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Final: Nationals 6, Pirates 5, 11 innings 218
DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS Getting ready for the first pitch … Game: Pirates (64-59) vs. Washington Nationals (68-53), 5:05 p.m., Nationals Park, Washington Pitchers: RHP Edinson Volquez (10-7, 3.67) vs. RHP Doug Fister (12-3, 2.34) TV, radio: Root Sports, 93.7 The Fan Online: Live box score / Multimedia / Official media notes Related
Ike Davis batting 8th. It’s been a really bad year for Neal Huntington.
To be fair, I liked getting Ike at the time.
Our other options were Lambo, and Ishikawa. Both much worse.
But, I am waiting for the ‘loaded’ minors to bring us a 1B.
Hey Plan. I saw Hopewell yesterday. Since they are high school kids decorum prevents me using the one word description that comes to mind to describe their play.
Ouch, Milo.
But, that section is loaded every single year….. so hopefully they improve as the year goes along.
100 days until basketball season.
Pirates Lineup
Polanco 9
Harrison 6
Walker 4
Martin 2
Alvarez 5
Marte 8
Snider 7
Davis 3
Volquez 1
Nationals Lineup
1. Denard Span (L) CF
2. Asdrubal Cabrera (S) 2B
3. Anthony Rendon (R) 3B
4. Adam LaRoche (L) 1B
5. Ian Desmond (R) SS
6. Bryce Harper (L) LF
7. Wilson Ramos (R) C
8. Michael Taylor (R) RF
9. Doug Fister (L) P
Fister is having a good year. And no help elsewhere so far. Cards jump out to 4-0 first inning lead over Padres. If we miss the playoffs, you can look at last night’s results as the turning point. Blew a game against the Nats, and Brewers win in L.A. against one of baseballs bes.
Look at that bench though…Morel, Nix, Martinez and Sanchez. Gee, I can’t wait! Now I see why “The best move was no move.” The minors must be “loaded” if these guys are up here, cause they belong down there.
Someone is going to have to explain to me how a team’s injury fill-ins are reflective of its commitment to winning. This one is zipping right over my head.
Simple. Injuries happen to every team, Bucs use as excuse. Why not bring up an outfielder to replace Cutch? Tabata ain’t Hank Aaron, but he has some past success pinch hitting and can add depth. Bench was weak BEFORE injuries and nothing was done to shore it up at deadline.
Bench and Bullpen both needed help, nothing was done to shore it up. You said so yourself in a column Dejan. Nix, off scrap heap, has no business in MLB uni. I’m not saying they should have broke the bank, but non waiver deadline was the time to improve depth. Now they got none.
I agree, DK. The notion that we should trade away assets just to have prettier subs for two weeks while we’re waiting for our normal roster players to return is just foolish whining.
Well, even that’s not my point. No one can have that. See, there’s this little thing called waivers. You can’t just stash a bunch of expensive, quality players in Indianapolis. It’s impossible. The Yankees and Dodgers can’t do it, either. This is the most bizarre criticism of the Pirates that maybe I’ve ever seen.
Yes. Plus, the criticism for failing to acquire bench players at the trade deadline — when the biggest area of need has and remains pitching — also is bizarre. Or maybe Neal Huntington is supposed be able to snap his fingers and get every last thing a fan wants.
The criticism comes from making light of what NH said when he said “we got some guys we feel are turning a corner” and how “help could come from within.”
And Ghost…What part of Bullpen help doesn’t mean pitching to you? Just curious.
I’ll add to my last comment, NH darn well better be cooking something up right now as we speak to bring in bullpen help, though. You can pass on 7/31 if the Price is too high, because you still have until 8/31 to play all your cards. See: last year. But to do neither cannot stand
Plazman,
I was addressing the part of your comments where you state: “Look at that bench though…Morel, Nix, Martinez and Sanchez. Gee, I can’t wait!” That spoke louder than your one word about the bullpen. However, regarding the bullpen, we agree: it MUST be addressed.
I AGREE that the slippery slope of always using every chance to criticize a ‘commitment to winning’ is tiresome and unjustified. THAT SAID, there was a trade made, by the Braves, to acquire Bonifacio and Russell from the Cubs for ONE prospect. That’s a SPECIFIC missed opptunity.
And I have SPECIFICALLY cited that as the prime example of the trade the Pirates should have made at the deadline. Broader point stands. Can’t stash major-league players in the minors. They get claimed. This is fantasyland.
DK on this one we are in 100% agreement. NH whiffed on some smaller trades like the braves made but overall I don’t see the logic train between Morel and Martinez and Nix and any broad criticism. The “injury fringe” is shared by 30 teams due to the 40-man roster and waiver rules.
I’m sorry, will somebody please point out where I said the phrase “commitment to winning?” Go ahead, I’ll give you plenty of time to find it, although I can tell you right now you won’t as I NEVER uttered that phrase. I like how I’m getting ripped for something I never said.
Please don’t run off on that tangent. It’s a dead end/ canard. The gist of what we’re each arguing is pretty clear.
Tangent? I disagree. Especially since Dejan said it right off the bat setting a tone for this thread. I never said anything about a commitment to winning. That is a significant issue different from what I said. Others grabbed onto it. I don’t like words being put in my mouth
Lastly this-DK’s 7/17 column, Nothing at all? Seriously? “Other bench pieces, for that matter, changed hands, with none coming to Pittsburgh.
Was Huntington so locked in on Lester and Price that he couldn’t juggle a third ball?
Yet I’m the bad guy cause I rip the bench? Okay
Well, I didn’t cite you for saying that. But you know what? I made the same inference from your repeated criticisms of the FO ‘doing nothing’ at 7/31. So, go ahead take take umbrage at me, too.
So I criticize mgmt for not making moves, it doesn’t mean that I do not support the team. It’s no secret that I am still angry they did nothing at the deadline, but I am far from alone. DK’s last line from that column re: the fans “They didn’t want — or deserve — nothing at all.
So Ghost, Does that now mean you are going to “infer” that DK doesn’t believe the team has a “commitment to winning?” He’s pretty harsh on mgmt that entire article.
I criticize the Steelers and Pens mgmt when I don’t like what they do too, it’s called being a fan.
Chill, Plaz. DK can speak for himself and I’ll speak for myself. NH deserves much of the lack of trust he still receives. Too many bad decisions for several years. But he’s a much better GM these days making much shrewder decisions. I think your criticisms of him today…
…for doing nothing at trade-deadline are off-base. That’s simply my opinion on your opinion. Time will tell who got it right. Not a big deal in the larger realm of things.
Amazing that without Cutch and, mostly, Walker, the Bucs are still firmly in this. Best case: Frank and Cole are awesome going out, the offense keeps kicking it, and the Bucs take the Central. Worst case: Cutch stays out, Frank and Cole are worse than Worley and Locke, and …
Wilson and Watson are not available today.
.
Good thing they grabbed that extra lefty at the deadline.
.
Or – Good thing they brought up a lefty from Indy when they disabled Charlie because they knew they were in a spot today.
.
We could do this all day.
I’ve misread you in the past, Milo, but I THINK I agree.
Casper, good to see you.
Milo is not misread……. he is normally spot on.
Morton goes to the DL & they don’t have to reinstate Cole until Wednesday. Wouldn’t it make sense to fill a position of need for today ? Watson & Wilson can’t pitch, which they knew last night, leaving them no lefties in the pen. So obviously you call up Brent Morel. Maddening.
Hey Plan! Great to see you! Met with some Mo-town folks earlier this week. Thought of you.
Milo is always spot on. My post went back to one of my early posts on the new site in response to his on the 280 limit. His comment went WAY over my head. Ergo, I “misread” it.
I’m hoping Milo picked up on that.
I got you Casper. I get that whole “way over my head” thing here at home all the time.
Milo: AGREE emphatically. SHOCKED that Morel comes up as the corresponding move. I know we are playing one man down with Mercer but seems the bigger need is a bullpen arm at least for today and then you can call up someone else if you want to.
Martinez has a career MLB ave of .182. Tabata has a career average of .275. Apparently being a jack of all trades and master at none trumps having a major league caliber hitter on the bench.
Pirates currently are carrying only 3 outfielders on the roster (Cutch being injured). Why?
Harrison, Martinez, and Nix can all play OF.
Obviously, Harrison is the only one you’d WANT to see out there. But there’s your answer.
Justin,
would you want to see them out there?
I am sure they all could catch also, but I don’t want to see them back there.
Just another head-scratching move by Neal (with input from Clint??)
Exactly how many innings do you project (or desire) for Marte, Polanco and Snider NOT play in the next stretch of games? This criticize the roster ‘on paper’ when it would make no difference on the field is a bit perplexing. Even if tabata were on the roster I wouldn’t play him.
I saw Tabata play at Indy a few weeks ago, and if you thought he was lazy here, you should have seen him there. Missed an easy fly ball that a 10 year old could have caught, and hit routine grounders and jogged to first. He was the worst player on the field.
News from St. Louis gets a little better. Cards now lead 5-4 in sixth.
Cards get them back, now 7-4 in bottom of sixth.
And it’s off to a bad start in L.A. Brewers hit a 2 run homer in top of first. Last week Brewers beat them 2 out of three. Will it be five out of six. Thanks for the help dodgers.
Early good news from Frisco. Phils take early 1-0 lead on giants. Yes, same Phils who blew a 5 run lead yesterday.
Pirates are 25-35 on the road. Only Colorado, San Diego & the Cubs are worse.
.
After the Atlanta series, 13 of their next 19 will be on the road.
.
17 of their 26 September games are away from PNC Park.
So what you are saying is that there is a chance?
Yep. Fat chance.
Since May, I have felt our chances were really bad. Truth is, they have put out quite an effort, at times inspiring, but too often frustrating. With weak pitching and no Cutch . . .
The road issue is a major one. I’m not surprised, without Cutch and with only a little Neil, that they are whiffing on this tough road stretch, but competing in September will REQUIRE road series wins somewhere. At Milwaukee? At STL? At ATL? At CIN?
Brewers take 5-0 2nd inning lead.
Giants now lead 2-1.
Charlie Morton just happens to go on the DL because of a previously undisclosed injury after having a terrible start, just as Gerrit Cole is ready to drop right into his spot in the rotation. Good thing for the Pirates that MLB doesn’t police the transparent smoke and mirrors
Good thing for 29 other teams, too.
BINGO, and much more pithy. You must the be the pro around here.
Again with this, as if the Pirates are the ONLY team that operates this way. there are a lot of things one can criticize the Pirates for, but some of these things are not.
I don’t disagree, but it’s just more evidence that MLB really doesn’t care at all about the rules as they are written – not for pitchers and batters wasting time between pitches, not for pitchers who hit batters intentionally, and not for roster shuffling. MLB is a joke like NHL.
I don’t see it that way. I have no doubt that players have aches/pains/fatigue esp. pitchers at this stage. Who’s to say DL isn’t warranted?
More broadly I think teams should have 2 7-day DL slots, beyond just concussions, for situations like Mercer, Cutch, Walker, etc.
Would starting pitchers be allowed on that 7 day list? If so, teams would really make a mockery of the rules and stockpile MLB-capable pitchers in the minors.
NO, in my hypothetical commissioner role, the 7-day DL slot is position players only.
If this gets too frustrating, golf is surprisingly very good today.
Cards win 7-6. Giants tied 2-2. Reds losing 3-0. Crew leads 6-0z
Rosenthal almost blew that 3-run lead for the Cards. Matheny lifted him after he labored, and walked the bases loaded. Maness gave up a 2-run single but Fat Matt Adams made a huge play denying Seth Smith a tying single and Cards hangon. But Cards are sweating their closer issue.
They left the bus running didn’t they ?
5pm start (not really sure why?) really messed up their plans…so they are gonna try to make up for lost time.
Martina McBride to follow. This is twice now. They started late in Denver to accommodate Sara Evans.
well then I stand corrected. Well worth it to play in shadows at an odd time and force the visiting team for a late get-back for Ms. McBride.
I’m a fan of both ladies. Did you know that Sara Evans is married to former Alabama QB Jay Barker ?
No I did not. But then again I had to really think hard to remember who Jay Barker even was.
Crew leads 7-0, giants lead 3-2.
To Lad,
Just saw your above comment about Tabata’s play in Indy. Well-timed report as his names keeps coming up on these threads. I wish the good Jose would return, because we need him. But Neal and Clint want to win, too. Your report shows why Tabby has been banished.
Hurdle was asked specifically why Lambo (and Chase D’Arnaud (not sure why)) haven’t been called up instead of Morel, Martinez. Hurdle gave the right answer: Both are OFs right now and we don’t have OF needs. We do need infield depth, with Mercer/Walker/Pedro needing backups…
And that’s a timely report, too. To whomever down-voted my post however, I don’t see this comment by Hurdle negating Lad’s point about Tabby. Tabby’s probably not part of any calculus on who to bring up any more. And this has been the scuttlebutt even before Lad’s post.
And btw Ghostie, I was a Tabata guy before I went to Indy. Watching him was disturbing. Lambo, on the other hand, belongs in MLB. He was swinging the bat very well.
D’Arnaud was Indians “player of the month ” for July.
Well, at least the no-hitter is gone.
GET EDDIE SOME RUNS!!!!
We just did!
I was sure a bunt was coming.
I thought Zimmerman was in there for a second.
More outstanding major league play.
Here’s guessing Doug Fister is on the verge of adding to D.C.’s homicide rate.
yes, he’s not exactly getting solid D behind him this inning. the Key though? the hit and run and awesome job by JHay…. catalyst in so many different ways this year.
Bucs need to capitalize, get at least one more here…. figure out a way to steal one from the Nats Nice to see the other team implode on getaway day for a change.
Absolutely. Let’s just keep it going.
“Running into an out” would appear to be hard to do. Walk is right, of course.
Hope Melancon got plenty of sleep. He’s IT today.
it’s odd but he has really been used sparingly for a while now. He should be WELL rested. But my guess is Volquez goes 7 if he can, then Axford then Melancon. Maybe EV can go 8.
Need more than 2 here. How many grounders can be hit?
… and they only get 2. Awful.
Agree, but it should be 3 – HP ump missed it badly.
here’s a hint to the ump. If the catcher almost strains his back moving his glove down in the strike zone, don’t call that one a strike. Even if you blinked at the wrong time. Even if the catcher is Yadier Molina. Even if the fans behind the plate yell out strike.
That strike call on the 3-1 pitch to Ike was a game changer and one of the worst ball/strike calls I have ever seen.
The game changer is they had 3 at bats with the bases loaded & didn’t score. The missed call wasn’t strike 3. That bozo might as well go up there without a bat.
no doubt Milo, Marte and Snider failed, as well as Ike, but that doesn’t make the ump’s call even remotely correct. Give Fister credit for keeping it on the ground but Snider and Marte have to get that in the air there.
Exactly. Thank you…the umps suck for everyone. Our double A lineup is our own problem. I’m going put my foot through the TV on the next dribbler back to the pitcher with the bases loaded. Good God
You can’t just focus on the Pirate’s failures in that inning – and they were many – and ignore the even worse failure by the game official. Fister got an extra pitch to get out of the situation. You can not minimize that.
yes I can, I just did
THANKS, crappy ump!! WOW.
You got that right. Where do they find this bozos?
Oy. Rare occurrence there. An absolute implosion by Nats D gives Bucs 2-0 lead but actually that might give the Nats momentum in getting out of 0-out bases loaded jam with no more runs scored. Hope that doesn’t wake up the Nats Offense….. not a good feeling….
pfft two run lead is nothing for our bullpen to cough up
Did Ike get jobbed by the ump or was it just Ike being Ike?
He clearly should have walked, but he managed one of his massive, swooning little league fly balls to make up for it
He got jobbed. It was so far out of the strike zone. These guys need their eyes examined.
Almost the entire ball was out of the strike zone…he and the Bucs got hosed, no question.
I meant – a whole ball could have fit between the top of the zone and the bottom of the ball. Unbelievable!
yep, just as i suspected. Bucs in ability to capitalize gives Nats life and now they are a single away from taking the lead. Oy.
bases loaded with no outs…this team…man
To do list for Manfred: Some type of PUBLIC umpire accountability please. The Nats TV network tweeted the home plate umps grid last night and to say he was inconsistent is putting it mildly. Balls were strikes and strikes were balls. And i’m to believe umps are scored??
Umpiring is hardly our problem
I can chew gum and walk at the same time, thank you. Just like I can criticize (correctly) poor umpiring without making it an excuse for anything else this team or front office does.
Me too
Ike’s reaction to the bad call tells me all I need to know about him as a hitter. A lot of guys would have been happy that was called a strike so they still had a chance to hit.
Ike 2014 is a walk machine. Not gonna argue that is a good thing, but it’s the reality. He did indeed walk in a run there, which could be/have been a key run in a close game. But there is a reason Pedro was set to play 1b before Mercer got hurt and Ike is batting 8th.
He can go away any time now. USELESS.
no argument there. 2015: pedro at 1B, with a cheaper platoon partner than Gaby. Ike and Gaby (and the $7-8M they will earn in arbitration) can be used better elsewhere.
Right, Karen. To quote a famous fellow blogger:
Stinks.
Still – NO excuse yet again for bases loaded, NO outs, & not adding on. DREADFUL!
I’m out. Gonna watch the LL World Series instead.
will be hard to see poorer fundamentals and defense in those games… enjoy.
Really heads up on the throw by Marte there.
Ballg
Nice job by volquez getting the ordained hall of famer Harper to fly out and keep the Bucs in the lead. Harper is no Mike Trout..at this rate he is no Steve Trout.
He maybe a rainbow trout.
So, do any of you guys have actual numbers on our pitchers as hitters? We have to have the worst hitting pitchers in the majors…maybe the history of the majors, lol
Bottom of the lineup in the 7th for the Nats… big for EV to efficiently put them away, get this to the 8th.
The 8th inning, and the top of the lineup, looms as the big inning, and I’d give serious consideration to Melancon. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
Don’t care if Laroche is a “great guy.” Didn’t like him when he K’d all the time for Pittsburgh (yet somehow ended up at .275 with 25 HRs), and not happy that he’s coming up with key troll plays/hits this weekend.
I’m really glad he used Watson down by 2 in the 7th inning on Friday night. That begins to affect what happens starting now.
And now you see it play out.
Would have been nice if they had a lefty to pitch to Span there. Even if it was only to pitch to that one batter.
i hear ya, but hard for pitchers to do much better than two weak ground balls right at infielders giving us 2 outs. WORST case should be 2-2 game, Ike takes the one out he had and then Pedro throws to first. But c’est la vie.
batter clearly hit by pitch
Giants win
I’ve had enough, I’m turning it. Disgusting defensive effort.
good night irene. this is too painful to watch. i guess i need to shower even better tonight and go get em tomorrow. looking for a low point to this season, even after the 12-20 start? Hard to beat the past 24 hours and the past 5 games.
And Ike Davis can just stay in Washington as far as I’m concerned, with that stupid “who,me?” half-grin, totally lost look on his face. He is as close to worthless as I have ever deemed a Pirate player and that is saying something. Peace, out.
Sadly agree, as I kind of like Ike. But…he’s really bad. Gaby looking Babe Ruth of team, ha ha
Apparently our only easy victory is over an exhausted Tiger team just done playing 19 innings. Geez try some other double A players, because these are HORRIBLE
Okay, wait, so you’re supposed to score when the bases are loaded?
Down for the count. Say Good Night, Gracie.
This is one of those times I’d like to see a bean ball, lol
Yeah, there are a couple of our guys I’d like to see drilled.
Two of the ugliest throws by professional ballplayers I have seen in a long time.
add in the Nats’ 2 and we’ve got some awful looking MLB today.
Now they’re making fun of us
Look on the bright. You didn’t drive to DC for a weekend of MLB (I hope).
Pedro, psstt, I’m not a hitting coach, but LOOK FOR THE CHANGEUP on the outside part of the plate. It might look to be a fastball, but you know better… um, you DO know better, right? Do you really think Clippard is gonna groove you a fastball?
No, no Pedro swing as hard as you can at every ball no matter what kind of pitch it is and where it is located and after you dribble a ball (if you’re lucky) just stare off into space with a vacant look. There! Perfectly done!
EZ Ike!
Wouldn’t it be just like baseball if, you know …
Was afraid I was the only fool left.
Worst game I have seen in years!
Up off the mat?
Wow. Just wow.
Who says bad games cannot be exciting? Even fun???
Well now….
Just when you think the Pirates are sunk, they fashion a rally like that.
Definitely not a classic, but they are getting it to The Shark with a lead!
Love the first pitch hammering by Polanco.
Hmmmmm….what was that limp w/ Josh?
Same foot the guy fell on back a few games. He’s tough.
How hard is it to run the damn bases correctly? I’ll provide free tutoring if the Pirates need it.
Did 3B coach cause that?
I couldn’t tell, but based on past performance, I would say yes.
I hope nobody thinks this is over.
Not by a long shot.
Hope 1 up is enough. I’ll be alarmist again, but this is a must win now- for the season. Need to spoil W.H. Taft bobblehead day.
Walk a guy who has not. Had a. Live at bat in weeks!
Stop the bleeding.
This ain’t 2013 for sure…
They are trying to kill me.
Not to be. Great clutch closing performance, Mark.
Blown save number 4 for Melancon. =(
And, remember Neal–“I like this team, at the end of the day, no move was the right move”. Yea, right Neal.
And if poonco had scored!!
Maybe the friendly confines of PNC Park will help starting tomorrow….
If Marte is hurt it’s his own fault. He took the arctic circle route to that ball & nearly blew the whole thing altogether.
At least dude K’d instead of the usual troll hit against the Pirates. Everybody on here is probably as mad as that kid Root keeps showing. Me included.
I usually don’t really care for all Root’s fan shots…… but…
That kid is wearing his heart on his sleeve…
Gotta win this one just so the kid don’t go home w/tears in his eyes.
Horrible flash through my brain. Games do not go well for our Buccos when they face any guy named Cabrera in the ninth with a RISP. (Ducking)
At least you guys don’t have to listen to Nats broadcasters…maybe worst homers I’ve heard yet
I’m glad there are extra innings for one reason alone. It forces 24/7 to have to work longer. He’ll be extra miserable now.
LOL. Awesome Milo. He is probably fuming. Good for him!
He’ll take the next 3 days off.
You beat me to it. Karen Price seems nice though. Almost like she enjoys being there.
How can this team be expected to win with players like Nix and Martinez?
Nice seeing Cumpton hitting 94/95 on his fastball with some left-right movement on the 3 pitch strikeout on Harper.
How about a nice morel to start things off?
oh hell yeah, Gaby Sanchez!!! Game over!!
or not
And now Tony Watson gets up in the bullpen. Making it up as they go along.
Let Jeanmar finish it. That would complete the sweep and send 24/7 back to the Burgh.
Lonnie Smith faceplant by Martinez. Splat.
“We don’t need any outfield help.”
looks out fourth place here we come
Well, that was disappointing. Gotta get some games pretty soon.
Time to get healthy and think wild card. Goodbye division.
Someone obviously signed in blood for last year. I hope they get that little boy some ice cream or something.
Marte needs to make that catch, not Martinez. At least maybe a snowball’s chance to throw out Werth if Marte is throwing the ball home.
I was thinking same thing
The Pirates had a chance to take back the city. It is slowly evaporating. We are past Huntington and have moved on to Coonelly. This becomes more and more about money. The Brewers, Cardinals, Reds and Cubs would have never let this happen.
Just like 2011 or was it 2012, when Pirates losing streak conveniently coincides with Brewers/Cards win streak. Falling like a rock as a result.
Totally on NH for being unable to add to bench or bullpen. I know you all share that sentiment, but I needed to say it or I would blow a gasket and my 1 year old is sleeping. That is all.
Can’t believe the Nats guy didn’t ground out to the pitcher with the winning run on third.
“We like the team as it is. No move was the best move”.
Right ……………….
I can’t complain about BMTIB because that stuff is over my head, all I know is the product out there is terrible. At times, there is only one legit major league bb player on the field, and I’m serious
And which player are you referring to, if I may be so bold.
Well, I’m thinking Jhay. Reason I say this is because so many people have been in and out of the lineup, there are times when you don’t have walker and martin in there and its just a big scrub fest. That play by Martinez in left was just about the most perfect epitome of this
(cont) thought. Jhay has been the only consistent in an ever changing pool of baby ruths. 1b- joke, 2b-joke w/o neil, ss -mia, 3b – no comment, lf -meh, cf -eratic, rf – needs a few years, sp – not bad, relief – joke +, c-stud
The Pirates are a very good offensive club. Warts, injuries and all. 4th in HR, 3rd in hitting, 3rd in runs scored, 2nd in OPS & 1st in OBP.
The Pirates won’t make the playoffs because their pitching is terrible. Their bullpen has blown the 2nd most saves in the league. The only 2 reliable guys in the bullpen are starting to leak oil due to overuse.
Their rotation is probably the weakest in the league. Francisco Liriano & Charlie Morton have started 45 games – and won 8 of them. Last year they struck out the 3rd most hitters in the league, this year – 13th most. And have allowed the most balls to be put into play in the NL.
So you are saying there is a chance?
In the 13 games since Andrew McCutchen has been out, the Pirates have allowed 58 runs – that’s 4.46 per game. That’s the culprit right there. So judging from what I’m hearing, I guess Michael Martinez, Jayson Nix & Brent Morel need to pitch better.