Blue Jays 2, Pirates 1: Brandon Morrow, Baserunning Beat Bucs
by Charlie Wilmoth on Jun 29, 2011 9:52 PM EDT
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Brandon Morrow looked really, really good to begin this game, and he was getting a bit of help from a big strike zone as well, and it looked like Paul Maholm would have to put up a bunch of zeroes to keep the Pirates in the game. Morrow struck out one batter in the first, then struck out the side in the second, using a 96-97 MPH fastball and a nasty 90 MPH slider/cutter-y pitch. His velocity dipped a bit as the start went on, but still, he looked very tough.
The Pirates managed to put on a fair number of baserunners in the middle innings, though, and it was frustrating to see them not cash in. They put the first two runners on in the fifth, but let the Jays get away with allowing only one run when Matt Diaz ran his way into an out on Ronny Cedeno's RBI single. They also put two runners on in the seventh on walks, but couldn't do anything with them, as Morrow again got three strikeouts in the inning. (He ended up with 10 for the game.) The Bucs also gave up another out on the basepaths in the eighth, when Garrett Jones thought about trying to steal, then slipped as he was heading back to first. It's really hard to score, and win, when you're facing a pitcher who's got you overmatched and you keep running your way into outs.
Paul Maholm was fine, I suppose, although he left several breaking balls up in the zone for the Jays to hit. Toronto got a sixth-inning solo homer from Eric Thames, then an RBI double by Yunel Escobar in the seventh that turned out to be the game-winner.
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i'm sick of watching diaz fail time after time.
he is absolutely worthless
Like last night,
when he went 3-4? Or were you specifically referring to his .360 OBP/.743 OPS in June going into last night?
How tired are you of watching Neil Walker fail time after time: .305 OBP/.623 OPS in June going into last night?
How tired are you of watching Jose Tabata fail time after time: .340 OBP/.671 OPS in June going into last night?
Diaz certainly has been good this year, but if you want to talk about the offense’s failing for the past 30 days, don’t start with Diaz.
Diaz is an easy whipping boy, but if you want to spend time being critical of performance I would suggest you start with
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*hasn't*
and start with….lots of other places.
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A bit harsh on theatrain...
We all know Walker and Tabata has higher ceilings than Diaz, so I suppose most of us are willing to endure a shitty month here and there.
Diaz on the other hand… he stated before the season, “I’m usually starting after the all-star break” or something to that effect. Put up a .900+ OPS in July and we can talk.
But I don't think you can't use that argument...
To support criticism of someone criticizing Diaz – if that was your intent.
i'm not talking just about the offense over the last month.
and i didn’t imply that diaz was the only problem. I bitch more than anyone in the game threads about our not-so-great offense. Diaz’s overall performance this season has been subpar. Tabata was on pace for 30 steals and had an OPB of .350 over the entire season, greater than diaz’s .292. He was also out-slugging diaz as a leadoff guy. That’s at least some production. yeah walker’s slumping, but at least he’s young and has been pretty productive overall. i’m not about to pass diaz after he has two rolling singles and a bloop astroturf-triple. He was brought in here because he had a history of hitting lefties well. he has proceeded to OPS .631 against them.
eh he's on pace to appear in 120 games and have around 290 plate appearances
that’s not too far off his career averages: 102 appearances and 303 PAs per year over the last 5 years. Granted i don’t know what this injury history is.
hes been a platoon player for a long time. he just doesnt play the bulk of the games
120 games doesnt mean 120 starts
by white angus on Jun 30, 2011 10:07 AM EDT up reply actions
yeah i know
that’s why i compared PAs as well. his playing time this year doesn’t look like it’s too far off his career norms
The point...
is, if you post this on May 30, I probably agree. But, the reality is Diaz has been better than a lot of guys the past 30 days, so the post seems misplaced.
Saying a guy who has outperformed most other players on the team over the last month is “absolutely worthless” suggests, in my opinion that you haven’t been noticing what has actually happened lately.
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well the absolutely worthless part was an emotional response immediately after the game
i guess he has SOME value.
I still don't think theatrain was far off...
Really, Diaz has been “better than a lot of guys”? First that is a horrendously generic statement and second if you are going to bring in OPS numbers, please make them correct.
Diaz has a .686 OPS in June – via ESPN.com. Zero home runs not just for the month, but for the season. He’s drawn one walk in the past three weeks and has exactly one double. Sure, it looks like he’s hitting more singles. I thought we had this player already in Josh Harrison.
If he’s doing better than a lot of guys – we have a pretty shitty team.
As stated....
in the post his OPS “was going into last night” so it is correct.
And yes, we have a terrible offensive team. 14th in wOBA & K% 15th in SLG and ISO. The definition of terrible.
I’m not arguing Diaz is even good. I’m saying the Pirates have used 42 men on their roster this year. They have Tabata, Alvarez, Pearce, Doumit and Snyder on the DL. Paul was unavailable last night, so Diaz got inserted in the lineup ten minutes before the game. They have zero righthanded outfield bats and saying “watching him fail time after time” the night after he went 3-4 just seems silly.
It’s tiresome to read people posting things like “he’s absolutely worthless” anytime any player strikeouts out (game threads) or goes 0-4 or makes an error.
If people just want to blather emotional responses go to the PBC or Smizik’s blog.
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Gamethreads are all about emotional responses and venting
If that’s not you bag, just don’t bother with gamethreads.
gamethreads are all about swearing and calling players garbage, junk and trash
at least thats what THIS site is doing.
>:-P
Sorrry Tiger - still not correct
Diaz had a .686 OPS in June going into tonight’s game.
It’s impossible that he had a .743 OPS going into the previous night’s game.
Prove me wrong I invite you it.
wOBA's, K%, SLG and ISO are emotional responses too
Just very unemotional ones. They don’t change quickly when you’re looking at them in a season-long context.
Walker + Cutch
I almost want to say I’m pleased that we’ve been able to scrap out as many wins in the past few days as we have with Cutch and Walker batting like stanky doo-doo butter (mainly NW.) You have to assume they’ll both turn it up and it will help us in the win column. Jesus, I hope.
cutch?
Smashed a home run last night and think his average for the month is higher than any month in his career?
by Joey Mooney on Jun 29, 2011 10:26 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
yeah he' been ok i think
havent checked the numbers. walker is slumpin i believe
HBP
According to some folks on the gamethreads.
Not actually affiliated with whygavs.
by WHYG Zane Smith on Jun 29, 2011 10:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Didn't watch the game but...
Were most of the K’s swinging.. looking? I read Hurdle’s quote that he was throwing the 3rd strike slider away or something after quickly getting ahead with early count fastballs…
Most were swinging, IIRC.
Free your ass and your mind will follow.
by cocktailsfor2 on Jun 30, 2011 7:51 AM EDT up reply actions
i know Lyle isnt doing well, but he got completely hosed on that 1st strikeout... well off the plate
and the second one, i believe, was on a perfect pitch, one that he couldnt do anything with either…
Paul Maholm was fine, I suppose
Yeah, ho hum, another 7 IP, 2 ER performance against an AL East opponent. Yawn.
+1
Yeah, his WHIP for the night wasn’t great, and he only struck out one, but we’re interested in winning ballgames and Paul certainly gave the Bucs an opportunity to win.
more importantly he kept Joey Bat in check…
by PiratesFanSince1980 on Jun 30, 2011 12:12 AM EDT up reply actions
1-2, 2B, 2 BB
If that’s keeping him in check…
Well, he didn’t have any RBIs or get the win, which are the most important stats.
by thecheeseisblue on Jun 30, 2011 2:00 AM EDT up reply actions
It sure as hell....
is 2BBs for the batter. I don’t understand your logic.
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they were talking about Maholm's BB's last night
im saying that two walks to Bautista were NOT because of bad pitching
by white angus on Jun 30, 2011 10:08 AM EDT up reply actions
i agree. NOT working around bautista would have been bad pitching
especially the official IBB.
It is when hes not going ape shit and hitting HRs
by PiratesFanSince1980 on Jun 30, 2011 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions
He struck out one and allowed six extra-base hits. That’s not a great start.
by Charlie Wilmoth on Jun 29, 2011 11:04 PM EDT up reply actions
doesn't have to be great
just have to give us a chance to win
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by WVPiratesfan on Jun 29, 2011 11:22 PM EDT up reply actions
True....
but, one might suggest that it was pretty lucky tonight. Those numbers aren’t generally going to give a team a chance to win which is Charlie’s point, I believe.
I laugh listening to people complain how the Pirates gave this game and the one against Boston on Sunday away.
The reality is the Pirates could be 1-4 just as easily as 3-2 in this five game stretch. Nobody looks at the other teams errors, mistakes or lack of clutch hitting. Red Sox were 1-26 with RISP during the series. Thank god.
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Jays had 2 baserunners caught at 2nd tonight also
The Cutch and Chase throwouts. Not as blunderish as ours, but still kind of evened out that factor.
by Central*Scrutinizer on Jun 30, 2011 1:40 AM EDT up reply actions
Maybe not great
But still a very creditable performance, unless we’re so sabermetrically advanced that we don’t even consider actual runs allowed as a factor in evaluating pitchers anymore.
by maguro on Jun 29, 2011 11:26 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
I said it was “fine,” which is hardly a devastating criticism. If he puts up two runs a start, believe me, I’ll take it.
by Charlie Wilmoth on Jun 30, 2011 1:03 AM EDT up reply actions
I mean, if I can’t point out that Maholm didn’t actually pitch that well tonight, then I also can’t point it out when Charlie Morton has 14 weakly-hit ground balls get through the infield, can I? There are good reasons not to be results-oriented in small sample sizes. Of course if the Pirates win that’s great, but that’s a different question from whether he pitched well. Several of Maholm’s pitches today were blatant mistakes.
by Charlie Wilmoth on Jun 30, 2011 1:10 AM EDT up reply actions
Sabermetrics don't take into account the Jedi mind control
that Maholm and Karstens have apparently acquired (nojinx nojinx nojinx on the latter)
by Central*Scrutinizer on Jun 30, 2011 1:42 AM EDT up reply actions
...
