Is Oneil Cruz Finally Breaking Out? + Konnor Griffin Debate Heats Up

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Yo, yo, yo, welcome to a buck a brew.

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This is a virtual nine podcast presented by Fandall.

I'm a host, Anthony Denardo with me.

We have the Jim Brozotti.

Jim happy Monday once again.

Happy Monday.

Man, they like savings time.

They like savings time.

Plus, I was just on the West Coast for a week.

So, this is a little rough episode for me.

My body thinks it's like 3 a.m. right now.

It's kind of what I'm thinking.

So, yeah, we'll see how this goes.

It is not 3 a.m.

I can assure you that.

But it's, this is interesting.

Yeah, the hour it was first off.

I felt like the time changed and it affected me too much because I've been dead tired.

So, I mean, I was asleep really early.

Just whatever time it was, it was when I woke up.

But it was so nice seeing the sun out last night like after seven.

Man, it hit me.

I was like, oh, God, I pray for days like this.

Yeah, the sun.

I mean, daily savings time should be the standard time all year round.

That's, that's my opinion.

A correct opinion.

Yeah, no, it's, you know what though?

It's good to be home.

Good to be home.

I haven't been home in two weeks.

So, I'm excited to be back.

Back at it.

Normal routine.

Spring training was awesome.

It was a lot of fun.

You guys killed it last week without, without me or Tyler.

But yeah, it's, it's nice to get, it's nice to be back home.

It really is.

I was excited to be back.

Now, I'll say this.

And for the guys that are watching the, the show here on YouTube,

my camera settings are all jacked up from, from the trip, bringing them back.

So I look a little bit off.

That's, that's why I'll figure those out eventually before it is not a lot.

But it's at least a working camera right now.

But yeah, I, that trip was exciting.

It was fun.

It was tiring.

It was everything.

But disappointing.

What was disappointing about it?

No, I said it was everything but disappointing.

Oh, I thought you said it was disappointing.

Mm-hmm.

Okay.

Yeah, it wasn't disappointing at all.

It was a great trip.

I, I wasn't able to, like I was so, I was so busy last week.

I wasn't able to really consume all the content you guys put out last week.

But I'll have to go back in and check some of it out.

Sounds like you guys, you guys were pumping out a lot.

Although, I'll say this last week, I said, good luck.

Good luck on, on doing this, as good as Tyler Cody, me, Doug.

You know, as, as well as we did and, uh, yeah, I don't know.

I'll, I'll have to see.

Maybe we'll do a vote.

Which, which group did better?

Group one, group two.

Uh-oh.

But for sure.

So glad to be home.

Uh, but what that say, I said, everything but disappointing because, like,

the optimism, it peaked, it peaked.

I feel like every year we're like, let's not let it trick us.

Let's not let it trick us and I'm not sure if we're tricked or not.

But the optimism is certainly in the air.

There's, uh, then there's, I think valid reasons.

Obviously, um, it's, you know, it's not like, hey, can we run this back?

And all these guys get better.

There's, there's new blood.

We saw the new blood.

Whether it's actual players, whether it's within the coaching, all kinds of stuff.

And they're playing well too, they're winning games.

If it's been treating stats, matter, they don't.

But, uh, it's just, yeah, I don't know, man, I don't know, man.

Just like being down there, seeing the players and actions, like seeing and feeling all the vibes in there.

Two weeks is time.

Right?

Not even just one week.

It was two weeks.

It's a long time.

Uh, I just, man.

I don't know.

I don't know.

but again, I'm not like World Series Pirates,

but like this team, I think we could actually have

some fun this year.

That's romantic.

I think we can have some fun this year, Jim.

That's a good call.

I mean, it's, I joined this podcast in 2020.

I'm so sorry.

And I didn't mean to do this.

This is the best team that the Pirates have had on paper

since I've been around doing this.

So yeah, it should be exciting.

I mean, if they go to the playoffs,

playoffs is obviously the goal here.

Like once you get into playoffs, anything can happen.

And they put together a team that looks like they should

at least be competitive this year.

So yeah, I'm looking forward to it.

We're, we're what, about two weeks,

two and a half weeks out from opening day right now.

So yeah, also it is.

It's March 9th.

When did that happen?

I forgot it was even March.

You know what, March 9th, it's my dad's birthday.

I got to wish him happy birthday.

Oh, happy birthday, Mr. Razzotti.

Yep.

If, if you're 67, according to Bucco Mike,

yeah, so my dad's got to be like up there.

It's something, yeah.

It's pushing it.

He's pushing it.

All right.

Well, yeah, let's get into some talk.

It's like, what haven't we talked about in two weeks,

doing two to three to maybe four shows a day?

I don't really know.

Now, I think the title of the show, you know,

and the picture of the show kind of explains

a lot where they're going with this.

And with that said, Oh, no cruise in playing the WBC.

So we didn't get to see any of them last week.

And that's, that was one thing about this, this year, right?

This trip that the WC happening.

We missed out on some players.

So, you know, you didn't really get to see Paul Schien's

this last week, you know, Oh, no cruise isn't such.

So, we didn't really talk too much about Ohno cruise.

Let's definitely talk about him.

Let's talk about Conor Griffin some more

because Ben decided to talk about Conor Griffin some more as well.

And let's talk about these battles.

Because I think now at this point of time

we're seeing some realistic battles.

And here's the thing too, like you know,

as we mentioned with this year,

there's not many battles, which is a good thing.

You know, I felt like every year years,

there was like nine to 12 position battles happening at,

you know, any way the players could come north or not.

So, let's talk about the battles that's happening right now camp

with some of this longevity that's taking place

with the spring training.

But yeah, let's of course start with Ohno cruise.

Now, we've been talking about him a little bit.

We're talking about some things leading up to this,

but then the WBC happens in gym.

The WBC happened for Ohno cruise.

Once again, he's the highlight of MLB.

Everyone in baseball is talking about him.

Can you enlighten us for those who haven't seen or know?

What did Ohno cruise do on the massive stage?

He, he homeworked.

It was a monster homework too.

I think it was about 440 or 15.

415?

Hit it like 116.

I mean, now it was in a blowout.

He wasn't really facing the most outstanding picture

in the world, but yeah, he's got one world-based

ball classic at bat so far, I think.

And he's one for one with a three run homer.

And it was just a bomb, just absolutely crushed.

So yeah, fun to see.

