Pirates are following the Royals' lineup approach

     The Pirates have had an interesting offseason. This has included losing two of their biggest power threats in the lineup (Pedro Alvarez and Neil Walker). The players that are replacing them are Josh Harrison and newly-signed John Jaso. These guys don't have quite as much power, but they do get on base at a higher clip. This begs the question: Is less power and more on-base potential the Pirates goal?

     Last year, the Royals went into the season with not much big-time power hitter, with their biggest threat, Billy Butler, going to Oakland. Royals were not concerned with this at all. Instead, they rolled with it, and their lineup of good overall hitters worked out. Their trade deadline addition, Ben Zobrist, wasn't a power threat, either. 

     I think the Pirates are trying to emulate this in their own way. We have seen the Pirates copy the Royals methods before, when they set up an elite back end of the bullpen similar to the Royals when they acquired Joakim Soria last July. It wouldn't be surprising if they tried to copy a method of the Royals again, since they do seem to have the answers. 

     The Pirates lineup is in a similar situation as the Royals last year. The big power threats for the Pirates are few and far between, with McCutchen, Marte, and Kang being the hugest threats, and none of them are thumpers by any means. But just like the Royals, the Pirates have guys that can hit for higher average and get on base more. Polanco, Harrison, Jaso, and Cervelli fit that mold well. Looking through the lineup as a whole, the threat of players getting on base at all times is a consistent thought that could make pitchers fearful. 

     Last year, the Pirates lineup was more about power, swinging for the fence, and providing instant offense. Meanwhile, the Royals had more consistent hitters, bunched together hits. and created runs that way. I believe that was the real difference between the two clubs. It is very hard to beat top pitchers with instant offense. That is why the Pirates had trouble a lot of the time. When looking at the Royals, it seemed that they could get to any pitcher. The reason; they were able to bunch together hits. Good-hitting teams can rattle pitchers throughout the whole game. That creates an advantage for the offense. That was something the Pirates were missing last year. 

     The Pirates offense, in its current state, projects to be better than they were in 2015. Pirates won 98 games with a so so offense and great pitching. We all can hope that the Pirates pitching doesn't NEED to be as good as they were (it would be nice, though). I think this new method of how the lineup is built is a good fit for the Pirates. 

Pirates sign John Jaso

     Earlier today, the Pirates announced the signing of John Jaso. Jaso figures to be the left-handed platoon at 1st base to go along with Michel Morse/Jason Rogers. He signed for 2 years for a total of $8M. So, let's check out John Jaso and see if it was worth it. 

     Firstly, John Jaso has not played too much at 1B in his whole career. He is as catcher by trade but can also play the outfield, if needed. However, many believe he can play an adequate 1B. This is due to the fact that catchers normally can turn around and become 1B, especially as they get older and their knees start to give (See: Joe Mauer and Mike Napoli). The transition isn't anything major. Even if Jaso is an average 1B defensively, his value will still be far beyond Alvarez' at half the cost. 

     Now, let's talk about Jaso's offensive capabilities. When looking at his numbers, the power doesn't blow you away at all, as he is not a big home run guy. He'll hit you a few, but he's not a bomber in that category. His skills lie in getting on base. In 2015, he hit in the .280s but had an OBP of a whopping .380. That is very, very good. His ability to get on base frequently is something the Pirates need in their lineup. Another thing to like about Jaso is that he always ranks very high in "Weighted Runs Created" which is a stat that is similar to RBI but done a bit differently. In other words, Jaso is very good at accounting for runs, even if he's not credited with the RBI. The Pirates also need more of that on the team. 

     For many teams, a signing of Jaso wouldn't really fit. However, for the Pirates, it's a perfect fit. Pirates need more base runners and run producers, and Jaso does both of those things very well. He can also fill in the left-handed part of the platoon at 1B, and I think he will do nicely. At $4M a year, this could very well be a steal for the Pirates if Jaso does what he has done in his career up to this point. It's not a flashy move, but it is certainly a move that the Pirates made that will improve the team overall. The cheapness of the deal also let's the Pirates enhance the club in some other areas *cough starting pitcher *cough. Also, even if Jaso flops and/or when Bell is ready, Pirates don't have a big financial attachment towards Jaso, so they aren't sweating it. 

Could the Pirates sign Daniel Murphy

     It was reported just a bit ago from Mike Puma of the New York Post that the Pirates are interested in Daniel Murphy. Of course, Murphy came through big time in the playoffs for the Mets, helping lead their charge into the World Series. Now, he is pretty much forgotten about because of his high demands for a contract. He is one of the more notable free agents left. He will not return to the Mets after they traded for familiar face Neil Walker. So, the question is this: Could the Pirates actually sigh Murphy?

     Firstly, the last time anyone really checked in on the dude, he was asking too much for his overall production. Outside of that amazing playoff run, his numbers were so so. His defense let him down at times, too. Looking at the whole picture, he won't get what he wants, and I think that is why the Pirates have climbed into the picture for him. 

     Secondly, I do think he would fit with the Pirates very well. He probably could see an increase in his defensive numbers as a 1B as opposed to a 2B. Also, he is a left-handed hitter. As we sit here today, the Pirates only have one regular left-handed hitter in the lineup, that being Gregory Polanco. This means that it is clear they need at least one more, if not two. You won't get very far with mainly right-handed hitters. You need some lefties to balance it out. Murphy could provide that. While his overall production isn't great, they are good enough to slot somewhere in the order where the lineup would look more balanced. 

     Again, the real question is the money. I think Murphy will have to lower his demands to sign anywhere. Knowing that the Pirates are in on him might suggest that he has or is likely going to. If he does that, the Pirates would definitely be intrigued, and there is a positional fit there. It would be crazy if, after all this, the Mets and Pirates just swapped 2B. It would be strange, but hey, this is baseball we are talking about. 

Pirates sign Ryan Vogelsong

     Yes, you heard the headline right. The Pirates today signed veteran Ryan Vogelsong to a one-year deal. Vogelsong spent 6 seasons with the Bucs from 2001-2006 then bounced around after that, and was most recently a member of the Giants. In his time there, he was able to amass a couple of World Series' rings. Last season, Vogelsong was 9-11 with a 4.67 ERA. However, he did hit a home run, which is pretty improbable for a guy like him. 

     I'm not sure what the plan is for Vogelsong, but I do know this: If their plan is for Vogelsong to be the 5th starter in the rotation, there is truly a problem. I get that they are trying to stopgap until Glasnow, Kingham, and Taillon get to the bigs, but come on. This is truly cheap. Vogelsong is a washed-up has been that has no business being in any major league rotation. 

     I think this project is just too much for Searage. It is one thing to fix a young guy or a guaranteed bounce back guy, but an age-old veteran like Vogelsong is past fixable at this point. The only reason Vogelsong was ever in the Giants rotation the last couple of years was because the Giants were plagued by injuries and depth issues. Again, I love how Searage has done, but I think this is just too much for him. We'll see how it goes, but as of right now, the move isn't that great. 

Pirates acquire INF/OF Jason Rogers

     Yesterday, the Pirates made their second inner-division trade with the Brewers in the last 6 months. The Pirates acquired corner INF/OF Jason Rogers from the Brewers in exchange for OF Keon Broxton and P Trey Supak. Let's do a rundown on the players involved in the deal. 

OF Keon Broxton- Keon Broxton was acquired in 2014 from the Dbacks in a move that was supposed to be rather meaningless. Dbacks were giving him away. However, the Pirates saw good potential in the guy because of his defense and speed. That is the reason he was broken out in the majors at September callups last season. He was used primarily as a pinch runner. His hitting prowess was never anything to marvel at, though. His ceiling with the Pirates was a 4th OF, if that. Willy Garcia probably had him beat there. He had no place in Pittsburgh. The Pirates did a great job turning a meaningless pickup into value in a trade. Good work. 

P Trey Supak- Supak was a second round draft pick by the Pirates in 2014. However, he has struggled in his first two seasons in the low minor leagues. Given this and the fact that the Pirates are loaded with pitching prospects, it was easy for them to push Supak in a trade like this. 

INF/OF Jason Rogers- Jason Rogers, despite being 28 years old, made his big league debut not too long ago. His debut came in 2013. Doing the math, the Pirates earned a lot of years of control for a pretty decent player overall. His defensive metrics look good, especially at 1B, where he posted an above average score, according to UZR. Another thing that strikes me is that he was great down the stretch, hitting over .400 in the latter part of the season. He posted a .296 BA overall in close to 200 plate appearances, which isn't bad by any means. 

     I like this trade. I think the Pirates gave up a couple of players that didn't really have organizational fits while getting back a player that may not be a big name, but he is still a decent player. He won't be the guy to put the team over the top, but he certainly gives the Pirates flexibility to spend in other areas, knowing that Rogers is still making the league minimum. Rogers is also a great insurance policy in case of injury to someone or if Kang isn't ready by Opening Day, or even by May. The Pirates like the position flexibility, and Rogers provides that. Knowing how the injuries happened last year, Rogers is just the guy the Pirates need to help sooth the trouble, if it should arise. As I said, I like the pickup. The Pirates did good with this one. 

Royals set example of how to win as small market team. Pirates must follow.

     The Royals have made a complete 180 degree turn in the last two seasons. They went from the cellar dwellers to the perennial favorites in the American League. They were 90 feet away from tying WS game 7 in 2014, but fell short. However, it all came together in 2015 as they were able to win the World Series, which was their expected fate. All of it looks great on the surface, but it took a lot of work behind the scenes to build such a success in 2 years. So, how'd they do it? Let's look.

     The first thing that came from all the Royals losing seasons prior to 2014 was that they were able to build a great core. It all eventually came together to make a scary team all around. Even when these players had struggles, they didn't give up on them. They stuck with the players, the manager, and the plan. This was all great in 2014, but it fell short (granted Bumgarner wasn't being stopped that year). In 2015, they knew they had to improve. This is when they decided to expand payroll and go get players that could help them win a title, knowing that it would get them over the hump. They took some risks, but it paid off. They knew they had the depth in the minors to make risky trades, such as Zobrist and Cueto, and they had payroll flexibility to take a chance on Kendrys Morales, and some pitching. What did it lead to? The first World Series championship in 30 years for Kansas City.

     You may be asking: What does this have to do with the Pirates? Well, it has a lot to do with the Pirates. Looking at the two teams, they have very many similarities. They have good, young core talent, a very similar market size, and have both been able to turn their organizations around recently. The Royals have turned themselves around quicker than the Pirates. While the Pirates have enjoyed 3 straight years of playoff teams, they have all been wildcard game appearances, losing in the last two. In this time, the Royals have been to two World Series' and have won one. Why is this? Both teams being about the same should mean similar results, right? There is one difference between the two that stands out most. That is the willingness to go for it.

     As we can remember, the Royals were really feeling frisky last year and showed their fans that they wanted it. What did they do? Oh, you know. Acquire two pretty good players in Johnny Cueto and Ben Zobrist. They knew they had the farm system depth and the payroll flexibility, so they did it. As I have stated, it ended in a title.

     The Pirates made moves at the trade deadline, too. However, they were not quite as great. Soria was the most attractive piece they got. However, the others did well in their time, but they weren't high-impact players. Pirates were scrapping together a lot of second-tier players that eventually lead to a 98-win team with wasted potential. Pirates beat up on the little guys, but couldn't beat the big boys enough. Royals, with big talent, consistently beat up on the big boys. The talent level was the difference (not the fact that they faced Mr. Jake in the wildcard game).

     The Royals and Pirates have conceivably the same payroll flexibility at this point. The only difference is that the Royals are willing to amp it up a notch to win championships. Meanwhile, the Pirates are afraid to show the money they have. Because of this, the Pirates settle for way too much 2nd-tier talent. Both the Royals and Pirates have to rely on the core and 2nd-tier talent. However, the Royals brought in some first-rate talent last year to win. Pirates brought in none of that. Royals used their resources in order to do this. Pirates elected to continue to hoard most of what they got in terms of money and prospects. Guess what? Royals got a ring. Pirates got ousted after one playoff game.

     Royals went out of their comfort zone in order to win a championship. Pirates have yet to leave that zone yet. A little life lesson can be applied to the Pirates here. Here is the lesson: You cannot achieve what you want if you don't leave your own comfort zone. I think this can really be applied here. Pirates have yet to leave that zone. That is why the result has been the same for three straight years with early playoff exits. If they don't leave their comfort zone, that is all the far they'll ever get.

