DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS
Getting ready for the first pitch …
Game: Pirates (62-54) vs. San Diego Padres (53-62), 1:35 p.m., PNC Park
Pitchers: RHP Charlie Morton (5-10, 3.43) vs. RHP Tyson Ross (10-10, 2.62)
TV, radio: Root Sports, 93.7 The Fan
Online: Box score / Multimedia / Official media game notes
Pirates
1st. Honus Wagner SS
2nd. Andrew McCutchen CF
3rd. Roberto Clemente RF
4th. Barry Bonds LF
5th Willie Stargell 1B
6th Bill Madlock 3rd
7th Bill Mazeroski 2nd
8th Jason Kendall c
9th Doug Drabek p
Padres
1st. Reggie Sanders LF
2nd. Tony Gwynn RF
3rd. Gary Sheffield 3rd
4th. Fred McGriff 1st
5th. Garry Templeton SS
6th Roberto Alomar 2nd
7th. Bonito Santiago C
8th. Cito Gaston CF
9th. Randy Jones P
Got to have Pie on 3rd!
Yeah, I get that. Trainor was better. But I tried (Beside Wagner) to stay with guys that were alive at the same time I am
I’d take Pena over Kendall…
love the idea!
Actual Pirates lineup
1-Marte 8
2-Polanco 9
3-Harrison 5
4-Davis 3
5-Mercer 6
6-Snider 7
7-Nix 4
8-Stewart 2
9-Morton 1
Lineup doesn’t exactly strike fear in ya, does it?
Wow JAL! Some serious contrast there, huh!
Very much
Move Davis to 7th, please.
Actual Padres Lineup
SS: Everth Cabrera
3B: Yangervis Solarte
RF: Seth Smith
1B: Yonder Alonso
CF: Will Venable
2B: Jedd Gyorko
LF: Alexi Amarista
C: Rene Rivera
SP: Tyson Ross
I posted my line up after dreaming that NH went out and picked up a bat or two to help out the club.
Per above: Pie died in 1972, Honus bit the dust in 1955.
Davis since June 1 .196
Below the Mendoza line…
Lambo last 10 games at Indy
.308/.372/.462
Must have REALLY pissed someone off.
Knew he had been unimpressive, but wow!
I’ll say this again, LL. Lambo struggles to hit major league breaking pitches. There arent very many of those good breaking ball pitchers down there. Proof? GP hit 340 against lefts at 3a .350 against RH’s. Now the splits are .179 and .300. Its a different ball game up here
Ya like all of Pittsburgh by being completely inept at the dish. Maybe he deserves another chance but he was terrible at the tail end of last year when he was ‘freed’ and even worse this spring. He returned to end and returned to AAA Lambo. He may just be one of those type of guys.
No sure I understand the Lambo love at this point. He hasn’t proven he’s more than Matt Hague at this point, from the left side. And we have a glut of underperforming LH 1Bmen don’t we, including Pedro?
I’m ok with moving on from Ike, but Pedro is who you go to, not Lambo.
Let’s pull either trigger then.
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Anything but “Brutal Ike” right now.
I’m with you. I do not like Ike anymore. It’s odd. He has great command of the strike zone but can’t hit with authority. Frustrating. If we can only morph Pedro and Ike together, we’d have something.
Neil Walker (back) is expected to be placed on the disabled list. No roster move til after the game today
I doubt if Lambo will do any better than Ike or Gabby but can we at least give him a chance?
For sure. We’ve got to at least make an effort to improve.
Agreed. What do we have to lose? That Lambo might end up hitting .190 to Ike’s .196?
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Free Lambo-ghini.
What was Hurdle thinking last night letting Walker bat? He was wincing in pain before he took his first swing. Now he can’t be placed on the DL retroactively.
Manager can’t go inside the player’s body . The medical staff treated Neil, he took full BP and fielding practice, and Neil said he felt ok. What else do you want Hurdle to do?
At PNC today in Section 144. Let’s go Bucs!
Nice spot. You can get in and out pretty quickly from there.
It sure is. And no one up and down the aisles blocking the view.
Walker’s back costing him big-time cash.
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Alen Hanson moved to 2B. Planning for future.
yep, it’s pretty much an issue in August every year isnt it?
Most would love to see the kid remain in Pgh but hard to fault Bucs’ “wait and see” approach with this recurring issue.
I try hard not to second guess Hurdle too much, and in the case of Walker, you HAVE to let the PLAYER tell you if he’s ready or not, ultimately… but the spot to pinch hit Walker there was when Ike hit. Neil (usually) is much better at putting the ball in play. Bummer for Neil.
Hmm, wonder what the time of game today will be?
3 hours – Sunday get away game – Tyson Ross – Bucs weak lineup – Padres weak lineup + Slow Nibbling Frustrating Cholly?
Should be 2.5 hours, but you never know. Cholly could make it 3.
POOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNNNCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCOOOOOOOO! 2-0.
Rene Gayo 2, Padres 0
El Pittsburgh Gayos!
Polanco puts one right next to us! Got a feeling that this is a lead the Pirates won’t relinquish.
You know, Jordy Mercer has quietly become THE shortstop of these here Pittsburgh Pirates. Glad we “just said no” to Stephen Drew when we have a better SS right here on the squad.
This is a key at bat for Nix and Ross. Little flair and it’s 4-0.
bummer. but Bucs make Ross throw 30 first-inning pitches and take a 2-0 lead.
Small favor to ask of all: Pleaae try to keep conversation about the given team with in the right thread. Saw some Pirates stuff show up under Steelers column this morning. All that does is make everyone mad. Thanks.
They’ll get over it. What formation are the riverpuppies using these days? 1-3-1?
Tell the Steelers fans its BASEBALL SEASON!
Another reason to hate preseason football.
Annnddd…Did you actually refer to the Orange midget (sorry..Orange Little Person) as “Big-play big shot Johnny Manziel”.
Two-run daily allotment achieved.
Charley really dealing today. Could see something special this afternoon.
Or not……..
Ike looks miserable…not his hitting I mean. Do you notice how he opens his eyes super wide before the pitch likes he’s just rolling out of bed? Maybe needs glasses
It is probably a technique to improve seeing the ball. Freddy Sanchez ha an even more exaggerate drooling of the eyes.
Love the spell checker . . Rolling, not drooling.
I kind of accepted “drooling”
I think Bob Walk programmed my spell checker.
My eyes drool every time I watch Ike drop his hands.
Ha ha, that’s funny…he does move his hands around a lot, and I thought I heard that the coaches has improved that
Cole is perfect through 4 innings. hit 94 MPH with the last pitch in the 4th
I guess the days of 98-99 mph are history.
I don’t think he’s done with his upper numbers, these guys go down in the minors and work on specific stuff…a few days ago everyone was wringing their hands because he was in low 90s. They are probably being super careful with him
A triple play thete would have really been bad. Really bad.
Bucs pick up INF Tommy Field off waivers from the Angels. I am so pleased the BMTIB is filling our team’s needs- well done!
Cholly elevating.
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Not a good sign.
Good job ike
Tommy Field is a 2nd base AAA prospect in the Angels system. .285 hitter in the minors.
Cant be good for Walker if the Pirates are claiming a guy like that today
Exactly, not good news on many fronts.
Ballgame.
Yikes.
Eli’s backup becoming a problem this series.
snatching defeat from the jaws of victory
Charlie Morton would go to the pen when Cole comes up.
By the way.
Cole through 5 here in Indianapolis: 1 hit 59 pitches
Charlie’s not going to the pen. They didn’t sign him to an extension to send him to the pen.
They didnt sign him to give up 4 in the what ever inning either
. . . elevating and then a bases clearing triple.
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Still waiting for his “stuff” to translate to consistent Ws.
I think Root has to have that guy paint a pic of Morton hitting a batter or throwing a wild pitch.
Oes Morton ever put together 7 full innings? Started like CynYoung, finishes like Jimmy Anderson, or vice versa.
Wow. “Does” and “Cy.”
Is Morton inconsistent or does he stink?
Moments of brilliance mixed with moments of incompetence. Inconsistent.
he is problematic for sure, he didn’t keep his team in the game today
That’s it, Keith.
martinez =automatic out
How many times this yr has Charlie hit a guy on the foot on an 0-2 pitch, only to completely unravel? Pirates have never won a series at PNC vs SD. Amazing.
When is Petey ready to play 1st?
It is so amazing, Jim. Very bothersome, too.
Yeah, Jim, amazing.
Can’t expect to win championships if you can’t beat the bad teams.
Instead of K’ing or weakly grounding out, how about a 3-run blast?
We might have won last night if Ike could have hit that lazy fly to medium CF in the 8th.
I’m done with Ike. I tried I really did. He sucks
I don’t think there’s much to lose. Get Pedro up to speed as quickly as possible and put him in the lineup. Maybe he’ll get hot. If he’s not completely comfortable around the bag, it’s a chance you take. Ike’s bat is not working, and it sure doesn’t look like that will change.
I figure Pedro DH’s in Detroit, gets 8-10 consistent at bats without thinking about fielding, then debuts at first base the next series.
Amen
Yeah. A 3-run blast would have worked. But, nooooo!!
I really doubt this lineup is going to fly vs real teams, which happens starting tomorrow.
Yike Davis. Charlie Moreruns.
Rant rant rant. Rave rave rave.
I would like to see Reading’s, Jim’s and my avatars pinch hit next inning. Heck, bring Carlos’ in!
Put me in coach!
that pitch looked a foot outside
I knew today would be tough vs Ross w only a few hitters in the lineup. But, once we got the 2 run lead, I thought that should be enough. The SD lineup is so weak.
Garrett Coles day:
6 Innings 73 pitches 1 hit no runs Last FB 93 MPH
obviously the announcers read this thread
Charlie Morton signed to a 3yr/$21 MM extension this past offseason.
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What did Milo say about bad decisions the other day in regards to payroll?
Never understood the Morton thing. For a small stretch 3 years ago Ground Chuck was the man. But brfote and after that he is a head case who loses his composure and command the second something goes eventemotely wrong. The fact he got an extension blows my mind.
Another entry for the “Teaching Kids to Hustle in Sports” video.
Well…Thats it. Im going to cut the grass.
So much for that sweep of SD.
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Or even a more realistic 2 0f 3.
Went to Weirton for ribs – very yummy…
Got back in the car in time to hear Ike’s last at bat…
Can only hope it is last at bat as a Pirate…
More important LL…how were the ribs?
Awesome – Dee Jays is a Penguin fave…
It is quite possible this game would be 2-1 if we had our regular LF in place?
Its quite possible this game would be 15-2 if we were playing anyone else
Snider is not good in the field. He had no plan on that triple. Just run toward the ball. Oops! Off the wall. Better go chase it. Such a limited player. I really don’t understand it.
Another example of how bad the Cutch injury is
I mean another example of how bad the cutch injury affects the Pirates
I am really not sure it is fair to isolate a play-or player-this has been a team effort. Charlie hitting a batter with an 0-2 pitch was just as big a mistake. Davis doing his usual nothing. Nix hitting into a DP
Playing down 5 players is hard-it has caught up with Bucs.
Pedro to 1B time.
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My season-ending fantasy storyline: Pedro begins as everyday 1B against righties and locks the position down permanently.
Lets noy forget that Pedro moving to first solves only half of his problems. Power numbers were dipping. He was starting to chase again. Maybe not having to worry about the throw helps but lets not pretend he steps in at first and is a sudden savior.
I’ll reemphasize the word fantasy.
Cant wait to watch uncle Charlie pitch against Washington and Atlanta
@ Jim (BTW its raining)
When Cole comes back what starter goes?
I dont see how it cant be Morton
Right now Vanimal, Volt – quez, and Locke are by far…BY FAR out pitching Morton
I don’t know, Steel. I assume Worley or Locke. Or, maybe Cole goes to the pen? We need help there. I think Charlie would struggle in the pen. He often takes a few innings to get his control down.
I’m sorry. Forgot about Edinson. He’s the one who goes.
Maybe Locke because he has options. Wont be Worley. Also keep in mind who threw today for Indy and who threw today for the Pirates.
Meaning…….Morton in long relief. See you Nix
The Pittsburgh Follies
yeah we need pedro back…..feel the breeze here
Very disappointing
Wait till you see us go Tiger hunting with BB guns!
Not to whine about injuries, but what bad luck to have to weaken the lineup just when great opportunities are in place.
Interesting stats: w/Martin @ C 3-3, w/Stewart 2-4, w/Sanchez 0-4. Seems that Morton’s best games come with Martin @ C.
Snider should always be RF, Polanco in CF, Marte LF w/AMac out.
3-4 record since Cutch drilled…..
Tough week coming up with Detroit.
Well…what to make of this. 1b is a disaster and I think moving the whiff king over there is an amateurish move that will fail. Again, just my opinion. For the love of God get us an actual first baseman that can do something. This lineup was a joke man. No way to win unless 1-0
Don’t know if e have any golfers in our Lunatic family, but this PGA Championship is just incredible. these golfers are just tearing up the course.