Tag: Starting bums

Final Score: Pirates 0 Dodgers 4

Why the Pirates Lost: This game had the feeling of a must-win. The Pirates started the worst lineup they could think of, with Billy Cook and Nick Yorke in the lineup and Oneil Cruz and Jake Magnum not in the lineup. Even though Blake Snell is pitching, Magnum is a switch hitter, and Cruz is having his best year against left-hand pitching. Over the last 17 innings of this series, the offense completely disintegrated. After leading off with two hits in the second inning in Game 2 of the series, the Pirate batters went into a deep sleep. They managed just 3 hits and struck out 25 times in those 17 innings. One of those hits yesterday was a big chop toward first base that had so much English on it that the ball bounced away from Freddie Freeman. During the 6 innings that Snell pitched, the Pirates swung at 23 balls out of the strike zone. Another good scouting report by the Pirates’ staff. Snell’s final out was striking out Nick Yorke on a pitch that was at the bill of his cap. Yorke and Cook, who both should not even be on this team, had a great day. They went 0 for 6, striking out one time each and did not get a ball out of the infield or over 80 MPH. The Pirates are so clueless that, in the bottom of the 5th, already trailing 3-0, they played the infield back and conceded the Dodgers the run to fall behind 4-0. Even the opener could not help Carmen Mlodzinski this time. He went 3 innings, giving up 3 runs on 5 hits. At least he did not walk anybody. The Pirates are now 8.5 games out of the wild card, and thanks to the pathetic Reds, are still a half game from last place. They now have a 0.3% chance of making the playoffs. At one point this season it was 35%. What a collapse.

Key Moment of the Game: When Don (I Hope Ben Cherington Does Not Get Fired) Kelly handed the lineup card to the umpire. Not only was Nick Yorke in the starting lineup, but he was in left field and batting sixth. Billy Cook started in center field. Yorke’s OPS+ is 56, and Cook’s is 19. Against a two-time Cy Young Award winner, you put in the lineup two players that are 44% worse and 81% worse than the league average in hitting. I really cannot write anymore about this. I am sure the Pirates will have this hot September when the games are meaningless.

Next Game: Tonight, the Padres in San Diego. The Pirates head to San Diego where they trail the Padres by 8.5 games in the wild card. If is very possible that by Thursday they will be 11.5 games out. They are coming from laid back L. A. where the fans are ho hum and going to raucous San Diego where they are sold out every night and the Padres are the only game in town. The Pirates are going to face the best bullpen in all of baseball. Braxton Ashcraft is pitching for the Pirates with Robbie Ray, the pitcher the Pirates should have acquired at the deadline, going for the Padres. Another left hand starter so we may see Yorke and Cook in the lineup again tonight since they did so well yesterday. After all we have to sweep the Padres. What a manager and staff.