James McDonald Pitches 7.1 Innings In Pirates' 3-1 Victory

by Charlie Wilmoth on Sep 5, 2011 5:20 PM EDT

PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 05: James McDonald #53 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches against the Houston Astros during the game on September 5, 2011 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

The Pirates got a rare 7.1-inning start from James McDonald this afternoon, and they made the most of it. It was depressing to see McDonald walk opposing starter Henry Sosa in the third, and then to see Sosa score on a triple to the right-field wall by Jose Altuve. (McDonald then himself walked to start the bottom of the inning, but got doubled off on a line drive by Alex Presley.) But the Pirates took a 2-1 lead in the fourth when Ryan Doumit doubled in Andrew McCutchen and Josh Harrison knocked in Derrek Lee. Harrison reached second on the play despite an awful baserunning decision on his part, but it turned out to be moot - he was stranded with McDonald grounded into a double play later in the inning.

Jordan Schafer made it to third with one out in the sixth, but Neil Walker helped preserve the lead when he threw home to nab Schafer on a groundout by J.D. Martinez. (Walker himself had been thrown out between third and home when he too tried to come home on a rundown, so hey - redemption.) Derrek Lee added a solo homer in the eighth, and Joel Hanrahan shut the door despite a messy ninth.

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Comments

Derrek Lee is crushing the ball just enough that Bob Smizik will have all the fodder he needs to crucify Huntington when he doesn’t re-sign him in a few months.

No jinx no jinx no jinx.

by Suffering Buc on Sep 5, 2011 5:23 PM EDT reply actions

I obviously don’t know this for sure, but I don’t think Lee is going to sign regardless.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Sep 5, 2011 5:29 PM EDT up reply actions

In that case, they should offer arbitration

by maguro on Sep 5, 2011 6:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed. If Lee does not want to sign then offering arbitration just gets us an extra compensatory pick for free, which is always a good thing.

by Akshay R on Sep 5, 2011 6:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Amen!

by impliedi on Sep 5, 2011 6:50 PM EDT up reply actions

What do you mean "Lee is going to sign"?

Per Smizik, the Pirates sign players. If the player doesn’t sign, it’s because the Pirates did not sign them because they’re too cheap.

by azibuck on Sep 5, 2011 6:39 PM EDT up reply actions

I know most people are banking

on a no re-sign on Lee (I’ll still hold out hope that they come to some kind of reasonable agreement, but I won’t hold my breath)….

But, I’m just going to say that it’s really enjoyable having a line-up like the Pirates had today, especially having Lee’s bat and a Doumit’s bat (not just because they did well today, but just because it looks like a REAL line-up) in that line-up….Tabata goes down and you can just throw a Garrett Jones in there….swap out Josh Harrison with a healthy and hitting Pedro Alvarez and that’s a solid top-to-bottom hitting line-up…..

I’m going to try and remember what it was like and how much I enjoyed it, when Hurdle trots out next year’s line-up.

I, for one, would really miss Lee & Doumit’s bats.

by impliedi on Sep 5, 2011 6:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Alright, I'll salivate some more....

What would’ve happened this year with, say 120 “healthy” games of:
Presley, LF
Tabata, RF
McCutchen, CF
Lee, 1B
Walker, 2B
Doumit, C
Alvarez, 3B
Cedeno, SS

Okay, I’m done now.

by impliedi on Sep 5, 2011 7:02 PM EDT up reply actions

does healthy=even reasonably average Pedro?

or does it just mean a physically healthy Pedro, but the same dog crap numbers he was putting up?

by Zach Buccos on Sep 5, 2011 7:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Since it's imaginary, it can be a reasonably average Pedro!

by impliedi on Sep 5, 2011 8:02 PM EDT up reply actions

August/September 2010 Pedro

would be nice for a whole year.

by BlindSquirrel on Sep 5, 2011 8:09 PM EDT up reply actions

yahoo

doesn’t have the recap up yet… nobody watching this game in their office?

by BlindSquirrel on Sep 5, 2011 7:58 PM EDT reply actions

I think we might be the only people who care about this game in the world.

by Zach Buccos on Sep 5, 2011 9:28 PM EDT up reply actions

It’s funny you said that. I was excited that the Dish Network finally added MLB Network this week, and then laughed to myself when I started watching because nobody’s talking about the Bucs anymore, like they would’ve been a couple of months ago.

by impliedi on Sep 5, 2011 9:38 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Actually I take that back…within the first few minutes they were showing highlights of Josh Harrison’s infield double….now granted that Pirates/Cubs game was the only game completed when I started watching, but still…

by impliedi on Sep 5, 2011 9:41 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I noticed that the Reds/Cubs game doesn’t have a recap up either, and neither does the Brewers/Cards game, even though both games were done a good 3 hours ago…

by Akshay R on Sep 5, 2011 10:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Who is the Ace?

