ATLANTA — Gerrit Cole, who didn’t possess the pinpoint command that had been commonplace to this stage of the season, instead used some serious guts to get through seven innings of the Pirates’ 3-0 blanking of the Braves on Sunday at Turner Field.
He threw a career-high 116 pitches, permitted 11 baserunners — six hits, three walks, and two hit batsmen that ticked off the Braves — but never flinched in the Atlanta heat. The Braves were 2 for 15 when Cole pitched out of the stretch, 0 for 3 with bases loaded.
“You could see it with him in those situations today,” said Chris Stewart, who is essentially becoming Cole’s personal catcher. “In those moments, with people on base in big situations, you can see him focus a little harder.”
With one out and bases loaded in the third, Cole struck out Nick Markakis, swinging over a dirty slider, then got Juan Uribe to ground out to third.
With two outs and bases loaded again in the sixth, Cole struck out pinch-hitter Joey Terdoslavich, swinging over another slider.
Batters are now 0 for 7 against Cole with the bases loaded this season:
Graphic: DALI KOVACEVIC Photo: GETTY
To put that into perspective, the Major League Baseball average with bases loaded — all teams, all players — is .290, a figure far higher than the overall average of .252.
Why is Cole so effective in those situations?
“It’s just a sign of him putting it all together,” Stewart said. “We all know how great his stuff is. But when he does it in those situations, that’s a big deal.”
Cole’s command was an issue for the Braves as well as for the pitcher.
“I was all over the place today,” Cole said. “There were some weird things going on with my delivery.”
Stewart said Cole’s lack of command was actually beneficial.
“The fastball command was non-existent,” Stewart said. “But that made him effectively wild. Hitters were not comfortable against him today. You could see it. He was keeping hitters off-balance all day.”
Cole, impressive against left-handed hitters all season, held the Braves’ lefties to 1 for 16. Pitching inside has been the key, Stewart said.
Cole is the Pirates’ first pitcher since Emil Yde in 1924 to win 30 of his first 53 career starts. He has won four straight decisions, compiling 33 strikeouts and allowing two earned runs in those starts.
“It’s a testament to how well we’ve played,” Cole said. “And how well Chris has done behind the plate.”
The guy on the mound might have something to do with it, also. Cole, now 9-2 with a 1.73 ERA, leads National League starters in both categories.
“The talent is there,” Stewart said. “It’s all coming together now. When he focuses like that, man.”
• Cole angered the Braves when he hit those two batters, both with fastballs, Freddie Freeman on the knee at 96 mph in the third and Andrelton Simmons in the ribs at 97 mph in the fourth.
Simmons had words for Cole while walking down line. Cole ignored him.
His thoughts on Simmons getting upset?
Stewart said the Pirates weren’t the least bit insulted by Simmons’ display.
“You can’t get mad at him for that,” he said. “Anyone has the right to get upset when someone gets hit with a fastball. There was nothing behind it at all. Gerrit just didn’t have command. But no, I don’t blame him for getting upset at all.”
The Braves’ starter, Alex Wood, was ejected following the fifth after a dispute with home plate umpire Mark Carlson. Wood appeared to throw a pitch at Cole when he batted in the fifth. It barely missed his leg. Wood went on to walk Cole, which ignited the Pirates’ big fifth. The Braves’ Brandon Cunniff later threw a fastball over Andrew McCutchen’s head, which resulted in each team receiving a warning.
• McCutchen appeared to tweak his troublesome left knee running to first base in his final at-bat in the ninth. He was limping between innings.
Hurdle said he was prepared to lift McCutchen but that McCutchen said he could finish.
The knee was heavily iced afterward, but McCutchen insisted he didn’t seriously aggravate it.
Although McCutchen has been terrific at the plate, it’s difficult to ignore that, through 56 games, he has only stolen three bases.
He endured a surprisingly bad day at the plate, twice striking out with runners in scoring position and less than two outs during his 0-for-4 output.
• Starling Marte produced the game’s biggest hit, a two-out, two-run single on an 0-2 pitch off Wood. He had fouled off the first two pitches.
“It’s all part of him maturing as a hitter,” Hurdle said.
Marte batted second during the first two games of this series but was back at cleanup for the finale.
• The Pirates finished off their road trip 7-3, most wins on a 10-game trip since 2005. And at 31-25, they own the third-best record in the league, trailing only the Cardinals and Dodgers.
“This is a very good baseball team,” Charlie Morton said.
It’s also one that’s facing a pretty easy upcoming schedule. Their upcoming homestand has eight games against the Brewers, Phillies and White Sox, all last in their respective divisions.
The home schedule looks especially appealing. Their next six home series — Brewers, Phillies, White Sox, Braves, Indians and Reds — are all against losing teams. The next team with a record over .500 to visit PNC Park will be the Cardinals, in a showdown right before the All-Star break.
This is why I subscribe. Analyzing the merits of a guy who played 90 years ago. I was always disappointed that they didn't trade old Emil, Buckshot May, Earl Smith and some prospects for Walter Johnson. They could have easily repeated in 1926. ⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️
JAL is right. Yde had two good years. 1924-1925, when he was 33-12. He was 9-10 the next two years with the Pirates, out of the Major Leagues in 1928, and played his last game in 1929. After a 2.83 ERA in 1924, he was above 3.00 and mostly above 4.00 for the rest of his career. Even in 1924, he walked many more than he struck out, averaging between 3 and 7 walks per nine innings. He finished 39 of his 74 starts, pitching between 187 and 207 innings in 1924-1926, his peak Pirate years. Source: http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/y/ydeem01.shtml
I didn't think Cunniff's pitch went over Cutch's head...more like behind his back. Not a big deal either way I just don't think it was close to his head.
Something's got to happen here soon with Corey Hart, doesn't it ? With bumps and bruises starting to mount you need your entire roster to make sure guys get proper rest. I thought it was a good move when they made it but it's just not working out. It's time to move on and give your manager a little more flexibility.
I go with Decker for the time being. I think they need a lefty bat on the bench. When a righty starts, they have an all right handed bench. Tomorrow looks like a good time to give Cutch a night off, I'd like to be able to put a lefty bat in there against Nelson's nasty curve.
I was thinking the same thing today, Milo. And I, too, thought it was a good move at the time. Can't really afford to have a guy who ONLY can PH. Too bad, because I like Corey. But it is what it is.
I have been a STRONG supported of NH and "plan".
BUT.....Hart and Tabata are wasted roster spots.
.514 and .594 OPS.......and any ball hit to them in the field.....any position.....is scary.
I would rather see Tony Sanchez backing up 1B/C....and Gorkys for OF defense and pinch-running.
How about Stephen Strasburg?
1st pick in the 1st round of the 2009 draft.
10 starts this year for the Nats.......a pretty good team with deep pockets.
3-5 6.55 ERA 1.721 WHIP
Is he the answer?
This team is sixth in the NL in runs scored after an awful start offensively. They averaged 3.5 runs for the first 27 games, 4.6 runs since. They're going to end the season one of the three best offensive teams in the NL, fourth at worst.
"To put that into perspective, the Major League Baseball average with bases loaded — all teams, all players — is .290, a figure far higher than the overall average of .252"
So, is there such a thing as "clutch" pitching?
We all know there is no such thing as a "clutch" hitter do we not?
Gerrit Cole pitched seven scoreless innings despite allowing 11 Atlanta baserunners. -- GETTY
June 7, 2015
Coverage: Cole keeps cool under fire
by Josh Yohe • Coverage • Pirates
BY JOSH YOHE
ATLANTA — Gerrit Cole, who didn’t possess the pinpoint command that had been commonplace to this stage of the season, instead used some serious guts to get through seven innings of the Pirates’ 3-0 blanking of the Braves on Sunday at Turner Field.
He threw a career-high 116 pitches, permitted 11 baserunners — six hits, three walks, and two hit batsmen that ticked off the Braves — but never flinched in the Atlanta heat. The Braves were 2 for 15 when Cole pitched out of the stretch, 0 for 3 with bases loaded.
“You could see it with him in those situations today,” said Chris Stewart, who is essentially becoming Cole’s personal catcher. “In those moments, with people on base in big situations, you can see him focus a little harder.”
With one out and bases loaded in the third, Cole struck out Nick Markakis, swinging over a dirty slider, then got Juan Uribe to ground out to third.
With two outs and bases loaded again in the sixth, Cole struck out pinch-hitter Joey Terdoslavich, swinging over another slider.
Batters are now 0 for 7 against Cole with the bases loaded this season:
Graphic: DALI KOVACEVIC Photo: GETTY
To put that into perspective, the Major League Baseball average with bases loaded — all teams, all players — is .290, a figure far higher than the overall average of .252.
Why is Cole so effective in those situations?
“It’s just a sign of him putting it all together,” Stewart said. “We all know how great his stuff is. But when he does it in those situations, that’s a big deal.”
Cole’s command was an issue for the Braves as well as for the pitcher.
“I was all over the place today,” Cole said. “There were some weird things going on with my delivery.”
Stewart said Cole’s lack of command was actually beneficial.
“The fastball command was non-existent,” Stewart said. “But that made him effectively wild. Hitters were not comfortable against him today. You could see it. He was keeping hitters off-balance all day.”
Cole, impressive against left-handed hitters all season, held the Braves’ lefties to 1 for 16. Pitching inside has been the key, Stewart said.
Cole is the Pirates’ first pitcher since Emil Yde in 1924 to win 30 of his first 53 career starts. He has won four straight decisions, compiling 33 strikeouts and allowing two earned runs in those starts.
“It’s a testament to how well we’ve played,” Cole said. “And how well Chris has done behind the plate.”
The guy on the mound might have something to do with it, also. Cole, now 9-2 with a 1.73 ERA, leads National League starters in both categories.
“The talent is there,” Stewart said. “It’s all coming together now. When he focuses like that, man.”
• Cole angered the Braves when he hit those two batters, both with fastballs, Freddie Freeman on the knee at 96 mph in the third and Andrelton Simmons in the ribs at 97 mph in the fourth.
Simmons had words for Cole while walking down line. Cole ignored him.
His thoughts on Simmons getting upset?
Stewart said the Pirates weren’t the least bit insulted by Simmons’ display.
“You can’t get mad at him for that,” he said. “Anyone has the right to get upset when someone gets hit with a fastball. There was nothing behind it at all. Gerrit just didn’t have command. But no, I don’t blame him for getting upset at all.”
The Braves’ starter, Alex Wood, was ejected following the fifth after a dispute with home plate umpire Mark Carlson. Wood appeared to throw a pitch at Cole when he batted in the fifth. It barely missed his leg. Wood went on to walk Cole, which ignited the Pirates’ big fifth. The Braves’ Brandon Cunniff later threw a fastball over Andrew McCutchen’s head, which resulted in each team receiving a warning.
• McCutchen appeared to tweak his troublesome left knee running to first base in his final at-bat in the ninth. He was limping between innings.
Hurdle said he was prepared to lift McCutchen but that McCutchen said he could finish.
The knee was heavily iced afterward, but McCutchen insisted he didn’t seriously aggravate it.
Although McCutchen has been terrific at the plate, it’s difficult to ignore that, through 56 games, he has only stolen three bases.
He endured a surprisingly bad day at the plate, twice striking out with runners in scoring position and less than two outs during his 0-for-4 output.
• Starling Marte produced the game’s biggest hit, a two-out, two-run single on an 0-2 pitch off Wood. He had fouled off the first two pitches.
“It’s all part of him maturing as a hitter,” Hurdle said.
Marte batted second during the first two games of this series but was back at cleanup for the finale.
• The Pirates finished off their road trip 7-3, most wins on a 10-game trip since 2005. And at 31-25, they own the third-best record in the league, trailing only the Cardinals and Dodgers.
“This is a very good baseball team,” Charlie Morton said.
It’s also one that’s facing a pretty easy upcoming schedule. Their upcoming homestand has eight games against the Brewers, Phillies and White Sox, all last in their respective divisions.
The home schedule looks especially appealing. Their next six home series — Brewers, Phillies, White Sox, Braves, Indians and Reds — are all against losing teams. The next team with a record over .500 to visit PNC Park will be the Cardinals, in a showdown right before the All-Star break.