Coverage: A stronger Locke

I got this, Stephen. Thank you.

That's the work of a catcher who knows what his pitchers are capable of, and more importantly, isn't afraid to push his pitchers to trust in their own abilities. That's real leadership.

Excellent replacement if he stays healthy.

Yea, AW. I cringe seeing him get HBP. Think he's been hit with a bat a few times already.

Like Walk says, love watching him work an AB.

No way will they make him the closer. For one thing, Watson is the logical choice for the role, and for another, Caminero has a history of control issues that could well be exposed in high-pressure situations. I agree that he was a good pickup, but I like him right where he is.

I agree with PI. He may well be the next closer. Not to minimize at all what Watson brings. And a lot of closers have histories of control issues in their past.

August 1st??? :)

During the game.....shots of him on the bench showed a lonely (although rich) guy in over his head.
You're right.....he needs to play.
4-5 AB a game for a few weeks. at Indy.

Three smallish players with high leg lifts are Ichiro, of course, but also Pedroia and, if you think it limits contact and power, Bautista. I just think he needs at bats. Clint may have plans for him in his SF Warriors rotation scheme?

I think the talent disparity between Kang and those 3 is pretty wide Patrick. Not to mention experience.

Certainly can't get better with 3 ABs a week.

I can see the point about Kang going to AAA, except that the Pirates seem to believe that he will benefit more by being in the major league atmosphere and, more importantly, being afforded the benefits of major league instruction. Also, I don't see the comparison to a rule 5 pick at all. They do not have to keep him on the 25 or risk losing him and he has much more immediate, if still raw, potential that any callow rule fiver that I've ever seen. Besides, the Pirates at this point can afford to keep him as the 25th man and ease him into hitting situations and spot starts since their bench is so much deeper than it has been in many years. Finally to Frank's point, I'm sure there must be an element of loneliness with Kang, given that he can't speak the language and doesn't have teammates who do as the Spanish speakers have, but I think that's overblown. To me, I see a guy who is naturally reserved and who is watching and absorbing everything he can, and I predict that as he learns more English and gets accustomed to the culture, he will get swept up in the camaraderie that is such a special part of this team.

I'm not seeing what your seeing Rico.

I'm not saying he is a Rule 5 pick. I'm saying they seem to be protecting him like one. His contributions or lack there of seem to emulate one.

As someone else put it a few threads back, can't be easy going from the MVP of your league to barely playing.

They could swap Florimon and Kang right now. Probably lose nothing defensively, gain some speed for pinch running. All the while getting Kang some more ABs. And as JP just wrote, expect Decker for Lambo at some point.

I see your points, but I just don't see what the problem is. The Pirates obviously had a plan for Kang, which involves letting him get a feel for the majors and ease slowly into a utility role. I don't see that as "protecting" him as much as getting a feel for what they have in him. Like I said, they have the luxury of doing that right now, but it doesn't mean they'll do it all year. If they think he will benefit by going to AAA, I'm sure they'll have no problem doing that.

He wasn't very "reserved" in ST when he arrived.

Of more immediate concern, and what Frank alluded to above, is Lambo. As a fourth OF, he is someone who needs to produce and produce soon. If he continues to struggle off the bench, trading away Snider will look more and more like a terrible move, and I'm not as sold on Decker as a viable bench option as John seems to be. That could become a major issue as the season wears on.

I understood the Snider trade. I look at it as the majority of his offensive success came when Polanco struggled. He started a lot. In the dark years it was referred to as "showcasing". To Sniders credit he did it during a pennant chase.

I think too many people are taking Sniders 2014 numbers from July onward, where he was a starter, and compare them to Lambos ABS this year mainly as a pinch hitter and cry foul. It's apples and oranges. Seems like they also forget Polanco, Hart, Rodriguez and Decker as well.

I'm fine with it. Seems like he's off to a good start with Baltimore. Good for him. But I think people are being selective with their Lunchbox memories.

This time last year, up until July, Travis Snider was Andrew Lambo.

Travis Snider hit 31 homers for Toronto, drove in over 100 runs and scored over 100 runs in 830 official at-bats during his time there. Am not sure Lambo, same age as Snider, will ever match those numbers in his entire career.

Smh. I give up, ledtotheflood. You want to compare apples and oranges go ahead. You aren't listening to anything I've said.

Done talking about it.

Pedro can play first. Corey can play first. Rodriguez can play first.
ANY MLB player CAN play first. After watching Kang and Lambo go 1-18.....finding players who can HIT?? Another matter.

+1