The Pirates are desperate for starting pitching help, and Tyler Glasnow is winning in the minor leagues.
So what's the hold-up on what would appear to be a logical move?
Hmm, could it be that Glasnow isn't ready?
Based on the need for quality starting pitching at the major league level, it certainly appears that way.
Glasnow pitched six no-hit innings the other night, but he also walked six batters. His walk totals are high (42 in 77 innings), and they've been trending upward lately.
From this considerable distance, it looks like Glasnow is one of those young pitchers who can simply blow away Class AAA hitters with his stuff when he's in a jam. That works that that level, as evidenced by his 6-2 record and 1.75 earned run average.
It's a much more risky proposition in the major leagues.
Bring Glasnow up before he's ready to seriously compete, and there's a danger of damaging his development.
That's the risk, and that's the answer to the "Well, he can't be any worse than Jeff Locke" mob. Getting to the major leagues and getting pounded could actually slow down Glasnow's promising career.
If that's at stake, leave him in Indianapolis until he's ready.
This is not a policy exclusive to the current Pirates' regime. Joe L. Brown, was the team's general manager from 1955-76, believed it was always better to call up a prospect later rather than sooner.
Ballplayers aren't like bananas, and don't spoil if they're left behind to ripen. No one ever claimed a career was ruined by spending some extra time in the minor leagues.
This is not a money issue. The safe date for arbitration has passed. There's no possible financial penalty for bringing up Glasnow before he's ready.
The Pirates' organization has him under constant scrutiny. They get reports from his manager and pitching coach after every start. Other eyes in the organization are on him, too.
They don't think he's ready. They have more information than anyone on Glasnow. They have more reason to want him to be ready than anyone else.
So that must mean he's not ready, no matter how dazzling the minor league stats might be.
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--ALL ON BOARD
The crowd for the Penguins' Stanley Cup parade was estimated at 400,000 last week. This led at least one of the speakers to proclaim the town was crazy for hockey.
It is whenever the Stanley Cup is present.
Everybody loves a winner, which isn't exactly a scoop.
Pittsburgh loves a party, and loves it even more when it's free.
If anyone didn't mind standing shoulder to shoulder with in oppressive heat and humidity, the parade was a great experience.
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--WHAT'S THE FUTURE?
A lot of people spoke at the parade/rally.
Franchise owners Ron Burkle and Mario Lemieux were not on that list.
Too bad. Before the season, they announced they were exploring the possibility of selling the franchise. There hasn't been a lot of news on that front since then.
It would be good to have some information.
This has always been a business proposition for Burkle, a California-based billionaire who has no evident affection for hockey or ties to Pittsburgh.
The belief is that Lemieux wants to cash out at age 50 and enjoy life in the mansion he's had built near Montreal, where his extended family still lives. His four children are out of the house and there's nothing to bind him to western Pennsylvania.
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--GAME SEVEN
Can you really be cruel enough to root against downtrodden Cleveland's Cavaliers tonight?
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--HAIR TODAY...
Now that the NHL playoff beards are gone, Donald Trump's carefully-engineered comb-over has reclaimed its title as America's most outrageous hair.
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