Pirates vs. Cubs, 20 April 2008
by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 20, 2008 11:15 AM EDT
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PrintPittsburgh Pirates at Chicago Cubs, Apr 20, 2008 2:20 PM EDT
Zach Duke vs. Ryan Dempster, 2:20 PM at Wrigley. Here's the box.
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For the Cubbies
CF Johnson
SS Theriot
1 Lee
3 A-Ram
LF Murton
RF DeRosa
C Soto
2 Cedeno
P Dempster (2-0, 2.37)
Remember, Dempster 1-hit the Pirates through 7 earlier this season.
Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...
For the Pirates
CF McLouth
2 Freddy
LF Bay
1 LaRoche
RF Nady
C Doumit
3 Bautista
SS Bixler
P Duke (0-0, 2.89)
Pretty much the opening day line-up again, with Bixler in for Jack. Oh, and Duke pitching instead of Snell.
Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...
Already
ahead of the hit total last time Dempster pitched.
good start
so far, now need to drive them in
Not if Bay's
gonna watch 2 straight strikes on the inside corner.
If he'd have hit it any harder
it would have been a triple play.
Yeah...
and LaRoche with his usual slow roller to 1ST.
Nice of you to show up
LaRoche.
Glad you could make the game.
Maybe next time you’ll remember that the point is to get a hit.
Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...
yeah
looks like it’s going to be another one of those days
by richmondpirate on Apr 20, 2008 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Disturbing
noticed on gameday…Duke’s pitch speed for the first 3 batters…88…88…89…89…88…90…90. Why not just tell them…here’s my fastball. If you’ve seen one…you’ve seen them all.
Good recovery.
We’re gonna have to score some runs at some point.
Problem is
holding the Cubs to enough that we can actually catch up. two hits to start the bottom of the 2nd is not a good sign.
Jose Bautista
Have you ever seen a more uncomfortable player in the batter’s box?
Yeah.
Me. Back when I played little-league in like 3rd grade.
Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...
I didn't see you play...
but I bet you took more walks than Bautista
by JimBibbySweat on Apr 20, 2008 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Doubtful.
It’d be close though.
I used to be so afraid of getting pegged in the face that I’d swing at just about everything.
Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...
Yeah...
LaRoche, any time that April is part of the date.
LaRoche hasn't cracked a smile since Opening Day
He looks so unhappy, lethargic, sullen, discouraged—he needs a blizzard from Dairy Queen after today’s game!!
by JimBibbySweat on Apr 20, 2008 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Hmmm...
Sean Burnett working on his 3rd inning at Indy today. Could they be stretching him out???
Possibly.
Hopefully?
He can’t be that much worse that Morris, can he?
Or Gorzo, the way Gorzo’s been pitching so far?
Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...
It's bad when I'm rooting for an A-Ram homer for my fantasy team
and its only the third inning…He looks 20 pounds lighter than in the past
I'm sorry but as much as I like Sean Burnett, I seriously question
how much difference he could possibly make
Probably not much.
But given this team, you have to try what you can.
The pitching has just been horrific.
Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...
Unless they clone the way he's pitching right now
not enough. They’d need three of him (Morris, Gorzo and Duke.)
You're kidding, right?
They had that after the first inning.
Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...
I just wasn’t here to comment at that point.
by poorboywilly on Apr 20, 2008 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Ah, ok...
that was the other option I was working on getting.
Stupid typing slow in the cold.
Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...
Great...
the starters can’t even go 3 innings now without imploding.
Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...
When 29 other major league teams passed on Burnett
I think that just about wraps up his value
That doesn't mean Burnett has value
perhaps only that Snell is the only consistent major league starter Pittsburgh has
by JimBibbySweat on Apr 20, 2008 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions
You're saying...
that there’s a team out there that wouldn’t pass on Morris?
Where is the team? And why isn’t Morris already on that team?
Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...
I would actually have to say I feel less uncomfortable with Duke
on the mound than Gorzelanny right now. Bixler—two good plays in one inning
Only because
Duke isn’t walking the bases full, and the ball is staying in the park.
Freddy, Jason-ity & the singular Black Hole
Come on guys.
Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...
Please put LaRoche on the DL with something, anything....
I would use bad language right now if I used bad language
by JimBibbySweat on Apr 20, 2008 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions
is there a
none of the above for their poll? I hate the cubs and wrigley
Does anyone think the Pirates would score with 6 outs per inning right now?
Pitch selection and patience are not in the Pirates repertoire of hitting right now
You could
give them 27 outs in an inning, and they’d only get like 4 hits. Maybe a run, if one of the guys wasn’t erased on a double-play.
Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...
again
we are making an average relief pitcher look like a superstar
Question
what would happen if the Pirates batters had to face the Pirates pitchers?
Hmmmm
That’s a great question, Thunder, tremendous!
by JimBibbySweat on Apr 20, 2008 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions
The pitchers would win.
Because they would out hit every batter except McLouth.
Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...
That, or
the world would stop functioning properly due to the pathetic happenings that would go on.
Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...
Depends on the pitcher
Snell would decimate them but lose to lack of run support
Gorzellanny would pitch poorly to them for a couple of starts then go on the DL
Morris would get shelled, just like he does to anyone
Anyone else would probably see their walk totals go way down and K totals go way up
by poorboywilly on Apr 20, 2008 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Can't wait to see it...
Evan Meek v. the batters.
Meek likes walking guys. The Pirates hate “clogging the bases”.
Who wins?
Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...
If everyone falls asleep watching this...
does it count as having happened?
Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...
Anyone else tired of the Pirates announcers
making excuses for them? I know they are paid employees but brain-washing is unnecessary
It could be worse
you could be listening to the Cubs announcers.
Bautista to Duke meeting on the mound...
How come Skip doesn’t have anyone warming up?? They gonna leave you out here all day??
Ha
did anyone else catch how Lanny said that…
“And on the other side, the Pirates have just two hits against Ryan Dempster?
Here's an interesting stat
Pirates vs. Cubs 0-6
Pirates vs. the rest 7-5
The Cubs have become the team the Pirates can never beat even if they played each other 100 times. I really think the Cubs will beat the Bucs ALL 18 times.
Remember that time in Milwaukee?
A couple of Aprils ago, when Aramis got hit and charged the mound, then sprained his ankle? He’s a jackass and I can’t believe he was ever my favorite player.
nice frame by doumit after missing the first two pitches
key at-bat of the game here…LaRoche makes a nice backhanded stab Does it really matter?
final score predictions?
I’ll go 8-5 Cubs “Cubs score two runs on one hit…” pathetic
????
The Pirates are going to score 5 runs today??? Not unless Duke or Morris starts pitching for the Cubs.
but that's what makes me a Pirates fan
I’m an eternal optimist, just like you guys
Sadly...
I’m a total pessimist for the most part….
Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...
if you're a pessimist, Ute
you must also then be a masochist (sp?) for watching this particular Pittsburgh team, haha
by JimBibbySweat on Apr 20, 2008 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Sadly, I think the turning point was in the very first inning
when the Pirates couldn’t score with a couple runners on…it was like “here we go again”
I mean, I know we suck, but...
how many balls have gone to the wall for the Cubs this weekend, and every time it comes out of the vines?
One time for the Bucs, and its called a double.
yeh, did you see how reed johnson went right to the ball
after he called for the ground rule double
Two months from now
when the ivy is fully grown, I could see it being a ground rule double because you can’t see the ball. Now…come on.
thunder
what a bunch of crap that call was johnson saw the ball the whole way…let’s go blue help the losers out a little
by JimBibbySweat on Apr 20, 2008 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions
actually, to tell the truth
he probably would have missed third base and been called out
by poorboywilly on Apr 20, 2008 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Nady would have scored with his pulled groin from last year
or hamstring, whatever it was
by JimBibbySweat on Apr 20, 2008 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Minky is going to hit into a DP.
Can we ask him to K so that Nate can bat?
grand slam
for Derg? Nah….its simply asking way too much
I was thinking from a ground rule perspective
;)
by JimBibbySweat on Apr 20, 2008 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Ah.
That’s probably the only way he’s gonna get a double.
Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...
down goes frazier, down goes frazier
the pirates scored a run
Alright
the good guys are on the board, with Nate the Great coming to bat.
DERG FOR PREZ
I didn’t even think they could do that
Don't know if I wanna know, but...
who’s warming up in the pen?
Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...
Osoria and Meek.
Just kidding, only Franky.
Haha Nate didn't even have to swing
16 Ribbies and counting
And
the one guy producing offense for the Pirates…gets a 4 pitch walk.
McLouth walks
Bases still loaded with 1 out for Sanchez.
Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...
let's go sanchez
swing at a strike, will ya? weak tapper….boo
Well a J-Bay base hit will tie it
But I’d IBB him for LaRoche
Is that Sean Burnett warming up
in the pen?
by JimBibbySweat on Apr 20, 2008 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions
please dont walk bay, please
just say no to laroche
by JimBibbySweat on Apr 20, 2008 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions
ahahaha
I see a walk and LaRoche pulling a slow grounder to 1st though
by poorboywilly on Apr 20, 2008 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions
What's it feel like to lead a baseball game after the first inning?
I don’t remember.
Fortunately I won’t have to. LaRoche can’t come through. Steve Pearce, grab your first base mitt.
Anyone for signing
Frank Thomas.
You can DFA Luis Rivas too.
Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...
I think Big Frank is finished!
You see Piazza or Bonds playing?
No and Yes, Rivas has been the worst piece of trash
since __ (you fill in the blank, there’s plenty of choices)
by JimBibbySweat on Apr 20, 2008 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions
Unless they adopt a DH in the NL
no…Thomas quit playing defense a long time ago. Then again…so did Rivas.
Lee just told Dempster
your batting average is higher than his is.
Well at least Bay drew that crucial walk
from his crucial run-producing spot in the lineup. What does he have, 5 RBI this year?
in his defense
they really didn’t give him anything at all to hit
by richmondpirate on Apr 20, 2008 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Am I the only one who feels awful for Laroche? I just want to give him a hug and tell him April will be over soon.
Emma, I think you may be
the only one, aside from his family. If this was a one-year thing I’d be more understanding
by JimBibbySweat on Apr 20, 2008 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions
I think he needs more than a hug!
He needs about a fifth of Jack and some strippers
Well, considering
the cubs have left 7 on base, I guess we probably deserved that.
ahahahahah
It was worth watching the game just to see Dempster get angry for being pinch hit for.
Re: Dempster
But Lou, I don’t think I’ll get another chance to register a “W” till we see Pittsburgh again in June!!!
Same.
Oh wait… I’ve never seen a Cubs/Pirates game.
I guess I’m good.
Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...
shouldn't
Bautista have that ball?
It’s the pull side, it was far enough of the line…..they call it the “hot corner” for a reason
Well
when your 3rd baseman and left fielder are positioned like the batter is going to see outside pitches…it’s easy to get the ball by them.
my lord
what an embarrassment, how can you feel bad for this clown
Maybe Russell will make a drastic move and bench LaRoche
and bring up Pearce. Pearce hasn’t been tearing things up but he has been hitting balls out of the infield while making routing fielding plays defensively. If nothing else, have Mientki play first
by JimBibbySweat on Apr 20, 2008 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Russell about ready to ask
to be sent back to the Phillies AAA team.
Watching the Pirates defense this inning
has been like watching a bad Little League game.
Agreed again
Shouldn’t LaRoche have blocked the throw to first at all costs, even at the risk of not turning two? Does it matter or am I just frustrating myself further as a Pirates fan by asking these questions?
by JimBibbySweat on Apr 20, 2008 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions
well it doesn't matter at all
when the next batter hits a HR
by poorboywilly on Apr 20, 2008 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions
LaJoke
Doesn’t need a hug. He needs a punch in the FACE. That’s what watching him play the past two years makes me want to do to him. Punch someone.
It’s pretty bad when Rivas comes up and i wonder what will happen. When LaRoche comes up i already know. Watched strike, foul, check swing strikeout/watched 3rd strike. He sucks, period.
Yes, A-Ram is paying off for my fantasy squad
but there goes my 8-5 prediction. We need a power-producing third baseman like Ramirez
I know, I thought I'd rub some salt in our wounds
like the Cubs have done all season long. thank goodness we didn’t sign LaRoche to a long-term deal
by JimBibbySweat on Apr 20, 2008 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions
who's we
trade him for? a couple pitchers who are now the slow pitch stars of their insurance company outings?
No one who’s currently in the majors, I don’t think.
by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 20, 2008 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions
once again
Time to do some yard work. Good afternoon.
I wonder what Adam LaRoche's VORP is about now
I don’t think that stat even accounts for defense
Would Chris Stynes
be a reasonable comparison right now?
by JimBibbySweat on Apr 20, 2008 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Before today’s game, it was -4.8. Jose Bautista’s was -5.5.
by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 20, 2008 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions
thanks Charlie
I was jesting but appreciate the numbers, thanks
by JimBibbySweat on Apr 20, 2008 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions
No problem. It makes me wonder what Rivas’ is… let me go check.
by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 20, 2008 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Rivas would be worse with more playing time
I would have to say he’s proven to be one of the most consistently bad infielders I’ve seen in recent years. Of course nothing was expected from him so that limits his importance as compared with LaRoche, Bautista, etc.
by JimBibbySweat on Apr 20, 2008 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions
But:
Do we blame him for playing shortstop or the Bucs for playing him there instead of second? I guess Gomez couldn’t handle the rigors of SS
by JimBibbySweat on Apr 20, 2008 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions
Nady's reaction
to strike 3 says it all. Aw…@#$%# it. Why bother.
Doumit dingers to make it a one run contest
Oh wait, I missed the bottom of the last inning
by JimBibbySweat on Apr 20, 2008 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions
Their last inning...
3 people REACHED on INFIELD singles….and 2 errors.
Just GIVE IT AWAY guys…and i thought we were bad LAST year!
Pure:
I really had hope until yesterday’s game. Now I am just hoping our GM doesn’t blow the draft the way David “Bullington projects as a No. 3 starter” Littlefield did for six years.
by JimBibbySweat on Apr 20, 2008 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions
I must be dumb
For some reason i thought we’d be better this year. Not GREAT, not even GOOD, just better.
We are SO much worse. Screw .500. We may not win 50 games!
Duke gave up 5 runs in 4 innings.
Not to be outdone, Osoria gave up 5 in 1 inning.
Duke gave up 8 hits in 4 innings.
Osoria gave up 6 in 1.
Gotta love the ‘pen. And the pitching. And the batting…
Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...
Not hard to give up 5 runs in an inning
when the defense gives them 6 or 7 outs.
Bixler
is just bad.
Can’t believe I was calling for him to replace Jack Wilson at some point last year.
Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...
Well, I mean, only if Wilson got traded for something interesting. But still.
by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 20, 2008 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Yep
I was calling for a trading of Jack to play Bixler.
Oops.
Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...
Chipper Jones
Out with a strained quad…it’s about time he got hurt. He was doing too well in fantasy
How about Lanny Frattare mentioning Shawn Chacon having the 10th best NL ERA
What a low blow and a bunch of crock. His ERA will be back up over 4 or 5.00 quicker than you can say Felix Pie
Well it beats
any of the Pirates pitchers who don’t have the 10th best anything in a good category.
this game is so interesting
that the Cubs scoreboard operator is reading the Sun-Times in the scoreboard.
If this game was a fight
the referee would stop it.
It does have a Du-Koo Kim feel to it
God rest his soul
by JimBibbySweat on Apr 20, 2008 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions
That was something to see with the Cubs fans
standing on their feet during Derrek Lee’s at-bat in a 10-4 game
Two on, no out
A nine-run homer ties it here
by JimBibbySweat on Apr 20, 2008 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions
do we not have any righties in the pen?
do the cubs have ONE left handed batter in their lineup? Yet we’re running out lefties to face righties all day? wtf?
When will Freddy stop swinging at anything?
I thought his shoulder was hurting not his batting eye
wow
Jason Bay showed some emotion after flying out. Is that a good thing or does it matter?
Earth Day on the 22nd
The Pirates are celebrating Earth Day early this year by planting a giant turd at Wrigley Field.
Or go down looking
Your choice.
Not like anyone cares.
Or like anyone will do anything about it.
Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...
I don't get it.
LaRoche is normally good to get on base (by hit or walk or error or something) once per game.
Don’t know what happened here.
Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...
Let's face it -- there are no quick fixes
The only way the Pirates will get better is by taking the best players available in the draft. Agree or disagree?
Brilliant start for Dumatrait.
9 pitches.
1 strike.
2 walks.
Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...
I figured it out a few years ago that when the Cubs added
the new rows behind home plate they added $4 million in new revenue. Just an FYI
If the Bucs did the same thing it would go
st8 to Robert Nutting’s bank account.
Wouldn't you need
fans that wanted to go watch the games first?
Otherwise there wouldn’t be much revenue to get.
And yes… if it worked, all of it would go to Nutting’s bank account.
Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...
hmmm
imagine if Doumit were batting cleanup instead of having Adam LaRoche simply occupying the batters box…
We can't do that...
getting 2 hits in an inning would be completely un-Pirate like.
Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...
I was just going to type that bryanzane
but you beat me to it :P
Be afraid, Bry...
We could use another righty out of the pen
by JimBibbySweat on Apr 20, 2008 5:18 PM EDT up reply actions
No-Mitt, Woe-Mitt, Go-Pitt, Doumit!!
Wonder what Ronny Paulino is thinking
Way to go Gomez
2 pitch at bat.
Ball & fly-out.
Not a good way to mount a comeback
Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...
Why LaRoche's .130 bat in cleanup
just…....ah forget it
Charlie -- You have a band right?
Why don’t you play at the Hall of Fame club at PNC Park on a Friday or Saturday night?
by JimBibbySweat on Apr 20, 2008 5:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Well, we’re kind of weird. What kinds of bands do they have there?
by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 20, 2008 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions
A local band named Delaney's played the first homestand
but I didn’t go to it. Grusheki (sp) played after the opener I think
by JimBibbySweat on Apr 20, 2008 5:26 PM EDT up reply actions
I doubt that they're booked for the entire year
though I can’t say for sure
by JimBibbySweat on Apr 20, 2008 5:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Some one hit me now...
for not starting Theriot.
The only downside is no steals today, but still.
Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...
Utes
I certainly can understand that you would have thought Duke woulda shut a measly Theriot down
by JimBibbySweat on Apr 20, 2008 5:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Rule of thumb
start anyone who is facing Pirate pitching unless it’s Ian Snell
At least Freddy's arm at second base looks better now
than when he was lollipopping throws to first at the season’s beginning
Paulino comes through.
Meaning our biggest threats today… are both catchers. That’s not good.
Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...
Adios all
It’s been fun commiserating with everyone
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