Month: June 2023

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Golf Diary

The Round: Played Highland Springs Score 78 Green In Reg. 5 Putts 29

The Good: Drove the ball well today. Had one bad drive on the last hole that led to a bogey. The putter was working well as I made a lot of short putts for par. The short game was good getting up and down 6 out of 13 times. I made a good up and down for a birdie on a par 5.

The Bad: The iron game was off today by just a hair. I only hit the five greens and only had 2 good looks at birdie. Had a few chip yips which led to bogies. I hit some good irons that were just a little far left or right. Made solid contact most of the day.

The Luck Of The Round: Really was not a factor today. The round was free of any unusual bounces or tree problems.

Next Round: Saturday South Park

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Pirates Morning Report: The Pirates Got Two Hits

Final Score: Pirates 3 Cubs 8

Why The Pirates Loss: The Pirates got 2 hits. The Pirates Got 2 hits. The Pirates got 2 hits. The Pirates got 2 hits. The Pirates got 2 hits. The Pirates got 2 hits. The Pirates got 2 hits. The Pirates got 2 hits. The Pirates got 2 hits. The Pirates got 2 hits. The Pirates got 2 hits. The Pirates got 2 hits. The Pirates got 2 hits. Do you get the picture? The Pirates have lost 9 in a row and what makes it worse is that it has been against division opponents. How can an offense be this bad? God only knows. They bring up Cal Mitchell, who pretty much proved last year that he cannot hit major league pitching. They have 2 catchers that are horrible. They bring up a catcher and do not play him at the position. In the last 15 games Jason Delay has hit .185. Austin Hedges has not hit that high his entire career. Who gives a shit how good they pitch frame. Then there is the bullpen. Do you think that they will ever pitch 3 innings of shutout ball again? I know this team has had more than their share of injuries, but do they not have any pride? Do the coaches try to help them at all? A season that started with such promise has turned into one big debacle.

Key Moment Of Game: The Ke’Bryan Hayes throwing error that opened the door to allow 2 runs to score to make the score 5-1. This guy is never going to win a Gold Glove. Hopefully he will be traded by the end of July.

Next Game: Who knows, who cares. Can you tell, I’m pissed. Too bad the players don’t seem to be.

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Pirates Morning Report: 24 Innings And Counting

Final Score: Pirates 0 Cubs 4

Why The Pirates Lost: Again, the Pirates scored 0 runs, simple as that. They only had one inning where they had 2 base runners. They had 5 hits, and none were in the same inning. The one inning they had a hit and a walk. They tried to mix up the lineup a little but to no avail. The middle of the order went 0 for 12. The only good thing, these are easy games to analyze. No scoring, no win. The Pirates have not scored a run for 24 innings and fell behind the Cubs into 4th place. Johan Oviedo pitched a decent game giving up 2 runs on 5 hits, walking none and striking out 3 batters, over 6 innings of work. Despite the Pirates woes, the starting pitching has hung in there pretty well considering they get no run support. The bullpen gave up 2 more runs in the last 3 innings, essentially ending the game.

Key Moment Of The Game: When Derek(The Shadow Knows) Shelton filled out the lineup card giving Reynolds and McCutchen a rest. The lineup he put out there really never threatened to score a run. They only had 3 at bats with runners in scoring position. You kind of hope and pray that maybe this is the low point of the season. I am not sure it is, but it would be nice to see this turn this around. Optimism is not running high at this keyboard.

Next Game: This afternoon, Cubs in Pittsburgh. At least the Pirates will be getting it over with early today, and if you’re a Pirate fan your evening will be pleasant. Forget about winning, the big question is will they score a run or stretch the scoreless streak to 34 innings? Hell, I don’t know if I can wait till around 3pm to find out.

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Pirates Morning Report: Welcome Back Buccos

Final Score: Pirates 0 Cubs 8

Why The Pirates Lost: Another offensive disaster as the Pirates could not score any runs even though they had 5 hits and 6 walks. They loaded the bases twice and could not score. They were 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position and left 10 men on base. Osvaldo Bido had the so-called quality start, going 6 innings giving up 3 runs on 5hits, 2 walks, striking out 7, while throwing 96 pitches. The bullpen came in the 7th inning to seal the win for the Cubs by giving up 5 runs in 2 innings, aided by a throwing error by Ji Hwan Bae. The Pirates have lost 7 in a row and are now in third place 3.5 games behind the first-place Reds. They will have to snap out of this soon if they are going to salvage the season.

Key Moment Of The Game: This was not so much a key moment but a study in contrast as the Cubs scored their first 3 runs after 2 were out in the top of the 2nd inning. There was a runner on first with 2 out, when the Cubs went single, walk, single, single, to score the 3 runs which pretty much wrapped up the game. The Pirates had traffic on the bases through the first 7 innings but could do nothing with it. The last 2 innings they just said the hell with it and went 6 up 6 down to quietly end the game.

Next Game: Does there have to be? I guess so, because tonight the Cubs in Pittsburgh. Everything must come to an end, but I don’t know if tonight the losing streak will be one of them. Marcos Stroman is pitching for the Cubs, and it would not be surprising to see the scoreless streak stretch to 24 innings. Even when the Pirates were trying to lose games the offense was better than this.

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Golf Diary

The Round: Played Indian Run Score 75 Greens in Reg. 9 Putts 29

The Good: When I planned the right shot, I executed it well. My putting was good. I had 3 birdies. My driving has returned to normal. My swing was very good today. My iron game was good, better than I had been doing.

The Bad: I had one double bogey when I hit it into some high grass and had to take a drop. I bogied 5 other holes as I could only get it up a down 3 out of 9 times. I really butchered an easy par 5 which led to a bogey. The short game was just mediocre but I did not do too bad.

The Luck OF The Round: On the par 5 I butchered I had a 10 foot downhill putt for par. I hit it too firm, but it caught enough of the hole to lip out and stop right at the cup. If I don’t hit the hole I am probably about 8 to 10 feet past the hole. I did get a bad bounce on the ball I hit into the weeds on the 3rd hole but I was a little too far to the right.

Next Round: Thursday Highland Springs.

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Pirates Morning Report: Another Team Effort

Final Score: Pirates 2 Brewers 5

Why The Pirates Lost: Even though the this was a team effort the offense outdid themselves in this game. After the Bryan Reynolds home run to give the Pirates a 2-0 lead in the 3rd inning, the next 12 batters went down in order. Jason Delay, our “offensive” catcher had a particular “good” day. His first at bat he came up with the bases loaded with 2 outs and did not swing at 6 pitches to be called out on strikes. The Daniel Vogelbach philosophy of hitting emerges once again. The next time up he stuck out on 3 pitches but at least he fouled one off and swung at the last one, but of course, it was out of the strike zone. The Pirates got their last 2 hits of the game in the 7th inning and Delay came up with 1st and 2nd and 1 out. He did not waste any time, swung at the first pitch out of the strike zone and grounded into a double play. If they did such things in baseball, the Brewers would have given him the game ball. On the pitching side of the ledger Luis Ortiz pitch an ok 4 and 2/3 innings before being removed in the 5th, for another right handed pitcher, after he had just recorded an out. He had only thrown 84 pitches and with the bullpen struggles you would have thought they would have given him a little more, leeway before taking him out. The bullpen went out and handed the game to the Brewers but at least they pitched ok for 2+ innings.

The Key Moment Of The Game: The bottom of the 8th is just too depressing to go into detail, but the bullpen was instrumental in helping the Brewers win the game. Thanks to 3 walks, the Brewers scored 4 runs on just 2 hits and both were singles. The Pirate staff gave up 6 for the game, but those 3 won the game for the Brewers.

Next Game: Tonight, the Cubs in Pittsburgh. After losing 6 in a row the Pirates find themselves in 3rd place 2.5 games behind the Brewers. They are 2 games below .500. Henry Davis is being bought up. They will need more help than that, but it can’t hurt. Will they snap out of it tonight?

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Golf Diary

The Rounds: Round 1 South Park Score 79 Greens in Reg. 6 Putts 32

Round 2 Suncrest Score 82 Greens In Reg 7 Putts 35

The Good: The weather was gorgeous and I did hit some very good drives. My iron game started to show some life at Suncrest. My swing seems to be improving despite the results.

The Bad: The whole game but particularly the putting. Two 3 putt greens at the Park and three 3 putt greens at Suncrest. The short game was bad, and I could not really make up for it with my putting. This was a weekend of torture with the way I played. Better days are ahead.

The Luck Of The Round: Luck in both rounds even themselves out. I had some good bounces off trees and then some really bad bounces off trees. I had a lot of putts lip out particularly at Suncrest. All in all, it really was not significant with the way I played.

Next Round: Tomorrow at Fort Cherry.

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Pirates Morning Report: The Return Of The Hitless Wonders

Final Score: Pirates 0 Brewers 5

Why The Pirates Lost: If you do not score any runs you will not win, as the Pirates were shutout for the 7th time this season. They only had 4 at bats with runners in scoring position and 2 of those were in the first inning. They went 0 for 3 with a walk. Five of the 9 innings they only sent 3 men to the plate. The Pirates had 6 hits and 2 of those did not leave the infield. Mitch Keller had another mediocre performance, but he could have been Sandy Koufax and Bob Gibson all rolled into one and the Pirates would not have scored, even if the game went into extra innings. The only good news was Roansy Contreras pitched a nice 2 innings, retiring all 6 batters he faced, with one strikeout. The score was 4-0 Brewers when he came in, so it’s not the same as coming into a tight game. He had to know that the Pirates were not going to score, and game was over.

Key Moment Of The Game: In the top of the 7th with the Pirates trailing 4-0 they somehow managed to load the bases with 2 out, and the Pirates allowed Austin Hedges to bat. I would have rather seen a left handed batter come to the plate, rather than Hedges batting in that situation. He had already struck out and grounded into a double play. Naturally, he popped out for the 3rd out, ending any chance the Pirates had, which I admit was slim, of making a comeback.

Next Game: This Afternoon, Brewers in Milwaukee. Luis Ortiz takes the mound today. Another young Pirate pitcher that seems to be going backwards rather than progressing. The Pirates have lost 5 in a row and have fallen one game below .500 for the second time this season. The last time this happened, they reeled off 6 wins in a row. I would not mortgage the house on that happening this time. I am not too sure that this team will come back. As I wrote before, this is not the same as the May downturn. All phases of the Pirates’ game are awful. They cannot hit, pitch, or field, with no end in sight. Management does not seem inclined to make any moves to right the ship. If they don’t, it will be a long hot depressing summer if you’re a Pirate fan.

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Pirates Morning Report: Pirates Would Rather Give Than Receive

Final Score: Pirates 4 Brewers 5

Why The Pirates Lost: The Brewers and the Pirates may have not set baseball back a hundred years, but they played a very strange game. Both teams had the same amount of hits and runs. At one point in the game both teams had more runs than hits. The Pirates lost because they gave away more than they received, and they received a lot of gifts from the Brewers. It is easy to see why the Brewers had lost 6 in a row and the Pirates have currently lost 4 in a row. Rich Hill muddled through 5 innings giving up 6 walks, 3 hits and 4 runs. He contributed mightily to the Brewers victory. After 6 innings the Pirates had 2 runs on 1 hit and then the fun began.

Key Moments Of The Game: This game came down to two half innings. The bottom of the 1st, Hill walked the first batter. The next batter grounded into a double play, and you thanked the Brewers. The Pirates said, no, no, please take this. Walk, walk, catcher’s interference, Walk, A hit( What The Hell Is That), making the score 3-0 Brewers. It took until the top of the 7th for the Brewers to bring out the gifts. The inning started with a walk, a single, a hit batsmen, why waste all those pitches, to load the bases. Josh Palacios decided he had seen enough and took the game over. He grounded out to third for the force out at home. Ke’Bryan Hays hit a weak ground ball but placed it perfectly past the 2nd baseball to score 2 runs. Palacious hesitated at 2nd base, before deciding to go to third. Baserunning 101, if you are going to third you do not slow down at 2nd base. He was easily thrown out. Instead of having 1st and 3rd with one out, the Pirates had a man on second with 2 outs. A lot of the Brewers’ players in the dugout wanted Palacious to come over to high five him, and the fans wanted him to come out for a curtain call. I don’t know why he didn’t. In the top of 9th Palacious did get a double to set up 2nd and 3rd with 1 out. Ke’Bryan Hayes struck out and after a walk, Jason Delay pinch hit for Hedges. Why they did not use Castro I have no idea and Delay looked pathetic striking out to end the game.

Next Game: Late afternoon, Brewers in Milwaukee. Mitch Keller takes the mound and maybe he can pull out a win today for the Pirates. Last night’s game was one that they should have won. This team continues to struggle to play good solid baseball. Early in the season they were able to overcome their mistakes. Now they cannot. What surprises will they have in store for today?

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Pirates Morning Report: A Team Effort

Final Score: Pirates 2 Cubs 7

Why The Pirates Lost: It was a team effort. Let’s get Johann Oviedo over with first. I don’t care what your pitching line is, if it takes you 100 pitches to go 4 and 1/3 innings then that is a bad outing. The bullpen gave up 3 runs in 3 and 2/3 innings which is better than their recent average of 2+ runs per inning but is still awful. The defense was just flat out bad. The Pirates were charge with one error but there were many plays that could have been made that were not. The offense was its usual pathetic self. They only scored 2 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks. What little traffic they had on the bases was wasted by not moving runners up. They struck out 10 times. This is the lowest point of the season so far even though at one point they were one game below .500. When the Pirates went through their May slump, they were playing a lot of games against the AL East the best division in baseball. You could pinpoint the losses squarely on the offense that did not score more than 2 runs per game for something like a 10-12 game period. Now the competition is not as tough and every phase of the Pirates’ game pretty much stinks. The Cubs outscored them 28 to 11 in the 3 games. I said in the beginning of season one of the X factors would be how this young club would respond to playing meaningful games in August. This is the first time many of them are playing meaningful games in June and they are crapping the bed. I only see one silver lining here and I am probably stretching things a bit. Getting used to playing such games may help them out, in those dog days of August, if they make if that far.

Key Moment Of The Game: It was the crooked number the Cubs put up in the bottom of the 5th, scoring 5 runs on 5 hits, with only one being in extra base hit, as Pirates helped things along with 2 walks and an error on one of the easiest ground balls you could catch. Merry Christmas, Chicago Cubs.

Next Game: Tonight, Brewers in Milwaukee. The Brewers are playing just as bad as the Pirates. They have lost 6 in a row. Who is going to snap out of it? The Brewers being at home, may not be an advantage if they don’t turn it around, because the boo birds will be out in full force. I have no idea what to expect. The game is going to be on Apple TV+. This could trigger a big drop in their stock. I just hope this series doesn’t set baseball back 100 years.