A.J. Burnett pitched into the seventh and held the Tigers to one run in his Pittsburgh return. — GETTY
BY DEJAN KOVACEVIC
Sights, sounds and the scene from PNC Park …
• The script was in place for a prodigious Pittsburgh return for A.J. Burnett, right up until the Tigers’ Rajai Davis poked an RBI single through the middle in the seventh inning for the decisive run of a 2-0 loss last night.
All else was there: Burnett pitched like his prime, going 6 2/3 with just that run, seven hits and eight strikeouts against two walks. He was plenty pumped up, particularly after stranding runners at second and third in the fourth inning. There was even the requisite A.J. drama, as he bit off a few foul words shortly after Miguel Cabrera petulantly swatted the ball out of Francisco Cervelli’s hand for having the audacity to tag him on a strikeout pitch in the dirt.
Alas, Burnett had to settle for just faring well …
Clint Hurdle praised Burnett for being “very efficient, very smart” in his approach, notably in his use of the changeup to keep Detroit’s formidable lineup from getting comfortable with timing. But he also showed steady velocity, sharp command of his increasingly prevalent curve and the whole arsenal, really.
An encouraging start in more ways than one.
• Burnett’s counterpart, Shane Greene, pitched eight innings without an earned run for the second time in as many starts, and he held the Pirates to three hits. But they came away barely impressed.
“Luck,” one player told me. “And help, too. He had lots of help.”
That was one of my many derisive references in the clubhouse to home plate umpire David Rackley.
“I give the guy credit for throwing strikes and being in the zone,” another player said. “But he got all the help in the world. That was a big part of this.”
Of Greene’s 81 pitches — 10 per inning — 58 were called strikes.
I cite this not so much to excuse the Pirates’ lack of hitting but to tell the back story of the real reason Hurdle flipped on Rackley in the eighth inning and was ejected: Arquimedes Caminero was throwing bullets at the Tigers in relief of Burnett, and it appeared to all 31,755 on hand that he had a batter struck out. Looked that way to Hurdle, too. And when Rackley’s right arm didn’t go up, this on a night when Greene could pretty much spray for strikes, the manager barked out.
Rackley apparently issued no warning.
“Usually, you at least get told to shut up,” Hurdle said. “I never had a chance to shut up.”
“Skip’s breaking point,” Josh Harrison called it. “There’s only so much of that you can take.”
• More than one player mentioned being impressed with Caminero’s reaction to it all.
“Even when he got squeezed, he had no reaction at all,” Neil Walker said.
“Total poise,” Harrison said.
“You love to see that in the kid,” third base coach Rick Sofield said. “He knew we’d have his back. He just started focusing on his next pitch.”
• Andrew McCutchen drew some groans in the ninth after a less-than-full-tilt effort at a looping hit into left-center that Jose Iglesias smartly turned into a double. The reaction was justified, based on the eye test alone, but it’s also worth reminding that Cutch is playing through a bum knee. None of us knows the degree to which that’s hampering him.
That said … come on, that just wasn’t good enough. Certainly not for a team leader.
Here’s hoping that the Tigers scoring an insurance run off that will remind him of that.
• Mark Melancon’s cut-fastball velocity is down this year by 3-4 mph, and Hurdle bluntly addressed it before this game: “We’re going to watch, and we’re going to communicate. ‘Concern’ is not a word that I’m going to use. ‘Disappointed’ is not a word that I’m going to use. I don’t think we need to delve deep into emotions. I think you just need to evaluate and have conversations. I think that’s one of the best ways to get things done within the clubhouse is when you have a question, you just ask it.”
Oh, my.
I approached Melancon after this game, and he was adamant, “I’m fine. Really.”
Bullpen is the Pirates’ deepest area, but don’t pretend losing Melancon wouldn’t hurt. He was nothing shy of sensational last summer.
AJ didnt get much run support in his last go-round with the Bucs.
Maybe call a witch doctor to help?
As a player (or manager) what you hope for is consistency from the umpires. They dont have to be right, but be fair. Wasnt the case tonight. Need the automatic ball/strike machine calls big time.................. would eliminate this stuff.
Excellent stuff, DK! Greene's effort was luck, eh? Some of the Bucs said that? And help from the umpire? I guess DeSclafani and Jimmy Nelson were members of the Fortunate Sons too. What happened to tipping one's cap to a rival's effort, and showing a little class? It's good to be a competitive bunch, but hubris is a different entity.
Ump had a bad night. He's human too- I'm
Inclined to give him a little slack. If his inconsistency is chronic then fire away, but just like a player starting the season slowly, it's too early to pass that judgment even on an ump.
Guys (and ladies), hate to break the news. But Izzy Moidel was not behind the plate tonight. I realize we have to blame someone when the Bucs lose. There is no Trilateral Commission conspiracy here. Usually, an ump having an off night has them both ways. Maybe it didn't balance out this evening but this kind of reminds me of Steeler fans questioning penalties.
It's not the fans questioning the ump. It was the players and the coach!
bpn8pitt
4-14-2015, 11:40 pm
The umpire was inconsistent tonight. But the Pirates lead the league in Ks and are near the bottom in walks. I understand it's still April but Harrison, Marte, Polanco and Alvarez got to work a count, draw a walk now and then. As someone said on the game thread, that kid for the Tigers barely worked up a sweat.
Agree with you bpn. These hitters MUST do a better job of making pitchers work. They give up too many at bats. They should look across to the other dugout to see how it's done.
NMR
4-15-2015, 6:06 am
I know you aren't solely referencing last night, but 58 called strikes, man. What exactly were they supposed to "work"?
bpn8pitt
4-15-2015, 6:46 am
Not just last night NMR. I think all of Pedros HRS have come on the 1st pitch. The constant swinging out of the zone by Marte and Polanco, where they have struck out in half their PA. Never thought Harrison BB to K rate was ideal to bat lead off.
Always feels like the majority of the lineup is in a pitchers count more often than not.
NMR
4-15-2015, 8:25 am
Yeah, I hear you. This club isn't going to walk much. Moving from Martin/Gaby/Ike to Cervelli/Pedro/Hart pretty much makes that a lock.
Marte is who he is. We've been reading about him teasing plate discipline since his AA breakout in 2011, and it never, ever lasts. Pedro, I don't even know. Guy makes significant improvements last year only for it to result in worse overall performance.
The two surprises for me early on are Polanco and Walker, although it's still far too early to really look at numbers.
bpn8pitt
4-15-2015, 8:37 am
What do you make of these young pitchers always carving them up? Just a lack of scouting report/video?
NMR
4-15-2015, 10:16 am
I simply do not believe the coaching staff puts together a solid game plan at the plate. You see other clubs do it to the Pirates, noticeably focusing on one thing or another.
With the Pirates, you hear more about philosophy than individual plan. Each of these guys are uniquely different and should be treated as such.
bpn8pitt
4-15-2015, 10:23 am
Makes sense. Especially with the number of hitters who have left the organization and flourished elsewhere.
Arriba Wilver
4-15-2015, 1:22 pm
The Pirates having trouble with new pitchers goes back decades, at least to my memory.
Steelkings
4-15-2015, 1:53 pm
I do not think that hitting poorly against new pitchers is a problem limited to the Pirates organization.
Arriba Wilver
4-15-2015, 2:16 pm
I agree, Steel. I'm too lazy to do the research, though. ;-)
bpn8pitt
4-15-2015, 2:20 pm
That's probably true but it not only feels like success, but total dominance some times.
Groat2Maz2Strangeglove
4-15-2015, 2:44 pm
I agree with Wilver Dornel that Bucs' problems with new pitches goes back decades.
Unfortunately, Other teams having problems with Pirates' own young pitchers hasn't happened since Randy Tomlin!
Arriba Wilver
4-15-2015, 2:52 pm
He came to my mind, too, Groat. Closest since was Duke.
Biz
4-15-2015, 12:00 am
If you don't know whats gonna be called a strike and what isn't, well that makes it tough to hit. 58 called strikes?
Great stuff Dk...But I believe that Aj was left in the game too long. He was just out of gas. Not a complaint or an excuse just an observation. I guess it wouldn't help that they pirates gave him no support offensively anyway.
No your right, he was done. I can see maybe why Hurdle maybe kept him in because he's a veteran and believe he could be able to pitch his way out of a jam, but when your finished your finished. But yeah it means nothing pitching your heart when the offense rewards you by hitting a big fat zero in the game.
Scaldis Noel
4-15-2015, 6:11 am
If Hurdle has one flaw in game management, it's letting vets pitch in the 7th a couple batters too long. He did it with AJ in his first go-around with the Pirates, and does it with Frankie too. I'd love to see stats on how many ER's have been charged to starters after their 90th pitch in the last 2-3 years with the Pirates. I wouldn't be surprised if the numbers showed it happened more often with AJ and Frankie than any other pitchers.
It's a shame AJ had to take a L in this game. Man pitched his butt off and was hoping he was going to be able to get out of it unscathed. He wasn't, but it didn't stop me being like the rest of the PNC faithful and gave him a standing O when he walked back to the dugout. He earned it IMHO.
I don't like to blame losses on umps and won't because it's not the umps fault the Pirates couldn't hit really anything of meaning. That being said the HP ump was terrible tonight in terms of the 50/50 balls.
Why does Cabrera act like such a tool? Is that his tough guy image?
David Sarandria
4-15-2015, 11:42 am
Cabrera goofs on everybody in MLB. Just him being playful.
JB Destiny
4-15-2015, 2:45 am
Give A.J. a hand? How bout a standing hand-slap.. not an ovation, they didn't win.. great insight in your observation.. . so glad AJ is back.. he's 'tude with 'step up' stuff.. (or STFD stuff) .. he's Evil Kenievil
I think he means "give him a hand" as in "a little help".
rokinray
4-15-2015, 3:36 am
On a night when the offense fails to produce anything, Pittsburgh AGAIN blames the officiating. What a garage league. The routine is getting old. If the Pirates and Penguins would work as hard at their offensive incompetence as they do the umpires and refs...Glad to see Burnett pitching well and that Hurdle left him in the game...Why let the arson squad ruin a good pitching effort? Great pitchers work through these things given the chance.
AJ exudes this my-way-or-the-highway personality, but from his mea culpa on shifts to picking up a changeup this late in his career, the guy is clearly smart enough to evolve and survive. Love that about him.
I can't remember AJ throwing as much junk as he did last night. Don't know when he started working on it but he deserves a ton of credit. He was getting loud outs from his 'normal' stuff throughout so getting to the 7th was darn impressive. A pitcher.
Arriba Wilver
4-15-2015, 9:30 am
+1
NMR
4-15-2015, 6:42 am
Jose Iglesias has a career Isolated Slugging Percentage of .080. In 2014, 20 *pitchers* posted better power numbers.
Cutch's lack of effort in the 8th was obvious, but the underlying cause of that extra base was the fact that he was once again playing somewhere near Millvale.
Hate to call Cutch selfish. Maybe he really is that bad going back on balls behind him. I don't know. But his positioning continues to hurt this team, and you can bet the dugout isn't telling him where to play.
You've missed this recurring discussion over the last three seasons, SK?
Groat2Maz2Strangeglove
4-15-2015, 2:50 pm
National Mart of Records,
My observation exactly last night!! What the heck was he doing so far back on a punch-and-jury hitter?!?!
And I do not think his "sore knee" had anything to do with his nonchalant way of picking up the ball, then being off-balance to throw.
Mistakes both————but mistakes can be corrected, hopefully.
I'm not sure anyone will ever get McCutch to play closer to the action!
Steelkings
4-17-2015, 9:02 am
The Pirates because of their speed are cutting the grass pretty short. They are playing for a bug on the rug. Offensively as well as defensively. The defenses job with 1 out is to not let a hitter get to third. If iggy hits a ball in the gap with Cutch playing up it is not a double.
Before I would be concerned with where McCutchen is standing I would be concerned with a back end of a bullpen that couldn't get the third out with a guy on 2nd base.
GEARHEAD
4-15-2015, 7:17 am
Just like in the NHL, the old men running MLB need to embrace technology. There should be sensors in pucks and goal lines in the NHL, and balls and strikes should be called using technology in MLB. If Root can show us whether or not balls and strikes were called correctly instantly on TV, MLB can officiate the game using this technology as well. That would eliminate the blatant favoritism that we saw yesterday.
Have to admit, I didn't notice Greene getting the benefit of the doubt on some of his pitches, but certainly, our guys got squeezed more than once. What I did notice was that we could not get any solid contact on Greene's pitches. Just a strong outing on his part.
April 14, 2015
Coverage: Give A.J. a hand … anyone?
by Dejan Kovacevic • Coverage • Pirates
A.J. Burnett pitched into the seventh and held the Tigers to one run in his Pittsburgh return. — GETTY
BY DEJAN KOVACEVIC
Sights, sounds and the scene from PNC Park …
• The script was in place for a prodigious Pittsburgh return for A.J. Burnett, right up until the Tigers’ Rajai Davis poked an RBI single through the middle in the seventh inning for the decisive run of a 2-0 loss last night.
All else was there: Burnett pitched like his prime, going 6 2/3 with just that run, seven hits and eight strikeouts against two walks. He was plenty pumped up, particularly after stranding runners at second and third in the fourth inning. There was even the requisite A.J. drama, as he bit off a few foul words shortly after Miguel Cabrera petulantly swatted the ball out of Francisco Cervelli’s hand for having the audacity to tag him on a strikeout pitch in the dirt.
Alas, Burnett had to settle for just faring well …
Clint Hurdle praised Burnett for being “very efficient, very smart” in his approach, notably in his use of the changeup to keep Detroit’s formidable lineup from getting comfortable with timing. But he also showed steady velocity, sharp command of his increasingly prevalent curve and the whole arsenal, really.
An encouraging start in more ways than one.
• Burnett’s counterpart, Shane Greene, pitched eight innings without an earned run for the second time in as many starts, and he held the Pirates to three hits. But they came away barely impressed.
“Luck,” one player told me. “And help, too. He had lots of help.”
That was one of my many derisive references in the clubhouse to home plate umpire David Rackley.
“I give the guy credit for throwing strikes and being in the zone,” another player said. “But he got all the help in the world. That was a big part of this.”
Of Greene’s 81 pitches — 10 per inning — 58 were called strikes.
I cite this not so much to excuse the Pirates’ lack of hitting but to tell the back story of the real reason Hurdle flipped on Rackley in the eighth inning and was ejected: Arquimedes Caminero was throwing bullets at the Tigers in relief of Burnett, and it appeared to all 31,755 on hand that he had a batter struck out. Looked that way to Hurdle, too. And when Rackley’s right arm didn’t go up, this on a night when Greene could pretty much spray for strikes, the manager barked out.
Rackley apparently issued no warning.
“Usually, you at least get told to shut up,” Hurdle said. “I never had a chance to shut up.”
“Skip’s breaking point,” Josh Harrison called it. “There’s only so much of that you can take.”
• More than one player mentioned being impressed with Caminero’s reaction to it all.
“Even when he got squeezed, he had no reaction at all,” Neil Walker said.
“Total poise,” Harrison said.
“You love to see that in the kid,” third base coach Rick Sofield said. “He knew we’d have his back. He just started focusing on his next pitch.”
• Andrew McCutchen drew some groans in the ninth after a less-than-full-tilt effort at a looping hit into left-center that Jose Iglesias smartly turned into a double. The reaction was justified, based on the eye test alone, but it’s also worth reminding that Cutch is playing through a bum knee. None of us knows the degree to which that’s hampering him.
That said … come on, that just wasn’t good enough. Certainly not for a team leader.
Here’s hoping that the Tigers scoring an insurance run off that will remind him of that.
• Mark Melancon’s cut-fastball velocity is down this year by 3-4 mph, and Hurdle bluntly addressed it before this game: “We’re going to watch, and we’re going to communicate. ‘Concern’ is not a word that I’m going to use. ‘Disappointed’ is not a word that I’m going to use. I don’t think we need to delve deep into emotions. I think you just need to evaluate and have conversations. I think that’s one of the best ways to get things done within the clubhouse is when you have a question, you just ask it.”
Oh, my.
I approached Melancon after this game, and he was adamant, “I’m fine. Really.”
Bullpen is the Pirates’ deepest area, but don’t pretend losing Melancon wouldn’t hurt. He was nothing shy of sensational last summer.