Pirates 9, Reds 5

by Charlie on Jul 2, 2008 11:55 PM EDT Comment 6 comments

Five days ago, I wrote that the next few days after that might mark a turning point in the Pirates' season. Fast forward to the present and Matt Capps is now gone, but the Bucs have won three of five despite starting the likes of Jimmy Barthmaier, Ty Taubenheim and, tonight, John Van Benschoten. Neither Barthmaier nor Van Benchoten were any good at all (Taubenheim was fine), but the Bucs made up for it with some contributions from unexpected sources--Adam LaRoche throughout, two scoreless innings from T.J. Beam on Saturday, Doug Mientkiewicz last night, Luis Rivas tonight. The Bucs also got a remarkable 6.1 scoreless innings from Denny Bautista, Sean Burnett, John Grabow and Tyler Yates tonight to win the game even after Van Benschoten got shelled.

Now, it's true that the Pirates are also getting help from more established sources like Xavier Nady (who hit two homers tonight), Jack Wilson and Jason Bay, but I would like to stop and ask you to read some of the names in that first paragraph again if it didn't already stop you.

Jimmy Barthmaier. Ty Taubenheim. T.J. Beam. Doug Mientkiewicz. Luis Rivas. Denny Bautista. Sean Burnett. Tyler Yates. That's a remarkably ragtag group of players. I'm not sure if Neal Huntington deserves credit for wringing wins out of them in the absence of half his rotation and his closer. Regardless, I look at a performance like the one the Pirates got from their bullpen tonight, and I have to smile.

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Overachivers maybe

I agree with you fully, especially pulling out 2 of 3 on the road, even if it was against the last place Reds. As much as I hated the Interleague play, it seems to me that this team has come together and each player has stepped up when others have gone down (sorry-almost everyone Freddie). Others you didn’t mention such as Baustista, Chavez, Gomez (sure this isn’t a CA team!!) and Michaels have contributed too. This team has shown pride in itself, despite being overmatched day in and day out. Maybe this 2008 team is just overachieing and will come back down to earth, not that 40-44 is at the sky’s limit, but it is a start. Still, just once this year, I long for the one game where the offense, defense, and pitching all come together and have that perfect day.

Be this as it may, I hope the Pirates pickup James Loney from the Dodgers when they start their trades. He is still very young and will bat 300 each year and eventually will gain more power.

by long4willie on Jul 3, 2008 2:06 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Our guys definitely do not give up. I really like that about our team.

Another positive note is that Huntington has made a lot of good acquisitions (although they have all been minor). Mientkiewicz, Michaels, Dumatrait etc. have all helped this team. He has yet to make that big trade (or sign a high-profile prospect, for that matter). But he does at least have something of an eye for talent.

by houksyndrome on Jul 3, 2008 2:57 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

No bargaining chips until now

I like Huntington’s style in picking up decent players. I think big trades couldn’t happen during the off season, merely because they had no players, other than relievers, to have a trading partner. Even now, Bay, Nady, McClouth, and the relievers will still not bring the marquee players that we would like, but it will be the start of identifying good young talent that may some day become the big trade bait that we lack now. That combined with getting some high profile prospects signed over the next 3-4 years will bring the Penguin-like and Steeler-like championship calibre teams that we desire and expect in Pittsburgh. Give it time—I am beginning to see a very tiny light at the end of a long and very dark 15 year tunnel.

by long4willie on Jul 3, 2008 3:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This is why

there’s no reason to wring our hands about losing Capps. This gives the team a chance to see who in the pen can step it up a notch and who can’t. It’s not like we have much to lose. I’d go with a closer by committee and see what that tells me. I’m pretty sure Marte could do a passable job, but maybe Yates? Maybe Bautista? Maybe for heaven’s sake Burnett? Casting call. What the hell. Maybe somebody gets inspired. Maybe somebody pitches lights-out for four weeks and we can flip him. A lot of things can happen when there’s not one guy set in the job. A lot of bad things can happen, too, but bad things have been happening for three weeks with Capps, so, again, what the hell.

by bucdaddy on Jul 3, 2008 10:10 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Closer by Committee...

Isn’t this how it should be? I could never understand why all MLB managers name one man to be their closer and then never deviate from the plan. Shouldn’t a good manager go with a reliever for a couple of innings if he is pitching effectively? Why replace him just to “save” him for tomorrow which might never come. No manager pulls a batter who is perfect at the plate for the day for a pinch-hitter so why do that with a pitcher? Also, sometimes the turning point in a game can occur in innings prior to the 9th and so why not use your best closer at that time as opposed to saving him for the 9th inning only? I think it’s poor managing to only pitch your closer in the 9th inning and then only for one inning. I hope Russell sees the light.

by Illinois Pirate Fan on Jul 3, 2008 2:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs