Tag: Poor decisions every day

Final Score: Pirates 4 Cubs 10

Why The Pirates Lost: Simply put, a complete and utter pitching failure. Bubba Chandler continued to have problems. He went 5 innings, giving up 4 runs on 8 hits, walking 2 and striking out 5. It took him 91 pitches to get through 5 innings. After 5 innings, the game was tied 4-4. The top of the 6th saw the first of 3 struggling relievers entering the game. Yohan Ramirez, who is making me look better every day, came in to relieve Evan Sisk with 2 outs and 2 on. He got Nico Hoerner to hit a soft liner that Konnor Griffin was able to corral. He unfortunately stayed in to start the top of the 7th. He hit Michael Busch on a 3-1 count. Alex Bregman hit a rather high ball down the left field line that looked like it might be caught by Bryan Reynolds. He could not get to it and it fell in for a double. Ian Happ took the very first pitch and parked it over the Clemente wall, making it 7-4 Cubs. Mason Montgomery was warming up, but Kelly elected not to use him to pitch to Ian Happ. Happ’s splits are distinctly better against right-handed pitching, even though he is a switch hitter. After giving up a single to Seiya Suzuki, Ramirez was pulled in favor of struggling reliever no. 2, Justin Lawrence. The very first pitch that Lawrence threw was parked into the seats by Michael Conforto, and the Cubs led 9-4. The rest of the inning was a mess, with one more run scoring. Lawrence started the 8th, got two outs, and was relieved by struggling reliever no. 3, Dennis Santana. Although he did not give up any runs, in the course of 1 and 1/3 innings, he walked 2 and hit a batter. After all the dust cleared, the final result was Ramirez ERA 4.75, Lawrence ERA 5.32, and Santana 4.94. Not what you’re looking for when it comes to bullpen pitchers.

Key Moments of the Game: Bubba Chandler had a shaky first inning, and the Cubs were able to score 2 runs. Naturally, 2 walks were involved. A good start was exactly what the Cubs needed in their slumping state. He then gave up 3 singles in the 2nd for another run. The Pirates scored their 3 runs in the bottom of the 3rd on a Brandon Lowe 3-run homer. In the fourth inning, the Cubs and Pirates each scored a run. The Cubs on back-to-back doubles after 2 were out. The Pirates tied it on a solo home run by Konnor Griffin. Then came the disastrous 7th inning with the bullpen collapse. When and if the Pirates address their bullpen issues remains to be seen. For now, it is costing them game after game after game. At this rate, it will probably cost them the playoffs.

Next game: Tonight, Cubs in Pittsburgh. As the Pirates like to say, it is Paul Skenes day. Skenes is coming off two mediocre starts. This is a big game for the Pirates; they need this series win against the Cubs. Although it would not have made much difference with the way the bullpen performed, you have to wonder why Konnor Griffin did not lead off. It was such a success. His splits are not much different righty vs. lefty. The Pirates are truly amazing. They took forever to get Oneil Cruz out of the leadoff spot. They scored 12 runs with Griffin leading off, but they don’t lead off with him the next day. They used an opener twice with Mlodzinski pitching and gave up just 2 runs over 18 innings. Why not do it every time he pitches. They do not add any bullpen help and even sent the wrong guy down to the minors. You don’t need to look any further than the managerial team’s decision-making to know why this team is only 2 games over .500. Oh yeah, I forgot Marcel Ozuna still bats 7th or even higher in the Pirate order. This is to make sure that the Pirates don’t score too many runs.