Bucs Drop Pair to Redlegs, Fall Deeper into the Cellar
It was an ugly day-night double header in Cincinnati. Making up a rained out game, the Pirates were beaten in front of a sparse crowd in the afternoon. They returned for the eveing game and were beaten again.
In the opener, the ML debut of Pirates starter Daniel McCutchen was pretty solid. He gave up four [...]
Ohlendorf deserved better
The Pirates did not deserve to win yesterday’s game in Milwaukee. They managed just one run on nine hits and four walks, stranding eight base runners and hitting into four double plays in the process. This output came against a struggling Jeff Suppan, who lugged a 5.73 FIP into the game. No, with offense like [...]
Read moreA Walk and 4 Double Plays Sink Pirates as Brewers Sweep
The Pirates collected a fair share of runners through hits and walks. Unfortunately, they had more double plays than runs.
Ross Ohlendorf probably deserved better, but he was involved in his own undoing. With the game knotted at one each (solo homers from Casey McGehee and Garrett Jones – ROY candidates both) in the fifth, [...]
Bucs Struggles in Milwaukee Continue
It is hard to win when you don’t do anything particularly well. Kevin Hart started and took the loss after allowing five runs in six innings. Phil Dumatrait and Steven Jackson each allowed a run in their inning of relief.
The offense scored three runs, all of which came in the 5th inning. The Pirates briefly [...]
Bucs Can't Overcome Duke's Off Night
There haven’t been too many games like this for Zach Duke in 2009. Thank goodness. Duke gave up seven runs in three innings and Milwaukee held on for the win.
The Beer Maker scored five times in the first. Prince Fielder crushed a three run homer to start things off. Rookie Jason Bourgeois hit a solo [...]
Joel Hanrahan and peripheral stats
When the Pirates acquired Joel Hanrahan from the Nationals, I immediately noticed the huge discrepancy between his peripherals and his unsightly 7.71 ERA. Hanrahan struck out 35 batters, walked 14, and allowed three home runs in his 32.2 inning with Washington this year. That comes out to a FIP of 3.60, more than four runs [...]
Read moreJones Beats Happ, Phils with 8th Inning Dinger
The Pirates took two of three from Philadelphia thanks to some late game heroics from Garret Jones. Trailing 2-1 in the 8th, the Pirates had been manhandled by Philadelphia rookie J.A. Happ. Pinch hitter Ronny Cedeno singled leading off, but Happ retired the next two hitters without incident. Jones followed with a two run homer [...]
Read moreHoward's 10th Inning Bomb Foils Bucco Comeback
Paul Maholm and Cole Hamels were each effective over a long stretch. Maholm yielded a solo homer to Chase Utley in the first inning and was otherwise unscored upon in seven innings. He struck out four and gave up five hits. Hamels whiffed seven and allowed seven hits in eight shut out innings.
But the bullpen [...]
Where is Andy LaRoche's power?
One of the most disappointing aspects of the season for me has been Andy LaRoche’s complete lack of power. He is currently ranked 131st out of 160 qualified hitters in Isolated Power (ISO), right between Craig Counsell and Felipe Lopez. If the Pirates are going to turn the corner and become a competitive [...]
Read moreCutch Bails Out Capps in Walk Off Win
The evening was full of drama. I’m in Chicago and took in my first game ever at Wrigley. I was on hand to watch Carlos Zambrano and the Cubs get pounded by Washington (shout out to Dave and Ross who are rooming with each other temporarily). Elijah Dukes hit a grand slam to blow the [...]
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