That Dominican Republic team is pretty fun.

It's fun, it's stacked.

It's everything that you enjoy about baseball

unless you don't like all that stuff about baseball.

But yeah, man, like that was just so fun to see.

He's obviously not starting, videos come into the game.

Just crushes that home run and everyone's like, oh boy,

you know what?

This is why we've all been excited about Ohno cruise.

This is it.

I'm not here to tell you that one home run is the reason

that things could, excuse me, change in 2026.

But there's been a lot of talk about Ohno cruise this year.

This year kind of is a make it or break it year

to some level I feel like for Ohno cruise.

I mean, he can't have a year like he had last year.

If it's a year like last year, then you know what?

It's probably time to move on from Ohno cruise.

Now, I think last year was him at his worst, obviously.

I'm not here to, and I don't think that he'll be

what he was last year.

But there's so much potential and like,

is he finally going to put a full year

where it's close to this potential true production?

And again, like, my 2024 was essentially that.

I'm not trying to poop, like 2024 was a solid year for him.

I think we all feel like you could do better,

but even if it's just that, that's a good year

for us in our fielder.

But I guess just like, you know,

you hear him working out with Kevin Kiermar in the off season.

You heard him in an interview like when,

you know, the season ended, it's time to get the work.

Like he went home and it's time to get the work.

I'm not trying to core like this totally,

but like he cuts off the dreads.

You know, like I just feel like this is the transformation

of Ohno cruise at some level.

Marcelo Zuno comes in and you just see the gravitation,

you know, like much like Carlos Santana.

And you know, is he going to be the leader?

Is he going to help Ohno cruise out?

You're hearing much of that.

You have to see it, you have to see it,

but there's just a lot of things going around

the Ohno cruise stigma and situation that makes you feel

like, you know what, hand this be the year.

So I want to ask you, do you think this can be the year?

It definitely could be.

Again, it's spring training.

There's it's two weeks of spring training.

If that because he'd leave a little bit early.

But the things everybody's saying and talking about,

I feel like it's a little bit different than what we've seen

in years past.

Like in years past, it's always been like, yeah,

can this be the year he puts it all together, can it?

But hearing everyone talk about what he did over the off season,

it does seem like I guess the biggest thing here is like,

all those folks who say he doesn't care.

Oh, Ohno cruise doesn't care about anything.

I think they're clearly incorrect.

He cares.

He wants to be good.

He did not enjoy last season at all.

And he put in a lot of work this off season

to make sure that that doesn't happen again.

Now you could say, you know, why didn't he do this before?

I don't know.

But reading what's going on with him right now,

reading what he did this off season,

he clearly wants to tap into that potential.

And so now it's a matter of like, can you,

can you take it from spring training

and can you, can you apply it during the regular season?

But like you mentioned, like working with Kevin Kiermeyer,

like that's, that's a big thing.

Like he clearly needed some help in center field

and you heard some of Kevin Kiermeyer's quotes about that

where like he can be as good as he wants to be essentially.

His, there's been a lot of stuff written

and talked about with, with his relationship

with Marcelo Azuna so far, the spring training

where he's like really kind of clung to him and vice versa.

And hopefully that, that pays dividends as well.

The fact that he worked relentlessly, you know,

with batting practice versus left handed pitching all off season,

like that was a clear weakness of his last year.

And he came into spring training saying,

Hey, like I, I worked on this.

I worked on this one thing that was not,

that was not working well for me.

And again, super small sample size this spring,

but he's looked really good against left handed pitching so far.

So again, like it's, it's hard to say that all of this

is going to translate to the regular season

because you just never know.

It's, it's two different animals for training in the regular season.

But I think for the first time, like going into a season,

like you can clearly see the work that he's putting in.

And, and again, like the, the will

to really want to tap into all that potential

that we've talked about.

So yeah, now it's, it's, now it's up to him.

Like can, can this translate to the regular season?

If it does, then this team can be a lot better.

I mean, they, they added a lot of offensive help

and O'Neal crews going from the hitter

that he was last season to someone closer to who we all hope

he could become is a, is a powerful weapon in any offense.

Like we've seen what this team looks like

when O'Neal crews is firing on all cylinders.

Like they're, he can take over the game by himself.

Like it's just him.

He gets on base.

He steals a base.

He causes an overthrow.

He's, he's wreaking havoc on the base paths.

He's scoring runs seemingly by himself.

The fact that that potential is there.

And if he's able to tap into that more consistently.

And then, oh, yeah, by the way, they also got branded

Lao, Marcelo Zuna, Ryan O'Hern, Jake Mangum.

Like they got all this other help.

Yeah, it's, hey, it, it could happen.

This could be the year it all comes together.

Yeah, yeah, I know.

I want to understand why I'm putting this out

in her perspective because like, I don't want to say this

and like lump him as like a prospect

because he's far from that.

But the reasons I do like advancing prospects,

the reasons I'm not afraid of them failing

is because you learn a lot from failure.

And I think a lot of prospects can,

you know, they need to face adversity to improve.

You can't just baby on baby on baby on

and try to make sure that they're in the most perfect

situations that come up and just hit

because the likelihood is they're not.

They've never seen majorly pitching to that level.

They've never seen a lot of this stuff.

They need to face that adversity to overcome it, right?

You need challenges.

So again, I'm a big proponent of pushing people

a little bit so they can face that adversity,

you know, to overcome it and move forward.

Again, Oh, no cruise, not a prospect.

However, he certainly faced a lot of adversity last year.

I mean, by far his worst season,

and to me, what matters the most is how you overcome that.

Now, granite, like you said,

you can argue it should never got to that point.

And I agree.

I think that's why a lot of us were,

we're kind of hard on a no cruise, you know,

because it just seemed as if he may have looked checked out.

Now, it doesn't necessarily mean that he's lazy.

It doesn't mean that it doesn't care to some level,

but that team sucked and it just seemed as if

with the team going downhill so did his performance in play.

This year could be a different year.

This year seems like it should be a different year.

Like you mentioned, the players have a lot of protection.

That's also a thing you could, it's a valid excuse.

And again, it isn't excuse.

I get it, but it's also some, there's some validity to it.

There was just him and Brian Reynolds in that lineup.

No one had a pitch to either of them

because it was the worst offense in baseball.

So with a little bit more lineup protection,

that's in his favor.

You know, and I do feel that there was some reflection.

As you mentioned, this is coming from just my perspective

on things, but it was a bad year.

Does he want to be bad?

Does he want to, I mean, he's friends with tactics.

He's friends with Guerrero.

He's friends with all those guys on the Dominican team.

Does he want to be the cast off, the guy who sucks, you know?

You know, I mean, do you don't like around your friends?

Don't you want to be part of them?

Don't you want to be as good as them?

Isn't it a little bit of like friendly competition as well?

Do you just want to be to do that sucks?

Well, the rest are like future Hall of Famers, you know?

I mean, there's some of that, like I do feel hearing things.

Like, you know, we mentioned like when he goes home,

like I went right to work.

You're seeing that he's going to work.

He's working with Kevin Caramari.

He's doing certain things, right?

It does make me feel a little bit different this year,

like you mentioned, than past years.

That's all you have right now, it's all we have right now.

But so far with what we have right now, that's the vibe I'm getting.

He has to put it together.

We know he has the tools, you know, the fact that you mentioned,

I think you said this though, but regardless, like the fact that he was like,

when there's a, my son, uh, Montgomery's a pitch, like there's a lefty up there.

He wants to face them.

He wants to be challenged by lefties because that's something he knows.

He needs to get better at.

And I mean, so far, he's been doing better, facing lefties and spring training.

So it's like all these things that you're seeing that, you know, encouraging for us.

We know the talents there.

That's, I think that's why we're talking about this.

We know the talents there.

So if you said that, Mark Monset, he's doing all the right things.

I do think the talent can translate.

And you can have at least a 2024 type of season,

which would be very, very good for this, this team.

So, so yes.

So again, maybe the WBC happening is also good for him because he's in that environment also,

you know, again, you're seeing you're with those dudes,

it's your home talent, there's a little bit of that pride and such.

You know, having some of that and now hitting that home run,

like I'm sure that really helps him, his confidence, such.

Um, I don't know if the Ono Crews we hoped and imagined for.

The Perennial Five War type player is in him,

but I do think that there is a good enough player who can certainly have some highlights.

We'll have some struggles, but like at the end of the day,

we'll certainly be a player that can help this team win.

Yeah, that player exists because we've seen him already.

Like we've seen a good Ono Crews before.

And, and so I'm not.

Yeah, and we'll see who shows up.

I mean, we'll see who shows up.

I think the one bummer of this situation with the World Baseball Classic is he's not a regular on that team.

Like he's not going to be getting regular at bats in that tournament.

He's had one so far and he's homered.

He may get, you know, a few pinch hit appearances here and there, but I hope it doesn't.

I hope it doesn't mess with just his overall timing and getting ready for it for the regular season.

I have a feeling it could.

But also you hope that like just the experience that he gets from being around all those guys

and playing in big time baseball games and just being a part of that atmosphere and

and you hope that that maybe resonates more than, you know, not having live pitching that you're going up against every day multiple times a day.

You hope that kind of one outweighs the other.

Hopefully he's still, you know, taking batting practice and things like that.

There isn't really any substitute for just like live pitching in a baseball game.

And so he is going to go like two weeks without seeing all that much of that.

So that I guess is like my only concern is like once he gets back from this, like making sure that he's he's ready to roll for opening day.

Right.

And I'll say this at the very least I feel like he could probably get a hit off of a 17 year old.

So he's already a step ahead of Aaron judge.

That's true.

You know, I mean, you really put things in perspective.

He's probably much better than Aaron judge at this point.

So that's a good point.

That is a good point.

Very much.

But, but anyways, yeah, I mean, I think this can absolutely be a big year for Ronaldo Cruz.

It's it probably is it needs to be some type of a big year for him.

But there's nothing else that you want to talk to discuss about.

Oh, no, Cruz before moving on to the next subject.

No, it's just like like he can take this.

I think if he just goes out there and he performs like regular O'Neill Cruz, you know, career.

Right now, he's a career 100 way to runs created plus if he goes out there and just does that.

I think this team's got a shot to be pretty good.

But if he can go out there and do.

What we hope he can do, like 120, 125, he's never done that before.

If he can go out and do that, then I say he takes this team to another level.

Right, especially with the the stolen based threat.

He's now become since last year, which seems like it's translating over to to spring.

You know, before we do, I want to bring this up.

And the reason I want to bring this up is, again, with him being the WBC,

I didn't really get the chance to see him.

But this has been something I've noticed a bit of a talk.

So, you know, Hamilton asks here in the chat, did Cruz put on muscle?

He looks bigger.

I mean, you were seeing him, I'm sure a bit up close to some level.

Do you think that is the case that did he look bigger?

I feel like he's always been just a big dude.

I don't, after seeing him up close, I don't.

I didn't notice anything different.

I think he's just, I think he's in good shape.

You know, whereas like the grind of a regular season can certainly take, take some off of that.

But I don't, I don't think there's much of a difference in his physical conditioning

from like this year to last.

Just based off personal observations.

Yeah.

And that's why I want to ask, because I will only be seeing it the same way everyone else

asking sees it as well.

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Few things are as uplifting as the greatest moments in sports.

And nothing brings us together quite like Team USA at the Olympic Winter Games.

From NBC Universal's iconic storytelling to the innovative technology across

Xfinity and Peacock, Comcast brings the Olympic Games home to America,

sharing every moment with millions.

When Team USA steps onto the world stage, we're not just watching.

We're cheering together.

This winter, we're all on the same team.

Comcast, proud partner of Team USA.

To tip off this NBA season on Fandoor, you can choose your own rewards,

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Awesome.

All right.

Well, then let's move over to our next topic before we do.

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Absolutely.

All right.

Next topic.

Talking about guys who could have a big year this year.

You know prospects facing adversity.

Connor Griffin.

Man.

That's going to be the talk until opening day.

I feel.

Because is he going to be on the opening day lineup or not?

You saw him for a week.

Some level.

I felt like the man that this is this.

Okay.

If I have one gripe about spring training.

It's that Connor Griffin.

I swear sorted every home every away game.

Did it play in the home games?

I think you guys saw him once live and it was because you went to an away game.

Right.

We saw him twice live once in an away game where he got hit by a pitch and was pulled immediately.

Okay.

And then once in a home game.

Yeah.

Gotcha.

I didn't think you guys saw him home.

Okay.

So then you saw him twice.

But because you went away, we saw him once because he did play just once at home.

Last week as well.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So.

Donnie.

I'm mad at you.

Did this on purpose.

I mean, that's eight games that we were at.

Actually, we were at nine games total in the two weeks.

And he played in three of them.

Yeah.

Yeah.

That is rough.

Sucks.

But anyways, Connor Griffin, man.

I mean, again, we know the talk is an extension happening.

Is he going to be on opening day roster?

How good is he going to be?

You know, we see all the comps.

See, all he does is hit home runs apparently.

So we got to not bring him up because of his batting average.

Yeah, man.

I guess it's like, what's your, what's your vibe overall, especially with Ben talking yesterday?

Do you, do you think this kid is going to be starting an opening day or not?

And that's a loaded question.

I still don't know.

And.

First off, I just want to say, let me, let me ask you, let me say this.

I think.

I think if the pirates started Connor Griffin as shortstop opening day, he would be.

Ready to go.

Like, if you're asking me, is Connor Griffin major league ready?

I think the answer to that question is yes.

Now that's with what a hundred ish played appearances above high A and, you know, Ben

Sherrington mentioned this yesterday in his press conference.

How like, yeah, like he's, he's impressive.

He's an impressive kid.

You also have to remember he's 19.

He's played in 21 games above high A, 98 played appearances above high A.

So 98, double A played appearances, zero triple A.

I mean, that's three weeks.

He's played three weeks in double A.

So you do need to kind of take a step back and just assess this like, are you putting Connor Griffin in the best position?

I think that's a debate like you could, I think either side of that debate, like holds merit right now.

Like there is, I'm as much a proponent of like getting you're getting your studs to the majors as quick as possible.

But like, even I can look at this and say, man, this is fast.

Like, it's really fast and major league baseball is a whole other animal as opposed to the eastern league, right?

It's a different animal as opposed to the international league and he hasn't even played there yet.

We've seen players over the last five years make that jump from the minors to the majors and it hasn't worked out very well.

It's a big jump.

So can he do it?

Does it put him in the best position to do it right now?

I'm not really sure what the answer to that question is and I don't know.

What I do know is that just based off of what I've seen of him.

What I've heard of him is if the pirates wanted to make that jump and put him on that opening day roster at 19 years old.

I think he could do it.

I think he could do it.

I don't think it would clearly be a it would clearly be a challenge for him.

But I think he's mature enough on the field off the field. However, you want to put it.

I think he's mature enough that that that leap is possible for a guy like Connor Griffin.

And there's not too many people that you can say that that's possible for.

But I do think that if the pirates were like, you know what, Connor, you're the opening day shortstop.

It's something that he could handle.

And I think he could handle the struggles that come with majorly baseball.

At at a young age and be able to make adjustments, learn on the fly and and just continue to become a better baseball player.

And and and just continue to become a better baseball player. He's he's a he's an impressive individual.

Like I said, both on and off the field.

He I don't know if there's a moment that's too big for him necessarily like he's.

He's impressive. And if there if there was a guy that you were going to put in this situation.

Like he's the guy.

That's it. That is it.

I for one to go back to go back to all the years talking about prospects.

Again, I would much rather have them up to face adversity.

If you feel understand what I'm coming from, like I'm not like.

I don't think they're ready. So I want to push them up there to face it.

You know, I mean, like there's also like, okay, I think he can come up here and do something, right?

Like they're not just totally.

Below the level, you know, I mean, like I understand he's only have three weeks in triple A, but he dominated it.

You know, like if he struggled there, I'm sorry in double A. If he struggled in double A, I wouldn't have to be like, all right, what is pushing him?

Like he's ready, like whatever, like I mean, he's dominating where he's been.

So.

And firstly is some of the best teachers out there, you know, the struggles are some of the best teachers out there.

I always will talk about that. You haven't had any adversity.

Maybe sometimes you need to face some of the adversity to get better.

And it's Connor going to see what he needs, even in triple A.

Like that's where rat. Like is he even going to see in triple A?

What's going to prepare him for the major leagues?

That's a fair question. You know, so I mean, there's that part of it.

I agree with everything that you mentioned as well.

I think physically you talk about on and off the field.

So I want to work it this way physically.

He has all the tools.

He's exactly where he needs to be in my mind that he can handle major league as well.

I mean, this is funny like last year when he was just 18.

I think our biggest takeaway from spring training that we've talked about it was just.

He doesn't look like a kid.

This is a man child.

Like our first impression of Connor was, oh my god, like that's not that's not an 18 year old kid at all.

Now a year later, I mean, this is a 64 tight end.

Who's playing shortstop.

You know, I mean, physically he's, he's mature.

You know, I think the tools stand out that he's matured as well.

I mean, everything that you, I don't want to say word about, but it's like, okay,

if Connor is going to succeed, he needs to clean these things up.

And we saw that after, I mean, week one of the season last year.

He's done all the things that you would imagine that you would need to do.

You get only, only, only, only, I think it only comes down to mentally.

Is he capable of doing it?

And that's where I think Connor sets himself apart from a lot of people is.

Again, my perspective, what you hear none of us know Connor.

That's well personally in the sense, but he carries himself differently.

You know, I mean, you're getting calm to like really maze and all this.

There's a lot of pressure on this kid.

And he seems to handle it quite well at 19 when Paul skiing is talking about your maturity.

That says a lot.

So I'm with you in the sense that I'm okay to some level on either side because it's,

to some level, it's very much like the Paul skiing situation.

You know, like we were fine with Paul schemes not starting an opening day.

Like I can make sense of it.

And I can make sense of this one as well to maybe just.

Let him relax a little bit.

Take some of that pressure off like here.

Go to AAA for a few weeks.

Take a breath.

You'll come up here.

Let's get you adjusted.

Let's take some of that pressure off.

I could, I could see that.

But I also, this is the pivotal year.

And if there is a kid that can do it.

It is you.

So you know what kid?

Come do it.

Come on yourself.

You know, again, this.

This is more for them.

But by the him.

Them him starting opening day.

It's like they can get that draft pick if it gets.

We're here.

Like all the implications of this.

You know, like it's in the parts favor to potentially start an opening day.

I think he can handle it.

And if you think he can handle it.

Again, mostly mentally on that side.

Then go and do it.

Just go and do it.

And I think he can.

So I'm with you.

I don't, I don't know.

I.

I can say I think he is.

I can say no, I don't know.

I have no idea what's going to happen.

But me personally, I would start a opening day.

Yeah.

And there's actually some.

Some nuance to this as well.

Like you brought up the PPI stuff.

Like if you.

If you have him up, you are.

You know, allowing yourself to.

Potentially get these rewards that come with a really good player.

And keep in mind, the PPI requirement is that they were a crew 172 days of service time.

You can still do that.

And be sent down like he doesn't have to actually start.

The year on the Major League roster, he can be called up after about two weeks.

And he still qualifies for that.

Because he'll still be getting that that full year of service time.

And you saw the Orioles did that something very similar thing with Jackson holiday a few years back.

Where they started him in the minors.

And then before.

I want to say the Orioles did it where they did it like right before that cut off.

They called him up.

Now, I think they had to send them back down because you know, he he struggled a little bit early.

But that's that's how they handled that situation.

So yeah, if you're the pirates and you do want to be like, hey, go to Indy for a week or two,

you can actually sort of double dip here and do that and still maintain his PPI eligibility.

Again, you've got you've got roughly about two weeks there to to play with.

So I could see that maybe happening.

Like you mentioned, it maybe takes a little bit of pressure off.

They go to Indy, you're playing in front of 10,000 people and set a 35 40 45 50,000 people.

Like you're going to be playing in New York on opening day.

You know, go go to Indy, get your swing down, play a few games in cold weather.

Get acclimated to it because that's the other thing too. He's never done that before.

He's from Mississippi and he's been playing in Brayton, Florida, you know, for for the first parts of the season.

So yeah, so so I could see that being a thing.

Now, I, I'm still inclined to say like, I think he's ready.

Like I think he's ready. I think he can handle it.

If you want to do that, just to like make sure I get it.

But if you're going to send him down and he's.

Every bit the same guy he is in AAA as he's shown us to be in spring training, which is.

You know, one of the best hitters on this team.

You got to get him up as soon as possible.

Yeah, to go back. So I mean, you were correct. There's one give it date.

Yeah, it was April 10th when Jackson holiday made his actual debut in New York.

I mean, they did send him down. I think a lot of people were shocked.

I mean, it was, it was right back up to ensure that he was in line to for the other PPI stuff.

And again, like if the Pirates go that route, also like I would be okay with it.

Again, it's understandable. I am not going to hammer the Pirates for not starting the 19 year old who has exactly just one year professional baseball under his belt opening day.

But it's got to be quick. Like this also can't be like we're home down till June because of all these reasons.

Like also, again, I think they're going to.

But, you know, that, that, that this is where I would be upset and hammering the Pirates.

If it's like, well, we've learned from Paul schemes. So we have to hold them down till like July, because he can still win.

Look at the year if we do it, but May or June. So, you know, that's where I'm going to fight.

If it's April 10th, he comes up or even if, which again, I'll give some pushback like, well, why do we wait this long?

Even as the end of April.

I can understand starting him off in AAA.

I just disagree that he needs to be started off in AAA.

Much like I understood why Paul schemes didn't start opening day. I just disagree. He probably couldn't should have.

Yeah, I think schemes the totally different situation to because he's a pitcher and like he had an innings limit.

I don't really compare the two too much.

I think a lot of it to like, hey, there's still two more weeks of spring training like.

If Connor Griffin does over these next two weeks, what he did the first two weeks, let's say he finishes spring with six homers and an OPS over a thousand.

I don't know how you can send him down.

You're a team.

Yeah.

I mean, you're a team who is coming off this historically bad offensive season.

And if he can be one of your best hitters on the team, then like you, that makes the decision a lot harder for me is.

Like if he, if he keeps this up, if he keeps hitting the ball.

He's hitting the ball harder than anybody on the team right now and he's 19 years old.

He leaves the team in homers.

If that continues through spring.

Like just do it.

Just do it.

Home with you.

So I said, there's still two weeks left. We'll see what we'll see how that goes.

I mean, right now, I have, I guess before it was more like, you know, can he do it?

Like is he in a position where he can do this?

I think the answer is yes, he can do it.

It's just, is it going to be best for him now and been kind of said the same thing.

This, this weekend was like he's, he's an impressive individual.

If there's anybody can do it, it's him.

But like, is it best for him?

I think, I think, I think where's things stand right now?

If you're like making me decide, is it best for him?

Sure.

Yeah, like I think, I think it is.

I think it is. Ask me again next week and the week after.

But I think right now, I'm going to go ahead and say, yeah.

All right. Love it.

Well, let's go ahead and get on to our last subject here.

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So now we have this battle going on.

Again, with the fifth starter,

that's been prominent.

We've been talking about that, you know, down there.

And also like with that being said,

it seems like everyone who's in that battle for the fifth starter.

Is doing well is doing with the need.

It's making it that much more challenging and tough to to separate.

And then there's some position battles as well.

You know,

Obviously, if corner driven starts,

I think that settles and helps out some situations.

But if not, you know, how,

how deep you carry in filters.

Is there, you know, this,

this fifth outfill or spot and such.

I think some guys that we're looking at is like Nick York,

Billy Cook.

The newly acquired Tyler Callahan,

maybe talk about him to some level.

But again, I'll separate Callahan because he's recently acquired.

But so far,

I mean.

They're all.

Maybe not as,

maybe that's the level as the guys are bound for the fifth starter.

But guys battling for this roster on the hitting side.

They're all doing a bit of a part show to say like,

Hey, maybe, maybe add me,

maybe make me the guy.

Yeah, I mean,

there's still some,

I think was nice about this is.

Like they're,

they're the battles for roster spots are.

They're not necessarily you're like super important pieces, right?

I mean, we're talking about like the last two bench players, right?

We're talking about the number five starter.

We're talking about some bullpen arms.

And yeah, like we're so far ever.

Like the pirates are having a really good spring training just as a whole.

And everyone who's competing for a job is doing like exactly what you want them to do.

They did trade Kyle Nicholas, you know,

for Tyler Callahan.

So Nicholas was a guy who was certainly in the mix for a bullpen spot.

He's no longer there.

So that opens the door, you know,

a little bit more for,

for for some other guys,

maybe a third lefty in there.

Like maybe Evan Sisk,

Mason Montgomery and Gregory Soto are all go north with the team now.

Because because there's no more,

no more Kyle Nicholas.

So I feel like that bullpen is almost pretty set,

especially if you,

if you, if you don't have Maginsky being that number five starter,

like it's a pretty set bullpen as is.

That fifth starter spots a little interesting.

I still think they're going to like,

I don't think 100 barco starts in the majors for the pirates this year.

And I think a big reason for that is just like being able to monitor his innings.

The first, the first month or two.

I know he said that his goal is to go out there, win a job.

But like he pitched 100 and three innings last year,

102 innings last year.

So you got to think realistically,

there's maybe 130 innings in there.

And if you start in day one.

In order to get to 130 innings,

it means you either have to skip starts,

or you're not going very deep into ball games.

So I have a feeling they're going to start barco and AAA,

and they're going to kind of ramp him up.

They're going to monitor those innings the first month of the year.

Make sure he's on a, you know,

an every six day, five day schedule,

every six day schedule.

But also not wasting those innings in AAA.

So I,

I don't think there's much of a chance barco starts the year in the majors.

I thought by this time we'd see another signing too,

like to help this rotation.

And we haven't seen it yet.

And we're getting later and later in camp.

You signed somebody now,

and they're not going to be ready by opening day.

You know, so.

There's still the possibility out there for a Patrick Corbin

or Tyler Anderson on a minor league deal.

Let them ramp up a little bit.

Have them come up.

You know, maybe that first week of April.

But you know, you're,

you're talking about a pretty abridged spring training

for anyone that you sign at this point.

And if it's a starting pitcher,

you're, you're kind of already a little late.

I'm still not like super comfortable with Jose or Katie.

I think we could,

I think it's fine.

Like it's not the best option in the world.

But I think it's fine.

I'd still like to add one more arm if we could.

But I don't,

I don't know if that's going to happen here sitting on March 9th

with opening day two and a half weeks away.

I don't know if that's going to happen.

So,

I think right now,

or Katie still has the inside track to a starter's role.

He's not,

he's got no options.

He's,

he's on the 40 man.

He has looked good up to this point.

I mean,

look at or Katie.

Again, it's been.

It's spring training.

But.

Why is he worse?

You're probably not going to find,

because he started against.

Columbia.

Okay. Yeah.

That was in a real.

That's game.

He has one game so far.

Yeah.

So,

that's annoying by.

That is annoying.

He looked good against Columbia.

Yeah.

So,

I want to see more of them.

But like right now,

I'm not like super comfortable with Jose or Katie as your

fifth starter.

I think you could live with them.

But I,

I think you could upgrade from there.

Well,

I'll say this.

I thought for sure they'll be adding another starting picture.

Sure.

And the fact that I haven't yet,

you know, we talked.

I think you could still sign.

So,

I'm going to be with Andrew.

He,

it felt like they'd stay signed on like the,

the first week spring training started.

That's why he was low behind.

But,

you know,

then the day it was fine.

But now that you're this deep.

Yeah.

Whoever you do sign,

you're not on the opening day roster.

Still a chance.

I mean,

there's still guys out there.

Interesting.

And maybe that's the kind of.

I alluded to this.

I think we'll two weeks ago.

Um,

that, you know,

maybe they are kind of way.

Like,

waiting it out,

because they're comfortable with either those pictures

to be their number five.

So it's just,

well, who comes at the cheapest?

Because I'm good with any of you.

So, like,

why, why take a premium price at any one of the three?

Let's just wait till the third one remains and.

Get you at your cheapest.

But also,

I think it,

what plays into that is the fact that.

I think it's mainly health for.

Or Katie.

Like.

It's a five starter.

You know,

you're, you're not going out there trying to find someone who's going to.

Shut teams down and taking the playoffs.

You need a five starter,

especially until Hunter Barkos.

Ready to come up.

And, and I think.

Her key is pitching well enough.

That they feel comfortable when putting Barko down.

That's why I say like this battle.

I mean,

Hunter Barkos in that battle.

But I think ideally you wanted to be in AAA.

And so the fact that her keys.

Looks healthy and probably good enough to start.

Play into like their ideal scenario of yeah.

Let's put him down there.

This is where it's like Paul Skins.

Let's put them down there to kind of ramp them up.

Monitor those innings.

So he's ready to come up here.

Potentially when it's needed.

Chair Jones is still in the wings.

You know, it'll be coming up late.

May hopefully as well.

But even like,

I'll this like even my,

my cleverger.

You know,

I think a lot of us was like,

Yeah, whatever.

But you know what?

Is it kind of solid?

This week I missed stuff there in the losses there.

He wasn't one time a really good pitcher with Cleveland.

You know, he's even as close as a couple of years ago, he had some, you know, a solid season.

Maybe my clevenger adds to that as well. So I think there are some options for this fifth

starter that allow, you know, the ideal person is going to be the best of that hunter barco

to be down there in the minors to kind of monitor those endings. And you can get by with either

or Keede and or clevenger in the meantime. So that way, like this fifth starter isn't much

of a pressing issue. It's funny. It's funny because we had this debate on it. It's not live.

I feel like a month ago. And I was like, you have to, you know, and you're like, I think the depth

is kind of there. And the way I fill with clevenger and or Keede right now in in camp,

maybe the depth is there, you know, because again, you're not relying on those those two to win.

Anyway, you just need an arm, essentially, that's capable. And I think they're showing that they

could be capable to this point. I know it's early, but health seems to be on both of their

sides at this point of time. And again, what's nice with clevenger is you're starting to see some

of that swing and miss stuff with him in camp. So I think I'm okay at this point of time with whoever

gets the fifth starter role and barco being in the minors. Yeah, I'm not really moving from my

stance and thinking that like they have to go out there and get somebody. I think it would just

be it would be a little bit better. I haven't been super impressed with my clevenger to be honest

with you. Okay. I think that that looks a little good, but he's walking a lot of people and the

command seems to be off. And he still also hasn't been able to get anyone out for a couple years now.

So I'm going to take that over eight innings of spring training. Or Keede's a little bit different

for me in that like he's had past success in the season. He's just he's just been injured the

last two years. Like it's not like our Keede's just been healthy and awful the past couple of seasons.

He's been he's been hurt and hasn't played. Whereas whereas clevenger has been healthy and awful.

Right. So like they have to that. Clevenger's going to have to do a whole lot more to impress me

in spring training than than our Keede. Yeah, there's a question here too where like you know,

would would we would I feel any different if there was maybe just another lefty in this rotation.

Like if it breaks an extract just through left handed, you know, would we be would we be fine.

And I think yeah, like I do like having a lefty in there. Like I don't I know it's not necessary.

Like you don't it's not like it doesn't really make a whole lot of sense. Like you're a new team

every day. I think for me, it's just like if you're going to go out there and you're going to find a

guy a lefty makes sense because they over perform a PNC part typically. So you can usually get

pretty good value there. But yeah, I think right now I'm okay with where they're pitching is at

the depth is a little I think the depth is there. Like I think it's good enough to get them through

as long as as long as the top of that rotation stays healthy. I guess if the top of the rotation

is staying healthy and you're able to get 30 starts out of those guys, then

then that fifth starter can just like I said, it can just be a guy.

So I'm good with where they're at right now. I would welcome another pitcher with open arms

if they wanted to be somebody. But yeah, I haven't really changed my thought process and like

they're I think they're okay where they're at. I'll fair. I'll say this though. I haven't

talked about, I mean, we even talked about Tyler Callahan either. So if we want to just mention

him real quick, I want to go the hitting side of things. Yeah, yeah. He's a guy who I've seen

a little bit in the just being in a reds minor league town. I've been able to to watch him

very sparingly. But like when watching Louisville play, you know, it was pretty clear that Tyler

Callahan was was one of the better players on that team when he was here. I'm not sure if he's

necessarily going to make this team. I think this is I think this has gotten to be a pretty

interesting position battle now. The one thing that's almost going against him is

you you sort of want some righty bats on that bench because your lineup is super lefty heavy.

So like would you stick because right now I feel like Callahan is in a direct battle with

Nick York or you know, and or Josephson Garcia or depending on what they do here with Conor Griffin,

like yeah, if Conor Griffin is the starting shortstop, then Callahan probably makes this team.

Right. Gonzalez goes to the bench. Nick York's a bench back Garcia still probably is going to

triple A. I think I don't think they're going to keep Garcia around as a fifth outfielder. So

yeah, I think I think right now actually I think right now in either scenario, I think Callahan's

probably on this team. I think Callahan's on this team. He's versatile. He can play a lot of

the different positions. He's got some power. His swing should play fairly well at PNC Park.

And if you look at him versus the other left-handed bench option that you have and men well

vault as like I like Callahan better than vault as defensively and offensively.

I want to be fair. I don't know that much about Callahan to have like this real formidable

opinion on like who I truly like better. But I guess I kind of look at this in my mind too.

I feel like if Conor does start in triple A, Callahan is on the team. I think that's where it

definitely comes into play. Because this makes the most sense. You just shift

to a shortstop. Maybe Callahan's playing third in that meantime. Because I'd rather have him there.

I think the Nick York now Nick is all is like an argument. Like maybe it is Nick is also not Callahan.

That's fair. But maybe then therefore that's why Callahan's on the bench that point of time.

If Conor does make the team, I think then it's like is it Nick York you'd rather have or Callahan on

the bench? And I don't know. Like honestly I don't know. I feel like I would prefer somebody else

than Nick York to be on the bench. But I'm not here to tell you like it's that's Tyler Callahan.

It could be. It could be. But as you mentioned too, like is the righty-letty a difference maker

or not. Nick York so far offensively having a solid spring. One of my takeaways from seeing

Nick York is it's not that he's going to hit 20 plus home runs, right? But seems to be in the ball

harder than I expected. The ball's coming off the bat. Yeah. Pretty well. You know the numbers

reflect that. But it's not like he's thinking and dunking his way to you know those numbers are like

and then one against Columbia like he hit us. He smoked the ball to center field and it's got

robbed. Great catch. You know so he's in the ball pretty pretty well. Defensively not so good.

That might take away. Defensively not so great. So what does that mean? I don't really know.

You know I don't think he's blown anyone away. You know defensive wise. You know it's not like

you're looking at Trillo. He belongs to the major because that glove is going to play. You know like

Nick York, I feel like you're going to have to hit to some level to do so. So you know there's that.

I don't I don't know how I call it. You know I don't I'm not here to tell you like Callahan

is a great glove either. Great bat. But you know with Nick York he's he's hitting the ball a little

bit better than I anticipated he would. But it's still in my like my eyes. Nick York. I would

prefer something better. So if Tyler Callahan is that guy I'm perfectly okay with it.

Yeah I mean I think that's that's all fair. This is certainly like I say he's a position battle

though like he's he's definitely in the mix here. Mm-hmm or for a bench spot and I say if you don't

know a whole lot about him. He can play left field. He can play third base. He can play second

base. He can play first base. He can he can also play right field. He hasn't really done that

but he could definitely play corner outfield. So you know someone you can plug into a few different

positions. There certainly is some power there. The the hit tool isn't outstanding like there's

going to be some swing and miss here. But he's got he's got a little bit of pop. And yeah I feel

like just the swing the swing plays well. I've seen him hit like nukes before I guess and so

that's that's something that's something now who is in the minors off of AAA pitching but I

I have seen it happen. Sure. In my in my very limited time scouting Tyler Callahan

he he stood out when it came to the red triple A baseball club. And I guess to be fair about this

a player who cannot hit nukes is count Nicholas. So all fair. Good point. Also Kyle Nicholas blew

up against Great Britain yesterday. You know I didn't notice that. Did he kind of did the

Kyle Nicholas thing walk a bunch of people gave up two runs. Yeah. I'll say this. I mean it's

I wish it would have worked out. Kyle Nicholas' stuff is awesome. The slider. I mean we've talked

about the slider a lot where like it grades out as one of the best pitches on the entire team.

It's just there's always there's always something with them where like he just can't find the strike

zone and you did see him put it a little bit together towards the end of last year where he put

like a few outings in a row to extract really good outings. So it sucks he's now in the division.

So hopefully he never throws another strike again like just all balls from this point forward

and just walks every pirate he faces for the rest of his career. There it is. He doesn't say it's

all perspective if it sucks or not. It could be very very good thanks in division. Yeah I said my

piece about the trade and such but you know now Tyler Callahan is in here I think he's certainly

in that mix but ultimately you know Nick York's doing his thing even Billy Cook's doing his thing

he's talking about the password and I think maybe Billy Cook could provide almost like the

Hunter Barker thing. It's like you know you want to go see the have every day at bats and I brought

this scenario I think because like we're talking about behind the scenes like the dug in such

and like I felt like if no this isn't a jinx please don't don't make this happen but like I felt

like if Rhino Herne went down for extended period of time I feel like you know what Garcia coming

up makes a lot of sense because he'll get every day at bats he is performing well this off you

know this the spring and such and maybe he's ready you know we're talking about that but because I

feel like okay he's the plug and play you put him in and left field right for whatever I feel like

if Jake Mangum got hurt maybe like a Billy Cook makes sense in that regards because you're probably

not playing every day with Garcia you still want to maybe down there so Billy Cook is still somewhat

kind of important in this and so far he's having a you know productive spring so that's how I

looked at it so to bring up Billy Cook's you know name here I don't think he's really in the running

for opening day but I think those like the scenarios I'm looking at or Billy Cook could could come

up before Garcia even because I think Garcia makes the most sense like he's next man up but like

if maybe your fourth outfit or gets hurt like a Mangum maybe Cook makes more sense at that

point of time if it's April yeah I could see that I could see that yeah right now like the good

news is that everyone seems to be performing and again it's spring train healthy so it's hard

it's really hard to kind of distinguish any of this because especially some of these guys like

Billy Cook's been getting a lot of endings against he's been getting a lot of playing time against

like the the back end guys and and so who's to know how good any of these guys are we won't find out

until later right I mean I have a pretty good idea I know how good Billy Cook is well yeah and

I agree with that but I still think that scenario makes sense I think depends on how much playing

time Mangum is getting I think if Garcia if Mangum didn't exist Garcia would soul like would be

this team's fourth outfielder right now that's where I'm at so I think if something were to happen

to Mangum I think Garcia's got a spot on this team okay I don't have too much faith in Billy Cook

oh I don't either but it's really do much of anything yeah all right well was there anything

else that we're gonna talk about um World Baseball Classic uh Paul skiing's starting for team USA

tonight so uh that should be exciting must see TV yeah he seems to be uh definitely

rusting himself into everything that the World Baseball Classic encapsulates so yeah he's uh I

expect him to be outstanding tonight yeah well I mean he has one speed it's outstanding yeah

yeah so it should be fun if I think I believe I believe that games at eight o'clock tonight yep

yeah so Paul skiing's World Baseball Classic it probably go four endings would be my guess

that's what he's probably do four uh three or four endings so yeah let's go USA

go USA go Paul this is the second best thing you do serving your country so

so do it then be successful I can't wait Paul skiing is great and it's nice too like when you

see graphics like everyone the promoting USA and the BBC like it's Aaron judge and like Paul skiing's

you know I mean it's it's awesome like hey that's a that's a Pittsburgh pirate and he's like

the face of this thing so yeah cool um all right so there's that tonight um outside of that some

promotion so if you haven't heard there's a new show that's coming to North Shore 9 with a new person

Alex stump joins NS9 having a daily show called Offbeat that's going to debut probably a

somewhere later this week uh I think it may be a Thursday uh it'll first drop but then basically

every day Monday through Friday about 15 minutes you can see here Alex stump talk some inside news

some stuff he's been holding out from telling us this whole past week I'm kind of pissed but I get it

yeah I'm super excited that we that we were able to to make this happen um because I think

what's what's what's nice about this is it just brings an entirely different viewpoint to the

podcast in general you know we're we're fans we talk like fans we react like fans all season long

we're gonna be doing 162 post game shows where it's just instantly reacting to good or bad things

that that is happening uh in front of us and so it's uh like that's that's what we bring right

Alex brings something completely different he's a journalist like with a capital J uh and he's

uh he's a pro and everything that he does uh he's going to be in the clubhouse in the press box

at the games getting a little more insight he's got he's got better sources than we do right so

like he's he's just going to be able to provide a completely different viewpoint to the to the

podcast that that we just don't have um yeah I can't speak about this team all that objectively I

really can't because I'm a big fan I I like the players I dislike some players like there's

that that's just how it is right I'm not going to speak objectively about the Pittsburgh Pires

I I will try to every once in a while but for the most part I said I'm a fan I'm gonna talk like

um but Alex uh is gonna bring that that new perspective so yeah I'm super excited about it also

like it's a it's a quick show right it's 15 minutes so like sometimes we go in our post game

shows are 25 right now yeah sometimes post game shows go 30 minutes 15 minutes daily boom boom

boom um should be a quick easy show for for you to for you guys to follow so that way um you

know it doesn't really interrupt anything else that we're doing it's just another super quick

hit on top of on top of what we do so yeah I am super excited to have Alex on board yeah like

I thought we had a great countergrip and discussion earlier and then you know I also can just come

on say local actually guys I'm hearing that you know the Pirates have offered a 20 year 500 million

dollar deal to him and he is starting an opening day and like well and boom there you go that's

what he provides there you go there it is so we'll let you know for sure but it sounds like

probably this Thursday it's going to drop the first episode but I'm truly excited about that

of course we'll have NS9 live this Wednesday um and another uh the point this Friday I think it's

gonna be our last point of the year but we'll have it especially guests coming on there as well

should be pretty fun and uh we're that much closer to the actual games happening some real games

some opening day games but yeah stay tuned make sure you're like to subscribe uh I think

Ryan's about to drop a blog article as well soon so we're coming out full force right now

pumping on all engines we're physically and mentally prepared right now we're ready

yeah it's it's spring training for us as well and yeah we're ramping up for the season

there it is some call us the chronographies of no they don't

not at all we're more like obelisk books yes we are the billy cooks but to answer a turtle here yes

it is nine thought I guess Alex brings us to officially nine people that that's kind of cool thank

I'm with him yeah yeah love it so all right guys we'll back watch Paul schemes shove to 98 come check

us out Wednesday at nine friend us on live and we'll see you guys later bye bye peace out guys

all right that wraps up this episode of north shore nine thanks so much for tuning in whether

you're listening on the podcast or catching us on youtube if you enjoyed the show please give

this video a thumbs up and don't forget to hit that subscribe button if you haven't already

it really helps us grow and if you're listening on the podcast a quick review goes a long way

and helping others find the show plus be sure to tell a friend about us there's always room for more

here in the ns nine community and for those looking to support us a little more consider joining

our patreon become an MVP member and get exclusive perks while helping us continue to bring you more

of the pirates content you love thanks again for all your support and let's go bucks

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