Tag: Pittsburgh Pirates.

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Pirates Noon Report, Let’s Take a Beating

Final Score: Pirates 4 Diamondbacks 6

Why The Pirates Lost: Dwayne Underwood Junior, who I said I would never write out his name again, was allowed to stay in the game in the bottom of 7th and take a nice pounding. In 1/3 of an inning, he gave up 4 runs, 5 hits, and walked 1 for good measure. Rumor has it that Shelton had to go take a dump between innings, and that was why the bullpen was not up sooner. No more Southwest cuisine for you Shadow. Hopefully we won’t have to go through DUJ pitching next year. I spelled out his name because that performance needed full disclosure. You’re not going to win many games when your 1st two batters and your last 2 batters go 0 for 15. Michael Chavis had a big game in a losing cause with 2 home runs and 3 RBI’s. It could have been a winning cause if anyone would have cared enough to take DUJ out of the game after the 2nd hit.

Key Moment of The Game: When Shelton fell asleep at the wheel, again. A top 5 draft choice looks like a lock now.

Next Game: Tonight, Diamondbacks, in Arizona. The Pirates have 52 games left in the season. Since it is obvious that the Pirate management team is continuing to try to lose games, by starting horrible players and not making any in game moves to win games, the report will take a slightly different format. Instead of discussing why the Pirates loss, that can simply be answered by saying because they want to, there will be a new segment, how the 2023 Pirates played. These are the players that are going to lead the Pirates to the promised land next season. This will end any mention of about one third to half the team. From this point on I will only write about players that are going to have an impact on the 2023 season.

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Pirates Morning Report, Silence of The Bats

Final Score: Pirates 0 Diamondbacks 3

Why The Pirates Lost: The bats were very quiet again, in fact they barely made a sound. The Pirates struck out 11 times, managed only 3 singles, and it was a clinic on how to make soft contact. The “bullpen game” fared better giving up only 3 runs but it was not enough. The only good news of the day was that Oneil Cruz did not strike out last night. It’s a shame when you bring in 2 pinch hitters to the plate and neither one of them are hitting over .185, why bother. Of course, they both struck out. A basic, lack luster game for the Pirates. Ke’Bryan Hayes got a scheduled rest day to help his tired old body. Seemed like the entire team took the night off, so they should be ready tonight. The Pirates made some hesitations on some throws that possibly could have kept the Diamondbacks off the board. In the end, I don’t think the Pirates would have scored a run last night, even with the extra inning rule.

Key Moment of The Game: With score 1-0 Diamondbacks, Bryan Reynolds drew a one out walk, in the top of the 7th. Ben Gamel hit a blooper out to center that dropped in and was deflected by centerfielder Alek Thomas. Reynolds had a difficult read but once the ball was dropped, he headed for third. There was hesitation, but that was before the catch. The ball was picked up by Dalton Varsho, who made a perfect throw to nail Reynolds at third. Despite what the Pirate broadcast booth said, this was more of a great throw by Varsho, than a base running gaffe by Reynolds. The Pirates make enough blunders, but this was not one of them.

The Next Game: Tonight, Diamondbacks in Arizona. The good news is that the Diamondbacks just about have as much trouble scoring runs as the Pirates. Hopefully we will show a little more life than last night. A well-rested Hayes should have at least 4 hits tonight with 2 Home Runs.

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Pirates Morning Report, Done In By The Baltimore Chop.

Final Score: Pirates 8 Orioles 1

Why The Pirates Won: Things did not look all that good for the Pirates in the early going. The first 13 Pirate batters made outs and the Orioles only run came on what could only be described as a cheap home run. Then with 1 out in the top of the fifth Michael Chavis hit a big Baltimore Chop that the Oriole 3rd basemen had to field over his shoulder and by the time he threw, Chavis had beat it out for the Pirates’s first hit and base runner. From that point on the Pirates blooped, seeing eye ground hit, and soft line drived their way to 2 runs. A wild pitch and a force out gave the Pirates another run and a 3-1 lead. The Pirates continued to add on with 1 in the 6th and 4 more in the 7th to seal the win. The Pirates made the most of 9 hits and 3 walks to score 8 runs. Overall, a very nice win for the Pirates to avoid the sweep.

Key Moment of The Game: It was not so much a key moment, but it was the overall ability of the Pirates to extend the lead and turn this into a rare easy victory. Bryse Wilson pitched well for the 5 innings plus, but I thought it was an unnecessary hook for Wilson after he gave up the lead off hit in the 6th. He had thrown only thrown 69 pitches and was still looking very good. However, The Shadow wants to wear out those new members of the bullpen, just as fast as he did with the first half relievers. After all, fair is fair.

Next Game: Late night, Diamondbacks, in Arizona. We will see if this game gives the Pirates any momentum heading into Arizona. It would be nice to see a lineup that does not have a player who is approaching 30 and stinks. I really don’t care if they have a pretty good game or not. This is not helping the players that are going to form the winning core for this team by sitting on the bench. The only way you make progress in baseball is to play. Hopefully management will see the light, but I doubt it.

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Pirates Morning Report, Doubles, Anyone.

Final Score: Pirates 3 Orioles 6

Why The Pirates Lost: The pitching just was not there last night. They were touched up for 6 runs, 11 hits and gave up 6 walks. They were lucky that the Orioles only scored 6 runs. It could have been much worse. The Orioles left 12 runners on base and were just 3 for 13 with runners in scoring position. In the first 2 games of the series the Orioles have hit 8 doubles. The Pirate’s bats woke up a little bit with Cruz hitting a 2-run homer and Hayes driving in a run in the 6th. Still, they only managed to get 6 hits for the game. One of those hits was by that dynamic duo of Allen and Van Meter. They went 1 for 5 to keep those averages below .200. It was really good to see those two get some playing time, so the young players could see how not to play baseball. They heavily contribute to every loss. But this loss has to be put on the pitchers. Chase De Jong went so far as to allow a run without giving up a hit by walking 3 batters in one inning. Here, take that extra run to help ensure victory, you don’t even have to swing.

Key Moment of The Game: The Orioles were making an effort to help the Pirates get back into the game by hitting a batter, then walking a batter to start the top of the 8th. Ke’Bryan Hayes hit a sharp ground ball just to the left of second base and Oriole shortstop, Jorge Mateo made a nice diving stop and flipped the ball to second while still on the ground to start a double play which essentially ended the threat.

Next Game: This afternoon, Orioles in Baltimore. I knew it would not be long before Van Meter made it back in the starting lineup to help lose some games. Will they have enough balls to do it 2 games in a row. Bryce Wilson starts tomorrow which does not bode well for avoidance of a sweep. Van Meter or Allen may not need to play.

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Pirates Morning Report, Just a Baseball Thing

Final Score: Pirates 0 Orioles 1

Why The Pirates Lost: When you don’t score any runs you lose. Getting away from the Brewers pitching staff seemed to silence the bats. There were some interesting takes from the game. The Pirates only struck out 6 times and Oneil Cruz had 3 of them. These new Pirates are at least putting the ball in play more. Apparently, Manny Banuelos could start the 8th last night and go into the 9th but could not face Kolton Wong on Wednesday in the top of the 10th. In the top of the 8th Shelton pinch hit for Cal Mitchell, with Greg Allen who is hitting .129 because there was a left hander in the game. Cal Mitchell’s splits are almost exactly the same against right and left hand pitching. Too bad Shelton did not get ejected earlier. Mitch Keller for the second game in a row danced through the raindrops and gave up only 1 run in 6 innings even though he did not have a 1-2-3 inning. It was another gritty tough performance by Keller, but despite what the Pirate website says, it was not a gem. All in all, it was a tough loss for the Buccos.

The Key Moment of the Game: Three times was a charm for the Orioles. They had led off with doubles in the 1st and the 3rd but could not bring them around to score. In the 6th, they led off with a double which set up the only run of the game. They needed a ball that hit Keller in the foot and seeing eye ground ball between Hayes and Cruz to finally score. The Pirates had a couple of minor threats late in the game but could not get the job done.

Next Game: Late afternoon, Orioles in Baltimore. The big question, is this the day that Van Meter gets back in the lineup? I can’t wait to find out. Do you think the Pirate management team ever look at analytics during the game? With the moves they make, or sometimes the lack of moves, it could not be possible. I will be curious to see if the bats can make a comeback today.

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Pirates Morning Report, Who’s on First.

Final Score: Pirates 5 Brewers 4 10 innings

Why The Pirates Won: The Pirates did it all yesterday. The bullpen did the job, as they technically did not give up an earned run, although they came close. Two great defensive plays saved the day for them. Again, the Pirates offense thrived on Brewer pitching, getting 5 runs on 12 hits, 3 walks, striking out only 4 times. Let that sink in for a while, they only struck out 4 times. The highlight of the game may have been when Bob Walk and Greg Brown were trying to figure out when and how Christian Yelich was ejected from the game, followed by the ejection of Craig Counsell. Walk and Brown have nothing on Abbot and Costello’s who’s on first. They were so engrossed trying to figure it out, that they almost ignored the game as the Pirates were in the process of tying it up. Walk was so confused it was hilarious. Who got tossed from the game? Yelich. Who? Yelich After he ran out onto the field? No. He ran out onto the field and then got tossed. No. I don’t think Counsell got tossed. Yes, he did. It didn’t look it. Well, he did. Did what? Got tossed from the game. When? Before Yelich. For running out onto the field. No, Yelich was tossed before that. Are you sure? Not really. Is Counsell in the dugout? Let’s look. It went on and on.

Key Moment of The Game: In the top of the 9th the Brewers loaded the bases on a double, an intentional walk and a hit batsman, with one out. Tyrone Taylor hit a hard ground ball right down the third base line, that Ke’Bryan Hayes made a great backhanded stop , then stepped calmly on the bag at third and threw to first for a spectacular inning ending double play. Ben Gamel made a great catch in the top of the 10th to end that inning with the bases loaded. DUJ, after getting 2 men out in the 10th, completely imploded while The Shadow was still trying to figure out if Yelich was still in the game and if Counsell was still on the bench and did not see the need to get DUJ out of the game. Gamel’s catch saved the day.

Next Game: Tonight, Orioles in Baltimore. It will be interesting to see if the bats can continue to hit after getting away from Brewer pitching or was this just one of those crazy baseball things, like the Pirates beating the Dodgers 5 out of 6 games. The lineup looks good with the young guys in there. The most impressive of the group so far has been Tucupita Marcano who has been hitting well. His defense has never been questioned but he seemed to have problems with the bat at almost every level. He looks great at the plate right now and if that continues, he would be a great asset to this team.

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Pirates Morning Report, Hello Tucupita, and Goodbye Tsutsugo

Final Score: Pirates 8 Brewers 7

Why The Pirates Won: For whatever reason the Pirates seem to thrive on Brewer pitching. Last night they scored 8 runs on 12 hits, accepted 3 walks, and only struck out 7 times. The hits included one double, one triple, and two home runs. The Pirates needed all 8 runs as management decided to try a bullpen game with an exhausted overworked bullpen. They looked it, giving up 7 runs on 12 hits, walking 5 and only striking out 6. Four of the 6 pitchers did pretty well but it was Beede and De Los Santos that gave up all the runs. They won because of what Greg Brown calls the youth movement. I call it the upgrade movement. A starting lineup with no Van Meter or Tsutsugo. That was a recipe for victory.

Biggest Moment of The Game: The Cruz 2-out home run in the bottom of the 7th, after the baserunning blunder by Ke’Bryan Hayes, and yes it was a bonehead play despite what Bob Walk said. It stretched the Pirate lead to 7-4. There would have been no walk off by Bryan Reynolds if Cruz does not hit that bomb.

Next Game: This afternoon: Brewers, in Pittsburgh. Can the Pirates get the sweep? Rumor has it that Derek Shelton was sobbing when he was told the Tsutsugo was DFA’d. He was heard saying “How are we ever going to keep that top 5 draft pick if he is not in the lineup every day. We can’t have a bullpen game every time, it would look like we are not trying to win. Van Meter can only do so much”.

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Pirate Morning Report, It’s The Same Old Song.

Final Score: Pirates 2 Cubs 4

Why The Pirates Lost: Can the Four Tops please take the stage. The slumber company is firing on all 9 cylinders. This time they were able to score 2 runs on 4 hits,0 walks, and struck out 10 times. Five of the nine batters failed to get a hit. Greg Allen has been worth the wait hitting .083. Bryce Wilson, I have to give him credit, after the shaky first inning he gave up only 2 hits and walked one. He only threw 80 pitches in the 6 innings, but again, the Pirates would not let him come out for the 7th inning. He has thrown over 90 pitches 3 times this year. Another example of overuse of the bullpen by The Shadow. The Pirates just do not know how to play baseball. Outstanding job, coaching staff, the team looks lost. Oneil Cruz hit a 2 run homer in the 7th for the Pirates only runs. All that development in AAA has paid off for Cruz. Too bad the Pirate brass don’t think enough of Castillo to help him develop in AAA. Maybe he could have learned to hit right hand pitching. Diego, I think it’s time for you to start looking at the Indeed website.

The Key Moment of The Game: The 3- run 1st inning by the Cubs told you that the game was over. The Pirates have not scored more than 2 runs in 6 of their last 8 games. They get a day off today, their 4th in a row.

Next Game: Thursday, Phillies in Pittsburgh. The last time the Pirates faced a good pitching staff, the Brewers, they surprisingly lit them up. The Phillies staff is 7th in all of baseball in ERA+ and Fielding Independent Pitching. Could it happen again. We can only wait and hope.

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Pirates Morning Report, There Are No Routine Plays For The Pirates

Final Score: Pirates 2 Cubs 3

Why The Pirates Lost: The slumber company continues to not disappoint. Last night, 2 runs, 8 hits, 5 singles, to go along with 2 walks. All of this against a starting pitcher who Greg Brown described as a journeyman pitcher, no disrespect meant scumbag. Greg Brown was full of himself last night, making other comments both positive and negative about many players. You knew he was going to say a lot of inane things, when he started the game by saying that it was likely that Van Meter would be gone by the trade deadline. His words were “It would not be a surprise to see Van Meter on the move by the trade deadline”. VAN METER FOR GOD’S SAKE. Who would want him? The idea is to pick up a player to help you make the playoffs, not one who will guarantee you won’t. Maybe it would be like money ball, and they would get a pop machine in return. The only way that Van Meter will not be on this team by the trade deadline is if he is DFA’d. The bottom line is the Pirates lost another game by playing inferior players, when there are better players either not on the team or not playing.

The Key Play of The Game: Not being able to make the routine play on a ground ball to short resulted in the Cubs scoring the go ahead run in the bottom of the 8th. They charged the error to Cruz, which could change, but the Pirates could not execute the routine play. They made some spectacular defensive plays out there, but the error on the routine play cost them the game.

Next Game: This afternoon, Cubs in Chicago. Bryce Wilson takes the mound today, which just about guarantees a Cub win. The only hope is that the slumber company wakes up, which they do every once in a while. Just hold your breath on those routine plays.

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Pirate Morning Report, Brain Dead Shelton

Final Score: Pirates 5 Marlins 6

Why The Pirates Lost: This all boiled down to the bottom of the 9th inning. For the second day in a row Yoshi Tsutsugo got a big hit, which this time tied the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the ninth. Tsutsugo was on second base with one out, representing the winning run. Scheduled to bat was Jason Delay, who had already had one hit, and has been on a hot streak. Then Derek (Brain Dead) Shelton, decided to pinch hit for him with Diego Castillo. Castillo against right hand pitching has a slash line of 157/208/217. Delay has a slash line at the moment of 333/385/500. Granted, it is a small sample size, but it is what he is doing right now. He is hitting better against right hand pitching than left hand pitching. We needed a hit to win the game and possibly the outcome would have been the same, but why would you send up Castillo who absolutely stinks against right hand pitching. Needless to say, he struck out, followed by a Newman strike out to send the game into extra innings, where the Pirates lost. The Pirates struck out 18 times yesterday, showing little interest in making contact with the ball. Another brain dead move was taking Keller out after 6 innings even though he had only thrown 74 pitches. The bullpen got through one inning but then imploded to lose the game. Keller may well have able to pitch all the way to the 8th. He gave up a home run and the other 2 runs scored on a hit batsman, 2 bunts and a soft line drive single to left. He was still looking strong after 6 innings. This was a good game that the Pirates should have won, plain and simple. This management team has no interest in winning or making moves that are conducive to winning for the year 2022.

Key moment of The Game: See above.

Next Game: Tonight, Cubs in Chicago. Even though the Pirates managed 5 runs yesterday they only had 6 hits, along with 4 walks. The bats are still cold, but they scored 5 runs which makes this loss tough to take. Who knows maybe Tsutsugo will get hot.