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Pirates 3, Cubs 3, suspended, seventh inning 110
DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS Getting ready for the first pitch … Game: Pirates (71-68) vs. Chicago Cubs (64-76), 2:20 p.m., Wrigley Field, Chicago Pitchers: RHP Vance Worley (6-4, 3.01) vs. LHP Tsuyoshi Wada (4-2, 2.79) TV, radio: Root Sports, 93.7 The Fan Online: Live box score / Multimedia / Official media notes
WIND BLOWING OUT, at least slightly. LETS GO BUCS!!!
3B Josh Harrison (R)
SS Jordy Mercer (R)
CF A. McCutchen (R)
C Russell Martin (R)
LF Starling Marte (R)
1B Gaby Sanchez (R)
2B Neil Walker (S)
RF Jose Tabata (R)
P Vance Worley (R)
Cubs Lineup
CF: Arismendy Alcantara
SS: Javier Baez
3B: Luis Valbuena
RF: Jorge Soler
LF: Chris Coghlan
1B: Chris Valaika
2B: Logan Watkins
C: John Baker
SP: Tsuyoshi Wada
Caught the last inning of the Brewers-Cards last night. Matheny is really climbing my ‘most hated MLBers’ list. Brewers announcers were very down, as they lost their 9th straight. Were just in awe of how the Cards just seem to win all these close games…
What did Matheny do to hiss you, CMat?
Win?
Barking at Russell Martin the other day is a BIG BIG part of it, Wild Bill. Brewers’ announcers last night were chirping at his challenging the blocking the plate rule when it was obviously not in play, said it was ‘annoying’ and I agreed.
I see. I missed the Cards series while on vacation (thank God). Cards annoy me too; almost baseball equivalent of the Patriots. When they play the Brewers, I wish for both to lose by ten runs – which doesn’t work, I know.
Not that anyone asked, but my 3 top reasons for not putting Matheny on any “list” yet:
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3. He’s not that far removed from being a player, so I give him a pass on barking at Russ,
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2. He DID select Clint to be on his All Star staff, and 2 extra Pirates, and
The #1 reason— He’s not Tony La Russa.
AW: Yes, he indeed is not as bad as that rat, LaRussa, who now is here in Phoenix spewing his philosophies all over the Dbacks. But Matheny is getting more and more arrogant each passing day. It’s coming.
All-righty lineup today. Alrighty then! OK…new day…game & 1/2 out of a wildcard spot. The season begins…NOW!!!!
HI Karen, yes, LETS GO BUCS. I’m turning in my analysis license and am just gonna concentrate on my FAN duties. Will take my headaches away.
You know, Chris, I’m doing the same. I was so upset after the Cards’ series that I failed to realize that, as fate would have it, we’re still IN this thing. I’m going to try really hard not to get myself in a daily tizzy until the day theFat Lady really sings!
Can i ask when you lived in TB?
Despite their recent struggles, the Pirates are one game back of the Brewers and Braves for the second wild card spot. As the saying goes, you don’t need to outrun the bear, just the rest of the campers.
That’s a great saying. Never heard it before but it’s in my play book now.
You are welcome. I did not make it up. I first heard in a difficult class that was being graded on a curve.
been on the road with no connection most of the week so no morning links
Glad to hear from you JAL, was wondering.
I’ve had the Fan on most of the morning, they’re saying the game is actually on 1020AM today
NL Central, since Aug 8:
Cards 16-9
Bucs 10-15
Milw 10-15
Reds 7-18
Ugh.
Yikes.
WOW…that’s ugly.
I know I’m probably in the minority on this, but it would not surprise me at all if the Cards hit a skid. I’m not saying we or anyone will catch them. I’m just saying they’ve been more fortunate than good of late.
Hard to watch Brewers-Cards, actually. It is probably best to give up on the division and actually root for the Cards to sweep the Brewers…. but very hard to. even though I HATE the Brewers. Oh well, Bucs just need to win, and let the chips fall where they may.
I know there are 23 games left in the season.
I know 14 are on the road, only 9 at home.
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But I just can’t help but feel that starting today, the games are almost “must-win”.
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The Bucs have to beat the teams below them (Cubs, Phils)…….. and win their home games.
I really don’t want to see the season come down to the final 7 games on the road at the Braves and Reds.
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So, let’s start by beating the basement dwelling Cubs!
YES, Plan, YES. Every game has to be viewed as a must win, and managed the same way. Bucs just need to play better regardless of who they are playing. These Cubs split with the Cards and swept the Brewers, so Bucs have to play well to win.
I know this isn’t game related, but a friend just passed this to me in an email, from Twitter…………
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https://twitter.com/scottwbrady/status/507889382767226882/photo/1
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Pirates ask 8 year old to donate to Pirate Charities for Neil Walker autograph.
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No comment needed.
The comments on that twitter post are enlightening also.
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I certainly hope Mr. Walker had no idea of this at all.
I’ll have to look at this at home, blocked here at work.
I very much doubt that he does. I also wouldn’t trust any autograph that the Pirates send back to someone as actually being signed by the player himself. The only way to be sure is to have the player sign in person.
You think the Pirates are going to tell someone an autograph is from one of their players when it isn’t? Seriously?
As for the money stuff this morning
Expense account:
1 starting pitcher $5M
! first baseman $5 M
1 relief pitcher in the minors $900,000
Pen help $4 M
Total owed 14M 900,000
Yours truly,
Johnny Dollar
Is Johnny Dollar related to Johnny Football?
No, Johnny Dollar is an insurance investor with an “action packed expense account”
An old radio show
LOL Joe, I was being rather facetious, sorry
Wow…it must be September and Cubs must be out of the race.
The lineup they are sending out today is AAA worthy.
It’ll probably be another Cy Young performance by someone AAA pitcher and, if Worley elevates, who knows what happens.
That’s what they have. Been doing pretty good with it lately.
Young players play hard , would rather face a team like the Phillies with veterans likely going half speed.
Agreed, cmat and AW. This Cubs team frightens me right now. Just hacking away, and hitting it a long way when they make contact.
And not much of a book on them.
here’s my book on Soler: Swings like a combination of Alfonso Soriano and Carlos Gomez.
Game is on WGN America, by the way.
Mike Carp (remember him?) DFA’d, cleared waivers, and sent to AAA.
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Short of signing Abreu, the Pirates amazingly may have ended up with the best of last winters crop of crap at first base.
That BABIP finally caught up with him.
I just saw one of those fancy pancy Fangraphs things lately that had Loney better than Ike. Not suggesting Ike doesn’t stink, just commenting on your post.
It appears you’re correct, with Loney edging Davis 0.5 WAR to 0.4 WAR. A regular ole barn burner!
Ha, this is amazing. There are 28 qualified 2B and SS with a higher isolated power percentage than James Loney, a first baseman.
I guess I should have said not suggesting either one of them don’t stink.
Haha, yes.
Wonder how the Pirates will find a way to lose this game.
I feel your pain, Grumpy and upvoted to erase your deficit…but let’s try to be positive. GO BUCS
And to no avail…always a grumpy downvoter around…
It’s okay, Jandy. I’m used to it.
Wada-ya-say we bomb this rag-arm pitcher??? Come on Bucs, he should be hittable…..
Ah, the old lead-off double. Almost a certain score. You would think.
Marte in clean up. Hope he gets an extended trial.
actually 5th, and he had a very very poor AB there, swinging at 4 balls at least. But I do like Marte up in the order….
He has at least one at-bat a game in which it looks like he’s never played a game of baseball in his life.
You watching the game, cmat?
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How does one physically hit a line drive ground rule double at Wrigley?
JHay’s line drive (well described) went directly into the ivy about four feet above the ground and stuck in there, Wrigley ground rule double.
I’m not watching, NMR. But, into the ivy, maybe? Just a guess.
Ah, you guys are smart. The ivy strikes again. I was thinking of the high fences.
Soler trying to be Carlos Gomez.
for those not watching, this means he swung himself completely off balance and had to walk around the plate to regroup.
on that AB, he came close to straining his groin swinging at a pitch. Not kidding.
Josh Harrison has 32 doubles.
What a season.
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His spray chart is just wild. 18 of those doubles have been between the left fielder and the left field line. 17 of those didn’t even make it to the fence, and 8 of them were ground balls.
He has hit a lot of singles that he simply turned into doubles with hustle/aggressiveness.
NL Central since Jul 1:
St Louis 33-24
Bucs 29-28
CUBS 29-30
Reds 23-35
Brewers 22-34
That sweep this week in St Louis, by total of 4 runs, makes all the difference.
Plus, the one run loss on Sunday means we have lost the last 4 by a total of 5 runs. Could have won each game, but deserved to lose each IMO.
Well, the Bucs WILL have to come from behind now, down 2-1, costly throwing error on routine play by JHay.
