DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS
Getting ready for the first pitch …
Game: Pirates (59-53) vs. Miami Marlins (55-57), 7:05 p.m., PNC Park
Pitchers: LHP Jeff Locke (2-3, 3.77) vs. RHP Tom Koehler (2-3, 4.15)
TV, radio: Root Sports, 93.7 The Fan
Live box score: MLB.com
Pirates Lineup:
1. Josh Harrison (R) 3B
2. Gregory Polanco (L) RF
3. Russell Martin (R) C
4. Ike Davis (L) 1B
5. Starling Marte (R) CF
6. Travis Snider (L) LF
7. Jordy Mercer (R) SS
8. Michael Martinez (S) 2B
9. Jeff Locke (L) P
Marlins Lineup:
1. Christian Yelich (L) LF
2. Adeiny Hechavarria (R) SS
3. Giancarlo Stanton (R) RF
4. Casey McGehee (R) 3B
5. Jeff Baker (R) 1B
6. Marcell Ozuna (R) CF
7. Enrique Hernandez (R) 2B
8. Jeff Mathis (R) C
9. Tom Koehler (R) P
Casey McGehee, cleanup hitter, has been the 5th worst power hitter and all of baseball.
2014 Casey McGehee is 2013 Allen Craig, but without the talent and clubhouse cachet.
National Mart of Records,
.
Which is more important:
.
a) the lack of homeruns he has hit
b) the multitude of runs he has driven in
.
No cheap RBIs there, since he is not driving himself home via HR.
Betcha we see Vanimal pinch hitting tonight
if only worley were pitching.
I have to say,at this point, the ONLY acceptable excuse not to hear about a bullpen change today is that the Bucs are working on acquisition from outside. Otherwise, why not at the very least Mazarro??
Please tell me Walker is not going on the DL!
Dire straits ahead, Mateys. MAN the ship, NH!!!
So far, no roster moves, per CH, Walker is available to PH
Oh, that’s an update. The last I heard, Hurdle wasn’t sure if Walker was available off the bench.
Don’t worry. They showered. Everything is better after they shower….hoooogaaaahhh
What is Walker’s status?
See above
Well, thinking about it, that came from that radio station that said Cutch had an oblique injury
Cole Hamels & Marlon Byrd have been claimed. Not sure the team(s). The Phils have 48 hours to work out a deal. If they don’t get a deal they like they can simply pull the player(s) back.
Hamels is in the 2nd year of a 6 year/$144 million contract. I think I can eliminate 1 team from the mix.
I think you can eliminate a lot teams from that contract
they haven’t been claimed by the same team, I don’t think. Byrd most likely either claimed by Reds or Pirates, IMHO. Can’t see anyone lower than that doing so. Braves don’t have any $ to spend.
Pick up Byrd due to the Cutch injury, then stick him at 1st, when Cutch returns?
that’s my plan, though I’m not officially the GM. I tried to activate Mazarro but was told I didn’t have credentials. Key on Byrd is whether Amaro, who appears to have found religion on the rebuild, keeps his asking price sky high. It is enuf to have to choke down $8M for TWO yr
Byrd making $8 million next year & easily attainable vesting option for $8 million more in 2016. No chance they claimed him.
someone claimed Byrd and his contract, if you don’t think the Pirates claim him then no way the Reds/Braves did either. Guess he went to AL side and maybe Yankees?
Do you not pay attention to payrolls ? Reds $114m, Braves $112m, Pirates $78m. Never compare the Pirates to any team serious about winning until they actually act like it.
Byrd depends on what Phils want. If they get offered something they really want they might be willing to pay some of Byrds contract, like Astros did with Wandy
Milo, in all due respect, the Pirates have at least $10M in payroll flexibility, while the Braves and Reds have both gone on record as not having any room to make big moves at the deadline. It isn’t about the TOTAL payroll, it is a statement of who has the money available to spnd
But by claiming him they also run the risk of the Phils saying – just take him and his contract & thank you very much. The Pirates would never do that.
As to 2015, pretty sure Gaby/Ike’s take of the payroll comes close enough to Byrd’s $8M, so it can be done if the Pirates want to. Do they? Doubt it, but not out of the question. The biggest problem to me is the 2016 $8M, that one isn’t needed or wanted by any club.
I’d prefer NH is working on 2 bullpen arms, even that Fat Bastardo, but I wouldn’t mind a Byrd redux.
Phils need prospects, they are not trying to dump Byrd, they are trying to get some value from him. They would not say just take him. They try to work out a trade.
Papelbon (SURPRISE) cleared waivers. No word on AJ, Bastardo, others that were in same ‘batch’. Howard I’m sure was also unclaimed.
Hamels will likely be pulled back, but Amaro is an absolute fool if he doesn’t let Byrd go. the rebuild HAS to start soon in Philly, doesn’t it?
“Amaro is an absolute fool”…
Any other questions?
Hurdle says that Cole will do a bullpen tomorrow, downplayed the results of yesterday
PRNW supposedly did not take BP today. So we will see regarding availability
IMHO, if the plan is to have a day off, treat the back, get it better so you don’t hurt it worse, than yea, forego the BP and one pinch-hit appearance today.
Agreed. Even if it takes 4 or 5 days.
Every run they score this inning should be charged to Ike Davis.
Locke being 2nd half Locke already.
I wouldn’t be too hasty in judging Locke. He has been pitching relatively well, but just not getting the breaks lately.
Over 6 ERA for the second half WH. Nobody is judging him. Let the numbers speak.
There is no telling what is a ball or a strike tonight. First time you’ve heard that this year, huh ?
How many can they score here?
Ike is a +1 tonight.
+2
Dangit!
Gonna be a long night.
Jeff Locke tries my patience. The Pirates can get him 15 runs and he manages to put the fear into a Pirates fan.
Somewhat deflating. Way to protect the lead.
Jeff Locke makes me long for the days of Paul Maholm.
“I Long for the Days of Paul Maholm” sounds like an old Bob Dylan tune.
Ode To Paul Maholm
I preferred the “B” side – “Impending Sense of Doom”.
Rhyming scheme includes “gloom” and “tomb.”
Best 5 starters when Cole returns: Cole, Frank, Vanimal, Volquez, Cholly. Locke goes down. Unfortunately, that means Volquez can’t go to the pen. Unless we bring Cumpton back up, I guess.
Criminally poor 8-spot batting from. Martinez, allowing the pitcher to lead off twice in a row. Blech.
Nice polite fans we have. Just let them reach right in.
Two nights in a row. Tonight one really nice fella was ready to catch him if he tumbled in. And then smiled about it. Geeze!
On the whole, Locke has comported himself all right since the homer. One more inning and it’s a decent QS.
Coming up big.
I agree but he still makes me extremely nervous. One pitch away from losing the lead.
Not bad but beware the 7th inning…
Koehler’s curve ball is filthy.
That is the way to bunt a ball with his speed. Nicely done.
Snider gets exposed when having to start.
OK, now we can turn it over to the bullpen. Oh, I’m sorry. I thought it was any year but this one.
+ many.
Need to Giants to beat the Brewers. It’s the 2 nd inning. Giant 3 to 1 . Also see the Indians are not helping out…they are losing to the Reds 5 to 0
Rather have the Giants lose.
? What am I missing, Milo ?
Memo to NH…….SIGN RUSSELL MARTIN. That is all.
Just going to say the same thing, BArb. That hit is yet another reason to sign Martin
whoa, Gaby hit one!
About time don’t ya think!
ha ha I was talking about the foul ball he hit the first time!
gaaa he hit another one
Gaby? really?! No way…
Is someone trying to pull wool over my eyes with a 2 run double by Gaby Sanchez!?!?!
Big difference when you go up there looking to make something happen.
all of this coming off a close check swing call on Martin…goes to show you one pitch can be a huge difference
Didn’t like face on MARTE coming into fist.
I thought that maybe he pulled a hammy or something, too.
Come on lunchbox…put the ball in play and keep this train moving along
Here comes the Cleveland comeback…8-1 in the top of the 8th!
Tony Watson with a 4 run lead. SMH.
A lot more fun at the yard tonight.
8-3 Reds. Here come the tribe!!
Nice what a rested Watson brings. Now Frieri for the 9th?
Just kidding. He should be DFA’d by now. Somebody tweeted Marlon Byrd has been pulled from their game and Nate Shierholtz has been DFA’d by the Cubs. Glad we didn’t trade for Nate last season.
Wait! According to National Mart of Records, Mark Melancon cannot be coming in to pitch———it’s not a save situation.
.
The world is tilting off its axis!
Aah, what’s he know?
Big time shot in the arm from Locke.
Needed, Needed, Needed!!
.
I still have hopes for Locke.
Two big hits by our two 1Bs tonight. Nice to see.
This just in: Russell Martin is still a stud.
SIGN RUSSELL MARTIN!!!!!
I take a night off and go out to dinner and look what happens. I should do that more often.
Patrick—And I purposely did not watch the game last night. Gave my weary guts a rest. Might do the same tonight. NICE game after the disaster of Tuesday night.
So the sun will come up tomorrow
Whew, not always sure that I will at my age. Beat em Bucs
Bizzy,
.
JandyGirl will be pleased you said that!
Jandy is VERY pleased