Pirates Morning Report

FINAL SCORE: PIRATES 1 ROCKIES 2, IN 10 INNINGS

WHY THE PIRATES LOST: AGAIN, IT WAS THE SILENCE OF THE BATS, AS THE PIRATES REFUSED TO FEAST ON STRIKES. HAYES AND REYNOLDS LOOKED REALLY BAD AS THEY WENT O FOR 9 WITH 3 STRIKEOUTS COMBINED. WHY MICHAEL PEREZ WAS NOT PINCH HIT FOR IT THE NINTH, ONLY THE SHELTON KNOWS. THE GUY IS HITTING .108 AND WITH THE GAME ON THE LINE HE GETS TO BAT. WOW! CAL MITCHELL HAD A NICE DEBUT DRIVING IN THE ONLY PIRATE RUN AND MAKING SOME GOOD DEFENSIVE PLAYS. HE HAD A CHANCE TO BE THE HERO BUT FAILED.

KEY MOMENT OF THE GAME: THE PIRATES HAD 1ST AND 3RD WITH ONE OUT IN THE BOTTOM OF THE NINTH, WITH THE ROCKIES DEPLOYING THE 5 MAN INFIELD. MITCHELL MADE A ROOKIE MISTAKE BY SWINGING AT A PITCH LOW AND AWAY, THAT WAS HIT SHARPLY RIGHT AT THE SHORTSTOP, AND CRUZ WAS THROWN OUT AT THE PLATE. I AM SURE HE WAS ANXIOUS AT THE PLATE, GIVEN THE SITUATION, BUT I DON’T MIND SEEING A YOUNG PLAYER MAKE A MISTAKE LIKE THAT. CONTRERAS WHO IS 22 PITCHED A SOLID 5 INNINGS AND MITCHELL WHO IS 23 PLAYED A SOLID GAME. THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO SEE MORE OF. LET THE YOUTH BE SERVED FOR GOD’S SAKE.

NEXT GAME: THIS AFTERNOON, ROCKIES IN PITTSBURGH. THE PIRATES HAVE GONE 12 GAMES WITHOUT SCORING MORE THAN 4 RUNS AND THEIR RECORD IS 4-8 DURING THIS SPAN. IT IS AN EASY SOLUTION. JUST START SWINGING AT STRIKES, PLEASE. ONE AT BAT LAST NIGHT, HAYES TOOK 3 STRAIGHT STRIKES. I GUESS HE IS TRYING TO DISPROVE THAT YOU CAN NOT GET A HIT IF YOU DON’T SWING. MAYBE THEY WILL SEE BETTER IN THE DAYLIGHT BUT I DOUBT IT.