AND…..they’ve tied it at 2-2, top 4th, Cubs CF misplayed Tabata’s hard-hit line drive to center, scoring Walker from 1b. Run aided by CFer loafing after the ball and relay man holding and not throwing home.
Wada is pulled, apparent injury, though nothing noticeable. Guess he couldn’t continue to sling the 87 MPH fastballs and junk stuff that dives down and in any further.
And JHay atones for his throwing error with a double over the head of Coughlan in LF (could’ve been caught IMHO with a better route, but good for Bucs)… 3-2 Bucs. Villanueva now pitching for the Cubs.
If this goes on much longer, there’s a good chance Worley is gone also. Might not be a bad thing. He’s shhhtrrugglin’.
Why is it so many pitching coaches are, uh, portly?
You mean like Derek Lilliquist of the Cardinals who looks like he swallowed Jonathan Broxton AND Heath Bell? Searage is positively svelte compared to most.
Ron Washington out in Texas. Resigns for “personal reasons.” Per ESPN.
Personal because the team stinks.
Somehow, I doubt that’s the reason, unfortunately…
Have to believe you’re right.
Even though they suck this year, I don’t think he was set to be fired, out of respect to the run of success they have had. I take this at face value, hopefully it’s not drugs which he has had a past battle with.
CMat, as I’ve mentioned with others, please watch the rapid-fire comments. They relegate not only some of your own comments to spam but also those of others. Thanks, man.
Belly flop with bad rib is courageous if not smart.
yes, not sure why not a feet first slide there for many reasons.
Can we please keep all comments about either accounting or economics? This talk about actual baseball is a big let down.
Ike Davis whines an awful lot, doesn’t he?
And now Baez outdoes Soler with a swing out his shoes and about 10x too hard. Then looks at 91MPH centercut for K.
Hurdle has so many pitchers at his disposal now. Worley was not pitching particularly well, then had close to an hour delay between the Pirates batting + 37 min. weather delay. Expecting him to be sharp after that was a pipe dream. But, the book says try to get him a win …
Key, key point in this ballgame. 3-3, bottom 5, runners on 2/3 and 2 outs… Justin Wilson to face Mike Olt. Just a must-have out for the Bucs.
Bucs continuing to not value outs while running bases. The recklessness of their base running really needs to be addressed next off-season IMO.
Jim, I agree. Poor baserunning reduces the value of their high OBP. The Pirates really need to re-evaluate how they teach and value fundamentals.
Tom: I think their hitting philosophy is in conflict with the aggressive, risky chances they take on the bases. They keep adding OBP, but keep trying to take extra bases, bunting & hitting/running. Which is it?
He is the worst baserunner I have seen on this team in my 10 years here in town
Anybody notice he smacked the ball for the second time this game, after sitting for a week? Took a perfect carom and a nice throw to get him. The guy has flaws, but it amazes me how disproportionate the criticism is. Just my opinion, of course.
Agree, Patrick. It really wasn’t a double based on how it caromed, but with 1 out it was a good play to try to get into scoring position, took good throw to get him.
I don’t love the guy, Patrick. But, I think he’s a competent hitter vs LHP & RHP. I never understood keeping Snider over him once Polanco was up.
Pedro just doesn’t get it…teams aren’t going to groove him a fastball even with a full count until he starts recognizing pitches.
Grimm had a hard time wasting a pitch in that AB. Had to bounce one about 10 feet in front of the plate b/c Pedro swung at everything else. He needs some helluva offseason in all aspects.
Im talking about in the bigger picture El Toro. He has to to know in a tied game, w/ 2 outs he’s not seeing a pitch to hit. Period!!! In Peteys defense he’s being aggressive trying to tie the game. It just doesn’t click for him.
Somebody must be rapid-texting. Tabby hotdogging a double into a put out at second. Hurdle swallowed gum. Classic Pedro K. 2 check swing strikes on unrecognized breaking balls, then swing and miss on ball four.
Hughes in game. BTW didn’t recognize a single Cub name in lineup.
POTG (Post of The Game).
Fake rain delay, tarp out, rain stops. Very bad clouds visible over Chi. Not sur anyone wants to play this game.
Stuart
Game suspended, starts tomorrow 12pm EDT.
Sorry, 3pm EDT is when game will resume, top 7th, 1 out, 2-0 count on Jordy.
Gave my tickets away for tomorrow and Sunday. Going to do family stuff instead. I haven’t brought them much luck this season.
Did anyone report the Neil Walker autograph story besides Mark Madden? Anyone on the fan?