The Pirates and Giants line up along their respective baselines for introductions Wednesday night. — DEJAN KOVACEVIC
DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS
Getting ready for the first pitch …
Game: Pirates vs. San Francisco Giants, National League wild card, 8:07 p.m., PNC Park
Pitchers: RHP Edinson Volquez (13-7, 3.04) vs. LHP Madison Bumgarner (18-10, 2.98)
TV, radio: ESPN (national), 93.7 The Fan
Online: Live box score / Multimedia / Official media notes
Pirates’ lineup:
- 1. Josh Harrison, 3B
- 2. Jordy Mercer, SS
- 3. Andrew McCutchen, CF
- 4. Russell Martin, C
- 5. Starling Marte, LF
- 6. Neil Walker, 2B
- 7. Gaby Sanchez, 1B
- 8. Travis Snider, RF
- 9. Volquez, RHP
Giants’ lineup:
- 1. Gregor Blanco, CF
- 2. Joe Panik, 2B
- 3. Buster Posey, C
- 4. Pablo Sandoval, 3B
- 5. Hunter Pence, RF
- 6. Brandon Belt, 1B
- 7. Brandon Crawford, SS
- 8. Travis Ishikawa, LF
- 9. Bumgarner, LHP
No surprises in the lineup, seen it before against lefties
I don’t remember Lunchie batting in 8 hole before!
5 starts batting 8th
I think I’m more nervous this year than last, not quite sure why
Since Bucs won last year, you know there is even more to suffer if they lose.
Exactly, Groat.
We’ve already gotten past this game, so now we expect to get past this game.
Been that way myself, Biz. Maybe we just want so much more this year.
If last night’s AL WC game was any indication, Volquez is probably in great shape tonight. Since 2 expensive trade acquistions started and gave up a combined 10 runs–someone pulled off the scrap heap of free agency just maybe the way to go. Baseball sure is interesting!
I know it was Buctober when I flipped my Pirates calander to October and Jose Tabada reps that month. I had to cut his photo off so that it now shows Cutch. I have a very good feeling about tonight, volquez gives us 7+ strong innings and the Bucco offense explodes.
Ok here my important question to ask: how many posts land on here tonight? Last year on the Trib site, if memory serves, we were over 1000…maybe 1100 or so. ⚾️
Popped my Losartan. Ready to go.
Comes down to pitching, as always. Giants lineup doesn’t put the fear of God into anyone.
Go get ‘em, Bucs.
LMAO..
I had to lookup what Losartan was.
did my Losartan this morning….Go Bucs!!
Popped a CORK…Also ready to go!
I have a very nice small batch bourbon breathing in prep for the first pitch…
LET’S GO BUCS.
I hope the Bucs come out firing. No need to put Teeks new heart to the test so soon.
Actually, I’m surprised Martin is batting cleanup with the bum leg. I would’ve preferred swapping with Neil if Martin should leave the game for any reason.
Neil from the right is not a clean up guy. He barely qualifies from the left.
Neil will be batting righty tonight. He has hit for a better avg righty this year, but still only a .374 slg%.
Although as I looked closer, Russ mauled RHP this year but was pretty anemic vs. LHP.
He also took some of the worst at-bats we’ve seen all year from the right side the last time we saw him.
I was thinking the hammy was really holding him back in the last several days of the season. It was only a few days before that when he was crushing everything.
Sorry, Jim. That was a reply to your post on Walker.
Oh, got it.
In over 40 years of being a Pittsburgh sports fan I’ve observed hundreds of guys come through here that just don’t get “us”. Even people that have spent many years here.And it’s got many of them in trouble with “us”. I’m sure Frank Coonelly still doesn’t get us.
But from the 1st minute Clint Hurdle arrived here, he got “us”. And not only did he get “us”, he became one of “us”. And that’s not easy, because we’re not very easy to get. As a Pittsburgh lifer, I really appreciate that.
Well said Milo, these last two posts of yours says how many feel.
BEAT EM BUCS
Milo, it took me a few years (hey, I’m from Cleveland!), but I really, really get”us!”
I was born in Lorain, but my parents are from here. We came back to stay when I was three.
Couldn’t have been said any better.
Well said, Milo. Practically my only connection to “us” these days is through Pittsburgh sports teams and the folks on this blog. I’ve said it before, but once you move away for a long time you truly realize how special that area is.
same with me Jim….Pittsburgh is a truly special place!
Now i’m fired up Milo!
.
No accident turnaround coincided with his arrival. And Sea-rages.
Yes. Well said milo. In related news John Russell in the mix for Twins job. And Jim Tracy in AZ. Yikes.
Great stuff Milo.
Put me in coach!
One thing I can say, I don’t think anyone has missed Pedro in this run to the playoffs!!!
Hope Pirates trade him for something.
Well you’d be wrong about that. I missed Pedro.
I miss the Pedro that could hit and throw now and then, not the one he morphed into.
I actually had some hope that Pedro could be on the rosters as a possible late inning Left Hand Bat. Might come in handy.
I miss him. He had to be taken off 3b. We all know that. But, I thought he had a hitting tear in him down the stretch at 1b if he had not gotten injured. I remember him in last year’s playoffs.
Right, since watching Ike Davis whine about every strike called against him is just so inspiring.
To the extent it matters, the Pirates beat Bumgarner 5-0 in SF on July 28 in SF. That was the game where all of the runs were scored in the first two innings.
Many of the good ones, you gotta get early
Good point, Biz, although Bumgarner only lasted four innings that night. To your point, a note on ESPN.com says that Baumgarner has an ERA of 6 in the first inning and under 2.5 after that. Ishikawa is playing LF for SF, and he has played less than 30 inn. there in his career.
And it’s a tough left field. Amazing that ishi is the best they got.
Great story in the Trib today about JHay. One of the greatest things for me about sports is when you see a guy who one day is barely hanging onto a career, just fighting for a MLB roster spot, & then in the blink of an eye he’s a budding star whose whole life has changed.
Who is this JHay you speak of? Has much been written about him this year?
I think this was the very first article.
I am hopeful for a fast start for Edison. Can you hear me from AC, NJ! GO BEAT EM BUCS…!
1925- Cuyler. 1960- Maz. 1971- Pagan. Who drives in the winning run tonight in this winner-take-all game? My choice: Polanco.
Mercer.
Excited for this game. Sf pitcher vs. .500 or better is 6-7 with 3.58 era.
Good stat, Radio.
3-2 win with Melancon leaving 2 runners on in the 9th.
My heart might not be able to take that
I’ll check in from the game
I’ll send a gift basket and primantis sammich.
Nothing has come easy for this squad. I don’t think that will change tonight.
Buccod/Giants? Is that today?
Marte is my Pick to Click – he is on the way to MVP caliber outfielder – hopefully in Center Field next year.
prnw won opener with a walk off and he repeats tonight to bring season full circle
Got home from work. Don’t let Posey beat you. I fear him the most in this situation, environment. Ishie playing left at that park will either make Bochy look like a genius or prove to be a move of folly.
Yard looks beautiful. Do your thang, fans. Proud of you, city!
Surprised none of the analysts have brought up the fact the Pirates beat Bumgarner 5-0 July 28th. All 5 against Bumgarner early. I don’t think the Pirates fear him.
Thank goodness. Schulman and Kruk rather than Johnson, Ripken and Darling.
Love Krukie – he is totally wacko at times but has a good sense of what matters to players and in critical situations. And he and I share a similar body type – too short for our weight
Absolutely, John!
Worst broadcasters in television are the tbs crew. They made an exhilerating game last night sound subdued. Especially the call on the moss 3run hr. Made it sound like a fly out.
Hoping for an anniversary present from the Bucs. My insane wife has managed to put up with me and my sports fanaticism for 37 years [when I headed for the sports zone tonight she asked "who is playing"] I am truly blessed and hope some rubs off on my Buccos!
Good for you. Happy anniversary.
Happy Anniversary, LL!
Goose bumps! Sure reminds me of 2013
Let’s go Bucos, let’s go Bucos!
LETS GO BUCS!!!!
Not an empty seat in the house.
go Teke!
Ms. Maddie Georgi killed it. That electricity is flowing right from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to my bedroom!
If you did not have a tear in your eye watching one of our great Buccos throw out the first pitch you are not human. I loved him throwing to Hughes – special moment.
WHY NOT US!
If not us, who ?
If not now, when ?
Black Out ready for takeoff!
I have liked Kruk since he bailed on
RJ , not to mention the commercial where he was chopping meat on a diner grill. Good vibes.
Here we go!
No damage but Eddie is getting hit hard. Worrisome.
1 2 3….
Not much to complain about in that half inning.
We got to take more pitches. He only threw like ten pitches.
Both pitchers looking good. It’s on.
Is there a more uncoordinated looking athlete than Hunter Pence?
It’s like he completely learned how to do everything on a baseball field all by himself. He doesn’t look normal doing anything. But, he’s become a very good player.
Belt has had an injury plagued season. But he hits Volquez & he hits the Pirates. He is a key tonight.
… and Crawford has been their hottest hitter down the stretch.
No way Ishikawa drives in the games first run!
Volquez is quite poise on the mound.
English bucco here, man it maybe 1.30 in the morning but i am pumprd lets hope we can get to bumgarner.
Cheers!
Let’s get couple on the board this 1/2 inning
I was a bit worried with that AB by Ishie. The history of baseball is rich with guys in his situation (playing out of position, going against former team, etc) coming up big.
But EV got him with a nasty pitch.
Ishie? Because he was here for two weeks? Yikes!
Seemed longer. Point well taken!
I would have been more worried if it had been Aki Iwamura
Ishie, Oshie. Oshie, Ishie.
Well played.
Hahaha! Awesome.
We knew Bumgarner would be tough. But, 8 & 9 pitch innings won’t cut it for the Bucs. We need to find a way to make him work more, or we’re going to be dealing with him for 8 or 9 innings.
1st pitch swinging doesn’t help. Right on Jim.
Maddy looked like a pitcher batting there.
Smoother inning by Eddie despite the base hit. Hopefully locked in now.
Pitchers duel it appears in the early going.
This is starting to look like Game 4 against the Cardinals. Charlie kept putting up zeroes, but the bats kept sleeping. The longer this goes, you have to score 1st.
bumgarner wouldn’t be pitching so well if his name was as easy to taunt as Cueto’s.
Fourth inning. If “Volkie” can hold em here, gotta feel good with our 2, 3, 4 coming up in the bottom.
Panda line drive single to lead off 4th.
Oh oh, 2 on no out.
Stuart
Crowd seems muted….needs to get behind the guys
what can they cheer for–all their strikeouts???
Big moment early here with 2 on and nobody out.
here comes trouble……..
Volquez is missing his spots a little more.
Big trouble now.
Bullpen needs to be working here.
Crap
Ouch.
OUCH
Yoi
And that will be that. Four should be plenty.
Never know. KC rallied from four down just last night. But it is a daunting task.
oh well…..
Worst thing that could have happened did. Long road ahead now.
The word I want to write starts with f…..
Need to be like the Royals. Gotta find a way to get to SF’s pen.
I said that word!
Grand slam!
4 runs is a lot for Baumgardner.
Worley up in pen.
Stuart
Well…hate to say it’s over, but….
Just terrible pitch execution. He had been doing so well in avoiding that.
Need to get a couple,now!
Chip away…been their thing all season. Yea…still hurts and will be tough
6 more at bats. Have to scratch and claw.
Not to beat a dead horse, but Cole should not have pitched Sunday. Doubtful he’d get lit up like this. Volquez, as well as he’s done lately, is known to struggle with control. Credit SF’s patience.
If he pitched a no hitter you wouldn’t be saying that. Come on dude
Nope. I would have been thrilled with a no-hitter (or a win) but that would not have changed my mind that it was the wrong decision. The outcome should not have any bearing on whether it was the right decision. Not the way life works.
Too many meatball pitches by Volquez tonight. Got away with a few but bd pitches caught up with him. In big trouble now.
I knew after the 2nd inning Eddie didn’t have it. Meanwhile Bumgarner is lights out. Not good.
Come on Cutch!
Oh well, see y’all next season minus Martin, Liriano and Volquez.
Well, both the GM & Owner have said they’ll make a very aggressive offer to Martin. If so, and he still goes elsewhere, that money needs to be earmarked for his replacement + starting pitching IMO.
Wow close play
What the….
Pirates in their last 22 post season innings – 2 runs.
On 10 hits.
Walker, for example, has not had a hit since the last WC game.
Uh, post-season, to be clear.
Not looking good. We’re swinging at pitches that are clearly balls.
The dude ain’t throwing many balls
The biggest thing in that inning was the grounder Pence placed perfectly in the 5.5 hole. I thought that set the whole inning up.
There has been zip to cheer about so far, but the crowd at least out here is still hanging in
Their guy is pitching a friggin gem.
Both hitters this inning took him to 3 ball counts & neither got on base.
Being one-hit at home….wow…not a great performance on national TV…
We need a 10 pitch at bat
I’d like to punch John Kruk right in his pie hole,
Hit him for me as well
You’d have to get your fist past a couple of cheeseburgers that he’s no doubt eaten tonight.
Why is it that Hurdle couldn’t have said that it was his decision to try and win the division and not the players. Their no# 1 against our no#3 well…..
I was just thinking, this dreck wouldn’t be complete without a Brent Morel sighting. Maybe he’ll pinch hit.
Thanks. I needed that…
I thought you were joking about morel.
.
Is it too early to blame NH for not making a move at te deadline? Just curious…u wanted to be the first
Great. Now Wilson will come in and give up a couple. I’m sorry, if my season comes down to one game, I’m not starting my #3 and following up with Justin Wilson.
Justin Wilson flat-out STINKS.
Can I have an Amen!
Pens 2, Wings 0 3 minutes left to play
I know this team is resilient, but right now they aren’t showing me anything that says they can come back in this game. Volquez hangs a curveball to Crawford, Bumgarner looks like Koufax, and we’ll see yinz next season.
Been talking to my cousins in LA and the talk out there is that the Dodgers and Giants SO want to face each other in the NLCS. Giants looking like they are starting that path…at least through the first half of this fray.
Why exactly did Hurdle send Volquez out to start the 6th inning when he’s got 8 other pitchers available?
5-0
Wilson. Really??
There’s the Wilson I know. Wild pitch and a single. LOL
and he just struck out the hero of the game
Sort of sums up his recent outings, or so it seems.
Then walked Travis I.
Per Elias and Henry Schulman of the SF Chronicle, Crawford is the first shortstop to hit a grand slam in the postseason.
Good night. See everybody in Bradenton.
It’s over now.
Not gonna win many games with 1 hit into the 6 th inning.
Just saw the first two fans leave
Some Jeopardy.
.
The answer is:
A Pedro Alvarez home run & a Russell Martin ground ball single.
What are the 2 Pirates hits in their last 2 home playoff games ?
Pedro bomb, Russ single tonight?
Haha! I was reading comments from the bottom up. Didn’t catch the Jeopardy theme.
Should have changed my avatar to Alex Trebek.
Now, that’s funny – on a night w not much to smile about.
And now, there’s abject Panik.
Wow. Big Panda has transformed himself into a patient selective hitter. Amazing. And seconds after he signs his FA contract he will start the process of gaining 50 lbs and hacking away. Buyer beware.
This is sad….good night!
Last night’s game was so riveting, I couldn’t fall asleep. Tonight, I can hardly stay awake. It’s flat-out dead in the Burgh.
Ummmm….and i thought pens game was boring. On the bright side i’m sure its nutting’s fault. So at least there’s that…
I don’t think it makes much difference, but this has not been one of Clint’s better games.
So what does everyone think they will offer Martin?
I was thinking 4 yrs, $60 mil. Having read what Nutting told DK, I now think they’ll go as high as 4 yrs, $70 mil, with a club option for a 5th year. Trouble is, it will just drive up the price for the richer teams to outbid us.
I agree with 4 yr. and 60 million.
A more than fair amount of millions, but about 20 mil less than the Dodgers…Cubs…
What an ugly end to an exciting season…
Down by a touchdown. Crowd not in the game. Light hitting Giants bringing it.
Need a really big comeback now. Baumgardner non-plussed.
How about some noise?
Stuart
Big letdown tonight, but no way this is going to mitigate the joy I got out another great year and — best of all — a September of meaningful Pirate games. Stuck with them for the two dark decades, so even a WC loss is gravy, a cherry on top, a martini olive. Get ‘em next year!
Good to see that all our irrelevant relief pitchers are getting to pitch.
Buccos were just flat tonight…
It was agood year. Now I can enjoy postseason mlb without dying with every pitch.
Every Pirate pitcher has been touched for runs in this game. It didn’t matter what strings Hurdle did or didn’t push — this was Bumgarner’s night.
MORAL OF STORY: win the damn division. Games like this happen. Winning division means you can live for another day after such.
They tried just didn’t get it done at the end.
That they did. My message is to those who would have settled for WC and sat Cole on Sunday when we still had chance.
Yep, that is the big takeaway from tonight.
Thank you Pirates. It’s a disappointing end to this season, but it was a wonderful year. Lots of good memories. Thank you again.
If Bobby LaFromboise gets in there’s no reason Brent Morel can’t at least pinch hit. I mean, Jayson Nix got in for the Royals last night. And they won.
Did that crawl say the Pirates were one of 5 teams to have at least 3 hits in every game this year? OUCH except the biggest game of the year.
Looks like Martin’s last game for Pittsburgh.
I just don’t know what to say. But I didn’t expect this type of ending.
Team seemed just flat tonight…
Pirates have been like this fairly often (playing dead until the late innings). This one has gotten out of hand. Credit to Madison B – terrific game, so far.
Just miserable game.
Also, anyone else having problems viewing articles?
No
Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit drinkin….
Or sniffing glue.
For me at least, it feels somehow easier to take a loss like this rather than a 1 run game. Don’t have to play the woulda, coulda, shoulda game.
And Walker’s postseason suckage at the plate continues.
Bring on Alen Hanson.
Last 25 post season innings – 2 runs on 11 hits. That’s Wacha, Wainwright & Bumgarner. If you want to win in October, you have to beat guys like that. Or, get some guys like that of your own.
Excellent point, Milo
See, i knew it was nutting’s fault somehow.
or win the division maybe….
Agreed Milo…
How would you like Panda playing first base for the Bucs? Just dreaming
I’ll stick with Pedro. I’m betting this is Tabatas last game as a Bucs. Gaby and Ike probably gone to. I’m for switching Cutch and Marte next year.
Stu
I back you on every point, Stuart. While I doubt the Pirates do that to Cutch, I do think he has his limitations and that Marte might give us more defensive runs saved. And I’d really like to see Pedro take off at 1st.
Got your Morel appearance, Milo.
Brent Morel robbed by Pence. Robbed of a foul ball that is. I’m crushed.
didn’t matter who pitched for pirates tonite. Bummy is lights out. Like other post said, this is why you have to win division.
That was me, and YEP, we need to make this the mantra for 2015.
On balance, the team kept things interesting for 3/4 of the season, and set us up for endless positive off-season speculation. Pretty good deal. And, of course thanks to D K and all the lunatics for all you do.
Bye bye Frankie and Russ Mart. Sigh…
You apparently haven’t been following DK’s editorial work. A few weeks back he laid it out that the Bucs MUST re-sign Martin. Reporter DK than broke that both sides want this. And just today he reported that Bob Nutting intimated that Pirates will go beyond to try and keep #55.
If we actually re-sign Martin, it will be in no small part thanks to the growing influence of DK’s voice on the scene. Pretty cool when you stop to take that in.
Do you actually believe that DK has any influence on whether the Bucs re-sign Martin? If you do, you’re delusional. If they do it, it’s because they fear the fan backlash.
As much as I want Martin to stay a Buc, if it’s at the price of about $60-70 million over 4 yrs then no way
It wouldn’t be the first time he got Bob Nutting’s attention and intervention. Do a little research on his Hoka Hey expose. And you’re the delusional one if you think Nutting and Huntington make decisions in fear of “fan backlash.” But thanks for the stupid lecture.
I’ve been following it. I just don’t believe it.
We’ll have to see, then.
Bucs went farther last year, but with all the issues nice year no matter this game. Shame they couldn’t bring it early to put some heat on the Giants, but it will be an interesting off season.
Last Pirates at bat for Russell Martin.
Let the Geovany Soto era begin.
Yep. Sucks…..
Great effort by Bumgarner, but that was pretty weak.
maybe the competition committee isnt so smart
How does that have anything to do with Bumgarner being unbeatable tonight?
Poop.
Leadership counsel needs to decide how to deal with the open contracts.
Domination.
.
Plan to get Bumgarner pitch count up ended with his first pitch strikes. Seemed like 80% (or higher?) through first 6 innings.
.
His first pitch was his best pitch and we were laying off. His last pitch was generally in dirt and we were biting.
Need to capture division next year so one game pay-ins in rear view mirror.
SF obviously had a better plan than our guys. Even if Cole or Liriano could have pitched tonight, giving up 1 would have been too many. Their pitcher was lights out.
It wasn’t a plan, really. It was having a pitcher who was money.
This was a disappointing ending. But, I’ll remember this team didn’t quit at 18-26. They knew they were good & they fought back to the playoffs. I believe the future is still bright, but they need to retain Russ and bolster the staff since they’ll lose some starters.
My prediction for NL playoffs is that the chalk will hold. LAD squashes STL & Wash does the same to SF. Wash beats LAD for NL crown.
I’ll say it tonight like I did last season, in a win: a one-game wild card game is awful. It needs to be a best of 3. This game proved a flaw in the WC concept: it punishes a team fighting for a division and rewards the other for being out of the division.
I don’t like it either. It makes a mockery of the grind of the prior 162. But I’m not sure if our sentiment is enough to counterbalance the sweet spot MLB has found with the drama of the one-and-done feature of the WC game.
I think Kruk said it right after the game: Bumgarner had the Pirates looking at strikes and swinging at balls.
Just said that up above.
.
Is Kruk reading our blog?
Disappointing loss, obviously. While some great memories the last couple of years in returning to the playoffs, those of us old enough to remember 1979 are now the most downtrodden Pirates fans in franchise history. At least 36 years without a WS Championship. A new record.
Man, how bad was the ESPN broadcast team though?
Kruk’s alright. The other stiffs don’t know what they’re talking about. WGN is horrible too. Get me to Joe Buck and whoever replaces Tim McCarver (whom I also enjoyed) and I’m good.
Bumgarner was great but Hurdle gets most of the blame. Hurdle is like Murtaugh-he left the pitchers in too long. Chuck Tanner taught us all that managing in the playoffs is different-especially in a deciding game. Tanner always had two pitchers warm and ready to go. see next comm
Murtaugh won two World Series championships, 2 NL Pennants, and 4 division titles. In 1960 Game 7, he brought in Friend and Haddix (two starters) to pitch the 9th. In 1971 Game 7, he let Blass go the distance including pitching out of 8th inning jam. Won both games.
If Tanner needed one pitcher to face one batter in a deciding game, he made the move. Bucs could not fall behind and Hurdle should have tried someone else with bases loaded & none out. Hurdle did not even have someone warmed up. Why carry nine pitchers & not use the next best?
Yea, we would have won the game tonight if Tanner was managing.
Bad game pretty good season. Losing this one wasn’t as bad as the Braves in ’92.
How many days till spring training?
Stuart
Your sarcasm misses the point. The game was on the line in the fourth and Hurdle did nothing and was unprepared to act. Those who do not learn from the past are condemned to repeat it.
Since Hurdle does not take pain killers and was in severe pain, the question needs to be asked whether he knows how to manage in the playoffs or whether he could not think clearly. To me he looked like a guy who wanted the season to be over, so he could get on with the surgery.
I am tired of managers who manage by the book rather than making judgments and acting boldly. It reminds me of Leyland’s response when he was asked why he used Belinda in game 7 in 1992. Leyland said simply: “he’s my closer”. Meanwhile Walk was available. see next comment
Maybe you should go to bed if you are so tired. BTW it’s the players that play the game.
Stuart
With the bases loaded and none out in the fourth, and facing a strong opposing pitcher, Hurdle needed to act boldly. He should have brought in Watson or Melanson to try to get out of the jam, and worry later about the ninth. If you are going to lose, then lose with your best.
Keep on postin’. We need the laughs.
Agree that Watson and Melanson should have been in the game way before it was over. Watson should have went in way before Wilson. Hell, Hughes should have went in before him. weird managment.
Tough pill to swallow… Offense seemed to really be struggling down the stretch, kinda miss a hot pedro