April 13, 2015

Column: Of bricks, bonds and serious ball

BY DEJAN KOVACEVIC A good baseball team is built on bricks. A great one’s got the mortar, too. For all else that can be culled from the Pittsburgh Baseball Club’s 129th home opener, from Josh Harrison homering on the very first pitch to Gerrit Cole’s six-plus shutdown innings, to Jared Hughes’ game-changing double-play grounder, to

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79 Comments Newest to oldest

unipress_552c2fc64bcf5
4-13-2015, 6:47 pm
So if Pedro continues do to do well at first and at the plate does that mean the Pirates will aggressively look to trade him?

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baldonieri
4-13-2015, 6:58 pm
Not this year. Maybe in the off-season. He's represented by Boras and almost certainly will not sign an extension. Worst case scenario is he plays through 2016 and we offer him a qo and he turns it down. I hope he hits 80 home runs between now and then. He just might (& lead the Bucs to the promised land!)

Groat2Maz2Strangeglove
4-13-2015, 7:12 pm
Nice, encouraging comment.

Nameless, faceless, witless.

Dejan Kovacevic
4-13-2015, 7:54 pm
If you have one of those Unipress usernames, please be sure to click on it -- on the main site only -- and change it to whatever you like.

BurghFan
4-13-2015, 8:50 pm
I actually want Pedro to stay, but I wanted a realistic opinion on how much longer I can expect him to stay in Pittsburgh and what the organization wanted to do with him if he continued to produce, so that is why I asked.

Also why am I being attacked because I didnt go upload a stupid avatar or a name. What the hell does that have to do with anything?? And for the witless. HAS THERE NOT BEEN MULTIPLE RUMORS ABOUT THE PIRATES DESPERATELY TRYING TO GET RID OF PEDRO? I'm 100% sure DK has mentioned it multiple times in his articles discussing the Pirate this off-season.

Any way, thank you though DK for your help on the avi, never really got to it or really cared until now because obviously if you do not have an avi or a username you are unworthy to post anything in the eyes of groat

Rob
4-13-2015, 9:43 pm
He is gone. But if he has big year, trade value could be real good.

Rob
4-13-2015, 9:45 pm
Straight to American league. DH written all over him.

Groat2Maz2Strangeglove
4-13-2015, 10:12 pm
Mr. Fan,

You now have a face and a name. That indicates: 1/ you are not just trying to be a "troll," making outlandish statements to upset or get a rise out of others here; and 2/ your question was serious, not just designed to take the "warm glow" away from a satisfying victory in the Home Opener. Some folks try to do so unfortunately.

Therefore, I withdraw my "witless" comment and will attempt to seriously answer your question.

Very, very few players are traded before late June. Others here will confirm that. Plus, Pedro has skills that few in the Majors have . . . and now is the time to see if those skills return or even rise to a higher level. Although his fluency at 1st Base is not great, his ability to drive the baseball long distances is a trait few have on any team.

The Pirates have him right now. Their best bet is to see how far they can go with his abilities this year. If the team wallows in the standings through 2/3 of the season, then Bucs can see what they can get around the trading deadline for both Alvarez and Walker. Otherwise, they need to go full steam ahead for this season with their most outstanding players at each position.

I think it highly, very highly, unlikely that Pedro would be traded early in the season . . . . I think it is just a distraction to even consider it after 7 games.

If Pedro has finally hit his stride as a Major League player, his bat can carry a team and change the disposition of a batting line-up. Don't worry about him being shopped or going away until after the season, unless the Pirates go into the tank soon. Even then, serious concerns about him leaving wouldn't occur until around or after the All Star Game.

Enjoy the ride right now.

emoneypitt
4-14-2015, 12:11 am
I think Pedro almost certainly is gone before next season if he has a great, good or even average year. The team tried to trade him in the offseason, but nobody wanted him. I don't believe that he would be traded during the season, unless the team is somehow out of contention before the end of July.

Mosca
4-14-2015, 8:15 am
I think the Bucs will let him play out his contract and leave via free agency after 2016. I don't see that anyone can offer anything that would interest the Pirates. They usually want low cost, long term high value assets... Just like everyone else. So who is going to offer that for one year of a player who will be available the next year: the Dodgers? The Yankees? Red Sox? Not likely, all their worthwhile players are being paid too much, and all their prospects have been trades away. If Alvarez has a great year, he is worth more to the Pirates for one more year under his arbitration award.

Kevin
4-13-2015, 6:49 pm
Good read Dejan. I really, really like the makeup of this team. They have a chance to do some special things.

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Scott
4-13-2015, 6:51 pm
Great metaphor DK.

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Dejan Kovacevic
4-13-2015, 8:02 pm
I'm not even sure what exactly a metaphor is, Scott, but thanks!

aglebagel
4-13-2015, 6:51 pm
Methinks with one more run across the plate in the top of the 9th, Melancon would have had 25 scooters piling up at his locker after the game. :)

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BAd
4-13-2015, 6:56 pm
That woulda been a great one to be in attendance!

But work and school said "nope"

Thanks for covering it so well and so quickly! I feel the latter of those gets lost here sometimes but the fact that your columns are posted so quickly after the event really adds to the value of the site.

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rvfcprez
4-13-2015, 6:57 pm
Thank you Dejan! Your column brought the game to life for someone who had to settle for watching it on TV from Tennessee!

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Dejan Kovacevic
4-13-2015, 7:21 pm
Glad you enjoyed it. Was trying to go beyond whatever might have been obvious on TV.

ImEasyEd
4-14-2015, 11:40 am
Duquesne must not cover metaphors until the junior year. :)

Mark Torbic
4-13-2015, 7:02 pm
Great win today for the bucs. The team has picked up right where it.left off at home being a tough place to come into PNC and winning for opposing teams. It's a long season and nobody knows what can happen but the key stat I like is Pedro hitting .304 and the bucs winning 3 of 4 after the 0-3 start in Cincy.

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james snyder
4-13-2015, 7:02 pm
Didn't really like how fast the crowd turned on Melancon. But they did turn back just as fast.

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Arriba Wilver
4-13-2015, 7:22 pm
I was there. It was hard to tell, but after Walker's second sorta/kinda flub I thought the booing was on Walker, not Melancon. But, I did want him replaced, twice. But I'm not a booer. It's our team.

Arriba Wilver
4-13-2015, 7:24 pm
Oh, and the crowd was great. Start to finish.

J.R.
4-14-2015, 6:48 am
I agree with Arriba Wilver. Definitely directed at Neil's flubbing. Could have easily had 2 outs and the whole thing wouldn't have got so darn dramatic!

Dale A. Biesecker
4-13-2015, 7:08 pm
No one does it better than DK. Subscribe already and don't miss a word.

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sixncounting
4-13-2015, 7:10 pm
From MLB:

Sanchez gave up almost as many home runs (three) in 6 1/3 innings Monday as he did over 126 innings in 2014 (four).

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C. Stone
4-13-2015, 7:15 pm
Thanks for painting the picture DK. It's days like this that I really miss the hometown.

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Rico
4-13-2015, 7:33 pm
Once again, a DK column that's almost as good as being there. Up close and personal and just perfection in capturing the atmosphere. This season is going to be so much fun if we continue to see the Buccos play like this with DK there to paint his awesome word pictures.

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unipress_54b28582b94d8
4-13-2015, 7:45 pm
Priceless. Nobody says it better. I was 5 rows from the catcher behind the plate. what a day what a city what a team. #BUCN

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Dejan Kovacevic
4-13-2015, 7:55 pm
Thanks! See above about creating a real username.

The Black Cloud
4-13-2015, 7:50 pm
Opening Day is all about that sort of game and this sort of post-game writing. What a pleasure on all counts.

One thing though. Can anyone explain to me how the word "humbling" now means almost the opposite of what it used to mean. Used to be you were on top of the world, then you screwed up or realized you weren't all that, and you were humbled. Now everyone uses it when they experience their greatest moments, like the wonderful Clint Hurdle and his much deserved moment before the game today. Athletes say it when they tie some all-time great's record. "I'm humbled to be mentioned alongside Hank Aaron and Willie Mays."

Clint will be "humbled" for real some day. That's the nature of being in professional sports. But today he was honored. Just a little thing, but the ubiquitous misuse of that word just puzzles me.

Go Bucs!!!!

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Rico
4-13-2015, 8:11 pm
Not a misuse, just an polite, somewhat ironic, way of expressing modesty, probably a back-formation of "humility". Don't over analyze it--the more ways we have to express modesty in this overly bombastic and egocentric world, the better!

Arriba Wilver
4-13-2015, 8:24 pm
Agree, Rico. And Clint has said before that the game humbles you. He won't be surprised when/if he is humbled again the way BC is talking about. He expects it.

Rico
4-13-2015, 8:36 pm
Nice illustration of both usages, AW.

The Black Cloud
4-13-2015, 11:11 pm
I'm humbled by your thoughtful responses. (But it still bugs me!) Go Bucs!

Mosca
4-13-2015, 7:53 pm
This article was worth the entire year's subscription. Thanks.

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Steve Stone
4-13-2015, 8:01 pm
Corey Hart used to destroy the Bucs for years...so glad he's in our dugout now. Like what Cole showed...umpire was all over the place with the strikezone. Need to get at least 2-3 from Tigers.

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Biz
4-13-2015, 8:03 pm
Maybe the Melancon outing was one those put the closer in a non-save situation things?

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james snyder
4-13-2015, 8:15 pm
I thought the same thing.

Arriba Wilver
4-13-2015, 8:25 pm
Crossed my mind, too.

NMR
4-14-2015, 7:06 am
Wish I could be that optimistic, Biz.

I'm afraid the Melancon outing was all about missing 3 mph from his cutter. Yesterday was the 4th game this spring with PITCHf/x and he has *yet* to average 90 mph, down from a 92.88 mph average last year.

Has to be something to watch...

Scott in Orlando
4-13-2015, 8:04 pm
DK, superb article and a welcome change from the negativity surrounding the Penguins.

No one writes with the passion and knowledge within the Pittsburgh market and I am truly privileged to have the opportunity to read your work every day. ALL FOR $1.50 PER MONTH. I still can't believe that price. Your subscriptions should surpass the print periodicals as they are dinosaurs with antiquated beliefs and views.

Thank you, DK.

Let's Go Bucs. If only you wrote back in my days growing up watching the teams of the 60's and 70's.

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Big Daddy
4-13-2015, 8:09 pm
Great win for home opener. Crowd was awesome. If the Pens showed some enthusiasm like the Pirates do - maybe the crowds at the Pens games would make some noise. ... Thats a big IF though.....

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Bradley Minoski
4-14-2015, 12:57 am
Will never happen. Difference in the two crowds is the CEC faithful is populated by corporate stiffs, bandwagoners and people that have no real interest in the game other then to just be there because they got a free ticket. You see more enthusiastic crowds at PNC because of price and the type of people go to games. I mean before the CEC was built, the crowds at Penguin games were fantastic and loud and it wasn't until the CEC was opened and many of the fanbase were priced out (like myself) that the crowds became stale.

Arriba Wilver
4-13-2015, 8:33 pm
I've been to 4 out of the last 5 home openers. This one was the best. JHay's home run on the first pitch set it up. Cole's 8 strikeouts were great. Last year's was exciting on the 10th Inning homer by Walker, but that was the 10th. ;-)

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Parker
4-13-2015, 8:45 pm
Loved the article, Thanks for the continued superb content. Lets Go Bucs!

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Dejan Kovacevic
4-13-2015, 8:55 pm
Thanks to all for typos/corrections, as always. As several readers have requested, once the fixes are made, the comment is knocked out, the better to keep the conversation moving.

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PucknutZ
4-13-2015, 9:04 pm
Nice read DK
Early yet, but the Bucs seem to have it together. Opening day always is something special an a win makes it even better.
Nice pic of the Clemente bridge ... except for those needless bike lanes.Nary a bike in sight, for hours maybe.
What a waste. Like you really woulda had trouble getting a bike across
Sorry for the bike rant, just bugs me a bit.
.

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ultimattfrisbee
4-13-2015, 11:17 pm
I ride my bike to a dozen games a year. I get off and walk at the Clemente, and that's fine, but I'll be using them, and more when the bridge is open to traffic on non-game days.

NMR
4-14-2015, 7:08 am
You apparently missed me and the two other people using them to get to the game. Funny how those against bike lanes, which seems incredibly silly in the first place, magically never seem to notice people using them.

paldrich2
4-13-2015, 9:04 pm
Slightly different atmosphere from when we were buying tickets :)

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Dejan Kovacevic
4-13-2015, 9:23 pm
Oh, wow, you aren't kidding. It's like this isn't the same franchise anymore.

cooljerdoc
4-13-2015, 9:22 pm
Nice. I was ticketed to go today w my best friend when fate caused me to give up my day off. My friend insists that is why the Buccos prevailed! Keep the great writing flowing, Dejan.

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Dejan Kovacevic
4-13-2015, 11:28 pm
Where have YOU been? :)

Adam Pasay
4-13-2015, 9:23 pm
Great home opener today. Cole was on fire except for the 7th inning. Plus Alvarez, Harrison, and Hart went deep. I think hart will be a better reserve outfielder than Snider was last year because I feel he's a better hitter plus he has more experience too.

