◆NEWSPirates Notes: Keller, Pitching Pursuits, Lineup◆ROSTERSigned free agent RHP Enmanuel Nunez to a minor league contract◆STATPaul Skenes ranks 4th in the NL in strikeouts (200)◆STATNick Gonzales ranks 4th in the NL in batting average (.303)
◆NEWSPirates Notes: Keller, Pitching Pursuits, Lineup◆ROSTERSigned free agent RHP Enmanuel Nunez to a minor league contract◆STATPaul Skenes ranks 4th in the NL in strikeouts (200)◆STATNick Gonzales ranks 4th in the NL in batting average (.303)
It seemed that the Pirates blew off the anger of 2 weeks of poor results tonight against the Mets, destroying them 9-0. The team that had been one of the worst offenses of the past 3 weeks roared to life and battered Robert Stock for 8 runs. It was quite cathartic, and one can only pray this win was the wakeup call the team needed to propel themselves back into the wild card chase. Watch Dinardo and Tyler break the game down in detail here:
God bless Pirates fans; we have been through so much since 1994 and yet find joy in this franchise. As hope in the team was waning, a select group of Pirates Twitter banded together and rallied behind the promotion of Ronny Simon. A wave of Ronny Simon profile pictures took the platform by storm, and everyone was hyped for the series against the Mets. Despite being beaten soundly last night, Simon tallied 2 of the Pirates runs. Today, he helped get the Pirates offensive party started and collected yet another 2 hits. His 2 run double in the 1st inning completely broke the game open and left the Mets hopeless. I am dubbing him Ronny Bonds for the remainder of the season, and what a story it would be if this was the turning point of a legitimate playoff chase. Some people (like myself) gave up the gimmick after last night, but many remained strong in their convictions and look like kings tonight. These Pirate Patriots are helping salvage the season, and I for one think that is beautiful.
Bubba Chandler is Going to Be a Good Pitcher for a Long Time
Bubba Chandler was elite tonight, going 6 strong innings of shut out baseball. He only surrendered 4 base runners all game and struck out 5. It was clear early on that the Mets had no answers for what was throwing, and it was another glimpse into the ace level stuff Bubba commands. He generated 11 whiffs and struck out 5, with a devastating 4 pitch arsenal that kept the Mets guessing. Bubba was fun for 2 reasons: the first being his development throughout the season. At the beginning of the year his walks were out of control, yet he has already done a masterful job of managing those command issues. He threw 58 strikes on 85 pitches, only walked one batter, and looks like a completely different pitcher than he did in April. I also love how he has able to use his entire arsenal of pitches and use them effectively. Unlike a Jared Jones, Bubba isn’t afraid to mix his 100 mph fastball with devastating breaking balls. Bubba didn’t hit the scene as hard as Jones or Skenes, but he will be good enough to take the ball in playoff series in future years for the team.
Time to Prove the City Wrong
Pittsburgh has essentially given up on this team after their recent cold streak. Their playoff odds on fan graphs have cratered, and many have turned their gazes towards Steelers training camp. It is improbable that this team rallies together and storms back for a wild card appearance, but it is possible. Tonight you see glimpses of the combination of small ball and power this team can display. It shows the elite pitching and the revamped bullpen from the trade deadline that can keep you in any game on any given night. I have been extremely down on this team and for good reason, but I can’t quit on them. Now is the time to use this massive victory to break free from the offensive slump chains and take the National League by storm. Make this city believe again.
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The Debate
Can a Ronny Simon hot streak save the Pirates' season?
No comments yet — be the first to weigh in.
With Tyler Sweeney and Neil Lucas.
Chapters
Key takeaways
1
Bubba Chandler's six-inning start against the Mets was probably one of his top two of the season. He kept the ball on the ground, got whiffs and threw 58 of 85 pitches for strikes.
2
After losing 9 of 11 with roughly 40 games left, the Pirates can't just break even. They need to win something like 12 of their next 15, and it has to start now.
3
Ronny Simon doesn't need to be good long-term. If he gives the Pirates a John Nogowski-type hot run, you could still say he saved the season.
4
Even with a solid stretch since June 25, Henry Davis is "just not a good hitter," so it's hard to read anything into one good game.
5
Endy Rodríguez can't be trusted to stay on the field as the everyday catcher. That's likely why the Pirates carry Rafael Flores Jr., and the catching job may become a real split with Henry Davis, maybe even tilting toward Davis.
Yo. Welcome to the North Shore Nine Podcast presented by FanDuel. This is the NS9 Post Game Show powered by Primanti Brothers. I'm your host, Anthony DiNardo. With me, we have Ty-Ty in the house. Ty-Ty.
Pirates had an offensive explosion today. Bubba Chandler shoved. The bullpen looked good. Just a great game today as the Pittsburgh Pirates win 9-0 against the New York Mets.
Yeah, nice to get back on track here. We had a position player pitching for the Mets in the seventh inning, so it was over pretty early on. the Pirates jumped out to an early lead, and thankfully, with this new revamped bullpen, a lead somewhat feels safe. somewhat.
Did it not have a different feeling?
It definitely does have a different feeling, but it's a lot more comfortable.
it's an 8-0 ballgame. There shouldn't be any concerns about if you're going to win this, but pre-August 3rd, I think every Pittsburgh Pirates fan watching this game would have felt like,
Well, how are they going to at least make it interesting?
It's 8-0 now on the seventh, but you know what? Is it going to be 8-5 at some point?
Sure, they might win it, but is it going to be very close?
And there was a 99.6% win probability when Bubba went out, and Tyler, I felt good. I felt good. Knowing what was about to come in, I felt really good, and wow.
Lake Bashar, or Lake Bashar.
Lake Bashar.
That's a hockey name if I've ever heard one.
I know, right? Lake Bachar, like, just shut them down, and then obviously, so did Kirby.
Yeah, but it all started with Bubba. Bubba took the ball, did exactly what you expect to see out of Bubba Chandler, or at least what we expect to see out of Bubba coming into this year.
And the offense was good without hitting a long ball, and Bubba just kept them in check all day long.
obviously, the offense scoring it runs is the big part of this.
Right.
But I think a huge part of it also is, like you said, the fact that Bubba was able to shut this team down.
This is, I don't know if there is another performance I can look at, too.
So, generally speaking, I will say this is easily one of his better performances, definitely one of his better ones, but you could probably make an argument that this might have been his best performance of the year.
I feel like there's, like, one or two that are, there are a couple of them that were really good, but, yeah, this is definitely up there.
kept the ball on the ground, had weak contact, still had the swing and miss, because some of those other starts that he's had, he maybe didn't get the swing and miss like he did today.
What was it, five strikeouts in six innings?
Yeah, limited walks, limited base runners, just, it's up there, for sure.
It's probably top two or three, probably top two.
He was efficient.
He was throwing strikes.
He was getting ground balls.
He was getting whiffs.
Like, it had, it had everything.
he ended up throwing 85 pitches today, 58 of them for strikes.
So, again, 68% of his pitches don't say we're at four strikes.
That's not your typical Bubba that we've been used to seeing this season.
That's the Bubba that you want to see, that we know you're capable of seeing.
85 pitches go through six.
Now, again, it's an eight-nothing ball game.
There's no reason to get him out there for the seven, but he could have.
He could have as well.
I'm going to say it again.
I feel like I said it, the other really good Bubba start, when he's throwing that slider hard.
Mm-hmm.
He's really good.
And it's not just because he's throwing the slider hard, but it's just a sign that the mechanics feel really good.
He trusts everything.
Also, just, they talked about it a little bit on the broadcast, just the way he was working so fast.
It's another sign of just, mechanically, he feels good.
He looked good.
Wasn't really missing arm side a lot.
Just, he's grown a good bit this year.
Throughout this year, I think we've seen Bubba, yeah.
Throughout this year, I think we've seen him really start to grow up as a pitcher.
Yeah.
Also, like, location.
Like, he was throwing hard.
You mentioned he was throwing it good.
This was, yeah.
Like, this just seemed like a very effective Bubba start.
Like, the one thing I will say, so it's going through a bit of his pitch mixes here.
he only threw the changeup, what was it?
Well, I guess eight times.
He ended up throwing it a little bit more later in the game.
But, this was very lefty, heavy lineup also.
We know Bubba has a really good changeup.
That's something that, like, he hasn't thrown the changeup often of recent.
But he's also been pitching better of recent.
What, a 2.45?
I think ERA in the past five starts.
116 whip.
Yeah, that, it is weird because, hand up, I was one of those people that was yelling, Bubba, throw the changeup.
Well, guys, Tyler's not very smart.
But, I don't know.
I don't know.
Like, that is a really good pitch.
So, it makes sense.
It is.
Like, it is a good pitch.
Yeah.
But, I'd still, look, I'd still like to see him use it more and that become a weapon.
But, watching the growth with the fastball command, watching the slider really come into its own, it's working.
So.
Right.
My bad.
That's why I'm not the Pirates pitching coach.
Well, I don't know.
Some might argue that you should be.
But, I think we would agree, though, too.
Like, it does start with the fastball.
It starts the fastball.
It's always started the fastball.
You've seen the usage of that go up and down a little bit.
And, today, he had the four scene going as well.
he threw it 53% of the time.
Induced four whiffs on it.
He wasn't giving up a whole lot of hard contact, either, by any means.
Like, yeah.
It just was a very, just an all-around, really good start by Bubba Chandler.
And like I, when he was in Miami, felt a little bit bad for him.
Cause he had the game where he booted like four baseballs and.
Got a little emotional.
But.
even before his injury last year, I thought he was slightly intriguing.
I don't.
I don't know how real anything is with him.
Not quite sure.
He's.
I don't know if he's a good base, a major leaguer or not, but right now he's providing the, he's that spark plug right now.
This team desperately needs.
Cause.
Shit.
Where else is it coming from?
Wasn't coming from Marcell Ozuna.
Right.
I think you hit the nail.
For sure.
No, I was going to say here, like.
You said you don't know how good he is.
Same.
Like the odds are.
He's not.
He's been hit the ball well in triple a, but like, he's the type of guy that you should when you're in triple a at his age and skillset and such, you know?
So again, I don't know how good he's going to be, but I think the thing is, Tyler truthfully.
He doesn't need to be good.
What this team really needs from him is like a John Nagoski type run.
If he provides that.
Then like.
That's, I'm not gonna say best case scenario, but that's probably best case scenario for Ronny Simon.
Could it be better than that?
maybe it's doubtful, but if he can just give this team a John Nagoski type run, when this team needs very badly, a John Nagoski type run,
then you could still say Ronny Simon might've saved the season.
Yeah.
That's a really good point.
Cause they do.
They just need somebody to have like a two week hot streak here.
Like Valdez had it there earlier in the year.
They weren't able to capitalize on it as much as they probably should have, but hopefully actually, well, now that he's gone cornering this offense, maybe they did.
Yeah, maybe, but you, but I get your point.
but with the bullpen being a little bit more trustworthy right now, if Valdez would have went on this, that run right now, they would be in really good shape because as soon as they get a lead,
it feels a lot more comfortable.
So hopefully Ronny Simon here can just, run into a few baseballs, get hot for a few weeks, fill in until hopefully Oneil Cruz can return and just be another spark club.
And he does seem to be one of those fun electric type players.
I will say this.
It was ironic.
this was Jay Hayes weekend.
And Ronnie, I'm not going to say that the same type of player, this is not by any means saying that, but he does seem like he's one of those electric type of fun players and such.
so it was, again, it was ironic that Jay Hayes being celebrated this weekend.
Ronny Simon comes up and he's providing this spark.
And again, this team absolutely needs a spark.
Oh, no Cruz started his rehab yesterday.
There's going to be a day off.
It's going to start again tomorrow.
And then they're going to reevaluate.
So like, we don't know when I know, I know Cruz is coming back hopefully soon, but like you're saying, like all we need is him to be here until Cruz comes back.
I don't know.
It's how that key.
He might need to be here even when Cruz is back.
Yeah.
And still helping this thing go on, and be that spark plug again, just for give us three weeks.
Right.
Right.
Give us that John Nagowski.
Love, right.
Have our boy, Nathan interviewing Ronny Simon five years from now, talking about the Ronny Simon run, right.
They're both getting ejected and the power is going to persevere and win.
There we go.
That's all we need.
We just need a fight.
But I do think it's, I think it's something the pirates, at least in years past, didn't do a very good job of is when a guy is, just crushing the ball and trip away or on a hot streak.
They don't take advantage of it and they don't call them up at that time.
And then they cool off and it's like, Oh, well, they weren't good.
Let's just see if we can ride it into a few wins and whatever happens.
That's all you need from him.
Anything more is icing on the cake, but you get that.
That's again, probably best case scenario.
He provided a spark for this offense.
Maybe he helps be a catalyst, right?
And jumpstart it and hitting is contagious today.
They had eight runs.
So they can go into tomorrow facing a lefty and win that game, which that's going to be a tough battle just simply because the picture is a left-hander.
It does not matter who his name is.
It does not matter what his ERA says.
He is a left-handed pitcher.
The tough task.
So if they come out of that with a win too, and you just start piling on them, vibes start getting good again.
And that's what this team needs so bad right now.
So yeah, a lot of love and kudos to Ronny Simon right now.
Sean Minaya, he's still hanging around.
That's the lefty they got tomorrow.
And that's what I'm alluding to.
Like, this is not in the year of 2026.
Sean Minaya is not one to be feared.
Yeah.
he's still got a good three years before he's a pirate, but the dude's going to be a pirate one day.
One day.
But yeah, just ride the hot streak as best you can and see if you just see if you can't squeeze out a couple wins.
So we talked Ronnie.
We talked Bubba.
Ronnie ball.
Again, this offense, man.
it was, this was a, this was a game where you should have got to their starting pitcher.
Again, it is a righty.
It is a righty.
So there's that, but it's also Robert stock, which I know he has like a good story.
If you listen to Steven Brault, talk about him and even on the broadcast and talk about a little bit, like it's a cool, it's a nice story, but stories don't win ballgames.
They needed to make sure they got to him and they did.
They knocked him out in the third inning.
They scored eight runs off of home on nine hits and five walks.
And part of that was again, this offense sitting in a tone right away.
Jake Maynard lead off double to start the game.
Jake Maynard had three hits today.
He's back at a 300 batting average.
Went three for five.
Again, Ronny Simon, we talked about, he went two for five today.
And like you mentioned, it wasn't all because of a long ball.
yeah, Brandon Lowe hit the home run, the lone home run that was hit today.
Late innings with a position player.
So like, yes, there was a home run, but that wasn't why they scored the runs today.
They scored it all without the ball going over the fence, just continuing down the line.
And with that being said, also to bring up Brandon Lowe hit his 25th today, which means Tyler.
We lose.
We're losers.
Damn.
We are losers.
He hit the over today.
Well, if I'm going to lose on one, I'm glad it's that one.
Same.
He's had a hell of a year.
Oh, well, it does suck to lose that one.
I hate when Jim's right on things.
He wasn't even right.
Actually, it was just his odds.
Yeah, I think he wasn't ready.
He just threw the odds out.
Yeah, it's not like Vegas was right.
Right.
Just throw the odds out there.
But yeah, the reason I do bring up Henry Davis though, especially today is because Endy Rodríguez was supposed to start and he got pulled due to a hip injury.
And he, and he has had a fantastic season, especially offensively, but his whole entire career now has been injury riddled.
And it doesn't seem like he can stay on the field.
Right now.
So again, I don't know what that injury means right now.
He's pulled.
I don't know how, if it's long-term or short-term, if it means really much of anything other than just like, Hey, today's just not feeling comfortable, but.
Henry Davis just can't seem to stay in the lineup.
It's definitely becoming a problem and you want to be able to rely on him a little bit and give him those everyday at bats and give, basically give him that catcher's job and see if he can run with it.
But you just, you can't trust him to stay on the field.
And can he, can he keep it together over the course of a year?
If he has to be behind the plate, the track record saying he can't.
And it sucks.
Cause I want to see Andy back there really often.
Same.
He just can't stay healthy.
Yeah.
I think it's unfortunate because I feel that's probably why they're more so carrying three catchers at this time.
Like you almost have to carry Rafael Flores just because of Indy's durability, because you never know when you're going to need that other catcher here because of just like today, just like today, he might not need ielstins all the time,
but he seems to not be able to.
Be a mainstay in the lineup as far as durability goes.
So yeah, he's had a fantastic year offensively.
He's been that spark plug at some point too, when you need it.
But, yeah, I just don't know what the rest of the year looks like with Indy as a catcher.
I don't either.
Cause at the very least he is always banged up.
And you're going to be, if you're a major league catcher, but he's banged up enough that it keeps him out of the lineup a little bit too often.
Yeah.
And I understand he's had major injuries too, but also it's like, these things aren't really stemming from the injury.
I assume, it's his hip right now.
It's not the arm.
It's not, you know what?
So right.
It's not so much of like, Oh, there's still some wear and tear now on this injury I had, I'm still recovering or whatnot.
It's just the durability issue.
It seems like for him.
Yeah.
I don't know if there's a good answer for it.
Cause he's been good enough at the plate this year that you can play him elsewhere and he doesn't hurt you because he's been a good hitter.
I don't know if you can count on that longterm.
Cause I stood on the, who Andy is at the plate at the very least at the, at the very least he's been good enough hitting wise that if he was healthy, you're pretty comfortable with him as your everyday catcher.
Cause the bat's going to play well enough.
But if he falls back to earth hitting wise, then you don't want to play him at first base.
You don't want to put them in the field that often.
And then catchers really the only value he has.
So it's just a sucky situation.
Yeah.
More so reasons why Henry Davis needs to continue to play this well, offensively.
And by this, well, just like, yeah, just not bad, just not bad.
And that's what he has been doing again, like of recent, he has just not been playing bad.
And again, offensively, that's actually been good.
It's been better than league average.
So Henry Davis needs to make sure he's stepping up because again, this can't be as it once was like the ND starting and Henry's there as more or less, maybe just Paul's catcher.
And maybe someone else in that week, it's going to be much more of a split.
If not, maybe Henry more than Andy at some point.
So that's why I bring that up of note.
I do want to get it.
Here's some other guys again, just for highlights offensively.
They don't know how they do against the lefties, but some good odds.
Yeah.
I don't think I take those.
Yeah.
Again, I know it's Shamanaya, but as we've talked, it could be you, Tyler.
You are left-handed.
You could shut down this offense.
And I believe it would.
Would.
Would.
Not really.
So with that said, we'll see you guys tomorrow.
Peace out for Scouts.
Bye-bye.
All right.
That wraps up this episode of North Shore nine.
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Can a Ronny Simon hot streak save the Pirates' season?
No comments yet — be the first to weigh in.