Month: August 2024

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Pirates Morning Report: Even Skenes Can’t Stop The Skid

Final Score: Pirates 1 Dodgers 4

Why The Pirates Lost: Against 7 of the Dodgers, Paul Skenes gave up 1 hit, struck out 8 and walked one over 6 innings. However, Gavin Lux and Teoscar Hernandez nailed Skenes for 4 runs on 5 hits with Lux getting 3 RBI’s and Hernandez hitting a home run to plate the Dodger’s 4th run. Not making excuses for the Pirates, but this was about as hard luck of a game you could possibly have. The first two Hernandez hits were a blooper and a swinging bunt. Neither hit traveled over 77 MPH and his double traveled only 219 feet, barely fair, before bouncing into the stands. For the second straight game the Pirates out hit the Dodgers but could only score 1 run, thanks to two line drive outs, a spectacular catch by Kevin Kiermaier, and Michael Taylor being picked off first where the Pirates had 3 hits in the inning but failed to score. This all led to the Pirates losing their 6th game in a row and falling further out of the playoff picture. The Pirates are 11 games behind the Brewers so you can forget the division.

Key Moments Of The Game: The Pirates had chances in the 2nd, 3rd, and the 6th and through a combination of bad luck and poor base running could not do it. In the top of the 2nd Joey Bart led off with a single but was doubled off first base when Rowdy Tellez lined out to the 2nd basemen. In the top of the 3rd with one out Michael Taylor singled but then got picked off first base. The Pirates followed that up with two more singles, but a ground out ended the inning. The Pirates started off the top of the 6th with a Bryan Reynolds single and a Oneil (I Did Not Make An Error Today) Cruz walk. Joey Bart smashed one down the left field line that the Dodger 3rd baseman Enrique Hernandez was able to leap up and grab, making a spectacular play. He was not able to double off anyone, but the great play saved some runs. The next two batters for the Pirates made outs and the inning and the game was over. In the 7th they did get two hits and had 1st and 2nd with 2 outs but Reynolds lined out sharply to left to end the inning. They did not mount any more threats and scored their only run on a Ke’Bryan Hayes home run in the top of the 9th.

Next Game: Late afternoon, Dodgers in L. A. Barry Falter again draws a big name as he goes up against Tyler Glasnow. He usually holds his own when he goes up against the big gun of the other team. Maybe the Pirates can get back on track today to just try and get some confidence back. Last night was a typical game when a team is going bad and nothing goes right. Can they stop the streak at 6? Only The Shadow Shelton knows.

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Pirates Morning Report: Keller Gets Rocked, Pirates Lose 5 In A Row.

I know this is mid-afternoon but with the late game and I had an early tee time not enough time to watch the game and give the report but here we go.

Final Score: Pirates 5 Dodgers 9

Why The Pirates Lost: Mitch Keller got rocked for 7 runs on 7 hits walking 2, striking out 5 in just 4 innings of work, while throwing 95 pitches. He gave up 2 home runs, and really got knocked around in the bottom of the third. He gave up 5 runs on a walk, a Shohei Ohtani 448 foot blast, another walk, a Freddie Freeman double, Will Smith single, a wild pitch, and finally a Miguel Rojas single to make the score 6-0. Not what you would call a stellar Keller outing. The Dodgers added another 2 run homer off Domingo German to complete their scoring. The Pirate offense outhit the Dodgers 11 to 8 and did put 5 runs up on the board. Oneil Cruz had a home run and drove in another run and Joey Bart hit a 3 run homer to cut the lead to 7-4 at the time. They did strike out a whopping 16 times. That’s quite a process you have going on there, Pirate offense. When the Pirates lost 13 out of 16 games in mid April it was the offense that fell flat by not scoring more than 2 runs in 13 of those games. This losing streak can be attributed to the pitching staff just falling apart. These last 5 games the Pirates have given up 6, 6, 9, 7, and 9 runs. That’s an average of 7 runs per game. It would be hard for the 1927 Yankees to overcome that.

Key Moment Of The Game: In the big 5 run third inning for the Dodgers it was Will Smith fighting off a high inside pitch, and blooping it 68 MPH down the right field line to drive in 2 runs to make the score 5-0, that really sealed the deal. A luck hit but there were no other lucky hits on some the line shots that were hit off Keller. Not a heart-breaking loss this time as the Pirates fall further out of the wild card picture.

Next Game: Tonight, Dodgers in L. A. Paul Skenes goes tonight for the Pirates and let’s hope that he can stop the slide. The game is on an hour earlier and I do not have to leave as early in the morning so the Morning Report will be back in the morning once again.

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Pirates Morning Report: This Is Getting Old

Final Score: Pirates 6 Padres 7

Why The Pirates Lost: Another bullpen failure with David Bednar blowing his 2nd consecutive save. The offense did it’s job for a change scoring 6 runs on 12 hits, walking 3 times while striking out only 7 times. They were 3 for 8 with runners in scoring position. There was no question Bednar had some tough luck with the swinging bunt single and the throwing error by Oneil Cruz to allow the go ahead run to score, on a ball he should have never thrown in the first place. Bednar was his own worst enemy by walking two batters. Could you have had a more up and down day than Cruz? He went 3 for 5 with a run scored and an RBI. But then, he tried to go to second on a ball that if he would have run out of the box right away, he would have been safe. He did not run right out of the box and was thrown out. The Pirates for some unknown reason challenged the play, and it was easily confirmed. Glasses, anyone? Maybe spend some money and get a better monitor. If things would have played out as they did, Cruz’s base running blunder cost the Pirates a run The throwing error in the 9th ended his day on the downside. Now they have Colin Holderman on the 15 IL with a wrist strain. When in the hell, did he do that. He was never taken out of any game for it. Has he been pitching with this wrist problem and is that the reason he has been getting banged around to the tune of an 11.37 ERA over his last 7 appearances. Did he not say anything, or did they know he was pitching with an injury? It does make you wonder.

The Key Moment Of The Game: The 9th inning again, as Bednar came in to protect the one run lead. Xander Bogaerts started the inning with a little dribbler down the 3rd base line for a single. A tough break. Bednar walks Jackson Merrill on 4 pitches all high and away. So much for a short memory. He strikes out David Peralta. Ha Seong Kim was the next batter. He is having a down year. Hitting in the .220’s, he is having a below league average offensive year. This is the guy you have to challenge. Instead, Bednar after getting a lucky called 1st strike, throws four straight pitches that do not even come close to the strike zone and walks the bases loaded. Kyle Higashioka hits a slow roller to 2nd and Cruz makes the throw he shouldn’t, and the Padres grab the lead for the 2nd straight game in the 9th inning. Bednar gives up a double to Luis Arraez to give the Padres an insurance run that it turned out they needed to win the game 7-6.

Next Game: Tonight, the Dodgers in LA. The 1-5 homestand just about puts a cap on this season. There is still a long way to go, and teams can turn things around. If the Pirates go 3-3 on this road trip it will be a miracle. Will the Pirates do anything to right the ship. There isn’t a lot they can do, now that the trade deadline is way gone. If nothing else, let’s hope that Ben Heller can lower his 49.50 ERA. Come on Ben we will be pulling for you. We need a feel-good story.

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Pirates Morning Report: Padres Played Their Worst Game Of The Season And Won

Final Score: Pirates 8 Padres 9 in 10 innings

Why The Pirates Lost: The Padres did everything they could to make sure that the Pirates won, but the Pirates would not take it. The pitching on both teams was awful. Marco Gonzales in 4 and 2/3 innings gave up 5 runs on 8 hits, walking 2, giving up 2 home runs. The bullpen did ok until the 9th and 10th innings. For the game the Pirate staff gave up 9 runs on 14 hits walking 5. The Padres not to be out done, gave up 8 runs on 11 hits walking 6. The batters were incompetent also. The Pirates left 13 men on base, were 5 for 19 with runners in scoring position, and struck out 15 times. The Padres left 14 men on base, were 3 for 14 with runners in scoring position, but only struck out 7 times. There were 4 players hit by a pitch, three Padres and one Pirate. The Padres committed 2 errors which led to 3 of the Pirate runs being unearned. The Pirates committed one error which led to an unearned run for the Padres. The bottom line in all of this mess is the Padres pulled out the win and the Pirates are 1-4 on this disastrous homestand to fall one game below .500.

Key Moments Of The Game: Even though the Pirates failed to take advantage of all the Padres walks in the bottom of the 10, it was the 9th inning that was the key to this game. The Pirates were ahead 6-5 in going into the 9th with David Bednar coming in to close the game. He got the first out of the inning. Jackson Merrill came to the plate. He had hit a home run in the second inning on a fastball right down the middle just above the belt. Bednar threw a fastball exactly in the same spot. David you are not pitching to the Pirates, who 90% of the time would take that pitch. Merrill blasted it 411 feet to tie the game 6-6. Bednar then hit a batter and walked a batter but was able to get out of the inning with no more runs scoring. In the bottom of the ninth, Isiah Kiner-Falefa opened with a single. Connor Joe reached on an error to put runners on 1st and 2nd with no one out. A sacrifice bunt and an intentional walk loaded the bases for Ji Hwan Bae. Then there was the pitch clock controversy. It’s not worth going into but what it did do as an argument ensued, was make Bae stand around and think about it a lot. Who really cares if the count is 1-0, 0-1, or 0-0. In his great wisdom Derek Shelton prolonged the argument. On the second pitch Bae hit a ball below the knees weakly to second and the force out was made at the plate. Oneil Cruz grounded out and an opportunity to win the game was lost.

Next Game: This afternoon, Padres in Pittsburgh. No matter what happens today the homestand has been awful. The Pirates are 1-4 with 3 of the losses being by 1 run and two by the exact score of 9-8. The bullpen has let the Pirates down big time and management has no one to blame but themselves. Maybe they can get back to .500 before they go on this very tough road trip.

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Pirates Morning Report: 6-0 Shellacking

Final Score: Pirates 0 Padres 6

Why The Pirates Lost: They simply got outhit, outpitched and overall outplayed by the Padres. This was a game of contrasts. Because of the long weather delay this became an impromptu bullpen game. The Padre bullpen shut down the Pirates giving up 0 runs on 4 hits and 2 walks, while striking out 11. The Pirate bullpen gave up 6 runs over that stretch, but you could argue it was not all their fault. The defense although not charged with any errors missed three consecutive balls in the top of the 5th that led to the Padres scoring 4 runs and breaking the game open. All three balls were in the glove but not held. The other contrast was you watched a manager continuing making moves depending on who was at bat or what he wanted to match up. On the other side of the coin, you saw a manager make moves for no rhyme or reason or made no moves in key situations. I hope I do not have tell you which manager was which. Regardless the Pirates continue to slide backward on this homestand.

Key Moment Of The Game: The Pirates had a chance to make a game of it in the bottom of the 7th. They loaded the bases with 2 outs and Jared (Why Am I Still In The Big Leagues) Triolo came to plate. Curiously manager Mike Shildt brought in left hander Tanner Scott to face the right hand hitting Triolo. Whatever the reason he knew what he wanted because Scott struck out Triolo on 4 pitches. Of course, Triolo helped by taking the first pitch almost down the middle. He took a ball but then swung at a ball around his ankles, the new Triolo strike zone. He did swing and miss at a ball in the strike zone to end the threat. The Pirates never threatened again and fell to .500

Next Game: Tonight Padres in Pittsburgh. The season is slipping away, and the Pirates seemed way undermanned when compared with the other playoff contenders. I guess all we can hope for is a Brewer collapse.

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Pirates Morning Report: My Apologies

I thought there was a Pirate game last night, but instead they had an off day. I just assumed their off day would be Thursday as they traveled to the west coast. Wrong Commonsense Breath! What this does do is give me an opportunity to discuss Derek Shelton’s latest blunders and pass on a little antidote. His first blunder was not to bring in Aroldis Chapman to face Joc Pederson with runners on 1st and 2nd and two out in the top of the 7th. Pederson hits .200 against lefties and only one of his 18 homers have been against left handers. When asked about that after game, he basically just threw Colin Holderman under the bus by saying that Holderman did not execute. When the first two batters got on base in the bottom of the 9th he had Isiah Kiner-Falefa bunt, and he popped out. They were 2 runs down and Shelton under the best of circumstances is giving them an out. This was the 7th game that Shelton has caused the Pirates to lose due to lack of moves or the wrong moves. On Twitter, yes I still call it Twitter, the other day, former Pittsburgh sportswriter, Bob Smizik was singing the praises of Mr. Shelton when I pointed out that he was responsible for 6 losses. His response was, could I list those games. I replied they were all there in the Pirates Morning Report. He wanted to know what the Pirates Morning Report was. Can you imagine that? He did not know what the Pirates Morning Report was. I told him to Google it but I’m not sure he knows what that is either. Regardless, the Pirates do play tonight by God, against the streaking San Diego Padres, who have won 11 out of their last 13 games. They also bolstered their bullpen at the trade deadline. Guess who didn’t.

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Pirates Morning Report: Bullpen Glory Lasted One Day

Final Score: Pirates 5 Diamondbacks 6

Why The Pirates Lost: The Pirates lost 2 out of 3 to the Diamondbacks and the bullpen was responsible for all 3 results. Paul Skenes finally proved he was human, but it was not that bad of an outing. He was charged with 2 runs on 5 hits over 5 and 1/3 innings but needed 100 pitches to do it. The Pirate offense put up 17 runs in the series. The two games where they put up 8 and 5 runs, they lost. Colin Holderman continues to have his struggles, but it would be more correct to say that he just can’t get out of the messes he makes, unscathed anymore. He has appeared in 43 games and has had only 9 innings where he has set the team down 3 up and 3 down. This has been a pattern of his ever since he joined the Pirates. Most of time he has been able to get out of the inning with no runs scoring. In the last 3 games this has not been the case. Yesterday he came into the game with a 4-2 lead in the top of the 7th. He walked the 1st and 3rd batters he faced on 9 pitches. I will say this, the first two pitches of the Corbin Carroll at bat looked like strikes. On a 1-2 pitch, Joc Pederson took a 100 MPH fast ball that was belt high out over the plate and belted it 107 MPH and 410 feet to give the Diamondbacks the lead they never relinquished. The Pirate bullpen has been mediocre all year ranking anywhere from 22nd to 28th in baseball. The Pirates did nothing to bolster it at the trade deadline. It certainly looks like this is what is going to keep them from making the playoffs, not the offense.

The Key Moment Of The Game: The Diamondbacks added a run in the top of the 9th on a Ketel Marte homer to take a 6-4 lead. The Pirates tried to make a comeback scoring a run and having 1st and 3rd with one out when Oneil Cruz came to bat. The Diamondbacks brought in A. J. Puk the left hander to face Cruz. Many people might say that Cruz had a good 11 pitch at bat. In my view, it was a batter refusing to take a walk for the good of the team. Pitch 6, 9, and 10 were all well inside but Cruz swung, fouling them off. I know you have to protect the plate, but if it is that far inside you have to take it to load the bases. Instead, he struck out and Bryan De La Cruz made the last out on a little blooper that Corbin Carrol was ablet to track down.

Next Game: Tonight, Padres in Pittsburgh. Unless the Pirates can sweep the Padres then this season is over. After the Padres series, the Pirates go on the west coast to face them again and the Dodgers. It does not seem feasible that this team could win 7 out of 9 which is what they need to do to get back in the hunt. Every time it looks like this team is going to fade away, they do seem to manage to come back. Time will tell if they can do it one more time.

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Pirates Morning Report: Bounce Back Win, Bullpen Redemption

Final Score: Pirates 4 Diamondbacks 2

Why The Pirates Won: The bullpen came through last night in the name of Kyle Nicholas, Aroldis Chapman, and David (Shaky) Bednar. Bryan Reynolds and Joey Bart provided the offense with Reynolds hitting a 2 run home run and Bart hitting a solo shot and driving in another run. It could have been a rain delay disaster because it took Mitch Keller out of the game. It looked like the Pirates were going to have a 5th inning implosion.

Key Moment Of The Game: The Pirates brought in Dennis (Please No More Close Games For Me) Santana. He quickly loaded the base giving up 2 his and hitting a batter. In came lefty Jalen Beeks who had not been all that impressive in his 1st two outings for the Pirates. The top of the Diamondbacks order was coming up. You could see a big crooked number coming up. But Beeks came through getting a pop up and a strike out. He walked in a run but it was a great battle between him and Joc Pederson. He struck out Pirates killer Josh Bell to end the inning giving up only one run. It was indeed bullpen redemption.

Next Game: This Afternoon Diamondbacks in Pittsburgh. The Pirates have a shot to win the series with Paul Skenes going today. It would be nice to see some offense behind him. Almost a must win today.

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Pirates Morning Report: A Game To Forget

Final Score: Pirates 8 Diamondbacks 9

Why The Pirates Lost: A complete and utter pitching failure. This could have been the game that you would have remembered if the Pirates wind up making the playoffs. Instead, it’s a game to forget. The first four batters of the game for the Diamondbacks all scored on a triple throwing error and then 3 straight home runs. They added another run and had a 5-0 lead after a half of an inning. The Pirates battled back and took a 7-6 lead after 6 innings. The Diamondbacks added single runs in the 7th, 8th, and 9th to take a 9-7 lead going into the bottom of the 9th. Oneil Cruz led off the inning with his 5th hit of the night going 5 for 5. He was able to score on a Rawhide Rowdy single, but the Pirates could not get another run. Not a good start to the homestand, but our big boys are going this weekend so we may be able to salvage the series.

Key Moments Of The Game; In the top of the 7th Aroldis Chapman mowed down the first two batters by striking them out. Josh Bell was behind in the count 0-2, Chapman threw a high outside 103 MPH fastball and Bell scorched it into the right field seats. A similar home run happened to Champman earlier this year on a high outside pitch that was hit into right field for a home run. Colin (I Wish That They Had Traded Me) Holderman pithed the top of the 8th and failed to dance through the raindrops. The man just can’t seem to throw a clean inning. He gave up a single to start the inning but got the next batter to pop out. The second batter lined out to Triolo. The runner stole second during the at bat. This brought Geraldo Perdomo to the plate. Holderman got ahead of him 0-2. The next pitch he fouled off of his knee. Perdomo was in some bad pain. After throwing a ball, Holderman pretty much grooved a sweeper out over the plate just above the knees. Perdomo laced a ball off the right field wall for a double to bring in the go ahead run. They added the deciding run in the 9th on their 5th home run of the night. It was an extremely rough night for the bullpen.

Next Game: Tonight, Diamondback in Pittsburgh. The Pirates will need to bounce back tonight. They can ill afford to lose a series to the Diamondbacks at home. The offense finally did something last night and yet the Pirates still lost. Not a good sign.

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Pirate Morning Report: The Defense Rests, In Fact It Falls Asleep

Final Score: Pirates 4 Astros 5

Why The Pirates Lost: The defense fell apart, mainly Oneil Cruz, who had 3 of the Pirates 4 errors, which led to 3 of the 5 Astros runs to be unearned. The Astros only had 4 hits to go along with 1 walk and a HBP to score their 5 runs. Making his Pirate debut was Jake Woodford who had to be thinking am I really in the major leagues. In 5 innings of work, he gave up only 2 hits and 1 walk but left the game with only a 4-3 lead. Colin (I Told You He Should Have Been Traded) Holderman gave up the big 2 run home run on his very first pitch to give the Astros a 5-4 lead that they never relinquished. It was his 97 MPH fastball, and I admit it was not in a bad location, but Mauricio Dubon must have been looking for it and hit it out of the ballpark. Having a 3-3 road trip was still very good. You just hate to see the Pirates give the Astros a gift win. Oneil Cruz will be glad to leave Houston.

The Key Moment Of The Game: The 2 run homer by Dubon was the big hit of the ballgame. Shelton made the right move but this time it did not work out. The Pirates had a chance in the top of the 8th but could not get the big 2 out hit this time. All in all, a very disappointing loss.

The Next Game: Tomorrow night, the Diamondbacks in Pittsburgh. The Pirates open up a 6 game home stand against the Diamondbacks and the Padres. If this team is going to contend for the wild card, then a 4-2 homestand is a must. The Pirates made some nice additions to the team and removed some deadwood. It is looking more and more like it is going to take about 88 to 90 wins to make the wild card. It is time to start August off with a bang.