Reds 11, Pirates 2: James McDonald, Bucs Relievers Struggle In Blowout Loss

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 16, 2011 4:20 PM EDT

Not much to love about this one. James McDonald came out throwing mostly 91 MPH fastballs that Bob Walk was describing as two-seamers, but (as Walk himself pointed out later) didn't have much movement, given that they were supposed to be two-seamers. That worked fine for a while as he kept them down in the zone, and he threw in a couple of good changeups in the first couple of innings as well. Unfortunately, he again struggled with his command, and left pitches up in the zone and right down the middle of the plate for Jonny Gomes and Ramon Hernandez to crush over the fence.

The Hernandez homer, which came in the fifth, was a grand slam, and the first batter to reach base that inning got there on another Pedro Alvarez error after a ball took an awkward hop. Alvarez is great at fielding weak ground balls because he gets to them quickly when he runs forward and because he can use his cannon of an arm, but hard-hit balls, not so much.

Anyway, Mike Crotta relieved McDonald and gave up another homer to Drew Stubbs (on a pitch that actually wasn't that bad). Joe Beimel made his 2011 debut after that and promptly allowed a triple to Joey Votto and another homer by Gomes. Chris Resop pitched a scoreless inning, and then Evan Meek came in and was visibly grimacing while he warmed up, and then his fastballs were only coming in at 90-94 MPH. Not a particularly good day for the Pirates' pitchers.

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If Meek was grimacing because of pain...

just shut him down and put him on the DL now. If he was grimacing because he went into a 11-2 game…tell him to suck it up.

I’m betting on a trip to the DL.

by Thunder on Apr 16, 2011 5:16 PM EDT reply actions

I don’t know what was going on. Doumit was asking him while he was warming up and Meek clearly said “I’m ok” or something like that.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 16, 2011 6:46 PM EDT up reply actions

If Meek is going to the DL,

good thing they DFA’d Garret Olson yesterday.

by Suffering Buc on Apr 16, 2011 5:20 PM EDT reply actions

I’d rather use tyler yates than Olson, and I’m not a fan of yates.

by Adam Reynolds on Apr 16, 2011 5:25 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I forgot he was shut down.

by Adam Reynolds on Apr 16, 2011 5:29 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I still might rather use him.

by Tuckshop25 on Apr 16, 2011 5:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Actually

Olson wasn’t so bad. He was probably forced into a bigger role than he should have had, but he pitched well in a bad situation in the 14-inning game.

by Tuckshop25 on Apr 16, 2011 5:30 PM EDT up reply actions

On a better note for Pirates pitchers today:

LangoschMLB

#Pirates pitching prospect Rudy Owens pitched fro Triple-A Indy today: 6.1 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K; 88 pitches, 61 strikes

It won’t be long now.

by Suffering Buc on Apr 16, 2011 5:24 PM EDT reply actions

It'll be June

by OctaShields on Apr 16, 2011 5:26 PM EDT up reply actions

So, if Meek hits the DL

What are the chances that they bring up Moskos?

by pskell02 on Apr 16, 2011 5:38 PM EDT reply actions

extremely slim

by white angus on Apr 16, 2011 5:42 PM EDT up reply actions

It's Leroux time, baby!

by maguro on Apr 16, 2011 6:12 PM EDT up reply actions

+1

Ugh

by BadAndy on Apr 16, 2011 8:35 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

On the bright side

Pedro didn’t strike out in a game for the second time this season.

by maguro on Apr 16, 2011 6:17 PM EDT reply actions

Poor matchup today

The ump seemed to be pretty generous today on the low side today, anything FB above the ankles was a strike. This worked well for Leake, who I’m not sure threw a strike today and poorly for Macdonald as nearly all his pitchers were up and he couldn’t consistently get his CB over either (though when he did the Reds looked foolish).

On another note, are we sure Cutch is even the best CF in our division? Rasmus and Stubbs look really good. But this might just be piling on Andrew while he’s down.

Pedro makes it 2 games in a row of being patient and going oppo, I think that day off worked. It shouldn’t be long now til he blows up.

by Mr. E on Apr 16, 2011 7:48 PM EDT reply actions

I dont think Stubbs is as good as Rasmus and McCutchen.

by Adam Reynolds on Apr 16, 2011 8:07 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Stubbs is certainly a thorn in the Pirates side

by BadAndy on Apr 16, 2011 8:36 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

CFs

I’d say Cutch is the best hitter for average (current streak not withstanding), Rasmus or Stubbs are probably tied for best power . Cutch is the best overall player though, IMO.

Stubbs looked like an idiot bailing out of that curve McDonald threw him today, also.

by Tuckshop25 on Apr 16, 2011 9:01 PM EDT up reply actions

stubbs' power would be much less noticable away from cincinnati's home park

but his D is pretty good

by white angus on Apr 16, 2011 11:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Cutch’s D is probably the x-factor in this discussion. He has not looked good in the, yeah I know, 2 games of this series.

by Mr. E on Apr 17, 2011 1:38 AM EDT up reply actions

Can somebody explain to me...

again how Mike Crotta and Joe Beimel, a left-handed journey man who hasn’t really been good anywhere he’s been, are supposed to make our bullpen better?

I know it was Beimel’s first appearance, but sorry, I don’t have a lot if any confidence in these guys.

by mspirate on Apr 17, 2011 1:46 AM EDT reply actions