Pirates 7, Astros 0: Duke Does it Again

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 13, 2009 4:29 PM EDT

Leaving aside the facts that the Astros are terrible, that Brian Moehler is basically a BP pitcher who tosses one flat 85 MPH fastball after another, and that the parade of mostly faceless relievers Houston used after that wasn't much better, this was still an encouraging game for the Bucs.

First: Zach Duke! His first two starts have been revelatory, at least relative to his last two seasons. I'm not sure what, if anything, that means, but his first two outings haven't looked to me like a couple of random good starts. He has more zip on his fastball, he's mixing in his breaking ball well, he's choosing pitches wisely, and his location has mostly been very good. After whiffing Albert Pujols last week, he struck out Lance Berkman three times today. Three times! Duke also doubled for the second consecutive game. His complete-game shutout today also ensures that the entire bullpen will be fresh for the Bucs' next game on Wednesday.

Maybe it's meaningless at this point, but the generally tremendous play by the Pirates' starting pitching has been incredibly encouraging; now it's not only Paul Maholm who's pitching well, but also Duke and Ross Ohlendorf. Even Ian Snell was much improved in yesterday's start.

And the hitting! Ryan Doumit and Adam LaRoche both had their second homers of the year today, and LaRoche added a double. Freddy Sanchez hit his fourth, fifth and sixth doubles of the year. Again, it's far too early to tell what to make of all this, and again, the Astros looked like an awful team today, but this has been a much better start than I expected.

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His complete-game shutout today also ensures that the entire bullpen will be fresh for the Bucs’ next game on Wednesday.

Is this a good thing?

Regardless, I’m just amazed at Duke fanning Berkman three times. Even though Berkman doesn’t hit lefties that well, he’s no more easier to fan hitting RH than LH.

by WTM on Apr 13, 2009 4:35 PM EDT reply actions

What?

Is it bad for the bullpen to be fresh for Wednesday night?

by IAPiratesFan on Apr 13, 2009 5:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Well

it is the Pirates bullpen. It means guys like Chavez & Hansen & Veal are fresh… and could see time.

True Blue Jazz
RIP Nick Adenhart. 4/9/09

by UtesFan89 on Apr 13, 2009 8:17 PM EDT up reply actions

I think it's an OK thing

He threw 116 in each of his first two starts last year and superficially he didn’t pitch poorly. But he labored, throwing 23 pitches in one inning, then an astounding 33 ptches in his final (incomplete) inning in his first start. In his 2nd start, he threw 26 pitches in his final inning.

Today, he never threw more than 19 in one inning, and closed it out with innings of 9, 11, 12, 12, and 11 pitches. Complete Control. The more I think about it, the less I’m sweating the total.

by azibuck on Apr 13, 2009 5:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Not only that

Duke kept most balls harmlessly on the ground (14 groundball outs, 8 fly outs) and didn’t start giving up lots of flies until late in the game. Tejeda pasted that “double” off Nate’s glove early in the game, but, for once, it didn’t look like Duke was throwing batting practice out there. The Astros struggled to make good contact, and didn’t really do so until Duke was tired. It was a completely different Zach Duke out there today.

by matskralc on Apr 13, 2009 9:17 PM EDT up reply actions

I was at the game.

He was clearly getting tired over the last couple of innings, but I was OK with leaving him in, under the circumstances.

by Vlad on Apr 13, 2009 11:21 PM EDT up reply actions

I was there, too

Way up in 322 so maybe my view wasn’t the greatest. I was surprised to see Duke come out to bat in the 7th. Like you said, he was clearly getting tired. I figured the 8th/9th against a team as bad as the Astros while leading by 6 would have been a good time to get someone like Veal some work.

by matskralc on Apr 14, 2009 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Charlie, Vlad and some others

have been consistent in their support of Zach Duke the past couple of years, while some others like me have been very critical of him and doubtful about his future.

He’s off to a great start and I hope he keeps proving me wrong.

A 4-3 start. Let’s Go Bucs!

by patthatt on Apr 13, 2009 4:50 PM EDT reply actions

If I claimed I thought he’d pitch like this, though, I’d be lying. Mostly I just thought he was a bit better than the Pirates’ defense made him look.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 13, 2009 5:06 PM EDT up reply actions

The suddenly improved pitching has made me wonder if the improved defense hasn’t had some impact. Having a real MLB shortstop certainly helps, as well as some decent OF’s. Combine that with an emphasis on throwing strikes, maybe we’ve had less walks, more balls in play going to that improved defense?

I suppose 7 games is too little to mean anything, but I don’t know if Bay would have run down quite as many fly balls as Morgan has. Any thoughts?

charity standing orders

by BadMaafala on Apr 13, 2009 6:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Freddy is healthy

that’s a contrast to last year, right?

by ol Pete on Apr 13, 2009 6:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Too early

to say, but maybe Kerrigan is a better pitching coach, too… Maybe Andrews was too fiddly or confusing or something.

There's no crying in baseball...

by phillybucco on Apr 13, 2009 7:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Morgan has been a lot better than Bay was. That’s one real benefit to having Morgan around. At this point, though, the difference has probably just been a couple plays. And the sample is so small it’s practically anecdotal.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 13, 2009 10:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, me too.

He’s not as bad as he looked last year, and he’s not as good as he’s looked so far this year.

by Vlad on Apr 14, 2009 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions

Explain

I’ll submit he’s every bit as good as he’s looked this year.

by azibuck on Apr 14, 2009 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions

I think that part of his success this year may represent genuine improvement.

His K rate is up, for example, and if the extra missed bats are a function of improved command or something similar, he might keep it. On the other hand, he’s given up twice as many unearned runs as earned ones, his BABIP is a flat .200, and he’s allowed no HR so far. None of those are sustainable.

As much as I enjoy being lauded as a genius, I just don’t want people to expect that things will be like 2005, and then get disappointed if he “slumps” to an ERA around 4.25/4.50 for the rest of the year.

by Vlad on Apr 15, 2009 9:45 AM EDT up reply actions

He's as good as he's looked

Not as good as his numbers.

by azibuck on Apr 15, 2009 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Huh?

The numbers are just a record of what you did.

by Vlad on Apr 15, 2009 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions

At The Very Least

Vasquez and Lil LaRoche should be platooned at 3B depending upon the opponent’s SP.

by thegunner on Apr 13, 2009 4:54 PM EDT reply actions

I'm going to disagree...

…and leave it at that.

by Vlad on Apr 13, 2009 11:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Delwyn Young...

…was designated for assignment today by the Dodgers. Do the Bucs make a trade offer?

by phil79 on Apr 13, 2009 5:45 PM EDT reply actions

I’d make a phone call to test the waters at the very least.

I made most of my life decisions at a Foghat concert... I stand by them.

by Chester J Lampwick on Apr 13, 2009 6:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Do we need another OF though?

Nate, NyjMo & Moss up here, Tabata & McCutchen (+ more) in the minors…

True Blue Jazz
RIP Nick Adenhart. 4/9/09

by UtesFan89 on Apr 13, 2009 8:18 PM EDT up reply actions

No not really but I still don’t think a phone call hurts. I’d rather have Young than Morgan despite Morgan’s good start and I’m not convinced Moss will be anymore than a 4th outfielder while Young may be slightly better than that.

Unlike NH I’m not a huge Delwyn Young but I think he is marginally interesting and if the price is right I wouldn’t mind making that trade.

I made most of my life decisions at a Foghat concert... I stand by them.

by Chester J Lampwick on Apr 13, 2009 9:09 PM EDT up reply actions