Pirates Spring Training LIVE From LECOM Park: Braxton Ashcraft Starts In Split Squad Matchup

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Yo, yo, yo, welcome to the North Carolina podcast presented by Fandall.

I'm your host, Anthony Denardo.

With me, we have in the house, Nate.

Oh, sorry. What's up, Nate?

What's up, Denar? How are we doing today?

I'm doing very, well, bittersweet, I guess is what I'm doing.

It's a gorgeous day once again.

All week, it's been really, really nice.

We got baseball happening once again.

But it's our last day here to watch this.

So that's the bittersweet part of this.

Yeah, it sucks.

Last day here, last time seeing log baseball

till they're back in Pittsburgh, at least.

Right, right.

For us, which by the way, the tailgate, April 18th,

that's we'll all be back there for live baseball,

Paul Schien's ball ahead day.

We'll have some news coming out on how you can buy the tickets and all that very, very shortly.

But that's, again, or a live tailgate is going to be Saturday at noon.

So speaking of live baseball, great plug.

You're a pro at this.

Yeah, he also know lines for the ball ahead.

Yeah, no lines. Everyone gets one.

Right.

So, but no, today we have a pretty interesting game.

It's from the pirate side.

It is a split squad.

We'll talk about the other game that's happening in Dunedin here afterwards.

But tonight, or I should say today,

Braxton Ashcraft does take the mound here at Leacom.

As far as the lineup, pretty much most of the mainstays, especially the heart of the order.

They seem to be almost every day.

You see, loud rentals or herring in the lineup.

I feel like there's some differences.

Mangum is not going to be here.

It's going to be the need in economy and the need.

And we'll talk about that.

But for the most part, the guys that you probably mainly want to see is going to be here at Leacom today.

Yeah.

Of course, you got the heart of order.

You got triolo, loud rentals or herring part.

The top five are all mainstays in the lineup.

Sure.

And Manuel Valdez could be a bench bat who knows.

Billy Cook, another one of those guys fighting for a roster spot.

Alica Williams had the home run yesterday and the kind of the surprise of the lineup today.

And left field Mitch Jebs going to get the starting nod.

Yeah.

Is this his first start of spring training at least at home?

It could be.

Don't quote me.

I wasn't here last week for the whole time.

I know he's gotten into games, but I don't think he's started.

This could be.

It's could be the first start.

Yeah.

Top of the order is just all guys that you're expecting to be on the, it will be on the opening day roster.

Right.

And are all mainstays.

Of course, we were discussing Marcelo Zuna, no Marcelo Zuna today.

Last time we saw him play was Monday, but he seems perfectly fine.

He was walking around gave fist bumps out yesterday.

Yeah.

I didn't really have note, but.

Right.

So there's something of no right.

He hasn't played since Monday.

There was a game Tuesday, also against Colombia.

Wednesday was an off day.

They played yesterday.

We're at today's a split squad.

So it's really been an opportunity.

He hasn't been a lineup.

But again, this is a veteran we're talking of.

It's almost like, let me think about.

Couch.

When Couch was a part of the past few years.

But like there's times where Couch had like 13 played appearances.

Like Marcelo Zuna kind of falls that line.

Like he's not here.

He doesn't really need the reps.

He's the other guys do.

So I'm not too worried about that, but again, he hasn't been in the lineup since.

Monday.

But again, let's let's go ahead and talk about.

Braxton Ashcraft.

I was giving up one on run in the five innings.

He's coming off a year.

He had 69 innings pitch.

I think it was a 2.71 ERA.

I mean, he's he's been looked at as a really solid prospect.

He's got a lot of good stuff.

Last year he put things together.

It looked really, really good.

You know, for a rotation.

That's young.

He's going to be a big part.

Pretty important piece of this.

So, you know, seeing him.

Come to the amounts today.

I'm excited.

Yeah.

I'm excited.

Yeah.

I'm a really big fan of Braxton Ashcraft.

Maybe we'll try to get him on an interview for Postgame too.

My goal for him today is to be efficient.

That's kind of the story when I was talking to Ryan yesterday.

Just if Mitch Keller can be efficient, he was getting stretched to go.

Maybe four innings.

Of course, Mitch allowed the lead off home.

And I think a walk right after.

So he got it out.

Yeah.

So I think the plan is today probably the same thing.

