Pirates 4, Nationals 2: Paul Maholm Shuts Down Nats

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 25, 2011 10:44 PM EDT

Paul Maholm posted a pretty excellent-looking line (seven innings, two runs, eight strikeouts) and Brandon Wood hit a two-run double in his Pirates debut as the Bucs knocked off the Nats, 4-2. The Nats scored both their runs in the top of the first on a two-run single by Adam LaRoche, but after that, Maholm, Evan Meek and Joel Hanrahan shut the Nationals down almost completely. Maholm and Meek recorded 16 straight outs at one point.

The Pirates didn't get much offense going, only posting six hits themselves, but fortunately for them, three of those (plus two walks) came in the fourth, when they scored all their runs. Wood's double to the gap in right center did most of the damage.

Incidentally, I was at a rehearsal in Steubenville for most of this one, although I caught the last several innings on the radio on the drive home. It was creepy. At first I thought they had forgotten to turn the crowd mics on, but no - there was just nobody there, and so the little natural gaps between bits of the announcers' speech felt like giant voids.

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If a tree falls in the woods and it hits a mime, does anyone care?

I turned on the TV during dinner and I was just amazed at how empty the place looked. The only people who showed are people who don’t like hockey. If I lived in Pittsburgh and had the night off, I would have gone to the game.

There is no love in the World. There's only pain.

by IAPiratesFan on Apr 25, 2011 10:48 PM EDT reply actions

Apparently the weather was also miserable

Cold and rainy

The glare of the spotlight is harsh, and the pressure that success breeds immense. We revere our heroes, but expect much. And criticism can come as easily as praise.

by glass0941 on Apr 26, 2011 12:09 AM EDT up reply actions

Sort of mild and rainy

Not that I was at the game, but it was almost 80 yesterday afternoon, and it was still in the 60s after all the rain.

They probably would have had a better crowd with an afternoon game – it was gorgeous, and hooky would have been very tempting. I think that, at the time they rescheduled, the forecast already called for late t-storms, so it wasn’t impossible to predict.

Oh well.

by JRoth95 on Apr 26, 2011 9:30 AM EDT up reply actions

Giant voids!

I’m trying to work in a reference to the Giant win/loss total here but I’m failin’ miserably.
Maybe I should just stick with the tempting hookers.
/cannot find his reading glasses

Nomadic baseball fan, with no agenda other than observation/conversation/mass confusion/mass consumption.

Prosecutor: "Jesus Christ, did ANYBODY tell the truth to the grand jury?"
Barry Bonds: "I did."
Prosecutor: "GAH!"

by victor frankenstein on Apr 26, 2011 1:31 PM EDT up reply actions

I was listening

to the first few innings on the car radio on the way back from visiting relatives in Bethel Park, and I believe one of the announcers described the crowd as “intimate.”

I watch some of Sunday’s game and it look like they couldn’t have had more than a couple thousand fans. So … like, 5,000 through the turnstiles the past two days?

by bucdaddy on Apr 25, 2011 10:48 PM EDT reply actions

I rightly give Maholm a lot of shit.....

But, after the 1st typical inning, he looked really solid. He was able to come inside on RHBs, something that he very often is not able to accomplish.

Hopefully, this is a sign of things to come rather than an aberration.

Wood had good at-bats all 4 times. 2 solidly hit balls to the opposite field, 2 balls hit weakly to the leftside of the infield. However, he controlled the zone well, fouled off a bunch of pitches, and generally looked pretty comfortable in his first game with the Bucs. If there was any indecision about him getting more at-bats in the FO/Hurdle’s eyes, that was probably lessened considerably. One start, admittedly, but he looked pretty good.

by CabreraKilledMyChildhood on Apr 25, 2011 10:57 PM EDT reply actions

that was the best ive seen Maholm in ages

by white angus on Apr 25, 2011 11:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Nice to see Wood have a good game. I, for one, would like to see him get a few at-bats in the coming weeks to see what we have in him.

by StripesForLife on Apr 25, 2011 11:37 PM EDT up reply actions

On Wood

Announcers said he was robbed of an XBH on his first AB.

by JRoth95 on Apr 26, 2011 9:31 AM EDT up reply actions

sort of

werth made a running catch in the gap that was above average.

by theatrain on Apr 26, 2011 9:32 AM EDT up reply actions

He hit the 1st ball just as hard as the double, it was just run down.

by mak_DC on Apr 26, 2011 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions

nearly the same location too

face it, he put good WOOD on it

by white angus on Apr 26, 2011 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions

It seems like attendance is down around baseball

I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how the Pirates have hung in there (I think they’re hanging around 20th right now). Monday + bad weather + Pens playoff game is a recipe for disaster, though.

Adam
Black Shoe Diaries, SB Nation Pittsburgh, Daily Collegian Sports, BT Powerhouse, @fugimaster24
God Created the World Out Of Nothing, Paterno Built A National Superpower On Cow Fields...

by Adam Bittner on Apr 25, 2011 11:15 PM EDT reply actions

game wasnt even on the schedule, dont forget about that.

really got tired of the snippy Washington announcer remarks about the small crowd. dumbasses

by white angus on Apr 25, 2011 11:22 PM EDT up reply actions

The Nats announcers are the worst.....

Not only were they mocking the attendance, their announcers make every excuse in the book to excuse bad plays, blame the umps (they did get screwed on the throw from Ramos to get Walker at 1B), and generally whine about everything.

They’re unbearable…..

by CabreraKilledMyChildhood on Apr 25, 2011 11:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Granted it truly was a very bad call, but I can’t ever remember an announcer bashing an umpire/official so hard over 1 play in any sport. Even the homer guys usually just throw out a “disagree” or something but this guy was on it for what seemed like innings.

by Mr. E on Apr 25, 2011 11:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Amazingly...

…this year’s team is an upgrade on 2010, back when Rob Dibble was one of their regulars.

by Vlad on Apr 26, 2011 9:03 AM EDT up reply actions

well as we all know

Strasburg just needed to suck it up and keep pitching

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by WVPiratesfan on Apr 26, 2011 10:24 AM EDT up reply actions

They were awful

I watched the game on Ilemi, and they seemed to blame everything that went wrong for the Nats on the rain, and every pitch called a strike for Hanny in the 9th should have been a ball, according to them anyway.

by hilltoppeer on Apr 26, 2011 9:10 AM EDT up reply actions

Nats announcers also blamed the Pirates for the evening starting time because Pitt had great weather all day

and that the Pirates should have accomadated the Nats request for a day game. Plus, they blamed the refs for the game delays over the weekend.

then Livan says he didnt have time to warm up properly.

And Lannan couldnt recover from a 21 minute rest.

enough!!!

by white angus on Apr 26, 2011 9:24 AM EDT up reply actions

Come on

The part where they said Brian Bixler could flat out rake was pretty funny.

by maguro on Apr 26, 2011 9:24 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Everyone underestimates the value of a good grounds crew.

by Vlad on Apr 26, 2011 9:46 AM EDT up reply actions 3 recs

I see what you did there

by gonfalon on Apr 26, 2011 9:56 AM EDT up reply actions

ha!

rec’d

by Garrett122 on Apr 26, 2011 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions

I believe the attendance for the game will officially be the number of tickets sold to the original game. Therefore, it’s likely to be much higher than the 50 that were actually there.

Yinzers uber alles

by BostonBuc on Apr 26, 2011 12:04 AM EDT up reply actions

Awesome game

Really great to see Paul throw the ball well. If we expect to stay competitive, it’s pretty obvious we need our starting pitching to be solid and consistent. I am a huge supporter of the wood acquisition and I feel he has much greater upside and potential to turn into our starting shortstop very soon, which I didn’t feel like J-rod would be able to. Overall, not a bad series. Can’t complain about 2 of 3 to anyone, but this upcoming GIants series will be a huge test. Go bucs

by GO_BUCS on Apr 25, 2011 11:16 PM EDT reply actions

I was traveling today

So I missed the game, but my dad called me after a Wood AB where he fouled off a lot of pitches. I don’t think it was his double, but…

Me: Hello?
My dad: Hey, it’s Dad.
Me: What’s up?
My dad: Wood just had the best AB of his career?
Me: Yeah?
My dad: Yeah. He fouled off like five pitches and didn’t strike out. Didn’t look completely lost
Me: (legitimately impressed) That’s awesome!

I was against bringing Wood in, and he still seems like a guy who’s not going to figure it out, but he’s a Pirate now, so I’m behind him every step of the way…..if by some miracle, the Pirates staff can get it done with him, then that’s great.

Still, when it’s a totally awesome thing for my dad and I that a 9-year pro looked somewhat comfortable with the strike zone, fouled off some pitches, and didn’t strike out, well, that’s a worry.

But, go Brandon Wood! Seriously, I’m rooting for you.

Santa Roberto Clemente
Ora Pro Nobis
FireRickReilly

by CTapps on Apr 25, 2011 11:53 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

dont you mean ROOTing for you?

by white angus on Apr 26, 2011 8:18 AM EDT up reply actions

just as long as

he doesn’t end up further in the Rotundra it won’t be a waste

by WVPiratesfan on Apr 26, 2011 10:26 AM EDT up reply actions

don't you mean

the ROOTundra?

by Garrett122 on Apr 26, 2011 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions

its a Lacee Collinsism

by WVPiratesfan on Apr 26, 2011 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions

right right

I was just making it even more roottastic!

by Garrett122 on Apr 26, 2011 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions

I believe you forgot the pennet notches

by buccomania on Apr 26, 2011 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions

Maholm has been pitching pretty well this year all things considered...

The biggest thing for me is that he has 22 K’s in 30 IP. That’s about the best K rate he has had in a while. Here’s to hoping he can keep things going.

by Slick1 on Apr 26, 2011 12:03 AM EDT reply actions

Also nice to see BWood come up with a big hit...

Hopefully Hurdle can works some of his magic and the Bucs will finally hit on one of these no risk pick ups!

by Slick1 on Apr 26, 2011 12:05 AM EDT reply actions

I've been thinking about this a lot... like of how it would work out that Wood gets major PT...

and the only conclusion I’ve come to is that Overbay gets dealt and Alvarez gets moved to first. I highly doubt they try to make Wood work at short given his rep of below average fielding there. Or I guess Wood could maybe man 1B or RF… It’s certainly going to be interesting how they give Wood opportunities to prove himself and what exactly they’re doing with him behind the scenes…

"So you think 25 percent of the country is retarded?! Yea. Atleast 25 percent. Well lets do a sample. There are 4 of us an you're retarded. Thats 25 percent." Southpark; Mystery of the Urinal Deuce
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by gorillakilla34 on Apr 26, 2011 12:46 AM EDT up reply actions

There are many different scenarios that could play out with Alvarez moving to 1B.

1) Wood and Pedro platoon at 3B.
2) Wood plays shortstop when not sharing 3B with Pedro.
3) Alvarez is sent down to the minors.
4) Jeff Clement is brought up when healthy after Overbay is dealt.

And probably more.

by MarkInDallas on Apr 26, 2011 1:05 AM EDT up reply actions

Overbay gets dealt

Benched seems more likely, though if you pick up enough money and aren’t choosy about the return I guess anything’s possible.

by Vlad on Apr 26, 2011 9:04 AM EDT up reply actions

You underestimate Veteranosity and Defensive Reputation

by azibuck on Apr 26, 2011 9:46 AM EDT up reply actions

There are lots of veteran 1Bs out there.

Most of whom are younger and cheaper.

How much did we get back when we dealt Hinske?

by Vlad on Apr 26, 2011 9:47 AM EDT up reply actions

We dealt Hinske, that's the point

Benched seems more likely to you because you hate (love) Overbay. But it’s not more likely. It’s exceedingly less likely. If When Overbay’s traded, I’m pretty sure we won’t be choosy about the return, and we may pick up some of the money, but I think it’s quite a bit more likely he’s traded than benched.

by azibuck on Apr 26, 2011 9:50 AM EDT up reply actions

We dealt Hinske, that’s the point

We were able to move Hinske for a minimal return, but he was younger and less expensive than Overbay, and had the ability to play other positions. He also requested a trade.

The Jays tried to move Overbay last year, without any success.

by Vlad on Apr 26, 2011 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions

1) Wood and Pedro platoon at 3B.

No, no, no!

Alvarez is an everyday player who is hopefully gonna be the cornerstone of this franchise for a while. Alvarez isn’t a platoon player. Sure, he’s off to a slow start, but so are a lot of good players this year.

Alvarez shouldn’t be platooning with anybody. He is an everyday player. Period.

by mspirate on Apr 26, 2011 2:36 AM EDT reply actions

3) Alvarez is sent down to the minors.

^OK, this is just stupid.

by mspirate on Apr 26, 2011 2:36 AM EDT reply actions

alvarez will only get sent down if he struggles ala Iwamura style

he is not going to be platooned. getting an occasional night off against a left handed pitcher is not a platoon situation. since most pitchers are right handed, no worries mate.

by white angus on Apr 26, 2011 8:20 AM EDT reply actions

getting an occasional night off against a left handed pitcher is not a platoon situation

Pedro was benched the last 3 games against a LHP. In my mind, that’s exactly a platoon situation.
And these pitchers were Randy Wolf, Travis Wood, and John Lannan. I wouldn’t put any of them in the tough tier.

by From France on Apr 26, 2011 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions

why not? could you hit them?

by white angus on Apr 26, 2011 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions

wood is definately going to see time at SS

if he puts together good ABs like last night, he will get the occasional start at short. other than he and cedeno, there are no other SS’ on the team. in fact, Wood and Cedeno are, technically, the only middle infielders on the 25 man roster. Walker, with all due respect, is still on the learning curve.

with Cedeno’s penchant for not doing well over long stretches, Wood is definately going to get some run at the 6

by white angus on Apr 26, 2011 8:23 AM EDT reply actions

I flipped over to the Nats' telecast

several times during the evening. The stadium did have a post-apocalyptic feel, which is sharpened nicely by that AP photo of Maholm at the top of the page. Is that rain or is it nuclear fallout?

"Never mistake motion for action." - Ernest Hemingway

by SubLime on Apr 26, 2011 8:39 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

“Baseball. Baseball never changes. Since the dawn of human kind, when our ancestors first discovered the entertainment value of hitting a rock with a bone, beer has been spilled in the name of everything, from the Pirates, to PNC Park, to simple, psychotic fandom… but baseball… baseball never changes…”

The Pittsburgh Pirates or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love The Loss

by phillybucco on Apr 26, 2011 9:55 AM EDT up reply actions 3 recs

“The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it’s a part of our past, Ray. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again.”

Free your ass and your mind will follow.

by cocktailsfor2 on Apr 26, 2011 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions

“There’s someth … I say, there’s somethin’ kinda EEEEEEWWWWWWWWW about a kid that’s never played baseball.”

by bucdaddy on Apr 26, 2011 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions

Free your ass and your mind will follow.

by cocktailsfor2 on Apr 26, 2011 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions

sorry, but this needs a James Earl Jones soundbite for full effect

by white angus on Apr 26, 2011 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Ask,

and ye shall receive.

Free your ass and your mind will follow.

by cocktailsfor2 on Apr 26, 2011 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions

People will come forever.

I can drive over to Field of Dreams pretty much any during the summer and someone will be there and if they leave, someone will be showing up there as I’m leaving. And it’s been 22 years since the movie was released.

There is no love in the World. There's only pain.

by IAPiratesFan on Apr 26, 2011 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions