Pittsburgh vs. Milwaukee, 18 April 2007

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 7:36 PM EDT in News

8:05 PM, FSNP, WPGB

Paul Maholm (0-1, 5.40) vs. Claudio Vargas (0-0, 5.14).

Here is the box. It's a pretty standard lineup for the Bucs, with Freddy Sanchez back in the third spot and Adam LaRoche at cleanup. Prince Fielder rests for the Brewers. As Brew Crew Ball points out, they're going with an all-righthanded lineup (except for catcher Johnny Estrada, who's a switch-hitter) so expect the Bucs' righty relievers to get some work tonight. As for Vargas, we faced him twice last year when he was with the D-Backs. He pitched six innings and allowed two runs in both games. He's still a back-of-the-rotation pitcher, and he has been since breaking in with Montreal in 2003, but he had solid ratios last year while pitching in a tough ballpark, and he has struck out eleven batters this year without walking anyone, which may bode well for him this year. Vargas has excellent stuff - he has a good curve and throws in the mid-90s.

Since this is the first time we've faced the Brew Crew this season, here, again, is my Milwaukee season preview.

I'll be watching this one and posting in the comments. Feel free to join me.

By the way, I put the scoreboard back up in the right sidebar, so you can follow scores from all over the majors from right here.

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Comments

Jeez

This is going to be a long night. Vargas looked solid in the first inning, and then Rickie Weeks hit a double on the first pitch, and Bill Hall hit a two-run jack after Weeks had already come home. 3-0, Brewers.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 8:21 PM EDT reply actions

Maholm

It looks like he's getting the ball up too much.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 8:21 PM EDT reply actions

And it keeps coming

Corey Hart hits a single though the middle.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 8:23 PM EDT reply actions

In response to Maholm's start...

***ring...ring***
Sean Burnett: Hello?
David Littlefield: Is Sean there?
Sean Burnett: This is Sean.
David Littlefield: Sean, this is Dave Littlefield. We're going to need you to be in Pittsburgh next Tuesday...

by bryanzane on Apr 18, 2007 8:25 PM EDT reply actions

I'm not sure...

that would be any better. You may be right, though.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 8:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Burnett's call-up

I don't know if it'd be better either. Let's see how the second inning goes...

by bryanzane on Apr 18, 2007 8:35 PM EDT up reply actions

outfielders depth

Seemed to me like the outfielders were too deep for the first few hitters. The outfield isn't huge at this park. At least one of those hits needed to be caught but couldn't be because of how deep they were playing.

by hisjazziness on Apr 18, 2007 8:29 PM EDT reply actions

The Mench single?

Yeah, maybe you're right. I'm not sure if better positioning would've enabled the Bucs to make that catch or not.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 8:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Wow

How long was that Bay homer? Maybe 450 feet?

3-1, Bucs.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 8:31 PM EDT reply actions

way to go Bay

nice to get on the board. Why do these Milwaukee announcers continue to talk about HRs at PNC Park like they occur as infrequently as Pirate winning seasons? It's not Petco guys.

by hisjazziness on Apr 18, 2007 8:31 PM EDT reply actions

Strikeouts Looking

Is it me, or have the Pirates endured an abnormal number of strikeouts caught looking this year?

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 8:34 PM EDT reply actions

looking

I haven't noticed any abnormality, mainly because it seems they have been striking out looking way too frequently since at least 1996.

by hisjazziness on Apr 18, 2007 8:40 PM EDT up reply actions

That is possible

Anyone know where to find data on this?

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 8:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Maholm

Calms down a little bit in the second, but Tony Graffanino still almost homered off him. That can't be a good sign.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 8:40 PM EDT reply actions

Pirates

Four strikeouts in their first turn through the order, all looking, say the Milwaukee announcers. No questionable calls either, I don't think. I feel like I've been seeing this on almost a daily basis. Surely this says something not-so-good about the Pirates' pitch recognition skills.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 8:45 PM EDT reply actions

Double

Loooonnng double by Duffy, who seems to be showing a bit more power this year than previously.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 8:45 PM EDT reply actions

J.J. Hardy

hits another ball to the wall. The Brewers are really hitting Maholm pretty hard.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 8:51 PM EDT reply actions

Looking

I know exactly what you mean charlie. Many, many looks. And yet they swing at the really bad ones...man they are hitting Maholm hard. He needs to get those down more.

by Johnny Strange on Apr 18, 2007 8:53 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah

That's what I'm getting at. Passing on two-strike pitches in the zone, and then waving at breaking crap in the dirt.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 8:56 PM EDT up reply actions

and then theres that...

enough said.

by Johnny Strange on Apr 18, 2007 8:54 PM EDT reply actions

Bay and Duffy

That's embarrassing. It looked like both Bay and Duffy were calling for it and they both ended up giving it up.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 8:55 PM EDT reply actions

Absurd

They gave Bay an error on that...

by bryanzane on Apr 18, 2007 9:00 PM EDT up reply actions

It's arbitrary, but...

did you think Duffy should have gotten the error? Or that the play itself was absurd?

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 9:02 PM EDT up reply actions

hmmm...

I think it's absurd that either of them got an error. The play was awful, but they initially credited Mench(?) with a hit and then changed it during the break. A little payback for the homerun perhaps?

by bryanzane on Apr 18, 2007 9:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Ok, two men on

Let's get it going...

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 9:02 PM EDT reply actions

Oh wow

Bay's jack earlier was his 100th career homer.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 9:03 PM EDT reply actions

Whiff

Vargas strikes out Nady with no outs and the bases loaded.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 9:08 PM EDT reply actions

Wow

He gets Paulino too. This is exactly the sort of thing that Pirates fans hate.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 9:10 PM EDT reply actions

J.H.C.

THIS is why I sometimes hate the Pirates.

by bryanzane on Apr 18, 2007 9:10 PM EDT reply actions

Ha ha ha

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 9:12 PM EDT up reply actions

batters? anyone?

Bases loaded, no outs:

Are we thrown good pitches? Yes.

Do we have chances? Yes.

Do we score? Of course not!

by Johnny Strange on Apr 18, 2007 9:12 PM EDT reply actions

Oh man

Strikes out the side. That's annoying. But honestly, it was at least as much Vargas as the Pirates. He pitched really well with all those runners on.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 9:13 PM EDT reply actions

awful

That's just awful.

by hisjazziness on Apr 18, 2007 9:13 PM EDT reply actions

Corey Hart

He's really fast for a guy that big.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 9:16 PM EDT reply actions

fine.

I'm now a Phillies fan.

by bryanzane on Apr 18, 2007 9:16 PM EDT reply actions

Enjoy

Brett Myers out of the bullpen. Say what you want about the Pirates, but they haven't made a decision that dumb in some time.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 9:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Charlie Manuel...

Is going to get fired. Very soon. Moving Myers to the bullpen is about the worst move ever...

by bryanzane on Apr 18, 2007 9:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Maholm strikes out

That's 8 Ks for Vargas in 4 1/3.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 9:23 PM EDT reply actions

Damian Miller

Damian Miller is making his first career start at first base. He just flubbed a play. I wonder if we're going to get to have a Ryan Doumit moment where we get back in the game because Miller doesn't know how to play first.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 9:24 PM EDT reply actions

Wow

Some really horrible fielding by the Brewers as Duffy gets all the way around from first on three errors.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 9:25 PM EDT reply actions

uhhhh

I think the Brew Crew may be a little bit drunk...

by bryanzane on Apr 18, 2007 9:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Wow indeed

Is that three errors without a pitch?

Matt Wait 'Til Next Year

by WTNY on Apr 18, 2007 9:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Yep.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 9:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Jack Wilson

That's what I'm talking about. How many strikeouts caught looking do the Pirates have, and then Wilson strikes out swinging on breaking crap way out of the zone.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 9:28 PM EDT reply actions

Ks

The Pirates; first 4 strike outs were looking and the last 5 have been swinging...

by bryanzane on Apr 18, 2007 9:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Maholm

seems to have calmed down some; he hasn't allowed a run since the first. Maybe some of his struggles then had to do with his long layoff. Which is too bad, since they may cost us the game.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 9:34 PM EDT reply actions

1st inning woes...

He's been hit hard, but his velocity is good and his changeup has been great...

by bryanzane on Apr 18, 2007 9:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Double

Nice game for Bay. Let's see what happens.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 9:41 PM EDT reply actions

Good hustle...

Little by little, Jason Bay is making me hate Canada less and less...

by bryanzane on Apr 18, 2007 9:41 PM EDT reply actions

Ugh

What does Nady make you think about Salinas, CA?

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 9:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Salinas, CA

Nady makes me miss Ryan Doumit...

by bryanzane on Apr 18, 2007 9:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Nady

Is the X man retarded? How many times can you swing at the same pitch and miss? And it's not just today, he's like Soriano in Major League..."Can no hit breaking ball".

by Johnny Strange on Apr 18, 2007 9:44 PM EDT reply actions

Whiff

Wow. Eleven Ks for Vargas.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 9:45 PM EDT reply actions

Star Pitching

I think our division pitchers are going to have an inordinate amount of strike outs thanks to the bucs. Once again we are making a star out of a 5th starter. Nice.

by Johnny Strange on Apr 18, 2007 9:46 PM EDT reply actions

I'm ashamed to say

I actually picked up Vargas to spot start today in one of my fantasy leagues. I'm doing the same with Suppan tomorrow.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 9:49 PM EDT up reply actions

sad

I guess Brad Eldred is just going to have to save the day with a pinch hit homer later on...

by bryanzane on Apr 18, 2007 9:47 PM EDT reply actions

Mench

Leadoff double.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 9:48 PM EDT reply actions

Maholm

they need to get him out of there. his pitches are dying at the plate. he's one good swing from making this a much harder comeback.

by Johnny Strange on Apr 18, 2007 9:51 PM EDT reply actions

Bill Hall

Another double. Still no outs. Maholm's got to be done now, right?

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 9:52 PM EDT reply actions

Jason Bay

Hey, he does have an arm! Can't blame Hall for trying to test him, though.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 9:54 PM EDT reply actions

Maholm

Seriously, that's enough. Perez and Bayliss are up in the 'pen.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 9:57 PM EDT reply actions

Matt Wise

on to pitch for the Brewers.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 10:00 PM EDT reply actions

Double for Bautista

That's five doubles for him this year.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 10:02 PM EDT reply actions

McLouth

Is it just me, or is he hitting the ball a lot harder this year? That's an out, but at least it's a very long out that moves the runner.

Kudos to the Brewers' play-by-play man, who managed to pronounce McLouth's name three different ways over the course of that at bat.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 10:05 PM EDT reply actions

Juan Perez

On to pitch against the lefty Prince Fielder. He may be removed after one batter.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 10:10 PM EDT reply actions

Yep.

Perez out after one batter, to whom he gave up a hit. The sample's small, but lefties are 2-for-5 off Perez this year.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 10:14 PM EDT reply actions

Mark Buerhle

has a no-hitter going through eight against Texas.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 10:14 PM EDT reply actions

no-hitter

for Mark Buerhle against the Texas Rangers. Just finished. Crowd in Chicago is going batsh*t on a cold April night.

by porkypine on Apr 18, 2007 10:15 PM EDT reply actions

Awesome.

Last time I was in a park where Buerhle pitched, it was in Chicago at this game, in which Buerhle got bombed by the Giants and finished the game with a 5.18 ERA for the season. He looked awful, and one of the guys I was with got big laughs by screaming, "Hey Mark! I hear Charlotte's beautiful this time of year!" and, after Aaron Rowand hit a homer, "Nice hit, Rowand!" (Pause.) "You're still terrible, though!"

Not sure why I thought all that was relevant. That's awesome for Buerhle, though.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 10:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Derrick Turnbow

on to work the 8th. This should be fun. He somehow has 11 strikeouts and just one walk in his first six innings, but he usually has no idea where the ball is going.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 10:21 PM EDT reply actions

Turnbow

Just made LaRoche look ridiculous on three straight pitches.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 10:25 PM EDT reply actions

Bay

One single away from the cycle.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 10:27 PM EDT reply actions

us

is it me or do we seem to have no real interest in winning this game? except for Bay that is....

by Johnny Strange on Apr 18, 2007 10:27 PM EDT reply actions

nady

he must just be dumb. i mean come on! What is he doing tonight!? Sorry...just frustrated. He is the worst hitter...

by Johnny Strange on Apr 18, 2007 10:29 PM EDT reply actions

Ummm

Are we sure Xavier Nady is right-handed?

by bryanzane on Apr 18, 2007 10:32 PM EDT reply actions

Oh $*%&

It's Wasdin. You must be right, Johnny, we really don't care about winning this game.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 10:32 PM EDT reply actions

Walk off

yes, another classic outing by Wasdin. How does he have a career? He has failed everywhere he's been and i've never actually seen a 1-2-3 inning from him. Know your staff Tracy.

by Johnny Strange on Apr 18, 2007 10:39 PM EDT up reply actions

X person

X Nady RF 4 0 0 0 0 3 5

that's his box tonight. 4 at bats, no hits, no runs, 3 strike outs and 5 men left on. 5!! And now way back is in. I'm telling you, back when i said that about Muholm i didn't know how right i was. Tracy leaves him in WAY too long and what happens? 2 more runs for them.

by Johnny Strange on Apr 18, 2007 10:36 PM EDT reply actions

Wasdin

Two outs, two hits. Pretty typical. On comes Marte.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 10:38 PM EDT reply actions

johnny strange

You must be a true Pirate fan - bitter, quick to complain, endlessly bitching at every opportunity.

Please offer more wisdom - because clearly you're right - the team doesn't care, they're not trying hard, they're all stupid, and you're the man.

by porkypine on Apr 18, 2007 10:41 PM EDT reply actions

Tony Gwynn Jr.

Gets a bunt hit, bringing in Hall. That's one run for Wasdin.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 10:42 PM EDT reply actions

true enough

well said. guilty as charged.

by Johnny Strange on Apr 18, 2007 10:43 PM EDT reply actions

Tony Graffanino

gets a single, bringing in Hart.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 10:44 PM EDT reply actions

Francisco Cordero

On to pitch the 9th even though it's not a save situation.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 10:48 PM EDT reply actions

Yikes!

Cordero whiffs Bautista. That's 14 Ks for the Bucs today. And now Don Kelly is up.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 10:51 PM EDT reply actions

Flyball

Out for Kelly. Game over.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 18, 2007 10:52 PM EDT reply actions

c u tomorrow

14 strikeouts by Pirates, 15 hits for Brewers. Still only counts as one loss. 6-3 on the road. Brutal travel schedule this week.

by porkypine on Apr 18, 2007 10:59 PM EDT reply actions

Wayback Wasdin-

on his way back to Indianapolis.

by patthatt on Apr 18, 2007 11:18 PM EDT reply actions

I can imagine Wasdin`s

conversation tonight with a teammate about Buerhle`s no-hitter....
Wayback: Hey, I threw a perfect game for the Pirates a few years ago.
Teammate: Really!? Against what team?
Wayback: Well, it was a team in a different league.
Teammate: Oh, you mean interleague play?
Wayback: (mumbles) I was pitching for Nashville, you know, AAA...and...err...
Teammate: Yeah, yeah...I`ve heard about your AAA success before. Who cares? We want to have a winning season before all of our loyal fans become old and die-with the good ol` days of winning baseball in Pittsburgh a faint, faint memory. Hit the road, Wasdin!

by patthatt on Apr 18, 2007 11:26 PM EDT reply actions