Try to get four innings.

Maybe five innings.

Who knows who even with the splits?

Who knows.

Who knows.

Who knows.

Who knows.

Who knows.

Who knows.

Who knows.

Who knows.

Who knows.

Who knows.

Who knows.

Even with the split squad.

Might have less relievers go in today for that too.

But I think the plan for Ashcraft.

At least three clean full innings and maybe try to get the fourth if you can do it.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I think that's kind of the goal right now.

They've been hit in three.

So maybe try to get into the fourth.

Maybe a full four.

Oh, fish.

And he is.

Now I'll say this as well.

You know, I know it's a split squad.

We talked about the pirate's lineup.

Ashcraft is pitching some decent guys you want to see on the pirate side.

But it comes to the filly side.

Nate.

Attractive so what do you mean? What do you mean what you tell us it's a lot of I know you're dying to say so it's funny

We're watching batting practice. I completely forgot this player was on the Phillies

I'm like who's talking to leeka Williams. Who's who's going over to them? It's layover pick where oh he's batting fifth

And adding fourth for the Phillies today tell us infamous Pittsburgh pirates trade deadline acquisition

Brian De La Cruz are better known as BDLC. Yes, the best day La Cruz in the NL Central. Yes. Yes, but this should be interesting

Like this is literally the Phillies we like to say the B team is over in

Dunedin with Pirates. I wouldn't call that really the B team

But today seems like with this line up the Phillies have like with auto camp and other names like that

Might be the C or D team

But it wouldn't shock me. It's spring trade. They could all like I was telling denaris like this team could literally somehow beat the pirates team today

Like all their relievers or whatever tend to nothing. It good who knows and again. That's why the glory of spring training

Stats don't truly matter

But but again like for backstint ashcraft sake and what we're looking for it's not the most fearsome lineup

So so again, I'm kind of interested to see what Braxton does see the efficiency see what his picks pitches

Strike out numbers there. This guy's gonna strike out a lot of guys. He's got some really intriguing stuff

So with this lineup, maybe we'll see a few strikeouts. I'm hoping to see that for sure

But all to me again, how efficient he'll be especially with them. Yeah, it's funny the comments

So I'm points out it's literally they're playing the iron picks the basically what is

Valley iron pick and I do want to go back

So Brian day of the cruise at least when we were here when he was with the braze

Oh, we did a show he had home run

so

Hopefully, you know, he did the braves last year

Maybe not so much this year against the Phillies. Maybe we won't see a home run from him, but you can see him Homer last time around

We did as like the one homers. I see them. I've seen him play live once as I didn't do too many when he was with the

I think you only hit two maybe

Maybe that's what happens. We have like a negative point eight war negative one point. Well, whatever it was in those two months

It's all for good fun. Right right right

But anyway, so yeah, so that's the first squad

That's what's happening to us again back to line up a little bit. Uh, it is kind of cool

And you're seeing like Brian Reynolds. Yeah

Brandon Lau

Ron or her pretty much into every lineup and they're all seem to be taking BP together and we saw them a little bit today as well

Yeah, not that much difference kind of stuff

We've been saying over and over again, but again, I just got to emphasize some more. I mean

Ryder herds a pretty put together dude, right? Yep. It's got some mass to him. It's pretty tall

Ryan Reynolds kind of the same thing. I mean six two's got some massive

You look at those guys and it's like all right those those guys need some home runs, right?

But you know, I feel like the beat writers are asking Don Kelly all until all the time and we're talking about all times

But like then you see Brandon Lau come up the path and again, it's them two

The horses right going in the badicade and then it's been allowed and it's like this

This one doesn't belong, but I feel like the baldest jumps off his bat better than the other two

And he hits the home runs better than both of them right

It's actually very impressive like he was hitting some BP him and Brian like they were all in homerun

So Brian Reynolds it would be far out the right field I saw

But Brandon Lau is really interesting to watch do BP because like you said he's definitely smaller than the typical home run hitter

Like you wouldn't expect Brandon Lau if you're meeting him for the first time be like oh he's hit 31 home runs last last season

Yeah, and like I don't want it to be a slight, but it's like yeah, like you can be sure like we saw as mentioned like and it's still extreme

But like to Mars, you know, not at all, dude, but he's put together. He's very compact

Right, that's that's not Brandon Lau, you know, I mean you look at him. It's like

Are you a professional athlete?

