Pirates Morning Report

FINAL SCORE: PIRATES 1 BREWERS 6

WHY THE PIRATES LOSS: THIS TIME NOT HAVING A RIGHT FIELDER COST THE PIRATES DEARLY, BUT ALTOGETHER IT WAS A TEAM EFFORT. THE PIRATES COULD NOT HIT, FIELD, PITCH OR MANAGE. ZACH THOMPSON STRUGGLED BUT FOUGHT HARD FOR 3 AND 2/3 INNINGS BUT GAVE UP THE BIG HOME RUN TO YELICH, A BATTER HE SHOULD NOT HAVE EVEN FACED. SHELTON FELL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL AND DID NOT HAVE THE LEFT HANDER DILLON PETERS READY IN TIME TO FACE YELICH. CONSIDERING THERE WAS A WALK, A SACRIFICE FLY AND ANOTHER WALK, HE HAD PLENTY OF TIME. THE FACT THAT THOMPSON WAS PROBABLY GETTING TO THE LIMIT OF HIS PITCH COUNT JUST MADE IT WORSE.

PLAY OF THE GAME: A REAL EASY ONE HERE, THE YELICH GRAND SLAM. SOME WOULD LOOK AT THIS AND SAY THE PIRATES ONLY SCORED ONE RUN ANYWAY, SO WHAT DIFFERENCE DID IT MAKE. BASEBALL IS A GAME OF HIGH LEVERAGE SITUATIONS AND PRESSURE. EVEN THOUGH THE PIRATES GOT SOME RUNNERS ON BASE IN THE LATER INNINGS, IT IS A HELL OF A LOT EASIER PITCHING IN THAT SITUATION WITH A 6-1 LEAD RATHER THAN JUST A ONE RUN LEAD.

NEXT GAME: TONIGHT, BREWERS IN MILWAUKEE. THE PIRATES ARE GOING UP AGAINST ONE OF THE BEST PITCHING STAFFS IN BASEBALL. WILL SEE IF THE BATS ARE UP TO THE CHALLENGE. THEY DIDNT DO ALL THAT BAD, CONSIDERING MY PREVIOUS COMMENT, BUT THEY WERE JUST TOO FAR BEHIND TO PUT SOME REAL HEAT ON THE STAFF. COME ON, SHELTON THERE IS A GAME GOING ON OUT THERE, STAY AWAKE. SPEAK UP BENCH COACH.