Category: Uncategorized

Posted on

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.

Posted on

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.

Posted on

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.

Posted on

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.

Posted on

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.

Posted on

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.

Posted on

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.

Posted on

Pirates Morning Report: .500 Road Trip Locked UP

Final Score: Pirates 6 Astros 2

Why The Pirates Won: For two days in a row it was the .200 club that contributed mightily to this win. It is not often you win a game when your 3-4 hitters in the lineup go 1 for 10 and strikeout 7 times. Jared Triolo and Michael Taylor went 2 for 7, with 1 walk, driving in 3 runs. Barry Falter pitched a nice 5 and 1/3 innings coming back from the IL. He gave up 1 earned run on 6hits, walking no one. Dennis Santana came in the bottom of the 6th to snuff out the rally and pitched a scoreless 7th inning. In his last 7 games he has 9 and 2/3 innings and has not given up a run, while striking out 16 batters. Whether it is the change of scenery, or he and the Pirates found something, he has been lights out over his last 10-11 appearances. Glad I was wrong about him. Kyle Nicolas and Hunter Stratton finished up. Even though they had some issues, the Astros failed to score any runs and the Pirates had pretty much of a stress-free win.

The Key Moment Of The Game: In the top of the sixth there were two out, nobody on and Jared Triolo was behind in the count 0-2. Over the next 6 pitches Triolo battled to get a walk. Michael Taylor for the second straight day hit a big 2 out home run to make the score 5-1 Pittsburgh, which gave the Pirates a very nice cushion. The Astros did get a run in the bottom of the inning but never had a major threat going for the rest of the day. The Pirates got the final run on a bases loaded walk to Andrew McCutchen to clinch the series win.

Next Game: Tonight, Astros in Houston. The Pirates will start recently acquired Jake Woodford. He has had an up and down career. Let’s hope he has an up night so the Pirates have a shot at getting the sweep. The Pirates made modest noise at the deadline, which should help the team some. I will discuss that more when the Pirates make their final roster moves. Right now, just basking in the glory of a 3-game road winning streak, against some pretty good competition.

Posted on

Pirates Morning Report: Unlikely Heroes Even Up Road Trip

Final Score: Pirates 5 Astros 3

Why The Pirates Won: The .200 Club won this game. Yasmani Grandal, Michael (I Refuse To Write The A) Taylor and Jared Triolo all had big hits to help win this game. Taylor in particular had the big game going 2 for 3 with a homer and 3 RBIs. Paul Skenes had another solid outing allowing only 1 earned run on 5 hits, walking 3, striking out 6, while throwing 101 pitches. He was not his sharpest, but if Ke’Bryan Hayes makes the play on a ground ball, it might have been a double play, and he would have given up 0 runs. This game was very similar to the previous win except the Pirates tied it in the 8th and took the lead in the 9th. The bullpen had another shaky bottom of the last inning but held on to pick up the win. No matters what happens on the rest of the trip, it cannot be consider a disaster.

Key Moments Of The Game: Oneil Cruz’s double to tie the game and Michael Taylor’s 3 run homer to give the Pirates a 5-2 lead came when 2 were out. David Bednar came in to get the save in the bottom of the 9th. After quickly getting one out, things began to go awry. Victor Caratini singled up the middle. Bednar walks the next batter. Jose Altuve singles to left to load the bases. Alex Bregman hit a 102 MPH liner that Michael Taylor was able to snag for the 2nd out. Up to the plate stepped the ever-dangerous Yordan Alvarez who was already 2 for 4 with an RBI. The Pirates decided on a gutsy move by giving him nothing to hit walking him to make the score 5-3 putting the winning run on base and the tying run in scoring position. It paid off as Bednar got Yainer Diaz to pop out to Cruz to end the game. Whew!

Next Game: Tonight, Astros in Houston. Barry Falter returns tonight and at least he is not facing a top of the rotation guy. A 3-3 road trip has now become more of a possibility. More so than the Pirates doing anything to really improve this team. We have about 11 hours to find out.

Posted on

Pirates Morning Report: Please Trade Colin Holderman

Final Score: Pirates 6 Diamondbacks 5 in 10 innings

Why The Pirates Won: The Pirates won for three reasons. Mitch Keller pitched an outstanding 7 innings. With the exception of Colin Holderman the bullpen did the job. The Diamondbacks gave us plenty of assistance in the top of the 10th inning. In what could have been the most disastrous inning of the year, Colin Holderman gave up 3 runs and had the tying run on third base before getting the last out on a ground ball to first. Holderman has a fastball that is between 97 and 99 MPH much like David Bednar. A few times this year he has touched 100 MPH. Unlike David Bednar, HE RARELY THROWS IT. He threw 26 pitches in the bottom of the 10th where he was knocked around pretty good and threw 2 fastballs. He gave up 2 home runs and a triple. Thank God the Pirates had a 4 run lead going into the bottom of the 10th.

Key Moments Of The Game: The Joey Bart 2 out double in the top of the 9th was the big hit of the game. It tied the score 2-2, keeping the Pirates and Mitch Keller from losing a game where he gave up only 2 hits. The Pirates scored 4 runs in the top of the 10th and if this was hockey the Diamondbacks would have been given several assists. With the ghost runner on 2nd base, Ji Hwan Bae bunted the ball, and the Diamondback pitcher must not have had a clue on how fast Bae is. He looked toward third and had no chance to get Bae. It would have been close even if he immediately threw the ball. Assist no. 1. He walks Yasmani Grandal on 4 pitches. Assist no. 2. McCutchen grounds into a force out at home. A wild pitch sends the first run of the inning home. Assist no. 3. The Diamondbacks decide to intentionally walk Oneil Cruz to load the bases. Assist no.4. Alika Williams is hit by the pitch to force in run no. 4. Assist no. 5. Josh (Expect More Zero For Five Nights From Me) Palacios grounds out forcing the runner at the plate. With two outs Ke’Bryan (Please Trade Him So I Won’t Have To Keep Typing That Apostrophe) Hayes hit a soft 70 MPH line drive for a single that scored runs 5 and 6, which turned out to be the winning runs. The inning line: Pirates 4 runs, 2 hits, Diamondbacks 5 assists.

Next Game: Tonight, Astros in Houston. Someway, somehow, the Pirates pulled out the win yesterday. If Paul Skenes can beat the Astros, tonight it will make the road trip 2-2 and at least avoid a disaster. Bryan Reynolds is coming back today, and it looks like Jack Suwinski is going down to AAA. At least that move shows the Pirates may be thinking of trying to make the playoffs. Cherington is already preparing Pirate fans for the likelihood that the Pirates are not going to make any trades. Maybe he is just trying to fool us. After all, he already knows we are fools for following this team.