Coverage: This streak, Pirates insist, is real

Coincedentally, 1968, the Year of the Pitcher, produced the all time lowest batting average for a season and 2nd lowest runs per game all time.

That sounds like some smart conversation for a broadcast...how did they fit in the birthday wishes and the pitching change sponsorships?

Those are incredible numbers. Imagine the numbers Cutch would have put up 15 years ago. Have to keep in mind when historically gauging his stats.

Technology and data changed a lot of this too, emoney. Think about the amount of handheld video out there on guys.

Remember the Pirates bullpen of the late 80s and early 90s? Was anybody down there capable of throwing in the mid 90s on a regular basis? Let alone 98-100? Now every bullpen has flamethrowers.

I wont argue that a lot of guys have fundamental issues. But I think its harder now to hit a baseball than ever before...Maybe some of thats similar to the overcoached, underofficiated hockey debate.

Made me laugh, Hal.

@bpn I think you nailed it. The game inherently favors pitching; no single skill in sports is more difficult than hitting a round ball with a round bat straight. Incremental improvements in pitching, i.e. few miles per hour faster velocity, development of cutters, pitching backwards in counts, pitch framing, etc will have a disproportionate effect on hitting.

That's what we're seeing. Sure, improvements and adjustments can be made to the offense, but what every old timer opining on hitters these days completely misses is that every single ball club has more to gain from improving their offense than any other entity. If a team of slap hitting, choke-up-the-bat hitters produced better than what is going around the league right now, you can be damn sure someone out there would've tried it.

NMR, you think ballpark size is a factor? Some of those old parks had some crazy dimensions. Plus, look at the athletes out there now tracking down balls. In the old days, guys chain smoked, never exercised. Ballplayers have changed too.

Can't say I have much of an opinion on ballpark size, although you're right about some of those old yards.

I'm certain that the ballplayers themselves have made run scoring much more difficult, though. You're absolutely right about that. Bigger, faster, stronger, and yes, smarter.

I've always had a theory that steroids weren't the only thing that led to the HR/offensive explosion in the late 90s. They expanded the league four times from 93-98. 40-45 pitchers that were normally in AAA were pitching in the show.

It took awhile but things eventually evened out. But the data/technology factor was bigger too.

I don't want to see the DH but I think it happens. Probably see a little spike, then the game will evolve again.

Great convo here. Thanks for sharing, emoney.

I always laugh when people glow about Pirates announcers. It seems like almost every game I find myself saying "geez, fellas, how about talking about the actual, current game?" I have an affinity for Blass mostly because he can relate so many current situations to the great Pirates championship teams he played on, but the other 3..... I don't mean to be harsh, but I think they are average or worse.

In fairness, I really enjoyed Greg Brown's logic on bunt base hits the other day. Blass wrote it off pretty quickly, and maybe he's right, but the rare discussion of pertinent baseball strategy was great.

Yeah, but you aren't their brother/cousin. I apparently have that distinction. ;)

I was an early Tabby fan , too, for what it's worth.

Baseball is a maddening game; Pedro hit his ball about 50' further than Neil's, only for it to be an out. Regardless, he's back to the point where every fly ball off his bat feels like it has a chance to clear the fence. You can hear it in the crowd.

Now if only he'd start hitting more of them.

I think Pedro's fan club will grow over the next few weeks. June is his best BA, OBP, OPS month, career wise.

8 "Day" games in June too. He should have a nice month.

Thank you, Susan. I enjoy writing them.

Yeah, saw this yesterday. What a dumpster fire.

Ha wow thats some ugly dirty laundry

Mine too. I hope he's ours for quite awhile, then goes into broadcasting just so we keep the name around.

No, it came down to two free agent pitchers, Volquez and Liriano, both seeking 3 to 4 year contracts. Pirates figured they cold sign one but not both. Contract fell together for Liriano so they went that direction and then were able to sign AJ for a year.

Volquez has come back to Earth a little too, after a decent start.

The injuries to Taillon, Cumpton and Kingham could hurt down the road this year.

Yep......his last 2 starts.....13 innings.....2 earned runs.....coming back to earth.
Season ERA of 2.77.....fairly impressive.
WHIP of 1.066.....excellent

Well his ERA was under 2.00 in April, Frank.

And has come down from 3.19 to 2.77 over the past two starts.
That's improvement.....right?
He's getting better?

I had made a comment in late April/early May similar to Johnny, saying that they missed him when his ERA was at 1.91.

For his career its 4.35 ERA, and I dont think its crazy to think he'll be somewhere between 2.77 and there by the end of the year.

But JAL is right. Probably came down to signing him or Liriano, after AJ signed.

I am also not a fan of the logo the Pirates adopted in 1997. My current pirate ballcap has the 67-86 logo, similar to the ones on the scouting binder, Hurdles uses. Id like to see them go back to using that logo or the 87-96 logo.

You can save this to cut and paste later as well, if im wrong. ;)

Volquez sold his soul to the baseball gods for all the luck in the world.

So, Frank, are you saying the Pirates made a mistake not signing Volquez?

Frank likes me about as much as Dejan likes the Pirates Charities sign, AW.

It happens. ;)

Can you give me a history lesson on the problem with Pirates Charity? I see a lot of tongue and cheek comments about it, but I don't get it.

Not sign him just to sign him.

But if we could have moved Locke for a reasonable return.......yes.....we should have signed Volquez for 2/$20.

How about this......Locke to Baltimore for the 2 young lefties we got for Snider.

Travis remains as our #4 outfielder.....and our lefty bat off of the bench.

A role at which he is excellent......5 HR 15 RBI in 2013-14.

I believe that would've have made us a better team.

G8, I believe Dejan finds the sign an eyesore for the skyline/river. I tend to agree...i don't even think he wants it be removed from PNC, just moved elsewhere.

A discussion of ballpark signs and logos?
Actually a good thing.
Much better than constantly referring to Nutting's perceived penurious nature!.

Beat 'em Bucs!

5 pinch-hit HR in 90 some AB over 2 seasons......not too shabby.

And yes.....Snider hit better when he played more.
And when he played more.....the team won more.

Yep.......he sucks!

By the way.......LOVED that 9 year old posting from DK when he was at the PG.
Wonder what Nate Mattern is doing today?
I'm guessing......NOT an MLB General Manager.

bpn.....from earlier in 2006:

Yeah, Lloyd McClendon and his coaching staff sure were the problem. And thank goodness we locked up Dave Littlefield before the Yankees or Red Sox came calling.

Frank Kuchno of Spokane, Wash.

KOVACEVIC: Angry and sarcastic, too ...

Sarcastic yes......but angry?????