DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS
Getting ready for the first pitch …
Game: Pirates (71-65) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (73-63), 2:15 p.m., Busch Stadium, St. Louis
Pitchers: RHP Gerrit Cole (7-4, 3.65) vs. RHP Lance Lynn (14-8, 2.79)
TV, radio: Root Sports, 93.7 The Fan
Online: Live box score / Multimedia / Official media notes
And as a little something extra this morning, here’s my brief talk with Clint Barmes yesterday about the Pirates’ state of mind heading into this 10-game trip …
Nice – I lost track of baseball cliches around 8 though
Pirates Lineup
1. Harrison 5
2. Lambo 9
3. McCutchen 8
4. Walker 4
5. Martin 2
6. Davis 3
7. Marte 7
8, Mercer 6
9. Cole 1
I’m not a lineup critic by any means, but Lambo 2nd again seems crazy.
With ya, AW. Thought Mercer was competent there.
Have to agree, Arriba. Lambo is the guy who does not figure into their future plans and spent all season in AAA. Now he’s 2nd? Maybe Hurdle is thumbing his nose at Neal?
Especially since Tabata is 6 out of 17 against Lynn. Perhaps he is the one getting nose thumed.
I was thinking of it more that he’s a power hitter who apparently can’t bunt and is not an OBP guy.
I don’t get worked up about lineups but the seeming universal inability to recognize the importance of 2nd spot in lineup is bad. You need an OBP guy here not an injury fill-in.
I think Clint likes Jordy at #2 vs LHP, but no so much vs RHP, DJ.
Martin would seem to be a good #2 candidate. Get him up as often as possible. .400+ OBP.
The number two hitter will not be on the active roster till tomorrow. Look at it as if Lambo is FINALLY getting his oppo. We may need him off the bench if we continue to contend.
Just sayin.
Stuart
Cardinals Lineup
1. Jay 8
2. Taveras 9
3, Holliday 7
4. Adams 4
5. Peralta 6
6. Molina 2
7. Descalso 5
8, Kozma 4
9, Lynn 1
Some way, somehow, need to keep Holliday from smacking HRs to left and dinking singles to right.
He scares me also right now, DJ. He’s definitely hearing up.
* heating up. Sorry.
Geez, that little lip curl sneer is enough to scare anyone, Jim.
The temp is supposed to be 88 with dew points above 65 (considered oppressive). Hot, humid, rainy, sucky. Yep. That’s how I remember St. Louis. And, they don’t even have the bowling HOF anymore.
They don’t? Where’d it move to?
What about Dick Weber?
Nope. It’s in Arlington, Texas now. Like Texans know how to bowl.
Must be the weather.
And they are expecting heavy rains later.
Pirates DFA Chris McGuiness and add John Holdzkom to the 40. That tell me they will bring him up soon
Will be interesting to see what arms are brought up. Holdzkom has had a nice run and seems to be able to keep the walks down – Andy Oliver has done OK – but still walks too many. Indy season ends today.
Need to know when to Holdzkom, know when to Foldzkum.
You know, I just think its ridiculous that some teams have Labor Day off.
Just sayin
Astros fired their mgr. today.
yawn. wake me when the gm is fired, and that will happen. pissed too many powerful people off, especially Boras.
This 10-game trip shouldn’t be as bad as some think. These 3 in STL will be hard-fought, as always, but the next 7 in CHI and PHI should be a decent bet for 5-2. Cubs and Phillies would love to play spoilers, but their talent level is far below the Bucs in my opinion.
Last I looked, Cubbies putting some runs on the board.
Cannot take anyone for granted now.
Also gave up 13 and 9 last two games
The Cubs are now potent, offensively.
Pirates are 9-4 against CHI this season. The Cubs lineup, most days now, is full of rookies. Rizzo is the only one I truly fear. If the Bucs starters (assuming Liriano, Worley, Cole) continue to pitch well, that series should not be a problem.
I love how everybody has the Scrubs pencilled in as 2016 World Champs. We’ll see, but my belief is that Epstein/Hoyer get way too much credit and unproven players will have to blossom. I like their track record to prove me correct.
Next year doesn’t matter right now, Oshie. Fact is they are playing winning baseball right now. Think Pirates stinky teams over last 20 years. What matters to us is today, and it’s kind of nice.
The Pirates made their last trip into St. Louis September 6-8 last year a half game ahead of the Cardinals. The Redbirds swept them by a combined score of 26-10 & the division was lost. This year, a similar result will probably kill their playoff hopes.
Good to know.
Well, if you only svore in the first . . . Get lots!
Lynn is perfect matchup for the Bucs. strength is fastball and Bucs can hit the hard stuff. Same with Shelby Miller on Wed.
Nice start – but need to add at least one to make take advantage of Lynn and get a nice cushion for Cole. Can Davis come through?
Ike, 3-1 pop up. nice
Walking from the car to the Pitt game on Saturday, just as I was about to turn the corner around PNC Park, here comes Ike Davis headed for work. I said hi & told him to keep it going. He said thanks. And he hasn’t had a hit since.
it’s your fault!
I was thinking that too, but he’s stunk for years without me.
Too bad it wasn’t after the game. Could have quoted Newman from Seinfeld, “Nice game, pretty boy.”
John Jay is a Bucs’ killer. Unbelievable. And further evidence the freeze for Bourjos trade was yet another Mozelik mistep.
His play against us seems to always excel.
Agree. Can’t stand Jay when he is against us.
Enough with the compliments, lets get a voo doo Jay doll & stick a pin in it.
Taveras = Cardinals weak link.
I really want to see them light up, Lynn. After watching the video of what he screamed after striking out JHay in his final at bat last week, my opinion of him is pretty low.
I was thinking the same, Jim. Wow, nice ab Lambo!
Not seeing many games, I missed this. What was said? Or do you have a link to it?
Lynn struck him out and yelled something that rhymes with “Duck You”.
Thanks patton.
*
But is that all that much different than what AJ yelled at an opposing batter last year?
*
And it seemed like AJ was praised for his fire, intensity and competitiveness after saying what he said.
I think it’s very different.
was juuust about to type : Lambo Looks Lost, and then he hammers the RBI double off the wall. Nice swing. Nice add-on.
What an AB by Lambo. Not just an RBI 2b, but a long AB RBI 2b !
While I agree that the 2 slot is not perfect for Lambo, I am an unabashed fan of his. I just love his swing. And it actually worked hitting him there. Keep it up 57!
amid all the lineup bashing, and boy do we love to lineup bash, perhaps Lambo in 2 spot to see better pitches with Cutch and Walker due up… to perhaps give the kid a better chance in his ABs? But nah, let’s go back to bashing.
I think Clint’s explanation was he didn’t want to move 5 guys if he could move 1.
Really, Cmat? I was the only one that commented, and I rarely do on lineups.
Love to be wrong. You need to get some new material, or at least read the comments.
AW: Always searching for new material, but I count like 6 -posts above questioning Lambo at 2. You indeed started it, but universally I think the mood was No to Lambo, yes to Mercer, Martin or even Tabata. If I read correctly. and I did read. thanks.
You thought those posts were “bashing?”
Sounded pretty rational discussion to me. But, you know better.
cutch just has lost a smidgen of bat speed through the zone and just can’t quite get there. He needs to find some time to get a little better.
agree, but he will figure it out.
Andrew Lambo has been dead & buried twice this year. And here he is in the most important stretch of the year getting yet another opportunity. It just goes to show you can never quit, especially on yourself.
He most definitely has the swing. And he’s still young enough to keep getting a chance. I think I’ve seen enough of Ike, so he can go. Rather give Pedro/Lambo/Snider the chance to grab a hold of 1B for 2015.
I don’t know what his future is with the Bucs, given their OF talent. But, I think he’s going to hit at this level for some team. I wouldn’t count him out at 1b, either. He could potentially give them another decision to make this off-season.
Upvote on all 3 above.
Where would JHay be if he/the club had quit?
JHay is just an athlete… made that play there with tricky footwork and no way Pedro makes that. He’s the starting 3B for me in 2015 and it’s not even close. He’s a better fielder than Pedro, flat out. Petey will work on throwing in winter but he should really try to hone 1b.
Absolutely agree.
Yes yes yes yes
When is Pedro due back or did i miss something? Off season will have some big decisions for NH and Clint.
Simplifying it for them.
1) Market Pedro and Neil, aggressively.
2) Send Ike and Gaby packing.
3) If no deals in 1, Pedro at 1B, JHay at 3b.
4) Assuming Martin re-signs, consider Russ the platoon 1B, get Sanchez into lineup more at C, rest Russ more and keep his bat in lineup.
Jordy Gomez.
Speaking of Gomez, he left yesterday’s game due to injury. Wrist or arm, I think. Did anyone hear anything more?
he is NOT in the lineup today. but haven’t heard otherwise.
Said he heard something pop in his wrist, X-ray negative but no MRI yet. Day to day.
Cardinals CF: one guy hits and can’t field; the other guy fields & hasn’t hit much.
Jay hit us well, and to my eyes, he is a good fielder but don’t know the stats. Bourjos is an absolute waste, and the Cards would be better with Freeze.
They traded for Bourjos and handed him CF because of Jay’s defense in CF. Jay has always hit well enough.
yes they did, and they are regretting it.
Ok, now let him roat out there on 1b.
Roast. I spell like JW pronounces.
you schhhure do.
I am going to sit on the other side of the room. It appears Cole is throwing strikes and not getting anything. Maybe a change of angle will help.
I think we are spoiled by the PNC centerfield camera work. I saw one I thought was clearly a strike that was 6″ off the plate.
You. Have. To. Get. The. Pitcher. Out.
And. no. 4. pitch. walks. to. Cards’. weak. link. in. front. of. red. hot. Holliday.
Cole needs to develop a better off speed pitch. A change up would be nice.
DJ knows of what he speaks (holiday).
The Pirates have 3 shutouts this year. In all of MLB, only the Rockies have fewer – 2.
.
Last year the Pirates had 16 shutouts – 4th best in MLB.
And not tendering AJ was a good idea
Volquez has been better than AJ. He was the replacement.
History is proving out that they were right not to sign him. He stinks. But the qualifying offer is a different story.
The money was there for both. I am not sure they saw Volquez as AJ’s replacement – thought he was a low cost reclamation project and in spring training things were not looking very good. DK had some “put me out of my misery” posts on a couple of EV starts
Could not agree with you more, Milo.
Thanks Milo! Folks keep thinking I wanted to sign AJ. I really wanted the draft pick. But had he signed for $15M AJ would have taken on the other teams #1 for the first half of the season, that would have dropped everyone else down a slot and led to a better rotation IMHO
Lonely: AJ ends up signing not only for big bucks for 2014 with the Phils but also for a huge option year in 2015. Pretty sure I want that money directed to re-signing Russell Martin, not tied to AJ in 2015 at age 39.
Irrelevant to QO, Cmat.
No offensive hibernation after the early innings today, guys. I don’t see 3 runs being enough. Finish off Lynn.
Josh ruining his MVP chances with the Manziel jersey
Chill folks – it was a joke
Welllington Castillo 2-run HR puts Cubs up 3-0.
Just a joy watching JHay play. Absolute pleasure.
Maybe JHay while running down the line returned the “F-U” to Lynn there.
bummer. like the hustle but being at 3 with 1 out that wasn’t smart.
I don’t think he uses that kind of language.
. . . and now pain.
Didn’t you see his jersey? It said Manziel on it. He’d say ANYTHING!
Stupid.
They give away runs with base running mistakes on a daily basis. Yesterday, Marte. Today, that.
TOOTBLAN. Thrown Out On The Bases Like A Nincompoop. We have to lead the league.
With a couple of minutes to think about it, it was really stupid. No wonder they lose these types of games.
Leyva: “Ya think ya can make it?”
.
Harrison: “Sure”
.
Leyva: “Go for it.”
Very possibly, but I see this stuff all over the Majors.
Used to think John Russell was worst 3B coach I ever saw. Not anymore.
That has nothing to do with the coach.
Leyva watching play in front of him needs to tell him speed and turn. Harrison coasted to 3B, stopped and then ran from standing start. He makes the turn at 3B and then runs, he’s safe.
.
Levya’s a statue.
JHay’s dumb move and there is NO REASON to mention Leyva in any way on that play. Was an errant throw to 1b, not something the 3b coach is going to wave a runner home on. Geeze.
Disagree Leyva’s faultless. With coaching, JHay’s not standing on 3B bag but is making the turn. He makes that turn, he’s safe, regardless that JHay played it aggressively.
Matt Adams just looks lost right now. New diet sapping his energy?
Nobody’s perfect.
He’s been close to perfect this yr. I’d say that’s his one blind spot. But, his aggressiveness probably makes him as good as he is in all other areas.
come on clint what are you watching? cutch just can’t swing the bat with any authority.
I missed the first inning, but didn’t Cutch hit a ground rule double? Just saying…
Harrison probably should have stayed at 3rd there but man oh man was he running hard for home.
Any team ever start a all Latin lineup? Cubs are getting there.
check back in 2025. all teams will.
Don’t know about Latin, but the Pirates were the first to have an all-black lineup.
I am just quietly watching the game, wasn’t going to comment, but Milo’s TOOTBLAN just made me chuckle! Sounds like something my grandmother would blurt out when she got mad.
TOOTBLAN tracker – http://tootblan.tumblr.com
Awesome! Thanks Carlos.
Appreciate the share
Very entertaining website
Sad to see Marte leading the MLB in TOOTBLAN with 18
Buccos tied for 5th in TOOTBLANs
The Hall of Fame section is worth a look
The cubs are brings some talent to the bigs. Young and inexperienced but if they get some pitching will turn it around.
Dilson Herrera with a HR & 2 run triple today. Has as many XBH as David Wright since the AS Break.
Mets are regretting the big Wright contract. He’s Jason Bay-ing it.
An interesting question is whether we said no to Alen Hanson but yes to Herrera in that trade.
.
Wasn’t Herrera was at a lower level at the time? I know Hanson was still at SS then.
Hanson > Herrera. Then , now and hopefully in the future.
Says you, cmat. We’ll see. But, Hanson was a SS when Dilson was traded.
Hope so, cmat. Hanson has a slightly bigger frame and perhaps greater power potential.
.
Just hope Herrera does not turn out to be Altuve. Reminds me of him.
No problem with Harrison out at home. Trying to make something happen. Same as him turning single into double. Took a chance. Also, a good throw on Lambo’s double gets Harrison at home. He took a chance there and made something happen.
Crunch time. Stars are aligning today. 9 more outs to make it interesting.
We are leaving way too many guys on base.
Agree…Lynn’s up to 1,000 pitches & we should have put him away innings ago.
Wait, wait – I thought there was a rule that pitchers could not pitch more than 100 pitches!
Bob Gibson never counted his pitches
Guess what LL, their catcher actually catches day games after night games. Gasp !
Milo – that has to happen only in an alternate universe – according to the all seeing Hurdle on the 7th day the Martin must rest. Does not matter if the game is important and the team should be putting it’s best 9 out there – REST is what we care about
I have never been prouder of getting 2 down votes. Don Hoak would have put himself on 3rd base and told Murtaugh to pound salt Sunday had Danny tried to “give him a day off”. Playing to win is a lot more important than having everyone feel good at the end of the year IMHO!
Only 75 pitches for Cole thru 6.
I feel the Bucs run the bases like a small ball team, taking lots of chances for 1 extra base & trying to scratch out 1 run. But, they have a patient, powerful offense that is built to play for big innings. Seems like a mismatch to me.
Was someone earlier questioning whether Cutch can turn on a pitch? ummmm….
LOL! Cutch must’ve been reading…
Braves get three more outs in bottom of the 9th and it’s a no-no if they can’t get a hit. Phils still adding on in top of 9th.
No doubt about it!
Glad Cutch didn’t take himself out of the lineup.
As long as his 80% clears the wall, we’re still good.
WHOA! Cutch did not look slow or hurtin’ on THAT swing!
Did someone post that Hurdle needed to replace Cutch because he lost his power due to injury?
Gee what is Clint doing. Can’t he see Cutch has no bat spee….. Oh Maybe he DOES know what he is doing.
Great HR by Cutch-he is awesome at 80% [still think he needs to be in LF]. Ran across this quote.
“I’ve played a couple of hundred games of tic-tac-toe with my little daughter and she hasn’t beaten me yet. I’ve always had to win. I’ve got to win.”
Any guess on who?-No Milo!
I don’t know who said it, LL. But, you’re right about Cutch. He’s still rely good at 80%. I’m hoping he is slowly getting healthier as we move along.
Papelbon in to try to complete the no hitter. 7-0 Phils.
No hitter.
Matheny channelling his inner LaRussa here. But if he is so inclined to go lefty-right, I hafta ask, why Segrist to pitch to CUTCH? Cutch owns LHPs, historically. Now he goes to the righty vs. Gaby? Not sure I understand.
Harrison’s dash for home: He rounded 3d and slowed down when he saw that Molina’s throw to first went through. So he ran for home. Leyva had no time to figure out what was going on. Josh was out because Molina had his left foot & leg smack on the 3b side of the plate. Blocking!
No way. Josh had a path to home.
Phils get their first combined no hitter in team history at Atlanta.
More wild card help.
Yeah, send Neil Walker, one of your slowest players, vs Molina. They work so hard transitioning to a high OBP team. Then, they give away outs every day. They really need to rethink some stuff this offseason. I love CH, but this is his doing.
was hit and run. Cards stole the sign.
I know, but why play small ball with a big ball lineup?
You normally hit & run with your slowest guys to stay out of the double play. They pitched out, they win.
and gaby’s grounder to SS validated that.
NH’s off season “to do” list:
.
1. Sign Martin
2. Lock up Cole longer term
2. Over Scott Boras’ dead body.
Perhaps they can approach Scotty B with a package..Pedro and Cole… we’ll overpay on Petey but balance with Cole. Ha!
Gotta make the push, otherwise we shouldn’t be drafting Boras clients.
.
Cole’s far enough away that Cole should have interest, and so should we.
Didnt say Bucs wouldn’t make the ‘push’. Boras on record as saying he doesn’t want his players signing extensions unless they are ‘obviously slanted in the player’s favor’. And we already know Boras values his players very highly.
Do you have one even remotely possible ?
3. Fire Leyva.
Hope Wong has a headache. He has been very annoying.
Arrrgh!
Prophetic Patrick, sadly so. Wehner said it, you can’t give him something inside to drive, and Cole did it.
Marte can play some D, can’t he? Very noticeable pick up in his game after he came back from the concussion.
Unfreaking believable.
Wonged again.
Ouch!
Wong = John Jay = Chris Heisey
I am not a Cole fan – great stuff – but gets beaten by C level talent. Give me a Locke or a Worley – I would trade this guy in the off season.
Axford with a real hatchet job. We have nobody to turn to outside of 2 or 3 guys in the pen. If they’re “unavailable” we are cooked.
These games are making me crazy. Meaningful baseball in September…
You really are nuts, LL. Is certainly designed to get you attention, though.
Sorry for the Frank comment.
I know AW-thought that i would generate the down votes. But Cole DOES get beaten by C level talent. Wong is a an AAAA player & made that look easy-this is not the only/first time this has happened. The guy has talent-but he lacks something-let someone else figure him out
one batter too many for Cole. Jay is a killer, should have let Wilson face him. Cole is a gamer, but now we are staring at the barrel.
I really think Wong missed 1st base.
Crunch time failure. Stars now misaligned.
Left him in too long. Is ch oosing faith in his pen?
Now they ask Axford to be perfect after having pitched once in 9 days.
Holy Cow, Axford isn’t even in the right zip code. This could get ugly.
Hope the storyline is not baserunning blunders after this one. Need to pull out a win.
I’d go ahead and walk Holliday, bring Wilson in to face Adams.
play this like the 9th inning, might as well.
Melancon was a better option. Oh, I forgot. He’s a closer. He’s a better pitcher, but that doesn’t matter to any manager in MLB.
You’re so right, cmat. Pitching to Holliday at 3-0, then 3-1 is suicide there.
just dont understand the moves. Can’t let Holliday beat you, once you walk the weak link Tavaras, might as well load the bases and face Adams. And you may have had the DP ball from him
Painful to watch right now. Really need an “at ‘em” ball.
Yikes.
In a season full of crushing losses, this one will be right up at the top.
well,. with Martinez and Rosenthal, I guess I will go ahead and watch the last 2 innings. There’s a chance…..
Epic gag job by Cole when they could least afford it. It’s the story of the season. They do whatever is necessary to blow games like this in the late innings. It’s been happening since April.
A familiar script on the road lately unfortunately.
I won’t count them out yet, but this team is killing me right now. Axford is your choice there?
this is on Gerrit Cole, no one else.
The quote I put up earlier was from the greatest right hand pitcher I have ever seen-Bob Gibson. He would have cut his heart out on the mound had he given up a home run to a mediocre player like Kelton Wong in a situation like this. #1 Picks need to step up and do more!
If Jordy bunts again w 2 strikes, my head will explode.
Thanks for saving my head, Jordy!
I say lunchie should bunt, but that’s always my strategy. guess not
time for a JHay miracle!!!
nope, JHay got the Marte treatment and swung at 3 straight slider – balls.
Our manager is managing to mismanage us out of this one.
So you guys know more than me, why is Snyder not bunting there?
When was the last time he batted at all?
most of the blog detests bunts, I called for it… my guess was Clint wanted to take 3 shots at the base hit with a RISP .
I am with Earl Weaver on this – a much smarter and better manager than the one in the Pirate dugout.
Please, please, please watch rapid-fire posts. Hurts the process for everyone, LL. Thanks.
1960 Game 7, Bottom of 8th, after Groat drove in a run, Murtaugh bunts number 3 hitter (Skinner) with runners on 1st and second and Yankees up 7-5. Ultimately, with second and third, Pirates got one run on Clemente’s two-out infield single. And Miller … Pirates fans know.
Miller… Nice. Hal Smith. Sorry, my bad.
OK, Mr. Lambo. Your time has arrived.
. . . and left.
Pop outs R us.
Cards just find a way to win. It’s nauseating.
just as the Bucs do at home. They just haven’t put it together on the road. Quite the opposite. Seem to find ways to lose.
Nice play by Adams.
he’s not hitting half his weight lately but that was a nice rumbling effort.
Not to worry. clint still has the with a career .348 average at this ballpark on the bench.
Tabata is to them what Jay is to us, right?
Yup, w/o the home runs.
Gomez with an appearance out of the witness protection program.
Gomez?
FINAL, Brewers free fall continues, Cubs win, Cubs win, Cubs win 4-2. Cue Tom Petty.
Boy do I just HATE the Brewers and revel when they lose. Take just a teeny bit of sting of this one.
I’ve never disliked a team more than them in baseball. I’d love to see them collapse and miss the playoffs.
they are.
Brew Crew are 22-32 since June 28. 4.5 games BEHIND the CUBS over that same stretch.
Big game up 3-0 zip and had an opportunity to put some distance between the cards. This game is a shining example of why the Pirates with out a Pedro hitting 36 out like last year is just to much to overcome. They battle, but just can’t come up with the put away. Cole Ok
Cole not OK. Up 4-2 in the 7th, he needs to lock that down. Give up tying HR and a triple with no outs as he exits, that is the loss right there.
Rosenthal threw maybe one schhtrike to Walker. Patience is a virtue.
OK, hafta ask. I get that Molina and Rosenthal can conference, 2 out no one one, 2-2 count on Martin. But WTF is Kozma doing on the mound during that????
Matt Adams has become a butcher in the field. Why he roamed over to standard 2b position is beyond me.
Look at his fielding metrics vs. the LTS and get back to me…
Two painful losses for sure…
Cole wasn’t bad he was Ok for the most part. Just not the pitcher he was last Sept. Byrd had many big hits last September and the bucs have no one who can come in and do that. JHay will slump and then it’s lights out.
Ike Davis and Gaby pathetic all year but Neal said the team didn’t need anyone.
To quote Pitt’s kicker: Blewitt.
Really needed to drive the stake in them EARLY when we had a gazillion chances. Offensive FLOP today, despite the late pitching blips. Just not a good feeling about this one at all.
This one’s on Hurdle. Should have put Wilson in after the walk, let alone keeping Cole in after the HR. That play by Jon Jay in the first turned out to be huge too.
I’ll bet Hurdle wishes he had some options in the bullpen to use.
Cards are winners, and have proven that year after year.
Bucs aren’t and have also proven that year after year.
Cole=Krissy Benson.
That is all.
Cole is NOT Kris Benson. NO WAY!
With you Karen. WVStarship, you must have been enjoying the Labor Day cookout beers when you typed that.
Gee, I wonder who came back and downvoted Karen’s and my comment. Time to put the beers down, bud.
I didn’t downvote anyone. And,no, I wasn’t drunk-just frustrated. They’ve blown too many winnable games this year to be a playoff team. Maybe in 2017 when all those great prospects start showing up.
That’s fair enough, WV. Next round of beers is on me!
Right now Cole is too stuck on going mano-a-mano with his fastball. Batters are looking for it. Use the breaking ball and they’ll whiff. Cole needs to learn to be a pitcher, not just a thrower.