Pirates 2, Reds 0: Bucs Pitchers Lead Pittsburgh To First Place

by Charlie Wilmoth on Jul 19, 2011 2:26 AM EDT

PITTSBURGH - JULY 18: Tony Watson #65 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches against the Cincinnati Reds during the game on July 18, 2011 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

After a couple of rain delays, the Pirates defeated the Reds 2-0 as Charlie Morton allowed three hits in five innings (spread over something like three hours) and Tony Watson, Dan McCutchen and Joel Hanrahan combined for four innings of no-hit ball.

Despite the rain, and the fact that it was Monday, it was an amazing atmosphere. The crowd was large and was really hanging onto every moment; most of it stayed until the end.

The first inning was agonizingly delayed when Morton was this close to working his way out of a huge jam; when the game resumed, Chase D'Arnaud (who later left the game with an injury that didn't appear to be serious) made a spectacular play to get Miguel Cairo to end it. D'Arnaud also kick-started the fourth inning, in which the Pirates scored their only two runs, with a single.

Great game for the crowd, great game for the Pirates' pitchers, great game for the Pirates. Also, I guess, I and the rest of the bloggers were on TV (?), so great game for us. The game did, however, demonstrate that Steve Pearce's return is going to be very welcome - the bottom of the order against lefties is really bad, and Lyle Overbay in particular looked completely clueless tonight. His first two at-bats were absurdly bad. I know he's hit better recently and that his overall line against lefties is somehow okay, but I think there's some sample-size flukiness going on there, because he didn't hit lefties at all in 2008-2010, and there's no reason to expect him to continue to post reverse-platoon splits.

Anyway, the Brewers lost and the Cardinals were off, so the Pirates are now in sole possession of first place, a half-game ahead of both teams.

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TV, eh?

I wasn’t around to see, but perhaps someone could put up some footage at some point, yes?

by Schide on Jul 19, 2011 2:46 AM EDT reply actions

you dont wanna see it

the looked like i d 10 t’s

" Lord Stanley, scratch thier names on your fabled cup" Mike Lange june 12, 2009

by oldtimehockey09 on Jul 19, 2011 2:51 AM EDT up reply actions

For the life of me, I just can't parse this

Other than a general, “Dey oogly!”

by Schide on Jul 19, 2011 3:16 AM EDT up reply actions

I think I got it

“The(y) looked like idiots”

I thin k t w h. E. Meanz

by ImmaculatePerception on Jul 19, 2011 10:18 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

WINNER!

" Lord Stanley, scratch thier names on your fabled cup" Mike Lange june 12, 2009

by oldtimehockey09 on Jul 19, 2011 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions

+1

for the military reference

"It's better to be an optimist who is sometimes wrong than a pessimist who is always right"

by CAGGS on Jul 19, 2011 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions

my first week in the service at my actual duty station i got hit with this

“hey private go tell SSG. Lopez you think you found the new Id10t”

yeah….didnt work out so well for me

" Lord Stanley, scratch thier names on your fabled cup" Mike Lange june 12, 2009

by oldtimehockey09 on Jul 19, 2011 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions

been there, done that

Nowadays though DS have become so soft that they ruin the secrets in basic training. Oh for the old days.

"It's better to be an optimist who is sometimes wrong than a pessimist who is always right"

by CAGGS on Jul 19, 2011 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions

fyi

now a days scrubs in basic are getting stress cards….

" Lord Stanley, scratch thier names on your fabled cup" Mike Lange june 12, 2009

by oldtimehockey09 on Jul 20, 2011 12:19 AM EDT up reply actions

It was about 20 seconds of them talking to Coonelly.

I thought it was cool seeing the guys on TV, but it’s not even worth YouTube-ing.

So onto my love rocket, climb, Inside tank of fuel is not fuel, but love.

by IAPiratesFan on Jul 19, 2011 4:47 AM EDT up reply actions

I’m surprised it was that much. I had no idea we were going to be on TV and didn’t even notice a cameraman in the room until he was already done taping.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Jul 19, 2011 4:57 AM EDT up reply actions

I was able to pick out You, Charlie, but i coulda sworn it was like 10 seconds lol…..

They were just discussing how the Pirates had embraced the multimedia like Twitter/Facebook and blogging. and how they invited 6? bloggers to a conversation with Huntington.

Since they’re recording it, I wonder if it will show up on Root at some time? or whether it goes on a DVD as a small extra lol.

by lfhlaw on Jul 19, 2011 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions

Charlie's an "Easter Egg."

Ha.

Free your ass and your mind will follow.

by cocktailsfor2 on Jul 19, 2011 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions

i've very disappointed

that Kristy wasn’t there

but it’s good to see a face with those names.

by BadAndy on Jul 19, 2011 9:11 AM EDT up reply actions

Sole Possession of First Place

Feels Damn Good

by NOLABUCCO on Jul 19, 2011 3:24 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

question!

what player currently has an OPS that is higher than matt diaz and just 5 points from overbay with roughly the same number of AB as diaz??

A: Brandon Wood. .664 (with pirates only). Diaz=.650 overpay=.669.

god i cant wait for steve pearce. (never thought id say that!)

by bbautista24 on Jul 19, 2011 3:54 AM EDT reply actions

Yeah...

that’s just sad

by mspirate on Jul 19, 2011 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Pearce has 55 at bats this year

and 3 extra base hits. I don’t see that worth getting excited over.

by fatbastard on Jul 19, 2011 6:49 AM EDT reply actions

holy SSS batman

Players who should be in the Hall of Fame: Pat TIllman, Dwight White, Donnie Shell, L.C. Greenwood, Ray Guy, Steve Tasker, Jack Butler, Greg Lloyd, Andy Russell, Cris Carter, Kevin Greene, Curtis Martin, Willie Roaf, Andre Reed and Jerry Kramer
CM PUNK IS MY HERO
Canal Chronicles resident Steelers Fan

by WVPiratesfan on Jul 19, 2011 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions

+1

by mspirate on Jul 19, 2011 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes Overbay's offensive production is basically worthless and incredibly frustrating

but I’m willing to wait a little bit longer because of his defensive impact. I believe it’s been very helpful in improving the rest of the infield. But at some point (which we’re probably passed by now), he needs to hit. And he hasn’t.

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.
Twitter: @shanecglass

by glass0941 on Jul 19, 2011 7:00 AM EDT reply actions

woah

his impact is negative, so adding any more just makes it worse

by Mr. E on Jul 19, 2011 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Can we stop bashing players?

Overbay had some nice picks and wood has been an awesome backup! The team wins with these guys and they are our 2011 Pittsburgh Pirates! And I have a place to ROOT!

by Joey Mooney on Jul 19, 2011 7:32 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

overbay has a god awefull uzr and a terrible ba

at this point imo he’s keeping the mit warm for a 1b who can hit for contact better and make more then one good pick/month

" Lord Stanley, scratch thier names on your fabled cup" Mike Lange june 12, 2009

by oldtimehockey09 on Jul 19, 2011 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions

i was actually pointing out

that wood has been surprisingly OK. and when guys come off the DL i would much rather see wood stay than say overbay or diaz, at least at the moment.

by bbautista24 on Jul 19, 2011 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions

"Tony Watson, Dan McCutchen and Joel Hanrahan combined for four innings of no-hit ball. "

Wow, I guess they did. Somehow, with a walk there and a catcher’s interference there, it didn’t feel like it. Felt like the Bucs were living on the edge all night, and I was surprised to look at the line score at the end and realize they’d only given up three hits (all singles, right? In fact I think all the Bucs’ hits were singles too).

Not actually affiliated with whygavs.

by WHYG Zane Smith on Jul 19, 2011 7:55 AM EDT reply actions

You missed the most important stat!

A walk by Charlie Morton after a good at bat and he almost had a double.

by Joey Mooney on Jul 19, 2011 8:45 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Morton was pretty terrifying in the early innings.

Two HBPs and several other totally-accidental brushbacks.

Still, all’s well that ends well.

by Vlad on Jul 19, 2011 9:15 AM EDT reply actions

morton was coming way inside on hitters all game

wonder if that was part of the game plan? anyway, one or two is probably inevitable when you’re throwing chin music all night.

by johnnycuff on Jul 19, 2011 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions

part game plan part he sometimes has no idea where that sinker is going...

probably one of the reasons he’s been so effective this year too is that makes him a difficult pitcher to guess against.

#AllTheBuntsAreBad!

by Slick1 on Jul 19, 2011 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Most inside pitches were relatively low

So, instead of “chin music”, would that be crotch music? :-)

by bruinbowler on Jul 19, 2011 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions

the two guys who got hit deserved it....

they were in fact reds so hit them all he wants so long as he doesnt give up runs i say

" Lord Stanley, scratch thier names on your fabled cup" Mike Lange june 12, 2009

by oldtimehockey09 on Jul 19, 2011 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions

I should also note...

…since I’ve given Wood a hard time this year, that he had a couple of pretty slick defensive plays, first at 3B and then at SS after D’Arnaud left. He’s a better fielder than I initially gave him credit for being.

by Vlad on Jul 19, 2011 9:16 AM EDT reply actions

On that note

I am wondering what it would take for Pedro Ciriaco to actually play in a baseball game. It seems like if you were ever going to use him, last night would have been that time. Shortstop gets hurt, tight pitchers duel where we have the lead…defense would seem to be at a premium. If Hurdle isn’t going to play him under these circumstances, why is he even on the roster? Bowker or Hague could at least be useful as pinch-hitters. The team would even get more value from another relief pitcher than they’re getting from Ciriaco. Completely wasted roster spot.

by maguro on Jul 19, 2011 9:22 AM EDT up reply actions

Are you sure he's on the roster?

by Mr. E on Jul 19, 2011 1:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Wood has quietly been worth .7 WAR this year with power and defense. He’s very much a two-trick pony, but if he adds even one win to this team’s record, he will have been a great waiver claim. Good for him for managing to provide some value to this club.

No jinx no jinx no jinx.

by Suffering Buc on Jul 19, 2011 9:38 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I think that's been the most pleasant part

I mean, his batting is far, far better than anyone thought it would be, but I had no idea coming in that he’d be a plus defender at 3B and SS (OK, maybe just average at SS – but for your #2 guy, who can hit more than Ciriaco, that’s pretty good). Everyone talked about his inability to hit (and how he was supposed to be a great hitter) that his defense seemed like a non-issue.

As I’ve said a few times, this season has a bit of that Freak Show feel, with contributions coming from unexpected places all over the field. D’Arnaud clearly isn’t ready to be an MLB starter, but he was still the critical player last night. Great stuff.

by JRoth95 on Jul 19, 2011 10:24 AM EDT up reply actions

More generally on waiver claims

Wood and X Paul have both been very, very successful pickups. Normally you’re happy to get even a brief contribution from a waiver wire pickup, but we have 2 guys who are, if not exactly linchpins, at least clearly useful players. I’m assuming Paul will go down at some point as players returns from the DL, but I hope he clears waivers this time. He’s exactly the kind of guy that makes a smaller bullpen desirable – never a top 3 guy off the bench, but handy in multiple situations.

by JRoth95 on Jul 19, 2011 10:27 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, the third-stringers have been doing OK

Hmm, last time I checked the Bucs’ Fangraphs page I think guys like Harrison and d’Arnaud were positive, and now they’re negative. Still, if you look at Presley, Wood, McKenry, and Paul, we’re getting mildly above-replacement play from guys who are basically replacement players, the ones who start the season at AAA and come up when everyone else gets hurt. If we’d been giving those at-bats to the Crosbys and Churches of the world, we wouldn’t be in first place.

Not actually affiliated with whygavs.

by WHYG Zane Smith on Jul 19, 2011 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions