Cincinnati Reds @ Pittsburgh Pirates GameThread, Apr 12, 2008 7:05 PM EDT

Cincinnati vs. Pittsburgh, 12 April 2008

by Charlie on Apr 12, 2008 4:37 PM EDT Comment 161 comments

Cincinnati Reds @ Pittsburgh Pirates

It's Bronson Arroyo and Ian Snell at PNC at 7:05. This one's on FOX Sports. Here's the box - Doug Mientkiewicz starts at third!

A couple links while you wait:

-P- Paul Bako is currently the Reds' starting catcher. His OPS+s the last four years: 47, 78, 28, and 42. As a Pirates fan, I commend the Reds for giving Bako playing time. I'm not saying this explains everything about last night's game, but if you start Bako and Norris Hopper, you have to expect that you'll have some games where you don't score any runs.

-P- Lou Piniella says he may remove Rich Hill from the Cubs' rotation. He says this after two starts! In which Hill allowed only five total runs in nine innings! As a Pirates fan, I would enthusiastically endorse this move, too.

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Didn't 'Sweet Lou' once manage winning teams?

On the other hand, he managed to fail to get to the World Series with Jr., ARod and the Unit, three of the greatest players ever to play....

Steve Z

by steve_z on Apr 12, 2008 4:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

First and third after Paulino fails to gun down a runner caught leaning off second. No outs.

by Charlie on Apr 12, 2008 7:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This is not

starting very smoothly.

by Thunder on Apr 12, 2008 7:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Mientkiewicz starting at 3rd...

Bixler at short.
No Bautista, and no Rivas. Let's see how this goes.

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 12, 2008 7:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Good play by Bixler. That might've been 1-0 if Rivas were in. :)

by Charlie on Apr 12, 2008 7:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Actually,

if Rivas was in, Snell would've been so pissed off that he would probably have given up a 3-run homer, just to show Russell that he screwed up.

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 12, 2008 7:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes!

by Charlie on Apr 12, 2008 7:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That was Paulino, too!

by Charlie on Apr 12, 2008 7:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Great work by Nady and Paulino.

by Charlie on Apr 12, 2008 7:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That was a good end

to a bad start.

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 12, 2008 7:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Did hell just freeze over?

RoPaul actually caught a throw at the plate to tag a runner out.

by Thunder on Apr 12, 2008 7:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yes. For a second he actually looked like a catcher.

by Charlie on Apr 12, 2008 7:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Very good AB by Bay.

by Charlie on Apr 12, 2008 7:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

But not a good one by LaRoche.

by Thunder on Apr 12, 2008 7:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

LaRoche

strikes again...

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 12, 2008 7:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

One run

is not going to be enough to win this game, with the way the ball appears to be carrying tonight.

by Thunder on Apr 12, 2008 7:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Good point. I think we'll see a couple homers before this one's over.

by Charlie on Apr 12, 2008 7:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Probably

more than a couple...like 4 or 5.

by Thunder on Apr 12, 2008 7:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

1-2-3 for Snell. Looks like McLouth's having an adventure in CF, though - first Dunn hit a fly ball about a mile high, and then Votto hit a routine fly that kept carrying and carrying and nearly went out.

by Charlie on Apr 12, 2008 7:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Leadoff single by Nady.

by Charlie on Apr 12, 2008 7:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

You know, Mientkiewicz really is receiving more playing time than you'd like to see from a guy of his talent.

by Charlie on Apr 12, 2008 7:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah...

but so are Rivas & Bautista & Morgan

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 12, 2008 7:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed.

by Charlie on Apr 12, 2008 7:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You have to pick someone

every night, and give them time...

Unless you move Freddy to 3rd, Jack/Bixler at short, and Gomez at 2nd.
But then you've got Gomez, who might be better than the others, but same thing...

