The Bucs took 2 out of 3 from the Astros, moving their record to 49-44 and a half game behind the Brewers for first place in the NL Central. The next 13 games will be a true gauge of whether these 2011 Bucs are contenders or pretenders. First, the Reds come to town for a 3 game swing followed by the Cardinals. Then it's off to Atlanta for a 4 game set and the Bucs will finish July with 3 games at the Phillies. The Reds are 47-48 and currently in 4th place in the NL Central, trailing the Bucs by 3 games. The Cardinals are tied with the Bucs and Albert Pujols is looking to regain his form. His career against the Bucs has been a nightmare for Pirates fans, but these aren't your typical Pirates.
The Braves lead the Wild Card race with a 56-39 record and have the second best team ERA in the NL. The Phillies have the best overall record in baseball and have the #1 ERA in the NL. But the Bucs did take 2/3 in Pittsburgh the last time they met.
As far as this past weekend goes, the Bucs did what they were supposed to do: beat a bad team. Had Jose Veras not blown a lead Saturday, we'd be looking down on the rest of the division. Karstens pitched a CG shutout Friday night and moved to 2nd in the NL in ERA.Walker had an outstanding series, going 7 for 15 with a HR and 3 RBI. Presley went 3 for 6 with a couple of RBI in yesterday's W and Correia helped himself out with an 2-RBI double early on. The Hammer blew his first save of the season yesterday as well, coming on with 1 on and 2 out in the 8th and surrendering a run scoring double. The run was charged to Veras, who struggled this weekend and it's looking like perhaps Resop could be taking over the setup duties?
J-Mac takes the bump for the Bucs tonight, looking to improve to 6-4. He hasn't notched a decision in his last 4 starts and also hasn't made it out of the 7th inning in quite some time. He hasn't been pitching all that bad , though, and perhaps tonight he can have a big outing to get the Bucs off on the right foot against the Reds.
I am just s anxious to watch the off field "moves" over the next couple of weeks. It will tell me a lot.
ReplyDeleteIf they sell off salary for minor leaguers, nutting business as usual
If the add, what will it be
If they stand pat, as the nutters want, apparently the FO doesnt believe in taking advantage of this lightening in a bottle.
What ya gonna do Bob?
Great win, yesterday.
ReplyDeleteAs far as McDonald goes, we need more from him. His pitch counts, which should be higher for a K pitcher, have been astronomical. He has been far too wild, and needs to attack the strike zone.
As far as trading, BFD, I'm still in the stay pat camp, but starting to question myself. I think ARAM or Beltran could look good in a Bucco uni and Willingham intrigues me too. My thinking that Pedro will be helping us this year is fading.
A more consistent 8th inning guy couldn't hurt either and could be had for not much, I would think. Kind of like what the Giants did in fleecing us for Javier Lopez last year.
Anybody going to the game tonight? I'll be at Mullens before the game, if anybody goes and wants to stop for a drink, LOL.
So I guess fish monger isn't me. I live in Rhode Island. I've never even heard of this Mullens. Maybe some more people who have been falsely accused of being me can show up.
ReplyDeleteBFD,
Your logic, as usual is flawed. Of course you would have to actual know something about the game in order to form an opinion. Be a man, and admit you were wrong about NH and that the plan is in fact working. The minors are better as they have spit out useful parts. The team is locked up long term so it should only get better. Oh yeah one more thing how come wins don't matter now, when in the past that was all you ever pointed to?
Dog
Dog,
ReplyDeleteEverybody knows that I'm not an Anti, but why do you come in here and stir the pot. Be a professional in their backyard, and you might gain some respect. Don't stir pots. You actually appear to have alot of baseball knowledge and post interesting things, but these type of posts hurt your rep.
BFD, I do agree with one thing the Dog asked. You were the big 299 loss guy for the last 9 months. So you have to agree that the 49 is significant this year and that a .500 season would have to be considered an drastic improvement and enough to keep NH for a little while longer?
Fishie:
ReplyDeleteYes this year is a HUGE improvement.
But I still would not extend NH or FC another day.
I am going by their entire body of work.
In the "real" world, you dont get extended for learning on the job, and being a failure the first 3 years while doing it.
Also, I dont see how 4 months of good erases 3 and 1/2 years of putrid, but thats just me.
Oh, and one more thing here today...........
ReplyDeleteThe Pirates should add in the next few weeks, if the price isnt steep.
The fans, and the players have earned as much.
Resop has performed well and does merit a shot at the setup man. He has turned out to be a decent find. I was upset that Hurdle pulled him after a good 7th inning Sat. night. Whoever is going to the setup guy – he has to throw strikes. Veras has been falling short in that department and that’s the only thing that worries me about Resop. Would love it if and when we get Meek back to take over some of the setup duties too.
ReplyDeleteVirgil
I still believe 299 was big. Just as the wins are this year. I dont believe anything has changed except the sun is finnally shining on a DOGS ass as it does occasionally, which is why i am so vocal about taking advantage of this opportunity.
ReplyDeleteNo. I would not extend neal
Dog. You are a real piece of work. Between your sob story here a few days ago to smiziks blog yesterday. Piece of .....
BFD--
ReplyDeleteI guess the question is, how heavily do you weigh past performance against future performance? Or, phrase it this way: should signing/re-signing a GM be considered a reward for success, or incentive to continue onward?
I've stated my opinion before about extending Huntington. I think he should get another year, assuming the team wins 78+ games. If they start out 10-20 or something next season, he should be fired mid-season.
Whehther they fire Huntington today or re-sign him for the next five years, it will not change the records from 2008-10. The question the Pirates must ask is, is the team better off in 2012 and beyond with Huntington as GM?
Of course, that is the matter that is up for debate.
SeanAy- honestly, the team extended NH after horrible seasons, so i am certain he will be extended again. I just hope its not for mpre than 1 season.
ReplyDeleteI think he has the toughest GM job in baseball.... Working with a miserly budget, but i still do not believe I would give him more time on the job.
BFD,
ReplyDeleteNo SOB story here. I did nothing on the Smizik blog. I know you don't believe me but that was Jason.
Roger,
I agree with you about adding, but it has to be right. A rental can't cost good proaspects, a Pence type can.
The other thing is 4 months does wipe out 3 years. As I tried explaining back in the day the team wasn't worried about wins during the complete tear down. They were looking to the future. BFD is right though the future is now. Here's to hoping they don't screw it up.
Dog
Roger,
ReplyDeleteI almost forgot. I think it's Buccs72 that lives in Northeast Ohio.
BFD--
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm certain he'll be extended as well. I don't think this team is bad enough to collapse to the point of 90+ games at this point. I chose the 78-win "plateau" (if we even want to call it that) because it would be the most wins the team has had since '04, and I believe was the high water mark for the Littlefield era. And, it would also be a 10+ win improvement on Huntington's best year to date (08, I think?)
I am obviously critical of NH's decisions, maybe moreso his attitude, but I would give him a 1 year extension.
ReplyDelete@Virgil,
I agree that Resop has proven his worth for a chance to setup for the Hammer.
Roger,
ReplyDeleteIt might have been Beninpa that said that or kgb or Snake or just-in-time or philmickelson or the Doggie or the Dog (who did I forget?).
Oh wait, nevermind, those are all the same person. You know, the one who doesn't use multiple ID's on the Smizblog.
Here is who I was/am.
ReplyDeleteI was Dog on the old blog. When we switched some idiot stole that ID and I became Doggie.
Doggie was being harassed so I created Snake to prove I wasn't the instigator.
I then got banned.
I created kgb.
I got banned.
My wife miscarried.
My brother was forced to sign on. (just-in-time)
Then i became beninpa.
I got banned. (shocking)
I became philmickelson (sadly people say I look like him)
These other guys are different people. That is the complete list
Dog
I must have missed the day you got banned as beninpa, so you were actually banned THREE times?
ReplyDeleteMaybe you should consider the fact that it might actually be YOUR fault and quit blaming everyone else for "attacking" you.
Bob is about to ban you yet again. I sure hope he figures out how to get his IT department to ban all your IP addresses, too.
Sharky,
ReplyDeleteI post from 3 computers. Home, work and once in awhile at my parents house. When I got banned all three computers would show that I was denied entrance.
Riddle me this. Why is that for 8-10 weeks at a clip there isn't any controversy involving me. Once after 2 months or more of posting I'm discovered that the problems happen. That proves the problem isn't me per se, but my name. I promise you if you don't start anything with me I won't with you or anyone else. I have a long track record of peaceful interchanges while I remain anonymous. I was equally at fault for my first banning. Since then it has been my name not my actions. I'm on many boards and have never had one issue with anyone. I was too abrasive with some people at first but it was in retaliation. till a very immature action on my part.
Dog,
ReplyDeleteYou don't hide as well as you think. You are discovered pretty quickly. I knew you were philmickelson almost from the day you started posting. When it was brought up, you cried to Bob that you were not the Dog and Bob deleted those posts so it was dropped. You may be able to snow Smizik but not a certain group of us. You are nowhere near as smart as you think.
Sharky,
ReplyDeleteYour obsession with Dog is disturbing and distracts from any real Pirates talk. Seek help. Now.
Sharky,
ReplyDeleteOnce again you are dead wrong. Not one person said about me being phil. Seeing that i started posting as him in march. no one said anything for quite sometime. So you are wrong again. It wasn't until june that anyone said anything. actually roger said smething a little earlier, but then ignored it. either way it was march that i started so wrong again. i actually emailed bob that i was phil because you were harassing thelastpiratefan. hate to burst your bubble.