Pittsburgh Pirates @ St. Louis Cardinals GameThread, May 14, 2008 8:15 PM EDT

Rivas at short hitting 2nd. :>(

by Hitman Easler on May 14, 2008 7:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Noticed that too. Why you’d hit Rivas second is beyond me.

by Charlie on May 14, 2008 7:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

On the plus side...

at least it isn’t Nate batting 2nd.
Maybe the move (if not up, then down) will end the mini-kinda-slump-thing he’s in.

The Utah Jazz
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on May 14, 2008 7:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Not really a plus side to batting 2nd Rivas...

just a plus side in general.

The Utah Jazz
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on May 14, 2008 7:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe he will get some decent pitches hitting in front of Nate

I just hope if Sanchez gets on in the first Rivas doesn’t hit into a double play.

by DITO on May 14, 2008 7:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The Braves are taking it to Brett Myers and the Phillies right now… 5-0 in the third, and 3 of those are solo home runs, 2 in the first and 1 in the second. Ironically, he Myers has 5 Ks already.

I follow the Phils, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy the Schadenfreude when they get beaten around :P

.500 or bust...

by phillybucco on May 14, 2008 7:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Also...

Tom Glavine looks bored out of his mind. Or is that just his usual expression?

.500 or bust...

by phillybucco on May 14, 2008 8:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

How’s Myers’ velocity?

by Charlie on May 14, 2008 8:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

About 88 consistently.

.500 or bust...

by phillybucco on May 14, 2008 8:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That’s according to the TV, though mlb.com has him hitting 91 a couple of times, but nothing too zippy.

.500 or bust...

by phillybucco on May 14, 2008 8:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah. He probably needs to throw harder to be successful.

by Charlie on May 14, 2008 8:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Non-Pirates related question...

If you’re the Phillies, what do you do with underachieving Ryan Howard at this point in the season? They’ve tried sitting him on occasion, but then they keep dragging him into those games to pinch hit, which I think defeats the purpose. Knock him down in the line-up? Fake an injury and send him to “rehab”? Wait it out?

It’s actually starting to mess with his defense a little…

.500 or bust...

by phillybucco on May 14, 2008 8:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Good question...

He actually looks worse than the black hole now.

by Hitman Easler on May 14, 2008 8:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

wow

that’s actually a great AB for Rivas

Raise the Jolly Roger!
http://raisethejollyroger21.blogspot.com

by Raise the Jolly Roger on May 14, 2008 8:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

HOLY CRAP

Rivas with the single on a full count.

by Bad Andy on May 14, 2008 8:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Credit where credit is due...

Nice at bat there for Rivas

by Hitman Easler on May 14, 2008 8:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Wow

good effort from Rivas…maybe he read this blog and got pissed off

by DITO on May 14, 2008 8:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hustlin' Lou!

they were actually talking about his leadership and hustle…i laughed….but nice play

meaningless as bay grounds out

Raise the Jolly Roger!
http://raisethejollyroger21.blogspot.com

by Raise the Jolly Roger on May 14, 2008 8:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Nice going J-Bay

UGH

by Bad Andy on May 14, 2008 8:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Rivas

Took a chance on taking 3rd… good thing it worked out.

.500 or bust...

by phillybucco on May 14, 2008 8:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

how can we convince Maholm he's at home?

Raise the Jolly Roger!
http://raisethejollyroger21.blogspot.com

by Raise the Jolly Roger on May 14, 2008 8:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hehe

Limit the attendance of the game to about 9000 fans?

.500 or bust...

by phillybucco on May 14, 2008 8:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

thats the key!

not gonna happen in st louis though

Raise the Jolly Roger!
http://raisethejollyroger21.blogspot.com

by Raise the Jolly Roger on May 14, 2008 8:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

anyone else breathe a sigh of relief

when Pujols got ONLY a single?

Raise the Jolly Roger!
http://raisethejollyroger21.blogspot.com

by Raise the Jolly Roger on May 14, 2008 8:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Without a doubt. Facing him with nobody on is the way to go, though.

.500 or bust...

by phillybucco on May 14, 2008 8:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I did.

The Utah Jazz
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on May 14, 2008 8:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

AWWWWWWWWWWWW

Get the heck outta here!

by Bad Andy on May 14, 2008 8:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

DAMMMMN!

.500 or bust...

by phillybucco on May 14, 2008 8:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

LaRoche got robbed

by the glove of Rick Ankiel!

by Bad Andy on May 14, 2008 8:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Ankiel

steals a HR from LaRoche.

by Thunder on May 14, 2008 8:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

stupid Ankiel

hgh

Raise the Jolly Roger!
http://raisethejollyroger21.blogspot.com

by Raise the Jolly Roger on May 14, 2008 8:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm guessing that

Ankiel’s catch will be another Web Gem tonight.

by Thunder on May 14, 2008 8:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

how bout #1

on SC’s Top Ten tomorrow morning? Unless of course the Red Wings win tonight.

by Bad Andy on May 14, 2008 8:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

holy Rivas

that was a great play…...freddy not so much

Raise the Jolly Roger!
http://raisethejollyroger21.blogspot.com

by Raise the Jolly Roger on May 14, 2008 8:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

What's with that rainbow throw?

WPW!

by Bad Andy on May 14, 2008 8:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Shoulder problems

.500 or bust...

by phillybucco on May 14, 2008 8:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

They’re scoring that as a hit…but it sure looked like an error to me.

.500 or bust...

by phillybucco on May 14, 2008 8:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Who does he think he is

Yadier Molina?

by DITO on May 14, 2008 8:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Izturis must have had a heck of a jump there.

by Charlie on May 14, 2008 8:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yep.

by Charlie on May 14, 2008 8:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Maholm Road Mode engaged.

.500 or bust...

by phillybucco on May 14, 2008 8:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Ugh. Is this Maholm's regular brutal inning?

by Hitman Easler on May 14, 2008 8:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

get this out

and minimal damage….that run shouldn’t have even happened

Raise the Jolly Roger!
http://raisethejollyroger21.blogspot.com

by Raise the Jolly Roger on May 14, 2008 8:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

well done

Raise the Jolly Roger!
http://raisethejollyroger21.blogspot.com

by Raise the Jolly Roger on May 14, 2008 8:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Suprise to be down 1-0

after 2 innings.

by Bad Andy on May 14, 2008 8:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Baby steps.

It used to be 2-0 after 1 inning.

The Utah Jazz
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on May 14, 2008 8:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

1 run isn’t bad… I’m trying optimism for a while tonight!

.500 or bust...

by phillybucco on May 14, 2008 8:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

No errors on the board

but Maholm should have had 5 outs that inning.

by Thunder on May 14, 2008 8:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Maholm

the “walk machine”

Raise the Jolly Roger!
http://raisethejollyroger21.blogspot.com

by Raise the Jolly Roger on May 14, 2008 8:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Can't that be said

for half the team?

The Utah Jazz
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on May 14, 2008 8:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

there it is!!

props again to brown/walk

Raise the Jolly Roger!
http://raisethejollyroger21.blogspot.com

by Raise the Jolly Roger on May 14, 2008 8:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Speaking of walks

Maholm just got on with a walk

by Bad Andy on May 14, 2008 8:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

thats what i meant

he actually walks when he bats….alot

Raise the Jolly Roger!
http://raisethejollyroger21.blogspot.com

by Raise the Jolly Roger on May 14, 2008 8:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm sure most of you probably heard this

but some aren’t watching FSN. Greg Brown just said that the Bucs worked out a deal to keep Meek. No deatails, though.

by DITO on May 14, 2008 8:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Thanks. I’ve got the awful StL crew who don’t talk about the game at all…

.500 or bust...

by phillybucco on May 14, 2008 8:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

They don't even know

who is up right now, they keep calling Rivas Sanchez

.500 or bust...

by phillybucco on May 14, 2008 9:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If only.

2 Freddy’s are better than 1… no?

The Utah Jazz
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on May 14, 2008 9:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Big difference between the two

that isn’t a mistake that should be made

by DITO on May 14, 2008 9:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08135/881864-63.stm

undisclosed amount of cash

Raise the Jolly Roger!
http://raisethejollyroger21.blogspot.com

by Raise the Jolly Roger on May 14, 2008 8:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

$3.79 that they found in the clubhouse couches

.500 or bust...

by phillybucco on May 14, 2008 8:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And a gum wrapper

.500 or bust...

by phillybucco on May 14, 2008 8:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Haha

well they paid TB 50k when they took him, right? And then do they offer him back for 25k if they demote him?

Can’t imagine it is much more than 25-50k, right?

by DITO on May 14, 2008 9:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nice.

Rivas has our lone hit.
Maholm has our lone walk.

And neither has scored. :(

The Utah Jazz
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on May 14, 2008 9:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

And Doumit

is down for at least 4 weeks (same link as the Meek story), before a rehab would even start. Maybe he’ll be back by July 1st.

by Thunder on May 14, 2008 9:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I knew

that 10 days to 3 weeks line was crap… That sucks :/

.500 or bust...

by phillybucco on May 14, 2008 9:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sadly the Bucs

may be out of contention by then. With Doumit in the lineup they had a chance.

by Bad Andy on May 14, 2008 9:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yuck.

by Charlie on May 14, 2008 9:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

We have a lot of trouble with 2 out situations.

.500 or bust...

by phillybucco on May 14, 2008 9:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Real close play

he was safe though on the replay

by DITO on May 14, 2008 9:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Oh, come on!

Never mind that whole optimism thing.

.500 or bust...

by phillybucco on May 14, 2008 9:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Quick work of Wellemeyer

Let’s get the bats going

by DITO on May 14, 2008 9:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The perils of batting a P 8th

reared its ugly head. BRILLANT!

by Bad Andy on May 14, 2008 9:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Tony is thinking

Great! Now I have TWO leadoff hitters!

by DITO on May 14, 2008 9:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Huge K

.500 or bust...

by phillybucco on May 14, 2008 9:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

DAM CARDS

and their web gems!

by Bad Andy on May 14, 2008 9:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Can I just say

I love the HELL out of this ongoing AFLAC trivia question soap opera between Brown and Walkie. I love it to death.

by EmmaOMG on May 14, 2008 9:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That looked

intentional

.500 or bust...

by phillybucco on May 14, 2008 9:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Perfect pitch by Maholm

and it was set up very well

by DITO on May 14, 2008 9:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He’s racking up Ks like he thinks he’s starting against the Marlins.

by Charlie on May 14, 2008 9:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Breaking ball looks pretty nifty today.

by Charlie on May 14, 2008 9:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Really good play by Ankiel.

by Charlie on May 14, 2008 9:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Oh come on Bay

You couldn’t really see how Bay approached that ball, but it probably shouldn’t have been a double.

And he decides to walk Pujols here…why the hell didn’t he do it last night?

by DITO on May 14, 2008 9:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Get him Paul

by DITO on May 14, 2008 9:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

What I noticed is that we had a statue playing first base

LaRoche was standing in the same place when Ankiel got to second…as he was when the ball was hit. No backing up the throw…or going back to first on the small chance there was a rundown.

by Thunder on May 14, 2008 9:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Wow!

7 Cardinal hits with EIGHT men left on base after FOUR innings.

by Bad Andy on May 14, 2008 9:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The Braves

are in the process of blowing an 8-0 lead… The Phillies have pulled within 3.

.500 or bust...

by phillybucco on May 14, 2008 9:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Flipped over to ESPN on the break

Ryan Howard just KILLED an opposite field homerun.

I don’t know why, but I like Howard, and I hope he climbs out of his slump to have another .260 40+HR year.

by DITO on May 14, 2008 9:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

No highlight reel for McClouth

.500 or bust...

by phillybucco on May 14, 2008 9:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Nah. He did a good sales job, though.

by Charlie on May 14, 2008 9:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hm

Maholm looks really good at times, but gives up four and five runs during his starts too often.

There has to be one or two simple reasons—does he leave fastballs over the middle of the plate too much? Should he throw more changeups? I feel like there has to be some explanation because his stuff seems good enough to me to be a really good pitcher.

by DITO on May 14, 2008 9:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

His stuff does seem to have improved a lot, at least in my spotty memory. Now his fastball moves quite a lot and his breaking ball is much tighter than it used to be.

by Charlie on May 14, 2008 9:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly

maybe I just don’t really know what I am looking at, but I feel like Maholm is our #2.

by DITO on May 14, 2008 9:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Some defense

would be helpful to him. At MOST…it should be 1-0 tonight.

by Thunder on May 14, 2008 9:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Great. Glaus plays Rivas about 15 feet into the infield, and Rivas obliges by hitting a weak grounder right to him.

by Charlie on May 14, 2008 9:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

C'mon...

We need back to back jacks! (Wishful thinking)

.500 or bust...

by phillybucco on May 14, 2008 9:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

A hit would be nice.

by Hitman Easler on May 14, 2008 9:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ugh

good pitching there by Wellemeyer

by DITO on May 14, 2008 9:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Blaine Boyer

with the save opportunity for the Braves tonight

by DITO on May 14, 2008 9:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

RIVAS NEEDS TO BE GONE

HE HAD THAT BALL AND JUST LET IT GO!

by Bad Andy on May 14, 2008 9:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

WTF.

Ugh.

.500 or bust...

by phillybucco on May 14, 2008 9:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Rivas, you freaking suck.

.500 or bust...

by phillybucco on May 14, 2008 9:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Aw man, why couldn’t Rivas catch that?

by Charlie on May 14, 2008 9:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

THAT SOB RIVAS AAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH

by Bad Andy on May 14, 2008 9:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Wow, that’s just a terrible play. He looks like he lost track of the ball.

by Charlie on May 14, 2008 9:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He didn't lose track

He was like a deer in highlights because he thought he heard Bay or McLouth call him off which didn’t happen. Bixler would have caught that.

by Bad Andy on May 14, 2008 9:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is just painful

damnit

by DITO on May 14, 2008 9:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Here's that inning.

by Hitman Easler on May 14, 2008 9:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Here comes

the Slammo Grande

.500 or bust...

by phillybucco on May 14, 2008 9:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Man

I was so ready to cuss you out

by DITO on May 14, 2008 9:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Haha

My predictions haven’t been right yet this season…

.500 or bust...

by phillybucco on May 14, 2008 9:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I thought you called it

off the bat

by DITO on May 14, 2008 9:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Infield execution

I’m all for it!

by Thunder on May 14, 2008 9:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Let's see Rivas (check) Bautista (check)

Sanchez (at least he can hit) LaRoche (I’m sure he’s coming around) Bixler Gomez (you can stay)

by Bad Andy on May 14, 2008 9:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why leave Maholm in here?

Freaking 11 hits already, to face Pujols?

by Hitman Easler on May 14, 2008 9:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Paulino could attempt to receive that ball a little better

he dove after that first fastball, and it wasn’t that far outside.

by DITO on May 14, 2008 9:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Phillies

are threatening to tie the game… killing an 8-0 lead by the Braves.

.500 or bust...

by phillybucco on May 14, 2008 9:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Never mind

.500 or bust...

by phillybucco on May 14, 2008 9:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Still have four innings to hit

lets go guys

by DITO on May 14, 2008 10:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

three?

Three.

by DITO on May 14, 2008 10:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not to be pessimestic

but a four-run deficit against the Cards at Busch is seemingly insurmountable.

by Bad Andy on May 14, 2008 10:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well

I guess the 7th is a the best shot. Get to the starter.

by DITO on May 14, 2008 10:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I have a sinking feeling that losing Doumit....

will result in many more nights like tonight.

by Hitman Easler on May 14, 2008 10:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It's gonna be a LONG 6 weeks

being a Pirate fan. Oh well we’re getting close to that annual JUNE implosion.

by Bad Andy on May 14, 2008 10:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He is just hacking up there,

did that first pitch really look good to Paulino?

by DITO on May 14, 2008 10:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Florida scores six in the top of the ninth

to tie Cincy

by DITO on May 14, 2008 10:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm out...

gotta get some work done… hate to say it, but this doesn’t look too hot.

Later!

.500 or bust...

by phillybucco on May 14, 2008 10:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Maybe Snell will be pissed tomorrow and we can take the series.

by Hitman Easler on May 14, 2008 10:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Sounds like a good plan to me

plus the Cards will start human pinana Joel Pineiro

by Bad Andy on May 14, 2008 10:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What time is that

it isn’t on FSN

by DITO on May 14, 2008 10:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

1:15 or so I think.

by Hitman Easler on May 14, 2008 10:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I will never understand

why those games are not on television. The majority of people who are home during the day in the summer are retirees and students…what can FSN show in that slot tomorrow that will get more viewers?

Do they often not cover those games because it isn’t worth sending the camera crew and production team and whoever else?

by DITO on May 14, 2008 10:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't get it either.

The only day games shown on a regular basis is WGN and that’s basically Wrigley didn’t have lights installed til 1988. Make a note Friday’s game won’t be on FSN but may be on WGN.

by Bad Andy on May 14, 2008 10:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs