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On location: Reds 3, Pirates 2 100
DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS Getting ready for the first pitch … Game: Pirates (71-64) vs. Cincinnati Reds (65-71), 1:35 p.m., PNC Park Pitchers: LHP Francisco Liriano (3-10, 3.98) vs. RHP Johnny Cueto (15-8, 2.26) TV, radio: Root Sports, 93.7 The Fan Online: Live box score / Multimedia / Official media notes
Headed to the yard. Waiting for the rain to clear out. Break out the brooms. Go Giants.
Reds Lineup
1. Billy Hamilton (S) CF
2. Kristopher Negron (R) 3B
3. Brandon Phillips (R) 2B
4. Todd Frazier (R) 1B
5. Brayan Pena (S) C
6. Ryan Ludwick (R) LF
7. Chris Heisey (R) RF
8. Ramon Santiago (S) SS
9. Johnny Cueto (R) P
Pirates Lineup
1. Josh Harrison (R) 3B
2. Andrew Lambo (L) RF
3. Andrew McCutchen (R) CF
4. Neil Walker (S) 2B
5. Ike Davis (L) 1B
6. Starling Marte (R) LF
7. Jordy Mercer (R) SS
8. Chris Stewart (R) C
9. Francisco Liriano (L) P
Reds
Johnny Cueto (R)
1. Billy Hamilton (S) CF
2. Kristopher Negron (R) 3B
3. Brandon Phillips (R) 2B
4. Todd Frazier (R) 1B
5. Brayan Pena (S) C
6. Ryan Ludwick (R) LF
7. Chris Heisey (R) RF
8. Ramon Santiago (S) SS
9. Johnny Cueto (R) P
Oops no need. Thanks JAL!
Stewart catching. How big a day will Hamilton have?
Keep him off the bases!
Or Ludwick, who always hits well here, unless he is in a Pirate uniform?
I would rest Cutch here. He is 80% and even a day off would help.
I was going to post that, but you beat me to it! It sure looked like one of his swings yesterday was painful.
Today is the trade deadline for players that cleared waivers. I guess NH is content with doing nothing at both trade deadlines.
“I keep reading that I did nothing during the offseason… I’ll show you doing nothing!” – NH
Seriously though, as much as I want to give benefit of the doubt at this point, this is pretty puzzling to me.
An interesting day. Could be huge & see the Bucs in great shape for September. If all goes as planned, the Bucs will head to St Louis tied with the Cards-one behind the Brewers. A week ago things looked pretty bleak. Still need to try to get to 88 wins-won’t be easy.
Grounds crew currently setting up infield, per usual, but tarp poised to go right back on. Could be a long one today.
If Walker had swung an inch or so, up or down, we would have been shut out. Today’s pitcher is tougher and no doubt still highly motivated Hope this lineup can generate some offense”
If A, B, C, D . . . . Had happened, we could have won or lost. Walker’s not doing anything he hasn’t done all year.
Another WC matchup, without some key players on both sides.
How does that deny the hope for more offense today? Certainly Walker has been very goo when healthy – I did not mean his hit was some sort of fluke.
It doesn’t, Patrick, and I hope they have more offense, too.
“If Walker had swung an inch or so, up or down, we would have been shut out.”
That’s what I was responding to (and that’s not my down vote up there).
When the schedule came out it was clear that August would be a challenging month – even with a long losing streak a win today makes this a winning month. Need to close out with a strong September
We’re still in the thick of it. I believe our schedule gets easier, right?
Mostly away, though, and last I saw we had the best home record in the NL.
.
Just have to play the games. (You can write that down.).
LL, good observation. I had figured out that the pirates are now .500 since the beginning of the Detroit series: won 2, lost 7, won 7 of 9.
Cueto, Cueto, Cueto, I’m ready to get on him
does the waiver wire claim have a time deadline like 4:00 EST like the trade deadline?
So here is one way to to look at what’s left.
10 with contenders-Braves-Cards-Brewers
11-bags are packed & cleaning out lockers – Reds- Red Sox& Phillies
6-Pesky Cubs-playing hard-nothing to lose.
Cubs will play a big roe in deciding NL Central
The antidote for aces strikes again!
JHAY = MVP
The ball is dancing out of Frankie’s hand today. Let’s hope the weather holds off.
.
JHay…what can you say!!!!
First pitch. Goes yard.
Cutch is in pop up mode – if he is up about a half inch on that pitch it is 2-0
signing Martin a big need. But I am torn on Francisco. Can the Bucs risk that arm holding up for three years? Even if money is good.
They CAN. They probably shouldn’t, and I’m positive they won’t.
Next yr will be the “every other year” year.
Someone MAY be willing to offer Frankie a Burnett like contract. I am warming to the idea of trying to get him or EV to sign a 2 yr. $10/12M deal. Gives them a veteran to anchor a young rotation.
Frankie can leave town whenever he wants.
No on liriano. All focus on resigning Martin and I’d definitely try on Volquez.
FYI: http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/08/brewers-acquire-jonathan-broxton.html
Great news!
I cannot think of a player who so singularly captures a team’s competitive spirit like Harrison and who does so in such a model citizen way.
I can – Russell Martin – Love them both – good thing they are both Pirates!
Fair point.
There’s a lot of guys on this team who are fighters. But, you picked 2 perfect examples, LL.
Thanks for the down vote – I was starting to think I was losing my edge. Yes Jim there are a lot of great guys on this team. One that we don’t talk about a lot is Jordy-he had an awful April-but has played plus defense and come up big with some key hits-SS is in good hands
Cubs 3-0 top 2
Broxton to Brewers. Still owed $9M next yr. That means both of those teams thought, or think, an ok reliever is worth $9M per yr. Glad their GMs run their teams.
Reds dismantling has begun. Your 2015 NL central last place team.
Getting rid of him was a great decision.
His 2016 option also triggered.
Yeah, I think I saw with being traded he was owed something like $12.5 min next year.
Exceptionally good point.
Wozniacki and Sharapoea having a good bout right now in Queens.
Always an upvote for a tennis post. Plus, they are pretty easy on the eyes.
Frankie needs to put a lid on this inning and keep it tied.
Good he gets Philips and keeps it tied. Brandon is worth maybe 33% of his contract. And falling.
Frustrating when Frankie all of a sudden can’t find the plate. I always thought the way he falls away when he pitches was to blame. But, maybe it’s also part of his deception. So, you live with it. But, not past this yr.
Phillips is so slow now. Reds couldn’t unload him last yr.
He’s an anchor on their sink to oblivion.
Range disappearing quickly. When middle infielders lose range, they are a liability no matter how good their hands.
Hate to be a party pooper…
The Defensive Runs Saved for two second NL second basemen
A. +4
B. -7
Take a guess at who they are…
You LOVE to be a party pooper
Well at least I didn’t say it is one thing to have range disappear – but another to start with no range
Never said Walker is a good fielding 2b, LL.
BTW, maybe compare Neil & Phillips offensively since we are bringing unrelated comparisons into the discussion.
& Phillips is owed $39M for ’15-’17.
Phillips is an azz. That is all.
Oh Frankie…
Thank Gawd
Holiday has found his home run stroke – but the Cubbies are still up 5-1
Why is Brent Morel on the 40 Man roster?
I haven’t figured that out either.
Ask Neal–he does some of the dumbest things. Morel and Ike Davis?????
Spark Plug starts us off!!
Cutch finally gets the monkey off his back.
Honestly, Lambo just is not a major league player and the Pirates need to stop pretending he is.
And Ike Davis is?
Yes, he is.
Lambo had 33 PA’s last year and less than 10 this year. Little early to decide?
AW-we agree! I have no idea if Lambo can be a ML player and won’t until he gets an extended opportunity kinda like the one Ike Davis has had with the Bucs. While I did not like the trade, I was hoping I was wrong. When do we say the Ike Davis experiment is over?
I don’t see them as equal. Ike has a history in the majors that precedes his time here. They sure aren’t going to change now (especially after his performance lately). That’s an offseason thing. Not sure why you are so intent on ending it now.
And they kinda took a pause moving Pedro. Sure glad he’s here right now with Pedro hurt, though.
Probably not the same week Ike hits 2 game-winning HRs.
Nope, not for me. All you need do is look into those stoner eyes…
Ah, so you decided this BEFORE any MLB at bats. I get it.
Hit please.
2 pop ups and a dribbler to the pitcher. Ugh.
ugh
Sweep be gone. Pirates can’t get a key hit. A Reds scrub hits 2 blasts. Chapman. Ballgame.
Clint looks worse every day walking to the mound. His hip has to be killing him.
Painful to say the least
Need a bloop and a blast to quote the Gunner
Big series coming up. Did not hit well these last two games.
So Marte getting out in that rundown did make a difference on this game.
Marte, at times, is really “baseball stupid.” His errors in judgement occur all too frequently.
Should not lose to a guy with 1 hr
7 of his career 49 homers are against the Bucs.
OK, now they are saying 9, not 7.
I have tried all year to believe in this team. A sweep today might have made me take the leap, but alas, i still think they lack whatever it takes to win. Call it the kiler instinct, if you want. They just do not have it.
2 outta 3 ain’t bad…I’m not gonna stop believing
2 out of 3 is good. That’s the maddening thing about this team. They’re good, good enough to win the first two games of a lot of series this year. Yet they have only once swept a series. Drives me nuts.
Tough loss. But, three close games and won 2 of them this weekend. They need to find a way to start scoring again. Maybe the struggling Cards pitching will do the trick.
If they win 66% of their remaining games I will be a happy camper. Reality is Martin was rested today, and Marte shouldn’t have been running after slipping once. Those two realities tipped the scales today. So they took two of three. So be it.
Great pitching lately has covered for some weak offense. Buc have got to score more runs – after the two big games in Milwaukee the offense has struggled.
Hoping Pedro is close to coming back – as I recall he has liked hitting in St. Louis.