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Cincinnati vs. Pittsburgh, 11 April 2008

Charlie_tiny by Charlie on

Cincinnati @ Pittsburgh


Sorry, all - busy day yesterday. I'm also pretty busy today, but hopefully all that should finish in time for me to join this thread right after game time. I'll recap both games after this one is over.

It's a pretty interesting matchup tonight - we've got youngster Edinson Volquez facing off against Paul Maholm. Volquez dominated his first start of the year, against the Phillies. Here's the box.

Other news:

-P- Sean Burnett apparently hit 93 on a radar gun at Indianapolis. I haven't looked it up, but I don't recall him ever hitting 93, even pre-surgery. 

-P- Via Primer, Nelson Figueroa starts for the Mets tonight. If his Baseball Cube Page is correct, this is the first time he's started in the big leagues since he was with the Bucs in 2004. His story since then is pretty interesting, though also pretty typical - he had arm surgery in 2004 and has spent his time since then doing anything to get another shot in the big leagues, pitching in Mexico, Taiwan and the Dominican. This is a good article, and a good story - Figueroa was born in Brooklyn and grew up rooting for the Mets, so this has to be an emotional time for him.

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Pretty cool

check this out, it gives you a panoramic view of PNC. If you go to a game, see if you can find yourself

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/images/video/2007_flash/2007gigapan/3.html

FrankD from Pensburgh.com

by FrankD on Apr 11, 2008 2:05 PM EDT   0 recs

Evan Meek

Did anyone notice the last pitch the he threw last night hit 97 MPH for a strike out? If only he could control that thing. IMO he has some mechanical issues and you'd think that would have been addressed in the past. Probably the reason he has not stuck with anyone before ( not coachable??).

by EMU on Apr 11, 2008 3:40 PM EDT   0 recs

No

X-Man today...

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 11, 2008 6:42 PM EDT   0 recs

For them...

Hopper
Keppinger
KGJ
Phillips
Dunn
Encarnacion
Voto
Bako
Volquez (1-0, 1.69)

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 11, 2008 6:46 PM EDT   0 recs

For us...

Morgan
Sanchez
McLouth
Jason-ity
LaRoche
Doumit
Bautista
Rivas
Maholm (0-1, 9.00)

The boldness signifies the "Black Hole"

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 11, 2008 6:47 PM EDT   0 recs

Delay delay delay.

by Charlie on Apr 11, 2008 6:59 PM EDT   0 recs

Rain?

Is it showing signs of letting up?

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 11, 2008 7:07 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Back underway now.

by Charlie on Apr 11, 2008 7:28 PM EDT   0 recs

Starting with an error by Maholm. Apparently all the Pirates' pitchers missed fielding practice in Spring Training.

by Charlie on Apr 11, 2008 7:30 PM EDT   0 recs

Not a good start

for Maholm.
Error, and now a HBP.

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 11, 2008 7:31 PM EDT   0 recs

Hits Griffey, then gives up a single to Phillips. Not so good indeed.

by Charlie on Apr 11, 2008 7:32 PM EDT   0 recs

And a walk

to load the bases.

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 11, 2008 7:34 PM EDT   0 recs

And he

gets out of it. :)

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 11, 2008 7:35 PM EDT   0 recs

Man, McLouth is just awesome.

Volquez has very good stuff. Good changeup.

by Charlie on Apr 11, 2008 7:41 PM EDT   0 recs

Man, why is Paul Bako still in the majors?

by Charlie on Apr 11, 2008 7:44 PM EDT   0 recs

Good effort by Sanchez.

by Charlie on Apr 11, 2008 7:48 PM EDT   0 recs

Oh no

by Charlie on Apr 11, 2008 7:49 PM EDT   0 recs

A hit

by the pitcher.

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 11, 2008 7:49 PM EDT   0 recs

No, it's an error.

by Charlie on Apr 11, 2008 7:49 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Stupid Rivas.

by Charlie on Apr 11, 2008 7:49 PM EDT   0 recs

Holy sh***

Rivas.
Go home.
Now.

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 11, 2008 7:51 PM EDT   0 recs

Oh, great play by LaRoche to get out of it.

by Charlie on Apr 11, 2008 7:51 PM EDT   0 recs

Dang

A bunt pop out... by the other team!

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 11, 2008 7:52 PM EDT   0 recs

*

bunt pop-out double play

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 11, 2008 7:52 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I don't care who plays short

as long as it isn't Luis Rivas.

by Thunder on Apr 11, 2008 7:53 PM EDT   0 recs

Gomez!

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 11, 2008 7:53 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Rivas already has 4 errors on the season...

and Maholm has 2.
Nice to see.

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 11, 2008 7:54 PM EDT   0 recs

Man, Rivas just swung at a fastball at his shoulders.

by Charlie on Apr 11, 2008 7:57 PM EDT   0 recs

Please Neal do not take

Rivas to the West Coast

by Bad Andy on Apr 11, 2008 8:03 PM EDT   0 recs

or anywhere else.

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 11, 2008 8:04 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Man, Morgan is not good on defense. That was such an amateurish-looking play.

by Charlie on Apr 11, 2008 8:05 PM EDT   0 recs

he plays some really bad routes on the field

Wouldn't hurt if they send him in Indy

by Bad Andy on Apr 11, 2008 8:06 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

And brought up...

Pearce?

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 11, 2008 8:07 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Rivas! He's at it again!

Am I just crazy? Am I assigning too much blame? Jeez, Doumit was standing there ready to gun down Phillips, but Rivas was not near the bag, so he couldn't throw it.

by Charlie on Apr 11, 2008 8:06 PM EDT   0 recs

I admit I was glad to see Rivas make the team

out of Spring Training then the season began

by Bad Andy on Apr 11, 2008 8:08 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

This looks like it's going to be delayed again.

by Charlie on Apr 11, 2008 8:07 PM EDT   0 recs

Huh, nope, the rain just went away.

by Charlie on Apr 11, 2008 8:09 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

His shoulder looks like it's really bothering him.

by Charlie on Apr 11, 2008 8:15 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Great slide, Morgan. Ugh.

by Charlie on Apr 11, 2008 8:15 PM EDT   0 recs

Morgan

with another terrible slide trying to steal 2nd. Speed strikes again.

by Thunder on Apr 11, 2008 8:15 PM EDT   0 recs

Walk by McLouth. Nice.

by Charlie on Apr 11, 2008 8:17 PM EDT   0 recs

Joining late, but had to point this out

On the play where Freddy dove but had to throw from his knees...that's a scoop that LaRoche has to make. That's junior high stuff.

by hisjazziness on Apr 11, 2008 8:27 PM EDT   0 recs

Maybe. My impression was that it was out of his reach. But I could be wrong. In any case, the throw was off, but you can understand it because of Freddy's shoulder.

by Charlie on Apr 11, 2008 8:28 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Have other teams been playing their third basemen that far toward second when Doumit bats LH? I haven't seen that with him before. Encarnacion was almost at second when he made that play.

by Charlie on Apr 11, 2008 8:34 PM EDT   0 recs

Got outta

that one too.
Still scoreless.

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 11, 2008 8:42 PM EDT   0 recs

Anyone watching this?

Does Malholm look as good as the impression I'm getting from MLB Gameday?

Not a lot of strike outs, but he's only thrown 65 pitches through 5 innings and given up no runs.

Is he getting a bit lucky, does he look fantastic, or a bit of both?

by steve_g on Apr 11, 2008 8:47 PM EDT   0 recs

I wouldn't say he looks fantastic. He just looks like regular old Maholm to me.

by Charlie on Apr 11, 2008 8:50 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

FIrst and second, one out.

If the Reds score, I'm blaming you. :)

by Charlie on Apr 11, 2008 8:52 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Probably dancing among the raindrops of disaster

I think there's some mathematical equation that tells you the longer the Pirates go allowing the other team to be in the game, the greater the number of runs that teams scores in the 7th, 8th, or 9th innings.

by Trogluddite on Apr 11, 2008 8:52 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Or that if you pitch

your starter past the 5th/6th inning, you're screwed.

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 11, 2008 8:53 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Ugh. Delay.

by Charlie on Apr 11, 2008 8:53 PM EDT   0 recs

Again?

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 11, 2008 8:54 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Is it that bad?

They should've finished the inning at least.

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 11, 2008 8:55 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Apparently,

a huge bolt of lightning hit near the stadium and the heavens opened in biblical proportions. You could hear the thunder over the broadcast and the umps immediately stopped play.

by Trogluddite on Apr 11, 2008 8:57 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Depending on how long that may be

that may be the last we see of Maholm!

by Bad Andy on Apr 11, 2008 8:55 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

That's not really

a comforting thought though...

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 11, 2008 8:55 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Great Timing

I have to go pick up one of my kids from the movies. I'll be back in time to drink and hear the painful details.

by Trogluddite on Apr 11, 2008 8:54 PM EDT   0 recs

From a Bautista apologist

He looks disinterested. He looked solid (to me) last year, and I thought he really had something more to give. This year, he looks different. I don't think lazy's the right word, just lacking a spark.

by azibuck on Apr 11, 2008 8:55 PM EDT   0 recs

Sorry boss

But I'm thinking about turning in my membership card. He's my only 3B on my fantasy team, he's got to pick it up.

by azibuck on Apr 11, 2008 9:05 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Pick up

Alex Gordon.

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 11, 2008 9:06 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Oh...

nevermind then.

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 11, 2008 9:07 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

He's still available

in one of my leagues.

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 11, 2008 9:07 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

It's coming down pretty hard here, but it's an off and on type thing...at least that's what's been going on most of the evening.

by steve_g on Apr 11, 2008 8:56 PM EDT   0 recs

If the'

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 11, 2008 9:05 PM EDT   0 recs

Gah...

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 11, 2008 9:05 PM EDT   0 recs

If they're gonna

call it good for the day... when would they do that?

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 11, 2008 9:06 PM EDT   0 recs

I guess I'm out...

I'll check in later.

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 11, 2008 9:15 PM EDT   0 recs

Just in time too after the Pens

pulled one off. 2-0 heading to Ottawa Monday. Couldn't resist.

by Bad Andy on Apr 11, 2008 9:54 PM EDT   0 recs

Grabow in.

Talk about great timing... just got back to my computer. :)

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 11, 2008 9:54 PM EDT   0 recs

Runners held.

On to the bottom of the 6th.

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 11, 2008 9:58 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Was because of the rain...

but they pulled him before he had a chance to implode.
That's always good.
Now it's up to the 'pen.

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 11, 2008 10:00 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Psheww

listening to this on Reds radio. Thought we just gave up a 3-run homer.

by Trogluddite on Apr 11, 2008 9:57 PM EDT   0 recs

Volquez gone...

might be a good thing... he was 3-hitting us.

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 11, 2008 9:59 PM EDT   0 recs

Bullpen seems to be

better than it was last year, all things considered.

* Throw out the 1-inning implosions by Marte and Capps. Those won't happen again.

* You have to expect to have one barely hanging in there guy and Meek is ours.

* Doumatrit has done well, but you can only expect so much. If you keep running him out there, he will get hit eventually.

by Trogluddite on Apr 11, 2008 10:00 PM EDT   0 recs

Jason-ity!

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 11, 2008 10:05 PM EDT   0 recs

Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, ba-Bay

what exactly goes in between Jason and ity anyway?

by Trogluddite on Apr 11, 2008 10:06 PM EDT   0 recs

Jason-ity

nothing really. It's like Vinsanity (or Vinceanity, your choice) adapted to the name Jason.
I guess it's more like Ja-sanity, but yeah...

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 11, 2008 10:08 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

ohhhh

and here I was thinking it was Jason-sh****

by Trogluddite on Apr 11, 2008 10:09 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

lol

I guess that would work too...

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 11, 2008 10:11 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Would it be fair if we declared Bay's slump over?

by Charlie on Apr 11, 2008 10:06 PM EDT   0 recs

I'd give it

1 more game. Just to make sure.

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 11, 2008 10:07 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Anyone else reach for their

beer, heart medicine, or something when you hear that a ball is hit toward Rivas?

by Trogluddite on Apr 11, 2008 10:14 PM EDT   0 recs

No...

of course, I see it after it happens, so no worries.
But I'd imagine (based on other sporting events/reactions) that I'd get all tense and ready to explode at a mistake.

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 11, 2008 10:15 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Grabow for Marte...

lefty for lefty.
What?

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

b