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On location: Pirates 4, Red Sox 0 170
DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS Getting ready for the first pitch … Game: Pirates (79-70) vs. Boston Red Sox (66-84), 7:05 p.m., PNC Park Pitchers: RHP Charlie Morton (5-12, 3.84) vs. RHP Anthony Ranaudo (3-2, 5.40) TV, radio: Root Sports, 93.7 The Fan Online: Live box score / Multimedia / Official media notes
Some out there want the Cards to sweep the Brewers to “assure the Bucs’ Wild Card spot.” Oh ye of little faith!
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I want the Brewers to sweep the Cards. If the Pirates cannot beat the Brewers straight up AT HOME, Bucs do not deserve to be in Playoffs.
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I want 1st Place!!!
I agree with you, Groat. If first place isn’t the goal after earning the first Wild Card last year, then the Pirates are not getting better. I understand hedging your bets by making the Wild Card spot more likely, but these are professional athletes. All in for the win.
Ah, win or fall on your sword. Very honorable. After this season, I would be happy if we backed our way all the way to San Francisco
Brandie needs to change your name to Groat2Maz2Logic.
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Very well said, Mr. Dook!
Done!
YES, GROAT. I will focus my ‘out of town’ rooting as follows:
87% on Brewers vs. Cards
13% on the hometown Dbags vs. SF
(almost fell out of my recliner when Trumbo hit the grand salami last night, was so unexpected).
Rooting for two hated teams = Buctember.
If they make it they deserve it.
OK, Ghandi!
Or Doris Day!
Jandhi resembles that remark!
2-2 in the 10th, you have a shot!
I don’t know if I would pitch “Bad Charlie” in a pennant race coming off the DL.
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Every game matters ………….. hope we see “Good Charlie” tonight.
Agree, but I thought starting Polanco and Lambo was crazy.
The combined records of the Pirates’ starting pitchers this series is 19-27 (and none of the starters is named Jeff Locke). And yet, this is a team with a two game lead in the loss column for a Wild Card spot. Cue the smoke and mirrors, I guess.
Yes Patrick, my favorite saying ……… “what do I know” ??
Just wanted you to know, Plan, what my support was worth.
Thank You, kind sir.
What “this series” are you talking about, TP.
NVM, I get it.
AW, I meant the Red Sox series starting tonight.
I was hoping for “No Charlie”.
The AL East was the best division in baseball for a long time. This year not the case. The Yankees and Red Sox are finding the free agent market limited after a couple big names. So the need to have a fertile farm system is mandatory. That is a good thing. Cleaning it up works.
Have to say the Cholly move is baffling. Not that Vanimal hasn’t been shaky, he has been. I would be much more OK with it IF indeed he was used to set up the rotation for the Brewers series (the Braves series quickly becoming less relevant), but to just swap him in?
You know what I’m rooting for ? The Pirates to win tonight. Then whatever happens in St. Louis or elsewhere will be good.
Mike Tomlin told me about you, “Obviously Milo doesn’t have Pennant Fever.” Pennant Fever keeps one eye/ear on the game and the other on the scoreboard.
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No Benny Benack for you!!
With Good Time Charlie pitching tonight, it looks as if Liriano & Cole are set up to go Saturday/Sunday against Reds in last series of year if wins needed.
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Otherwise can sit one or both to go Wild Card game.
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Hope they are set up to go 1st game of Division Series only!
Should be a great night of baseball on my new mlb.tv subscription. Thanks brother in law!
Pirates Lineup:
1. Josh Harrison (R) 3B
2. Travis Snider (L) RF
3. Andrew McCutchen (R) CF
4. Neil Walker (S) 2B
5. Russell Martin (R) C
6. Starling Marte (R) LF
7. Ike Davis (L) 1B
8. Jordy Mercer (R) SS
9. Charlie Morton (R) P
Red Sox Lineup:
1. Mookie Betts (R) 2B
2. Xander Bogaerts (R) SS
3. Daniel Nava (S) RF
4. Yoenis Cespedes (R) LF
5. Mike Napoli (R) 1B
6. Will Middlebrooks (R) 3B
7. Jackie Bradley Jr. (L) CF
8. Christian Vazquez (R) C
9. Anthony Ranaudo (R) P
FWIW – Just announced – Mercer out, Barmes in the 8th slot.
Back problem
Just take care of your own business. A sweep of a bad Boston team means you’re picking up ground on at least one of the teams that you’re competing with, and not losing anything to the other. You’re either catching the Cards or leaving the Brewers behind. I’ll take either.
Ooops. Should say “Insert BTO song here”. I used the “” symbols around it. Apparently that’s a No-No.
It’s a beautiful night at the game, Demon
I sure hope Clint has a quick hook tonight and has Worley ready. We need these games.
(understatement of the decade)
I’d prefer Cumpton, but I’m with you here.
Either is fine with me. Not the time to pacify Charlie. DK touched on it in the chat. This isn’t April or even mid-season. Can’t waste games we need to win to build somebody’s confidence or arm strength or whatever.
Mercy, Reverend.
Making too much sense here, stop that.
No doubt. But Charlie is like Rasputin, you just can’t seem to get rid of him.
An obvious key: pitch around Cespedes. With Ortiz on the bench, not much danger.
As a lifetime sox fan no conflict this time. Go Bucs.
Blackout = Remy commentary = small price to pay for absence of crowd/sign shots!
I love those broadcasts. I find myself pronouncing all the Red Sox players names in the style of Jerry Remy.
Actually, I enjoy him, too. Very honest.
Russell, shows muscle.
I hope he is doing that for the Pirates next year.
Seriously.
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Hi Frank!
Russell “sign him now” Martin!
They need Hustle Martin. Time to win now before he goes to, gasp, Chicago!
Good evening all. Happy Buctember. Here comes Clint Barnes to add to the Party!
AbsoBucnlutely, Bran Muffin.
93.7…THE PLAN!!!
Mercer with a back problem? Was he spending too much time with Walker? *sigh*
Why, it’s my Linked In benefactor.
Hey hey Sistah!
Linked in we are…
Must have strained some muscle learning to be as whiny as Walker.
Tough crowd.
How about an edict for pitchers next spring training — learn to get a bunt down, or go to Indy until you do?
Dang it Barmes!
rust. stinks.
No problem, Brandi. Good time Charlie is on the scene.
Sounds like a Blaxploitation movie…
Tough play.
GOOD GOLLY MR. CHOLLY!!!
63 pitches in 3 innings. Gonna be a bullpen night.
Yep, my thoughts also Milo. Maybe by the 6th…or sooner…
My wife just was just telling me: This date in Pirates history in 1962 Pops Stargell played his first major league game at Forbes Field. One of the best to wear a Bucs uniform.
Willie was my all-time favorite Bucco. What a presence he was after he took the mantle from Clemente.
3 innings, 76 pitches & hasn’t pitched in a month. Why isn’t someone warming up ?
Rasputin dodges another bullet. I’d still say that’s enough.
Did you catch JR trying to pronounce “Monongahelia?”
I’d agree. Though coaxing a grounder that became the DP is what Charlie does best.
No Patrick I didn’t. We are hostage to the local broadcast.
Even rasputin is impressed with cholly’s Houdini act.
Agree Milo, playing w/fire now.
Did not look too bad so far, but enough.
1 more inning or a couple batters at most.
There was a bit of movement/stretching in the BP though
Charlie’s problem is, if he can’t get the batter to swing at a pitch out of the strike zone, he can’t make the batter miss a pitch in the strike zone.
Uh oh, just intentionally turned on mil/stl game. Am i infected with ‘pennant fever’? Dun dun dunnnnnn….. (ominous music)
you got it bad
Red Sox announcers are very positive about the Pirates, except for defense, which the refer to as “just awful.”
Bullpen is up
dayum
Lobbing up chest high 87 mph fastballs now.
I understand the “try to get him the win” mentality. Isn’t a TEAM win more important?!
Zander Bogart, really? lol I know the spelling is different but lol
You’ve really got to hand it to him. Guts & instinct.
Not pretty… but job well done
No doubt. Now let’s get some more runs.
Good Charlie!
5 scoreless, good job Charles.
Now let the BP finish it.
And probably, Charlie in some pain.
Good time Cholly struck him out.
STL up 2-0 0n Brew Crew.
Neverett is testing my patience
Those ROOT fan shots are so annoying. Had to switch to NSN. Is it just me or do others like those shots??
Amen!
I just switched too. Thanks MLB.TV.
“Rub some dirt on it” LOL
Love it . Was told to do that many times.
Well…. maybe the distraction actually worked.
The Brewers won’t go 0-7 with runners in scoring position on Sunday like the Red Sox just did.
Amazing how 2 career minor leaguers have moved ahead of everyone in the bullpen pecking order with the exceptions of Watson & Melancon.
Yes and I’m completely fine with that They seem to be handling it so far.
Wow, only the 6th inning and we bring in the lefty to face only 1 batter.
Do it, Lurch!!!
Nice play Barmes. Finding his rhythm. And another nice play by JHay
Got an idea for tomorrow night, when Sox announcers say Ortiz will play 1b: bunt him to death. It will purge CH of his addiction and maybe give us several hits?
Ok, Marte can swing away.
Although a good idea , One problem with your theory. Pirates don’t bunt well.
Marte Partay!!!!
Are we invited?
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Nice to see this!
Great swing and at bat by marte. He has had a super second half.
Of course we are the more the merrier.
Thanks, Barb.
Hope Jandy didn’t spike the punch again ……..
:snicker:
Martel bomb 439 feet.
This guy needs a nickname.
Hold scum. That is what my spell checker suggests. Not bad, actually.
lol
Holds Them?
Stretch
Fits with the loooong legs, Jandy.
indeed! oldie but goodie
Nice, Holdzkum
Ok so this dude i want on the mound next time cinci or someone throws at cutch. He’ll make em fold
Good one! Gotta know when to!
Go Big Seth Meyers!
Now we need to channel some vibes to Harrison so he can get some hits. Statsically, Morneau has practically pulled even with him in the batting title race.
And like that, the little guy pulls back into the lead, doing what he does.
Sweet!
Our new 7th inning guy. Holdzcom just holds em.
HoldsThem…..
Gotta love how JHay just never gives up
As we used to say, “+many!”
Thanks, Ghostie :*
Lunchie brings him in
Way to go Lunchie!
All you Charlie disbelievers, take it back!
Stuart
Can tell the Sox are out of it. Cespedes make half a$$ed attempt at Snider bloop. Would have been easy to double off JHay.
Your cup seems to be half empty.
Stuart
Just find it ironic that Bucs playing their tails off in pennant race while defending world Champs going thru the motions.
Watson with a 4 run lead.
shhhh!
Beat me to it! Already on the case as usual.
Dang it, Milo! You jinxed him!
Jandy, please bop this guy!
Double shhhh.
This is the guy who scares me.
Let’s get Milo and do unspeakable things to him.
Sorry Milo. Thought it was growing worse than it actually did. You can come out now.
LOL!
Yeah, like kiss his whole face
Neal fell asleep on Marte’s throw.
Tony picks him up.
Stu
Sit em down! Watson squeezes out of that one.
All right! Tony did it
Is Holdzcum post season eligible? Had to be on 40 man by August 31 correct?
yep…
Yes and yes.
On Wednesday, they will have their high priced Castillo to go with Ortiz & Cespedes — a much tougher middle lineup.
Nice job by Watson for 3rd out.
Walker making up for falling asleep on Craig.
Braves lose again. Major changes ahead in Atkanta.
Cubs with a no-hitter through 7 against the Reds.
C’mon Mark the Shark…shut it down!
Cub’s Arietta no hitting Reds thru 7.
dayum, sweet play by Walker…robbed the poor guy
Ot is a shame walker is such a terrible second baseman. Some around here would twll you that play is routine for every 2b not named walker.
Absolutely agree, AJS. Walker is just fine at 2nd and ditto Harrison at 3rd. Leave ‘em both there and watch them get better and better.
Personally, I think around the horn with #5 to #18, back to #10 and then over to budding 1st basemen #24 could be damn solid.
Raise it!
Stuart
RAISE IT!!!!!!
Two clinchings tonight. Could it be a Washington-Baltimore WS?
Or a Pittsburgh-Baltimore replay of 1979?
Pirates – Angels.
That’ll work, too. Cutch v. Trout.
Bucs and I don’t care who….
lol, we’d get to face grilli
anyone catch madden – DK podcast, madden alluded to grilli sleeping with someone’s wife?? DK professionally just laughed and moved on…..
Mmmm mmmm, Lucky. I like that thought. We all know how it went the last two times we played Baltimore in October.
Remember them both well, Ghostie. 71 was a great series and 79 we were down 3-1 and all but written off. Excellent.
Nice win boys!!! I love September baseball. Can’t wait til Buctober!!!!
We had em all the way!
Stu