Cardinals 5, Pirates 2: Sunday Lineup = No Offense

by Charlie Wilmoth on May 7, 2009 4:31 PM EDT

Adam LaRoche and Freddy Sanchez took the day off today, and without the two of them or Ryan Doumit in the lineup (or, for that matter, Jack Wilson or Jason Jaramillo), the Pirates simply aren't going to generate much offense. Brian Bixler (who looked absolutely clueless today), Eric Hinske and Craig Monroe are really probably just AAA players at this point, Robinzon Diaz and Delwyn Young are bench players getting a day in the sun, and Brandon Moss and Andy LaRoche are still just youngsters looking to get acclimated. That left Nate McLouth as the sole, unambiguous, no-excuses major league regular out there today, and so it's no surprise that the Bucs only mustered two runs--one on a double by McLouth that knocked in Andy LaRoche, and another on a pretty righteous solo homer by Diaz (the first of his career). The Pirates managed only four hits.

Ross Ohlendorf ran into trouble in the fifth inning, when he allowed a homer to Jason LaRue, then allowed two singles (one on a bunt), and then hit two batters, and then another single. I'm not really sure what happened there, because before that he was very good, striking out a bunch of batters while walking only one. Unfortunately, the offense didn't give him much room for error. Evan Meek pitched well for two innings after Ohlendorf departed.

The loss was the Pirates fifth in a row, and ninth in their last ten games. If the Astros beat the Cubs tonight, the Bucs will share last place with them.

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So as a Pirates fan, I’ve gotten pretty used to losing over the years. But this year’s losses seem even tougher for me. I couldn’t even bear to watch the game after the 5th today.

I don’t know if it was the strong start to the season or just the record of the 17th looming in the back of my mind. Is anyone else feeling this way?

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

by Chester J Lampwick on May 7, 2009 4:36 PM EDT reply actions

I feel your pain man. It’s getting painfully hard to watch this team, particularly the offense.

by thelumberco. on May 7, 2009 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Remember when the good start just felt different this time

Eh. Like they say, momentum is as good as tomorrow’s starting pitcher, so at least we…

Crap.

by azibuck on May 7, 2009 4:47 PM EDT reply actions

The only constants in our lineup right now are McLouth, Sanchez and the (go figure) the two catchers.

by thelumberco. on May 7, 2009 5:09 PM EDT reply actions

Great bench

Thank goodnes for Diaz, because the rest of our “bench” went 0-16 when given a chance to prove themselves today. Bixler had another hack trick 0-3 3 K’s. Can’t wait for Jack to get back.

by Brakeman8 on May 7, 2009 5:19 PM EDT reply actions

Why?

Do you really think that Wilson is $7 million better than Bixler?

by thegunner on May 8, 2009 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Not just Jack, but anybody is $100M better than Bixler. He is awful.

by thelumberco. on May 8, 2009 6:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Great photo of Ohlendorf there....

I think I made that face on the toilet last night.

Hey guys, it’s ok, they’re rebuilding. Bad games will happen. You didn’t think that they’d become a good team in the first 590 days after they hired Neal Huntington, did ya? I sure didn’t.

by IAPiratesFan on May 7, 2009 5:50 PM EDT reply actions