     Don't get me wrong, I love the playoff appearances. I am not taking those for granted. However, there is a point where the front office has to take this core talent to the next level, especially considering their years together are quickly waning. The time is now for the Pirates to build a World Series team in this city that has invested so much into the Pirates. People stuck around through all the losing. It is time to return the favor by making some moves to get this team over the top. I am not saying to break the bank or kill the farm system, but you got to do better than a bunch of reclamation projects and 2nd-tier guys. It is time to break the Pirates mold and do something that isn't Pirate-like. It is time to be smartly aggressive and get players that will make a high impact and help bring this city what it righfully deserves. Your move, Pirates.

What exactly is the Pirates plan?

     This past week, we have seen the Pirates let go of two of the longest-tenured Pirates. Those being Neil Walker and Charlie Morton. For Walker, they were able to get a solid middle-of-the-rotation starting pitcher in Jon Neise. For Morton, they got a single-A pitcher in a trade that was just a salary dump. With these moves looking kind of head scratching on the surface, I will try to make sense of it all. What is the Pirates plan?

     The Walker trade did not make sense from a financial point of view. However, it did make sense from a need standpoint. With the addition of Neise, they have a pitcher with 3 years of control attached to him, if they so choose. The Morton trade, however, makes less sense when originally thinking about it. People say, why trade him for a single-A pitcher? The main reason they did it was to dump his $8M that he was making in 2016. The Pirates got an average pitcher, at best, off their books. There is some good salary relief there.

     It is now well known that the Pirates need another SP. They needed one before, but it is deathly obvious at this point. The only guys in the rotation at this point are Cole/Liriano/Neise/Locke. Yes, Locke is the 4th starter. Talk about scary. Anyway, many speculate that the Pirates shedded Morton's contract to free up some money to get another SP. It makes sense from a need standpoint. Many  think that this is the time that the Pirates dish out some money and get a good free agent SP. However, some reports suggest that that may not be the case. Who really knows, though?

     The other BIG hole on the Pirates is the lack of a left-handed-hitting 1B. Everyone knows that the Pirates are in need of one. The Pirates have some options there in the trade and free agent market, and Neal Huntington is definitely in search of one. The freeing up of some payrolls could be related to that as well. 

     The Pirates are definitely going to make some more moves to make this team a contender in 2016, no matter how much you hear about them playing for 2017. We can trust Neal Huntington in this. The plan looks very incomplete right now, and that is because it isn't done yet. Calling the team bad in December isn't a good thing to do. The team will look different in April than it does now. No MLB team's roster is set as of now. Making predictions in December is dumb. Just let it play out than give your opinions on the offseason. 

Deal official: Pirates send Neil Walker to Mets for Jon Neise

     The Mets and Pirates both announce the trade that has been the big talk around the Winter Meetings today. That is the trade of Neil Walker for Jon Neise. It is a pure one-for-one trade. Now that it is done, was it a good deal or not? 

     I think it was a good deal. There are reasons why this is. First of which are the contracts. Neil Walker was set to make about $10M in arbitration this year. Neise, on the other hand, will make $9M in 2016 and has 2 options years after that at $10M and $10.5M. Pirates will not be financially tied down by Neise because of the club option years, and the Mets will only pay Walker for one year, which is pretty low-risk. Good deal for both clubs. 

     From a talent standpoint, the Mets get a 2B that is very consistent, however declining. Pirates are getting a starter they had a 2015 that didn't line up with his career numbers, but he's still solid for a 3 or 4 starter and will be that for hopefully 3 years. Moreover, this is a trade of guys that are solid players, but they are not amazing. 

     I think over the long run, the deal is pretty good for the Pirates. If Neise works out like he can, the Pirates will have a solid pitcher for awhile, at a rate that is cheaper than free agents of his skill are receiving. If he doesn't pan out, Pirates can dump him in any of his two option years. I'll end this by saying thank you to Neil Walker for all he did, and welcome to the Burgh, Jon Neise. 

Market for Neil Walker heating up

     The market for 2nd basemen is pretty scarce this offseason. It was made even more scarce when the Cubs got around to it. Cubs traded recently converted 2B Starlin Castro to New York and then signed Ben Zobrist, who teams were looking at as a 2B. This makes the market thinner than it was before. With Daniel Murphy seeking more than most teams want to pay him, teams have started to look into trades. The main guy at the top of the list is Pirates' 2B Neil Walker. Nationals, Mets, and Angels all have more serious interest than that of the Orioles and others. The Angels are reportedly "very serious" in acquiring him and are pushing the hardest to get him. The market is heating up and moving fast. I do not see any way that Neal Huntington could walk away from this. With Walker only having one year of control and Hanson and others on the roster that can fill his spot, I can't see any reason he would not be traded, especially if pitching is coming the Pirates' way. With things happening quickly at Winter Meetings, I could see him being dealt before Huntington departs from Nashville. The real question here is: which team is the best fit as a trade partner? Let's analyze each.

Orioles: Orioles, at last check, had only "lukewarm" interest in the 2B. The Orioles are interested in basically every hitter available as they try to improve in that category. However, there are really not many fits there in terms of players or in salary.

Nationals: Nationals are definitely in the market for a 2B, and Walker would make sense for them. The Nats definitely have the young, controllable arms that the Pirates desire, and they are deep in that category. Guys like AJ Cole could make sense in a return. 2 Cole's in one Pirates rotation? Perhaps...........

Mets: Mets looked like the favorite to land Ben Zobrist from the very beginning. However, they got snubbed when he signed with the Cubs. The Mets have an in-house option at 2B in Dilson Herrera (former Pirates prospect), but they don't prefer him at this stage. It also looks like Murphy won't be back there unless they are desperate. Walker could provide some power in the middle of the order, at least more so than Murphy did or Herrera could. Also, the Mets have the pitching to make it work. We know they won't trade away their big 4 (Harvey, Matz, Syndergaard, or DeGrom), and they won't deal Wheeler either. However, Niese, Gilmartin, Montero could all make sense in some sort of package. I see it as a longshot at this point.

Angels: The Angels are the most serious about Walker. They are pushing really hard for him at this stage. This is the likely destination for Neil Walker, if I had to guess. The Angels definitely have the pitching to make a deal work. I would say that CJ Wilson and Jered Weaver are likely not part of any talks. However, Hector Santiago and Matt Shoemaker are likely being discussed. Both are midde-of-the-rotation starters. Santiago has slightly better numbers, but is a free agent after 2018, as opposed to Shoemaker who isn't a free agent until 2021. Anyway, they are both attractive targets.

     With zero percent chance of a Neil Walker extension (reported earlier in the week), there is no chance he is kept for the ride in 2016, either. Pirates have the internal options to fill the void, as I said before. It isn't a question about if he will be dealt; it is a question of when.

Pirates seem to be up to a lot of setup on day 1 of Winter Meetings

     So far, the Winter Meetings for the Pirates, and many other teams, has been a sluggish go of it. However, that is not such a bad thing. There is a reason why the meetings are over multiple days, after all. This first day, for many teams, is a set up day, instead of diving in head first. Pirates are part of this group. 

     Now, it has still been an interesting day on the Pirates front. Here's the main summary:

Pirates are said to still be interested in Masterson; could be in on Napoli.

There are still a few teams in on Melancon, as well as Walker.

Pirates are meeting with representatives of Scott Kazmir.

Pirates are discussing Moreland trade with Rangers. Rangers said to want a back end starting pitcher.

Rangers are interested in catcher Elias Diaz.

     So yeah, some intriguing stuff, still. I have little doubt the Pirates will come out of the meetings empty-handed. Actually, I think the Pirates could be pretty big players at these meetings. They have the pieces and the payroll flexibility to make some things happen. Neal Huntington and company will do what they can to put the best they can on the field in 2016. Count on that. 

Pirates Winter Meetings preview

     Baseball is never dull; not even in December. The Winter Meetings are just about upon us, starting on Monday, December 7th in Nashville, Tennessee. Winter Meetings are a popular time for trades and signings and shaping teams rosters because everyone is convened in one place which escalates talks more so than at any other time. It is a beautiful time of the year if you love seeing the landscape and the rosters in baseball change. It is like an early Christmas for MLB teams and their fans. With all that being said, I am going to preview what the Pirates "wishlist" is for the meetings.

1) First base must be addressed: Honestly, I thought that non-tendering Alvarez was a mistake. It is really difficult to replace his production on the offensive side, especially for $8M or less. This now leaves the position, at least right now, in the hands of Michael Morse. I like Morse, but he is no longer a guy that should start everyday. He is a good platoon partner, though. I wouldn't be shocked if the Pirates found a left-handed 1B that is only under contract for a year or they sign one for just a year. This will give the Pirates a low-risk, high-reward scenario while also not having to rush Josh Bell unless they absolutely have to. That is the likely route the Pirates will take.

2) Trade Walker and/or Melancon: Both these guys are going to be due big money in arbitration, and I do not believe the Pirates should pay either of them that money. If I had to pay one, it'd be Walker. A closer, no matter how good he is, shouldn't make $10M+. Pirates payroll can afford Melancon, but at the cost of not being able to make the overall team better. Getting Melancon or Walker off the payroll would take off 10% of the payroll that could be used in other areas while also probably fetching at least a decent return. Besides, the Pirates have guys that can replace both those guys, and at a cheaper rate that makes sense for them. At least one of them will have to go in order to free up some payroll.

3) Sign a middle-rotation pitcher: With the retirement of Burnett and Happ signing with Toronto, the Pirates rotation is weak outside of Cole and Liriano. Locke and Morton could  fill out the 5th spot but nothing more, and Webster is an unknown. I would only trust 1 of those 3 guys in the rotation. This actually leaves 2 open spots in the rotation until Glasnow and/or Taillon/Kingham are ready, which we don't know. Just like with Bell, getting starting pitching, so we don't have to rush Glasnow or others, would be a good idea.

     Now, I think we can't just keep scurrying by with reclamation projects, especially with Benedict gone. One is fine, but can't rely on them as the Pirates seem to do. I think this is the year the Pirates must pull the trigger on a proven guy. Guys like Leake, Kazmir, Gallardo, Iwakuma etc. could make a lot of sense. If they go the injured/reclamation route, Fister, Henderson Alvarez are likely the top choices.

     There is also the possibility of trading for a proven guy. This might be the route the Pirates go, especially since they have Melancon and Walker as trade chips. They also have the deep farm system to get a pretty good pitcher, without even giving up guys like Glasnow, Bell, or Meadows. Willy Garcia, Harold Ramirez, Taillon/Kingham, Diaz, McGuire, and others would be fair game for trades and could fetch the Pirates a solid pitcher to fill the middle of the rotation. Huntington smartly traded JaCoby Jones at the deadline this past July to acquire Soria. Since, Jones has been suspended. The reason this is significant is because it means that anything can happen to prospects. They could have a ton of value one day and none the next. Pick and choose the ones you cherish to the highest degree wisely. Use some of the second-tier ones as trade bait, especially when you got a deep system.

4) Get bullpen help: The Pirates bullpen is always something that could use some work, no matter how good it is. This offseason is no different. The Pirates likely won't retain Blanton and Soria, they'll likely trade Melancon, and the future for the Pirates and Bastardo is in doubt. All this means that the bullpen has to be rebuilt in a sense. Huntington has done great at building bullpens, and there is little doubt he will do it again. However, just like with starters, it cannot be done with just reclamation guys. Some proven guys have to come in and help. I think the Pirates showed they are willing to do that after getting Soria in July. I think they will either trade or sign a quality bullpen guy or 2 then fill in the rest of the bullpen with some cheaper options like a lot of teams do.

     I am not expecting the Pirates to break the bank at the meetings or this offseason, and they don't have to. However, there is no reason why they shouldn't be able to expand the payroll similarly to how they did at trade deadline time. Also, if they get rid of Melancon and/or Walker's contract in a trade, plenty of money will free up for them to do big things. Also, there has been a lot of money coming off the table this offseason when you consider Alvarez, Hart, Ramirez, Burnett, Soria, Happ, Blanton, Rodriguez, and others' contracts are all not part of the payroll anymore. When you look at the total that those guys made, that took up A LOT of payroll, combined that of course with Walker and/or Melancon, and the Pirates definitely should have the necessary money to put a pretty good-looking team on the field on 2016. They SHOULD be able to make at least one pretty good splash in the offseason, as early as this week in Nashville. If they don't pull the trigger this offseason and stick to small tweaks this offseason, it would be a huge mistake. This team is very raw and uninspiring outside of the core guys. Pirates can't possibly waste this much talent by having another small offseason. I think it is time to do something big to avoid having another one-and-done playoff year again. If Pirates want to get to the next level, they have to do something big, and again that doesn't mean you need to sign someone for $100M+.

     Pirates will be active at the meetings for sure. The only question is: How much and how big of moves are they trying to make. This week will definitely be one that will have me checking what teams, especially the Pirates, are doing as much as possible. Who said baseball can't be fun in December anyways?

Quality of trades is more important than quantity

     The MLB non-waiver trade deadline has come and gone and now we get to see whether or not the trades were worth it or not. We also get to assess if the team did enough to help themselves. The Pirates brought in a haul of players. They brought Aramis Ramirez, Joe Blanton, Joakim Soria, Michael Morse, and J.A Happ all to Pittsburgh. True that there were five trades, but the bigger question is: Was it good enough?

     In this case, the Pirates did a good job of patching up holes by bringing in a high quantity of players. However, the overall body of work of the trades leaves something to be desired. Ramirez is a good patch up option at third base while Morse will work out on the bench and Soria is great for the bullpen. The other 2 trades of Blanton and Happ did not seem like high quality that will help or be improvements in any way. The in-house options the Pirates possess could've had the same amount of impact, if not more.

     It seemed like a bit of a stretch to go out there in desperation to get Blanton and Happ. It almost seems like they made those trades just to say they made more trades. It seems like they traded for the names instead of the players, and now they are stuck with the players. If the trades that are made aren't going to be improvements, then the trades might as well not be made.

     The winners at the deadline isn't the team that makes the most trades; it's the team that makes the best trades. Take the Mets and Blue Jays for example. Each team made impactful trades that will help them immensely, not just a bit. The guys they got have made an instant impact, and the feel in the clubhouse has changed. It can't be overlooked how high-quality trades can change the clubhouse's attitude towards the season in addition to the star player the team received. The Pirates did not trade for that high-impact player that drastically changes the feel of the clubhouse.

     For those saying that I cannot compare the Pirates moves on the Mets and Blue Jays because of the records of the teams, well, I can. It doesn't matter what the teams' records are, a high-impact trade helps. Also, the Pirates clubhouse could've really used a boost from the front office in their chase of the Cardinals. A big trade would've really given the team a huge confidence boost they need to catch the Cardinals. The guys the Pirates got don't provide an instant buzz in the clubhouse that gets them ignited, and that's what the Pirates need most to win the division.

Clint Hurdle proved last night why the Pirates need another reliever

     The Pirates scored a dramatic win in Minneapolis last night over the Twins. It was a game that tore Pirates fans down and brought them back up. What was lost in all the drawn was the way Hurdle managed the bullpen down the stretch in that game.

     Morton did not end up making it through 6 innings. He allowed 3 runs over 5 2/3 innings. This left the rest up to the bullpen. In the 6th, Hurdle went to Jared Hughes to get the last out in the 6th, which is no surprise. What might've been a bigger surprise was leaving him out there to pitch the 7th. This left Hughes to do clean up duty in the 6th and his 7th inning duty. Also, in the 8th, Watson was put in when the Pirates were up 4, which is something that we have only seen Hurdle do a handful of times because of giving the big bullpen guys as much as possible. His bullpen managing got even crazier. After Watson coughed up the lead, instead of going to the other righties in the pen, he decided to go to Melancon, in the 8th on the road. He also left in Melancon to close it out after the Pirates reclaimed the lead. He had Melancon do cleanup duty and pitch the next inning, just like Hughes.

     I think this means something. This could mean that Hurdle lacks trust in Guerra and Caminero, mainly. This especially made sense when Hurdle went to Watson up 4 knowing the Twins hit lefties very well. If Hurdle really had a sense of trust in the other guys, he wouldn't have had to go to Watson. Plus, Hurdle going to his closer after Watson coughed up the lead doesn't make it seem any better. It was pretty clear last night that Hurdle only has major trust in 3 guys in the bullpen. That's not going to work. I think Hurdle basically proved that this bullpen needs help. Now, we will see if Huntington goes outside the organization to get the help the team needs or if he just sticks with these cheap guys that he hopes gets fixed in the middle of a pennant race.

The Pirates should trade for a starting pitcher

     The strongest part of the Pirates this season has been their pitching, with a lot of great work coming from the starters which is highlighted by the three-headed monster of Cole-Burnett-Liriano. Those guys have been more than anybody could've asked for. But what about after that? Early in the season the Pirates had to go with Worley because of Morton's injury, and Jeff Locke. Since, Worley has moved to the bullpen while Morton is back, which we thought would be a huge shot in the arm. However, Morton, after a good start, has struggled recently which started with the debacle in D.C. Jeff Locke, on the other hand, has been better recently but very inconsistent all year. There needs to be another starter. 

     The inconsistencies of Locke and Morton have been well documented. They'll look good one night and bad the next. This sometimes even happens to them from inning to inning. I feel it's really difficult to continue to contend with that. People will say "but they're the 4-5 starters". Yes, you're right, but that doesn't mean a change shouldn't be made. It's okay to have one inconsistent starter, but two is hard to overcome. 

     The other problem plaguing the Pirates is lack of depth. It seemed they had all they needed when the year started, even with Morton on the shelf. Kingham was healthy, Taillon was working his way back, Sadler wasn't hurt, Richard was still around etc. That has all gone away. The best of the depth now is Worley, Liz, and Angel Sanchez, which is not good at all. These guys are good, but I don't want them starting big games in September. 

     There are a few issues, however. I don't see the Pirates moving Locke or Morton out of the rotation, honestly. It's hard with Morton because of that contract he got. Locke would be more likely to be bumped even though he's been better than Morton. It's baseball business. If they get a starter, Locke will be bumped, and I don't even see that happening. 

     There is one thing that goes into the Pirates favor, and that is that the pitching trade market seems to be a buyer's market. That is something that the Pirates can and should capitalize on. I'm not saying they will, but they should. It wouldn't take much to get a solid back end starter like Haren, Kennedy, or any other guy like that. They'd solidify the rotation while adding depth by pushing Locke or Morton out. 

     In conclusion, I'm not sure they'll get another starter, but it's definitely something that needs to be considered. After the big three at the top of the rotation, I'm not sure. When Morton and Locke are at their best, they give the Pirates ace type performances. The problem is that we don't see that too much. One more starter certainly wouldn't hurt. 

Should the Pirates trade Pedro Alvarez?

     As we all know, a report came out yesterday that the Pirates "really want to get rid of Alvarez". Whether it is true or not is a different story. In any case, it does bring up an interesting debate. Should the Pirates trade Alvarez?

