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On location: Pirates 3, Red Sox 2 149
DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS Getting ready for the first pitch … Game: Pirates (81-70) vs. Boston Red Sox (66-86), 7:05 p.m., PNC Park Pitchers: RHP Gerrit Cole (9-5, 3.92) vs. RHP Brandon Workman (1-9, 5.27) TV, radio: Root Sports, 93.7 The Fan Online: Live box score / Multimedia / Official media notes
First. Have a wonderful game Buccos. These kids have heart.
Need to put this team away early tonight. Don’t mess around and let them think they can pitch and hit with the Black N Gold.
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2 games behind Cards in loss column. Brewers 3 games behind in loss column. Really need Brewers to WIN WIN WIN!
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Then only 1 game down—10 to go!!
Maz I love that you are carrying the torch for a division championship. Someone has to. But I just dont see it. Even if the Bucs are 1 out with 10 to play the Cards get the reds cubs abd dbacks. Bucs get reds brewers and braves. Hard to make up ground on a team playing bottom feeders.
Step 1: Pirates keep winning.
Step 2: Cards and Giants lose a game here and there.
It is possible, not probable, but as fans we ROOT for the possible, even improbable.
I think we can catch the Cards…and I think the Pirates do too!
Have to believe the Cubs would love nothing more than to take down the Cards from 1st place! Ok, maybe I’m grasping considering the Cubs current lineup.
At this point, I’m starting to really doubt that we’ll catch the cards or the brewers will catch us.
Remember when finishing over .500 was such a big deal? With a win tonight, the Pirates are guaranteed to finish over .500 for the second year in a row, and there’s not a bit of fanfare this year. And that’s a good thing.
Unless disaster strikes in the form of injuries, I don’t see them slipping below .500 in the next few yrs. This team was built right & they are hanging onto the best prospects.
No Martin?
No Liriano?
No Volquez?
No production from Pedro?
Lightning strikes 2 years in row for JHay?
Big Arbitration for Neil Walker?
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Lots to ponder . . . .
They’ll be fine.
NL the last month (since Aug 18):
Bucs 17-9
SF 18-10
STL 17-11
WAS 17-11
LA 16-10
Atl 11-16
Cin 10-18
Brewers 9-18
Bucs have gained 8.5 games on the Brewers the past month.
In the NL, no one is ‘backing in’ to the playoffs, takes very very good play to qualify.
Thanks, Cmat. The five teams playing the best over the last 6 weeks of the season look like they will make the playoffs (which is how it should be).
Pirates Lineup:
1. Josh Harrison (R) 3B
2. Travis Snider (L) RF
3. Andrew McCutchen (R) CF
4. Neil Walker (S) 2B
5. Starling Marte (R) LF
6. Ike Davis (L) 1B
7. Jordy Mercer (R) SS
8. Chris Stewart (R) C
9. Gerrit Cole (R) P
Red Sox Lineup:
1. Mookie Betts (R) 2B
2. Xander Bogaerts (R) SS
3. David Ortiz (L) 1B
4. Allen Craig (R) RF
5. Daniel Nava (S) LF
6. Will Middlebrooks (R) 3B
7. Jackie Bradley Jr. (L) CF
8. Christian Vazquez (R) C
9. Brandon Workman (R) P
I prefer Polanco in right, but this is a good line-up.
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Thanks to Barmes to filling so well for Jordy last night. 3/4 w/ 2B and ribbies.
Thanks, JAL!
Since I was soooooo successful in motivating the bottom third of the order last night I will challenge hitters 6-8 to show that Cole deserves to bat 9th and
not 6h in this lineup ;-). Ike Davis getting
hot for these last 11 games would be nice.
Isn’t it fun when that happens?
With 11 games to go, the Pirates’ magic number to win the division is 14 (vs. STL), to host the Wild Card game is 14 (vs. SF), to play in the Wild Card game is 9 (vs. MIL), and to eliminate ATL is 6.
That looks a lot better than it did a week ago. The magic of winning.
Until we are down to 2-3 games left, ALL I care about is winning the Central Division and not playing in that 1-game Panama on road.
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The way to accomplish that is WINNING . . . . every night!
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It would really help Bucs’ cause if Brew Crew would take the Cards tonight!
Why I’ve always loved baseball: The players aren’t physical freaks (er, Holdzkom??), the field dimensions (60’6″, 90 feet) have proved valid since forever, and pennant races crystallize on watching a late-SEP game with half an eye on the scoreboard. Go Bucs!
All we can do is just keep winning and see what happens
Do you believe in miracles? When the most knowledgeable baseball observers here were calling for a trade, the Pirates’ management had to stand pat when its offers were rejected. Then, an obscure coach in an obscure league in the boondocks spotted a tall, skinny guy who had just learned how to control his fastball. The rest we know by now.
Since the beginning of September, which started with those three straight losses to St. Louis (4-5, 4-6, 0-1), the Pirates have gone 10-2 against last place teams. The Cardinals have gone 8-5 against the Brewers, Reds and Rockies. Both Bucs and Cards will finish with six games on the road. I do not expect the Cardinals to lose many of them.
Since the All Star break, the Pirates are 14-14 in games decided by one or two runs. (There were some heartbreakers and miracles in there.) The Cardinals, meanwhile, are 20-10. In one run games, the Cards are 14-7. The Bucs are 5-11. Does that tell us anything significant?
Afte tonight, make that 6-11.
Lohse vs Miller. Tossup matchup.
Let’s win the division!
Like to see Cole go 7.
“Oh the Bucs are going all the way.”
Stonefingers Stuart
After the Pirates win, whatever happens in the Brewers-Cardinals game is good for the Pirates!
I hear FEAR in those words.
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Perfect love casts out fear!
No fear in my words… Still want the Division and believe it is within reach.
Maybe they shouldn’t be 0-6 in St. Louis the last 2 Septembers.
Milo, That doesn’t help
I like the way JHay responds to perceived bad calls.
Don’t look now but the A’s are in absolute free fall. At this point they are lucky there are only 10 games left to break their fall. Their offense particularly is putrid after losing, or should I say, choosing to send away, Cespedes. Go Royals and Go Mariners.
I’m going to zig when everyone zags and say the A’s will finish strong, then win the AL WC game.
Wait a minute!
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The same Royals and mariners that you have constantly bashed, along with their GM’s…………. hoping they lose every game so that people get fired …………. now you root for them?
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Give it a huge rest!
Yikes Ike watches 89 center cut go by for strike 2…. yikes.
I would love to know how many bases loaded walks ike has this year. Probably not as many as i think i remember but it sure seems like the dude walks a lot with guys on.
That was his 2nd one.
Sucks to only get 1 there.
Ditching these upvote/downvote things at the first opportunity. Gave them a chance. Too many readers complained. Not enough used them. And they take up too much space vertically.
++++++many
I found them helpful, and they did not take up character count. Alas, no big deal.
Thank You! Thank You!! Thank You!!!
Heard more whining than happiness!
Does that mean we can get:
1/ More than 280
2/ “Recent Comments” listing on the side
3/ More “Replies”
4/ Free Starbucks coupons
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[I tried slipping last one in.]
Hey There Lonely Boy must be here. I already received a negative vote on my innocuous comment to Dejan.
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He passes them out like candy at Halloween, yet complains when others give him same.
As a Grandpa to 8 it is awesome to see Adrian Cole watch his Grandson pitch…
Go get an interview/video of him DK!!!!
That really works for me! Let’s make the avatars a little bigger with the extra space.
Stu
I gotta say, Stu, the avatars on here are the clearest and biggest I have seen, going back to the PG.
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You look wonderful.
Thank you. I am younger than Blass!
Stu
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P
V
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Obnoxious.
Gerrit Cole really needs to improve his secondary pitches. Maybe I’ve mentioned that once or twice. He’s a beast in waiting.
maybe justin wilson can join him in that training.
Justin wilson needs to work on his primary pitch. Or at least his control of it.
Agreed. But, If only one of them improves in that regard, put me down for hoping it’s Cole. I think we’ll see a much better Cole next yr. Don’t get me wrong, he’s already good. But, that 3rd time thru can be a problem when relying heavily on the heater.
Cole showed some flashes of a better mix early in the season. I think coming back from the injury he is focusing on ramping up the mph on the heater. Agree we should see a much improved pitcher next year. Still the man I want in a Pirates winner take all.
Ditching the concept or just the bulky arrows?
I’m not a big up/ down arrow person. I prefer commenting agreement or disagreement. But, it’s not the end of the world either way for me.
I think the Bucs should contact the A’s and the Red Sox in the offseason about Ike… he fits right into the ‘see a ton of pitches’ per at bat profile…. he will probably hit 30 HRs in Oakland…
Big Papi plays 1B like a hockey goalie.
Amen to that.
Did we catch a break in that ball? Well, the ump did gave the best view.
cant really tell from the angle. definitely was fair when it bounced in front of the base, then its judgment call on the flight path. Close enough to be fair IMHO
Stewart has been a big , make that pleasant, surprise. Seems to get key hits.
Offense has definitely been better than advertised, Patrick.
And he’s improved his defense since earlier in the season.
True, AW. I have no complaints with what we got from Stewart this yr. he also has great pitch framing skills.
One of those games. Can’t any one hit a hanging curve ball anymore?
Oh, for a long one, Travis! Channeling my inner Harry Carey.
* Caray?
Shelby Miller has really turned his season around the last month or so.
Cole has maybe the most purposeful mound-to-dugout stride I’ve ever seen. Like he’s stepping out of a bar to beat the snot out of someone.
They should play the music from John Wayne’s “The Quiet Man” when he comes out.
I would like to think the Cards & Brewers are scoreboard watching — they are pitching mutual no hitters early on. Choking?
That Marte swing is something to savor – the crack of his bat when he hits it cleanly reminds me of Bo Jackson.
Only 3-1. I need to stay away longer and get this score up to about 9-1.
I know some here don’t like advanced metrics much. But, this one’s kind of cool IMO. I read today Starling Marte has the highest BABIP for a career of anyone since 1945 – .362. He’s real fast & he hits the ball very hard. HR are exempt btw. MLB avg = approx .300 each yr.
Slight correction: Ouig is actually first at .366, followed by Trout & Starling at .362. Rod Carew is 4th (tons of bunt hits). Votto is #6. Pretty impressive company for Starling.
Dang it. Meant Puig.
This team is loose and having fun and I can’t get enough. I don’t care about the future or mistakes of the past. Just soaking in the present…and it feels awesome.
Brewers dent the scoreboard first at Busch.
That had to hurt.
I’d charge them.
1 – 0 Brewskis in 4th. No Cards hits yet. Don’t want to jinx him but Cole looking good.
Stu
I’ve decided I’m rooting for injuries.
Sorry, but that’s not a hit unless Ike’s uncle is the official scorer.
Need Tony to come up big here… pick up Cole (and Ike)
No one can convince me that Pedro Alvarez won’t make a better defensive 1st baseman than either of the 2 stiffs we have over there now.
I hope no one tries, either.
No Doubt. (‘Don’t Speak’).
For years I have watched Ortiz crush pitchers in late innings. The epitome of a clutch hitter, if there ever was one.
but not tonight. Watson gets him!
Nice job. Watson earned his pay , tonight!
Now, that was some great pitching.
That is some kind of beautiful pitching by Tony. Wow.
And Chris Stewart hurts himself celebrating. I meant Brewers & Cardinals injuries.
Need another run or two…
Hoover time !
Don’t stop now, boys! Feel free to add on.
pardon the interruption, but Tampa Bay (NFL) was a trendy pick for the NFC South for a few experts…..um, they don’t look so good, 35-0 Atlanta. Bucs come to Heinz next I believe.
A bad schedule gets worse. But will it matter?
sunday night’s game will speak volumes. If Big Ben can bounce back and the D can tackle, there is definitely something to build on. But plenty of work to do.
I see it’s only the 2nd qtr.
Both Red Sox runs scored by someone batting .218.
Uh oh…
This is not good…never put the leadoff guy on with a free pass.
40 plus years for me, that’s a first.
By the way, that’s a pinch runner dancing down 3rd in fair territory.
What is he doing in fair territory? Haha!
Talk about a good break
That was a first class TOOTBLAN. Leave it to the Weeks family.
Agree milo
Me, too.
For what it is worth, the Sox announcers are adamant: he is out.
There was nothing to even argue, Farrell.
in fairness to Farrell, you can debate ‘fair or foul’ on the batted ball…it was very close, at least from the angle I saw.
I guess it was close. I thought he was arguing Weeks had gotten back to the base when it hit him.
Rickie won’t be happy with Jemile when he sees the highlights. Tee hee!
Magic number — 8! Winning season — 2!
Raise it!!!!
After what we’ve been through, I don’t think I’ll ever take #82 for granted again. That’s 2 straight winning seasons, and counting.
Milo, amen
I second that AMEN!
Triple Amen
I like the “and counting” part.
Absolutely. That 20 will never leave me. But, the farther I get away from it, the better.
Do not recall Melancon ever getting that animated. Satisfying to get a save against team that dumped him?
I thought the same. He was really pumped!
Robbie successfully brought him down.
Breath it in…Bucco fever is in the air.
It’s officially BUC-tember, and I have a feeling we’ll be playing in BUC-tober again!!!
Exhale. That sweep came in all shapes and sizes. 1 shutout, 1 blowout, and a nail biter with a lucky break.
WOW>>> RAISE THE JOLLY ROGER in an improbable ‘save’ scenario!! Bucs were due a late inning break and they sure got one when Weeks unwisely hung out in fair territory. I’ll give the ‘empty net goal’ credit to JHay…he’s ALWAYS around good things happening!!!
Put your nose in the dirt, sweat and swear, just remember what its all about and what mountain you are climbing
Last time I tasted nectar was 79
Let me say, it was so sweel
The Groat Doctrine (play for the division; only accept the WC as a last resort) may be coming into sharper focus now. Brewers still have 8 outs to go, but they lead 2-0. Regardless, for the 3rd straight night, the Bucs will pick up a game on someone in that series.
….fear the Bones….
Indeed, patton!
Great to be a fan of a club that surges in September, rather than collapsing.
Growing up, I guess I got used to the Bucs contending almost every year. It’s been awhile, and I’m a little out of practice. But, I think I can get used to it again.
Brewers may yet blow this. Reynolds caught a perfect DP ball w one out, but thought there were two. So, he stepped on 1st. Then, Jay drove in a run & Holliday will now be safe on replay on infield hit. Could be tied if they allow run from 3rd. But, they send him back to 3rd.
Gotta love Cole.
He pitched really well. Will be a tough call of him vs Frankie in WC if it comes to that & if Clint has some flexibility.
Broxton walks in the tying run. 2-2, bases still full of Cards. Mark Reynolds visibly upset at his brain cramp. Maybe they’ll go about 15. I’d be ok with that.
Any injuries ? I kinda had my heart set on injuries.
Headed to the 10th.
1st and 3rd, 1 out with Lucroy up, top of 10 …can’t believe I’m pulling for the Brewers