Update 5:05 p.m.: The four Pirates who will take part in the All-Star Game met with the media a few minutes ago and, as you might assume, were in good spirits. A.J. Burnett was showing off his Batman shoes — they’re spectacular — and Andrew McCutchen took a moment to grade Jung Ho Kang’s dancing skills. He was impressed. … As for actual news, Gerrit Cole said he expects to enter the game fairly early. It wouldn’t shock me if Cole replaces starter Zack Greinke. One would assume Cole was the next in line to start, especially considering Max Scherzer isn’t available to pitch. It remains unclear whether Burnett or Mark Melancon will get into the game, but particularly in the case of Burnett, it won’t matter. He’s happy as can be to be here. … The weather here has been rather frightful the past few hours. There have been tornado watches, flood watches, severe thunderstorm watches, that kind of stuff. The game is expected to be completed tonight though it appears bad weather could still be in the area. .. A number of the Pirates were asked if they could use an addition or two before the July 21 trade deadline. They were rather diplomatic with their answers, though Burnett did say, “I think we have a great clubhouse, a great group. But we can always use help. Anybody in this room will say you can always use help. But we’ve got a special group. It’s why I came back.”… Ken Griffey Jr.’s presence has been felt here this week, and Burnett said he has developed a good relationship with him. When Burnett was a kid, he and his older brother always used to fight over who was Griffey Jr. during backyard games…Pete Rose is expected to make an appearance tonight at Great American Ball Park. Should be quite the spectacle.
9:22: Cole just pitched a scoreless third inning. He walked one batter but also struck out Mike Trout, who led off the game with a home run. The other two outs were both fly balls to McCutchen, who is 0 for 1 so far. It’s 1-1 in the bottom of the third. Not sure if Cole will pitch another inning.
9:29: Rough night at the plate for Cutch so far. After the pop-up to lead off the bottom of the first, he just whiffed on a nasty curveball from Felix Hernandez. These pitchers aren’t bad. Still 1-1, headed to the fourth.
9:31: Cole is done for the evening and has been replaced by Madison Bumgarner. Cole threw 18 pitches. I will ask him after the game when he believes he’ll be able to next pitch. My guess is he’ll say he’s ready for Friday in Milwaukee.
10:22: Cutch goes WAY DEEP to left off Chris Archer to pull the NL within a run. Man does he love hitting in this ballpark.
11:08: Melancon gets tagged for a solo home run by the Twins’ Brian Dozier, a 1-2 cutter that hung a bit and was sent out to left-center. He retires his other three, but the AL moves up, 6-2, in the eighth.
I saw the photos yesterday of the players and families on the private plane? Did the players go in on that or did Nutting spring for it? Or does MLB make the arrangements?
Obsessive as I am, I actually plugged in Cole, Burnett and Liriano for the next STL series and worked backwards to Friday. If Clint wants to line up the big three for the Cards, then they should start Saturday, Sunday and Monday, with Locke or Morton on Friday.
Durka
7-14-2015, 5:38 pm
I can see Locke being the one to get pushed down a little bit after the break
unipress_551851d6ce0b4
7-14-2015, 6:08 pm
Hurdle has already thrown Morton out there tentatively as the starter Friday per Ron Cook last night on Sports Call.
TheGreatOne21
7-14-2015, 5:19 pm
See Rose will be a spectacle, but what a creep person, and letting this guy be a big part of the show, demonstrates how sports fan for the most part are void of any honor and self respect to give miscreants such as this, A Rod (Manny Raimerez, Clemens if he showed up, Sosa,and many more)that have disgraced the game, yet give them Standing Ovations. Being kind and gracious as a Christian is one thing to anyone with failures since we all have them, but getting up and treating this money grabber and cheering him as if a God is shameful. But that is most of sports culture that rationalizes any cheating or fraud people. I bet even OJ, coming out of prison would get a big ovation if showed up at certain sport venues. I hope when he is about to take the field, a monstrous downpour and mini hurricane occurs.
TGO21..." but what a creep person,"
Wow did you get that right.
Just watching him on the pre-game wants to make go and take three showers to get the slime off.
Durka
7-14-2015, 6:25 pm
Rosenthal scratched. Melancon would definitely set up Chapman now
A couple ex ball players have told me stories about Rose that leave no doubt he is a scumbag pig. He has zero class and yet the people of Redlands see him as an outstanding man and person. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Yep. I've heard those stoties, from reputable sources, too.
pbshoe
7-14-2015, 7:10 pm
Boy, would I like to watch the all-star game. Unfortunately, Fox (who else?) has chosen to put the biggest cheat in baseball history, prior to the steroids era, on their telecast. I guess I'll miss it.
Further, he's advertising shoes for Sketchers. They're off my list, too. The older I get, the harder I find it to compromise my principles.
I tried watching the pregame and couldn't stomach this degenerate gambler. I only hope this is not part of a plan by Fox and MLB to rehabilitate his image.
Pirates
7-14-2015, 8:13 pm
Look at baseballs history ... the other's who made it despite much worse activities ... Rose is the victim of a long tanding grdge ... the the holders of the grudge are being pushed out of naseball!
ROSE TO THE HALL! ... WHERE HE BELONGS! ... GREATEST SINGLES HITTTER OF ALL-TIME ...
go make your bed ... games coming on!
Durka
7-14-2015, 7:13 pm
5 straight all star games for cutch is the most since Clemente went 8. Cutch will break that too
They should leave Pete alone and put him in the Hall of Fame where he belongs!
The would have to add a whole new wing for him!
PucknutZ
7-14-2015, 8:16 pm
Bit of a stretch there bpn. Late 1800's, things have changed just a wee bit since then.
bpn8pitt
7-14-2015, 8:25 pm
Hall of Fames are filled with scumbags. One more won't make a difference.
Rose gets a bad rap for the Ray Fosse. Reggie Jackson might have done more damage to Fosse.
Matt Gajtka
7-14-2015, 9:13 pm
My feeling: It's called the Hall of Fame, so famous players should go in. You can always note his shortcomings on the plaque.
bpn8pitt
7-14-2015, 9:24 pm
That's where I'm at with it Matt...I think Manfred will try to find a way to get Rose on the ballot. But whether he gets the votes or not is another thing.
PucknutZ
7-14-2015, 9:24 pm
LOL Matt,
Ya you and DK can do the shortcomings write up on the bronze plaque!
Short, pithy, and to the point.
Matt Gajtka
7-14-2015, 9:47 pm
BPN, it seems that way, even with the latest revelations about his betting habits.
Pucknutz, haha...that will require a team effort for sure.
skeeziks7
7-14-2015, 8:10 pm
Am I missing something with the designated hitter in an NL park? Was that a rule change this year?
Koufax pitching at home on the highest mound in the MLB was hard to beat!
PucknutZ
7-14-2015, 9:39 pm
"Hitting against him is like eating soup with a fork,"
Mr. Stargell says.
Durka
7-14-2015, 9:46 pm
He's the strangest hitter in baseball. Figure him out one way and he'll kill you another. — Sandy Koufax on Roberto Clemente
Durka
7-14-2015, 9:49 pm
Stargell also said, "It's a butterfly with hiccups", about the knuckle ball lol. There are a lot of priceless quotes about that pitch
Matt the Stat
7-14-2015, 10:44 pm
I saw Sandy Koufax and in my lifetime I rate him as the best pitcher I have ever seen. With that said, I remember listening to a twi-night doubleheader played at old Forbes Field in the 60s between the Pirates and Dodgers. The Bucs swept both games, beating Koufax and Don Drysdale in the process
BioGenesis is opening a new Lab in Sweden and he is there for the Open House ... Freebies!
pitsports49
7-14-2015, 8:44 pm
Wonderful. Probably every player who played in the 1990s should be there. But he's the only one who put up those kinda numbers.
Pirates
7-14-2015, 8:48 pm
He spent the most .... bought the best! Grew the most!
pitsports49
7-14-2015, 8:51 pm
Well idk where the proof of that is, and grew the most as if no one else grew. Sosa and mcqwire were huge.
Pirates
7-14-2015, 9:02 pm
The attention Sosa and McGwire got that summer pissed Bonds off and thats when he went overboard and started taking stuff that was not even clear by the Labs making them ... his monetary investment came out and contributed to getting busted
pitsports49
7-14-2015, 9:06 pm
Wow. They way you speak about that as if you were bonds next door neighbor? Ohh. They got a bunch of attention so bonds must have jacked himself specifically for that reason
Pirates
7-14-2015, 9:13 pm
He did ... its what drove him to do it .... have you ever read anything about this??? none of this is news ... its well known
pitsports49
7-14-2015, 9:20 pm
Okay. I see your point. So I guess before then, there was no rounds for bonds. And yea. He was a hall of fame caliber player then too, is that what your saying?
Pittsburgh 21 is right, ESPN does that garbage only. I fear others following. You don't need that up the whole time to see if a bad call. You pop it up after borderline call or bad one. Fans that know the strike zone don't need that a head of time. When the ball is hitting the chalk line inside or outside that is when you know an Ump is horrible, even without the box. I seen that way too many times. God, the white line has to be 6 to 8 inches outside the black.
Mick97
7-14-2015, 8:57 pm
Greinke sounds like a female tennis player with all this grunting
Think I found them on another site. Josh, you can't mention something visual and not put a picture/link to a picture somewhere. Again, if I'm missing a link then I apologize.
GinaV
7-14-2015, 9:39 pm
A picture of one of the shoes is at the top of this article.
DormontyDawson
7-14-2015, 9:40 pm
It's right at the top of this page.
MrFiveTools
7-14-2015, 9:57 pm
Thanks, I don't think that was the original picture that was up there. If it was I'm an idiot. You can't mention a sweet batman shoe and not show me!!!!! haha.
I'm just concerned about his well-being. Like a parent whose child doesn't call home often enough.
DJ
7-14-2015, 10:37 pm
Yeah, always leaves us hanging, DD.
Pulled same stunt at NHL Draft before coming through with brouhaha report on GM Family Feud.
Dejan Kovacevic
7-14-2015, 11:40 pm
Not nearly that simple, DD. There are difficult logistics at a setting like the All-Star Game, and a reporter needs to get down to clubhouse level early to ensure access to the players needed. That takes priority over the live updating, obviously.
DormontyDawson
7-14-2015, 11:52 pm
I wasn't being serious. Just shooting my mouth off.
DJ
7-14-2015, 10:13 pm
Really disappointed that Cutch can't seem to perform on the biggest of stages -- the All Star Game.
First time since 2008 ASG that all non-pitching starters play entire first four innings of game.
Interesting factoid Normie, 10 of 16 position players who started the 1967 ASG played the entire game. All 15 innings. Those players included Roberto Clemente (1 for 6) and Gene Alley (0 for 5).
Another crazy fact about the 1967 ASG was that Catfish Hunter pitched the final five innings for the AL. Manager Hank Bauer had 3 other pitchers available, but they all had started games two days before the ASG and he did not want to use them on one day's rest. Those three pitchers,
(Continued because post comment button positioned too close to keyboard on iPhone App...) Steve Hargan, Joe Horlen, and Jim Lonborg, would only be selected to one ASG, the 1967 game that they were not used.
DJ
7-14-2015, 10:31 pm
Catfish Hunter! Loved him.
Especially cool tandem with Vida Blue.
DJ
7-14-2015, 10:33 pm
. . . would venture two of best names for starter teammates.
BuccoAficionado
7-14-2015, 10:52 pm
DJ, in 1971 A's had Blue and Hunter, plus Blue Moon Odom and Diego Segui as starters, AND Rollie Fingers and Mudcat Grant relieving! Best pitching names ever in one season, no contest.
Ok - just figured out why Harold Reynolds voice pushes my buttons - he sounds like Lando Calrissian from the Star Wars movies - and just like Billy Dee Williams, his dialogue does nothing to advance the storyline
No problem with AJ not pitching. Yeah maybe he deserved it more than others, but that would have meant Pirates pitchers pitching 1/3 of the innings for the NL. I'm sure he doesn't mind much either.
Not to get ahead of ourselves here. Hard not to, though, when you see the score of this game and the standings....
A buddy in Texas has often discussed an elaborate scenario where the Rangers got squeezed by the home plate ump in the World Series, giving St. Louis life they shouldn't have had late in Game 6.
As usual the Cardinals took advantage, twice tying the game in their final at bat and prolonging it another inning, finally going on to win in 11 … and ultimately winning it all the next night.
This guy blames it all on home cooking calls due to home field advantage for that game and the Series – determined stupidly, of course, by the All-Star Game … as opposed to the reverse had it been determined by best record.
A.J. Burnett's custom Batman shoe, to be worn tonight in the All-Star Game. -- JOSH YOHE
July 14, 2015
Final: American League 6, National League 3
by Josh Yohe • Game previews
CINCINNATI — Looking ahead to first pitch …
Game: 86th Major League Baseball All-Star Game, 7:30 p.m., Great American Ball Park
Pitchers: RHP Zack Greinke (8-2, 1.39) vs. LHP Dallas Keuchel (11-4, 2.23)
TV, radio: Fox (national), 970 ESPN
Online: Gameday / Multimedia / Media notes
Update 5:05 p.m.: The four Pirates who will take part in the All-Star Game met with the media a few minutes ago and, as you might assume, were in good spirits. A.J. Burnett was showing off his Batman shoes — they’re spectacular — and Andrew McCutchen took a moment to grade Jung Ho Kang’s dancing skills. He was impressed. … As for actual news, Gerrit Cole said he expects to enter the game fairly early. It wouldn’t shock me if Cole replaces starter Zack Greinke. One would assume Cole was the next in line to start, especially considering Max Scherzer isn’t available to pitch. It remains unclear whether Burnett or Mark Melancon will get into the game, but particularly in the case of Burnett, it won’t matter. He’s happy as can be to be here. … The weather here has been rather frightful the past few hours. There have been tornado watches, flood watches, severe thunderstorm watches, that kind of stuff. The game is expected to be completed tonight though it appears bad weather could still be in the area. .. A number of the Pirates were asked if they could use an addition or two before the July 21 trade deadline. They were rather diplomatic with their answers, though Burnett did say, “I think we have a great clubhouse, a great group. But we can always use help. Anybody in this room will say you can always use help. But we’ve got a special group. It’s why I came back.”… Ken Griffey Jr.’s presence has been felt here this week, and Burnett said he has developed a good relationship with him. When Burnett was a kid, he and his older brother always used to fight over who was Griffey Jr. during backyard games…Pete Rose is expected to make an appearance tonight at Great American Ball Park. Should be quite the spectacle.
9:22: Cole just pitched a scoreless third inning. He walked one batter but also struck out Mike Trout, who led off the game with a home run. The other two outs were both fly balls to McCutchen, who is 0 for 1 so far. It’s 1-1 in the bottom of the third. Not sure if Cole will pitch another inning.
9:29: Rough night at the plate for Cutch so far. After the pop-up to lead off the bottom of the first, he just whiffed on a nasty curveball from Felix Hernandez. These pitchers aren’t bad. Still 1-1, headed to the fourth.
9:31: Cole is done for the evening and has been replaced by Madison Bumgarner. Cole threw 18 pitches. I will ask him after the game when he believes he’ll be able to next pitch. My guess is he’ll say he’s ready for Friday in Milwaukee.
10:22: Cutch goes WAY DEEP to left off Chris Archer to pull the NL within a run. Man does he love hitting in this ballpark.
11:08: Melancon gets tagged for a solo home run by the Twins’ Brian Dozier, a 1-2 cutter that hung a bit and was sent out to left-center. He retires his other three, but the AL moves up, 6-2, in the eighth.