Pirates Win Fourth Straight, 5-2

by Charlie on Aug 21, 2009 10:07 PM EDT Comment 42 comments

More photos » by Keith Srakocic - AP

When you compare the Bucs' active roster to the Reds', it's actually not unreasonable to think the Pirates might keep winning, especially against a starter like Micah Owings, who seems destined to be famed more for his hitting than his pitching. Garrett Jones contributed a homer to right that finally occurred with two men on; nearly all of Jones' previous homers had been solo shots, which I don't think is anything we should gnash our teeth over, but it's got to be nice for him to hit a three-run bomb for once. Also, Lastings Milledge hit his second homer as a Pirate, Andrew McCutchen had one of his patented fly-like-Superman triples, and Delwyn Young played pretty good defense at the keystone. Also, Charlie Morton came back to the surface after his disastrous last start and didn't get the bends. Nice game, and now the Pirates can jump to fifth place with a win tomorrow.

No disrespect to the '79 team, which will always have a place in my heart for being the Bucs' last championship squad and for winning the title in the very week I was born, but I've never liked pillbox hats, which make people's heads look funny. (See the Morton picture to your right, which I swear isn't photoshopped.) I'd gladly exchange some funny-looking heads for some more games like this, though.

One quick note: Evan Meek's season is over after moving to the 60-day DL to make room for Phil Dumatrait on the 40-man roster.

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The yellow jerseys should return full time. I mean, we had ugly red jerseys last year as the alternate so why not something that actually matches our colors?

by Gorkys n' Beans on Aug 21, 2009 10:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yellow is better than any other jersey they have. The Black one has that “P” in a weird spot, the White one is good, but nothing special, and the Gray just reminds me of all the losing.

by H2O on Aug 22, 2009 12:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Woah, woah, woah.

I love the black one. You take that back, good sir, or we’ll have to have at it with fisticuffs.

www.sixtyftsixin.com

by Nate Rose on Aug 22, 2009 12:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm with Nate

Maybe not on the fisticuffs, but definitely on the black jersey.

by JRoth95 on Aug 22, 2009 8:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry

I just cant get past the odd location of the numbers.

by H2O on Aug 22, 2009 10:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

its not an odd location...nationals have that with the W... the Yankees home jerseys are like that lol idk why the P is weird for you?

by BigB23 on Aug 22, 2009 5:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Black jersey is sick...

the white one and road one are just horrible just so blah… they need to add a thicker stripe or something on them idk… but defiently think the bucs should have a gold jersey too

by BigB23 on Aug 22, 2009 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

“When you compare the Bucs’ active roster to the Reds’, it’s actually not unreasonable to hope for the Pirates to keep winning”

Sorry, but I have to disagree here. Think what you will, but the Penguins are where they are because they were HORRIBLE for a few years. Not just bad – horrible. This (combined with the draft lottery system), enabled them to select bona fide stars (Crosby, Malkin, Fleury, Whitney) with first and second picks. I’d rather be last or second-last than fifth or sixth to last, as much as it sucks to root for your team to lose. Of course, I’ll understand if no one shares this opinion – I’m surprised to hear it coming out of me, really.

Hey, an out is an out - unless you're Mario, in which case it's probably two outs. -UtesFan89

by wg1of5 on Aug 21, 2009 10:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think Charlie meant unreasonable in the sense that it’s certainly possible, not necessarily preferable.

by matskralc on Aug 21, 2009 10:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t really agree, but I see what you’re saying. Anyway, I worded the post weirdly. I’m going to fix it.

by Charlie on Aug 21, 2009 10:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And now Jones stretches his lead over Adam LaRoche for team leader in HR to 14-12. Next is McLouth at 9 and then McCutchen at 7.

That’s just…wow.

by matskralc on Aug 21, 2009 10:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

McCutchen has 7 in 2 months, McLouth has 9 in 2 months… Did we really lose a power-hitter?

by H2O on Aug 22, 2009 12:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I Think

It’s only 4 in a row, but may be 5 this time tomorrow night…

by God Loves on Aug 21, 2009 10:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I knew that. I think that was probably a slip from typing “5” elsewhere. Thanks for the catch.

by Charlie on Aug 21, 2009 10:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not to mention

“gnash our teach.” Is Charlie just giddy from a 4 game winning streak, or is this a PUI (posting under the influence)?

by JRoth95 on Aug 21, 2009 10:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The former, fortunately.

by Charlie on Aug 22, 2009 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Morton

It’s a nice top line, but 3 BB/3 K is nothing to get excited about, not to mention yet another failure to complete inning 7. Also, if not for slick-fielding 2B Delwyn Young (ha!), that one inning could really have gotten away from him.

I’m not trying to slam him, and Charlie’s right that it was a nice bounceback effort, but it was also a start that was about 3 non-standard plays* from an ugly loss.

a couple nice defensive plays plus MVP’s HR which, of course, shouldn’t really count because he hit poorly in AAA in 2007

by JRoth95 on Aug 21, 2009 11:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Incidentally

Snell’s last start, his own bounceback from a disastrous outing, had a line very close to Morton’s – 5.2 IP, 4 H, 3BB/2K, 1 ER, 54/98. A bit less efficient, and one fewer K (with 2 fewer hits), but strikingly similar.

by JRoth95 on Aug 22, 2009 12:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m willing to give him a break with the K/BB this season, as long as it doesn’t continue over time. This is his first real shot against Major League hitters. It’s harder for him to just overwhelm those guys with great stuff.

Morton has the stuff to be a really good pitcher. I’m willing to wait and see.

Morton’s K/BB through his first 11 games is 1.62. That’s not bad at all for a pitcher that’s getting accustomed to the bigs. Greg Maddux put up a 1.36 in his first stint, Pedro Martinez put up 2.09, Nolan Ryan 1.77.

Do I think Morton will be as good as any of those guys? Not even close. I’m just pointing out that even the all-time greats had a period of adjustment. His K/BB is nothing to worry about…yet.

www.sixtyftsixin.com

by Nate Rose on Aug 22, 2009 12:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Actually . . .

MVP’s track record does not suggest he can sustain anything close to what he has done, so it’s not just 2007. Many have looked silly betting on small sample sizes.

by Scranton on Aug 22, 2009 1:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ok we've been over this a thousand times......

MVP is older, he isn’t a prospect, he did well in AAA probably because he was there for a long time. We all agree. So, when does his ML performance “count” in your view. He has 181 PAs, 161 ABs, he is slashing .298/.362/.631— far and away better than anyone on the roster.

So, yes what you said is correct that a 1.000 OPS isn’t sustainable, most likely. But when do you stop looking at what happened in 2006 and look at what is happening today in the bigs? Straight up question. I asked Vlad this two months ago and got a response and I wanna ask anyone else who has an opinion.

by dtoddwin on Aug 22, 2009 4:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No one is arguing that it doesn't count.

All anyone is saying is that they don’t expect him to keep it up. We all hope he does but we’re just not banking on it. It’s why I refuse to get on board with the “MVP” and “The Legend” nick-names. I am enjoying his performance though!

by Slick1 on Aug 22, 2009 9:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

well

as a point of reference, 250 AB’s is considered the minimum to be truly representative of a player’s abilities. so as much as i’m been cynical about jones, if he keeps this up for another week or two i shall certainly at least shift my view to “enjoy it while it lasts, however long that is”

by geeves on Aug 22, 2009 10:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think it's kind of fluid . . .

and that it’s not black and white. I mean, after say, his 500th AB I’m not going to be like “well, we can just forget everything that happened before this season.” Obviously, the longer he does it, the less meaningful the minor league numbers become, but I don’t think 200 ABs even begins to drown out the 2500 or so minor league ABs he has. If he significantly outperforms his minor league numbers for about 750 ABs, then I would start to buy into him.

by Scranton on Aug 22, 2009 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yup

We’ve seen this before with Tike Redman, Chris Duffy and a few others. Players get hot for 2 months. The difference with Jones is that he is doing it with POWER. I’m not a believer yet either, but if he can repeat something similar for the FIRST 2 months of next season(when games still matter), then I would probably buy in.

by Mr. E on Aug 22, 2009 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This was the first one I’d gone to in a while, and I have to say, the atmosphere was outstanding when you consider that the season is all but over and it’s been another losing year.

I can’t get behind a tank anymore. This team is actually very exciting when it plays even remotely well, and that was on display tonight.

Also, I can’t name one Pirate in memory that was more purely electrifying than McCutchen. He’s the best thing to happen to this team in years.

Lastly, I love the five-way chest bump after the game. I guess Cutch came up with that and brought it when he came up, and it’s kind of fun to watch after the win.

by Suffering Buc on Aug 22, 2009 12:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The replay is showing

and I just saw the triple. I had to keep rewinding to watch it over and over. Nice to see Milledge catchn on. Time for Tabata yet? He had another good night in indy.

by bucsreport on Aug 22, 2009 12:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn’t expect Tabata any time this year. Not even as a September call-up. He’s just now getting his feet wet in AAA. Maybe next year if he tears it up for a little while in AAA. There’s going to have to be more power first, though, even if it’s only doubles power.

www.sixtyftsixin.com

by Nate Rose on Aug 22, 2009 12:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

you sure?

“There’s going to have to be more power first, though, even if it’s only doubles power.”

Since July 1st he’s had 13 2B in 178 AB’s – equivalent to 47 2B’s over a full season. I’d say that’s pretty darn good for a guy his age.

by geeves on Aug 22, 2009 2:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

They should still wait until next June. If he comes up here, and bats .400, management would have to keep him in the Bigs for next year, and lose a year of control.

I cant wait until next June. Pedro, Jose, Lincoln, and possibly Alderson will all come up, and it will be fun to watch.

by H2O on Aug 22, 2009 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Since August 21st, Lastings Milledge has one homer in 4 ABs. Equivalent to 162 homers in a full season.

Fun things can be done with small samples.

I’d like to see him put together a full season’s worth of solid doubles power before they start ticking time off of his arbitration clock. Like H2O said, they should wait until June of next year. Though not strictly because of arb clock, also because he actually has something he needs to develop a little more.

www.sixtyftsixin.com

by Nate Rose on Aug 22, 2009 12:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fun game to watch.

I wish there were more games like this. With any luck, in a few years, there will be.

by IAPiratesFan on Aug 22, 2009 12:08 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Holy hell

You’re almost 30, Charlie? I wouldn’t have guessed that.

by bucdaddy on Aug 22, 2009 12:42 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Pillbox

The 79 season was the first one I remember consciously watching and remember. Imagine growing up thinking pillbox caps and the Pirates winning the WS were the way things are supposed to be. Sigh.

by jperb on Aug 22, 2009 1:19 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Pillbox

I had just turned 12 when the Pirates won in 79. Watching the game last night I kept getting flash backs of excitement I haven’t had for years.

by MDBuc on Aug 22, 2009 9:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That makes 2 of us Charlie.

The Bucs won their last World Series the day after I was born. That means we are both walking testamnets to their futility.

by Scranton on Aug 22, 2009 1:33 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Charlie + Scranton = Jinx

Thanks a lot, guys.

by JRoth95 on Aug 22, 2009 8:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You can pry my black pillbox hat

off of my cold dead head.

Free your ass and your mind will follow.

by cocktailsfor2 on Aug 22, 2009 9:40 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Don't look now

but Neil Walker is batting over .250 with 30 2bs and 12HR in 313ABs. Those are good power numbers for a 23yr old. Obviously he still has some work to do but he’s shown solid improvement over last year .260-.240BA .480-.414 slg, 24bb in 313 abs – 29bb in 500ab. If he can jump to about .285BA while turning a few of those doubles into homers and get a slight uptick in the walk rate next season, he could still turn out to be a player. The problem will be where does he play if Pedro is starting at 3B in Indy next year? Will they put him in LF? 2B? 1B? back to C? My guess is LF with Gorkys in CF and Tabata in RF but who knows. With said improvement and if Milledge or DYoung flops, he could have a shot at a job in 2011.

Or he could be dealt for a LHR in the offseason.

by Mr. E on Aug 22, 2009 12:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs