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Tuesday, June 21, 2022

Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz showcases all his skills in impressive season debut

It was a Statcast showcase. We already pointed out he has the hardest infielder throw of the season. He also hit the hardest ball any Pirates player has hit all season (the 112.9 miles per hour double above) and had the three highest sprint speeds recorded this season by a Pirates player (via MLB Pipeline).

All this from the tallest regular shortstop—assuming he stays put—in MLB history.

This wasn’t Cruz’s MLB debut. He played the final two games last season, going 3 for 9 with a home run, three RBI and two runs. He was sent to the minors to start the season and remained there until his callup for Monday’s game. To this point, the Pirates had been one of the worst teams in baseball in terms of shortstop production. That’ll change now with Cruz in there.

RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: June 21, 2022 at 09:07 AM | 30 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
  Tags: oneil cruz, pirates

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   1. sanny manguillen Posted: June 21, 2022 at 12:30 PM (#6083059)
Two active posts about young Pirates?
   2. The Yankee Clapper Posted: June 21, 2022 at 01:50 PM (#6083070)
Named for Paul O’Neill, his poor-spelling Dad’s favorite player. Pirates have a 2-game series @ Yankees in September, where that theme seems likely to be thoroughly explored.
   3. The Duke Posted: June 21, 2022 at 02:24 PM (#6083079)
How many players with two last names have their been?
   4. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: June 21, 2022 at 02:34 PM (#6083081)
Everyone has a last name as a first name now - Walker, Turner, Miller, Carter, Addison, Hudson, Hunter...
   5. salvomania Posted: June 21, 2022 at 03:17 PM (#6083095)
Harrison, Aaron, Tyler, Miles, Nolan, Dylan, Drew, Jordan, Kramer... and that's just from the 2022 Cardinals.
   6. sunday silence (again) Posted: June 21, 2022 at 03:35 PM (#6083102)
no, those are first names functioning as last names.
   7. Snowboy Posted: June 21, 2022 at 03:36 PM (#6083104)
Tried to start playing wordle today with ONEIL but "not in word list"
   8. What did Billy Ripken have against ElRoy Face? Posted: June 21, 2022 at 03:44 PM (#6083109)
Named for Paul O’Neill, his poor-spelling Dad’s favorite player.
Bad with punctuation, too.
   9. Walt Davis Posted: June 21, 2022 at 04:12 PM (#6083120)
They had an odd factoid ... I think it was that Cruz is tied for the 3rd most RBI by a SS in their first 3 games. It was Molitor and Story with 7 I think, then Cruz and Starlin Castro with 6. So destined for stardom.

He's very tall and very skinny (for now) -- my brain went for Enos Cabell (6-4, 170). If Cabell could have played a good SS rather than a bad 3B he'd have been a very good player.

EDIT: OK, I guess not "very" skinny.
   10. Tom Nawrocki Posted: June 21, 2022 at 04:18 PM (#6083122)
How many players with two last names have their been?


Connor Joe only has one last name, but it's his first name.
   11. salvomania Posted: June 21, 2022 at 04:53 PM (#6083130)
Reminds me of '70s pitcher Mike Paul.
   12. Walt Davis Posted: June 21, 2022 at 10:42 PM (#6083186)
Turns out Cruz got an RBI later in the game which I think tied the "record" of 7.
   13. Jose is Absurdly Correct but not Helpful Posted: June 22, 2022 at 08:32 AM (#6083217)
Who's the greatest AL/NL player with a first name starting with "O?" Obviously if you include the NeL it's Charleston but AL/NL? I'm probably missing someone obvious but I can't think of anyone.
   14. SoSH U at work Posted: June 22, 2022 at 09:09 AM (#6083220)
Ozzie Smith?
   15. Jose is Absurdly Correct but not Helpful Posted: June 22, 2022 at 09:29 AM (#6083222)
Like I said, missing someone obvious.
   16. My name is Votto, and I love to get Moppo Posted: June 22, 2022 at 10:10 AM (#6083226)
Orel Hershiser was pretty good, too.
   17. Random Transaction Generator Posted: June 22, 2022 at 10:42 AM (#6083229)
Orlando Cepeda?
   18. What did Billy Ripken have against ElRoy Face? Posted: June 22, 2022 at 11:03 AM (#6083233)
Orestes Minoso?
   19. The Mighty Quintana Posted: June 22, 2022 at 12:24 PM (#6083247)
Recently, we've had Orlando Cabrera and Orlando Hudson (two pretty good middle infielders)
   20. Tom Nawrocki Posted: June 22, 2022 at 12:28 PM (#6083248)
And Orlando Hernandez. Plus, not so recently, Orval Overall.
   21. The Mighty Quintana Posted: June 22, 2022 at 12:32 PM (#6083250)
And Omar Vizquel and Ozzie Guillen...and Ossie Bleuge and Odell Hale. So, a lotta middle infielders on our roster. Oneil will have to play right field, like his namesake.
   22. Barry`s_Lazy_Boy Posted: June 22, 2022 at 01:32 PM (#6083259)
Ozzie Virgil? or Ozzie Virgil?
   23. sanny manguillen Posted: June 22, 2022 at 02:42 PM (#6083280)
Orlando Cabrera and Orlando Hudson (two pretty good middle infielders)


The Furiosos are a pretty good team - with one unexpected member.
   24. My name is Votto, and I love to get Moppo Posted: June 22, 2022 at 02:48 PM (#6083282)
The All-Os:

C - Omar Narvaez/Ozzie Virgil
1b - Orestes Destrade
2b - Ozzie Albies
SS - Ozzie Smith
3B - Omar Infante
OF - Oddibe McDowell
OF - Otto Velez (never heard of this guy, but he could hit a little, 123 OPS+ in 600 games)
OF - Orlando Merced
DH - Oscar Gamble

Rotation - Orel Hershiser, Orlando Hernandez, Odalis Perez, Omar Daal

Setup Man - Oliver Perez (amazingly, still active)
Closer - Octavio Dotel
   25. The Mighty Quintana Posted: June 22, 2022 at 03:06 PM (#6083286)
If you want to add some more drama to this team (because Vizquel and Guillen and Gamble aren't enough), you can sign Oil Can Boyd and Odubel Herrera. They're probably available for cheap, less than an Oddibe water bill!

Also, gotta have the Baby Bull at 1B, no offense to Orestedes...
   26. asinwreck Posted: June 22, 2022 at 03:46 PM (#6083294)
Omar Moreno could lead the team in at-bats.
   27. Joyful Calculus Instructor Posted: June 22, 2022 at 04:59 PM (#6083304)
Rotation - Orel Hershiser, Orlando Hernandez, Odalis Perez, Omar Daal


No Overall Overall?
   28. Misirlou cut his hair and moved to Rome Posted: June 22, 2022 at 05:06 PM (#6083305)
C - Omar Narvaez/Ozzie Virgil
1b - Orestes Destrade
2b - Ozzie Albies
SS - Ozzie Smith
3B - Omar Infante
OF - Oddibe McDowell
OF - Otto Velez (never heard of this guy, but he could hit a little, 123 OPS+ in 600 games)
OF - Orlando Merced
DH - Oscar Gamble

Rotation - Orel Hershiser, Orlando Hernandez, Odalis Perez, Omar Daal

Setup Man - Oliver Perez (amazingly, still active)
Closer - Octavio Dotel


Depending on how you timeline, Ossie Bluege is probably a better choice at 3B. And Oscar Charleston and Orestes Minoso in the OF for sure.
   29. Misirlou cut his hair and moved to Rome Posted: June 22, 2022 at 05:35 PM (#6083311)
How many players with two last names have their been?


Don't know about that, the Pirates do seem to have an overabundance of odd first names. The following guys have played for them this year:

Ke'Bryan
Oneil
Tucupita
Bligh
Canaan
Liover
Roansy
Bryse
Yerry

I don't think I have seen any of those names on any other ballplayer.
   30. Cooper Nielson Posted: June 24, 2022 at 04:04 AM (#6083667)
I don't think I have seen any of those names on any other ballplayer.

They also have Yoshitomo, Yu-Cheng and Hoy.

There have been a couple other Yoshis but their full names were different (Yoshihisha and Yoshinori). Yu is shared with Mr. Darvish. Hoy has only been a last name in MLB.

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