Covering: Pirates 5, Cubs 4

I'm amazed that Jordy is back in so quickly. I'd be done for the year.

1. Josh Harrison (R) 3B
2. Andrew Lambo (L) RF
3. Gregory Polanco (L) CF
4. Neil Walker (S) 2B
5. Pedro Alvarez (L) 1B
6. Jordy Mercer (R) SS
7. Sean Rodriguez (R) LF
8. Chris Stewart (R) C
9. Jeff Locke (L) P

Not a great sign if they can't get Corey Hart's bat into the lineup with Cutch, Marte, and Cervelli out. He may be healthy, but watching him stumble over himself on that error at 1B the other night was cringe-worthy. Legs look just about shot.

Only way this makes any sense is if they were planning on bringing Decker north instead of Lambo to begin with.

I honestly dont know. What I do know, Lambo needs a hit soon. As Milo pointed out he's 0-2015.

I just have a tough time giving too much thought to the 24th and 25th men on the bench three weeks into the season when the best hitter in the NL is batting .204 and the leadoff hitter has a .250 OBP.

You know better than anybody the way Hurdle manages that guy matters.

++

Now if only he didn't swing at every freaking pitch thrown at him...

I was just thinking the same thing NMR...maybe pressing a bit with the slump he's in...

Scary thing is that he's actually swinging at *less* pitches than last year.

He's obviously going to be better than this, almost by default, but I'm afraid this is what regression looks like. I've been surprised to see so many teams continue attacking him inside, after he had so much success on those pitches last season. Tells me folks aren't convinced.

Wondering if Marte was healthy would CH have sat him down today and let Kang play 3B.

Could, but I like him in the lineup even when he isn't hitting. That glove...

You were saying??

Doh!!

You were saying Milo??

But if Andrew Lambo and Kang were playing better...

More like invisible.

Talking about Neil...

That would have applied to Lambo too Karen..haha.

True!!

Haha, well played, guys.

And his range (or lack thereof) has gotten even worse, if that's possible. But please, give him a 20 year extension.

It does seem like his defense has been declining the last few years.

Couple balls this year Walker should have had. Thing is, so far I don't think Kangs range is great. I know that kid Hanson has had defensive issues.

Have we seen Kang's range at 2B? I don't want to see Walker's range at SS.
;-)

I was thinking the same thing, Kang looks like he was gaining a little bit of confidence at the plate the past couple games....very small sample size, but it was good to see nonetheless

Whew. GREAT sign.

Think that was the first sign of teams challenging his arm? Running on contact with no outs would generally be an awful idea.

I agree...they were probably testing Pedro. It was a GREAT sign and I think if Pedro doesn't have a lot of time to think about his throws like he did at 3rd, he may just be fine.

I'm not one for alt uniforms but those don't actually look that bad.

I am not a camp person in the slightest. They look like garbage to me.

S-Rod is doing his best Marte impersonation today....I really liked the Buccos signing him.

Why, bpn? Just asking.

Why, bpn? Just asking.

Why, bpn? Just asking.

No Western PA roots. No university ties in aware of. Worked outside the big conferences.

After taking their time I expected more honestly.

Well that certainly portends failure.

Have no idea why that posted 3 times.

Western PA roots for an AD are irrelevant to me. Apparently he is on some NCAA basketball committee and has been successful in transitioning his Utah school to a new conference. I don't know enough to like it or not like it, but not being from here should be irrelevant IMO.

Judging from some of the early analysis and comments, sounds like a guy that was well down on the list.

Just can't see a guy with Washington and Utah State on his resume making football and basketball national relevant.

I don't know. An AD is very involved with boosters, a lot of which remain local or maintain local ties. Same with sponsors.

But who knows, maybe they wanted a fresh take from the outside.

My fear is, he uses the job as a stepping stone and heads back West for a bigger job in a couple years. That's why I leaned towards a hometown guy with roots. Pitt needs stability right now.

Pedersen did that in his first go around.

Sorry for hijacking. You can delete Dejan.

As a Pitt fan and as someone who spent the better part of the last decade living in Utah, I'm enthusiastic about this hire.
Before Barnes came on the scene, Utah State was basically irrelevant in the state outside of a decent basketball team. Now, they've made Utah and BYU fans at least take notice by significantly reducing the gap between themselves and the top dogs.

Utah is beautiful, man.

I'll give him a chance. But I wont be surprised if somebody from the PAC12 or MWC come calling one day. While I understand people saying that means he did a good job then...just tired of hitting the reset button on things.

++

Why doesn't he play more??

You were saying Patrick??

Throw Away lineup on Get Away Day....

Are the people in the stands the same?

Right on cue haha

He had a double earlier.

Hopefully....he's been great in relief this year.

I was surprised to see those stats.

I think it helps that Jackson only faces a few hitters...

Will the real Edwin Jackson please stand up???

Agreed NMR....it will be interesting to see what happens when Morton is ready.

Seems I heard that somewhere before. The starting pitching store was open all winter.

Yeah, we all know they blew the bank on Kang and weren't able to keep Snider or get another arm for the rotation.

Missing Cumpton and Taillon hurts too.

Kingham off to a good start at Indy....

A bleeder for our side!

It was a good AB for NW....6 game streak now....

Hope your right. I'm a big fan of his. Especially in the field.

Me too Milo. Always have been a fan of his back to his college days.

Maybe they can get use him to close ?

Looks like it will be Melancon today.

Yes and yes.

As TO used to say: "Get yer popcorn ready!!"

2 down and 1 to go.

You can exhale now Milo...

Edge to Joe on post JHay double moves. And we have a siff-legged runner on first.

++. Still think we wasted a good pinch hitter.

That was a tough one.

ZING!!

Really don't understand the logic of burning Hart for an outfielder when you know Alvarez is going to have to face a lefty in the late innings of a tie game.

Should've said a close game.

Yeah....not sure about that one.

If only the GM went out and got a RH bat to platoon with Alvarez.

#Hurdled

Like climate change doubters.

Never been a big fan of sliding into 1B....always felt like it takes away from momentum of the runner.

Got that right!

Prove us wrong, Mark!

RAISE IT! OK!!

And not a single pitch above 90.

His pitches were crisp today.

He did at least touch 90 once today. Trending in the right direction...

+++---he was consistent.

Great post. That was a fun one.

Thanks for hanging out and chatting, folks!

+1

@NMR, also appreciate our exchange on the earlier posting.

Good stuff NMR!! Good things in AZ!!

Look at all this love for National Mart of Records!

Darn, I wish I could have been here!

These good folks are nice enough to tolerate me when I'm not a raging a-hole, Groat. ;)

Milo is our own personal Elias Sports Bureau.

Johnnie Ray,

Come in out of the cold, you spy!!!