Nifty Fifty

It took over 2 hours in combined rain delays, 4 scoreless innings from the bullpen, some clutch defense, and some heads up base running. But in taking a 2-0 decision from the Reds Monday night, the Bucs also take over 1st place by a half game. I had to explain to my wife this morning how a half game lead is even possible, no surprise there. The real surprise, at least looking back at the predictions for this team, is that I was explaining that the PIRATES have a half game lead over the Cards and Brewers past the midpoint of July.

I was worried this game wasn't even going to get played.I didn't want the Bucs sitting idle after the break may have cooled some of their momentum. Epic thunder claps and brilliant white lightning bolts filled the skies last night, seeming as if the driving rain may last for days. But nonetheless, the game, and of course the 2011 Pirates played on. It didn't look so great to start, after nearly an hour delay, Morton was throwing A LOT of pitches. He plunked Drew Stubbs to start things off, then allowed a single to Cozart, moving Stubbs to 3rd with 0 outs. Charlie was able to get reigning MVP Joey Votto to hit back to the mound and get the out at 1B with Stubbs holding at 3rd. Brandon Phillips then went down swinging but after missing early, Morton IBB-d Jay Bruce to load the bases with 2 outs.Great Stuff quickly got ahead of Miguel Cairo 0-2, then 1-2, then Rain Delay #2 kicked in.

Obligatory picture to demonstrate rain delay.

 1 hour and 23 minutes of waiting. After the break, and an airing of Sports Beat Rewind: Jim Leyland (amongst others), We were back in action. Cairo sharply grounded a Morton offering up the middle, looking for sure to be a 2-run scoring single. But Chase d'Arnaud was equal to the task, making a tremendous sliding stop and flipping to the Pride of PR for the force at 2nd. Bruce lifted his front foot while sliding into the bag, allowing JUST enough time to record the out.

Morton settled down after that, allowing a few baserunners here and there, but no serious threats. In the bottom of the 4th the offense got all they would end up needing with back to back singles and a couple of productive outs. d'Arnaud lead off with a single, then advanced to 3rd when the next batter, Walker, singled as well. A Cutch groundout got d'Arnaud home and Walker, after moving to 3rd on the out, scored on a Diaz sac fly. Morton pitched a scoreless 5th, Tony Watson worked 2.2 IP of scoreless ball, The Guy Who Cried got the final out of the eight, and Hammer Time was perfect in the 9th. Final Count- Bucs 2, Reds 0.
50-44!!

Player of the Game:
                              Charlie Morton, W, 5.0 IP, 3H, 0R
This was a tough one. In a 2-0 game where 4 pitchers combined for the shutout, I'll go with the man who waited, started, waited, and then pitch another 4 1/3 innings of shutout ball.

Head Scratcher of the Game: Not that it mattered, but did anybody hear why J-Mac was skipped? Looks like he is slated to hurl tonight, though.

Face Palm of the Night: Sorry Cutch, but the GIDP in the First was a killer. After Morton worked out of a jam, the King lead off the bottom of the 1st with a single, then d'Arnaud hit into an FC and Walker singled to put 1st and 2nd with one out. Cutch is the undoubtedly the guy you want coming to the plate in that situation, but he continued his post All Star Game struggles by hitting into the DP. Cutch is 1 for 17 since the break, losing 11 points off of his average. He still has 3 RBI in 4 games, though.

How about this guy, though:

What a ridiculously awesome picture

Since the All- Star Break, Walker has gone 9 for 18. He is currently riding a 12 game hitting streak and his average has gone up 29 points, his slug %  up 31 points, and his OPS is up 50 points since July 1st. His overall July numbers are as follows: .434 AVG with a 1.031 OPS, 1 HR, 11 RBI, 8 R, 2 SB, and only 4 K in 14 games. While the power numbers are lagging a bit, Walker is hitting the ball with confidence and getting rewarded. 

How About This Guy #2:

 

Alex "The King" Presley- 17 GP, .352 AVG, 1 HR, 9 RBI. .405 OBP, .926 OPS. 12 runs scored, 4 SB, and some STELLAR defense. Presley is a ball player, plain and simple. He has GREAT speed, good plate presence, is a solid fielder, and plays hard.

The Bucs currently sit in 1st place and are there largely because of the pitching staff. The offensive contributions have come from Cutch and Walker and lately from Presley. The ironic part of where the offense comes from is that Littlefield, the Worst GM perhaps in Sports History, drafted those 3 guys! It certainly doesn't make up for his many other blunders (mostly financially motivated), but it proves every GM wins some and loses some.Littlefield mostly made horrible moves, his best probably being the acquisition of Giles for Rincon, then getting Bay and Perez for Giles, then getting Nady for Perez. All of which was undone in a matter of months.

Anyhow, J-Mac is on the hill tonight facing Mike Leake. McDonald's last start against the Reds saw him go 6 2/3, giving up 1 run on 7 hits and fanning 4. His first start versus Cinci was a rough one, lasting only 4 1/3 and giving 7R, 6 of those earned, on 9 hits. Hopefully, we see a repeat of his more recent start as well as Cutch awakening from his All Star hangover.