And I can not say that he's slight, but yeah, the way that ball jumps off his bat is I mean it's incredible

And I'm excited to see we talk about it on it's not and it's not in live on Wednesday like that's the biggest trade

Biggest move honestly of the offseason like yeah, you got a 31 home run bat

And it's one of those things like let's see him put it together

He's had a pretty solid spring in my opinion too. I would love to see him. It is and it's funny

We made the joke him

Brian Reynolds ran a herna combine one home run this spring the same amount as elika Williams this spring

So like spring training stats don't matter, but like yeah elika Williams had some fun BP today

I mean they have this offseason they're bringing all these guys little did they know they had elika just sitting right here

Yeah, one of the power he was right here all the time which he's going to be playing today with Connor Griffin in the other game

He didn't put one of the seats of BP as well for if we're talking about BP

But let's get to the pitching side to the the bullpen. So get an ashcraft this starting Isaac Mattson would get in Mason Montgomery

Brandon big wall bow burrows a Michael Darrell Hicks will all be pitching

Again Mattson

He's big part of this bullpen. Do you want to see him Montgomery expect to he's part of that trade acquisition talk about

There's some really intriguing stuff

So another day of seeing what he provides and we could bring to this team. Yeah, I'm excited

It's like Mattson as well the panther guy you guys had him on the show a couple days ago

I'm excited to see the middle part Mason Montgomery and Brandon mid draw

Those are two dudes on the 40 man where it's like great Mason Montgomery

I believe has a better shot at making this team. I would hope he makes the team

He's he was the top lefty. They added besides Gregory Soto, right, but what also being a left. Yeah

And we we talked about Kyle Nicholas getting moved away like traded off of that maybe that open spot for bid draw

Yeah, be the outside looking in maybe open to get a spot on this roster on the major league side

That is and I'm intrigued to see what he can do this spring because I might and he's had a pretty solid spring

He's got some really interesting stuff as well

So I'm hoping to like when we're when we're back here like watch his bullpen a little bit

Maybe try to get him on as well. So who knows. Yeah, I'm excited to see what he can do against the Lehigh at Valley iron pigs

There you go

That's so funny. Yeah, but yeah, they got it in the chat for bringing that on

So let's go ahead. We'll transition to uh the team that's out in the meeting facing the blue jays before we do a little work from our sponsors as well

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All right, so as mentioned the split squad today the other side is going through the need and to play the blue jays

in that

Game Bubba Chandler is going to start as well. So i mean today features two really pictures that you really want to see

Guys to be in the rotation for sure, but the young or not a whole lot experience could be possibly a big part of this rotation

The success for this team this year, but also two guys that have some really intriguing stuff obviously Bubba

One of the top prospects in baseball

Uh, he comes with the full pedigree of that, but i think it's a little bit different of course sample size is small

Ashcalfs look really well. Bubba has struggled certainly with command

Yeah, Bubba's had a interestingly like rocky spring training like starly isn't he hasn't had that many outings like

I think this is only outing number three for him. Yep, so far he's one to one

He's only pitched three innings that his ERA is 18 that might be inflated of course only three innings

Only four k's a whip of 3.33 so you especially like

You'll you guys will hear in the don kelly press conference after like you know our post game

But someone I think was gorman asked about like as it wins it too early to maybe

Start worrying about bobing like don kelly says said basically there is a point where this spring where you might start to get a little bit worried

Which is a very fair argument, especially as of course manager of the team and fans have definitely expressed like some

Maybe worries it really early, but it gets to a point maybe later this spring maybe next week time you if he's still struggling

It might be like ooh as he ready to be that four or five starter or even the three starter would which basically

How we've been talking like it seems like or key to your club and you're fighting for that five starter

That would mean Bubba's either your three or four because you have Paul and Mitch your one and two

Ashcraft's looking like the three starter right now in my opinion the way he pitched last year

So I'm really intrigued to see how Bubba can bounce back because he's going up against Jose Barrios on the Blue Jays

And he has some main stays in the Blue Jays line. We got Addison Barger in there. I'm David Schneider as well

Junior. He's away with the Dominican Republic right now

But it's going to be interesting to see how Bubba can bounce back. He's playing a pretty solid team over and over at the Toronto spring trading

And they did just win a world series. So there's a little bit of win. I'm sorry, but they what they did appear at the world series

I just true tough times for Canada in my mind. They won. Yeah in my heart. They won

No, but uh, but yeah, that's like the night and day of these line-ups. Ashcraft has obviously a easier task in that sense

But we're right. I mean don't Kelly did kind of mention like there is a point, but at this point of time

There's not a word right now. I mean they are nowhere near that point of time

They know how Bubba works

You know what he has a player in a person that they're not worried

So again, though you do want to start seeing that coming off your things especially as they go deeper into games

You know what they're working on

So there is that and then the line up there

So most of the thumpers are in this one, but there are some players in that line up

Of course, Mangal who's had a great great

But then there's the person that everyone wants to see that I feel like

We get to see once a week because he's always featured away

Yeah, it's funny with like these split squads it gives a fans a option when you see both the line-ups

Today you're getting more of the major lead guys

If you want to be pay attention to your prospects, though

Like or your guys like just sensing Garcia your griffins your andes your Raphael flores juniors those types

You and tomorrow also you watch the other game right because this is what you got Jake Mangal

Who's going to be basically the only guy in this lineup into a plane into needing

That is the guy is going to be a mainstay probably of this pirate's team

Then you got Griffin, Andy, Flores, Junior, Nick, York, Password, Dom and Exflectories fighting for a roster spot

Permar, Nick, Camillo, and then Bubba pitching

So I would say it's more of the young guns in Dunedin right now

And it's like kind of those vets today

But it's going to be interesting following what's going on with two games at once as well

So I'm intrigued though like I brought up like Password

He's the guy I'm watching this spring so I'm excited to see what he does against especially Jose Barrios

A mainstay major league starter today in today's game

So it's going to be interesting

Yeah absolutely

But again the talk though is Connor Griffin of course

You know I wanted to see him over time

Of course I'm not going to get that chance unfortunately

But he is over there uh playing so

So he has a decent split you know for a split

I mean there's reasons to watch and pay attention to both games

Obviously again Connor Griffin's the headline over in Dunedin

But yeah so so there's the two obviously the pictures

We have the pictures for that one

The other notable pictures that are I would say there's more than two other relievers going for this

But you have Noah Davis and the other Noah Murdoch

And interestingly enough we can I forgot that we forgot to bring this up

So some other guys on the bench over in the away game you got Merch Gray

And why it's Sanford and then on the bench today

You're adding here is Yordani and Johann Dela Santos both of them

Jared Jones the hitter

Yeah and then of course Cal and Moss

He was interesting after the falter trade

Never really heard of him and then he just starts hitting tanks with Greensboro

And and he has I mean Cal and Moss has been interesting in that sense

You know I know he's gonna see some Jared older like the age for the level but

It's not the first time a guy's done that there's some interest um

But yeah so it's again both games pretty decent lineup

It's pretty good matchups here

Certainly some guys you want to see some more of

Obviously with the pitching side of things

Um and outside of that this is our last day here

So I'm trying to take in everything that we can

See some good content if you're around stop and see us

We got plenty of koozy stickers that we want to hit out sticker and give away today

We'll do some short content also uh then we'll do our wrap up

Um, but we also have a special announcement

I feel we have two coming probably within the next few days but

One really big special announcement that we'll come and drop tomorrow. Yep

Maybe we'll throw some hints at it. Yep. Uh maybe you've already maybe seen some hints at it

But we'll have a context we'll have a we'll have a big announcement coming

I think you all will certainly enjoy and uh outside of that

Let's go watch some baseball. Yeah, I'll be in Pittsburgh at this time tomorrow

Not as totally a bad thing, but the weather is not the greatest, right?

Yeah, I'm no one not I'll say I've told you guys

I'm not one not really to enjoy heat. That's true

But like it hasn't been that bad yesterday was hot. It was

It was it was bad to say the word genes today's kind of humid because it poured yesterday out of nowhere

But like still

It's gonna be sad leaving. Well there it is. Yeah, so we will be back for one more wrap up

Doug and I will be on later. Yep. Dougie fresh the man of the people. We'll see you guys then

Make sure you like subscribe do all the good stuff as we always ask we love you all

Bye-bye. See you guys

All right that wraps up this episode of North Shore 9

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From NBC Universal's iconic storytelling to the innovative technology across Xfinity and Peacock,

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