It isn’t 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 relating to participant growth 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 Publish-Gazette this week, the Yankees’ minor league focus is nearly completely on particular person participant growth, whereas the Pirates — in his early view — appear extra centered on crew success on the minor league degree.
He additionally defined that the Yankees give their catchers every bit of knowledge and knowledge that they probably can, whereas the Pirates solely give their catchers the knowledge that they particularly ask for.
These are two very eye-opening comparisons, and the primary one is by far probably the most problematic and reveals a really critical flaw with the Pirates’ strategy.
The main league crew ought to by no means, below any circumstances, care concerning the crew success of a minor league crew. These groups don’t exist to win video games or win championships. They exist as an avenue to show gamers easy methods to play skilled baseball, develop their expertise and get them able to be contributors for the most important league crew.
All the pieces else is secondary.
Now, Flores has solely been within the Pirates system for 2 weeks. It’s attainable his preliminary notion shouldn’t be your complete 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 could additionally observe with plenty of the current Pirates points in growing gamers.
They’ve been terrible at growing place gamers, particularly below basic supervisor Ben Cherington, and are typically sluggish to advertise gamers by the system. (Paul Skenes was a uncommon exception to each points.)
It could 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 most important league crew 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’s assistance on the best way” 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 at the moment within the main leagues. It stays to be seen if they’ll develop them into top-tier main leaguers.
Current historical past suggests the percentages usually are not of their favor.
Particularly if the crew is extra involved about its minor league groups profitable video games over particular person gamers growing.
