White Sox 4, Pirates 0

by Charlie on May 23, 2009 10:01 PM EDT Comment 19 comments

Clayton Richard was the latest no-name starter to stymie the Pirates' offense.

Ross Ohlendorf was fine until he got tired in the eighth and hung a breaking ball for Jermaine Dye to clobber, but this is purely academic--you can't win if you don't score, and Clayton Richard became the latest scrub to shut the Pirates down, following Gavin Floyd and Craig Stammen.

I'd love to say there's someone here slumping, but other than Freddy Sanchez, there really isn't. There just isn't much offense. And since Ryan Doumit is hurt and Brandon Moss can't start against a lefty at any point ever lest he melt, or drown in a pool of his own tears, or whatever John Russell thinks will happen to him, we're left with out machines riddled throughout the lineup.

True, the Bucs did score lots of runs in their series against Colorado and the first two games against Washington, but days like these, when they can't do anything against a pitcher who isn't any good, are really frustrating to watch.

Andy LaRoche is batting .288. And Ohlendorf kept the bullpen rested. Those are about the only bright spots I can think of here.

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I understand that this year’s Pirates would not win with any manager in the world, but it’s time for Russell to get canned. He thinks he’s protecting Moss by not letting him hit against a lefty, but in reality he’s just planting a seed of doubt in the kid’s head. His refusal to let him learn to be an everyday player is ridiculous, especially in a rebuilding year.

I mean, why play Moss when you could play Eric Hinske and Craig Monroe?

by Suffering Buc on May 23, 2009 10:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Earlier in the year, didn’t the Yinzers want Moss benched for those guys? Well, that crowd got what they wanted…

by ddff22 on May 23, 2009 11:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No

That was mostly just lumberco, who seems to have mysteriously disappeared since Moss started hitting.

by Suffering Buc on May 23, 2009 11:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Moss

I’m one of those who doesn’t believe in Moss. But I’ve never wanted to see him lose playing time to Monroe/Hinske or any such veteran.

by bolton on May 24, 2009 2:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It’s no mystery. I banned him.

by Charlie on May 24, 2009 3:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No, you must be thinking of someone else. This guy is a control specialist who didn’t strike anybody out in the minors.

by Charlie on May 24, 2009 3:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh ok.

For some reason, i was thinking he was a high pick. Maybe i just thought he was good because he was rumored in the Peavy to Sox deal.

by phil79 on May 24, 2009 3:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think you’re overreacting. Look, Moss is hot right now and I would like to see what he could do against a lefty. I mean, if he is going to be our forseeable everyday RF, he needs to be playing, well, everyday (that’s brilliant, isn’t it?). But are you really going to complain about putting Monroe in there against lefties? Monroe has been producing every single time he starts, and he provides a much needed power boost to this lineup. No, Monroe didn’t do much tonight, but everybody is struggling right now so I see where you’re getting frustrated, as are all Pirates fans (it’s the story of the past 17 years). I don’t have a problem with Monroe starting against lefties this year because 1) his production as a starter is way better than his pinch hitting role and 2) he’s been hitting lefties great (for the most part) all year. Also, this will probably be Monroe’s only year with the Pirates so it’s not like it’s going to go on for years to come. But you’re right, Moss needs to start getting put in the lineup against some lefties to start seeing them and getting comfortable against them, especially if the Pirates want him to be the everyday RF. But I think we have worse problems than Craig Monroe hitting in the cleanup spot against lefties. Some of them: 1) Adam LaRoche just taking up space in the field and in the lineup. 2) Freddy swinging at every pitcher thrown up there no matter where it is 3) Nate and NyMo starting to cool off considerably. Those are just a few. I think every move that is made and doesn’t work just gets magnified that much more because of how putried our offense is right now. Now as far as Hinske goes….I’m speechless. Where in the world are those 20 HRs he hit for the Rays last year?!? I know he’s not going to hit 20 for us simply because he isn’t going to get that much playing time, but he still has a goose egg in the HR column! The frustration just never quits building. Playing the Nationals was nice, but that series is over. It’s time to get back out in the real world.

by mspirate on May 24, 2009 12:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Monroe producing?

Monroe has been producing every single time he starts, and he provides a much needed power boost to this lineup.

6 of his 14 RBI for the season came in 1 game, 3 in another (making 9 of his 14 RBI), and out of 8 starts (including the 2-HR, 6 RBI game), he has 2 multi-hit games. Can’t really say he’s producing.

Not singling you out, just addressing one of the points you made. Monroe is a bench player. Just like Vazquez. And neither should be taking away ANY regular playing time from Moss nor Andy LaRoche. Doesn’t matter if it’s a Righty or Lefty on the mound.

I really don’t understand the hard-on JR has for Vazquez at all.

Some of the other points you make I agree with – although Mario is a very decent defensive 1B (IMO), I have stated my case about his offensive capability, or lack thereof. Freddy is also pressing right now, but I worry less about him.

I'd rather be dead than singing "Satisfaction" at forty-five. -- M. Jagger

by cocktailsfor2 on May 24, 2009 1:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, I can’t figure out the love for Vazquez, either. I agree with you on that one. Andy has to have days off. Obviously, you can’t play all 162 games, so the off day was coming, but put Hinske at 3B and Delwyn in the DH spot. Vazquez is terrible. But I just think we have far worse complaints than Monroe being the DH against lefties. I was just stating that he has done pretty well. I’m not going to complain about Russell batting Monroe against lefties because more times than not, he’s provided a spark. That being said, I would like Moss to start against some lefties and see what he can do.

by mspirate on May 24, 2009 5:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not any good?

Granted we should’ve done SOMETHING against him, but I thought Clayton Richard was a top pick a couple years back?

by phil79 on May 23, 2009 11:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

No, you must be thinking of someone else. This guy is a control specialist who didn’t strike anybody out in the minors.

by Charlie on May 24, 2009 3:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

FWIW, Moss in the majors has hit LHPs a bit better than RHPs. In the minors he had almost no platoon split at all.

by WTM on May 24, 2009 12:39 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It seems...

that JR just assumes that everybody falls into the normal platoon splits…and he never checks the actual numbers. Otherwise…he wouldn’t have had 6 lefties in the lineup against Gavin Floyd…and wouldn’t have had Vasquez hitting instead of Andy.

by Thunder on May 24, 2009 6:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

At this stage, Andy is the only player on the team hitting anything. He shouldn’t be on the bench unless he just has to have a rest. He certainly shouldn’t be there just so Vazquez can get in the lineup.

by WTM on May 24, 2009 7:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

First Pirate game that has been televised out here

and in a way I found the game encouraging. Oh looked pretty good again on the mound for the most part and Andy had a fine game both at the plate and in the field. These are two guys who actually matter for the Pirate future. What difference does it make that Nymo, Adam, Monroe and Wilson looked completely lost at the plate? All will be long gone by the time this team is able to compete.

Did anyone else think that JRs decision to go with a hit and run play with Andy at first and a 2-1 count on Jarmillo was strange? Dotel had walked Andy to lead off the inning and reached a 2-1 count on Jar and something like 6 of the first 8 pitches Dotel has thrown have been balls. The next ptich is around Jar’s eyes but because of the H&R the count goes to 2-2 instead of 3-1.

by WestCoastBuc on May 24, 2009 9:53 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs