Reds 3, Pirates 2

Pirates Lineup:
1. Josh Harrison (R) 3B
2. Gregory Polanco (L) RF
3. Andrew McCutchen (R) CF
4. Neil Walker (S) 2B
5. Starling Marte (R) LF
6. Pedro Alvarez (L) 1B
7. Jordy Mercer (R) SS
8. Tony Sanchez (R) C
9. A.J. Burnett (R) P

Legitimately surprised there's not more subs today. Perfect day to give someone a day off and let Kang play.

cdeardo posted this from the game thread yesterday:

"Found this gem from 2011

In the last ten seasons, 80 teams have qualified for the playoffs. Of those, only three started the season winless in their first three games. The last team to do that was the 2007 Phillies. (The 2003 Braves and 2001 Cardinals were the others)."

I did a little further research to update the past three years.

2012 bucked this trend hard. The Yankees, Cards and eventual champion Giants all started 0-3.

2013, none of the playoff teams started 0-3

Last year, the Angels started 0-3 and made the playoffs.

So perhaps the trend not as strong in recent years but still, it's never good to start the season by getting swept.

Really hoping AJ can make a statement today - should be looking to win the series - not avoid the broom. Cincy is a team the Bucs must win more than half their games from if they are going to win the division.

Big inning coming up here. Meat of the order. Polanco starts off with a hit. Nice start of the season for him.

Hope they taught Marte to slide like Polanco just did.

DK: if you were covering the games, left the park after 2:00 a.m., what time would you have to return today?

NMRs boy...

Alvarez is hitting .333 with a single, double and homer on the young season. Just needs a triple for the cycle (in one week).

Very frustrating 3 days in Cincy.

Another decision for the bullpen today. 0-2 so far.

There we see one of the very few weaknesses of McCutchen's game. He has never been a very good jumper at the outfield wall. Granted, robbing that home run would have a spectacular play, but given how early he got there, it was a pretty weak effort.

Must-score inning here because you know will be pitching the ninth for Cincy....

Maybe Cutch should have kept the hair...

UGGGGHHHH

Marte taking the spring-is-meaningless concept to new heights. Was absolutely devastating in Bradenton. Can't touch a straight fastball right now.

Now THAT's the real Tony Watson....

Watching Bucco hitters vs Chapman, it really makes you appreciate the at bat Polanco had against him last night.

Anyone else think Cutch looks different? Sort of looks like I feel getting out of bed.

Frazier 3, Bucs 0.

PA-THET-ICK!!!

Yikes.

What a depressing sports town this has become all of the sudden. Thank goodness for the Masters.

What a stinker of an opening series.

Lunchbox would have caught that one.

Oops. I sound like a Pirates fan.

I get that it's only 3 games, but championship caliber have to find a way to win these close games. Hopefully, this is not a trend.

I get that it's only 3 games, but championship caliber have to find a way to win these close games. Hopefully, this is not a trend.

Masterful 8 innings for Volquez today(also being a Pirate fan).

I hope that these guys can drag themselves away from their WS ring fittings long enough to, you know, win a game.

Right now this Bucco offense doesn't intimidate ANYONE....hard to win games like that.

Somebody please describe that last play for me.
I'm listening to my favorite announcer, who has NO adjectives or descriptive words in his very limited vocabulary.

Did Polanco just drop an easily catchable ball?
Was it a line drive?
Did he dive?
Was it a difficult play? Easy play?
Would it have taken a really good play?
Did Polanco lose the game because he could/should have caught it?

Can someone explain to me why Scahill pitched the ninth while Holdzkom is in the minors?

0-3 start has a strong negative statistical correlation to making the playoffs this century.

It just amazes me how this team continually starts off poorly the first month of the season.

Oh, in case you missed it - Kentucky just announced that their student manager, assistant athletic trainer, color commentator and Ashley Judd have declared for the NBA Draft.

Dan Zangrilli right now saying on radio that Hurdle lost the game by not bringing in Mark Melanson in 9th of tie game. Insisting on it!

Zangrilli is a tool . . . . . a narrow-minded, depth lacking tool . . . . . Even if he's right at times, he likes to assess blame.

Gee, that sounds just like a yinzer!

There's only been 3 games played so far. In the MLB there's 162 total games. Also, the Pirates usually don't start out so hot in April while other team(last years Brewers) started great in April and faltered along the way. In other words, I am saying that it is too early for pirate fans to be panicking about a bad season.

Who would have thought that Locke would have the chance to secure first win for Buccos in 2015??

GREAT JOB BUCCOS !!!!!I I've waited all winter and you start out 0 -3. Lose all 3 to a division opponent - THATS HORRIBLE !!!!!!! WE DO NOT HAVE THE BEST 25 PLAYERS ON THIS ROSTER !!!!!!!!!!!!

The 1974 Pirates lost their first 6 games and 10 of their first 12, yet finished 88-74, winning the NL East.

The 1977 team lost their first 3 and finished 96-66, 2nd in NL East to PHI (who won 101 games). Of course, no wild cards back then. AND, the 1979 club lost 4 of their first 5 to the Phillies, yet won it ALL.

World Series contenders my rear.

First, Polanco should have made the catch. No rocket science there. It happens, but it's a catch 95% of major leaguers make (no official metrics to back that up). He had his focus on the throw. Second, it's early in the season. I like what I see. We may not be sharp right now, but there is a good level of compete on the field and in the box. Correctible mistakes have cost us, not talent level. The Reds aren't a triple A team. They're pretty good. Third, our starting pitching has been good. Assuming it keeps up, our bullpen should catch up based on historical performance. Fourth, 159 to go. Talk to me when we're at 140. Just my take.

I actually leapt to my feet for the Cervelli sacrifice bunt in game 2. I know that sounds a bit odd, but it was extremely heartening to see that happen in that particular instance and to see it executed so well. Haven't had time to watch game 3, but will do so tonight (PST for me). Any good moments of the Bucs managing the basepath well today? Any heads up running or sacrifices?

Five of the NL's 15 teams qualify for the postseason. While not all playoff teams share equal status, consider that when the '92 squad fell short of the World Series, only 2 of 12 teams were eligible----the division winners. Whatever one thinks of the Pirates overall, the club has a good shot of being among the 5 again.

The pitching for the Reds was mostly on point all series and they got a couple breaks. 3 late inning losses against a team with a good lineup and reasonable opportunity to play for the division title is not the end of the world with 159 games to go. This Pirates team could just as easily have won all 3 games. Nothing to write home about.

So many people in this town do not enjoy the actual sport. There will be ups and downs in a season. Everyone needs to relax. Whether it's Pens, Pirates, Steelers, as soon as they lose people complain. Relax people and and ENJOY the game for what it is. It might just lower your blood pressure by 10 puts

There's a reality between its no big deal and it's the end of life as we know it. Starting 0-3 is not as good as starting 3-0. April games do matter. Panic? Certainly not. Happy? Certainly not.

Gee you think Russell Martin was just a bit important???

3 games, 3 collapses in the 8th inning or later and like 10 runs.

It's going to be a long year. I'm sure there aren't many playoff teams that started 0-3 in MLB history.

So the saying goes that a baseball team wins 54 games no matter what and loses 54 games no matter what. It's what is done with the other 54 that determines the season.

Well, all three of these losses fall into the other category. Even more disturbing is that the vaunted bullpen failed them in all three games. Yes, only three games but some trends here not to like.

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