JMac started off the season pretty bad. The guy is pitching better as the season goes on where everyone else is hurt or struggling. Jmac making a very good case to be closer to the top of the rotation. If Cole and Jameson can be top of the rotation guys…. this team could have one of the best rotations in 3 or so years.

by Joey Mooney on Sep 5, 2011 10:52 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

still like charlie and karstens more

it might be because they can go 7 innings regularly(sort of). if jmac can go longer id have no problem with that.

by bbautista24 on Sep 6, 2011 12:05 AM EDT up reply actions

Of JMac...Morton and Karstens...

I expect none of them to be in the Pirates rotation in 3 years.

by Thunder on Sep 6, 2011 2:44 AM EDT up reply actions

Im curious why you think that?

Pribanic seems to be the only pitcher this year to have a solid year and if he can continue next year he might get called up. The AAA guys need to be solid next year. Morton and JMac both really cheap!

by Joey Mooney on Sep 6, 2011 7:03 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

pribanic wont be in the rotation either

Thunder makes a great point. Karstens may stick around as a long relief guy. mcdonald could be a great trading chip. morton? not sure about.

by white angus on Sep 6, 2011 8:19 AM EDT up reply actions

Do you believe that is good?

I personally don’t believe this team will perform over 500 unless they can lock some guys in. Cole and Jameson are no gaurantees. That has been proven with Pedro. I would really like Maholm to get a deal.

by Joey Mooney on Sep 6, 2011 9:23 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

depends on whom you lock in.

by white angus on Sep 6, 2011 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions

McPherson will be in the rotation in 2013, IMO

Free your ass and your mind will follow.

by cocktailsfor2 on Sep 6, 2011 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions

i think morton will be.

he has been solid for the most part and who else is going to pitch, looking at the guys in the upper levels of the system, it doesnt seem like anyone would be an improvement over charlie, karstens and jmac. now karstens and jmac are debatable, but i think charlie will be around for awhile.

by bbautista24 on Sep 6, 2011 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions

remember that everyone in the rotation, other than maholm, came from another organization via trade

we should expect more changes on the way, doesnt have to be internal

by white angus on Sep 6, 2011 1:20 PM EDT up reply actions

yes but

given how much the organization likes him, i just do not currently see charlie going anywhere, unless he implodes again in which case chuck will be lucky to pitch for the Dominican Pirates.

by bbautista24 on Sep 6, 2011 4:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Doumit or Snyder?

I personally love Doumit. I got man crush on him! His bat as a catcher is very valuable and more importantly Snyders bat in this lineup hurts. Both injury prone. I just believe doumit is more of a leader and overall a little better. Fort will still be there for defense as well.

by Joey Mooney on Sep 5, 2011 10:56 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Good win

on a terrible weather day. I watched on the DVR. I’ll be in town this weekend for fri/sat and am looking forward to it.

Yinzers uber alles

by BostonBuc on Sep 5, 2011 11:26 PM EDT reply actions

I watched

from an uncovered seat. Even with a good quality raincoat, I believe that was the wettest I have ever been at a baseball game. I am pretty sure that it was my sacrifice to the baseball gods that gave us the win.

by crusty on Sep 6, 2011 7:54 AM EDT up reply actions

Thanks, crusty

It was a pretty good game, actually. Had Tabata not inexplicably butchered the Altuve ball, could well have been a shutout.

by JRoth95 on Sep 6, 2011 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions

That was probably it all right and

I hope that it means you will be out there again during the rest of the series as I understand that the weather is not expected to be any better. Sorry I can’t join you, but at least I will be there in spirit even though physically here watching from my warm dry living room.

Let is know if you catch pneumonia or something and maybe we can take up a collection here at BD to help with the medical bills.

by WestCoastBuc on Sep 6, 2011 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Sadly

there are times when people expect me to work for my living. (by the time I relized how important it was to be born rich, it was too late) Anyway, for pneumonia, I would definitely want to win out the season…and I’m not sure even the baseball gods are THAT good.

PS. My son at Camp Pendleton hates SoCal Weather. He says it’s boring. I wish he could have been there with me yesterday.

by crusty on Sep 6, 2011 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions