Pirates Morning Report: Are The Pirates Really Trying To Win

Final Score: Pirates 5 Twins 11 in 10 innings

Why The Pirates Lost: Simply another totally mismanaged game by Derek Shelton. No question the bullpen was stretched quite thin. So, why do you take Jared Jones out after only 84 pitches. If you thought you were going to have to use Ben From Heller, then use him in the 6th or 7th not when the game is on the line in the top of the 10th. Heller’s performance in the 10th, will go down as one for the books. First, he came into the game with an ERA of 45.00 and left with one higher at 49.50. He gave up 7 runs, 5 hits, walked 1 and hit 3 batters. His philosophy of pitching is if you can’t get them out just kill them. Chapman only threw 13 pitches. Why couldn’t he come out for the 10th. The Pirates have a day off today. You have to wonder if Shelton even knew that. Granted the umpires blew a call in the first inning that cost the Pirates a run or maybe the game would not have even gone into extra innings. You have to wonder if the Pirates’ management is even trying to win games. They need bullpen help in the worse way and there are some quality arms on some very bad teams. Will the Pirates make any effort to get them. Just a disappointing day sending the Pirates to 31-34.

The Key Moment Of The Game: In the first inning Jared Jones had some control issues and got touched up a little but the Twins had only scored 2 runs. Byron Buxton was up and had a 1-1 count. The next pitch was up and in and obviously hit the bat of Buxton. Obvious to everyone but the four blind and deaf umpires. The worst part of all this was the Pirates took this lying down. This should have been a heated argument with someone getting tossed. So much for the fire in Henry Davis’s belly. It was ruled a passed ball and the runner from third scored to make it 3-0. I do not understand why Henry Davis ran after the ball. If he would have just asked for another ball the ump may have called it a foul ball. Regardless this cost the Pirates the game eventually. That, and Derek Shelton’s lack of baseball sense.

Next Game: Tomorrow the Cardinals in St. Louis. Tomorrow will also be the 65 game report on these Pirates that stand 31-34. Amazingly the Pirates have played one game over .500 since the 32-game report. Withs the day off today hopefully no one in the Pirate bullpen will be throwing any pitches. Hopefully the Pirates will bring up some new arms. That is if they are taking this season seriously. What do you think?