     The answer really depends on the situation. If they do indeed decide to, they better have a pretty good replacement. The most important thing about replacing a player is to have the replacement first. The pure fact that Huntington is reportedly "offering him to everybody" tells me that he is having at least some talks internally and externally about a replacement because we all should know that Ishikawa is not it.

     The other thing is that the replacement has to be better than Alvarez. Currently, there is only one player on the trade market that is an improvement over him, and that is Adam Lind of the Brewers. Other than that, it's pretty thin with nobody better than Alvarez overall. Now, this could change if the Indians and Rangers change their minds on Brandon Moss and Mitch Moreland, and they seem firm at holding onto them. Right now, they don't seem to be on the block. With a market so thin, I don't see them finding a good replacement.

     In the right deal, yes, Alvarez could conceivably get dealt. However, I don't see that happening, either. With the lack of good replacements and really little interest from teams to want Alvarez, it would probably be better to hold onto him. He can do good things in his role, if he's used the right way. Although, it wouldn't be a bad thing to get a solid platoon partner for him because Rodriguez and Hart haven't done it well. With a solid platoon partner, the first base position could end up being a very productive position in the Pirates offense.

Pirates acquire Aramis Ramirez

     Just a little bit ago, Neal Huntington pulled off the second trade of what will be a busy trade deadline season. Huntington was able to acquire Aramis Ramirez and cash from the Brewers in exchange for Yhonathan Barrios, a AAA pitching prospect. And yes, it's THAT Aramis Ramirez.

     I really like this trade for the Pirates. Ramirez has been super hot at the plate in July and will fill a big joke at third base while also being able to help spark the offense. The overall numbers for Ramirez are not staggering, but still great considering he had such a slow start. Not to mention the great story it is that Ramirez will start and end his career with the Pirates. Also the ironic fact that the Pirates traded Ramirez away 12 years ago TODAY. I think that is some pretty cool stuff.

     I think Huntington made this trade with the rest of the year in mind. I don't see Ramirez as a bench player when Harrison gets back. It just won't happen. He is likely to stick in the lineup for the rest of the year. Also, for people asking, he can't play first base.

The trade market will be at its best next week

     As we already know, the MLB non-waiver trade deadline is in a little over a week now. There has yet to be any trades yet which is starting to catch the surprise of people all around. Normally by this time there is at least one trade done, even with the addition of the second wildcard. However, this year is different, and I think it'll pay off to wait until next week to make any sort of trade.

     There are still at least a few teams that have yet to make it clear what they are doing at the deadline with the main culprits being the Tigers, Red Sox, Rangers, Indians, and Mariners. Once those are clear, the trade market will finally be set with GMs knowing what the positions are of each team. That will make it easier to negotiate because it'll be totally clear what is out there. If some of these teams decide to sell, it could make the market more neutral which means prices go down.

     In the modern age of baseball, there are many more of what we call "mini sales" instead of fire sales. Some teams are still doing fire sales, but a lot of teams that are on the fringe will trade their impending free agents even if they still have a sliver of a chance. This can be seen best with the Tigers this year. Even though they may contend, they may still trade impending free agents Yoenis Cespedes, David Price, Alfredo Simon, and others. This is a strategy used so teams can balance out winning now and later. What this does is create more sellers in the trade market. This means the market is more neutral. There isn't just 6 or 7 sellers doing fire sales hoarding all the potential trade pieces. Instead, there are 12-15 sellers with about 10 of them doing mini sales where they sell off 3-4 players.

     In conclusion, I think the remaining teams left to make their stance will by Sunday. After that, we will know exactly what the market is like. By that time, it could turn into a neutral or buyer's market or stay as a seller's market. I think right now, the GMs that are buyers are okay with waiting an extra 3-5 days until it's all clear in hopes that prices go down.

   

Pirates trade targets: Ben Zobrist, Clint Barmes, Cliff Pennington

     It was reported yesterday that the Pirates are connected to three infielders, all on the left side of the infield. Those three being Ben Zobrist, Clint Barmes, and Cliff Pennington. With the injuries of Harrison and Mercer, it makes sense that the Pirates are considering all their options. But, can any of these guys fit well enough to help? Let's take a look.

Ben Zobrist: I'm going to start with what seems to be the most unlikely of the three to happen. Zobrist is a high profile name in the market this year with many teams looking at him as an option. It's no surprise the Pirates are in on him. They were in on him last year. Enough so that there was even a false report that he was dealt to the Pirates. Anyway, I just don't see it happening. I wish I could say I think it would, but it isn't what Huntington does. Neal Huntington hasn't gotten a high profile player in July in his first four tries as a buyer. The biggest July deal he's ever made was for Wandy Rodriguez in 2012(don't count the Byrd and Morneau August trades). There's been little proof to think Huntington will go after a big name player to help out even if he needs to which I think he does.

Clint Barmes: Of course we know plenty about Barmes. He was a Pirate from 2012-2014. He might not have been able to help out much with the bat, but he is a proven clubhouse leader that plays stellar defense. Now, can he help out? I think so but only as a patch up option because of injuries. Barmes wouldn't provide much of an impact that the team needs to help them catch the Cardinals. If Barmes is the guy that the Pirates get to patch up, that means they would need to get an impactful bat at another position.

Cliff Pennington: Pennington, much like Barmes, is just a patch up option that wouldn't provide much to the team other than filling in for injuries. Pennington has fallen out of favor for a lackluster Diamondbacks team which I think is all we need to know. He's not worth it, in my opinion.

     In conclusion, I think Zobrist would kill two birds with one stone(hope one of those birds is a Cardinal). He'd be an impact bat while also filling in for injuries and patching up holes on the team, very similarly to Harrison last year. If not, Huntington would need to make two trades. It'd be much easier just to trade for one. I'm still not confident Huntington will help this team as much as he has to. I hope I'm wrong. We'll see.

Pirates can improve as a team, even before making trades

     It has been evident all year that the Pirates have had a lack of fundamental baseball. Time and time again, it has cost the team runs and sometimes, eventually wins in the long run. Pirates have been able to overcome some of the mistakes with occasional clutch hits and good pitching. This has been masking the problem a little bit. These are things that you cannot blame on lack of depth or lack of another big hitter or two in the lineup. This goes back to the fundementals and coaching.

     Defensive woes are one thing that has been evident. While there has been some really good plays, and the Pirates leading the league in double plays turned, there have been many mistakes. Whether that be letting balls that shouldn't get by, get by, or dropping or bobbling a ball that should be an easy play or stuff like that, it's something that has been a problem. The players most prone to this have been Walker and Alvarez. Most of the mistakes can be blamed on lack of fundementals. The coaching has to get these things straightened out.

     Another problem is lack of manufacturing runs. Clint Hurdle has seemed to really changed his approach this year. In situations where he used to bunt guys, he'll let them swing away. I believe this is contributing to problems in the offense. They are going for big innings, which are few and far between, instead of going for a run here and there. You aren't going to cash in big every inning. That's why it's important to get men over and get them in when the opportunity arises. Of course, it depends on the situation. Bottom of the order, you should be trying for just 1 or 2. Top of order, yeah sure, go for the throat. Not every situation warrants to go for a big inning, especially with this team struggling with runners in scoring position. It's much easier to score 1 or 2 here and there in a game than try to score 5 or 6 in one inning and sit on it. Hurdle needs a change in philosophy.

     The biggest issue that peeks it's ugly head in just about every game is the bad base running. It's seems day by day the Pirates figure out a new way to mess up on the bases. This has also cost the Pirates runs here and there. This can be contributed to both players and coaches mistakes. You'd think that a team would be better on the bases. Every team has their blunders, but the Pirates do it more than anyone else. The base coaches must do better in game and everyone has to work extra hard in base running drills to get better. If not, it'll just get worse.

     If the Pirates just got better at fundementals, they'd be better. The offense wouldn't be like amazing, but it wouldn't look quite as bad. The pitching would look even better, too. This again proves that if a team can do that small things right, they can do great things. It's hard to mask lack of good fundementals for too long. Therefore, something needs to be changed soon.

Alen Hanson is not the solution at third base for the Pirates

     It was reported yesterday that the Pirates were moving Alen Hanson to third base in AAA in light of the news that Jordy Mercer is going to miss six weeks. Combined with the fact that Harrison is out already, it makes sense. However, I don't think Hanson is the guy that'll solve the problem. 

     First, I don't like the idea of sending a rookie out there learning a new position on the fly in a pennant race. It's a highly difficult thing to do, especially for a young player. There's no doubt he's big league ready; I just don't think he's ready for the role the Pirates want to place him in. It's hard enough coming into the league as a rookie to help out in a playoff chase i.e Polanco last year. It's even more difficult to do that while learning a new position. I just think that would put way too much pressure on him. 

     Alen Hanson is talented and will get his chance to be good in the big leagues. I don't think this is the right opportunity, though. He should be more focused on mastering the second base position, which he just got moved to because of his problems at shortstop. Now, he's got to learn third base when he wasn't even fully settled into playing second. Neal Huntington is playing a dangerous game right now with the development of one of his best prospects. 

     I am not a huge fan of this idea that the team is doing. It would be much better to get a guy that can play third or shortstop in the trade market and work with that. It's much better than messing with a great prospect that has a bright future. It's better for Huntington to dig into his deep prospect pool to trade for a proven player. 

Pirates trade target: Justin Upton

     Ah yes, here we are again. Back in the same position we were in 2012 with the Pirates again being interested in Justin Upton, who now plays for the Padres. The big difference is that he is a free agent after the season, unlike it 2012 where he would've been controlled for three and a half years.

     Justin Upton will be one of the best bats on the market as he has been very productive, especially considering his home games are in Petco Park. He has 15 homers and 49 RBIs overall which would put him first in homers and third in RBIs on the Pirates. That would mean a big production upgrade.

     There are a few problems, however. The one is that he's only hitting .252 on the season which is a drop off. Although, his OBP is still pretty good. The other issue is that he would cost a lot, even for a rental. Considering that, the Pirates don't need an OF THAT badly. The more pressing need is 1B. It doesn't look like the 1B market is that great. This could force Huntington's hand into acquiring a player at a different position. As I said in previous posts, what message would that send Polanco, though? I think Upton would help if you look at the stats, but some of the other reasons make me a bit skeptical.

This weekend's series in Milwaukee proves this roster needs help

     Pirates just got swept in Miller Park which is an all too familiar sight. However, I thought our fortunes were changing there. Evidently not as proven this weekend. Maybe we'll never play well there. Who knows? But alas. There is something that this weekend did prove, however.

     It proved, hopefully to the front office, that this roster needs help. The team with the current roster makeup, isn't good enough to continue their first half pace.

     You won't win many games with Decker, Ishikawa, and Rodriguez all in there. Granted, Rodriguez did have to come in due to injury, and Decker hit a triple. Still, it's difficult to have a bench consisted of the guys they do. Need to get deeper there.

     There are a few spots in the field the Pirates could and should upgrade. With Harrison down and Mercer looking like he may need the DL after what looked to be a gruesome injury today. Kang can only fill in one of those spots, and the Pirates don't have anymore great infield depth that could fill in for a lengthy time. Rodriguez isn't the guy that can fill in. They need better than that. Also, Hurdle and Huntington don't seen too confident in Alvarez anymore which may mean something. I wouldn't be surprised if they upgraded there, and I think they should.

     The bullpen also proved it needs help. Even Hughes had some problems this weekend. Another bullpen arm to bridge to the big guys Watson and Melancon. That would make all the difference, I believe. Starting pitching proved something to me this weekend, of course outside of Worley's spot start. Morton pitched well but fell apart late. Not bad, though. Locke was outstanding and has been for the last month or so. An upgrade there would bd nice but not as necessary as the other problems. With pitching depth a problem, maybe a deal for a starter wouldn't be bad, especially since the starting pitching market is deep.

     Anyway you slice it, this team needs some help. The current roster can't get it done. It's a quality roster but just not quite good enough, especially with regression setting in for some guys. Huntington has just under two weeks to make it happen, and he can't until August. If he waits or does nothing, there could be some problems.
   

Neal Huntington has to make a trade in July. He has no choice

     The trade deadline is in less than two weeks which means the teams in contention will bolster their roster in hopes of a playoff run. The Pirates are right in the thick of things, owning the third best record in all of baseball. However, I don't think this current roster make up can continue to do what they are doing. The law of regression comes into play. A lot of players have outdone their career numbers. This leads me to believe that at least a little regression could happen which could be disastrous.

     We've already seen some regression on this team, especially in the bullpen. Caminero, Bastardo, Guerra, and Worley have been less than ideal lately. This team is playing with fire in the bullpen with 4/7 of the bullpen being guys that are regressing. There needs to be another arm in there to bridge the gap from the starters to Watson and Melancon. It's hard to keep going hoping some of these guys continue to be effective.

     There are also some offensive players due to regress which would make the offense when worse. These players mainly being Kang and Cervelli. Can't afford to lose anymore offense. Getting Harrison back will be a shot in the arm, but he won't be back until September. Plus, his bat doesn't make as huge of an impact as it did last season. Getting a proven hitter that isn't due to have a huge regression would really solidify this lineup around McCutchen and Marte.

     Another reason we need a deal made is that the other teams we're in contention with will make trades. I imagine the Cardinals will want to sure up some spots because of injuries. Cubs have been in search of big name starting pitching and bullpen help. The Mets have been rumored to be looking at an impact bat. Giants might sure up their pitching. Knowing this, Huntington can't be a sitting duck and see all these other teams make trades while he doesn't. Huntington has not done great as a buyer in the first four go arounds. Let's summarize:

2011: Acquired Derek Lee and Ryan Ludwick
2012: Acquired Wandy Rodriguez, Travis Snider, Gaby Sanchez, Chad Qualls
2013: Acquired Marlon Byrd, John Buck, Justin Morneau(all in August)
2014: None

     As can be seen, the only really successful one was in 2013, but I honestly think that those reinforcements came too late. If they had made the trades sooner, they might've won the division. Who knows? If they had made a deal last year, they might've won the division. This year, Huntington can't afford to wait or do nothing. The Cardinals, even in their current state with the injuries, will be tough to catch. Pirates need to make trades for good players to help catch up.

     I'm not trying to be a downer, I'm just saying what I think. The Pirates are doing something really special this year, and I love it. However, even one or two more good players added onto the team could put them into another level. Between regression and other teams probably making trades, Huntington has his hands tied. He has to make a trade, and I think he will.

What players would be the best fits for Pirates as trade deadline looms

     As the trade deadline approaches, GMs will be scrambling to help their clubs any way they can. Whether if it's trading to help them contend now, contend later, or a balance. The Pirates sit in the balance category, as a lot of teams do. However, I do think Huntington will make a trade that'll help within the next two weeks. He's proven he can trusted. That being said, which players would be the best fit to help this team continue to be one of the best teams in the league.

     The Pirates have been linked and even spoken to the Phillies about a couple players, specifically outfielders Ben Revere and Jeff Francouer. I like Ben Revere, and he would fix the leadoff spot problems. I like the idea at first glance, but after thinking about it, it wouldn't work. It would send the wrong message to Polanco. Francouer, however, would be good. He's having his best season in quite sometime, and he can platoon greatly with Polanco. 

     Staying in the NL East, Pirates reportedly scouted Dan Haren of the Marlins at least once. Haren's inability to pitch as hard as he used to scares me. He is having a good year and could help at a cheap rate, though. 

     Pirates scouted Buchholz, but now he's on the DL. I didn't think that would've gone anywhere anyways. 

     Pirates also checked out some A's players. Speculation would say Kazmir, Clippard, Zobrist, and possibly Reddick. Pirates didn't get a great look at Kazmir that day because he was hurt in the 3rd. He didn't need a DL trip, however. That injury history keeps me skeptical about him. Now, Clippard would look great in the bullpen pitching late in games with Watson and Melancon. Did somebody say 6 inning baseball games? Next, I love Zobrist and always have. He plays everywhere in the field. This is the second straight year the Bucs have been connected to him. He can patch up any problem that would come up, like Harrison did last year. Now as for Reddick, I like him, but again, what message does that send Polanco?

     Pirates have reportedly checked in on Diamondbacks pitchers Addison Reed and Jeremy Hellickson. This makes sense since the Pirates would like to get rotation depth and another bullpen arm. Reed has been nasty in the past but not as great this season. Not exactly the player I'd bring in during a pennant race. Remember when they brought in Axford last year? Hellickson is the same way. Has shown signs of being good but not so much this year. 

     Those are the main players the team has been connected to. There are always players that we never hear about that teams are interested in.

     Other players that would make sense: Harang, Ruf, Prado, Baker, Rosario, K. Johnson, C. Johnson, Benoit, Kennedy, Moss, Santana, DeJesus, Parra, Lind, Segura, A. Ramirez, Leake 

-Jared Lankes 

Note: If you have any other suggestions on available players that would fit Pirates or go over something I may have missed, tweet me it @JaredLankes or email jrodjl5@gmail.com and I'll answer as soon as possible.

Where will the Pirates improve at the deadline offensively

     It's no surprise that the Pirates are looking to upgrade the offense. The offense shows up in bunches it seems. It's frustrating to deal with an offense that inconsistent. That being said, the Pirates do need to make a trade to upgrade.

     We must start with the weakest hitting spots in the lineup. There are three that stand out, and those would be RF, SS, and 1B. 

     First off, in RF, Polanco hasn't been able to build on his success from last year. However, he has shown signs of life the last 10-12 games or so that could make the Pirates confident to stick with him instead of sending him back to AAA. Getting a platoon right fielder to hit lefties wouldn't be the worst thing to help Polanco just focus on hitting against righties for now. Take it one step at a time. 

     SS has been an obvious offensive problem for the last handful of years. It has been that way since Jack Wilson departed. Mercer is solid defensively, though, and I can take his lack of offense for that mostly great defense. Most teams have a guy like that. Plus, Kang can fill in some at SS once Harrison gets back.

     1B is another place where there could be an upgrade made. Also, I think this is the most replaceable spot in the lineup. If a deal is made to help, it could be to replace Alvarez. Huntington isn't scared to replace Alvarez. He's done it twice. In 2011 when he demoted him and last year of course when Harrison replaced him. I wouldn't be surprised to see it happen again.

     The bench has been another problem. Making a move to replace a current starter would send them to the bench which would help. Also, Harrison getting back in September will push Kang back to the bench. That would make an instant improvement. Ishikawa has had some good ABs since coming back, and Decker just got called back up which should help. So, the bench is slowly improving.

     No matter what happens, Huntington has to dig into his countless amounts of talent in the minor leagues to help the major league team. They can't afford not to with how good the Cardinals are, especially since the Cardinals will probably make a trade or two as well. Pirates can't afford to get too far behind. It hurt them last year in missing out on a division title and losing the crapshoot that is the wildcard game.