Pirates 8, Cardinals 4
by Charlie on May 14, 2008 1:39 PM EDT
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I didn't mean to focus on the negative by failing to post a recap of last night's game. The sad truth was that I had to leave in the eighth inning, so I missed all the fun. It sounds like there would have been a lot to talk about, too, so I can understand why the game thread was so huge -- Marino Salas walking the bases full (including one intentional walk) in the ninth but picking up the win anyway? Marino Salas pitching in the ninth in a tie game in his major league debut? Nate McLouth sacrificing in the top of the tenth? Ronny Paulino and Adam LaRoche coming through in extra innings? Whew.
Anyway, the Pirates yet again find themselves just a game away from .500. Their pitchers really, really need to improve their control if they're going to continue to win, though, especially with Ryan Doumit and his bat on the DL. They issued seven walks last night and are now fifth in baseball in walks allowed, behind only Milwaukee, Colorado and two AL teams.
I have to admit that this streak of good play hasn't felt real to me, both because I've been too busy to really appreciate it and because several of the games were against the Giants. But, even with Doumit on the DL, I'm beginning to almost believe we've got a real major league offense here. McLouth is mostly for real. Jason Bay is mostly back. And LaRoche and Freddy Sanchez are starting to come alive, too.
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We really need...
to start putting Russel under the spotlight. He could be the worst manager we’ve had in Pittsburgh in a while and that is saying a lot. I like his lineups on most nights and the fact that he was able to recognize the talent in McClouth and Doumit. But I question EVERYTHING else. Why start JVB in the 2nd game of the doubleheader when Dumatrait could have gone and the Braves struggle against lefties. Why place a rookie (Salas) in a tie game in the bottom of the 9th with the heart of the order coming up? Agains a division leader no less. Leaving every one of our pitchers in too long. And as you stated earlier, bunting McClouth with no out so that Bay could walked and up to the plate would come the perennial double play and automatic out (who had a very nice game). Russel has been lucky so far but I’m wondering how many games he’s cost us already and even more importantly how many will he cost us by the end of the year.
by Slick1 on May 14, 2008 2:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Honestly, I’m inclined to cut him a bit of a break because he’s gotten a lot of the big decisions (Doumit and McLouth) right. But you’re right, he’s made a ton of bad tactical decisions.
by Charlie on May 14, 2008 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If only Joey Bats can come alive too
Jack Flash back in a week. Paulino needs to step up. Bench production (minkie, gomez, michaels) could use some improvement. As long as McLouth and Nady don’t cool down this may be the strongest offense we’ve seen in years.
by Bad Andy on May 14, 2008 2:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Salas
He walked three, but one was intentional (Schumaker) and one might as well have been so (Pujols). Why JR wanted Schumaker walked, I don’t know, but really, only one walk was directly Salas’s fault. All told, I thought he looked pretty good last night.
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by whygavs on May 14, 2008 2:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Thanks Pat. I knew that but just forgot. Walks just seem to be the Achilles heel of this pitching staff, so I’m ultra-sensitive about them, I think.
by Charlie on May 14, 2008 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think it’s a little premature to start calling Russel “the worst.” We’ve been without a major league shortstop since the beginning of the year, our bench has been dreadful, the starters were pretty awful for the first month, we had zero production from the entire infield for the first month, we had a short bullpen for the first month - none of which you can really put on Russel - and we’re still playing competitive baseball. If Dumatrait pitches the second game of the doubleheader, then Duke pitches next time on 3 days rest, which isn’t a good idea. So who’s supposed to start instead?
There have been a number of moments when I really did wonder what he was doing, and, yes, it could all go down hill from here, but for now I agree with Charlie, and we shoud cut him a break.
I do suspect, though, that he won’t be as good a manager now as he was when he had the services a .350 hitting catcher.
by brooklynpirate on May 14, 2008 3:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah
I have wanted to bitch and moan about his handling of the pitchers much more than I have, but with almost EVERYONE unable to go deep into the games, and only really being able to depend on three guys from the pen, it has been a little bit difficult for him.
by DITO on May 14, 2008 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Four from the pen....
although Marte’s ERA isn’t good, he generally has been effective.
by dtoddwin on May 14, 2008 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was thinking
Capps, Marte and Grabow…I left out Yates mainly because his peripherals are a little shaky and Russell doesn’t seem to depend on him enough to come in against a big righty.
He has been good, though, I should have included him.
by DITO on May 14, 2008 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's about game strategy mostly
Slick1 and Charlie said he’s getting the big stuff right. It’s the bunting, use of pinch-hitters, why pitch to Pujols last night, things like that. I think Russell needs a better bench coach, for one thing.
And we can criticize the use of relievers, situationally, if he ends up using multiple guys anyway.
by azibuck on May 14, 2008 4:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Russell
This is by no means exclusive to Russell, but he deserves to be called on it just as does nearly every manager in baseball. This bullpen role nonsense has to end. What was Grabow doing pitching to righthanded sluggers in the eighth inning? You have a one-run lead, so bring in Capps then. You can always use Grabow in the ninth. Why can’t managers think strategically, and deploy their talent as needed, when needed, based on clearly available performance indicators, rather than roles that either are ill-suited to the situation in front of their faces? Matt Capps might have given up a dinger to Pujols in the eighth, but I bet you he wouldn’t have.
by RichieHebner on May 14, 2008 5:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah
Just to be clear up front—I agree and would have liked to see Capps come in against Pujols in the eighth.
But one could argue that Grabow has actually been the best reliever in the Bucs pen so far this year, and he has done it against righties and lefties (with his change up being a very good pitch to get right handed hitters out). The statistical difference between Grabow and Capps there was probably minimal.
That said, Capps is “the guy” and you probably want it to be your guy pitching in a big situation against one of the best sluggers in the game, not your number two.
by DITO on May 14, 2008 6:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Grabow v. Pujols
I can’t get bent out of shape over using Grabow against Pujols. Grabow has been pretty much lights out against both righties and lefties so far this year. I think there a number of reasons why he might not want to use Capps there.
I do agree, though, that Russell (like most other managers) seems overly dogmatic about how he uses his closer.by brooklynpirate on May 14, 2008 6:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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