Final Score: Pirates 2 Rangers 3
Why The Pirates Loss: It is a broken record. The punchless Pirates continue to be, quite frankly, punchless. Yesterday 8 hits, all singles, and 3 walks could only produce 2 runs. Part of the problem is the lineup construction. Why would you place a batter who has a batting average of .232, an on base percentage of .292 and has an OPS+ of 76 , 24% below league average, and bat him 3rd? Why do the Pirates think that Ke’Bryan Hayes is going to hit? Then why would you bat Chris Owings at all? Don’t tell me he got a hit. It was just a pop up that fell in. His other 3 bats were a double play ball with 1st and 3rd and one out, a failed sacrifice attempt which was pathetic, and finally taking a called 3rd strike, that was right down the middle. Johan Oviedo had a shaky 1st inning giving up 3 runs but settled down to pitch a solid 5 and 2/3 innings. His total line was 3 runs, 6 hits, 2 walks, and striking out 5 batters. It was another game of offensive ineptitude, as the Pirates fell to 25-24
Key Moment Of The Game: After scoring 2 runs in the bottom of the 2nd inning, the Pirate offense did not do much until the bottom of the 8th. After 1 out, the Pirates loaded the bases with 2 singles and a walk with Rodolfo Castro coming to bat to face the left hander, Will Smith. Castro is a better right handed hitter, but unfortunately hit a pop up to short left field, that could not get the run in. Jack Suwinski struck out, ending the inning and essentially the game. By the way, according to Greg Brown, Oneil Cruz made an error in the 6th inning while sitting on the bench. The only thing worse than the Pirate team right now are the Pirate announcers. I do not know what they are looking at but it is not the game. We are almost through May and they still haven’t adjusted to the pitch clock, and probably never will.
Next Game: Friday, the Mariners in Seatle. The Pirates start a west coast road trip, great, not only do we have to watch this kind of baseball but lose sleep in the process. They play 6 against the Seatle Mariners and San Francisco Giants. A 3-3 road trip would be nice but unlikely. It is hard to tell where the Pirates are going to get help with this anemic offense. Nobody in AAA is really tearing it up. Canaan Smith-Njigba is hitting a little better but not much. Travis Swaggerty is just coming off the IL and wasn’t doing that well anyway. A trade seems very unlikely, although they desperately need an outfielder that can hit. A day off today which seems to do them no good. Can’t wait till Friday. Do you see any weaknesses now John Wehner? Oh, brother.
The Goofy Game of Golf/Life Searching for the Answer 