This Just In: Zack Greinke Good, Joe Beimel Bad

by Charlie Wilmoth on Aug 12, 2011 11:23 PM EDT

Well, that was terrible. Paul Maholm didn't strike out anyone in five innings and generally got singled to death, leaving behind 4-0. (To be fair, he didn't walk anyone either.) The Pirates got dominated by Zack Greinke (with a million strikeouts, as per usual), when they finally managed to touch him up a little bit, with a single by Ronny Cedeno and RBI doubles by Michael McKenry and Andrew McCutchen. At that point, the Brewers brought in Francisco Rodriguez, who got Xavier Paul to ground out.

And that's when it got really bad. Joe Beimel came in and promptly gave up massive home runs to both Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder that landed in almost exactly the same spot in right field. (The main difference was that Fielder's home run got to that spot faster.) Honestly, I don't even know what Beimel is doing on the team at this point; I've never felt comfortable with him out there, and the superior Tony Watson just got sent to the minors. I suppose you keep Beimel so that you have him and Watson in September, but I don't know how the Pirates could ever feel good about Beimel in a high-leverage situation.

But that's not all! The inning dragged on after that, and Rodriguez's turn in the lineup came up. The Brewers sent him out there to bat, and he hit a grounder to first. Garrett Jones fielded it and appeared to trot to first for a moment before it became clear that Rodriguez actually had a chance of being safe. Rodriguez beat him to the bag, and Jones could have tagged Rodriguez instead, but he didn't, and K-Rod ended up with his first career hit, which the entire Brewers bench thought was hilarious. I sure am glad somebody got a laugh out of this one.

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Worst Game Ever.

Until the next one either tomorrow or Sunday……

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

by IAPiratesFan on Aug 12, 2011 11:25 PM EDT reply actions

Going to repost this

According to Dejan’s twitter and PiratesProspects’ twitter, Justin Wilson hit a legitimate 99 mph tonight at least 4 separate times. The Louisville stadium gun, assumed to be juiced, had him at 103. Good stuff there.

by Woo! on Aug 12, 2011 11:27 PM EDT reply actions

Yep — I…suppose he’s found his niche. That’s some good news for tonight.

Thank you Ned Colletti.

by ryebr3ad on Aug 12, 2011 11:31 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah im wondering

is this the gun that had Moskos at 97 last year?

Thats what she said! - Michael Gary Scott

by C Shint on Aug 12, 2011 11:32 PM EDT up reply actions

I think it's the same gun that had him at 97 and saw his wipeout slider, to boot.

パトリック

by patthatt on Aug 13, 2011 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions

i didnt realize

that Justin Wilson was actually pronounced “Stephen Strausburg”

by bbautista24 on Aug 13, 2011 12:56 AM EDT up reply actions

It's the same gun...

that had Aroldis Chapman at 105.

by Thunder on Aug 13, 2011 8:15 AM EDT up reply actions

Hurdle's postgame

During the postgame interview Hurdle tried to explain why he went with Beimel in the 8th inning. He said he could have gone with Veras, but wanted to save him in case the Pirates scored exactly 2 runs to tie the game in the 9th. Hanrahan, of course, could only enter if they already had the lead.

by ElDuce on Aug 12, 2011 11:32 PM EDT reply actions

oh well, the topic has been beaten to death

its 100% fact that Hammer aint coming in unless we gotz the lead. nothing more can be said about that.

Thats what she said! - Michael Gary Scott

by C Shint on Aug 12, 2011 11:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, I was more surprised by the fact that he was saving Veras for a potential tie game. At least the closer thing can be explained away by being a stubborn guy who loves the save stat. Sometimes it’s necessary to “protect” a deficit as well.

by ElDuce on Aug 12, 2011 11:38 PM EDT up reply actions

i guess

CH was hoping to bridge the gap that inning. He gets out of it clean, everything is in tip top shape if we comeback. Too bad the thing that was most likely to happen (Beimel getting rocked) did happen.

Thats what she said! - Michael Gary Scott

by C Shint on Aug 12, 2011 11:40 PM EDT up reply actions

I have no words

How did the Rockies make it to the WS back in 2007

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 Aug 13, 2011 12:36 AM EDT up reply actions

Here's how

1. Have an awesome manager
2. Get lucky
3. ???
4. Make the World Series!

by azibuck on Aug 13, 2011 8:44 AM EDT up reply actions

A Hurdle supporter on this site responded

to earlier criticism of CH, with the hoary rejoinder that Hurdle had forgotten more about baseball than anyone here knows. Maybe the part he forgot is related to bullpen management.

by WestCoastBuc on Aug 13, 2011 9:26 AM EDT up reply actions

Hell

my HS baseball coach forgot more baseball than I could ever dream of knowing, he was a terrible coach. you have to be able to use said knowledge to be a great mananger

by WVPiratesfan on Aug 13, 2011 10:35 AM EDT up reply actions

After scoring that first run in the 8th, why not start warming up Hanrahan? The batting order of Braun, Fielder and McGee is not something I want Beimel handling.

If there happens to be MLB realignment…I propose that Milwaukee goes back to the American League.

by ibuc05 on Aug 12, 2011 11:32 PM EDT reply actions

Ha...........

I propose they get blown up

by Skipperron on Aug 12, 2011 11:45 PM EDT up reply actions

I propose they move back to Seattle.

Seattle Pilots.

That city is big enough for two teams, right?

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

by IAPiratesFan on Aug 12, 2011 11:54 PM EDT up reply actions

the egos of

Cryin Ryan, Fat Prince, and Tony Plush couldn’t find the West Coast let alone Seattle.

by BadAndy on Aug 13, 2011 7:27 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

In other news... Carlos Zambrano saying he is going to retire

water coolers around the league can breathe a sigh of relief

by Zach Buccos on Aug 12, 2011 11:46 PM EDT reply actions

We should pick up Fat Z to pinch hit. He'd do a better job than Diaz.

パトリック

by patthatt on Aug 13, 2011 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions

He has more HRs than Harrison, Diaz and Paul combined this season.

by Thunder on Aug 13, 2011 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions

The team needs to get rid of Diaz NLT this offseason. We have many players coming up through the system

that need protecting on the 40-man roster.

パトリック

by patthatt on Aug 13, 2011 11:39 PM EDT up reply actions

As a further slap in the face, the Brewers had another reliever come in to pitch the ninth. After they let Rodriguez hit for himself. After he threw all of two pitches. Braun = bean tomorrow.

Jason
The Hanging Curve

by poorboywilly on Aug 12, 2011 11:47 PM EDT reply actions

That wasn't a slap in the face

Rodriguez was going to stay in because it would still be a save situation for him since he entered with a 2 run lead. He apparently hurt himself legging out that hit, as he went out to the mound, but then decided he wasn’t well enough to continue.

by ElDuce on Aug 12, 2011 11:49 PM EDT up reply actions

He came out because he got a leg cramp

"Prince Fielder is too fat even for the Oakland A’s" - Billy Beane

by ol Pete on Aug 13, 2011 12:04 AM EDT up reply actions

That’s actually what teams do to keep scores down. You want to bean someone why? Last year in the 20 run game Macha sent pitchers out to hit, but actually told one he didn’t want him to swing and it wasn’t to prevent injury.

But hey, I’d love to hear why you think using another pitcher would be a slap in the face.

"Prince Fielder is too fat even for the Oakland A’s" - Billy Beane

by ol Pete on Aug 13, 2011 12:06 AM EDT up reply actions

To be honest, I think Braun is a jackaninny and deserves to be beaned regardless, but that’s just me.

I don’t really understand what you are saying but to answer your musing, I think it’s a slap in the face if a team let’s a pitcher hit when they have many able-bodied position players on the bench, and then proceeds to pull that pitcher before he makes another pitch. If said team is leading, they are acting as if they shouldn’t even bother to pinch hit because the game is well in hand. Of course, I didn’t know that he was pulled for a leg cramp, so given that it’s all moot and no, it’s not a slap in the face.

Jason
The Hanging Curve

by poorboywilly on Aug 13, 2011 12:34 AM EDT up reply actions

I know the point is moot now, but for the sake of discussion

I just want to say I disagree with that philosophy. If you don’t wanna get slapped in the face by the other team, then play better. Make them pay for clowning around with you by coming back and winning, not by getting pissy about it and beaning a guy the next day.

"WHITESNAKE! DOKKEN! NIGHT RANGER!" -- Ronny Cedeño

by Superstar25 on Aug 13, 2011 7:32 AM EDT up reply actions

Thank you.

by bucdaddy on Aug 13, 2011 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions

So the idea of not running up the score is bad as is running up the score. And the response should be throwing at the other team’s good player because he is good.

"Prince Fielder is too fat even for the Oakland A’s" - Billy Beane

by ol Pete on Aug 13, 2011 10:51 AM EDT up reply actions

I thought I was pretty clear (in my second post anyways) that I already think Braun is a jackaninny and feel like he needs to get beaned irrespective of the current situation.

I’m not sure where I said or implied that “running up the score” is bad. A different situation though, and I wouldn’t have even thought anything pitching change when I saw it in the box score. If this was a 16-1 game they can hit with all the pitchers they want.

Jason
The Hanging Curve

by poorboywilly on Aug 13, 2011 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Jesus Beimel has been absolutely terrible!

Stop fucking playing him Hurdle!!! What, 7 straight abysmal appearances didn’t give you the hint?

by dulciusXasperis on Aug 12, 2011 11:47 PM EDT reply actions

I haven't seen Jesus Beimel yet.

But Joe Beimel is freaking terrible….

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

by IAPiratesFan on Aug 12, 2011 11:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Mean reversion.

Higher picks FTW.

Should the Pirates keep Neal Huntington?

http://www.bucsdugout.com/2011/5/16/2174135/poll-should-huntington-be-retained

by Kosstic518 on Aug 12, 2011 11:57 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Do you write these after every loss, or just copy/paste?

by Charlie Wilmoth on Aug 13, 2011 1:14 AM EDT up reply actions

I type fairly quickly.

I don’t see why people are so offended, this season has been a huge victory in my book.

I predicted 67 wins at the beginning of the year and I’m sticking by that. We have a better than even shot to pass that at this point. A ten game jump in one year is huge, anything more than that is outstanding.

Its amazing how you can be painted the villian for being realistic and not letting your emotions swing to far in either direction.

Should the Pirates keep Neal Huntington?

http://www.bucsdugout.com/2011/5/16/2174135/poll-should-huntington-be-retained

by Kosstic518 on Aug 13, 2011 7:46 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

You're not being painted as a villain

You’re being told your redundant. That you repeat yourself. That you say the same things over and over.

by azibuck on Aug 13, 2011 8:47 AM EDT up reply actions

i see what you did there...

nice.

by lloyd95 on Aug 13, 2011 9:03 AM EDT up reply actions

And so ...

since no one else on this site ever does that, Kosstic shouldn’t at all be surprised at the reaction.

by WestCoastBuc on Aug 13, 2011 9:20 AM EDT up reply actions

I do talk to people about that behind the scenes, and sometimes I tell them they can’t talk about particular topics anymore.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Aug 13, 2011 9:56 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah. It has nothing to do with keeping your emotions in check. It has to do with repeating yourself. There are lots of things that could be said about this game, or most games, and yet you keep picking the same one over and over.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Aug 13, 2011 9:55 AM EDT up reply actions

Okay, I will no longer post about mean reversion on this site.

Should the Pirates keep Neal Huntington?

http://www.bucsdugout.com/2011/5/16/2174135/poll-should-huntington-be-retained

by Kosstic518 on Aug 13, 2011 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions

because clearly those picks

can make an impact the yea they are picked…or within say 2 or three years……………

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

by oldtimehockey09 on Aug 13, 2011 2:15 AM EDT up reply actions

Where did I say that?

And why does a player have to help within only that time span to be valuable?

Should the Pirates keep Neal Huntington?

http://www.bucsdugout.com/2011/5/16/2174135/poll-should-huntington-be-retained

by Kosstic518 on Aug 13, 2011 7:48 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I wonder

if any team has ever lost 100 straight in another team’s park.

by bucdaddy on Aug 13, 2011 1:00 AM EDT reply actions

pssh let's get it!

by bbautista24 on Aug 13, 2011 1:01 AM EDT up reply actions

We haven't already?

"WHITESNAKE! DOKKEN! NIGHT RANGER!" -- Ronny Cedeño

by Superstar25 on Aug 13, 2011 7:33 AM EDT up reply actions

well

this one was soo boring that i actually watched more pre-season football than baseball game. and i hate pre-season football.

beimel is bad. he cannot handle an inning and is not very good as a LOOGY. lets just hope that he isn’t on the team next year.

by bbautista24 on Aug 13, 2011 1:00 AM EDT reply actions

i doubt he will be

just when you think the staff has gotten back to normal a bit, out comes joey b to serve up two yard balls….nice. but in all honesty having your starter give up four runs isnt bad in its self. what compounds the issue is when your offense is getting wtfpwned by the other pitcher, your pitch count is through the roof by the forth inning, and you have gotten exactly 0 strike outs. just a rough go across the board today. If the bucs want to break 500 they must win against the brewers in Milwaukee. now im sure the guys want to break 500, its just a matter of not giving easy outs and figuring out how to fight off pitches until you get one to hit.

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

by oldtimehockey09 on Aug 13, 2011 1:14 AM EDT up reply actions

honestly

milwaukee does not appear to be unbeatable. bucs just aren’t up to playing them, stupid mistakes, and miss chances. but that is what separates the winners from the losers

by bbautista24 on Aug 13, 2011 1:19 AM EDT up reply actions

yup

and thats the problem with virtually every team in the league that looses badly, they cant put a complete game together.

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

by oldtimehockey09 on Aug 13, 2011 1:51 AM EDT up reply actions

Why knock Beimel? He has that " veteran presence" the fans, the media and, apparently, Huntington all crave. (sarcasm).

by bolton on Aug 13, 2011 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions

We're gonna get creamed this series.

Aren’t we?

It just feels like there’s another creaming coming on …

www.youtube.com/watch?v=OM59nSkjEWU

(I would just like to note that if there were an actual blade in that razor, Joe would have hacked his face to tiny bits.)

by bucdaddy on Aug 13, 2011 1:46 AM EDT reply actions

bucdaddy

I’m not surprised to see you a Farrah Fawcett man. I bet you still have that poster hanging up somewhere.

パトリック

by patthatt on Aug 13, 2011 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions

Don't need a hard copy (see what I did there?).

It’s imprinted on my brain, forever.

by bucdaddy on Aug 13, 2011 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions

Will this ever end?

Another loss at Miller Park :( Looks like we may have a decent chance tomorrow with the starter the Brew Crew has going. But Correia needs to come out and get it done. At least this one is on the road so maybe he can put together a decent 6 or 7 innings. Maybe have a shot at a win on Sunday as well if the good Charlie shows up. And for the love of god…can we go just ONE game and not give up a dinger to Braun or Fielder?

by fitguync30 on Aug 13, 2011 2:08 AM EDT reply actions

Hurdle, Beimel & Jones = the triple crown last night

I only saw the condensed game on MLB.com, and as soon as I saw Beimel vs Braun, I though “what was Hurdle thinking, he’s giving him a HR !”
Next play : BABOOM !
Next batter, I though “well at least Beimel has a chance to get Prince out” … nope.

And does GFJ know you can tag a runner ? That was embarrassing.

by From France on Aug 13, 2011 7:47 AM EDT reply actions

Honestly, I don’t even know what Beimel is doing on the team at this point

It would appear he’s one of Hurdle’s Guys. He’s not going anywhere.

by matskralc on Aug 13, 2011 9:38 AM EDT reply actions

I thought the same thing about Garrett Atkins in spring training.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Aug 13, 2011 9:44 AM EDT up reply actions

Beimel wasn’t with Colorado when Hurdle was. I thought they were there together before I wrote that comment and was going to make a “Hurdle’s got Jim Tracyitis” joke, but then I looked it up.

What I mean is that Beimel is the Proven Veteran Lefthander, which I think makes him one of Hurdle’s Guys due to his type, not his circumstance. Does Hurdle seem to you the type of guy who would be comfortable with young, “untested” LOOGYs?

by matskralc on Aug 13, 2011 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions

"Honestly, I don't even know what Beimel is doing on the team at this point; I've never felt comfortable with him out there, and the superior Tony Watson just got sent to the minors."

1) It was really important to get him to 100 career appearances at PNC Park for a trivia question.

2) My crystal ball says that Lacee Collins is preparing a can’t miss special on Joe’s tatoos for later this month.

3) Beimel is to Hurdle as Mike Edwards was to Jim Tracy in Pgh. I guess it’s the comfort factor.

パトリック

by patthatt on Aug 13, 2011 10:39 AM EDT reply actions

Mike who?

Shouldn’t that read “Jose Hernandez”?

Just askin’.

by bucdaddy on Aug 13, 2011 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions

How about Mike Hernandez?

パトリック

by patthatt on Aug 13, 2011 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions

Beimel is not the best LOOGY in the world, but Hurdle has put him in bad spots a lot

vs LHP = in 43 PA, 1.80 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 7.2 K/9, 1.8 BB/9
Lefties are hitting him 268 / 302 / 439 (741 OPS)

vs RHP = in 63 PA, 7.43 ERA, 1.88 WHIP, 6.1 K/9, 3.4 BB/9, with 4 HR allowed
Righties are hitting him 351 / 413 / 614 (1.027 OPS)

Why in the #&@£-ing world has Beimel faced more righties than lefties !?
He should ONLY be pitching against lefties. Because that’s his job as a LOOGY.
Another evidence Hurdle hasn’t figured out how to use a bullpen.

by From France on Aug 13, 2011 10:49 AM EDT reply actions

I didn't know pitchers had separate ERAs based on the handedness of the hitter.

by WestCoastBuc on Aug 13, 2011 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions

He should ONLY be pitching ~~against lefties~~ in AAA

FTFY. 741 OPS (lefties against Beimel) is better than Dan Uggla and Jimmy Rollins. Yes, this LOOGY, whose job it is to get out left-handed hitters, is making left-handed hitters look like Dan Uggla and Jummy Rollins.

by DG Lewis on Aug 13, 2011 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions

i got to watch a bit of the game in a bar yday

i gotto say, the Brewers lineup is nog good.

Hart, Braun, Fielder. Take your chances with Hart, and pitch carefully to Braun and Fielder. Aside from that its a very meh lineup. Yuniesky Betancourt batting 6th! Sheesh!

How do these guys keep scoring so many?

by BurgherKing on Aug 13, 2011 1:21 PM EDT reply actions

They face the Pirates pitching staff 18 times a year. That means lots of runs when a team can’t pitch inside.

by Thunder on Aug 13, 2011 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions

funny story

when i hopped over to google to grab Beimel’s stats, the first google result when typing his name was “joe beimel” but the second was “joe beimel girlfriend”…clearly this required investigation, and upon hitting enter this was the first link that showed up

http://www.talk-sports.net/mlb/girlfriend.aspx/Joe_Beimel

i can’t decide if it’s…well, it’s definitely amazing, but i’ll leave out the descriptives of WHY

by geeves on Aug 14, 2011 10:27 AM EDT reply actions