Here’s the instant Benstonium take on that extraordinary finish in Chicago. Our Josh Yohe is at Wrigley Field and, in light of events this afternoon, will file not one but two pieces.
I would have expected this 5 years ago from the bunch of losers who wore the uniform then. Not now. This team has given away more games this season than they can hope to make up.
We all just have to face the facts: This team plain sucks. They were bad in April, they're bad in May and they'll be bad in June, July, August and September. Then they'll replace the Pens on the golf course in October so we can watch bad hockey until April 2016 when they switch all over again. Ah, the cycle of life.
Scaldis Noel
5-15-2015, 8:26 pm
But for a bad luck play, this game easily could have gone to the Pirates. It was a crazy day at Wrigley. They happen every summer. It's hardly the end of the world, and they showed resilience with two huge innings when they were down by a bunch of runs. I believe that they were further back in the standings at this point last year. Not that they couldn't have played better up to now, but Cutch and JHay are just coming out of early season slumps and looking good. The doom and gloom in May is silliness.
Not that this will shock anyone, but social media is just crushing the kid. That ... I don't know what to even say about that.
WVStarship
5-15-2015, 8:15 pm
Please don't think that I was blaming anyone specific over today's loss; it was definitely a team effort.
bpn8pitt
5-15-2015, 8:16 pm
Just another crazy Wrigley afternoon game.
My main concern is everyone not named Cole, Burnett, Liriano and Watson.
Rico
5-15-2015, 8:17 pm
How about this, DK? "Social media is just stupid, reactionary so-called commentary that has no sense of perspective and judgment and can destroy a person's life in an instant with its toxicity?" Would that work?
Carmen
5-15-2015, 8:29 pm
Steve Blass can provide some perspective on how humbling the game can be as he was on the mound during the infamous can of corn game .. As Bill Christine of the defunct Pittsburgh Press wrote
"Blass accepted his fate with exceptional calm. A cup of beer in his hand and evidence of tears around his eyes, the Pirate righthander pigeonholed himself in the far corner of the visiting clubhouse.
"I've messed up a hundred times on the mound," Blass said, "and I'm not about to put the blame on Alou. He's picked me up a hundred times with his bat, and I could have picked him up today by getting Kessinger out."
(@jfredland)
Immilton
5-15-2015, 8:36 pm
I think social media is a greatly shows why many people shouldn't have a public venue to express their opinions to the masses.
JAL
5-15-2015, 8:58 pm
Not me, I have seen player slip in all sports and have done so myself. It happens though no fault of anyone.
unipress_55394f8f59c91
5-15-2015, 9:00 pm
Blaming Polanco just shows how narrow minded people are. It was just frustrating because of how hard they worked to get back in it. This team is starting to show signs of breaking out of the hitting slumps. We just have to hope Morton can come back strong because Worley and Locke are too inconsistent
PucknutZ
5-15-2015, 9:06 pm
" social media is just crushing the kid." DK
"Rico below/above" Well said, sad but true.
Benstonium- now that's the right perspective on this!!
I think I am gonna like this guy!!
Bnanstokes
5-15-2015, 9:07 pm
Social media killing the kid. Bunch of drunk idiots. Not how you fall how you get up. Go Buccos
Milo Hamilton
5-15-2015, 9:11 pm
He skidded to a stop because he over ran the ball. Someone make sure he has orange slices and a juice box. I don't want him to feel bad.
PucknutZ
5-15-2015, 9:22 pm
Jeeze Milo, how much more snark can you pile on the the guy.
Over run the ball ? A tad perhaps but, the skid mark was a mile long like someone watered just that spot just so the guy would slip.
Orange slice and a juice box? Ya but maybe he is not the one that needs them.
Milo Hamilton
5-15-2015, 10:12 pm
The skid mark was a mile long because he had to slam on the brakes so hard. Completely misjudged the ball. He had built up some head of steam I'll say that for him. In honor of Lonnie Smith he's just "skates" to me from now on.
DJ
5-15-2015, 10:34 pm
With Milo on this one. Needs tad more focus.
A little nasty at plate would be welcomed as well.
Steelkings
5-16-2015, 9:20 pm
Huh. He makes bout 5 times more than I do to catch and hit. So yeah...Catch it. I dont care if he slipped or not. Catch it. Thats what you are paid to do. Perhaps Gregory, you can pay DK to advocate for you.
skeeziks7
5-15-2015, 8:06 pm
Only people who hate their own lives would blame him and forget the fact that it's a TEAM game and the Pirates had a ton of players culpable for the loss today.
Say what you want about the comeback(s) in this game Pirates aplogists, this 2015 edition is mentally weak in the field AND at the plate compared to the competition. Theyll be lucky to finish .500, and "luck" is in short supply with this aggravating bunch of underachievers. 0-5 in extas and toss in another handful of games just totally gift-wrapped away and they are what they are: Brutal.
Ha! Yeah, the one im starting. Can anyone here play bass?
Korea Steeler
5-15-2015, 9:20 pm
"The Wolf" - you're avatar is perfect. You prey on the weak, sick, and wounded. Some might call you a scavenger but I think you're guilty of recency bias, a term I learned on this website. The same player who slipped is the same player who threw out a runner at the plate. In terms of mental toughness, Polanco is one of the mentally toughest young players I've seen in a long time. The reality is that baseball is a long season, and Polanco is going to WIN MANY MORE GAMES than he loses.
The wolf
5-16-2015, 1:50 am
If you noticed i didnt single Polanco out, either. What i said was based on watching them all season more than anything that happened in this one game. Sorry If being a realist offends you but it should be getting clear by now theyre just not a very good baseball team.
Jay Geyer
5-15-2015, 9:29 pm
I didn't expect to find anything funny about this play till the sting of losing this one faded a bit ... thanks for proving me wrong, that is an awesome pic.
I won't tear Polanco apart cuz I love the Pirates and he seems like a nice guy, but I will remind my fellow subscribers of my star struck moment last week where the fabulously famous Manny Sanguillen sat down next to me at a home game. He was sitting with his grandson, and they were talking about how Polanco is never ready for the ball when the pitch is made. I mentioned this on a thread before and noted that you should watch Polanco before a pitch is made. I swear I won't bring this up again, but he's like a 12 year old out there, half the time he doesn't have his glove on, biting his finger nails, blowing spit bubbles....seriously, watch him. He's DAYDREAMING
All about focus. Said it on game thread. Would like to see it at plate as well. A little more lion and less doe.
So we'll be justified with the dough.
greenervision
5-16-2015, 7:58 am
This is absolutely hilarious! The loss was hard to take. This lightened my mood a little. Thanks Good work ps. The site is great, I've been with you since your second week, and you are my go-to guy for all sports Pittsburgh
"Dammit, Coach Tomlin! Stop!" -- BENSTONIUM
May 15, 2015
Benstonium: Obviously someone else’s fault
by Dejan Kovacevic • Photos • Benstonium, Pirates, Steelers
BY DEJAN KOVACEVIC
Here’s the instant Benstonium take on that extraordinary finish in Chicago. Our Josh Yohe is at Wrigley Field and, in light of events this afternoon, will file not one but two pieces.