Tag: Pittsburgh Pirates.

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Pirates Morning Report

FINAL SCORE: PIRATES 3 REDS 7

WHY THE PIRATES LOST: THEY THOUGHT THEIR BEST PLAYER NEEDED A REST. THEY ONLY GOT 3 HITS, ALTHOUGH 2 OF THEM WERE HOME RUNS, AND THE BULLPEN COMPLETELY IMPLODED IN THE BOTTOM OF THE SIXTH INNING. YOU HAVE TO QUESTION WHETHER THE BULLPEN WAS EVEN NECESSARY IN THE SIXTH. IN A RARE GOOD OUTING FOR ZACH THOMPSON, HE WENT 5 INNINGS STRIKING OUT 6, WALKING 0 AND GIVING UP ONLY 2 HITS. HE HAD THROWN ONLY 79 PITCHES, YET THE SHADOW DECIDED TO GO TO THE BULLPEN IN THE 6TH WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE DISASTEROUS. DILLON PETERS GAVE UP A LITTLE BLOOP HIT TO START THE 6TH, BUT THEN COULD NOT FIND THE STRIKE ZONE, AND WALKED THE NEXT 3 BATTERS TO MAKE IT 2 TO 1. THEN THE SHADOW DECIDES TO BRING IN DOUBLE H AND HIS STERLING 6+ ERA. AFTER GETTING ONE OUT, DOUBLE H GAVE UP A GRAND SLAM TO FORMER PIRATE, COLIN (AM I EVEN ALIVE) MORAN FOR THE REDS TO JUMP OUT TO A 5-2 LEAD. COMATOSE COLIN HIT ANOTHER HOMER IN THE 8TH TO GIVE THE REDS A 7-3 CUSHION GOING INTO THE NINTH. BY FAR, THE MOST EMBARRASSING SERIES OF THE YEAR.

KEY MOMENT OF THE GAME: THE MORAN GRAND SLAM, WHICH WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SHADOW’S OBSESSION WITH NOT ALLOWING A STARTER TO THROW 90 OR MORE PITCHES. I GUESS THE ONLY WAY YOU ARE GOING TO GET STRETCHED OUT IF YOU ARE A PIRATE PITCHER IS TO BE SENT DOWN TO THE MINORS. WE’VE JUST FINISHED THE FIRST WEEK OF MAY AND THE BULLPEN LOOKS TIRED ALREADY. EXPECT TO SEE A LOT MORE PITCHING BY POSITION PLAYERS IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

NEXT GAME: TONIGHT, DODGERS IN PITTSBURGH. THIS COULD GET PRETTY UGLY. IT REALLY DOES NOT MATTER WHO THE PIRATES START IN THIS SERIES, SO PLEASE SHELTON, MAKE TUCKER, VAN METER, AND TSUTSUGO PLAY ALL THREE GAMES, AND TAKE THE BEATING. THE PIRATES COULD START 5 PLAYERS WITH BATTING AVERAGES UNDER .200. THAT COULD BE A MAJOR LEAGUE RECORD. COME ON SHELTON, I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT, BUT REMEMBER ONLY THE SHADOW KNOWS.

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Pirates Morning Report

FINAL SCORE GAME 1: PIRATES 2 REDS 9

WHY THE PIRATES LOSS: THE PIRATE BATTERS REFUSED TO SWING AT STRIKES WHEN IT COUNTED AND THE PIRATE PITCHERS REFUSED TO THROW STRIKES WHEN IT COUNTED. WILL CROWE HIT THE FIRST BATTER HE FACED IN THE BOTTOM OF THE EIGHTH, WALKED TWO MORE, BEFORE GIVING UP A CATCHABLE DOUBLE TO START THE ONSLAUGHT OF A 7 RUN INNING FOR THE HAPLESS REDS. THE PIRATE DEFENSE CONTINUED TO BE VERY BAD. THIS WAS A GIFT-WRAPPED WIN FOR THE REDS.

KEY MOMENT OF THE GAME: THE PIRATES HAD THE BASES LOADED AND NOBODY OUT IN THE TOP OF THE EIGHTH, WITH THE 3,4,5 HITTERS COMING TO PLATE. KE’BRYAN HAYES TOOK TWO STRIKES BEFORE STRIKING OUT ON A BALL. THE TURTLE TOOK TWO STRIKES BEFORE STRIKING OUT ON A BALL. MICHAEL CHAVIS TOOK 2 STRIKES, BUT AT LEAST THE PITCH HE SWUNG AND MISSED, WAS IN THE STRIKE ZONE. THE PIRATE BATTERS DID NOT SWING AT SIX PITCHES IN THE STRIKE ZONE WITH THE BASES LOADED. THEY DESERVED THE CATASTOPHIC BOTTOM OF THE EIGHTH.

FINAL SCORE GAME 2: PIRATES 8 REDS 5

WHY THE PIRATES WON: THEY SAVED THEMSELVES FROM THE EMBARRASSMENT OF LOSING A DOUBLE HEADER TO THE REDS BY BRINGING OUT THE LONG BALL. THEY HIT 3 HOME RUNS IN THE FIRST INNING TO SCORE 4 RUNS AND YOU COULD SAY THEY NEVER LOOKED BACK. MITCH KELLER COULD NOT PUT TWO GOOD STARTS TOGETHER AND HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO SO SINCE THE BEGINNING OF 2021. BEN GAMEL ADDED A 2 RUN HOMER TO HIGHLIGHT A 3 RUN FIFTH BUT THE REDS CAME BACK WITH 3 IN THE BOTTOM OF THE FIFTH TO MAKE THE SCORE 7-5 AT THAT POINT. THE BULLPEN CAME THROUGH, THE PIRATES ADDED ANOTHE RUN IN THE TOP OF THE SEVENTH FOR A RELAVTIVELY STRESS FREE WIN.

KEY MOMENT OF THE GAME: THIS WAS NOT REALLY THE KEY MOMENT OF THE GAME, BUT IT WAS THE BEST MOMENT. WITH TWO OUT IN THE TOP OF THE SEVENTH AND THE TURTLE ON FIRST BASE, JACK SUWINSKI HIT A LINE SHOT DOUBLE DOWN THE LEFT FIELD LINE. WITH THE TURTLE HUFFING AND PUFFING LIKE A STEAM ENGINE JUST ABOUT TO RUN OUT OF WATER, HE SCORED ALL THE WAY FROM FIRST FOR ONLY THE SECOND TIME IN HIS CAREER. HIS SLIDE INTO HOME WAS PRICELESS, JUST COMING UP SHORT, BUT HIS MOMEMTUM CARRIED HIM ONTO THE PLATE, TO SCORE THE EIGHTH PIRATE RUN. IT WAS A CLASSIC.

NEXT GAME: REDS TODAY IN CINCINNATI HOPEFULLY THE PIRATES CAN WIN THE SERIES AGAINST THIS PATHETIC TEAM. LET’S HOPE THE STARTING LINE UP IS NOT WORSE THAN USUAL. ONLY THE SHELTON KNOWS. WE DO SEEM TO BE PLAYING OUTFIELDERS NOW.

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Pirates Morning Report

FINAL SCORE GAME 1: PIRATES 2 TIGERS 3

WHY THE PIRATES LOSS: THE LINE UP CARD, AS SHELTON CONTINUES TO PLAY INFERIOR PLAYERS. THE PIRATES CAN TALK ALL THEY WANT ABOUT PLAYER DEVELOPEMENT BUT YOU CAN NOT IMPROVE YOUR GAME IF YOU DON’T PLAY. SHODDY DEFENSE SPOILED SOME GREAT PITCHING FROM DILLON PETERS AND BRYCE WILSON AND THE INABILITY OF THE PIRATE BATTERS TO GET A RUNNER HOME FROM THIRD WITH ONE OUT IN THE FIFTH PROVED COSTLY. FROM THAT POINT ON THE PIRATE’S BATS WENT COMPLETELY DEAD.

KEY PLAY OF THE GAME: WITH 2 OUT IN THE BOTTOM OF THE FIFTH, THE TIGERS HAD RUNNERS ON 2ND AND 3RD, WHEN A GROUND BALL TO KE’BRYAN HAYES WAS PLAYED SO BADLY, THAT HE MANAGED TO THROW THE BALL BACKWARDS INTO LEFT FIELD WHICH ALLOWED BOTH RUNNERS TO SCORE AND THE TIGERS TOOK THE LEAD 3-2. THE PIRATES NEVER GOT A RUNNER ON BASE IN THE NEXT 4 INNINGS.

FINAL SCORE GAME 2: PIRATES 7 TIGERS 2

WHY THE PIRATES WON: THIS TIME THE A TEAM PLAYED AND THE PIRATES WON THE GAME RATHER HANDILY. THE HOME RUN BALL APPEARED AND THE PIRATES ADDED ON IN THE 8TH TO SEAL THE DEAL. EVEN THOUGH HE ONLY WENT 5 INNINGS, JOSE QUINTANA HAD ANOTHER SOLID PITCHING PERFORMANCE. QUINTANA, BY FAR, HAS BEEN THE MOST CONSISTANT PIRATE STARTER. THEY WERE ABLE TO OVERCOME SOME MORE BAD DEFENSIVE PLAY.

THE KEY PLAY OF THE GAME: IN THE TOP OF THE 7TH BRYAN REYNOLDS GOT A BLOOP DOUBLE AFTER A BEN GAMEL WALK, TO PUT RUNNERS ON SECOND AND THIRD WITH NO ONE OUT. FROM THAT POINT, THE PIRATES WERE ABLE TO SCORE BOTH RUNS WITHOUT GETTING A HIT. A WILD PITCH SCORED GAMEL AND MOVED REYNOLDS TO THIRD. A SACRIFICE FLY BY THE TURTLE SCORED REYNOLDS AND THE PIRATES HAD A 4-2 LEAD.

NEXT GAME: FRIDAY, REDS IN CINCINNATI THE REDS HAVE ONLY WON 3 OUT OF 24 GAMES THIS YEAR. THEY HAVE TAKEN TANKING TO A NEW LEVEL AND HAVE CAUGHT THE PIRATES TOTALLY OFF GUARD IN THEIR QUEST FOR THE NO. 1 PICK NEXT YEAR. THE PIRATES COULD PUT THE B TEAM OUT THERE FOR ALL THREE GAMES TO HELP THE REDS OUT, ONLY THE SHELTON KNOWS.

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Pirates Morning Report

FINAL SCORE: PIRATES 4 CUBS 3

WHY THE PIRATES WON: SAME OLD STORY, ANOTHER OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY THE BULLPEN, ALTHOUGH THIS TIME THEY MADE IT INTERESTING. IN THE BOTTOM OF THE 7TH THE CUBS HAD FIRST AND THIRD WITH NO ONE OUT AND FAILED TO SCORE. IN THE BOTTOM OF THE NINTH THEY HAD SECOND AND THIRD AND ONE OUT AND AGAIN COULD NOT PUSH THE TYING RUN ACROSS. THE PIRATES WON THE GAME DESPITE BEING OUT HIT 10 TO 6 , ALTHOUGH THEY OUT WALKED THE CUBS 7 TO 4. THE PIRATES SCORED 3 OF THEIR 4 RUNS AFTER 2 WERE OUT. THE CUBS MADE A COSTLY ERROR IN THE TOP OF THE FOURTH WHICH GAVE THE PIRATES THEIR 4TH AND DECIDING RUN. IN THE THREE WINS IN CHICAGO, THE PIRATES GRABBED THEIR FINAL LEAD IN THE 4TH AND 5TH INNINGS, AND HELD ON TO IT FOR ALL 3 GAMES. THE PIRATES WON THEIR SECOND SERIES OF THE YEAR, WHICH IS TWO MORE THAN LAST YEAR. THE PIRATES DID THIS WITH BRYAN REYNOLDS MIRED IN A BAD SLUMP.

KEY PLAY OF THE GAME: THE FINAL 2 STRIKE OUTS BY DAVID BEDNAR IN THE BOTTOM OF THE NINTH WITH THE TYING RUN ON THIRD AND THE WINNING RUN ON SECOND. YOU JUST GOT THE FEELING THAT THIS MIGHT BE A WALK OFF WIN FOR THE CUBS, BUT IT WAS NOT TO BE.

NEXT GAME: TUESDAY BREWERS IN PITTSBURGH. WITH A FULL 48 HOURS TO THINK ABOUT IT YOU CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT KIND OF STARTING LINE UP SHELTON WILL THINK UP, ESPECIALLY NOW THAT THERE ARE ONLY 3 OUTFIELDERS ON THE TEAM. SOME HOW THE PIRATES ARE AT .500, AFTER 16 GAMES. HOW LONG CAN THIS GO ON? WHO KNOWS, ONLY THE SHELTON KNOWS.

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Pirates Morning Report:

FINAL SCORE: PIRATES 4 CUBS 2

WHY THE PIRATES WON: ROBERTO PEREZ WAS THE SURPRISE OFFENSIVE HERO WITH 3 RBI’S AND A HOME RUN. MICHAEL CHAVIS ALSO HOMERED TO GIVE THE PIRATES THEIR 4 RUNS. AGAIN, THE BULLPEN WAS FANTASTIC AND JOSE QUINTANA PITCHED A GRITTY 4 AND 2/3 INNINGS GIVING UP ONLY 2 RUNS, DESPITE HAVING SOME CONTROL PROBLEMS RESULTING IN 3 WALKS. THE BULLPEN WAS NOT QUITE AS DOMINANT AS THE GAME BEFORE, GIVING UP 4 HITS AND A WALK, BUT DID NOT ALLOW A RUN FOR 5 AND 1/3 INNINGS. THE PIRATES GRABBED THE LEAD ON THE CHAVIS HOME RUN IN THE 4TH AND ADDED THE FINAL RUN, ON PEREZ’S HOME RUN IN THE FIFTH. THE BULLPEN PROTECTED THE LEAD FOR THE SECOND NIGHT IN A ROW.

KEY PLAY OF THE GAME: THE DOUBLE STEAL BY VAN METER AND NEWMAN WITH 2 OUT IN THE 2ND FOLLOWED BY THE DOUBLE BY PEREZ THAT GOT THE PIRATES GOING. THE PIRATES FOUND THE LONG BALL WHICH WON THE GAME.

NEXT GAME: TODAY, CUBS IN CHICAGO. ONLY SHELTON KNOWS WHAT THE NEXT LINE UP FROM HELL WILL BE. THREE OUTFIELDERS TWO DAYS IN A ROW. NO WAY JOSE. IF THE PIRATES CAN GET A SPLIT THIS WEEKEND, A DISASTEROUS LOOKING ROADTRIP AT THE START, WILL TURN OUT TO BE MORE THAN ACCEPTABLE.

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Pirates Morning Report

FINAL SCORE: PIRATES 4 CUBS 3

WHY THE PIRATES WON: ANOTHER OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY THE PIRATE BULLPEN. THEY ONLY GAVE UP ONE HIT AND NO RUNS OVER THE LAST 6 INNINGS IN A VERY CLOSE HARD-FOUGHT GAME. EVERYBODY WAS VERY SOLID WITH BEDNAR COMING IN THE SEVENTH WITH A RUNNER ON AND SHUTTING IT DOWN FOR 1 AND 1/3 INNINGS. CHRIS STRATTON HAD A 3UP 3 DOWN BOTTOM OF THE NINTH, WHICH SHOULD GIVE HIM A CONFIDENCE BOOST. BRYCE WILSON HAD CONTROL PROBLEMS AND GAVE UP 3 RUNS IN 3 INNINGS. ONE OF THE RUNS SHOULD NOT HAVE SCORED, BUT BEN GAMEL MADE A HORRIBLE THROW FROM LEFT FIELD THAT ALLOWED THE SLOW-FOOTED WILLSON CONTRERAS TO SCORE ON A MEDIUM LENGTH FLY BALL. THE PIRATE ANNOUNCERS FAILED TO SAY HOW BAD THE THROW WAS, AS THE BALL TOOK TWO HOPS BEFORE ROLLING TO THE PLATE. TECHNICALLY THE BAD THROW STILL BEAT CONTRERAS TO THE PLATE. A GOOD THROW WOULD HAVE THROWN HIM OUT.

KEY PLAY OF THE GAME: THE 2 OUT DOUBLE BY YOSHI TSUTSUGO IN THE TOP OF THE FIFTH, WITH THE BASES LOADED TO GIVE THE PIRATES A 4-3 LEAD THAT THE CUBS COULD NOT OVERCOME IN 5 INNINGS OF AT BATS. SHELTON MADE ALL THE RIGHT MOVES IN THE BULLPEN TONIGHT, ALTHOUGH STRATTON ALWAYS MAKES ME A LITTLE NERVOUS. LAST NIGHT HE HAD GOOD CONTROL AND IT WAS A NO STRESS NINTH.

NEXT GAME: TODAY, CUBS IN CHICAGO. PROBABLY ANOTHER GAME WITHOUT 3 OUTFIELDERS BUT WE ARE MANAGING TO PULL OUT A FEW OF THESE GAMES. WAITING FOR THE STARTING LINE UP TO COME OUT HAS BEEN THE MOST INTERESTING ASPECT OF THIS TEAM SO FAR. WHO IS GOING TO START TODAY AND WHERE WILL THEY PLAY, ONLY THE SHELTON KNOWS.

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Pirates Morning Report

FINAL SCORE: PIRATES 2 BREWERS 4

WHY THE PIRATES LOST: JUST A REPEAT OF YESTERDAY WHERE THE BREWER’S PITCHING WAS JUST TOO MUCH FOR THE PIRATES. THIS TIME THE PIRATES STRUCK OUT 13 TIMES BUT DID MANAGE TO PUT THE BALL IN PLAY 19 TIMES. MITCH KELLER HAD HIS BEST PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN ALLLOWED TO PITCH THE FULL 6 INNINGS. WITH HIS STARTER BREEZING ALONG WITH A 75 PITCH COUNT, SHELTON DECIDES TO HAVE A LEFT HANDER FACE CHRISTIAN YELICH. WITH THE BASES EMPTY. DID HE THINK THAT THIS WAS GOING TO MAKE UP FOR THE PREVIOUS GAME? ALL IT REALLY DID, WAS DRAW MORE ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT HE FELL ASLEEP AND LET YELICH FACE A STRUGGLING RIGHT HANDER WITH THE BASES LOADED. RESULT, GRAND SLAM BABY. THEN IN THE SEVENTH WITH SCORE 1-0 IN FAVOR OF THE BREWERS HE BRINGS IN THE LEAST EFFECTIVE RELIEVER THE PIRATES HAVE HAD THIS YEAR. HE HAD OTHER OPTIONS. CROWE HAD NOT PITCHED SINCE THE 17TH, AND THERE WERE OTHER CHOICES. IT SHOWS THAT THIS MANAGEMENT TEAM IS NOT TRYING TO WIN.

KEY PLAY OF THE GAME: THE 3-RUN HOMER BY KESTON HIURA IN THE BOTTOM OF THE 7TH THAT MADE THE SCORE 4-0, WHICH ESSENTIALLY ENDED THE GAME. THE PIRATES DID SCORE 2 IN THE TOP OF THE 8TH BUT WENT QUIETLY IN THE 9TH.

NEXT GAME: TONIGHT, THE CUBS IN CHICAGO. THE PIRATES GOT SWEPT IN MILWAUKEE BECAUSE OF SOME VERY GOOD PITCHING. LET’S HOPE THAT SHELTON CAN STAY AWAKE LONG ENOUGH, SO WE CAN GET OUT OF CHICAGO WITH A SPLIT. I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE WHO WILL BE NEXT TO PLAY RIGHT FIELD. COULD IT POSSIBLY BE AN OUTFIELDER? MOST LIKELY, NO.

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Pirates Morning Report

FINAL SCORE: PIRATES 2 BREWERS 5

WHY THE PIRATES LOSS: IT’S AN EASY ONE THIS TIME. SUPERIOR PITCHING SHUT DOWN INFERIOR HITTING. THE PIRATES STRUCK OUT 12 TIMES AND DID HIT 2 HOME RUNS, WHICH MEANT THEY ONLY PUT 17 BALLS IN PLAY FOR THE ENTIRE GAME. WELCOME TO BASEBALL 2022. J. T. BRUBAKER DID NOT PITCH A BAD GAME. HE SEEMED TO HAVE CONTROL PROBLEMS BUT ONLY WALKED 2 AND GAVE UP ONLY 2 EARNED RUNS IN 5 INNINGS.

KEY PLAY OF THE GAME: THE UNNECCESARILY RUSHED THOWING ERROR BY KEVIN NEWMAN THAT EXTENDED THE FOURTH INNING. BRUBAKER WALKED THE NEXT BATTER. THEN KOLTON WONG DUMPED A SOFT LOW BLOOPER DOWN THE RIGHT FIELD LINE THAT SHORTSTOP COLE TUCKER TOOK FOREVER TO GET TO, THAT SCORED THE 2 RUNNERS. YES, THE PIRATES PUT SHORTSTOPS IN RIGHT FIELD TO GAIN EXPERIENCE AT THE POSITION IN REAL GAMES. IT LOOKS TO ME, THAT IT WILL TAKE ABOUT 100 GAMES FOR COLE TO LEARN THE POSITION. THE BREWERS ONLY GOT TWO HITS THAT INNING BUT SCORED 4 RUNS. LET’S FACE IT, WHEN YOU PLAY THE PIRATES, YOU GOT A FRIEND.

NEXT GAME: THIS AFTERNOON, BREWERS IN MILWAUKEE. I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE THIS STARTING LINE UP, WITH A DAY GAME FOLLOWING A NIGHT GAME. BRANDON WOODRUFF THE BREWERS EXCELLENT STARTING PITCHER HAS GOTTEN OFF TO A SLOW START. LET’S HOPE HE HAS ONE MORE BAD GAME AND WE CAN AFFOID THE SWEEP.

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Pirates Morning Report

FINAL SCORE: PIRATES 1 BREWERS 6

WHY THE PIRATES LOSS: THIS TIME NOT HAVING A RIGHT FIELDER COST THE PIRATES DEARLY, BUT ALTOGETHER IT WAS A TEAM EFFORT. THE PIRATES COULD NOT HIT, FIELD, PITCH OR MANAGE. ZACH THOMPSON STRUGGLED BUT FOUGHT HARD FOR 3 AND 2/3 INNINGS BUT GAVE UP THE BIG HOME RUN TO YELICH, A BATTER HE SHOULD NOT HAVE EVEN FACED. SHELTON FELL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL AND DID NOT HAVE THE LEFT HANDER DILLON PETERS READY IN TIME TO FACE YELICH. CONSIDERING THERE WAS A WALK, A SACRIFICE FLY AND ANOTHER WALK, HE HAD PLENTY OF TIME. THE FACT THAT THOMPSON WAS PROBABLY GETTING TO THE LIMIT OF HIS PITCH COUNT JUST MADE IT WORSE.

PLAY OF THE GAME: A REAL EASY ONE HERE, THE YELICH GRAND SLAM. SOME WOULD LOOK AT THIS AND SAY THE PIRATES ONLY SCORED ONE RUN ANYWAY, SO WHAT DIFFERENCE DID IT MAKE. BASEBALL IS A GAME OF HIGH LEVERAGE SITUATIONS AND PRESSURE. EVEN THOUGH THE PIRATES GOT SOME RUNNERS ON BASE IN THE LATER INNINGS, IT IS A HELL OF A LOT EASIER PITCHING IN THAT SITUATION WITH A 6-1 LEAD RATHER THAN JUST A ONE RUN LEAD.

NEXT GAME: TONIGHT, BREWERS IN MILWAUKEE. THE PIRATES ARE GOING UP AGAINST ONE OF THE BEST PITCHING STAFFS IN BASEBALL. WILL SEE IF THE BATS ARE UP TO THE CHALLENGE. THEY DIDNT DO ALL THAT BAD, CONSIDERING MY PREVIOUS COMMENT, BUT THEY WERE JUST TOO FAR BEHIND TO PUT SOME REAL HEAT ON THE STAFF. COME ON, SHELTON THERE IS A GAME GOING ON OUT THERE, STAY AWAKE. SPEAK UP BENCH COACH.

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Pirates Morning Report

FINAL SCORE: PIRATES 2 NATIONALS 7

WHY THE PIRATES LOST: DEREK SHELTON MADE UP ANOTHER GOOFY LINE UP WITH ONLY 2 OUTFIELDERS AND PLAYING PARK OVER NEWMAN. ANOTHER POOR PERFORMANCE BY MITCH KELLER SEALED THE DEAL. HE FACED 21 BATTERS WITH 10 GETTING ON BASE AND GIVING UP 4 RUNS, THROWING 84 PITCHES IN JUST 3 AND 2/3 INNINGS. YET I WAKE UP THIS MORNING READING THAT HE IS ON THE VERGE. ON THE VERGE OF WHAT I DON’T KNOW, CERTAINLY NOT GETTING COMMAND OF HIS PITCHES. THERE IS NO QUESTION OF THE 5 STARTERS HE IS THE WORSE. ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF SPRING TRAINING PERFORMANCE BEING MEANINGLESS. YOU WANT ANOTHER EXAMPLE, THE LEADING HOME RUN TEAM IN SPRING TRAINING IS NOW 27TH IN HOME RUNS AND NOT LIKELY TO MOVE UP.

KEY PLAY OF THE GAME: KELLER THROWING THE FIRST PITCH OF THE GAME. THE FIRST FOUR PLAYERS GOT SINGLES AND IT WAS 2-0 BEFORE YOU COULD SAY ON THE VERGE.

NEXT GAME: TONIGHT, NATIONALS AT PITTSBURGH. I AM SURE THAT HAYES AND REYNOLDS WILL NEED TO BE RESTED TONIGHT, OR SUNDAY AT THE LATEST. MAYBE PARK OR TUCKER CAN GO BEHIND THE PLATE. MAYBE THE PIRATES WON’T USE A DH. WHO KNOWS WHAT CRAZY LINE UP WILL BE OUT THERE TONIGHT? IT IS THE ONE THING THAT KEEPS THE PIRATES INTERESTING, AT LEAST.