.
Free your ass and your mind will follow.
by cocktailsfor2 on Jun 30, 2011 7:54 AM EDT up reply actions
Gah, thanks. Surprised that it’s taken me this long this year to do that.
by Charlie Wilmoth on Jun 30, 2011 1:06 AM EDT up reply actions
Id like to see the lineup like this tomorrow
Presley – LF
d’Arnaud – SS
McCutchen – CF
Walker – 2B
Jones – DH
Harrison – 3B
Overbay – 1B
Paul – RF (if the hammy is ok)
McHenery – C
by PiratesFanSince1980 on Jun 30, 2011 12:16 AM EDT reply actions
Cedeno is raking....
not a lot of hard hit balls, but .500 (13-26) in his last nine games. Probably not the time to sit him down.
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when will the d’Arnaud experiment end. he clearly can’t play third and harrison is better. as for frailey, he was backing up sanchez in altoona, so why not bring up sanchez. if he’s not ready how about somebody from the independant league. some older hispanic catchers in that league that are older with more experience than the two kids we have up now.
I think Walker could use a break actually...
he doesn’t look confident at the plate right now.
#AllTheBuntsAreBad!
Get NW an off day, let him see the game for a day, then have a nice off day. Get Chase or Harrison in there at 2B, play the other at 3B. I know you dont beat a slump by sitting on the bench but i think he just needs a break to focus a little bit.
We have to unify and watch our flag ascend!
Bluejays starting Cecil, a LH tomorrow
Apparently, they bumped RH Villenueva back to the Phillies series. Maybe cuz Tabata is out and to turn NW around? So, yeah, good game for NW to take off. Diaz will no doubt DH. Cecil has some control problems, so hopefully Presley, Chase, and Harrison can take advantage.
by Central*Scrutinizer on Jun 30, 2011 1:51 AM EDT up reply actions
yes it does appear that way...
apparently Hurdle doesn’t feel he’s made enough progress.
#AllTheBuntsAreBad!
I just wish we could get a big bat that we could possibly sign…. I think the Mets are ready to deal Wright or Reyes… But would it be worth it??
Id like to see Hurdle give NW the off day tomorrow like he did a couple of weeks ago and then Cutch a off day Friday…. The 2 of them are the building blocks to this team even though a lot of people on this board want to move NW….. I believe NW will be in the same class as Phillips, Utley and Cano in the next couple of years… the guy is a RBI machine
by PiratesFanSince1980 on Jun 30, 2011 12:26 AM EDT reply actions
The Mets....
aren’t moving Wright or Reyes. They just won 6 of their last 7 and Reyes is a legit MVP candidate.
Suggesting Walker is in the class of the guys you mentioned is fine because it’s an opinion, but that is probably if everything in the world goes perfectly the next few years.
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LOL, the Mets are in financial disarray….
Reyes and Wright absolutely will be in play. For a massive haul of course but absolutely in play.
actually the owner is in financial disarray... the mets will bounce back with or without him...
and so will the Dodgers.
ehhh
i think NW is going to be more like a michael young type, with a lower BA. a solid hitter who can hit 20+ hr and OPS around .780, a solid yet unspectacular player
by bbautista24 on Jun 30, 2011 12:50 AM EDT up reply actions
nothing wrong with that out of your second basemen...
he’s never going to be an excellend defender so his bat is going to have to carry him.
#AllTheBuntsAreBad!
i think comparing walker to young is way too high
if i would compare walker to anyone, it would be Kelly Johnson, or maybe even Juan Uribe. Young was a perennial allstar and top notch hitter for most of his career.
Should have seen this coming from Lyle
After seeing what a freak environment this stadium is, it makes sense that his performance for us was predictable.
Last year his BA and OBP were nearly identical home and away but in 10 less PA he had nearly twice as many HR 13-7 at home which resulted in his slugging % being 80 points higher and making his overall line look ok.
Lineup
Paul- DH—-if he’s too hurt to play the field
d’Arnaud- 3B
Presley- LF
McCutchen- CF
Walker- 2B
Diaz- RF
Overbay- 1B
Cedeno- SS—-although i would like to see harrison, but good hitting and great D
Catcher- dont care they both suck
just a suggestion cause the offense has been sketchy for most part. I want to see overbay out and hague called up. hes been tearing up indy and he would fit nicely in the number 5 or 6 hole after walker
enough with the players "sucking"...
can we do this for just ONE damn day? pretty please with an high OPS on it?
by white angus on Jun 30, 2011 6:10 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I knew you would respond to this...
Recd for unwavering consistency. Oh and if you throw a high wOBA on it instead you have a deal.
#AllTheBuntsAreBad!
you tell me
how you would classify McKenry .205 average and Fryers yet to get a hit and not looking good at the plate?
by pittsburgh87 on Jun 30, 2011 8:25 PM EDT up reply actions
a chance to have a winning interleague record...
time to check one more off the bucket list fellas!
#31 All Day...
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