Pirates 4, Cubs 3

Thoughts about Dejan's column today:

1/ I do not believe in "closer by committee."
2/ I do believe that At Bats are more difficult for hitters in 8th/9th innings
3/ I do believe that outs are more difficult to produce for pitchers in 9th
4/ I agreed with Dejan's first half of article, until he said closer not important
5/ I agreed with Dejan that a (temporary) change would be wise
6/ I disagreed with Dejan's cute little theme that no one was up in pen——sometimes a manager tries to show confidence in his guy by gutting out an
inning with him. Baseball is 162 games, not best of 7.
7/ 2 pitches, 2 on base———of course no one would be up in pen!
8/ Next guy walks on 3-2 pitch——maybe get pen activated, but your ground ball pitcher is one ground ball away from 2 outs and still a 2 or 1 run lead. Still manager maybe guts it out.
9/ Next guy gets a seeing eye hit: too much bad luck——get somebody up. He did.
10/ If you are going to seek a new closer, all Caminero has going for him is a speedy fastball and good interview.
11/ In 6 2/3 innings Caminero has given up 3 BB, 1 HB, 4 runs, 5 hits, 5.40 ERA
12/ Tony Watson has pitched 9 innings: 9 K, 0 BB, 0 HB, 0.56 WHIP, 5 hits
13/ Tony Watson has pitched in numerous high leverage——good interviewee Caminero has not

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. Francisco Cervelli (R) C
8. Jung Ho Kang (R) SS
9. Vance Worley (R) P

DK's column, at face value on the closer issue, is thought-provoking on other counts, and even beyond what Groat2Maz2Strangeglove's list includes (I observe cryptically). The locker room dynamics and discussion following a loss are intriguing---not just in what was said, but how. There's a "to be continued" quality to the piece.

Peculiar stat of the day (to me): In the 6 match-ups against Milwaukee, the average duration of the game was 2:47. In 7 others (exempting the 11 inning game against the Reds), the average duration was 2:47. My math may not be entirely correct but, if true, the pace seems inordinately "consistent" to date.

1batter, 1 lousy throw. Early start

Nice pitching out of a jam. He's hitting the corners

Losing faith in Hurdle - he says they see nothing wrong with Melancon in film study other than him not being crisp with his pitches. Just keep him in the closer role Clint and you won't even be in the position for the 1 game playoff !!!!!!

Liking Kang's at bats the last few nights. Not going to hit 4 HR's again, but maybe geting some reps in this week has given him some confidence

Catching this game on MLB at Bat while watching Pens game. Seems like Kang may be settling in a bit

Good ABs with men in scoring position

Am not sure who the closer will be tonight. But, though, it's still early, they cling to leads through the later innings pretty well. I like their chances tonight with just a 3-1 score.

If the Pirates hang on and keep the lead, Worley and Locke will have 4 of the 7 wins, going for 5 out of 8. Who would have thunk?

Lambo - 0 for 2015

Sometimes one big hit can get a guy going...look at Kang now. Hopefully it will rub off on Cutch, Walker and JHay...,thank goodness for the bottom of our order tonight.

Caminero in the 7th...hmmmmmmm....

Nice job by Caminero. I think Melancon may have the night off.

JHay and Cutch are so frustrating right now with their lack of offense....

Dang....Cervelli drops way too many pitches....

Great....now Lerch can't get outs....

Tackleberry is killing me.

This bullpen stinks...

Can we please close out a game?

Marte got hit?

Please get him outta there Clint.

UGGGHHHHHHH

Bullpen and Cervelli are awful.

Does anyone have a bull pen we can borrow?

All those brave souls et pnc.

He surely stuck out the rookie phenom, didn't get the call. Alas, couldn't get anybody else out.

Cubs have better talent than the Buccos....

Hughes and this pen becoming overused and scary.

Kang has been huge with the bat and glove the last 2 games.

Who's gonna close? Maybe Hurdle

Tony Watson is the man....

It would REALLY be nice if Walker, Cutch and JHay would start to get it going. This yearly slow start for them is ridiculous....

Lambo is wasted roster spot.

Update on Marte: x-rays negative....

Bucs will close tonight out with a win. Madden, Epstein, and the Cubs are still a work in progress. Am not bowled over by them yet.

Come on Tony.

Excruciating, watching these guys try to get a third out. Credit the Cubs or curse the Pirates?

Raise the Roger!

Outside of Watson right now, this bullpen is a dumpster fire.

Is tonight......Watson's first save.....as the.....NEW PIRATE CLOSER??

When you have Watson and a couple other guys who throw around - oh about 100mph, Melancon should be pitching in the 6th or 7th.

Mets are scary good right now too....12-3.

Mets 12-3....they are scary good right now too.

Why not Watson?..Nice win tonight

Where is Jandy??? Anyone know??