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Jon Hartman
4-13-2015, 9:47 pm
fantastci article! im so beat from today. im glad i took a day off.

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Arriba Wilver
4-13-2015, 9:51 pm
One other thing. To me it looked like a younger crowd overall.

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NMR
4-14-2015, 7:13 am
Couldn't agree more.

tdb1977
4-13-2015, 10:54 pm
This is the first home opener that my wife and I missed in the last 5 or so years, as we were regulated to watching it on TV. I'm working a horrid schedule right now which kept me away this year. I told my wife around the 8th inning today, that we will never miss another opening day. Opening Day is a special day in baseball. And today's game showed how special it truly is.

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chrisgallo944
4-13-2015, 11:00 pm
Living in Iowa I rarely get to see the bucks on the tube....your columns really put me in the moment DK. awesome stuff

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Dejan Kovacevic
4-13-2015, 11:27 pm
Glad to hear it, Chris! Thanks for your support!

Radio wave
4-13-2015, 11:11 pm
Cubs beat Reds, division closer.

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JasonfromShaler
4-13-2015, 11:39 pm
Was driving over the Vets bridge when on the radio the final out came (was not at the game.) Might be corny but hearing the call on the radio, seeing the fireworks, hearing them at the same time over the radio and driving with all windows down on a top notch spring day.... It was just about perfect. Made me want to go back and re-read your column, DK, that you wrote right after they clinched in Atlanta.

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emoneypitt
4-14-2015, 12:14 am
Great win today against an obviously good, looks like contending team once again in the Tigers. So much for all the panic and despair after the opening series in Cincinnati.

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Bill Presutti
4-14-2015, 12:49 am
Vvc

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Rob
4-14-2015, 6:38 am
There is a lot of things to like about this team this year. Hart could be a difference maker.

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J.R.
4-14-2015, 7:17 am
Great, aggressive swing by Pedro on the first pitch of the bottom of the 7th. My 4-year-old had finally stopped "needing" ice cream at that point, and he high-fived everybody in our section as the ball cleared the wall. Continue to think Pedro is a thoughtful, interesting dude. Really strikes me that this team seems to have people on it who don't fit the typical baseball mode of behavior, which I really like. Answers to media questions tend to veer off into interesting territory as opposed to the usual pablum. Morton, Sanchez, Hughes, Cole, J-Hay, even Cutch. I wonder to what degree Martin had that impact, as he seemed a lot more thoughtful than your typical MLB catcher...

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WarHorse
4-14-2015, 8:02 am
+++

NMR
4-14-2015, 12:38 pm
Interesting thoughts, I agree.

NMR
4-14-2015, 12:43 pm
Also found it interesting to hear Clint Hurdle go out of his way to praise Alvarez in his post-game presser regarding PA "doing whatever we've asked of him". I can remember Hurdle saying something similar in 2012, the last time they suggested he play winter ball.

Groat2Maz2Strangeglove
4-14-2015, 3:56 pm
"Winter Ball" . . . . . . those are cuss words to BMTIB.

Those whom they want to play won't;
those who want to play, they won't allow.

Arriba Wilver
4-14-2015, 5:05 pm
Pedro seems very fragile. They are always tiptoeing over him emotionally.
Hey, if he keeps up this start, who cares about that? But . . .

WarHorse
4-14-2015, 8:21 am
Watching every pitch from over here in England yesterday, I was impressed with this Bucco team's ability to break out for a big inning. Suddenly, it's 5-1 in the 9th. Same was true in Milwaukee.
Thanks, DK, for a special opening day essay (construction metaphors and all) that added wonderful details for those of us too far away to be there.

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Tom Armstrong
4-14-2015, 8:37 am
a wonderful read...wonderful accounts of a special opening day. thanks, dejan!

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mtk1258
4-14-2015, 11:08 am
Great read!!!

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matt.gajtka
4-14-2015, 12:21 pm
Wife's from Michigan, so we're really enjoying the frequent matchups between the Bucs and Tigers in recent years. (Although I'm not sure she enjoyed yesterday's game very much.)

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RobfromCranberry
4-14-2015, 2:54 pm
It will be interesting to see what the crowds are like tonight and tomorrow.

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cmat0829
4-14-2015, 6:15 pm
DK great article, as always superbly written. To me Tony Sanchez seems like more of a mortar guy than Chris Stewart...he just seems to have an energy to him that makes me want him as our backup C and not Mr. Stewart.

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Column: Of bricks, bonds and serious ball

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