5 
2Maybe it's because the Atlanta Braves delivered the Tomb Stone Pile Driver and rolled the Pirates franchise into the casket, slamming the door shut in 1992. Maybe it's the Braves fans and players whining every time a pitch that was within a foot of the plate on either side wasn't gifted to them a strike, an unwritten MLB rule to which the Atlanta faithful has no doubt grown accustomed. Whatever it is, I absolutely despise the Atlanta Braves. Therefore, it serves as little surprise to a member of the longest suffering fan base in Pro Sports not playing in Cleveland, that early in the second half of the 2011 Pirates Dream Season, we would have to face the Braves in Atlanta for a 4 games series that felt like 40. The series opener was delayed 2 hours by rain. Game 2 went 19 innings, game 3 went 10, and last night we saw yet another rain delay.
But after all of the waiting, the awful call that awarded the Braves a 19th innning W, and some stellar pitching, the Bucs left town with a split. In a series where either team easily could have taken all 4 games, a split is acceptable. While the offense is still struggling to find itself, screaming and crying for help along the way, the team still finds ways to gut out big wins. Despite some sloppy defense from time to time, it seems that somebody is always up to the task of making the big play when called upon. Be it Kdro's diving stab to turn 2 on Larry Jones' rocket up the 3rd base line or even Vile Overpaid turning a 3-6-3 inning ender, the team is getting it done.
KC was on the hill last night and notched his career best 12th win of the season, going 6.1IP and surrendering 2 runs, 1 ER. While Jones and Paul had some trouble getting turned around on fly balls, the defense had Correia's back, turning 3 double plays for him. Correia also knocked in the first Pirates run of the game with his 3rd RBI in the past 2 weeks, 3 more than Lyle Overbay during that same stretch.The offense got plenty of hits last night, but not many of the extra base variety and had trouble getting guys in, stranding 10 runners. It wasn't for lack of effort by some, though. Cutch was 3 for 5 with 3 RBI, 2 coming on a 2-run blast in the 9th to give the Bucs some insurance. Walker went 2 for 4 with a walk, but couldn't get runners home. Kdro actually notched an RBI with a groundout but ultimately went 0 for 4 with 2 Ks. Overpaid walked 3 times, but Cedeno went 0 for 4, stranding 6 baserunners.
Cedeno also threw a ball away that allowed the Braves to cut the Bucs lead to 3-1 in the 6th. But Correia, Beimel, and Hanrahan got the job done. With 1 on and 1 out in the 7th inning, Fredi Gonzalez summoned Larry Jones to pinch hit with the Braves trailing by a run. Jake Taylor turned Jones around by summoning Beimel, who needed only one pitch to end the inning. However, it wasn't as easy as it sounds. Jones crushed a shot up the 3rd base line that had RBI double written all over it. Kdro dove to his right, snagging the ball, and throwing from his hip to Walker, who fired onto Overpaid JUST in time to get Jones. When Beimel put a runner on base with 2 outs in the 8th, Jake Taylor called upon the Hammer.
Hanrahan was full of adrenaline from having 2 nights off and was tipping the gun at 99, eventually getting Dan Uggla to fly out to end the inning. The Bucs added insurance in the top of the 9th when Steve Pearce drew a leadoff walk batting for Jones and Cutch deposited a George Sherrill offering into the left center bleachers for his 15th HR of the season. Hanrahan got the first out in the 9th before surrendering a double to Wednesday's hero David Ross. But Hammer got the next two Braves with ease to earn a split. Final Bucs 5, Braves 2.
Player of the Game:
Cutch- 3 for 5, HR (15), 3 RBI (63)Head Scratcher of the Game: Jones and Paul both getting turned around on fly balls.
Face Palm of the Night: The Head on collision between Paul and Cedeno nearly put 2 more Bucs on the DL.
The Bucs now head to Philly for a 3 game set. It may be a tall order, but the Bucs REALLY need to win this series. With the trade deadline looming, maybe the FO will bolster the lineup. And maybe I will win the $133 Million Powerball Jackpot tomorrow.
I sit here this morning wondering how some "fans" can defend Ronnie Cedeno. I hear constantly how he has "improved both in the field and at the plate, but then he does something like the collision last night. But just like adding a bat, we are stuck with him for the foreseeable future. Truly astonishing.
ReplyDeleteI am glad to see Cutch break out of his slump. He is just too valuable to the Pirates. As he goes, normally, so does the team.
Now on to Philly. I havent looked at the pitching matchups yet, but the Philths starters could make this series an ugly one. Good teams struggle against Hamels, Halliday, etc. Hoping for the best here. And do not underestimate the revenge factor here also. Manuel will be reminding his players of the series last month the Bucs won as a powerful motivator.
Oh, one more thing. ESPN has stopped tracking the Pirates chances of making a trade in the next 3 days. They only get mentioned in passing as being in the mix to acquire anyone. So it looks like the Nuttings wallet is safe until the offseason at least. Truly sad and pathetic.
One more thing before I go.
ReplyDeleteI sit here and read other blogs and see "fans" saying dont mortgage the future, dont give up any prospects, etc.
The Pirates have 5 teams in the minors, one at each of AAA, AA, and I believe 3 A teams (WVA, State College, and Bradenton.) That is 125 players, if my math is correct.
Does anyone mean to tell me that all 125 players are so protected that no one can be offered in a trade??? I would protect Taillon, and Heredia, and thats it!! So that leaves 123 players that could be packaged for some help.
But to hear some people, those 123 are as valuable as the top 2. I am trying to grasp this concept, and I simply cant. I do not know of any other organization where the "fans" feel this way. Ask Philly and Atlanta if they want to protect an 18-year old teenager who may or may not ever make it to the big show, in exchange for a Pence-type player. Amazing.
Or do some "fans" realize (too late) that our "wonderful" minor-league system isnt as wonderful as they believe?? maybe after the top 2, the cupboard is bare, hence other teams dont want the rest of the 123??? I dont know, just a little food for thought here.
Found this on ESPN from Jayson Stark.
ReplyDelete"An official of a club that has been speaking with the Pirates said their No. 1 focus is on finding a "professional hitter." They seem to have backed off on Carlos Pena. They are said to be lukewarm about Josh Willingham. And B.J. Upton doesn't fit that definition. So one name other clubs say Pittsburgh has its eyes on is the Twins' Jason Kubel. But Twins GM Bill Smith told Rumblings his team is "trying to make our club better, we still think we're very much in contention, and we're excited to see where we go in the next two months." Smith didn't rule out trading away someone in his current mix if it brings back a piece that "makes us better." But one AL exec said the Twins have too much invested in this season "to do anything now that signals retreat."
Why is Neil going after players that either don't want to come here or aren't available? Seems like a waste of time to me.
@ roger…
ReplyDeleteGood point about the revenge factor and our sweep at home. Hope we get a least one win there.
Correia didn’t have very good stuff last night and struggled with control, especially early. They were hitting shots off him before the rain delay. He toughed it out and prevailed.
I’m not looking for any addition of meaning from the front office via trade.
Alvarez doesn’t look any different at the plate than he did before his injury. Pitchers just get two strikes against him and either try to sneak a fastball by him up in the zone or break off a curve/slide into the dirt and he is on his way back to the bench.
I was hoping Paul could add something to the mix, but after seeing him play on a regular basis I can see why we ended up with him.
It is painful to watch Overbay in a Pirate uniform.