Pirates Blown Out Again
by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 25, 2010 6:44 PM EDT
Email
Print10-3 to the Astros this time. Charlie Morton had his fourth straight disaster start, the Pirates had their ninth loss of six or more runs (!!!!) and... well, I can't lie--like Morton, I didn't last much past the third inning. This isn't good, folks. Brian Bass, who just joined the roster, pitched the fourth. The Pirates made space for him on the 40-man by designating Brandon Jones for assignment, which... whatever. Brian Burres--and yes, that's a different bad pitcher from Brian Bass--was also recalled. Daniel McCutchen heads back to Indianapolis, and Chris Jakubauskas (who turns out to be okay) heads to the DL. The Pirates badly need Ross Ohlendorf back. In the meantime, desperate times call for desperate measures. Here are my suggestions.
1) Have the entire defense (except Lastings Milledge, who will shade even closer to center field) stand together with their gloves over their crotches, soccer style, five feet from home plate, from foul line to foul line. Give them all catching gear so they don't get Jakubauskas'ed. Then lure Andy LaRoche's dad out of retirement and have him throw eephus pitches over the wall. Foolproof!
2) Just get more bad pitchers named Brian to play at Indianapolis! I think Brian Anderson, Brian Boehringer, Brian Falkenborg, Brian Lawrence and Brian Meadows should all be available. And I'm sure Brian Myrow could be converted to pitching if need be. True, this wouldn't help the Pirates much in terms of baseball talent, but it would be really confusing, and opponents would never be able to remember whether they're about to see an eighty-nine MPH fastball and an awful breaking ball, or an eighty-five MPH fastball and an awful breaking ball.
3) Call up Rudy Owens. I'm not completely serious about this one, but I do think Owens is better than about 2/3 of the pitchers the Pirates have used this year, and maybe he'd go all Zach-Duke-2005 on the league for ten starts before anyone figured out what was going on.
4) Set up some booths at Texas high schools hoping to find an aging science teacher who throws 95 MPH. Hey, it worked for the Devil Rays.
5) Bribe the umpires, not to cheat, but so that they won't blatantly blow calls when the Pirates' one good player steals a base.
That's all I've got.
99 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Dude, we’re not going to finish last. We’ll do just enough to cripple our draft position, but not enough to inspire confidence in the team going forward.
by Adam Reynolds on Apr 25, 2010 7:08 PM EDT up reply actions
sorry
that argument is far from convincing… at this point, it looks like we will not only finish last, but do so convincingly!
I dunno...
The Reds’ pitchers look just as bad as us – the difference being that Aaron Harang costs about as much as our whole rotation by himself.
Hey, an out is an out - unless you're Mario, in which case it's probably two outs. -UtesFan89
Hard work always beats talent if talent doesn't work hard.
the Orioles won their third game today....
and now are 3-16.
"I choose to gamble with my life
Twice the risk, four times the prize
Nothing knocks me over"
by lighthouse913 on Apr 25, 2010 10:55 PM EDT up reply actions
they probably aren't
just as we probably aren’t as bad as we’ve looked… yeah, i know, there’s a ton of bad teams out there. All I have to say is, if we are gonna follow a miserable team through the year, might as well do it right, and get the 1st pick
by BurgherKing on Apr 25, 2010 11:54 PM EDT up reply actions
The point
that I was trying to make, was that other teams are awful. And I guess I just don’t see the Bucs failing that much. We sit and we watch our team; the Pirates dropping six straight, and yes it is painful, but we only feel our pain, imagine what the O’s fans are thinking. Paul.
"I choose to gamble with my life
Twice the risk, four times the prize
Nothing knocks me over"
by lighthouse913 on Apr 26, 2010 1:52 AM EDT up reply actions
To bring up Karstens on Tuesday to start…someone’s gonna have to get DFA’d. I’d say that if the Pirates are not planning on keeping Raynor all season, this is the week they let him go
My bad they released Jones.
Burress or Bass, take your pick. I don’t think either will be missed to much.
It just seems like nothing can go right these days. A ball hit hard through the middle with 2 runners on somehow ends up in the pitcher’s glove and he throws the runner out at 3rd on a one-hopper throw, Aki’s called out at first on a close play, Feliz called safe at second on a close play, Cutch called out at second on a play that wasn’t close, Clement hits the ball 435 feet for a double, etc.
It's saying something . . .
when the best Pirates-related news of the week is that Chris Jakubauskas didn’t die.
thats always good news
Players who should be in the Hall of Fame: Pat TIllman, Dwight White, Donnie Shell, L.C. Greenwood, Ray Guy, Steve Tasker, Greg Llyod, Andy Russel, Cris Carter, Kevin Greene and Jerry Kramer
"It's a great day to be a mountaineer, where ever you may be" Tony Caridi
Canal Street Chronicles resident Steelers Fan
by WVPiratesfan on Apr 25, 2010 8:59 PM EDT up reply actions
But then again.....
Yeah, but then again, he’s a Pittsburgh Pirate, so maybe he wishes he had. (just kiddin)
by michaelbro8 on Apr 25, 2010 11:57 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm willing to lose every game this month...
…if it’s the difference between Jakubauskas living and dying.
Now I feel bad
Since last year I was rooting for Jones to hit 20 HRs, even though I knew it meant you would die.
Turing into Indy
I’m so depressed I was hoping I could listen to the Indians to cheer me up and they are on a rain delay.
Even our minor league teams are snake bit.
Yinzers uber alles
Season Starts June 1st
that heading says it all, until there is someone in the lineup who can hit the ball, the pirates will continue to be the punchline of baseball to the equivalent to the detroit lions or los angeles clippers
waitaminnit… the Clippers really suck.
Free your ass and your mind will follow.
by cocktailsfor2 on Apr 25, 2010 8:19 PM EDT up reply actions
and the pirates don't?
i mean, loyal fans n everything is great, but this team over this past week has been the definition of suck!
…your sarcasm detector was turned off again, huh?
Free your ass and your mind will follow.
by cocktailsfor2 on Apr 26, 2010 7:52 AM EDT up reply actions
I can't wait for Pedro and Lincoln to arrive.
Until then, there’s nothing watchable about this team.
Brian Burres and Brian Bass are being considered for starts this week. Enough said.
Suffering Buc
I understand your pain, but Andrew McCutchen is worth watching.
Don't look at me.
HE’S the one who brought up Pedro.
Oh wait, THAT Pedro …
yeah, but it's getting better...
… earlier this week, it was 10.6 to 1.6… improvement!
by Captain Easychord on Apr 25, 2010 9:45 PM EDT up reply actions
Chris Bootcheck might be available from the Yokohama Bay Stars.
And we got tired of watching Virgil Vazquez last year….
That Vasquez quip is scary...
…because you’re absolutely right. I honestly think I’d rather have him than Burres/Bass.
Hey, an out is an out - unless you're Mario, in which case it's probably two outs. -UtesFan89
Hard work always beats talent if talent doesn't work hard.
Speaking of players who suited up in Japan,
I’m getting scared that at some point the Bucs might even give Jeremy Powell a shot.
That would make me drink enough shots to make cocktails look like a lightweight.
pffffft.
Bring it on.
Free your ass and your mind will follow.
by cocktailsfor2 on Apr 26, 2010 12:09 AM EDT up reply actions
Oh...
And Steve Pearce: ON FIRE at Indianapolis. He should be in Pittsburgh and starting against every LH starter the Pirates see.
I'm watching the Indians game right now.
Tabata right now at .323, Walker at .317, Pearce at .407. Lincoln goes 7 – 1 ER and in line for the win leaving 6-1. Lincoln also doubled.
by MarkInDallas on Apr 25, 2010 11:01 PM EDT up reply actions
I'll also say
Lincoln’s curve ball is really excellent. The movement seems to be 1 to 7, not 12-6. He was able to locate the fastball well. Struck out the last batter (LHB) on a curve that started off the plate and came back. Awesome.
by MarkInDallas on Apr 25, 2010 11:07 PM EDT up reply actions
It was too straight. But hopefully if he can locate it as he was tonight and throw the curve for strikes, that will keep them off balance enough.
by MarkInDallas on Apr 25, 2010 11:49 PM EDT up reply actions
No downward movement?
I know it doesn’t it doesn’t have a lot of tail but Kerrigan was raving in the spring about the sink.
Yes.
He does have a good downward movement on it. He was getting a good amount of ground balls. So that’s good.
by MarkInDallas on Apr 26, 2010 12:17 AM EDT up reply actions
Cool...
because that may be the difference between effective starter and effective reliever. Real good outing tonight. That’s two good outings in a row for him right? Maybe he is starting to put things together. Surely he sees the opportunity in front of him with everyone else struggling.
Walker also got his 6th stolen base.
I’m really impressed with the new found approach of both Walker and Pearce. I noticed Pearce was playing RF tonight and I hope that’s because they are going to try and find a way to get him in to the lineup in Pittsburgh. Also, Walker needs to be in Pittsburgh in place of DY. He plays better defense and offers much more upside.
Right now...
Indy doesn’t have many choices for outfielders. Until they make a roster move…Pearce, Myrow or Walker will be playing the OF every day.
They still have Moss...
for whatever that’s worth. You’re right though. I don’t think we are ready to move anyone in AA up so I guess we’ll sign a couple of free agents.
Their OF tonight was
Moss, Tabata and Pearce with Myrow at 1B. They don’t have any spare OF.
To bring up Walker, the only way I can see it is if they cut Raynor loose, no? If Walker is continuing to hit in June, I think he deserves a chance to show what he’s got in MLB. They certainly can’t bring Walker up and DFA DY. That’s going all-in on Walker and there won’t be the ABs to give him.
Unless you trade Aki and bring up Walker to play 2B. He made a very nice play to his right and a jump throw to 1B today. I can’t imagine Aki making that play.
by MarkInDallas on Apr 25, 2010 11:55 PM EDT up reply actions
They certainly can’t bring Walker up and DFA DY.
They certainly can. He would probably even clear waivers, and if he didn’t, no big deal.
I agree with this.
DY is adding nothing to this roster. His bat is supposed to be his asset and right now it is not. Not only that, DY doesn not have the plate discipline that this front office used as reasons why Walker and Pearce weren’t ready. While I agree that was the case with those two it is also the reason I don’t see DY as a useful utility player, given his lack of ability to defend near league average…anywhere.
decisions
the FO will have to make some moves, and it wont be easy for them. Trading Aki should be priority 1, but even that leaves some questions. What do you do with Laroche? Assuming Alvarez will come up this year (and this is not clear), but at this point, Pearce and Walker are certainly demanding consideration, and there isn’t space… Maybe Church or Milledge could be dangled, but I don’t see that we’d get anything useful…
by BurgherKing on Apr 26, 2010 12:10 AM EDT up reply actions
The only meaningful playing time you can find for Pearce and Walker is by playing them over Clement and either Iwamura, LaRoche or Milledge.
Aki has no trade value today, so we should keep playing him until he heats up. Clement and Milledge shouldn’t be benched because of 2 bad weeks.
The big question now is what kind of time is the FO giving to Clement to show he belongs ? What about Milledge ?
In other words : when mid-June comes, how many lineup spots will be open ?
Clement...
isn’t playing much against LHP anyway…which is where Pearce provides the most benefit.
True
But if we call Pearce up, we might as well give him a extensive look (or second chance if you like).
If we call him up to ride the bench, he’s not giving much more value than D Young.
And as bad as we are today, a marginal upgrade on the bench is not gonna help.
IMO, the only starting players we may bench today to play either Walker or Pearce every day are Iwamura and Milledge. Clement gets a pass because he needs AB to know if he belongs.
But have we reached this point yet ?
Another possibility is a bench ride for both Iwamura and Milledge for a couple of games to give them a wake-up call. Actually, Aki may very well benefit from some rest for his lagging injury.
I think the point
is that the team isn’t ready to go “all-in on Walker”; even if they don’t mind losing DY, it’s not at all clear that it’s best for Walker to be brought up in a reserve role right now. He’s having sustained success at AAA; let him continue to sustain it, and bring him up when you’re ready to get him (at least) 2-3 starts/week. Which is either after an injury or after Aki gets traded.
Meanwhile, the Pedro/Andy collision at 3B continues to approach. Pretty obvious that you don’t just sit Andy, right?
I really can’t see bringing up Alvarez at this point. I would keep him in AAA until he is overly ready. If that means till next year so be it.
Also, having watched some of his defense, I’m beginning to think he’s better at 1B. I would rather bring up Walker on a trial run when Aki’s kneecap gets broken. (Now, where was Tonya Harding’s number again?)
by MarkInDallas on Apr 26, 2010 6:43 PM EDT up reply actions
You mean Shane Stant
but, yeah.
Free your ass and your mind will follow.
by cocktailsfor2 on Apr 27, 2010 8:43 AM EDT up reply actions
Per the calculator at minorleaguesplits.com...
…the MLE on Pedro’s line at Indy this year is .211/.276/.368.
It’s too early to worry much, but that’s not exactly the kind of performance that’d persuade me to change the plan and accelerate his timetable.
I see DY blocking Walker at this point.
They have been grooming Walker for a utility role. If Raynor is blocking anyone now it’s Pearce, IMO. I do agree that with either scenario they will wait to June.
I’d bring Walker up if he could play everyday. I still see that as his ceiling of a decent starter. If you think he maxes out as utility, then of course Walker is better than DY.
by Adam Reynolds on Apr 26, 2010 12:15 AM EDT up reply actions
I should clarify...
I don’t see that as his ceiling at all. But I do see that as his opportunity. I can’t envision any scenario where they hand him a job. I think Andy will get 1st dibs at second base and Tabata will get 1st dibs in the OF. However, if Walker thrives in the utility role and others are struggling, everything will take care of itself. Walker is athletic enough where I think he will be a plus on defense at 3B or in the OF and can at least be league average defensively at second.
Dear Abby, Dear Abby
You won’t believe this
Our pitchers get shelled and our batters always miss
Our fieldings atrocious, the coaches make me see red
If it weren’t so expensive, I’d wish I were dead
Signed – A Pirates Fan
(HT to John Prine)
You are What You is
You is what you am
a cow don’t make ham.
Free your ass and your mind will follow.
by cocktailsfor2 on Apr 27, 2010 8:47 AM EDT up reply actions
If Pearce came up tomorrow
and started for the next week, he’d immediately go into a 1-28 slump. It’s not Pearce, it’s the reverse Midas touch of the Pirates right now: Everything the team touches turns to shite.
btw
talking of people who can come up, how about jean machi for the pen? Still walking a lil more than we’d want, but has looked good… probably still a small AAA sample, but he’s got to be in the discussion…
Also, I wouldn’t mind seeing us start dealing… oh wait, we can’t really get much for anyone, can we?
You gotta like a .000 ERA.
Can he start…lol!? Maybe we should stretch Meek out, just kidding…kind of.
lets not start converting relievers
I like what we have with those guys, but we will eventually need real starting pitching, and I think it’d be wasting both Meek and Machi… If we end up desperate, let’s go out and get someone like Jarrod Washburn at $6M or maybe slightly less.
I m probably jumping the gun with Machi, he should get another month at least in AAA to see if he can improve the K/BB
by BurgherKing on Apr 26, 2010 12:12 AM EDT up reply actions
I was kidding...
especially about Machi. His build screams one inning reliever. With Meek I hadn’t done any research to find out if he has ever started but he’s basically a 2 pitch pitcher so starting is a stretch. His 2 pitchers are impressive though. However, if he could start I wouldn’t be against it. Even a 5th starter is more valuable than a closer…IMO.
Only if he's a good one
But yeah, you can be a below-average SP and still add more wins than a good closer if you’re in the 5-spot.
Brian's Song
Do you think the Pirates could still trade Ryan Doumit for Brian Boehringer? I give Doumit credit for trying, but his catching instincts are among the worst I can remember seeing. And I’m not simply referring to the six stolen bags that he and C.M. allowed on Sunday. As far as Boehringer is concerned, maybe he could yell at Delwyn Young when he makes his first error at shortstop next week.
I thought Doumit made great strides defensively last season...
but I’ve watched every game but this last series this year and he has been less than impressive to say the least. He is absolutely the worst catcher I have ever seen when it comes to framing pitchers and I for the first time I am questioning his game calling ability. He needs to be more adamat with calling pitches and not lettting struggling pitchers like Mortin shake him off. Have a meeting and if Morting won’t agree that let the batter hit the bull and get a free steak. Kidding on the last part but you get the point…or you do if have seen Bull Durham anyway.
When Morton pitches...
I’m not so sure the batters don’t know what’s coming.
Morton pitching
Basically, Morton is a 1-pitch pitcher. He can’t throw anything for strike except his fastball. So hitters just have to sit dead-red on that one pitch.
Also, you have to question the game calling abillities from however called this game. For exemple, the anouncers talked at least twice about Feliz liking high fastballs, and guess what he was offered.
Three in a row!
This guy couldn’t hit an off speed pitch to save his left and Morton fed him 3 fastballs in a row in the same fricking spot. WTF! That sequence frustrated me more than any this entire season. Bad baseball.
Sign me!
Hey, my name’s Brian… and I SUCKED at baseball when I was a kid. Now that I’m 33 I’m sure to be even worse. I’m not sure if I can make it up to the mid 80’s with a fastball but I can throw an awful breaking ball. And I’m a lefty!
Plus I can speak Spanish, imagine the intangibles!
At this pace, we will need 1 long reliever for each questionable starter we put out there.
Carrasco will not be able to pitch 2+ innings every other day.
Like Spring Training
“So, for Monday Starter A will be Morton and Starter B will be Burres. For Tuesday, McCutchen will be Starter A and Bass will be Starter B. Duke starts Wednesday, and we’re planning on bringing out the tarp after 7 regardless of the weather.”
I think.....
that “Fan Pitch Night” has merit. For the rest of the season,the Pirates run a lottery…..Any fan that has his(or maybe even HER!) name pulled out gets to be the Bucs starting pitcher that night. On second thought,there may not be many entrants!
Or maybe better still…….For the rest of the season,the Pirates concede letting the opposition just hit the ball off a tee. They would probably stand a better chance of getting outs this way.
I don’t think the Pirates will ever improve,until McNutting and company open the wallet,let the moths fly out,and more than DOUBLE the Major League payroll to bring some better palyers in while they are(maybe)rebuilding….
Who are these
“better palyers” who are going to take DOUBLE what the Pirates are paying now (an average of, what, about $1.3 million?) to play here? I can’t wait until Pujols hits free agency and the Pirates offer him $3 MILLION A YEAR! He’ll jump at that, I’m sure.
Charlie, perhaps we can do a little pattern match algorithm to prevent this fuck from posting? The website is always ‘plzzshop’.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Bucs Dugout
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
Baseball Nation Recent Stories
In Association With
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- Baltimore’s tradition of fans shouting ‘O!’ during national anthem sparks interleague feud
- Chris Perez follows rant against Cleveland fans with even better rant against Cleveland fans
- Pitcher Clayton Richard gets key pinch single in 13th after coming in 0 for 16
- Livan Hernandez welcomes ball boy to the bigs with shower of sunflower seeds (VIDEO)
- Man beaten by four others in Dodger Stadium parking lot
