I don't know if

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<v Speaker 4>we have it to show, but here it is. December

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<v Speaker 4>twenty sixteen was the last time the Pittsburgh Pirates signed

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<v Speaker 4>a free agent to a multi year contract. That means

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<v Speaker 4>it's gonna be ten years, ten years because twenty five

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<v Speaker 4>is basically done. They ain't signed anybody this year, so

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<v Speaker 4>it's gonna go from ten years if they have not

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<v Speaker 4>signed a free agent to a What the holy bleep

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<v Speaker 4>are they doing? They got to sign somebody at some point.

0:10:28.800 --> 0:10:31.360
<v Speaker 4>I know they're making money and they're Pittsburgh fans are man,

0:10:31.520 --> 0:10:34.040
<v Speaker 4>they are loyal to a fault, But what the bleep

0:10:34.080 --> 0:10:36.040
<v Speaker 4>are they doing? And how is this a human? How

0:10:36.120 --> 0:10:36.880
<v Speaker 4>is this possible?

0:10:38.360 --> 0:10:38.760
<v Speaker 3>I don't know.

0:10:39.120 --> 0:10:43.160
<v Speaker 1>It's something that we ask quite regularly. It's something that

0:10:43.280 --> 0:10:45.280
<v Speaker 1>I thought. I thought that streak would come to an

0:10:45.360 --> 0:10:49.760
<v Speaker 1>end this offseason. Personally, I wrote about it numerous times

0:10:49.800 --> 0:10:52.800
<v Speaker 1>throughout the offseason. If you look at the market for

0:10:53.200 --> 0:10:56.400
<v Speaker 1>positions that they really needed, corner, outfield, first base. I

0:10:56.440 --> 0:10:57.880
<v Speaker 1>thought there were a lot of guys they could have

0:10:57.960 --> 0:11:02.880
<v Speaker 1>either acquired via trade or signed through free agency that

0:11:03.080 --> 0:11:04.880
<v Speaker 1>would have made an impact. You look at the last

0:11:04.880 --> 0:11:08.679
<v Speaker 1>time this team was competitive. Yeah, it came with a

0:11:08.760 --> 0:11:11.839
<v Speaker 1>crop or a big wave of prospects coming up, your mccutcheons,

0:11:11.960 --> 0:11:14.680
<v Speaker 1>your Garrett Coles, your Starling Martees. But that was also

0:11:15.280 --> 0:11:19.760
<v Speaker 1>matched with some multi year free agent signings AJ Burnett,

0:11:19.960 --> 0:11:24.320
<v Speaker 1>Russell Martin. Those guys were as big as an impact

0:11:24.400 --> 0:11:26.880
<v Speaker 1>as all the other prospects that came up. And yeah,

0:11:26.920 --> 0:11:29.840
<v Speaker 1>they weren't here as long. But you need that veteran presence,

0:11:30.000 --> 0:11:32.720
<v Speaker 1>guys who have done it before and who are still

0:11:32.960 --> 0:11:36.560
<v Speaker 1>capable of doing it in the present day to mix

0:11:36.640 --> 0:11:39.400
<v Speaker 1>with that clubhouse. And they haven't really added that. It's

0:11:39.440 --> 0:11:42.480
<v Speaker 1>always been one year contracts. Right now, the payroll is

0:11:42.520 --> 0:11:45.800
<v Speaker 1>slated to be lower than last year, which surprises me

0:11:46.160 --> 0:11:48.280
<v Speaker 1>because I agree with you, agam, I mean, this is

0:11:48.320 --> 0:11:50.480
<v Speaker 1>the time to invest. You only have so many more

0:11:50.559 --> 0:11:54.679
<v Speaker 1>years of Paul Schemes for cheap Jared Jones for cheap.

0:11:55.760 --> 0:11:58.040
<v Speaker 1>This is the time to start building around these guys.

0:11:58.240 --> 0:11:59.240
<v Speaker 3>And while yeah, they have.

0:11:59.280 --> 0:12:05.840
<v Speaker 1>Invested in internal extensions with Hayes, with Reynolds, with Keller,

0:12:06.720 --> 0:12:08.679
<v Speaker 1>that's just not enough. You've got to find a way

0:12:08.760 --> 0:12:11.240
<v Speaker 1>to get guys in here to build around what you have.

0:12:11.480 --> 0:12:14.560
<v Speaker 1>Even if you're confident in what you have internally, you

0:12:14.600 --> 0:12:17.480
<v Speaker 1>can always add and they haven't done that, and it's

0:12:17.520 --> 0:12:18.280
<v Speaker 1>a big question.

0:12:19.800 --> 0:12:22.080
<v Speaker 3>I don't know. If guys are reluctant to play here.

0:12:22.200 --> 0:12:22.719
<v Speaker 3>I don't know.

0:12:23.040 --> 0:12:24.319
<v Speaker 1>And if that's the case, then maybe you got to

0:12:24.320 --> 0:12:26.400
<v Speaker 1>pay a little bit more money. But they've got to

0:12:26.440 --> 0:12:30.120
<v Speaker 1>do something moving forward, because yeah, I think they owe

0:12:30.160 --> 0:12:31.520
<v Speaker 1>it to this group of players, and they owe it

0:12:31.600 --> 0:12:35.160
<v Speaker 1>to the fans to put forth a little bit more

0:12:35.200 --> 0:12:37.280
<v Speaker 1>of a presence in the free agent market.

0:12:38.520 --> 0:12:41.720
<v Speaker 2>No I can state this as a fact. Players want

0:12:41.720 --> 0:12:46.480
<v Speaker 2>to play in Pittsburgh. Okay, they enjoy the ballpark location.

0:12:46.600 --> 0:12:50.280
<v Speaker 2>I'm generalizing, but there are some places where players are like,

0:12:50.280 --> 0:12:51.840
<v Speaker 2>you're gonna have to pay me more to go there.

0:12:52.040 --> 0:12:54.680
<v Speaker 2>Pittsburgh's not one of them. I think the problem is

0:12:54.720 --> 0:12:57.480
<v Speaker 2>the phone call goes, hey, we've got a one year

0:12:57.559 --> 0:12:58.760
<v Speaker 2>offer for you, and they.

0:12:58.600 --> 0:12:59.400
<v Speaker 3>Go, okay, cool.

0:12:59.400 --> 0:13:01.880
<v Speaker 2>Well, the rest of my offers are three or four. Right.

0:13:01.960 --> 0:13:05.240
<v Speaker 2>So my question is, do you remember five or six

0:13:05.280 --> 0:13:08.560
<v Speaker 2>years ago when the tank slash rebuilt began ben Cherrington

0:13:08.600 --> 0:13:11.040
<v Speaker 2>took over. I think it's been six years now since

0:13:11.160 --> 0:13:14.600
<v Speaker 2>Charrington and some of the things that were said and

0:13:15.040 --> 0:13:17.720
<v Speaker 2>how they haven't lived up to the accountability there where

0:13:17.760 --> 0:13:20.560
<v Speaker 2>it was Okay, we're gonna tank, We're gonna start from scratch.

0:13:21.000 --> 0:13:23.560
<v Speaker 2>I think the bar is so low in Pittsburgh that

0:13:23.559 --> 0:13:26.559
<v Speaker 2>they're okay with that as long as they said, Okay,

0:13:27.000 --> 0:13:28.640
<v Speaker 2>this is the time when we compete, We're going to

0:13:28.720 --> 0:13:31.280
<v Speaker 2>up the payroll by like twenty thirty million dollars, which

0:13:31.720 --> 0:13:35.080
<v Speaker 2>in baseball terms is absolute pebbles for any team, any

0:13:35.120 --> 0:13:37.199
<v Speaker 2>of the thirty teams. Otherwise you should not own.

0:13:37.320 --> 0:13:37.880
<v Speaker 1>A ball club.

0:13:38.000 --> 0:13:40.760
<v Speaker 2>Right. The Pirates are always in the bottom five really

0:13:40.800 --> 0:13:43.120
<v Speaker 2>of payroll, and they're causing a lot of these payroll

0:13:43.160 --> 0:13:46.680
<v Speaker 2>disparity concerns in baseball. So my question for you is

0:13:47.160 --> 0:13:51.520
<v Speaker 2>what is the excuse right now from the front office

0:13:51.559 --> 0:13:54.160
<v Speaker 2>to try and protect the owner when we've gotten to

0:13:54.200 --> 0:13:56.680
<v Speaker 2>this point. The front office has done a nice job

0:13:56.679 --> 0:14:00.640
<v Speaker 2>with some young talent, but they just refuse to play ball.

0:14:01.200 --> 0:14:03.400
<v Speaker 3>I there haven't been many excuses.

0:14:03.440 --> 0:14:07.040
<v Speaker 1>I mean, they've been asked numerous times, you know, why

0:14:07.120 --> 0:14:10.520
<v Speaker 1>hasn't there been a multi year free agent signing? And

0:14:10.840 --> 0:14:13.360
<v Speaker 1>their comment is it hasn't been from a lack of trying.

0:14:13.800 --> 0:14:17.400
<v Speaker 1>So they say they're trying, and I you know, and

0:14:17.440 --> 0:14:19.800
<v Speaker 1>what can you respond to that, like, well, how hard

0:14:19.840 --> 0:14:20.400
<v Speaker 1>are you trying?

0:14:20.440 --> 0:14:20.920
<v Speaker 3>I don't know.

0:14:21.240 --> 0:14:25.600
<v Speaker 1>It's it is puzzling because you look there, there are

0:14:25.680 --> 0:14:27.960
<v Speaker 1>bones of a good baseball team here, I think. I mean,

0:14:28.080 --> 0:14:30.440
<v Speaker 1>you look at this rotation and if you're an impact

0:14:30.440 --> 0:14:32.080
<v Speaker 1>that and you think, okay, with a little bit more

0:14:32.120 --> 0:14:35.920
<v Speaker 1>lineup protection, guys like Reynolds, guys like Crews, they could

0:14:35.960 --> 0:14:37.200
<v Speaker 1>be even more dangerous.

0:14:37.600 --> 0:14:39.360
<v Speaker 3>And they are a couple of pieces away.

0:14:39.760 --> 0:14:42.560
<v Speaker 1>But for one reason or another, they're just haven't been

0:14:42.960 --> 0:14:48.080
<v Speaker 1>those pieces arriving yet. And I guess it's maybe maybe

0:14:48.080 --> 0:14:51.960
<v Speaker 1>the front office is really into what they think is right.

0:14:52.120 --> 0:14:54.560
<v Speaker 1>They have a lot of self belief, but it's got

0:14:54.640 --> 0:14:57.440
<v Speaker 1>to a point now where they're entering spring training looking

0:14:57.440 --> 0:14:59.600
<v Speaker 1>to prove to everyone that they were right in everyone

0:14:59.600 --> 0:15:02.720
<v Speaker 1>else's right, that they didn't need help. And I still

0:15:02.760 --> 0:15:05.560
<v Speaker 1>even think that that's maybe not the best outlook, because

0:15:05.800 --> 0:15:08.960
<v Speaker 1>you know, everyone needs help. Everyone can always get better,

0:15:09.280 --> 0:15:12.160
<v Speaker 1>and there just hasn't been enough addition externally.

0:15:13.840 --> 0:15:16.120
<v Speaker 4>He's very our other team we're previewing today, as the

0:15:16.120 --> 0:15:18.240
<v Speaker 4>Mariners and their GM came out and said we have

0:15:18.280 --> 0:15:20.920
<v Speaker 4>a World Series winning team, So maybe maybe the Pirates

0:15:20.920 --> 0:15:22.320
<v Speaker 4>feel that way. All right, I got to ask you

0:15:22.320 --> 0:15:24.520
<v Speaker 4>one more before you go, No, I see behind you.

0:15:24.560 --> 0:15:27.280
<v Speaker 4>Are you You're obviously a Steelers fan, right? Or a

0:15:27.280 --> 0:15:27.840
<v Speaker 4>Pittsburgh guy?

0:15:27.920 --> 0:15:28.040
<v Speaker 1>Right?

0:15:28.160 --> 0:15:31.760
<v Speaker 4>Yes, Steelers fan? So would you rather have Mike Tomlin

0:15:31.960 --> 0:15:34.080
<v Speaker 4>who goes nine and seven, nine and eight, ten and seven,

0:15:34.120 --> 0:15:36.320
<v Speaker 4>loses in the first round every year? Or the Pirates

0:15:36.320 --> 0:15:37.560
<v Speaker 4>who are in a constant rebuild?

