It is not only a lack of spending or cash that retains the Pittsburgh Pirates on the backside of the Main League Baseball standings yearly. It is also the truth that they’re poorly run. Particularly in relation to participant improvement all through their very own farm system.
Certainly one of their latest prospects, catcher Rafael Flores, who was simply acquired earlier than the commerce deadline within the David Bednar commerce with the New York Yankees, unintentionally gave an instance as to one of many flaws with the Pirates.
As Flores explained to the Pittsburgh Submit-Gazette this week, the Yankees’ minor league focus is nearly completely on particular person participant improvement, whereas the Pirates — in his early view — appear extra centered on staff success on the minor league stage.
He additionally defined that the Yankees give their catchers every bit of knowledge and information that they probably can, whereas the Pirates solely give their catchers the data that they particularly ask for.
These are two very eye-opening comparisons, and the primary one is by far probably the most problematic and exhibits a really critical flaw with the Pirates’ method.
The most important league staff ought to by no means, underneath any circumstances, care in regards to the staff success of a minor league staff. These groups don’t exist to win video games or win championships. They exist as an avenue to show gamers methods to play skilled baseball, develop their abilities and get them able to be contributors for the foremost league staff.
The whole lot else is secondary.
Now, Flores has solely been within the Pirates system for 2 weeks. It’s attainable his preliminary notion shouldn’t be all the actuality. However it’s nonetheless an eye-opening comparability for a participant to make when coming over from a very totally different — and much more profitable — group.
It might additionally monitor with numerous the current Pirates points in growing gamers.
They’ve been terrible at growing place gamers, particularly underneath basic supervisor Ben Cherington, and are usually sluggish to advertise gamers by the system. (Paul Skenes was a uncommon exception to each points.)
It might additionally make sense that they need their minor league groups to do nicely. It makes it straightforward to promote hope to a pissed off fan base. If the foremost league staff shouldn’t be profitable, it’s straightforward for the Pirates to level out the success of their farm groups and say, “see, they’re doing nicely … there may be assistance on the way in which” even whether it is completely deceptive.
The Pirates do have two of the perfect prospects in baseball in infielder Konnor Griffin and beginning pitcher Bubba Chandler, however neither is presently within the main leagues. It stays to be seen if they’ll develop them into top-tier main leaguers.
Current historical past suggests the chances usually are not of their favor.
Particularly if the staff is extra involved about its minor league groups profitable video games over particular person gamers growing.
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