Pirates vs. Cardinals 4/9

by bryanzane on Apr 9, 2007 12:34 PM EDT in News

Home opener at PNC Park in Pittsburgh today. Cold, cold, cold.

Braden Looper (0-1, 4.50) vs. Ian Snell (0-0, 3.00)

Here's the box. Chris Duffy returns to the leadoff position. Freddy Sanchez moves to third and the slumping Ronny Paulino, who has just five total bases in his first 23 at bats, moves down to seventh.

Here are some links while you wait for the game to start:

-P- Jim Tracy says some things. They all make sense. Bucs Dugout doesn't understand how this is possible.

-P- From the Onion, Jose Bautista was pretty proud of his double on opening night. (WTM: "Funny how the Pirates get more attention from The Onion than they do from ESPN.")

-P- Thanks to the Post-Gazette for the link today.

-P- Thoughts of RS has closely watched the Hickory Crawdads' series in Hagerstown.

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Comments

Lineups

When I was looking at the lineups I thought to myself, I'd take their 1 through 4, but then I'd gladly take our 5 through 8...

Bucs:
Duffy
Wilson
Sanchez
LaRoche
Bay
Nady
Paulino
Bautista
Snell

Cards:
Eckstein
Duncan
Pujols
Rolen
Edmonds
Kennedy
Molina
Shumaker
Looper

He's a looper, you know...a jock.

by bryanzane on Apr 9, 2007 12:40 PM EDT reply actions

Of course . . .

. . . we have our best hitter batting fifth. That way he'll get fewer at-bats and won't wear out during the season.

by WTM on Apr 9, 2007 2:37 PM EDT reply actions

Lineups

Why is Bay 5th? He's our best batter! And Sanchez should not be 3rd. Look at other NL #3 hitters. They are all big HR guys. Tracy is making a big mistake.

by 3djeff on Apr 9, 2007 2:59 PM EDT reply actions

Whew

Really slow game, offensively.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 9, 2007 3:02 PM EDT reply actions

What was Edmonds thinking

trying to steal third there?

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 9, 2007 3:08 PM EDT reply actions

I think he was thinking

That Paulino wouldn't even get a throw off, like the first two steals.

by matskralc on Apr 9, 2007 6:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Snell

Another terrific outing for Snell.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 9, 2007 3:26 PM EDT reply actions

Ronny Paulino

Slooooowww

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 9, 2007 3:28 PM EDT reply actions

John Wasdin

Oh, man. Come on. It's a 1-0 game and it's the eighth. Bringing him in is just uncalled for.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 9, 2007 3:31 PM EDT reply actions

And...

Wasdin gives up two runs. Great.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 9, 2007 3:48 PM EDT reply actions

Nice.

And then you bring in a better reliever now that you're down three runs instead of one. Nice bullpen management.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 9, 2007 3:57 PM EDT reply actions

in fairness to Wasdin

He only allowed one hit -- and an intentional walk to Pujols. Marte gave up the key double to Preston Wilson. I was impressed that LaRussa pitch-hit for Edmonds in that situation. Most managers let their proven veterans bat.

by bolton on Apr 9, 2007 5:18 PM EDT up reply actions

I got called away

And missed that it was an IBB. My fault. But still.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 9, 2007 5:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Daniel Cabrera

Daniel Cabrera pitched seven innings today and didn't walk anyone! I'm sorry, I just had to post that somewhere on the internet.

Yesterday: Bedard pitches seven strong against the Yankees.

Today: The O's sprinkle some Mazzone dust on Cabrera.

Tomorrow: Angelos sells the team???

Come the revolution!

by scoreboard on Apr 9, 2007 5:37 PM EDT reply actions

I have a feeling

I'm going to be pretty proud of myself for grabbing Cabrera in one of my fantasy leagues. He's one of my favorite pitchers. If he and Mazzone can indeed fix his control, he's going to be unstoppable.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 9, 2007 5:40 PM EDT up reply actions

What are your categories?

In the league you're in with me, with K/BB as a category, Cabrera is like drafting a live bomb.

In real life, I'm quite excited about him and Bedard.

by scoreboard on Apr 9, 2007 5:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks

I thought the live bomb I drafted was LaRoche. Jesus, I tried to build the team around OPS and I'm next to last!

azibuck

by azibuck on Apr 10, 2007 9:31 AM EDT up reply actions

I was there

And it was freaking COLD. The Virtual Fire won the Pirates Jukebox selection today. The crowd was pretty nice considering the weather, but they were never ever really into the game. We had standing room only tickets and it took forever to find a spot to stand that was shielded from the wind (behind the "cage" on the right field wall).

by matskralc on Apr 9, 2007 6:36 PM EDT reply actions

Depends

where you were sitting, perhaps. Up in 311, the end of the press box sheilded us from the wind and we were pretty comfortable. Of course, I had on ski socks, two pairs of sweat pants, a winter coat, gloves and a toboggan, so ...

Braden Freakin' Looper. Matt Freakin' Belisle. 73 wins.

by bucdaddy on Apr 9, 2007 11:34 PM EDT up reply actions

It was cold

I was in section 330 and we were somewhat shielded from the wind. It was only almost nice when in the 8th inning the sun broke through for probably 5-10 minutes. Otherwise it was freakin cold.

Beat em Bucs!

by cool hand Charlie on Apr 10, 2007 2:41 AM EDT up reply actions

well,

We were standing room only, so we didn't have seats!!!

Quickly figured out that the LF rotunda wasn't going to work, since that's where the wind was blowing to. Tried the concourse area around the first level but everywhere there was an open spot there was an opening to the outside behind us and thusly lots of wind. Finally settled, like I said behind the cage in RF and was actually able to somewhat enjoy the game from like the third inning on or so.

by matskralc on Apr 10, 2007 10:33 AM EDT up reply actions

Cold everywhere...

We were in section 103 and it was cold there, too. Not a lot of wind thanks to the RF seats but around the 4th/5th inning the cold concrete started to do a number on the feet! It didn't help that it was a pretty boring game... I love a good pitcher's duel as much as the next guy, but it was more of a weak offensive performance by both teams rather than domination by either pitcher. The cold certainly was a factor in that, I'm sure.

by OmarMoreno18 on Apr 10, 2007 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions