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Today is PiratesFest, the one day event where fans can come to PNC park to walk around, hit the batting cages, and meet some players.
The event lasts until 5:00 p.m.
As great as PiratesFest is for the fans, it also gives the media a chance to ask the players some questions. Below, I’ve rounded up some player quotes.
Astros scandals
Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette had Josh Bell’s take on the Houston Astros scandal.
Josh Bell on the Astros sign-sealing scandal: "The conversation we’ve had with our team is if you had to choose between cheating and steroids, and cheating with knowing what pitches are coming for half the games of the year, cheating worse [morally]."
— Jason Mackey (@JMackeyPG) January 25, 2020
As we all know, the Pittsburgh Pirates clearly have no connection to cheating.
Meanwhile, Bill Brink, also of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, had Joe Musgrove’s take on the Astros cheating scandal. Keep in mind that Musgrove was with the team in 2017.
Joe Musgrove, who was on the 2017 Astros: "Whatever you guys see in the reports and whatever’s been put out, that’s pretty much the extent of what I knew, even more so, some stuff I had no ideas was going on if it was going on."
— Bill Brink (@BrinkPG) January 25, 2020
Musgrove on how feel about sign stealing as a pitcher: "I don’t know, man. I mean, I was in my first year, I was a rookie. I was kind of just keeping my mouth shut and keeping to myself, trying to learn from the guys I was around."
— Bill Brink (@BrinkPG) January 25, 2020
Sure, Musgrove was on the team and I would speculate that he knows more than he’s letting on, but he was still just a rookie just trying to find his way. I would give him the benefit of the doubt here.
Adam Berry, of MLB.com, had this from Colin Moran.
Joe Musgrove and Colin Moran, members of the 2017 Astros, weren't interviewed during MLB's sign-stealing investigation.
— Adam Berry (@adamdberry) January 25, 2020
Oddly enough, Moran's 12 plate appearances that season were all on the road. "What’s in the commissioner’s report is what can speak for itself," Moran said.
I feel for Moran here. He couldn’t even thrive off of a great cheating scandal.
Other quotes
Adam Frazier on teams potentially wanting to trade for him: "It’s a lot better than being on the other side of it, where nobody wants you."
— Jason Mackey (@JMackeyPG) January 25, 2020
Frazier could not have given a better answer. He perfectly encapsulates the satisfaction of being a valuable trade asset without throwing his current team under the bus while doing so.
Bryan Reynolds, asked at PiratesFest about the league potentially adjusting against him after the success he had last year: "I’ve dealt with pitchers trying to get me out for a long time.”
— Adam Berry (@adamdberry) January 25, 2020
You have to admire the confidence in Reynolds. His success in 2020 will be vital to any sliver of hope the Pirates may have.
Great quote from Bryan Reynolds: “I have no complaints with how things are going.”
— Jason Mackey (@JMackeyPG) January 25, 2020
The 24-year-old outfielder truly is as cool as a cucumber.
Honestly, the highlight of this year’s PiratesFest may have come from here.
Pitchers and catchers report on Monday, February 10.