0:15:39.560 --> 0:15:41.920
<v Speaker 1>I mean, as far as coverage wise, I'd like to

0:15:41.960 --> 0:15:45.080
<v Speaker 1>cover a team that's always in the playoffs because that's

0:15:45.120 --> 0:15:47.440
<v Speaker 1>just better for my career, I guess, And I also

0:15:47.520 --> 0:15:51.720
<v Speaker 1>just think that it's for the Steelers. The expectations are

0:15:51.800 --> 0:15:54.000
<v Speaker 1>just so much different. I mean, I've lived in Pittsburgh

0:15:54.000 --> 0:15:56.960
<v Speaker 1>my whole life. I turned thirty next month. I've been

0:15:56.960 --> 0:16:00.240
<v Speaker 1>alive for four Pirates winning seasons. They have won a

0:16:00.240 --> 0:16:02.840
<v Speaker 1>Playoff series in my lifetime, So the bar is just

0:16:02.840 --> 0:16:05.800
<v Speaker 1>so much lower. Whereas the Steelers every year you're expected

0:16:05.800 --> 0:16:08.880
<v Speaker 1>to win the Super Bowl, So going ten and seven

0:16:08.920 --> 0:16:10.200
<v Speaker 1>and losing in the first round.

0:16:10.600 --> 0:16:12.960
<v Speaker 3>For a lot of organizations.

0:16:12.160 --> 0:16:15.360
<v Speaker 1>Throughout all of sports, they would take consistency in getting

0:16:15.360 --> 0:16:17.880
<v Speaker 1>into the playoffs, even if it meant an early exit.

0:16:17.920 --> 0:16:20.640
<v Speaker 1>But the Steelers they have a higher bar, whereas the Pirates.

0:16:20.720 --> 0:16:23.880
<v Speaker 1>Pirates fans, they just want a winning record. They want

0:16:23.960 --> 0:16:26.120
<v Speaker 1>they want to be able to, you know, watch the

0:16:26.160 --> 0:16:28.560
<v Speaker 1>team in September in those games to mean something.

0:16:28.840 --> 0:16:30.960
<v Speaker 3>It's been a while since that's been the case here.

0:16:31.200 --> 0:16:33.960
<v Speaker 3>It hasn't happened once in this regime and we're entering

0:16:34.000 --> 0:16:34.480
<v Speaker 3>year six.

0:16:34.880 --> 0:16:37.040
<v Speaker 1>So if I were to pick, I would pick that

0:16:37.200 --> 0:16:40.520
<v Speaker 1>for the Pirates simply because it shows progress. It shows

0:16:40.880 --> 0:16:44.440
<v Speaker 1>a reason for people to remain invested in this team

0:16:44.760 --> 0:16:47.080
<v Speaker 1>once the Steelers report to training camp, which has been

0:16:47.400 --> 0:16:49.800
<v Speaker 1>a struggle for them to remain the top of the town.

0:16:50.040 --> 0:16:52.600
<v Speaker 3>Once you know, the big Dog gets its season going.

0:16:53.280 --> 0:16:55.320
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, I don't even think they're in the same stratosphere.

0:16:55.320 --> 0:16:58.200
<v Speaker 2>I mean, the Steelers have been Super Bowl champs during

0:16:58.200 --> 0:17:01.200
<v Speaker 2>your lifetime. You haven't even seen playoff series win with

0:17:01.240 --> 0:17:01.840
<v Speaker 2>the Pirates.

0:17:01.920 --> 0:17:05.080
<v Speaker 4>Yeah, so, yeah, they didn't win that one wild card

0:17:05.160 --> 0:17:09.040
<v Speaker 4>game or Johnny not a serious I'm just saying they

0:17:09.080 --> 0:17:11.280
<v Speaker 4>won that one wildcard game. The Twins counted, so the

0:17:11.280 --> 0:17:11.760
<v Speaker 4>Pirates can.

0:17:11.760 --> 0:17:14.919
<v Speaker 2>Count it to Okay, fine, we'll count it. It's still misery,

0:17:15.119 --> 0:17:17.760
<v Speaker 2>so no, thank you for the time, appreciate it. Hoping

0:17:17.760 --> 0:17:19.640
<v Speaker 2>that this team takes the next step, but we'll see

0:17:19.640 --> 0:17:20.160
<v Speaker 2>what happens.

0:17:21.000 --> 0:17:22.320
<v Speaker 3>Hey, guys, thanks for having me on