DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS
Getting ready for the first pitch …
Game: Pirates (59-52) vs. Miami Marlins (54-57), 7:05 p.m., PNC Park
Pitchers: RHP Charlie Morton (5-10, 3.54) vs. LHP Brad Hand (2-3, 4.15)
TV, radio: Root Sports, 93.7 The Fan
Live box score: MLB.com
Marlins Lineup:
1. Christian Yelich (L) LF
2. Jordany Valdespin (L) 2B
3. Giancarlo Stanton (R) RF
4. Casey McGehee (R) 3B
5. Garrett Jones (L) 1B
6. Marcell Ozuna (R) CF
7. Jarrod Saltalamacchia (S) C
8. Adeiny Hechavarria (R) SS
9. Brad Hand (L) P
Pirates Lineup:
1. Starling Marte (R) CF
2. Jordy Mercer (R) SS
3. Josh Harrison (R) LF
4. Gaby Sanchez (R) 1B
5. Neil Walker (S) 2B
6. Jayson Nix (R) 3B
7. Gregory Polanco (L) RF
8. Chris Stewart (R) C
9. Charlie Morton (R) P
Dear Gussy!! What an ugly line-up!!!!
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Pitch a no-hitter for at least a tie, Charlie!!
This not a lineup that will instill fear in the Fishes hearts.
That being said, we will probably score 9 tonight.
GO BUCS !
(And, go healthy soon, too).
It is what it is…
Thanks, JAL
Josh batting 3rd is quite a vote of confidence. Hope he has a good day. Really pleased for him.
Interesting to think about with Cutch out, but who bats 3rd against RHP? Has to be Walker, right?
National Mart of Records,
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Then where do you put Harrison? Can’t be Clean-up, can he?
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I think Clint goes: Polanco, Marte, Harrison, Walker, Martin . . . . . . leaving JHay at 3-hole.
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Still not pretty.
If he shows he is fully functional, I would think so. Even if his back is still sore, I would put him 4th, instead of Gaby – no matter who is pitching.
Polanco>Harrison>Walker>Ike>Martin>Starling>Snider>Mercer
Well, since Ike’s value is mostly his getting on base, don’t discount him hitting higher. And I’d bunch JHay and Walker. Make mine:
Polanco-Ike-JHay-Walker-Martin-Ike-Snider-Mercer.
Oops, make the second Ike: Marte.
Make you all a deal, let’s count how many days before they put Cutch on the DL & how many games they lose during that time playing shorthanded.
I go with——they put McCutch on DL (NOT Convenience List) before Saturday’s game.
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Bucs go 1 – 3 up until then.
Thornton traded for nothing but cash. This is getting comical.
Billy Bob Thornton?
Loved him in Sling Blade.
They used him as strictly LOOGY, 46 games – 24 innings. I thought he pitched well 2.55 ERA & 1.18 WHIP. Didn’t even bother to put in a claim. I really can’t defend much they’ve done since the last out of the playoffs.
With Watson in the setup role, Wilson is left to get tough outs against lefties, and he’s just not very good right now.
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Teams that plan on winning important games makes moes like this, $/WAR or whatever other silly valuation be damned.
french fried taters mmm-hm
I guess my question is, with Yanks in the pennant race, why do they let Thornton go?
I don’t know much about the Yanks bullpen (only the Tigers
), but FanGraphs speculates they could be clearing room for another trade.
From reading the quotes, Cutch asked not to be placed on DL yet in hopes he can come back quicker. I’m sure he WILL go on DL, but Im ok giving Cutch a day or two. By Thursday they need to pull the trigger IMHO.
I hope Cutches doctor is better than Crosbys….
Rosenthal tweets that a ML trainer (not the Pirates) says Cutch injury likely NOT from HBP, and fact it is on left side is worse as it affect hitting and throwing, he is day to day but rehab time unknown.
he did not say, though I speculate, that trainer’s team was the Dbacks.
You don’t break break a piece of rib off and have it take some cartilege off with it by swinging a bat!! 8 week recovery time, by the way.
Thanks for the prognosis doctor. Maybe you can take a look at this shoulder after I get Ron Cook’s opinion.
Sorry, I’m not the medical professional in my family. I did check with him however on the recovery time.
I still say it was the catch he made on Saturday night. It’s exactly where he landed catching that ball. He was in obvious discomfort afterwards. The cameras caught it as they kept cutting to him during the review.
I believe it was caused by a blunt force trauma!
Just saw Pens re-signed Sutter. 2 yrs, 6.6 mil. Hope I’m not repeating something already posted.
Thanks Bill. Leaves about $930K in cap space.
To be clear, 3.3 each of two years.
Wouldn’t it be nice to have a guy like Casey McGehee as a 3B?
No.
Bryan Morris – 1 ER in 30.1 IP since the trade. Like I said earlier, if there was an award for worst executive of the year, Neal Huntington would be a candidate.
Not that we could use that anyway.
Milo – we agree a lot – but this is silly – Morris pitched his way out of town – if he is pitching well for Miami I would question him – what the “F” was wrong with you for not giving your best on a potential contender.
I hate Huntington more than most – but this is not on him
Cole allows a run on 3 hits in the 1st vs Toledo (Tigers).
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20 pitches/15 strikes.
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Fastball 95-96.
What, no stirring video tribute for Garrett Jones ?
Betcha didn’t know dept.: Chris Stewart is hitting .478 vs. lefties with 3 HR. Whoonoo?
My father did Cutch’s injury to himself leaning over the fender of a Hudson. Of course he was older and vastly less buffed, but it does not always take a violent act for this to happen (although some of Cutch’s swings might be described as violent)
How did the Rockies miss out on this guy ?
wow, score that one ZZZZZZ-Stanton.
Yeah that was poor base running. It’s nice to see another team do something stupid on the base paths.
Great avatar.
MERCER MERCER ME… 2-2 and Bucs on the board first.
Selective perception, or has Jordy had terrific at bats when hitting second?
he only bats there vs. lhp so some overlap effect i’d say.
Cole through 3 – 1 run on 5 hits with 3 K’s.
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47 pitches / 36 schtrikes.
seems to be pounding the zone, that I like.
Another piece of spretty good news. Thanks, Milo.
GI Jones summoning his inner Steve Pearce to be a Pirate castaway that kills when he plays against his former team?
Stewart stinks.
That might be overrating him. Man is he bad!
I was trying to keep it civil to respect DK’s site. I had other choice words that I edited out before posting.
I hear ya. I feel the same.
have to believe the ‘catcher blocks the plate rule’ has an impact on catchers, eh?>
Poor throw by Mercer, but Stewart needs to catch the ball. Both guys on the hook there.
yep, stew has underwhelmed.. on that one he rushed it more than he had to with GI Jones luummmmbbering toward home.
Not much of a relay, but I sure hope Stewart calls a good game, as he continues to show little on defense.
Gaby heading for Mendoza territory.
I wish Marlon Byrd could play 1st base. Or third and move Pedro to 1st. Loved having him last year and would love to have him back. I realize there is a bigger need in the bullpen, but he was just a consistent hitter and constant threat when he was with is. Nice weapon to have.
nice shot of the Charity sign (kinda looks like you moved the camera to get it in)
Cole’s fastball sitting 91-92 in the 4th inning. Certainly a red flag. Has allowed 6 hits against some really bad baseball players. Only 3 guys in Toledo’s lineup hitting over .250 in AAA. I think we’ve got real problems here.
I believe you’re right, Milo.
Cholly makes me go Jerry Tarkanian on a towel when he pitches. How do you go 3-0 with TWO outs on Valdespin WITH STANTON ON DECK??? His middle name has to be Aggravating.
Cy Hand’s ERA is over 4. Mercy.
I understand Ron Cook misdiagnosed the Cheese Chester injury also.
Cole allows a 3 run homer on an 80 mph hanging curve & then a triple. It’s all fallen apart. 5-0 Toledo in the 5th.
hmmmmmmm
And he’s through – 4.1 IP / 10 hits / 5 ER.
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As I said earlier, I’d be surprised if he throws another pitch this year.
Ugh. Obviously not good. Do you think this will affect the Pirates stance at the next MLB trade deadline? Might need a starter and definitely need bullpen help. Hope Neal can do more than he did at the last deadline. Of course, that is a pretty low standard to set.
This whole mess reminds me of Ross Ohlendorf in 2011. The shoulder, the back of the shoulder, the back. Feh.
Carlos,
Last August was the exception to the norm. You should never expect anything like that to happen. He may find a starter, but it probably won’t be any better than we already have. Like DK says, work on that pen.
damn is mcgehee slow.
umps should note that stanton who is 6’6 did not put his hands up on that DP attempt. guess it isn’t all that common.
CHOLLY NEEDS TO KEEP THE BALL DOWN
i may be biased against cholly at this point, but I’d send Hughes out for the 7th.
And a few more runs would be nice too
Way to go Gaby. That’s the production and clutch hitting we have come to expect.
Sigh, Gaby another weak AB against a hittable lefty. But to channel NMR, ‘baseball is hard’. I’ll leave it at that.
Especially hard when the player involved stinks.
Hand is averaging 13 pitches per inning. He won’t even have to take a shower when he is done.
I think it was 24/7 in his ‘analysis’ column yesterday that included Saltala-suck-ia as an August trade candidate for the Bucs. Beyond the ridiculousness of that (need, Ms still in it, etc.), please say NO to that.
Gaby since June 1st – 16/92 .174 with 5 extra base hits, no homers & 6 RBI.
His last homer was May 26th. that was Memorial Day.
yikes. Maybe Nix needs to get the next start at 1b vs. LHP.
.182 with RISP on the year…
Stinks.
Nice to see their pitchers can’t bunt either
embarrassing. pitchers need to LEARN HOW TO BUNT
Nix can bunt!
he had nothing to do with our development system, so ya.
Get out the defibrillator, it actually worked!!!
SALVATION!! Polanco soft serves an RBI single to left, Walker rambles home… Bucs on top. It’s getting out of HAND.
quick hook on hand.
agree, marlin announcers were going on and on about what a great job he was doing
have to hand it to him, he pitched great.
have to wonder if the Bucs had problems all night picking up the ball out of the Hand.
Mr. Hand, you $&@#
its world history I can see the globe right there
Nice “go the other way” base hit.
Now that the Pirates scored, can we say that batting Polonco 7th lengthens the lineup?
Nice job Greg. #18 is gutting it out. He’s running stiff for sure. Doesn’t look good.
earlier this season, I wanted ANYONE even pitchers at the plate instead of Stewart. how things have changed, I actually prefer Stewie to Gaby at this point. yikes.
Somebody tell Polanco how long his legs actually are before he breaks an ankle. He can run but he’s like a big baby giraffe out there.
two horrible swings by stewart…I think last pitch was being thrown back by catcher when he swung
I’ll say it again: Stewart stinks.
When will our fans learn what to do on foul balls ? You can’t let him catch that ball. Irritates me greatly.
I hear ya. Need a fan technique clinic aimed at teaching the first row patrons their responsibilities.
looked like a youngster was over there, but agree with you.
Ok, 6 outs boys.
Cutch hurt. No Watson after an off day. Walker pulled. Cole’s 91 mph fastball pounded by the Toledo MudHens. This team is falling apart physically.
i was gonna alphabetize my DVDs but that’ll have to wait I guess.
Do you have one called “ALL IN” ??
Just great. We have no margin for error.
Wilson cannot miss a bat can he?
Actually he missed everything didn’t he?
Think DK was right in answering my question earlier today. We need more relievers.
Indeed
“Bullpen help? We don’t need no stinkin bullpen help!” ~ NH
Good thing they didn’t need any bullpen help.
This is pathetic….in all kinds of weird and sad ways.
Oh Crap, can JHay pitch please?
Damn dude. That is terrible.
Wilson is a train wreck.
After seeing Wilson walk in that run I would like to say the following….$&%-#+#-$& $%%%#&%$&$ &#&#:#&@@( &$% &#%#%!!!!!
And I second that emotion!!!
And jeanmar gomez is warming up. I feel so much better now.
Mr. Wilson, it’s not nice to make Mother Theresa swear…
Get him out of there, Clint
Boom goes the dynamite
Walked in another run! *(%^&*%$$^T&*5*&^%*(&^%&*$%^^%&*%$&*+%&+*%^
Ridiculous. Just ridiculous. Put frieri out there so we at least know what is going to happen.
Wash your mouth out with soap and smash your keyboard!!! NO FRIERI!
Just sayin. Wilson gives me a glimpse of hope. At least with frieri we don’t have any hope at all. It is almost more reassuring that way.
But please don’t misunderstand Jandy. I wanted rid of frieri about a month ago. Don’t want you thinking I am a Guy Frieri fan.
Frieri makes me think violent thoughts….no one else on this team does that…not even Petey!
REDRUM! REDRUM!
LOL!
And just for the record (now that we’re changing pitchers yet again), I DO like Letang’s haircut
I’m pretty sure you would like anything letang decided to do. Just sayin.
sshhhh!!!
Can he play 3rd base or pitch? How about 2nd base? Is he fast between the bases? Will he make decent contact with the ball and put it in play? What are his splits? If needed to bunt, can he lay one own the third base line without it going foul? All questions to answer!
Don’t know, but I say we give him a tryout !
Wilson cannot be trusted to throw strikes when strikes are needed.
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Which is pretty much every time he enters a game.
Why not just give him another batter Clint? That is horrible. You can always tell if Wilson has it within his first 5 pitches. Clearly he didn’t have it tonight. Get his butt outta there after the first run he walked in. Period.
Clint needs to go to his bosses and tell them what he needs…
They won’t listen. Its all about a couple of new ski lifts at Seven Springs.
We should see if we can get a 2 for 1 discount with a sports shrink for Wilson and Alvarez.
Say goodnight Johnny.
Checkmate
Whats the record for most consecutive walks with the bases loaded?
Nevermind
Night All…see yinz tomorrow
Night!
I saw PRNW on the bench, if an injury, you would think they would be working on him
His back is back.
This is of course all Pedro’s fault – he is an albatross around the neck of this team and should be hung – drawn – and quartered!
Has anyone even mentioned anything about him tonight in this chat? Or just trying to create discussion?
So all of you Pedro haters – tell me how great Harrison is at third base!!!!
Who wizzed in your Cheerios? Petey?
You must have been saving that one up all year, just waiting for the opportune moment to pounce.
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Very silly. Really.
Guess I missed JHay’s throwing issues tonight?
Just one more thought…I felt it was really important to win this game tonight after the whole Arizona thing. And with a nice crowd tonight. So much for that.
Pedro strikes again – he should have made that ball fall into Snider’s glove…
I really want someone to tell me how great the pitching coach is – really – what am I missing.
Are you drunk? Not sure where your line of questioning is coming from?
He’s just being deliberately obtuse and …well…nuff said…
Because these guys do not throw strikes – I am not drunk [yet] but this nibbling crap is not working.
Get ahead of the batter and dispose of him in 3 pitches. Thought that made sense – this sucks
what you’re missing? Your flight?
He is solely on this board to create conversation and draw attention to himself….lets all agree to ignore him and hope he goes away
Where’s Frieri (ducks) ?
:THWAP:
Injuries, bad defense, bad pitching. Next up…
Bryan Morris mowing us down. Followed by?
Locusts and boiling seas.
One decently struck ball in this whole inning. Egads.
We have the GREATEST pitching coach in the majors – WTF are you people smoking…
This team is a mess
It is a mess BECAUSE of Neal Huntington
It is a mess BECAUSE of Clint Hurdle
It is a mess BECAUSE of Ray Searage
But then-it is all Pedro’s fault-his throws caused all this!
Maybe you should take your meds…double dose….and go to bed
Just go away you whack job. I, personally, am ignoring you for the rest of the year…last comment
Damn dude. First troll on DKs new site. Congrats man. I guess.
lol
You certainly are a one-trick pony, aren’t you?
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Mr. Mono-thought.
Make that pony a jackass and you’re on
He got all tore up for stupid comments on the trib board, and for those of you that don’t remember said all of our negative comments about Pedro were RACIST, etc. Totally established and reinforced himself as a complete and total buffoon
I do remember that. Thought he reformed himself pretty well before the switch to Facebook. Shame that he went off his meds. Or back on the bottle. Either way, good luck in your strange little world LL.
socialpolling_verb
Why the dbl switch when it takes out one of the only threats in the b.o? Assuming Pirates will have to get to Marte’s spot at least once to have a chance now?
Pedro could have done that – he really could have!
Cool! I am back in the game – Ike will hit a 5 run homer and all will be well
Well, wonder what good old Neal is thinking tonight?
Will this spur him into a waiver trade?
Or do we keep hoping 2017 comes soon, when the FLOODED MINORS produces that WS ring?
Hoping for better results tomorrow.
Tomorrow will be a new day, thank God
Yes, Thank God.
There will be no help on the way. This will be the perfect excuse for the PBC. “We had too many injuries to overcome to justify making moves, blah blah blah.”
Sad but true, Rock.
Sad but true.
For those paying attention to the game:
Is there something wrong with Watson or did CH give him the night off?
I thought someone said earlier he isn’t eligible to pitch tonight,..
Eligible? Is he getting engaged?
if I weren’t happily married to my car-crazy hubby, I’d be interested
No indication.
The TV guys said he was deemed unavailable
OK, thx Biz. Picked the game up late tonight.
Seems right based upon heavy use lately.
That Morris is pretty impressive, how come we can’t find a guy like that ?
If Morris had pitched like that in Pittsburgh he would still be here Milo – u r being a turd
Really glad for that draft pick we got for Morris. It’s not like we needed him or anything. Lol.
We had a lot of bodies in the BP when he was dealt. Not sure this could have been predicted.
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If not mistaken, we picked Mitch Keller with the supplemental pick. I liked it.
They said Connor Joe.
Take that back. We got Connor Joe.
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Meh.
Morris will sleep well tonight. Perhaps with a smile on his face.
At least traffic shouldn’t be an issue.
I’ll stay up for the post game, and report what Hurdle has to say
I’m not, I’m going to bed…lol…4am comes much too quickly…
Day off tomorrow Biz ?
What day is it?????
No, actually I have two things to do tomorrow
I’m too stressed to go to bed
lol
Remember if we mount a rally, he’s pulled Walker & Marte and we’re playing a man short because they stupidly haven’t DL’d Cutch.
That might change, if PRNW is out again
BTW, FWIW, I don’t think you can blame NH for this game tonight
ONE uhhh..poster….can
You meant poser, right?
Uh..YES! Yeah, that’s zactly what I meant!
wow
The rally falls short…
Z well, Jandy.
Thanks Wild One :*
???
I think in 97, Houston won the division about 6 games above 500. As good as the Central was last year, this year not so much.
An ugly loss for sure, and we have been hit over the head with injuries
Miles to go before we sleep
My high school teacher made me memorize that poem. Along with a few others. Hated it at the time but they ended up being great poems. Anywho, pirates have a lot of work to do.
Yup and we just might not make it, but we are all along for the ride. Hurdle is coming up now.
Robert Frost
I really am done-will not post again. I will read-& smile & sometimes laugh. But I deserve better than this. I am 67 years old. I am told to wait for those really great prospects to win and make us proud. Sorry-I want to win NOW & NEXT YEAR. Enjoy the mess this FO gave u&me
Don’t go all pity me on us. You’ve been much better than this. No need to be so arbitrary and ridiculous.
Sorry – I don’t think I am being arbitrary or ridiculous. Just don’t think what I feel and what I say adds any value. I bleed black and gold – but that doesn’t seem to matter.
Yes I am done participating,…
But what exactly did I do that was…
Aribitrary…
What was
Ridiculous…
Not trying to be difficult-but would real like to know…
I have a number of friends who think I am pretty smart & think my opinions r provocative
Yep, we should all feel sorry for you. You chose to just post incendiary comments. Your call, not ours. Post or don’t post, I could care less, but don’t expect sympathy from me based on your style of comment that you consciously choose.
All the best Carlos-sorry if I have offended you or anyone else. My grand kids think I am really pretty cool – somehow I managed to lose this in getting engaged on this site…
Probably makes my decision to disappear or retire or whatever even a better idea.
God Bless!
Agreed. Its one of the cool things about this site and the trib before. Everyone is generally respectful and thoughtful and if someone gets a little nutty you just let it pass but you are obviously one of these career pot stirrers and trouble makers that live for negative attentn
He is not the only one that does that.
This place is big enough for everyone, If you don’t like the way a blogger is going, just ignore him and move on. Page down, we used to say. Bite your tongue, the blood tastes nasty, but, I’m tasting a bit of it tonight
The sad thing is this isn’t anything new. This bullpen has been blowing leads all season long. That’s 18 blown saves, worst in the NL. How about two 9th inning leads to the Brewers as far back as Easter. And the only answer in 4 plus months is Ernesto Frieri ?
I agree Milo, the build a bullpen hasn’t worked out so much today
Only the stinky Astros with Chad Qualls as their closer have blown more saves than the Bucs, 21. League average is 13. Just be average & there’s 5 more wins. And it’s been happening since April. Must be nothing though, judging by the lack of action. Just my imagination I guess.
Milo, I don’t think they expected Grilli to blow up again, Wilson, or so I hear, is pitching thru elbow pain, Watson, so far has been outstanding
But I understand what you are saying, and last year we were spoiled
Its not over yet, Archie
Dejan has been talking about bullpen help all season, but todays loss was due to an inability to throw strikes
Milo, you just don’t think like TBMTIB.
There probably will be no answers.
THAT is the scariest part.
But, I sleep well knowing the minors will save the day ……. in 2017.
Just remember, less than one month until your Friday Nights.
Heck, we put the finishing touches on our basketball schedule today. See, we are like the BMTIB, always looking toward the future.
Milo, in a way, I envy you.
Nothing like HS sports in Western Pa………… both basketball and football.
Just like TBMTIB …. HA !!!
NO MILO – IT IS ALL PEDRO’s FAULT!!!
nobody seems to want to know why a coach can’t help a player fix a throwing problem- hmm-why do we have coaches.
Hurdle was supposed to be a great hitting coach in Texas – WTF happened – he can’t get Pedro to produce-or Ike or Gabby?
Night guys, sweet dreams
You too Jandy
You are the best Jandy!
Watson was unavailable from the start tonight, PRNW’s back tightened up
Dejan is into this conference
No report on any injury from Cole, asked about Gaby, CH said this year is an “outlier” vs RHP
Pedro’s wife’s grandmother passed away, if that already has not been reported
In my previosly lives, I’ve beaten the BMTIB like a rented mule, but I think that might be revisited within the hour
Great baseball awareness by crowd here to give Edinson Volquez standing O coming off, knowing his pitch count will finish him. Neat stuff.