Pirates 4, Padres 3: Garrett Jones Helps Bucs Snatch Victory From Themselves

Agreed, the Pirates are making mistakes, but at least they are keeping their cool (most of the time) and staying competitive. We do really have a chance of going .500 this year. (Pirate Fan since 1968)

I am done with Cedeno. I really think this team is close to turning the corner. He is not a fit. He needs to just quietly go away.

Why did they use Wood for like 2 games straight when they “benched” Cedeno and not start him anymore? I know Cedeno has done good lately but hate seeing him take a step back every time he takes a step forward.

I think Cedeno is just a dumb person. Like an IQ of 70, maybe

Then he will make plays look easy that are hard as crap! Its the easy ones that get him!

It looks like the platoon is working out quite well for Jones. I was impressed with how he got his hands in on the HR and how far he hit it with his hands pulled in that far. Of course, you do have to keep in mind it was Harang, who is more of a crafty type than a power type of pitcher.

There are many aspects to managing a baseball team. There are the concrete elements like setting the lineup and in-game decisions. Then there are the “softer” elements like setting the tone for the team, interacting with the press, and supporting, criticizing, and teaching the players – all the things that are part of “managing” in the real world.

Hurdle has a very good reputation regarding the last element. The question is, do his strengths at that outweigh his incomprehensible in-game decisions.

I’m, if not confident, then at least optimistic that for a team at this stage in its development, the answer is “yes”. They need to learn and grow more than they need to win an extra few games. Sucks for Hurdle, because if so, the right decision is to fire his ass as soon as the Pirates are ready to contend so his in-game decision making doesn’t cost them the two or three games needed to put them over the top.

i was wondering why they haven’t tried pearce at first against some (or all) lefties, then of course i saw that tim at pirates prospects already beat me to it

Man, the Pirates just can’t make anything easy on themselves. But hey, 18 straight years of losing, I wouldn’t expect anything else.

Right now, in a situation where we get 6 IP from a starter, I’d go Resop 7th, Veras 8th and Hanny to shut it down. Veras has been ridiculously good, averaging almost 2 K’s per IP this season. Obviously, you bring in a lefty for LH batters, but that’s the way I’d go about the last 3 innings if I were Hurdle right now. All of them have been great, though, and Resop got absolutely NO help from Cedeno last night. The Padres should’ve never scored that last run.

All in all, a solid game. Granted, it was the Pads, but McDonald threw a good game and, most importantly, he only issued 1 or 2 walks (if I remember correctly). His stuff is plenty good enough to get outs, so he’s got to concentrate on throwing more strikes.

And finally, here’s to hoping Cutch and Pedro get off the schnide soon. Go Bucs!

Is it possible they’re running him out there too much? I really thought they should have given him Sunday off even though he didn’t pitch Saturday. It was a 4 run lead in the 9th, so they really had no reason to use him there. Since he pitched that game then had to go again yesterday he’s now gone 6 times in 8 days.

The Pirates have got to start at least putting the ball in play instead of whiffing so much. How many times in the past couple of weeks have they had men in scoring position with only 1 out and they come up empty because they are not getting the ball in play, but striking out. Look at the Giants’ series. They should have taken at least two of the games instead of just one. Either Ritchie needs to do a better job of getting these guys to hit or Hurdle needs to consider finding someone else who can.