April 14, 2015

Covering: Tigers 2, Pirates 0

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by Dejan Kovacevic • Game previews • Tags: Pirates

BY DEJAN KOVACEVIC Getting ready for first pitch … Game: Pirates (3-4) vs. Detroit Tigers (6-1), 7:05 p.m., PNC Park Pitchers: RHP A.J. Burnett (0-0, 3.38) vs. RHP Shane Greene (1-0, 0.00) TV, radio: Root Sports, 93.7 The Fan Online: Gameday / Multimedia / Official game notes As a small bonus, here’s a quick answer

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120 Comments Newest to oldest

JAL
4-14-2015, 5:14 pm
Pirates Lineup:
1. Josh Harrison (R) 3B
2. Gregory Polanco (L) LF
3. Andrew McCutchen (R) CF
4. Neil Walker (S) 2B
5. Corey Hart (R) RF
6. Pedro Alvarez (L) 1B
7. Francisco Cervelli (R) C
8. Jordy Mercer (R) SS
9. A.J. Burnett (R) P

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JAL
4-14-2015, 5:14 pm
Tigers Lineup:
1. Rajai Davis (R) CF
2. Ian Kinsler (R) 2B
3. Miguel Cabrera (R) 1B
4. J.D. Martinez (R) RF
5. Yoenis Cespedes (R) LF
6. Nick Castellanos (R) 3B
7. Alex Avila (L) C
8. Jose Iglesias (R) SS
9. Shane Greene (R) P

Groat2Maz2Strangeglove
4-14-2015, 5:44 pm
WOW! Gotta trust Clint!

Marte has been in a funk, but he hit a couple real hard yesterday, and like Melansen's crash-and-burn only being once, it's only been 7 games.

A little surprised.

In Clint we trust.

cmat0829
4-14-2015, 6:23 pm
excellent move to get Hart a start and to rest the bewildered Marte....a day of rest worked well for JHay....

Patrick
4-14-2015, 7:15 pm
An an example of the SF Warriors line-up strategy?

Milo Hamilton
4-14-2015, 7:12 pm
Wonder how the Leylands got those primo seats ?

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jtownjohn
4-14-2015, 7:22 pm
First pitch of 20 game package from section 32

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Dejan Kovacevic
4-14-2015, 7:24 pm
Nice! Welcome!

The wolf
4-14-2015, 10:42 pm
Nice photo! Looks like you jumped out on the field for that one. Is that the ballboy package lol

bpn8pitt
4-14-2015, 7:29 pm
Unreal. People complain about shifts, hit right into him. Once Harrison moved, I would have layed one down third base line. Martinez could have ran right through 2nd.

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bpn8pitt
4-14-2015, 7:30 pm
Castellano, excuse me.

Patrick
4-14-2015, 7:30 pm
Anybody have insight into why Cespedes is already playing for his 3rd team? I guess the Red Sox just had him as a rental?

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bpn8pitt
4-14-2015, 7:41 pm
He's a free agent after this season. I also believe I saw something on his age. That there is a belief he is older than 29.

Patrick
4-14-2015, 7:50 pm
Thanks, Bpn.

bpn8pitt
4-14-2015, 7:55 pm
Some of those Cuban players like Puig, Abreu would be sweet to have. Some of them appear grossly overpaid...that's why I liked the Kang deal. 2.5 million a season is under the average salary, and if need be they could swallow it.

The Dodgers and Red Sox got these 8 figure a year players at AAA. And aren't really sure what they have either.

bpn8pitt
4-14-2015, 8:00 pm
Stay classy, Miggy.

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Milo Hamilton
4-14-2015, 8:01 pm
Cabrera looks irritated. Someone please buy him a couple dozen drinks tonight on the South Side and make him feel better.

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bpatterson63
4-14-2015, 8:11 pm
Filthy...just filthy!

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Milo Hamilton
4-14-2015, 8:12 pm
The Browns just unveiled their new uniforms. And they're hideous. The team president proclaimed them the Oregon of the NFL and that the three new unis give them nine different combinations. They are really proud of that last part. So we're the Pirates when they did it. 38 years ago.

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Patrick
4-14-2015, 8:17 pm
I sort of liked the black pants, white shirt version. The yellow ones made en look like 9 bananas.

Milo Hamilton
4-14-2015, 8:40 pm
I saw one if the players(can't remember who) from those teams talking about them. Their biggest concern was comfort. Apparently all three sets were made by different companies and fit differently. They didn't like the pin stripe ones because they were made very tight and were not comfortable at all.

LuckyNKentucky
4-14-2015, 8:44 pm
I liked the black jerseys with the pinstriped pants. Didn't they wear the same combo the last 3 games of the 79 series? Probably the same socks and underwear, too.

bpatterson63
4-14-2015, 8:55 pm
Revvie...that's just sick!

Milo Hamilton
4-14-2015, 8:59 pm
Hey Brandie. How goes it ?

Patrick
4-14-2015, 8:13 pm
Walk is wrong. AJ is just naming the rib that he will plunk in Cabrera's next at bat.

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Radio wave
4-14-2015, 8:19 pm
What do folks prefer: a game like this, or a slugfest?

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Patrick
4-14-2015, 8:23 pm
My choice for TV is this one. At the park, a slugfest.

bpn8pitt
4-14-2015, 8:24 pm
Take this all day, Radio.

bpatterson63
4-14-2015, 8:42 pm
I prefer this kind...especially if this ends up as a W for the good guys!

Wild Bill
4-14-2015, 8:40 pm
Lol. See how small Pedro looked next to Cabrera? What a monster that guy is!

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bpatterson63
4-14-2015, 8:56 pm
Chiseled out of something...the likes of which we have never seen. Although...I give Pedro props for the beard.

Patrick
4-14-2015, 8:41 pm
How about a bare-armed arm wrestling contest between AJ & Hart? You could charge admission.

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bpatterson63
4-14-2015, 8:57 pm
For charity, maybe?

bpn8pitt
4-14-2015, 8:51 pm
Pretty sweet photo of Burnett up there.

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Dejan Kovacevic
4-14-2015, 8:55 pm
Just loved it. Great initiative by the photographer.

Milo Hamilton
4-14-2015, 8:57 pm
I'd have Caminero pitch to Davis here.

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Dejan Kovacevic
4-14-2015, 9:09 pm
Why don't they ever listen to Milo?

Milo Hamilton
4-14-2015, 9:15 pm
He would have pulled every other starter there under the same circumstances.

steelag70
4-14-2015, 9:20 pm
I think quite a few managers give a veteran with AJ's pedigree a little longer leash....

steelag70
4-14-2015, 9:24 pm
Caminero did a nice job...

emoneypitt
4-14-2015, 10:26 pm
Not to take away the fine job by AJ tonight but Hurdle definitely left him in one batter too long. A pitcher with a count over 100 in the latter stage of a scoreless game should be taken out in that situation. Doesn't matter who the pitcher is.... Wainwright, Kershaw, etc.

The wolf
4-14-2015, 10:36 pm
Tail wagging the dog. Saw that exact dynamic cost them runs/games last time AJ was here. Deja vu all over again.

DeveRow
4-14-2015, 8:58 pm
Nice ballgame brewing.

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bpn8pitt
4-14-2015, 9:04 pm
It's an absolute travesty, the lack of run support Burnett has gotten in his Pirates career.

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steelag70
4-14-2015, 9:13 pm
It really is...and it's also ridiculous that young pitchers always dominate the Buccos...they never seem to have success against them.

bpn8pitt
4-14-2015, 9:43 pm
I know the Yanks needed a SS, but can't understand giving up this guy. Thought they needed arms badly.

Milo Hamilton
4-14-2015, 9:20 pm
If I read the lips correctly Hurdle told the umpire to "Go ahead and miss another one."

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steelag70
4-14-2015, 9:22 pm
Yessir Milo...I read the same thing....

steelag70
4-14-2015, 9:21 pm
This umpiring crew has left a lot to be desired with ball and strike calls this series...don't blame Hurdle one bit.

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Milo Hamilton
4-14-2015, 9:23 pm
Oh please bring Joba in. Pretty please.

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steelag70
4-14-2015, 9:27 pm
Buccos always get dominated by young pitchers....

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steelag70
4-14-2015, 9:32 pm
Rackley is HORRIBLE....

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Milo Hamilton
4-14-2015, 9:34 pm
I never could quite follow the Yankees thinking in regards to Shane Greene. As many problems as they've had with their rotation they were seemingly loathe to call him up. When they finally did he was their best pitcher the 2nd half of last year - 3.78 ERA in 14 starts. Then they couldn't wait to trade him at first opportunity in the off season. I just can't figure what they didn't like.

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bpn8pitt
4-14-2015, 9:43 pm
Yea, I don't get that either. Just said that to steel lag.

Milo Hamilton
4-14-2015, 9:51 pm
And by the way, the Yankees still need a shortstop.

steelag70
4-14-2015, 9:53 pm
And still need starting pitching...

bpn8pitt
4-14-2015, 9:54 pm
I don't think NMR was ever high on Didi but I think Jim was.

Parker
4-14-2015, 9:34 pm
C'mon 22. You are much better than that play.

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Milo Hamilton
4-14-2015, 9:35 pm
Casual Cutch strikes again.

steelag70
4-14-2015, 9:37 pm
Maybe the knee was bugging him....

Milo Hamilton
4-14-2015, 9:39 pm
And the other thing is that he needs to buy a ticket for where he plays out there. Decent scouting will pick that up. Leyland sees just about every game.

steelag70
4-14-2015, 9:50 pm
That run is on Cutch.

Parker
4-14-2015, 9:51 pm
Sure was.

Florida Steeler
4-14-2015, 9:35 pm
What a lazy, pathetic effort by Cutch. But, of course Walk and babble mouth Brown have an excuse.

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Parker
4-14-2015, 9:37 pm
Thought the same thing about the excuse. There was no excuse for a play like that. None. They make themselves sound foolish trying to explain that away.

Purple Moose
4-14-2015, 9:56 pm
100% agree. Every play is big when you miss the division title by one game.

steelag70
4-14-2015, 9:42 pm
It will be up to Mercer, Lambo and JHay in the ninth vs Soria....yaaayyy....

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steelag70
4-14-2015, 9:49 pm
Say goodnight folks....

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Milo Hamilton
4-14-2015, 9:50 pm
Rob Scahill ladies and gentlemen.

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steelag70
4-14-2015, 9:51 pm
But CH loves this guy Milo...

Purple Moose
4-14-2015, 9:55 pm
And Holdzkom is in the minors because............................

Brandon S.
4-14-2015, 10:05 pm
Because he had an option and others did not.

steelag70
4-14-2015, 10:11 pm
Holdzkom also needed to work on a secondary pitch...

Radio wave
4-14-2015, 9:51 pm
Pen blows up again.

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steelag70
4-14-2015, 9:52 pm
I blame this one more on the offense, or lack thereof....

Brandon S.
4-14-2015, 9:56 pm
Can't win with no runs... Tough to blame pitchers for giving up 2 runs at home to one of the best offenses in MLB

WVStarship
4-14-2015, 9:59 pm
Except the neither run should have scored.

Cberry88
4-14-2015, 10:02 pm
No effort, head coach nowhere to be seen, no offense, star players don't care, terrible officiating.

I hope Mario shakes things up this off-season.

Pen's blow up way too often.

Brandon S.
4-14-2015, 10:05 pm
WV - again... Gotta score one to win one

Arriba Wilver
4-14-2015, 10:11 pm
Blows up? I hope you're joking, RW.

bpn8pitt
4-14-2015, 9:58 pm
27th in drawing walks...just saying.

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steelag70
4-14-2015, 10:21 pm
Yep bpn...if you're not hitting you better be working the count for walks.

Parker
4-14-2015, 9:58 pm
Blue is beyond bad. This guy has called a very poor game. Wow.

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Brandon S.
4-14-2015, 9:58 pm
That second strike to Lambo wasn't a strike all night

Brandon S.
4-14-2015, 9:59 pm
Same for J Hay - ump wants to go home

The wolf
4-14-2015, 10:18 pm
That game was suspiciously called by the home plate ump on both sides of innings ike he had money riding on the Tigers, but still, hit the freaking baseball Buccos. Damn.

steelag70
4-14-2015, 9:58 pm
What a putrid effort tonight by our hitters...

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Parker
4-14-2015, 9:59 pm
Let's go get em tomorrow.

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Milo Hamilton
4-14-2015, 10:00 pm
You gotta win when you only give that team 2 runs. Feh.

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steelag70
4-14-2015, 10:02 pm
Bucks have faced 3 young pitchers so far this season....have lost all three only scored 2 runs and shutout twice....yeah, we have a great offense...

Brandon S.
4-14-2015, 10:04 pm
Not uncommon to struggle against guys when there's not much of a scouting report out there yet

steelag70
4-14-2015, 10:06 pm
Cervelli caught him all last year....how much more of a scouting report do you need??

Arriba Wilver
4-14-2015, 10:13 pm
What do the Milwaukee Bucks have to do with this?

steelag70
4-14-2015, 10:00 pm
Ugly, ugly, ugly.....

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emoneypitt
4-14-2015, 10:02 pm
Just not the Pirates night. AJ pitched great but Greene was even better. And yeah, some questionable ball and strike calls behind the plate.

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steelag70
4-14-2015, 10:04 pm
That seems to be the key to beating the Buccos this year...throw a young pitcher at them...they can't handle them.

DJ
4-14-2015, 10:02 pm
Apparently the Pens whining has now affected MLB umpiring.

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DJ
4-14-2015, 10:21 pm
Friggin' Crosby.

WVStarship
4-14-2015, 10:04 pm
In case anyone's interested to know : This offensive juggernaut is on pace to be shut out 40 times this season. :)

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Battleship Bob
4-14-2015, 10:05 pm
10% Shane Greene, 90% Pirates weak at bats.

It is ok to not swing sometimes. Greene hardly broke a sweat.

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steelag70
4-14-2015, 10:07 pm
Amen Bob....

Parker
4-14-2015, 10:14 pm
So true

The wolf
4-14-2015, 10:13 pm
Not elite. Cant win if your bats are as dead as this groups was tonight. AJ was good, but am i the only one troubled by the fact he can never seem to get past the 6th inning, even on his good days?

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bpn8pitt
4-14-2015, 10:17 pm
I'm with you Wolf. It seems like he gets to a point where the opposing team no longer chases the curve, and he can't spot the fastball. Then all of a sudden it's 2 on, no out.

I'm fine with his performance tonight but I know exactly what your saying.

emoneypitt
4-14-2015, 10:22 pm
No one is expecting, or should be expecting AJ to be an ace. At his age, he pitched about as well as he could tonight. Seemed like he got squeezed on at least a couple occasions as well.

steelag70
4-14-2015, 10:26 pm
I agree emoney, and he never gets any run support...

WVStarship
4-14-2015, 10:27 pm
I'm more troubled that this team never seems to score any runs for AJ, not now and not during his last stint with the Bucs. If he doesn't get thrown under the bus tonight in the 7th, AJ gives up zero runs. That's good enough for me.

Brandon S.
4-14-2015, 10:25 pm
THE SKY IS FALLING! It's ten games in everyone... Calm down

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bpn8pitt
4-14-2015, 10:27 pm
Absolutely...But whether it's April or Sept they can't waste pitching performances like that.

steelag70
4-14-2015, 10:30 pm
Agreed bpn...especially at home with this team. Not only that, but they made such a statement in the offseason about how they have to be so much better out of the gate this season....

ledtotheflood
4-14-2015, 10:26 pm
Total pitches thrown tonight---Pirates staff 156, Tigers' Greene & Soria 91.

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Patrick
4-14-2015, 10:33 pm
Liraono for the series win is not a hopeless situation.

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steelag70
4-14-2015, 10:36 pm
Not at all, but need to make sure the offense knows there is a game tomorrow night. :)

emoneypitt
4-14-2015, 10:47 pm
:)

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steelag70
4-14-2015, 11:05 pm
Very nice....

Cberry88
4-14-2015, 11:06 pm
8 games out of 162 in baseball = 4.9% of the season.

4.9% of NFL season is 0.78 games.

4.9% of NHL season is 4.0 games.

Deep breaths. Patience is a virtue.

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bpn8pitt
4-14-2015, 11:08 pm
Lol. Tell that to Polanco and Marte. 2 BB and 27 Ks.

Cberry88
4-14-2015, 11:18 pm
bpn....well played, sir....(slow claps)....

steelag70
4-14-2015, 11:19 pm
Haha....well said bpn.

bencschmitt
4-15-2015, 8:07 am
Congrats!

Reply

Covering: Tigers 2, Pirates 0

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