June 9, 2015

Pregame notes: Pirates-Brewers

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BY JOHN PERROTTO Getting ready for first pitch … Game: Pirates (31-26) vs. Milwaukee Brewers (21-37), 7:05 p.m., PNC Park Pitchers: LHP Francisco Liriano (3-4, 3.24) vs. RHP Taylor Jungmann (major-league debut) TV, radio: Root Sports, 93.7 The Fan Online: Gameday / Multimedia / Media notes Pregame notes 4:28 p.m.: Andrew McCutchen is back in the

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132 Comments Newest to oldest

unipress_5526ce3416e53
6-9-2015, 3:21 pm
Let's go Bucs!

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JAL
6-9-2015, 3:44 pm
Pirates Lineup:

3B Josh Harrison (R)
RF Gregory Polanco (L)
CF A. McCutchen (R)
2B Neil Walker (S)
LF Starling Marte (R)
1B Pedro Alvarez (L)
C F. Cervelli (R)
SS Jordy Mercer (R)
P F. Liriano (L)

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JAL
6-9-2015, 3:45 pm
Brewers Lineup:

SS Jean Segura (R)
CJonathan Lucroy (R)
RFRyan Braun (R)
CFCarlos Gomez (R)
3BAramis Ramirez (R)
1BJason Rogers (R)
LFGerardo Parra (L)
2BHernan Perez (R)
PTaylor Jungmann (R)

Milo Hamilton
6-9-2015, 3:45 pm
Cubs sign Soriano to a minor league deal. He needs some time to get ready. That came together pretty quickly after he fired Boras.

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steelag70
6-9-2015, 4:16 pm
And signed with the same agent as Joe Maddon...

steelag70
6-9-2015, 4:16 pm
Looks like Holliday may miss some time...

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steelag70
6-9-2015, 5:04 pm
Holliday officially to the DL and will miss at least two weeks.

Durka
6-9-2015, 5:05 pm
Hurts one of my fantasy teams but I'll take it anyway haha

Radio wave
6-9-2015, 4:23 pm
Jal you are amazing. Mlb.com hasn't posted a lineup yet.

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steelag70
6-9-2015, 4:27 pm
Hmmmmm....Buccos having to face another rookie pitcher this season....

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steelag70
6-9-2015, 4:41 pm
Yeah....Bastardo is close alright....

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WeegieThompson87
6-9-2015, 4:53 pm
I guess Hurdle HAS TO say that. What is he gonna say, "He stinks and we're about ready to cut him loose"? I wonder what he REALLY thinks, though.

steelag70
6-9-2015, 5:53 pm
He sure had a disgusted look on his face last night when Bastardo was out there.

Karen22
6-9-2015, 7:13 pm
Close to costing the Bucs more games.

Big Bob
6-9-2015, 7:15 pm
I had disgusted look when he put him in the game.

Durka
6-9-2015, 5:00 pm
Kevin Correia is starting for the Phillies Friday night

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bpn8pitt
6-9-2015, 5:23 pm
THAT guy, has made a boatload of money throwing a lot of batting practice in his career.

bpn8pitt
6-9-2015, 5:26 pm
23 Million dollars in his career!!! Call the police.

Lumbergh
6-9-2015, 5:35 pm
Unfortunately I'd bet on him doing very well against the Pirates. They have an awful hard time gearing down to hit the slow stuff. That's gonna be embarrassing.

steelag70
6-9-2015, 6:05 pm
Remember when he was the most effective starter the Buccos had?

Mancuso
6-9-2015, 6:15 pm
Steel, I remember it well. I remember a time around then when the staff had a light hearted competition going to see who had the slowest curve. (It was Jeff Karstens).

Durka
6-9-2015, 7:13 pm
Erik Bedard was around still too. Guy could have a no hitter with one out left and want taken out because he was at 100 pitches lol

steelag70
6-9-2015, 5:10 pm
With Holliday out for at least 2 weeks and Lance Lynn having some issues, this would be a great time for the Buccos to take advantage of this home stand and possibly catch some ground...

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chethejet
6-9-2015, 5:50 pm
Bucs still are not hitting mediocre pitching to the level they need. They need to take advantage of a number of pitchers coming who are not studs.

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Matt the Stat
6-9-2015, 5:54 pm
Hurdle says he still thinks Bastardo can get his act together. This isn't spring training. Over two months into the season and the dude hasn't shown much at all. Time to look for another option. Also let's hope the Bucs don't turn tonight's rookie pitcher into a 2015 version of Tom Seaver. You know how we usually fare against non-descript pitchers

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steelag70
6-9-2015, 6:06 pm
Especially if this rookie throws off speed stuff low and away...

scottymeru
6-9-2015, 6:46 pm
love the new pre game notes. great stuff.

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steelag70
6-9-2015, 7:21 pm
Well that was a rousing start...made it easy for the rookie...

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WVStarship
6-9-2015, 7:24 pm
The Kid throws 6 pitches to Cutch--he looks at all 6, including strike 3.

Florida Steeler
6-9-2015, 7:21 pm
Another 6.75 ERA guy that is Sandy Koufax.

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Durka
6-9-2015, 7:24 pm
Last year for Aramis Ramirez as well

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steelag70
6-9-2015, 7:25 pm
Crap....

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Durka
6-9-2015, 7:28 pm
Marte catches that if that dumb fan isn't in the way with his hands

Big Bob
6-9-2015, 7:26 pm
Nice 0-2 pitch

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steelag70
6-9-2015, 7:33 pm
Marte Partay!!!!

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Adam
6-9-2015, 7:33 pm
Marte was all over that hanging curve.

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steelag70
6-9-2015, 7:34 pm
Welcome to the big leagues rook!

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steelag70
6-9-2015, 7:35 pm
Great job of beating the shift Petey!

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Adam
6-9-2015, 7:36 pm
If Pedro learns to beat the shift he will take his hitting to another level.

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steelag70
6-9-2015, 7:57 pm
So much for Polanco's hot streak...

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skeeziks7
6-9-2015, 8:07 pm
This is a good team... But not a World Series contender unless they make some moves at the deadline.

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cdeardo
6-9-2015, 8:19 pm
7 hits & 1 run in 14 innings as Brewers apparently have trotted out Koufax and Drysdale

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cdeardo
6-9-2015, 8:22 pm
Or maybe Spahn & Sain harkening back to Milwaukee lore

steelag70
6-9-2015, 8:31 pm
Agreed...this is totally ridiculous...putrid offense vs the worst team in baseball...continue to struggle against rookie pitchers.

cdeardo
6-9-2015, 8:28 pm
3 wins all year when they don't score at least 4 runs. Wasted an AJ start last night - can't afford to waste another quality Liriano start

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steelag70
6-9-2015, 8:32 pm
+++

Big Bob
6-9-2015, 8:34 pm
Which is why Kang should play

steelag70
6-9-2015, 8:34 pm
Rookie pitchers are like kryptonite to this offense.

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steelag70
6-9-2015, 8:35 pm
PUTRID

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cdeardo
6-9-2015, 8:41 pm
22 games this year that Pirates have scored less than 4 runs and 14 are within the division in 29 games. If they don't get 4 tonight that will be 50% of the divisional games compared to 28% of non-divisional games.

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steelag70
6-9-2015, 8:48 pm
If this team doesn't score first they have a hard time coming from behind.

bpn8pitt
6-9-2015, 8:49 pm
https://youtu.be/DgCY_o1SR3o

steelag70
6-9-2015, 9:00 pm
Haha...good clip bpn...

bpn8pitt
6-9-2015, 9:23 pm
cdeardo, sometimes I agree with your stats. Other times, meh.

steelag70
6-9-2015, 9:26 pm
Bpn, you have to admit they do struggle scoring in divisional games and especially winning low scoring ones.

cdeardo
6-9-2015, 8:42 pm
And here comes Frankie's one bad inning

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steelag70
6-9-2015, 8:44 pm
Game over...

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cdeardo
6-9-2015, 8:48 pm
It's uncanny how many games Liriano pitches "well" and surrenders a crooked inning and loses - a high percentage of his runs seem to come in bunches

Big Bob
6-9-2015, 8:44 pm
Kang is 5th on the team in RBI's as a part time player.

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steelag70
6-9-2015, 8:46 pm
Being beaten once again at home by the WORST team in baseball.

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emmalinesadie
6-9-2015, 8:47 pm
And the wheels appear to have once again fallen off the bus.

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steelag70
6-9-2015, 8:49 pm
Yep...bats have once again gone cold and continue to lose divisional games.

chethejet
6-9-2015, 8:49 pm
How is a pitcher who has a 5 ERA and is not exactly over powering holding this offense to peanuts? Just to many games where the Pirates simply don;t take advantage of hittable stuff.

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The wolf
6-9-2015, 8:52 pm
All you have to do to beat this team is call up a fleet of triple A chumps because they cant hit them. Headbanging madness.

steelag70
6-9-2015, 8:56 pm
Agreed Chet...rookie pitchers just seem to dominate this club.

MADSports66
6-9-2015, 8:51 pm
Giving up 3 runs in 7 innings is not a bad outing; it shouldn't guarantee you a loss. Unfortunately these Pirates couldn't seem less interested at the plate if they tried.

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T
6-9-2015, 8:51 pm
How do you go from sweeping SF to this kind of baseball?

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cdeardo
6-9-2015, 8:55 pm
With all the talk about the starting pitching, the stats show that when this team doesn't hit, they don't win. They have no ability to grind out low scoring 2-1, 3-2 type wins like the Cards can.

steelag70
6-9-2015, 9:01 pm
You're absolutely right cdeardo. They struggle in these type games.

WeegieThompson87
6-9-2015, 8:56 pm
I have to laugh when the Brewers' feed on At Bat says, "Jungmann has given up at least 2 earned runs in each of his last AAA starts." HA. Apparently, this lineup is worse than the last 6 AAA teams he's faced.

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steelag70
6-9-2015, 9:02 pm
Sure looks like it. Aside from Marte's HR, they can't put together hits to score.

MADSports66
6-9-2015, 8:58 pm
I think we need a 3B, SS or a 1B who knows how to hit a baseball in order to make noise in the playoffs. I have absolutely zero confidence in Mercer to get hits. Zero.

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steelag70
6-9-2015, 8:58 pm
Pirates left their bats on the road trip. Once again they make a rookie pitcher look like Cy Young....

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Big Bob
6-9-2015, 8:59 pm
Let your .215 hitter bat with a chance to tie it up? This is ridiculous. Use the bench.

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cdeardo
6-9-2015, 8:59 pm
8 hits in 16 innings

About to go 12-20 against Central.

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cdeardo
6-9-2015, 9:02 pm
Sorry make that 12-18 which is still unacceptable

steelag70
6-9-2015, 9:03 pm
Stinking Brewers are STILL a thorn in our side....

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Big Bob
6-9-2015, 9:07 pm
Get him out. He leads off next inning. Hurdle doesn't want to waste a player he has no intention of using.

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steelag70
6-9-2015, 9:07 pm
Nice play Petey....

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Florida Steeler
6-9-2015, 9:09 pm
We are seeing exactly why this team cannot compete with the Cards, even with their injuries.

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steelag70
6-9-2015, 9:13 pm
Jung Ho is slumping now....

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Biz
6-9-2015, 9:16 pm
Time for a walk off. Just saying we are due

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steelag70
6-9-2015, 9:19 pm
Nope...game over.

steelag70
6-9-2015, 9:21 pm
The last two nights, this looks like the team that struggled to score runs and had trouble beating divisional opponents.

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cdeardo
6-9-2015, 9:23 pm
Worst 2 game output since back to back shutouts by Tigers in mid-April

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steelag70
6-9-2015, 9:24 pm
Two nights in a row the bullpen fails to do it's job.

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jtamm
6-9-2015, 9:25 pm
THESE GUYS ARE FLAT!!!

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Reading
6-9-2015, 9:26 pm
Another gem. Another 2+ hours wasted.

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jtamm
6-9-2015, 9:26 pm
They better practice after road trip from now on

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WeegieThompson87
6-9-2015, 9:27 pm
This team is maddening. I can't remember a more inconsistent team.

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steelag70
6-9-2015, 9:28 pm
Wasting opportunities....

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Reading
6-9-2015, 9:28 pm
Need more runs than number of hits in game. Not checking accuracy of statement. Not happening.

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cdeardo
6-9-2015, 9:29 pm
After nice 13-3 streak outside of the division, Bucs have come back to earth.

Hopefully they avoid a sweep and get a day off and can get it going again.

Now 5-3 in June which had been their besting the last 4 years.

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cdeardo
6-9-2015, 9:30 pm
Besting? Best month

chrisgallo944
6-9-2015, 9:30 pm
Un canning resemblance to the pens. great road trip followed by getting dominated in their division. maybe it's in the water?

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steelag70
6-9-2015, 9:30 pm
Wow....being dominated two nights in a row by the worst team in baseball. If you didn't know any better you'd think the Pirates had the worse record.

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csb20
6-9-2015, 9:38 pm
Seriously how does this team have 2 nights where they not only don't hit, but don't even threaten.

Reading
6-9-2015, 9:32 pm
The power display in bottom of ninth was incredible.

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cdeardo
6-9-2015, 9:33 pm
1-5 vs Reds, 2-4 vs Cards, 4-6 vs Cubs and now 5-3 vs Brewers. Not good

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steelag70
6-9-2015, 9:34 pm
Not at all....for whatever reason they have a hard time winning in the division.

steelag70
6-9-2015, 9:33 pm
Once AGAIN they make a rookie look like a Cy Young candidate.

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Florida Steeler
6-9-2015, 9:34 pm
I am beginning to think the Pirate Spin Machine sold us an empty bag on Polanco!!!

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cdeardo
6-9-2015, 9:37 pm
Well that's one way to get Tony and Mark some rest I guess.

Not ideal to start a 2 game losing streak and have your 4 and 5 starters coming up.

Better bring the bats.

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miosborn
6-9-2015, 9:42 pm
Time to shake things up. Call Colorado and offer Polanco, Mercer, Locke, and Glasnow for Tulowitzki.

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WeegieThompson87
6-9-2015, 9:58 pm
Back up from the cliff there, buddy!

miosborn
6-9-2015, 10:13 pm
No cliff, just acknowledging that SS is a huge hole and Polanco looks to be nothing more than a platoon player. Be bold and make a move that positions the team for continued success.

bpn8pitt
6-9-2015, 10:13 pm
Been 6 years since Tulo played a full season. Somebody awhile back mentioned he was part of the clubhouse that got Hurdle fired in Colorado.

steelag70
6-9-2015, 10:19 pm
No, no Tulo....that contract is an albatross, and with what bpn said...

steelag70
6-9-2015, 10:19 pm
We just drafted 3 of them the last two years. ;)

miosborn
6-9-2015, 10:27 pm
Lucky if one of the three stick at SS. If not Tulo then get someone else who can team with Cutch and Marte. Again now is the time to be bold and not wait until July 31.

zidanesdagger
6-9-2015, 9:45 pm
It figures...the Pirates have one of their best road trips in the last decade, have everything in front of them based on the competition at hand...and score 1 run in 18 innings.

I'm sorry but it's now near the middle of June and this record against the NL Central can't just be an anomaly at this point. That's not how you win the division. But hey, that WC is looking great!

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bpn8pitt
6-9-2015, 9:47 pm
Usually frankkuchnos yelling at me about being the Debbie downer.

There's 100 games left fellas. They were due to come down off the high they were on.

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steelag70
6-9-2015, 9:50 pm
I understand bpn, but come on man...dominated at home in back to back games by the worst team in baseball? Divisional games are like krypton item to these guys.

steelag70
6-9-2015, 9:51 pm
Not only that but they just can't seem to not struggle against rookie pitchers.

ledtotheflood
6-9-2015, 9:57 pm
You are correct, sir. Hard to sustain some of the amazing peaks.

ledtotheflood
6-9-2015, 9:59 pm
Worst team in baseball and worst record in baseball may be different in many respects. I think there are a few teams with less talent than the Brewers. Tough for Milwaukee to compete with 3 winning NL Central teams, and the Reds are looking better lately.

bpn8pitt
6-9-2015, 10:00 pm
Your gonna win 50 and lose 50 over the course of a season, steel. It's what they do in the other 62.

steelag70
6-9-2015, 10:07 pm
I understand bpn, but not to the worst team in baseball. These last two games fall into the "other" category.

Big Daddy
6-9-2015, 9:52 pm
What they accomplished on the great 7 - 3 road trip is going down the drain by losing 2 at home to the LAST PLACE Brewers. This team is so hard to figure out especially with the bats. No excuses for there lackadaisical play against this caliber of a team. This is why they are a wild card team and NO division titles.

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ledtotheflood
6-9-2015, 10:01 pm
Hard to figure---yes. But from May 6 to June 5, I think they averaged 5.2 runs a game---a lot better than the first month or so of 2015.

ledtotheflood
6-9-2015, 9:56 pm
Some of the negativity I'm reading here is rather mind-blowing. This team was 12-15 in its first 27 games, then went 18-9 in its next 27. Of course, we all expected the Bucs to sweep the Giants in SF, right? I understand they've dropped 3 of 4 recently, but effort doesn't seem to be the issue. And both Burnett and Liriano pitched well enough the last 2 nights to win many games. Folks, maybe it's time to lighten up.

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steelag70
6-9-2015, 10:03 pm
Led...just pointing out the realities. They STILL continue to struggle vs division opponents and yes, effort DOES seen to be the issue at least with the bats. They continue to struggle against rookie pitchers.

steelag70
6-9-2015, 10:05 pm
They continue to also struggle winning grind it out, 2-1, or 3-2 games.

cdeardo
6-9-2015, 10:10 pm
Agree but some consistent worrisome trends

1. Can't win low scoring games
2. 12-18 vs Central and have scored 3 runs or less in 50% of those games
3. No ability to come from behind
4. Winless in games tied going into the bottom of the 9th (0-8) including 0-6 in extras

These aren't characteristics of a successful team almost 60 games in.

chethejet
6-9-2015, 10:00 pm
Hurdles deal with it and move on is starting to sound like he is accepting of a crap effort. Sorry, he has to look at the numbers and see a team that lacks grit and grinding attitude. Pedro needs to be on the block ASAP.

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Florida Steeler
6-9-2015, 10:07 pm
What would we get for Pedro and Mercer is not a major league shortstop. It is little wonder the last two years the Bucs chose shortstops in the first round. They won't be ready for a few years, which gives no help for Mercer.

Matt the Stat
6-9-2015, 10:14 pm
I don't think many teams want KDro. He is weak defensively and very inconsistent offensively

Matt the Stat
6-9-2015, 10:10 pm
I know it is only two games but how do the Bucs look so pathetic against two middling pitchers on one of the worst teams in baseball? Tonite was especially embarrassing. They faced a rookie who had a 6-plus ERA in the minor leagues and they made him look like one of the best pitchers in baseball. Totally inexcusable!!!

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Matt the Stat
6-9-2015, 10:19 pm
Liriano often seems to dominate a game and then all of a sudden he gives up a cluster of hits that end up costing him the game

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steelag70
6-9-2015, 10:26 pm
This game was very similar to his start in Philly.

cdeardo
6-9-2015, 10:36 pm
Most of his losses include a 2-3 run inning

Matt the Stat
6-9-2015, 10:26 pm
I know J-Hay hustles and plays with a lot of energy but he is not a good lead off guy. Unless the pitcher throws meatball fast balls, he ends up flailing away at too many pitches out of the strike zone. By the way, why is Corey Hart still on this roster? I think he has had maybe 2 at bats in the last month. He should pay an admission price since he gets to sit in the dugout and simply watch games.

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Pregame notes: Pirates-Brewers

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