Pirates 2, Giants 0: James McDonald Pitches Six Scoreless Innings

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 27, 2011 10:24 PM EDT

This one wasn't broadcast in the Pittsburgh area, but here's what happened: James McDonald pitched six shutout innings despite walking four batters (and, to judge from the gamethread, still not throwing with the velocity we saw last year), and the Bucs' terrific bullpen shut down the Giants, with Chris Resop (and not Evan Meek) pitching the end of the seventh and all of the eighth. Chris Snyder (on a dying quail) and Jose Tabata had RBI singles, and the Bucs won 2-0. Madison Bumgarner had seven strikeouts and one walk, but took the loss anyway (shades of the first week of the season, when the Pirates were routinely getting struck out a bunch by opposing starters but still finding ways to win). It wasn't an ideal-looking line for McDonald, but at this point, I'll take it, given his struggles so far this year.

Oh, and the Jameson Taillon - Bryce Harper matchup was anticlimactic, wasn't it? Taillon only got in two innings - the first of them very shaky - before the game was suspended. The Power did manage to rack up seven runs before that. It makes me glad I didn't go down there for the game, which I was considering. Tim has a good writeup of what did happen - Taillon apparently touched 98, while sitting at 95-96 MPH in the first inning and 93-94 in the second.

Tweet Comment 23 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Macdonald had poor control again and couldn’t find the plate with a non-fastball until about the 3rd or 4th inning. We also had a bunch of bloop/squibber hits but failed numerous times to break the game open. Pedro and Cutch looked awful again, Wood continues to be solid, Pearce and Resop were awesome.

by Mr. E on Apr 27, 2011 10:59 PM EDT reply actions

yeah, how has Wood looked so far, I haven’t been able to follow much of the buccos games recently

We have to unify and watch our flag ascend!

by C Shint on Apr 27, 2011 11:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Pretty good. They are being smart and starting him with our flyball pitchers so he hasn’t really had a tough play in the field but has made the routine ones. He had a nice behind the back flip to Walker for a DP today.
At the plate he’s had pretty universally good at bats. He works the count, but only 1 strike out and is making hard contact. He seems to like the right center gap.

by Mr. E on Apr 28, 2011 12:11 AM EDT up reply actions

no offense, but there was no behind the back flip by Wood

he ran up the middle for the grounder and flicked it over to Walker at 2B. good play though.

by white angus on Apr 28, 2011 8:25 AM EDT up reply actions

Hurdle

Is going to drive me crazy, probably before the end of May. Two more position players trying and failing to get down a sac bunt today. The first one really made no sense either. They brought in a lefty since Alvarez and Overbay were up first and third. When Alvarez reached base you had to let Wood try to make them pay with the left-right matchup rather than trying to bunt him to second for another lefty who struggles with LHP. Luckily Wood took a strike then fouled a bunt off so they let him swing and he picked up a single.

by ElDuce on Apr 27, 2011 11:21 PM EDT reply actions

Can we set up some bunt aversion therapy for Hurdle?

Something like every time he calls for a bunt, the nearest coach cracks him over the head with a bat.

by BarryJT on Apr 27, 2011 11:47 PM EDT up reply actions

I doubt Randall Simon is busy these days and he’s got the previous experience.

by Mr. E on Apr 28, 2011 12:13 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

Well

The MLB Network called in John McDonald, but gave him the performance of the night. Sooo…

by EndlessMike on Apr 27, 2011 11:23 PM EDT reply actions

The pens lost

is it true that if they had advanced, then future games wouldn’t have been on Root Sports, and we could have seen baseball? If so, then I am kinda disappointed. If not, I m still a bit disappointed, but the baseball will cheer me up.

by BurgherKing on Apr 27, 2011 11:29 PM EDT reply actions

SALE THE CROSBY!!!

by white angus on Apr 28, 2011 8:27 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Do you think we’ll see the first base platoon going forward, or was that just a rest day for Overbay.

by Adam Reynolds on Apr 27, 2011 11:38 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Pearce keeps making good contact, he'll fill in for both alvarez and overbay

wood will stay at SS until Ronny makes it out of hurdle’s pooch palace, so Pearce will be backing up the corners.

by white angus on Apr 28, 2011 8:28 AM EDT up reply actions

You still get value if Overbay is in a platoon situation.

Probably not $5M worth, but close if he gives you a .825-.850 OPS vs RHP. The alternative inside the org was Bowker, and he has 500 at bats of a .720 OPS vs righties.

What were you supposed to do with a guy whose strong point is a platoon .720 OPS? Stick him in your ear? Not much to work with there.

In summary, going to the platoon with Pearce makes sense, and you’re still going to get most of the value you expected from Overbay (compared at least to Bowker) in that role
with .840 vs .720 with the other option. It’s still 120+ games. Im no huge Pearce fan, but if he’s healthy, them so be it.

by Adam Reynolds on Apr 28, 2011 12:07 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

We could have put Jones at 1B and used Doumit, Presley, a FA or trade acquisition in RF vs righties. But we had payroll to spare so I’m not mad about it. I just hope Pearce continues to get ABs on the regular.
Another encouraging development in our 1B situation is Matt Hague. I’m not sure of his splits but he looks more and more like he could come up, be cheap, and post an .800 OPS.

by Mr. E on Apr 28, 2011 12:17 AM EDT up reply actions

If Doumit was a big-side platoon RF, you need to use Jaramilo or find another catcher. Snyder isn’t an injury-free, everyday backstop.

by Adam Reynolds on Apr 28, 2011 12:37 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

ehhhh Matt Curry? he is the one i want on the fast track. He killed it in college, then owned at SC, and is dominating A so far. Hopefully he is in Bradenton by mid May with a chance at AA by the end of the season.

I was for all for him last year and am again for him this year.

We have to unify and watch our flag ascend!

by C Shint on Apr 28, 2011 12:43 AM EDT up reply actions

i agree... Curry was my pick for breakout season... his walks to K's ratio is also impressive

hmmmmmm, a Curry/Hague platoon in a couple years???

by white angus on Apr 28, 2011 8:29 AM EDT up reply actions

possibly, it would be nice to see one of the two or even both be everyday starters. then we could do as we please with them, whether it be platoon them or trade one for some prospects or something.

We have to unify and watch our flag ascend!

by C Shint on Apr 28, 2011 10:02 AM EDT up reply actions

i agree.

plus its good to see unheralded guys, like Owens a couple of years ago, play better than expected.

Curry, Hague, Holt, McPherson… now we have the guys you expect to play better actually doing so, like Locke, Cain, Jarek Cunningham is showing off that bat speed… lots of good stuff so far this year.

by white angus on Apr 28, 2011 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions

missed most of today's game

but just saw the box score…only walk today belongs to Brandon Wood. Blew my mind… even if it was intentional

by BurgherKing on Apr 28, 2011 12:51 AM EDT reply actions

Wood's also been going deep in counts. In 3 games, i think he only has one swing n miss.

a few at bats hes been seeing like 7-9 pitches, which is the complete opposite of what Ronny is known for.

wood is still going to struggle, we all just have to realize this and not be shocked when it happens. Look at Cutch and especially Tabata. they cant hit anything right now. it happens.

by white angus on Apr 28, 2011 8:32 AM EDT up reply actions

how long of a duration of the season do u think cutch, alvarez, and tabata will be playing solidly? I mean im not ready to panic yet, but we didnt just start the season exactly. I keep telling myself that theyre gonna pick it up, theyve got to.

by Bigmikey on Apr 28, 2011 9:50 AM EDT reply actions

the CORE 4 will have ups n downs.

Tabata, for example, could go on one of his patented killer weeks and raise his BA by like 70pts. Alvarez, improving in the field (gasp) but not with the bat, could possibly hit 5 homers in a week. Cutch will rebound; just like everyone else, he will have slumps.

the key for this team is the players no one expected to improve. Morton, Snyder, Doumit, Jones, Maholm… if they guys continue to produce, then the 4 come back alive, you could have a few winning streaks this season.

by white angus on Apr 28, 2011 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions