Pirates 3, Indians 2: Andrew McCutchen Does it Again
by Charlie on Jun 25, 2009 10:47 PM EDT
56 comments
For five innings, the Pirates couldn't get much of anywhere against Cliff Lee, who lately has been just as terrifying as he was in his Cy Young season last year. But Ross Ohlendorf kept the Pirates in the game, and Andrew McCutchen helped jumpstart the offense with a double in the sixth. He later scored on a sacrifice fly by Freddy Sanchez. Lee came unglued a bit in the seventh and the Pirates were able to take advantage--Andy LaRoche led off the inning with a walk and Brandon Moss followed him with a single, and after Jason Jaramillo's sacrifice, Jack Wilson was intentionally walked to load the bases. Delwyn Young pinch hit for Ohlendorf and couldn't bring any runners home, but McCutchen scored one runner with a walk, mostly because Lee threw him three fastballs at about forehead level. (That might work with most Pirates hitters, but not with McCutchen.)
Entering the eighth inning, the game was tied, but Nyjer Morgan made a nice jumping catch that might have robbed Victor Martinez of what would have been his second homer of the day. Then in the ninth, the Bucs were finally able to take advantage of a leaky Indians bullpen. Wilson and Eric Hinske started the inning with singles, and then Wilson stole third on a pretty brilliant baserunning play--with the Indians' third baseman charging in to field a possible bunt attempt, Wilson raced to third, putting the Indians' shortstop in a very tough position by forcing him to try to beat Wilson to the bag, catch the ball and reach down to tag him out. McCutchen drove home the game-winning single. This was an awesome game for McCutchen and Wilson, who reached base seven times between them and were involved in some of its biggest plays.
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Charlie
Wilson was Intentionally walked in that 7th inning and Nyjer’s rob of martinez would have been a 2-run shot. Just lettin ya know. Otherwise solid recap
by Green_Wave on Jun 25, 2009 11:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
also
just for the record, jack TOTALLY saved JR’s ass tonight.
was he really going to have andrew freaking mccutchen (.323 avg) bunt the runners over and then leave the RBI opportunity to nyjer morgan?
fortunately jack read the wheel beautifully and did the moving on his own. stop overmanaging john! damnit.
by geeves on Jun 25, 2009 11:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
wasn't JR's call
after he got tossed, it was the bench coach’s
by Green_Wave on Jun 25, 2009 11:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’d have to think Russell could still manage from the tunnel to the clubhouse.
by Suffering Buc on Jun 25, 2009 11:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah
Dumb decision by the bench coach to put that sign on, but awesome head-up play by Jack Wilson to avoid taking the bat out of Cutch’s hands.
www.sixtyftsixin.com
by Sixty Feet, Six Inches on Jun 26, 2009 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
not
sure that ball would have left the park. Morgan miss judged it a tad and made his routine jump catch
by bucsreport on Jun 25, 2009 11:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I was almost parallel to the wall where I was sitting, and I agree. That would have hit the wall, not gone over.
by Suffering Buc on Jun 25, 2009 11:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thought the same thing at home
The announcers noticed on a bout the third replay and pointed out that he could’ve taken one more step. Still looked cool.
RIP NATE. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN...MISTER TONY PLUSH!
by GTrain on Jun 26, 2009 10:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
wow
what a fantastic game… i was sitting on the edge of the seat for a long time. We need more of that clutch hitting to win the one to two run games
by Matt7009 on Jun 25, 2009 11:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Overmanaging, Undermanaging......
I know I’m gonna start sounding like a broken record, but we are bunting at the wrong times. It is just ridiculous to have Cutch trying to bunt there. And, Wilson’s play is a great play in hindsight, but it was a terrible decision. It was a close play. You can’t possibly run there with no outs if it is going to be a close play. Terrible choice.
And one more time. Why do our guys go up and swing at the first pitch after a four pitch walk! At this point I am going to start putting it on the coaches. If they haven’t drilled it in to Diaz and JJ at this point, then it is their fault. It is driving me crazy. One out, first and second and go up hacking? Yes he hit the ball hard, but as with Wilson above, this is not results based analysis. You have to make better choices. Russell is making it harder for us to win.
by dtoddwin on Jun 25, 2009 11:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I like Wilson’s decision even if he had gotten out. It was gutsy play that this team needs and he knows that it is difficult for a shortstop to run catch the ball and then tag a runner. plus, if you look at him while he is drifting towards third he is looking at the catcher the entire way to see where he is looking. It’s a brilliant play in my opinion.
I also like Cutch bunting in that situation because the winning run goes to third with less than one out…but i’m more old school in baseball thinking
by Green_Wave on Jun 25, 2009 11:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
With your best hitter up and a runner in scoring position already...
you NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER EVER EVER bunt. Ever. Ever!
by ryebr3ad on Jun 26, 2009 12:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
hes not the best hitter on the team
and why not bunt?
by bucsreport on Jun 26, 2009 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
well we have a former batting champ
who currently has a .313 AVG and second in the NL in doubles. Ill go with him
by bucsreport on Jun 26, 2009 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah...
I’ll still go with Cutch being better than Freddy. He looks a hell of a lot more comfortable at the plate. Though I’m not ripping Freddy. And, do I really need to explain why he shouldn’t bunt? Well, what happened when we won the game? Cutch got a hit. What would have happened if he layed down a bunt? We put the bat in one of our worst hitter’s hands.
by ryebr3ad on Jun 26, 2009 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Who would have
only needed to hit the ball anywhere but hard and directly at one of the infielders with the infield being drawn in. I’ll take the chances that he does that over the 25-30% Cutch gets a hit that is able to score jack wilson.
by Green_Wave on Jun 26, 2009 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well....
then you are making a bad decision.
by dtoddwin on Jun 26, 2009 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yep.
I guarantee Cutch did not want to bunt. And it has been proven again and again that giving up free outs is the absolute worst thing you could do in baseball, especially when it’s one of our best hitters. “Old-school” be damned. Just because it’s old, doesn’t mean it works.
by ryebr3ad on Jun 26, 2009 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
How About This?
If McCutchen isn’t the team’s best hitter, then he’s one of the team’s three best hitters, and they’re all pretty comparable in ability. Would you agree with that?
by Androgen Jar Jimmy on Jun 26, 2009 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No...
You don’t give up outs with a runner already in scoring position. I don’t care who is on deck.
by Slick1 on Jun 26, 2009 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I Agree
I Agree 100%. I think the sacrifice bunt is just about the dumbest play in baseball. The conditions for a sacrifice bunt to be a good idea are so rare that if a manager simply forgot that you can bunt, he’d be a far better manager for it.
The only point I’m trying to make is that arguing about who the Pirates’ best hitter is in this situation is kind of pointless. We have three decent hitters whose overall abilities are pretty comparable. Of the three good hitters we have, none of them is a real standout. That’s all I’m saying.
by Androgen Jar Jimmy on Jun 26, 2009 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I figured that's what you were doing.
I just really hate the bunt unless it’s a terrible hitting pitcher.
by Slick1 on Jun 26, 2009 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Or unless
it’s bottom of the ninth, no out, two on and you only need one run to win. Earl Weaver said, “If you play for one run that’s all you’ll get,” but if one run is all you need …
Somebody needs to check what WPA says about the difference between first and second, no out, and second and third, one out, to see if it’s significant.
by bucdaddy on Jun 26, 2009 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Cutch bunts. Assume (and I don’t) it’s successful.
NyMo strikes out. Freddy is intentionally walked. Rally Killer does what he always does with bases loaded — pulls his head back in his shell like Jerry Seinfeld’s “frightened turtle.”
Capps pitches the 10th — his 2nd inning with no one else really left in the BP. Good luck Bucs.
by WstCstBucco on Jun 26, 2009 5:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You are
assuming everything. The percentages that Myjer hits a ball that isn’t directly at an infielder are higher than the percentages that Cutch gets a hit. You bunt and play for one run in that situation.
by Green_Wave on Jun 26, 2009 9:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i dont
have the book anymore, but BP put that very table together to look at the effectiveness of bunting. i don’t remember specifics, but i’m very very close to positive that, according to their numbers, the ONLY time a sacrifice bunt increased WPA by any significant amount was with first and second or just second and nobody out.
so, according to WPA, a bunt there isn’t a bad idea. however, you have the extenuating circumstance that the given situation would have meant using one of your hottest hitters to advance the runner, then expecting one of your coldest hitters to bring the run home.
by geeves on Jun 26, 2009 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree
with you that I didn’t want to see McCutchen bunting in the 9th, but respectfully disagree with you on JJ swinging at the first pitch. Obviously the results were poor, him grounding into a DP, but I like the approach of knowing that a pitcher is struggling, so he’s more likely to groove that first pitch, be ready for it and take a good hack. If that was a 3-0 count, and he hits into a DP, then that’s a poor approach. But as a MLB hitter, you can never go up to the plate expecting to get walked, MLB pitchers are just too good to risk putting yourself in the hole, and probably not seeing a good pitch to drive. Poor execution, but good approach.
by Danatural08 on Jun 26, 2009 12:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
1-0 is hardly a big hole for an ML hitter. You can’t make it easy for an obviously wild pitcher.
by biglar33 on Jun 26, 2009 9:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree. I could not believe that JJ swung at the first pitch after a 4 pitch walk where the dude obviously had no idea where the ball was going. Is there really no one in the dugout in the situation saying, “Hey Jason, make him give you a strike before you swing”. Thats going back to little league basics!
by biglar33 on Jun 26, 2009 9:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dang
Seems like I missed a good game…
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RIP Nick Adenhart. 4/9/09
by UtesFan89 on Jun 26, 2009 1:46 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Well like wilson’s decision or not, he changed the game. Cutch was able to swing freely and it paid off. Also, i was at the game and personally, JR’s eruption made EVERYONES day lol. that place went nuts everytime he turned around. and i heard that the past two games the umps were very iffy the whole game, well this ump (home plate) was shitty. dear lord. Great game tho, thank god cutch ended it cuz the weather turned terrible not 10 minutes later
Steelers - Immaculate Reception. Penguins - Immaculate Rejection. Pirates......Immaculate Resurrection???
by JR89 on Jun 26, 2009 2:47 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Nickname: McClutchen
The kid is awesome. And goota love jack!
by zogger on Jun 26, 2009 7:08 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I like it!
I saw the highlight on MLB Network. Andrew McCutchen, with a big old smile with shaving cream in his dreadlocks. Priceless!
She isn't crazy, she's just not impressed.
by jillsinmo on Jun 26, 2009 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
“I’m excited for another opportunity,” Vasquez said. “I feel relaxed right now, and I pitch best when I’m relaxed. I’m just going to go up, pretend it’s little league, listen to Mr. Kerrigan and show them what I can do. I’m pretty excited right now.”
-Virgil Vazquez
He may not pitch any better, and I know we over analyze Snell. But I like the idea that we just replaced “The Nibbler who’s not your pal” with someone who calls his pitching coach Mr. Kerrigan.
RIP NATE. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN...MISTER TONY PLUSH!
by GTrain on Jun 26, 2009 11:01 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yes, all the comity is truly heartwarming.
Maybe after the game, they can circle up around the mound and roast some marshmallows.
by Vlad on Jun 26, 2009 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
More amused than anything else.
I think this is pretty much a textbook “Be careful what you wish for” situation:
*We’re less likely to be able to deal Snell for value, if we were shopping him.
*We aren’t likely to see any tangible benefit on the field, as the 2009 MLE for Vasquez gives him an ERA in the low 5s and just slightly over five innings per start (i.e. exactly what we were getting from off-his-game Snell), and Vasquez has almost no upside.
*We’re less likely to deal Maholm or Duke for value at the deadline, since we’re now unnecessarily burning our top rotation candidate from AAA, decreasing our SP depth.
*Snell does not appear to be reacting constructively to the demotion, in direct conflict with what the board’s amateur psychologists suggested would happen.
So yeah, I think it’s pretty hilarious that so many people are thrilled about this.
by Vlad on Jun 26, 2009 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m with you Vlad, not sure of the overall good that peple are seeing in the demotion.
by biglar33 on Jun 26, 2009 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Is it just me ...
or would anyone else not be surprised to see this come across the wires one night:
ALTOONA, Pa. (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Ian Snell was rushed to a hospital late Friday with what police said appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound …
by bucdaddy on Jun 26, 2009 4:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Didn't say I was thrilled I rather just see him throw effing strikes
RIP NATE. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN...MISTER TONY PLUSH!
by GTrain on Jun 26, 2009 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I thought Snell requested the demotion or was that just a rumor?
Also, I doubt that we are any less likely to deal Maholm or Duke if NH can work out a deal that he likes. We can simply recall Snell or one of the other candidates that figure to do about as well as Snell has so far.
And what is “buring our top totation candidate …:”? Vasquez will still be Vasquez no matter if he spends the next month in Pittsburgh or Indy.
by WestCoastBuc on Jun 26, 2009 6:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hey Cuz!
Ian says he asked to be demoted. NH says it doesn’t matter who did.
DK says he saw Snell waiting by the door when he was leaving JR’s office after the game, right after JR told DK that Snell was not out of the rotation and would start Sunday. The official announcement that Snell was demoted came early the next afternoon.
I tend to go with Ian on this one.
by WstCstBucco on Jun 26, 2009 6:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If we're breaking the glass on Vasquez now...
…then if we trade Duke or Maholm we have to break the glass on the guy behind him (McCutchen?). And then if Morton’s leg problems recur, we have to break the glass on the guy behind him (Gorz?).
It limits our depth and flexibility going forward, is what I’m trying to say, and I’d rather not see Taubenheim getting any starts this year unless it’s absolutely necessary.
by Vlad on Jun 27, 2009 12:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jack Wilson 1 -- John Russell 0
Well, Jack Wilson showed the makings of a good ML manager last night.
Catching JR trying to rob the team of a walk off win the bottom of the 9th, Wilson bailed out the “official” team manager by stealing third on his own, thereby taking the bunt play off of rookie Andrew McCutchen and allowing him to “swing away.”
McCuthen admitted today in the Trib that he was uncomfortable (to put it mildly) at having to bunt in such a crucial situation:
“I haven’t bunted much,” McCutchen said with a sheepish grin.
And after the steal?
“It was kind of like a sigh of relief, like, ‘Now I can swing it,’ " said McCutchen, who’s riding a 13-game hitting streak.
What was JR thinking? Having his best hitter up with a man in scoring position, and asking him to use his weakest ability bunt). Letting his out machine 2nd hitter get the RBI chance, instead of his RBI machine? Giving up an out with a man in scoring position? All bad ideas.
Jack Wilson, not a base stealer, obviously saw what was going on and took off for 3B on the wheel play to give the team a chance at victory. JR’s mismanagement would have sent the game into the 10th.
Maybe a player-manager? Wasn’t Pete Rose the last one?
P.S. JR was in the tunnel behind the dugout running the team. Managers have been allowed by umpires to do this since the ’60s after getting thrown out. If JR was in his office watching the game on TV, he should be fired for dereliction of duty.
“Swing Away, Merrill. Merrill . . . swing away.”
by WstCstBucco on Jun 26, 2009 1:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
blows my mind
that a player tries to justify that swinging the bat is easier than bunting. Its like one of the first things that u should be taught at a young age. Wilson very well could have ran the team out of the inning. what would u be saying then. He also would have made the first out at third another cardinal sin. Hearing this we should probably go with Morgan up top let Sanchez bat second and let Cutch drive in runs since he cant or doesnt wanna do the dirty work. I figured someone with his speed would have bunted a plenty.
by bucsreport on Jun 26, 2009 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
huh?
How often does your leadoff hitter need to drop a sacrifice bunt?
My point was (a) maybe JR should consider the nervousness of a rookie being told to do it in the bottom on the 9th, and (b) bunting with zero outs and two men on is STOOPID!
Earl Weaver said it right — “On offense, your most precious possessions are your 27 outs”.
by WstCstBucco on Jun 26, 2009 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, Jack knew what he was doing.
The element of surprise gets them every time. He was safe by a mile, if you see the replay. Their SS played way in front of third base, and Jack slid to the back side of the bag.
by ryebr3ad on Jun 26, 2009 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Typical Manager
Given that managers and coaches always seem to be former middle-infielders who were with one team for a long time, maybe Jack Wilson is a future manager.
by Androgen Jar Jimmy on Jun 26, 2009 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Could be
I think it was Jim Palmer who once said – “Most pitchers are too smart to be managers.”
by WestCoastBuc on Jun 26, 2009 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
All Star
What are the odds our all star rep is Cutch?
He shouldn’t be and I’d hope the Bucs tried to avoid that, but I wouldn’t be stunned. Not a lot of choices. Freddy is obviously the most logical.
Gooo day.
by Uncle Nate on Jun 26, 2009 4:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Zach Duke would be a nice choice. He’s tied for 5th in NL in wins, tied for 2nd in CG, and his ERA is 9th best.
Gooo day to you too!! The gooiest.
by WstCstBucco on Jun 26, 2009 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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