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 12, 2008 7:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, you can't count on Gomez hitting nearly as well as he has so far. He's like Mientkiewicz and Bautista - perfectly useful, but if he gets too many at bats, you've got a problem.

by Charlie on Apr 12, 2008 7:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nice. Lucky that wasn't a DP, but now we've got runners on second and third and no outs.

by Charlie on Apr 12, 2008 7:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Votto screwed that up because he was thinking of the DP.

by Charlie on Apr 12, 2008 7:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

2-run single for Paulino. 2-0.

by Charlie on Apr 12, 2008 7:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I was just going to offer odds

on us not scoring this inning

by Trogluddite on Apr 12, 2008 7:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

what w/"Mr. Clutch" Paulino,

Bambi Bixler, and the pitcher batting.

by Trogluddite on Apr 12, 2008 7:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

"Bambi" is a funny nickname. He's kind of a boyish looking dude, too.

by Charlie on Apr 12, 2008 7:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It just sort of came to me since he's so young

by Trogluddite on Apr 12, 2008 7:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Score!

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 12, 2008 7:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Great bunt.

by Charlie on Apr 12, 2008 7:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Reds catchers

Did I miss something? What happened to David Ross?

by bucdaddy on Apr 12, 2008 7:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He's rehabbing

or something like that.

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 12, 2008 7:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not sure, but I think he's rehabbing something at AAA. No idea what happened to Javier Valentin.

by Charlie on Apr 12, 2008 7:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Isn't Valentin

catching today?

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 12, 2008 7:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, is he? I thought it was Bako. Never mind.

by Charlie on Apr 12, 2008 7:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ross

is on the DL with a back problem.

by Thunder on Apr 12, 2008 7:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

and is at AAA on rehab.

by Thunder on Apr 12, 2008 7:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks

Actually, he was nearly as awful as Bako last year. Was he playing hurt then?

by bucdaddy on Apr 12, 2008 8:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not a bad play at third by Mientkiewicz!

by Charlie on Apr 12, 2008 7:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Those normal plays in center look weird after watching Nyjer for a night.

by hisjazziness on Apr 12, 2008 7:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Another scoreless inning!

But Snell is living dangerously right now.

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 12, 2008 7:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Wow, Mientkiewicz actually looks like a pretty good third baseman.

by Charlie on Apr 12, 2008 8:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Great pitch to nail Dunn.

by Charlie on Apr 12, 2008 8:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Thunder, maybe we'll have to revise our prediction about homers.

by Charlie on Apr 12, 2008 8:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Naah...I'll stick with mine.

I don't see the pitchers keeping the ball down all night.

by Thunder on Apr 12, 2008 8:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Keep Jose on the bench!

Minkie is raking!

by Bad Andy on Apr 12, 2008 8:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Double by Mientkiewicz. Not out by 10 feet this time!

by Charlie on Apr 12, 2008 8:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

His daring the other night caused the off-target throw

by azibuck on Apr 12, 2008 8:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Heh.

by Charlie on Apr 12, 2008 8:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Let's hit a fly ball Ronny P

by Bad Andy on Apr 12, 2008 8:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Corners, 1 out...

Bixler & Snell up...

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 12, 2008 8:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Don't even joke about that. :)

by Charlie on Apr 12, 2008 8:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Odds on bunting into a double play?

by Trogluddite on Apr 12, 2008 8:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Probably near like

75%

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 12, 2008 8:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Low. There are already two strikes, and Snell's a good bunter.

by Charlie on Apr 12, 2008 8:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

But we're the Pirates - We Will!

by Trogluddite on Apr 12, 2008 8:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Now 2 outs

Snell up.
We need a hit!

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 12, 2008 8:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I tell you what McClellan's got

a generous strike zone for Arroyo

by Bad Andy on Apr 12, 2008 8:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

And Dunn

might say that the strike zone is generous for Snell, too.

by Thunder on Apr 12, 2008 8:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Bixler should've ate that!

by Bad Andy on Apr 12, 2008 8:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Not a very good play by Bixler.

by Charlie on Apr 12, 2008 8:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

GRRRRRRRR

by Bad Andy on Apr 12, 2008 8:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

McLouth is good.

by Charlie on Apr 12, 2008 8:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

There it is

'Bout time Freddy got a hit

1st hit in 20ABs I believe

Take em home Bay!

by Bad Andy on Apr 12, 2008 8:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

OR NOT!

by Bad Andy on Apr 12, 2008 8:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

0 fer 3vis is

batting better than Freddy and Adam

by Trogluddite on Apr 12, 2008 8:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The "heart" of our lineup

is like the heart of darkness.

by Trogluddite on Apr 12, 2008 8:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Heart of Darkness

is a good book though.

Nothing about the "heart of the line-up" suggests a good read though.

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 12, 2008 8:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes!

by Charlie on Apr 12, 2008 8:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

How bout another two-bagger Minkie!

by Bad Andy on Apr 12, 2008 8:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It'll look like a line drive tomorrow

To hear the Bucs announcers, it was a bloop hit.

by Trogluddite on Apr 12, 2008 8:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, it just got by Phillips.

by Charlie on Apr 12, 2008 8:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It slowly rolled past Phillips toward RF

from what I said on TV!

by Bad Andy on Apr 12, 2008 8:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Put it this way

if the ball that Nady hit would have hit you between the eyes...you probably would not have blinked.

by Thunder on Apr 12, 2008 8:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's

two ropes to start off the inning. Not a good sign, even though Snell's only around 80 pitches.

by Thunder on Apr 12, 2008 8:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Relax Snell!

Just threw a nice slider and see if we can turn two!

by Bad Andy on Apr 12, 2008 8:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Nice idea

but that would require the Pirates to have a shortstop. It's becoming apparent that we don't have one in the entire system behind Jack.

by Thunder on Apr 12, 2008 8:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Snell's losing it! He's done

by Bad Andy on Apr 12, 2008 8:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

6 IP, 3 earned runs

Isn't that what we're calling a "quality start" in MLB these days? Caught part of an HBO special on baseball in the 60's today. Some of the pitching greats mentioned - Marichel, Gibson, etc., - would consider 3 runs in 6 IP grounds for retirement.

by Trogluddite on Apr 12, 2008 9:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yep...

that's a "quality start"

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 12, 2008 9:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why the need for quotes? In today's run scoring environment, that's perfectly good.

Not that this is explicitly what you were doing, but I don't see the need to compare these guys to Bob Gibson, as if they're worthless pantywaists in comparison. The game is different now. Wouldn't it make just as much sense to claim that batters in the '60s were wusses compared to those of today because Carl Yazstremski won a batting title with a .301 average?

by Charlie on Apr 12, 2008 9:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Gah...

left with us up 2-0.
Come back and it's tied at 3.
Come on Snell...

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 12, 2008 9:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Ay Bixler got a hit!

by Bad Andy on Apr 12, 2008 9:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Go Bambi!

by Trogluddite on Apr 12, 2008 9:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, kind of. :)

by Charlie on Apr 12, 2008 9:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bixler!

Got on base!

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 12, 2008 9:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Griffey

my first thought on his catch of Paulino's line drive was "What did he injure now?"

by Thunder on Apr 12, 2008 9:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Snell

with another successful bunt.

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 12, 2008 9:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Great

Reds new pitcher is a former Pirate #1 pick (or high-level prospect). Nelson Figuero, a former Pirates washout did well yesterday. And we all know about Oliver P.

by Trogluddite on Apr 12, 2008 9:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

U mean Mike Lincoln?

You know the one who ran over a golf ball and got injured during spring training?

by Bad Andy on Apr 12, 2008 9:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not one of ours

He pitched for the Pirates...but was drafted by Minnesota.

by Thunder on Apr 12, 2008 9:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Was Mike Lincoln ever a highly regarded prospect? I don't remember that.

by Charlie on Apr 12, 2008 9:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

3-2 count

Gameday is running ahead of the streaming audio

by Trogluddite on Apr 12, 2008 9:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

U da F'n man Nate!

WOOOOOOOOOOO!

by Bad Andy on Apr 12, 2008 9:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Back over .400

.404 to be exact

by Bad Andy on Apr 12, 2008 9:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes! Wow, he's good.

by Charlie on Apr 12, 2008 9:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

DetoNate!

by bucdaddy on Apr 12, 2008 9:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Did Bixler run?

by Trogluddite on Apr 12, 2008 9:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

We have the lead again!

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 12, 2008 9:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I've always liked Chris Duffy

but it's a shame that he was blocking Nate. Hopefully the new regime will be a little more aggressive in promoting young players who have earned it.

Both the Yanks and the Mets have young players from their farm systems making contributions to the ML team now. Both shipped off older, "established" vets who the Pirates would have kept long past their prime.

Speaking of which, who do we have as a fifth starter to replace Matt M?

by Trogluddite on Apr 12, 2008 9:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Morris

is gone???!!!

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 12, 2008 9:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No, I'm just making a wish

by Trogluddite on Apr 12, 2008 9:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dang.

You have me hoping.

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 12, 2008 9:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

S**** the money

I'd send Morris down to Hickory right now if we had a pitcher who could provide the innings he plugs in right now. I mean, what could they do, give up 7 earned runs every start or something?

by Trogluddite on Apr 12, 2008 9:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Be careful

what you wish for. JVB has his his ERA below 3 at Indy.

by Thunder on Apr 12, 2008 9:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

We still have von der Meister?!

I thought he had faded away

by Trogluddite on Apr 12, 2008 9:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Up to the 'pen now

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 12, 2008 9:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Three possibilities with Dunn

GIDP, K or a 7-4 game.

by Thunder on Apr 12, 2008 9:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Huge K by Marte!

by Bad Andy on Apr 12, 2008 9:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Plan B

was OK with me.

by Thunder on Apr 12, 2008 9:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Pop Quiz

Justin Smoak or Eric Hosmer?

by Bad Andy on Apr 12, 2008 9:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

OK I'll answer my own ?

Hosmer if the Bucs can overcome that Boras stigma. He's got crazy power!

by Bad Andy on Apr 12, 2008 9:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Burnett

on to pitch in a save situation for JVB in Indy, same score as this game, but in the 9th.

by Thunder on Apr 12, 2008 9:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

EASY 1-2-3 by Burnett

for the save!

by Bad Andy on Apr 12, 2008 9:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, it was easy

only threw 8 pitches.

by Thunder on Apr 12, 2008 9:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If JVB can give us the innings,

bring him up and send Morris to Hickory. Insult him. Make him want to earn his 8 mil.

by Trogluddite on Apr 12, 2008 9:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

1 pitch was all Yates needed

WHEW!

by Bad Andy on Apr 12, 2008 9:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

LaRoche

is it me...or does it seem like LaRoche is pulling his head off the ball? Didn't even look like he was looking at the pitch when he hit it on this AB.

by Thunder on Apr 12, 2008 9:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Gomez to 3rd

Grabow in.
Mientkiewicz out.

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 12, 2008 9:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Who got the best of this deal?

We got Morris - that normally could close the discussion right there, but Rajai Davis is hitting .077 as a starting CF f/the Giants. I saw a highlight yesterday where he played a sure out into a triple. So who got the better of this deal?

by Trogluddite on Apr 12, 2008 9:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Isn't it possible

for both teams to come out losers?

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 12, 2008 9:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Depends on what the Pirates can get out of Morris

Either a compensation 2nd round pick or a low-level prospect

by Bad Andy on Apr 12, 2008 9:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Obviously

The Giants!! They don't have to pay $10M.

by Thunder on Apr 12, 2008 9:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You have to wonder how long

the Bucs will keep him up. Leaving him in the rotation is like playing your A-level minor league line-up every fifth day. It's almost better to give the other team a W and let our guys soak in the sauna. The new regime did not give him the big contract or bring him on board. But if they keep him around just to keep him around, they will share some of the blame.

by Trogluddite on Apr 12, 2008 9:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs