Pregame notes: Pirates-Phillies

Phillies Line-Up

1. Ben Revere (L) CF
2. Andres Blanco (S) 2B
3. Maikel Franco (R) 3B
4. Darin Ruf (R) 1B
5. Jeff Francoeur (R) RF
6. Cesar Hernandez (S) SS
7. Cody Asche (L) LF
8. Cameron Rupp (R) C
9. Kevin Correia (R) P

Broader spectrum, Mercer has hit better the last two weeks compared to Kang. At least that's how I'm looking at it.

Kang is on a game count. I know there are better ways to limit his games than to sit him while he is hot but it seems they have a rotational type olan for he, jordy, and harrison and even Polanco at times. Its just his turn to sit.

Until those 3 hits, he had been slumping. But, then again if you want to get a guy hot, why not send him out against Correia? I can see where someone would disagree.

One thing you can take to the bank is someone will disagree. :-)

They haven't dealt with many injuries, knock on wood. Something I think they mentioned in the Spring was a goal with all the rest. But like NMR and Milo are discussing above, the rest certainly hasn't raised the level of play, something I think they also wanted.

One of the best things about Kang is even when he slumps he still seems to pick up those RBI's....

I don't think Kang's rides on the pine reflect a lack of appreciation. He's dazzled everyone who's looking. I can easily see him as 2015 World Series MVP. They're getting him, and the team, to October.

To me it's simple. Mercer at SS optimizes the defense. Locke on the mound is least equipped to pitch around errors and misplays. I'd expect Kangs SS play to come more with Cole and AJ on the hill. I am too lazy to track starts so far this year but that's my logic on this.

Congrats! Thank you for always thinking about your readership and striving to make this site even better with all your investments of time and talent! This page has become a highlight for me.

I won't read it until the next morning

Like Dunlap says, Dejan is taking over the world.

I told you I had to ask my wife before I accepted a job up there DK, sheesh

@Matt: Thanks! We're trying! It all started with a phone call to Milo, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise!

Sure, now it comes out. I've kept that under my hat for almost a year.

:)

I really like your reasonable and common sensical reliable reporting. The articles are wonderful. The Polanco article was well written with great insight. I don't really even look at the other sites for sports news. Look forward to your next hire. Sorry about my name on here. I only use the iPhone app and can't update it yet.

But he keeps getting a free pass much like the shortstop (although Mercer is throwing in a few singles lately). And the guy with upside sits and waits.

It'll always be impossible for most to objectively judge a guy like Josh Harrison.

On the flip side, I'd like to call out a guy who's going well but was a whipping boy of many not long ago. Over his last 10 appearances, Melancon has been a strike throwing machine.

Melancons stat line compared to other closers just doesn't make any sense. Compared to others hes struck out less than half the batters of the others and given up twice as many hits.

The cutter and the ground balls have been great. Hope he can maintain this smoke and mirror act.

He's been good over his last 10 but his last 5 have been crazy - 41 pitches total and 36 of them strikes.

No I got you. I whiffed on that one. But if he goes wrong, I hope that it's sooner rather than later so they can remedy it.

Agree. And I sensed a little bit of swagger/strut from Watson the other night on his way to the dugout after his 2 pitch appearance. The 8th and 9th are in good hands - now if we can lock down the 7th, I'd be a happy man

From the insider piece today, looks like Caminero will get the chance to be that guy.

Melancon has always thrown strikes, hence the low walk rates, but where are the swing and misses?

One things for sure. If Locke doesn't pitch well, the hate on this thread will flow. I would imagine Hurdle gets about 8 blame posts.

A good manager wins you 15 games a year, a bad one loses 15.

So far, so good with your under prediction Milo.

Dodgers were supposed to be tough too but they still beat the tar out of them haha

That's about as far from pierogies as it's possible to get. Here's hoping Locke locks 'em down.

Enjoy a Starbucks at Hong Kong International, my friend!

Yea, that looks bad.

He cleared waivers and was assigned to Indy, but not sure if he has reported yet. I'm sure JAL would know. :)

Thanks!

All i know is Liz listed on Indy roster with status Reserve, which usually means they have more players than they can have on the active roster.

Uhhhhhh. Two playoff appearances in a row versus Jim Tracy and the non-bobble head doll John Russell. I'd go with the playoff manager

Yep, first .500 manager since Tanner and best winning percentage since Murtaugh. They should totally get rid of that guy.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PIT/managers.shtml

It's not all about in game decisions - which Hurdle is admittedly poor at. In the pros you need to be able to motivate these guys. It's no doubt all these players love Hurdle. He gets the most out of them - we could be in much worse hands.

Pedro is 3rd on team in Rbi's. He has more than the clean up hitter Walker. He is the best option they have at first base.

Hitting .242 and on pace for 25 HR. He's a real turd compared to Ike and Gaby, huh? This team has issues... He's not one of them. Nice bounce back after last years debacle.

Easy on that .242 average. It would be lower if he batted against lefties and didn't get pulled for Rodriguez 2-3 times a week.

And Cervilli's might be lower if Stewart didn't play twice a week.... Who cares? He's been far more productive when he plays than any first baseman we've had past 2-3 years. Pedro isn't the problem. Look no further than the hometown kid...

That's the Pedro apologist new thing...well, we'll look at Walker.

10 homers all with the bases empty

Yeah, we won 2-0 last game. Good thing Pedro hit a solo HR

Yet he still has more RBI and Homer runs than Neil in 30 less at bats....

Not sure how you can compare that stat between those two. One good season doesn't make Walker a power guy

Yup. 30 less ABs cause he hits .198 against LHP and gets pulled in the 7th cause he sucks at defense.

Good thing he didn't hit another solo home run there, that would have been horrible.

Yes it would've been

Neil has done less than Pedro in more at bats... Gee I wonder what Neil's stats are against lefties...

A whopping .161 with ONE RBI

.198 was CAREER. As is 3 times the errors than Walker has, in less games.

You know what the worst part is? In a year or two he's probably making 3 times what it is now.

The only thing they differ in is production. Other than that they're equal and you're making one seem so greater than the other

No excuse. They should sweep this team after they just lost 2 of 3 to the Brewers.

The Phillies have 7 road wins this year

He's on pace for 20 pitches per inning looks another 5 or 6 inning game for him.

The bats have cooled off since they got home no doubt.

Yes he does Milo...

I think is if Holdzkom wasn't having a dumpster fire of a season in AAA Bastardo would be gone by now

I think will be the guy everyone hates but someone stays the whole year. Maybe the September callups will bury him

So true. There's a fine line between showing confidence in a guy and cutting off your nose to spite your face.

And the Phillies are struggling against Locke (to score runs)

Philly pitching gave up a bunch of HR's in Cincy and was totally stinky...we are once again, making a weak pitching staff look good.

Playing with fire...

13 batters, 7 have reached. Gotta be proactive here.

"Roped" is Jeff in Latin

Maybe he's just settling in.

For an 8-run 4th inning.

Forearm strain. Impressively pitched through it in a tough 5th inning Sunday night against the Dodgers. No timetable till he starts a throwing program

All 25 of their players could go down with season ending injuries and their triple A team wins the division.

Crazy.

What now? Up by 8.5 after weekend?

Yep. Most of their farm team is major league ready probably haha

They are up 2-0 on the Royals so far tonight.

With Jaime freakin Garcia haha

He is the Charlie Morton of that staff. No Waino, no problem, no Holliday, no problem, no Lance Lynn, no problem.

It's a longggg season..

Or not....

Another runner on 3rd, less than 2 outs; another zero on the scoreboard.

Very undisciplined at bats.

Just as we usually do with so-so and stinky pitchers.

Sunday rather

They have hit the ball hard on numerous occasions tonight but nothing has fallen when we needed it to.

I wouldn't say numerous....that is being generous.

Aside from the last two weeks of May, this offense has stunk.

Carlton was the 2nd best pitcher I've ever seen. It's an insult to compare him to Correia.

Lets just say: Keven Correia >Pirate Batters.

@WV: Oh, my. Really?

As I said earlier we do not have a legitimate cleanup hitter

But just .208 with RISP

Although he does have 16 RBI

10 for 18 with a man on 1st and 2 for 4 with a man on 3rd has it up a bit

Has Branson resigned in humiliated disgrace yet?

This is on the players.

Then why pay a batting coach if this is what he gets out of them?

Their offense is just downright scary.

Yeh, I noticed that, and checked their lineup. I don't see where all the runs come from. Their only real hitters are Jose Bautista and Josh Donaldson.

Runs?

He needs to go back to the first lineup they used right out of spring training. And when Kang plays he just goes in for the guy he replaced.

Reminiscent of 5 game losing streak in early May vs Cards and Reds when Bucs scored 5 runs in 5 games. They broke out of with a 7-2 win and scored 34 runs in next 6 winning 5 of them. Need another breakout soon.

You read my mind DJ. He was next. I'll go more obscure after he shuts them down in the 6th.

Ha!

And perfect timing for a Polanco snow cone just for you!

Wasn't Burnett 8-18 last year...

@pitsports...dude, really?

Yes... DUDE.

Yeah Correia was so good this is his third team this season. Can't believe you're comparing the talent and pedigree between Correia and Burnett. Did Correia pitch with a sports hernia last year? Didn't think so.

You're hear talking about a player who needs to be retiring because of his previous season. When Burnett was on his way down three straight seasons and capped it off with 18 losses. It's not like correia was a complete nobody either

He certainly is no Burnett...and where did I say he should retire?

I did. He barely touched adequate in his prime. Give me a break he's burnt toast. Guarantee he gets torched into oblivion next several outings. This just isnt the team to prove hes done.

I don't know, could be a good one--I mean, 0-0 in sixth, anything can happen--good or bad...like Polanco!!

Could have added that awful shirt to the drawer too.

Probably killed someone too lol

Nice.

Need more nasty.

The only reason the U.S. Didn't lose was a PIne Richland girls' header of her own crossbar or The Swedes get the upset.

It's a good thing it's only June then. Calm down.

Good thing it is june.

Unfortunately, as much as it pains me to say it, the Pirates simply can't hit. October, will simply be a repeat of the Bonds, Van Slyke, etc. era playoff failures.

No way Pedro would have come through; now, who knows?

Maybe not...

Never mind: Hurdle out idiot-ed Sandberg.

. . . with Marichal right behind.

Koufax, Gibson, Carlton.

I want to go with guys I never saw. Koufax, Feller, Walter Johnson.

Warren Spahn!

Randy Johnson, Nolan Ryan, and whitey ford

Koufax, Marichal, Gibson

Ricky vaughn, billy chapel, and nuke laloosh

Harvey Haddix in his prime (meaning his ultra one-game prime)

Gibson, early Clemens, Koufax

To this day my mother still loves Sandy Koufax. And we're not even Jewish.

Yes, VERY nice choices all.

I love these kinds of questions

Spahn, Sane, pray for rain...

Rube Waddell

Josh fogg, john vanbenscoten, Dana eveland.

Gotta love the electricity of these guys.

Greg Maddux was a beast but give me ELECTRIC every time.

Actually the answer should be Kevin Correia, Kyle Lohse and that Henny Jungman guy from the other night.

You missed Danny "Effin" Moskos, ps49.

Was thinking the same thing Patrick.

Pedro can make the game 3-0. Not saying we will. But always has that small chance of big upside.

Why should that surprise us?

It didn't.

Geez. That is an ugly statistic.

All those late inning losses earlier this season on the road.

Pirate bats go to sleep late in games where they don't lead so
It's not all the pitching but does point to not being to win games decided late.

Marte is really off right now.

One would hope. 1-8 in games tied going into the 9th.

Why would you ever brag about leaving a tied ballgame early?? What kind of fan are you...

Not even an overreaction

Free tickets in a bad location with work in the morning

Relax man maybe he's a surgeon and on his way to save a life, or.......

He obviously learned his lesson from the other night. :)

+++

I will never understand how someone in the Blue Jays organization thought RA Dickey was a fit for that ballpark and the AL East. One of the most awful decisions I've ever seen.

Walker only has 23 and he hits behind McCutchen most of the time.

Wow those seem really low. NW really is having a rough year. You think because they haven't worked out a contract is getting in his head?

No, he just stinks so far.

And he is slower than molasses

They supposedly have been talking to Toronto and the Cubs about Papelbon. His contract is an albatross with that option for next year.

Where would you place him?

Yes...leave him in the 5th spot.

I don't think the 2 hole is a bad spot for him. If you wanna go ahead and base the entire offense off of this game then maybe no one deserves to be in the spot they're in. What would your lineup be?

5, or 6 if the starter throws a lot of curves or cutters.

Agreed. And for all of Hurdles lineup juggling, how come he doesn't move Cervelli higher up in the order? The dude has the highest batting average on the team

I would give Kang a shot at #2

The current so-called metrics call for your best hitter in the two hole (ala Trout), which in our case would be Cutch...what would the lineup be then?

Kang at #2. Hmmm . . . interesting.

W or L, biz?

What's a walk off, there are strange rumors about the phenomenon in this town, this year.

It's what other teams have done to them several time this year.

I was thinking the same thing, how does he not beat that out?

Agreed...

Sometimes you just have to beat it out, that is one of those plays.

Whatever happened to run like hell on contact? Rare these days. Too busy looking at scoreboard. iWatch next.

Haha

Sure looked that way DD.

Amen Milo.

I've never seen a team strike out so much with RISP. Seriously.

11LOB

Classically pathetic.

He's a little big for his britches

Sandburg is on the case big time. Giles might be hurling for the Iron Pigs tomorrow..

He and just about every other coach got in his face.

We have a great offensive team in 2/3 of our games averaging over 5 runs. It's the 1/3 of the games when the bats go putrid that are killing them.

Nope I have Slingbox, pay once and I can watch my TV channels anywhere with my iPad or phone.

DirecTV? I have trouble with several channels, but not too often with MLB.

I have the MLB package. No issues on my end. I don't like how they show a blank screen during rain delays and dump out of the broadcast as soon as the game is finished

Seems to never work for me and I have super fast internet...I was on another forum and a lot of dudes were complaining about the new viewer

Sorry, no room at the inn.

Only good dudes.

Agreed Milo.

W or L will tell us how "special".

Hey, anxiety level is not important.

I'll keep saying it. If the wheels do come off hopefully it's sooner rather than later so the can add another reliever, slide Watson back.

I know anxiety doesn't matter, but Melancon ain't fooling batters at all.

Let's hope we don't need 3 guys to hit

Sure you can and make millions while you're at it!

I can't even believe that is the same Cutch

Yep - so on to extra innings where we are winless this year

Did I miss something? He got good wood on the ball. And there was that fine catch???

Again. It June. Not even have way thru the season. Relax.

0-5 and can't hit a leftie to save himself and he is a star?? Give me a break.

He's one of those guys where his stats are okay but you just know trouble can be around the corner

Game will be over before then...

Agreed...I was thinking that earlier.

Good point. Bad hitting teams wouldn't be able to get as hot as these pirates do. It's the anemic streaks they put together also that kills them