UPDATE 4:39 p.m.: The Pirates have promoted infielder Pedro Florimon from Class AAA Indianapolis and optioned back reliever Wilfredo Boscan. To create space on the 40-man roster for Florimon, Class A pitcher Jayson Aquino was designated for assignment.
4:57: I’ll bring you full pregame notes later, but I wanted to publish right away Rick Sofield’s explanation for his waving home Starling Marte last night …
Pregame notes 6:24 p.m.: Sorry for the delay. In total headless-chicken mode today. The lineup tonight has an Indianapolis feel, with Jaff Decker, Travis Ishikawa, Florimon and whatever. Florimon is starting right away because, per Clint Hurdle, he wants to make sure Jung Ho Kang isn’t being overworked at shortstop. “It’s to get Kang out of shortstop from time to time. He’s played shortstop in Korea, but his comments a little earlier were that it’s a different shortstop in our game, just the intensity, the pitch-to-pitch … it’s different.” It’s yet another example of the Pirates sounding exceedingly guarded about using Kang too much. That’s been happening since spring training. … Of Florimon, Hurdle said: “He puts down some bunts. He handles the bat. He steals some bases. He was a very dependable player in Indianapolis.” Hopefully, Florimon can quote that assessment for his acceptance speech in Cooperstown. … Francisco Cervelli was just “given one more day,” Hurdle said, to recover from the bruised wrist. … Francisco Liriano left the stadium this afternoon to fly back to Pittsburgh, a strong sign that he will, in fact, make his scheduled Thursday start. … Unlike Sofield, who strikingly included criticism of Marte into his alleged acceptable of blame for that horrific green light last night, Hurdle repeated that it was nothing other than a mistake by the third base coach: “You have to make a snap judgment, and then you live with it. I think he’ll be the first to tell you that, when that situation arises again, he’ll never wave the runner home.” Might want to check with Sofield on that.
8:10: First pitch, Volquez to Gregory Polanco, 80 degrees, mostly cloudy.
8:22: Not exactly a Ground Chuck start for Morton. He’ll need to get his pitches down in a hurry, or this lineup will spit him out by the third inning.
8:44: Polanco crushes a double to put runners at second and third for Neil Walker.
8:50: Pirates, 1-0, 3rd. Walker sac fly to center. Professional at-bat.
8:53: This afternoon, a group of subscribers and I were taken on a tour of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum by the president of the institution, Bob Kendrick. It was all Pittsburgh-based, and it was absolutely glorious. I’ll bring it to you in video form later this week.
8:59: Morton whiffs Mike Moustakas to get through three mostly untouched after the initial hard contact. These last two innings look a lot like Morton at his peak. Mixing up. Locating. Even hit a guy.
9:16: Royals, 1-1, 4th. Eric Hosmer murders an up-and-over sinker from Morton. You could have been out on the concourse and facing the wrong direction and still have known a home run had happened from the sound off the bat. Sonic BOOM.
9:56: Attendance here: 39,105. All three games of this weeknight series sold out. With loud, standing, roaring crowds. Good for KC. Fun to see it.
10:02: Troubles for Charles. Runners at the corners with Jarrod Dyson up. One out. Ray Searage and the entire infield conferring on the mound. Getting noisier, too.
10:04: A dribbler to Travis Ishikawa at first brought a try for the play at home. Runner is safe, but Pirates are challenging, apparently, that he missed the plate. Not an easy overturn. I haven’t seen a clear angle yet.
10:06: Royals, 2-1, 7th. He was safe. Call upheld. Either that or it was a home run.
10:11:Royals, 5-1, 7th. Morton gets walloped by Moustakas, three-run home run to right.
10:50: That’s it. Column to come. Shouldn’t take too long.
Wilfredo Boscan was returned to Indy. Aquino from Indy was DFA'd to open up a spot on the 40 man roster.
steelag70
7-22-2015, 4:20 pm
Boscan was sent back to Indy.
Milo Hamilton
7-22-2015, 4:21 pm
Wilfredo Boscan was sent out. Jayson Aquino was removed from the sainted 40 man.
Just put him at SS and leave him there until you get somebody better. He can't hit, but he can field it at an above average major league level.
mike.shigley
7-22-2015, 4:22 pm
And I am clueless why Pirates are relying on retreads who failed here the last time. I know AAA stats don't translate to the majors, but (for example) Gift Ngoepe's were better than Florimon's.
steelag70
7-22-2015, 4:24 pm
Apparently they have inquired about Barmes, Cliff Pennington and Zobrist.
Biz
7-22-2015, 4:33 pm
Just a guess mikes, but I'm betting the other GMs know NH is in a pickle
Do you really want the big deadline bat sitting on the bench in a one game playoff?
steelag70
7-22-2015, 4:57 pm
Agree NMR.
cmat0829
7-22-2015, 5:19 pm
I agree with NMR (wow!). If we are going to upgrade 1b, it needs to be a clear upgrade. Otherwise, get a RH bat to platoon with Pedro AND might be good enough to grab starts vs RHP if Pedro can't seem to get anything working at the plate.
NMR
7-22-2015, 5:24 pm
Literally the exact reason I'd use, cmat.
HistoricMike
7-22-2015, 4:26 pm
Lunatics- since this is my "online" PGH home, looking for some advice/help. Born and raised, went to Pitt but been gone for 13 yrs. Offered job in PGH, great position. Single, no real social connections (other than fam) in the City. Should I come back? Why/why not? Any help appreciated, love this group.
A lot of great things have happened to the burgh in 13 years, its turning back to someplace special. Jump on it
Patrick
7-22-2015, 4:38 pm
You are a Pirate fan with a DK subscription. You don't need a social life!
NMR
7-22-2015, 4:39 pm
Not sure where you live now, but you'l be hard pressed to find a better combination of amenities, opportunities, and cost of living anywhere else. I have friends in similar situations to yours visit and are amazed at how much has changed in a decade.
Bubba Banjo
7-22-2015, 4:39 pm
Dude thats entirely your call. The Burgh is an awesome city. Teams of course are the main draw. So much has changed since I left. The people and the area changed a lot. Would I go back.... sure. But only cause it made sense. Would be nice to see way more games in person. Job would be everything with me. Why/ Why not is all on you man.
Elbie Nickel
7-22-2015, 4:50 pm
Moved away twice for jobs came back each time. Kids have graduated from college and don't want to leave. People are moving HERE. Things have really improved since you've been gone (except for the frigging construction/roads). The River walks, bike paths, PNC, North Side (or Shore), Southside, Lawrenceville, improved restaurants, etc. So glad we've moved back after Chicago and NYC.
Arriba Wilver
7-22-2015, 5:50 pm
"Great position" seems like the best reason. Wouldn't stay away because of the City, for reasons others have stated. Since single, might want to get some input in your age group about socially.
Patrick
7-22-2015, 4:32 pm
Edison has the kind of stuff to humiliate his former mates, and perhaps the motivation to do so. Hope he is off his game tonight.
Edinson, no matter what my mini thinks. First time I re typed it came up with "evensong."
Bubba Banjo
7-22-2015, 4:32 pm
Well..... lets see if they can get off the bus and climb the dugout steps without tripping and falling. This team looks like Keystone Cops old timey flick. Stumblin and fallin all over. Hoping for better. Oooooof.
That was tough to watch last night. You could see in the previous pitch replay something wasn't right, then with the final pitch, Vargas biting the glove in pain.
Durka
7-22-2015, 5:07 pm
Yeah i really hate Tommy John
cmat0829
7-22-2015, 5:21 pm
I like Tommy John. Good man, good pitcher, good announcer. :)
David Foster
7-22-2015, 5:37 pm
Good thing, too, Tommy John, or half the pitchers in the league would be retired.
Interesting....Ishi at 1B then and I'm guessing Cutch is going to DH?
AuxMax001
7-22-2015, 4:47 pm
Hmmm....
cmat0829
7-22-2015, 5:22 pm
This is the beginning of the end of the Pedro era in Pittsburgh. I can just feel it. Hurdle pretty much summated his views on the player last weekend.... and of course right now they have to try to put a good Defense on the field to get order back....and right now to be honest I feel batter about Ishi at the plate than I do Pedro. Just appears lost to epic proportions.
Durka
7-22-2015, 5:27 pm
Bob Walk thinks Pedro is about done for as well
NMR
7-22-2015, 5:30 pm
Anything to make your boy Hurdle look better, right cmat?
Arriba Wilver
7-22-2015, 5:43 pm
Even Greg Brown, the eternal optimist, said on the Fan he didn't think they could be a championship team with Pedro at first. Zowser.
bpn8pitt
7-22-2015, 5:48 pm
Heard that too AW. Brown has been hard on them lately. For him anyway.
cmat0829
7-22-2015, 6:07 pm
NMR> if you want Hurdle fired, then so be it. I wouldn't shed a tear. But it wouldn't fix what ails this club, so that is why I tend to defend the 'blame everything on Hurdle' stuff that is posted on here. Easiest target in the world to blame the manager. Especially his lineups when with that bench, his only real decision is what order to bat these guys in. And with 6 or more of them needing to be babied in the before Cutch slot, he might as well pick names out of a hat.
Is Hurdle a good game manager? NO. there I said it.
Is he a good leader? YES.
Is the the right manager to lead this team to the next level? Jury still out.
that is my true view of Hurdle. And based on his contributions to this pont, he deserves the benefit of the doubt to try to get them to next level. If they fade or fail to get out of WC, that seat will get very hot under Mr. Hurdle.
NHCOACH
7-22-2015, 6:58 pm
Regarding Hurdle, I respect Hurdle!! He is absolutely a great man and role model. He is a confidence builder but as a leader he lacks the accountability to be classified as a great leader. This team is sooooo fundamentally unsound it borders on lunacy and what is he doing about it? From what I hear, nothing.
G8rh8r
7-22-2015, 7:00 pm
two days ago I predicted Pedro would be gone in two weeks, I'm sure you all marked your calendars
Steelkings
7-22-2015, 9:49 pm
@ cmat
Emotions make this about this current part of the season. If you base this on Hurdles body of work with the Pirates, hes a hero.
cheygyrl030776
7-22-2015, 4:47 pm
Another AAAA player. AS a season ticket holder im getting pissed at this teams upper management doing nothing but fileding a AAAA lineup. make a deal for barmes put Kang at 3rd when mercer nd Harrison get healthy the bench will be stronger.
They might be able to find a competent 3rd baseman with an okay bat, but SS may be the thinnest position in the league right now. Barmes, Florimon, Gift...those are all glove, no bat SS given full time ABs in my opinion.
steelag70
7-22-2015, 4:57 pm
And Ben Zobrist will cost much based on the number of teams competing for his services.
bpn8pitt
7-22-2015, 5:10 pm
Zobrist is not a SS, steel. At least he has yet to play it this year.
cmat0829
7-22-2015, 5:24 pm
laughing my ass off that Barmes is viewed as way,way better than Florimon. Not saying in the slightest that Barmes isn't an option. He is. But I have read the Pirates are at least talking about 'better' acquisitions than that. If they end up coming up empty on everything else, then sure, get Barme-y. But no need to pull that trigger TODAY, when Florimon is good D at SS and that is what you are really going for with Barmes.
Steelkings
7-22-2015, 5:52 pm
Clifford the big red Pennington
Walter White
7-22-2015, 7:39 pm
Max Moroff to Arizona for Cliff Pennington
Steve Stone
7-22-2015, 4:50 pm
Is this a message to Pedro? Sitting on the bench tonight? Unless of course there's a lefty pitching. Seriously what a waste of talent.
Volquez pitching tonight...so lefty starter not issue in sitting Pedro. Wow. He must be seeing the writing on the wall.
BD
7-22-2015, 4:57 pm
With ground Chuck can't afford him on the field
Carmen
7-22-2015, 5:12 pm
Might be more wanting to give Cutch a rest based on his ankle turning
cmat0829
7-22-2015, 5:26 pm
Steve Stone (or should I say in Harry Caray voice : HEY STEVE!!)... you are giving Pedro too much credit for being able to recognize the writing on the wall. More likely he silently stares at it with no expression whatsoever than takes a seat in the dugout for 3 hours of silently staring at the field.
NMR
7-22-2015, 5:29 pm
You're really enjoying beating that dead horse, aren't you cmat?
Steelkings
7-22-2015, 5:43 pm
STEVE STONE Spelled Backwards is ENOTS EVBUDWEISER! Ana one ana two and a take me out to the ball game TAKE me out to the crowd! By me some peanuts and cracker jacks I.......STEVE, Ya know what goes with an Alvarez error, A nice cold Budweiser!
cmat0829
7-22-2015, 6:02 pm
If beating a dead horse is me calling out Pedro for absolutely failing to 'live up the demands of the game' and showing no evidence that he has a clue what is going on, then yes, guilty. And I have another 1000 posts in me as long as he is on this team. Sorry in advance.
NHCOACH
7-22-2015, 6:51 pm
Kedro is not staring at the wall. He is staring at a fast ball right down the shute!
Walter White
7-22-2015, 7:37 pm
pedro is done in pittsburgh
Steelkings
7-22-2015, 9:50 pm
You dont really mean that 21. Obviously.
JAL
7-22-2015, 4:52 pm
Pirates Lineup
RF Gregory Polanco (L)
2B Neil Walker (S)
DH A. McCutchen (R)
CF Starling Marte (R)
3B Jung-Ho Kang (R)
1B Travis Ishikawa (L)
C Chris Stewart (R)
LF Jaff Decker (L)
SS Pedro Florimon (R)
He's up for one reason---defense. With Jordy and Harrison out, it should have been done last night. You have to look at roster makeup, not just who's "better."
Steelkings
7-22-2015, 4:56 pm
I'LL RANT PITTSBURGH 21 STYLE HERE TOO:
ALL YOU PEOPLE ARE GOOFY!
YOU ALL KNOW THAT THE PIRATES ARE NOTORIOUSLY SLOW STARTERS. THE ALL STAR BREAK IS AN ETERNITY TO CREATURES OF HABIT. COMBINE THAT WITH A TRIP TO THE PIRATES OWN LITTLE HOUSE OF HORRORS ALONG WITH THE BREWERS BEING RED HOT IN WINNING 17 OUT OF THE LAST 23 GAMES MEANS A SERIES GETTING SWEPT ISNT ALL THAT UNUSUAL.
IF THE PIRATES WIN TONIGHT THEY WILL HAVE WON A SERIES IN THE HOME PARK OF THE TEAM WITH THE SECOND BEST RECORD IN BASEBALL.
SO RELAX! THE SKY IS NOT FALLING DOWN AROUND US. THE FRANCHISE IS NOT CRUMBLING AROUND US.
@Keith Carlson: I disagree....that was a weak explanation.
Carmen
7-22-2015, 5:18 pm
Acceptable answers
I blew it
There is no excuse
I really blew it
PGHinDC
7-22-2015, 5:30 pm
Exhibit A: "I blew it [but not really]" "There is no excuse [but Marte took a wide run]". Exhibit B: "The ball went under my glove. No bounce. No field issue. I blew it. No excuse." (Walker for those of you who missed DK's 5 second interview about it) Perhaps this is why there is no accountability from coaches.
cmat0829
7-22-2015, 5:33 pm
Not sure I would call that a weak 'explanation'. I could say that it was weak that he tried to defend the decision (if indeed he was doing so) rather than simply saying "I was wrong. And in this situation we can't afford to make dumb decisions like that. period". so it was weak he couldn't simply take responsibility and end it there. I think he was trying to explain how he could make such a mistake and he was giving the situation as he saw it. Not sure I call that weak.
Tim Clark
7-22-2015, 5:56 pm
It's weak. Everyone who has played/watched so much as an inning of baseball knows you don't risk it down 3-0. He should've just said "I screwed up big time". Instead he tried to lay partial blame on Marte. His explanation should've taken 5 seconds...
NHCOACH
7-22-2015, 6:47 pm
Baseball is the game with the small white ball. It is 9 inches in circumference and about 5 ounces. You might have the wrong sport!! Sorry. Just saying!
Walter White
7-22-2015, 7:33 pm
DK ... you were good there ... and nicely told him HE BLEW IT ... and he almost owned his mistake right after your follow-up ... but he spun it again at the end ... NO RESPECT FOR THIS GUY ... especially for running from it last night and leaving the players to face the fire!
The skies are gloomy gray above Kauffman Stadium as the Pirates take batting practice. -- DEJAN KOVACEVIC
July 22, 2015
Final: Royals 5, Pirates 1
by Dejan Kovacevic • Game previews
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Looking ahead to first pitch …
Game: Pirates (54-39) vs. Kansas City Royals (56-36), 8:10 p.m., Kauffman Stadium
Pitchers: RHP Charlie Morton (6-3, 4.34) vs. RHP Edinson Volquez (8-5, 3.28)
TV, radio: Root Sports, 93.7 The Fan
Online: Gameday / Multimedia / Media notes
UPDATE 4:39 p.m.: The Pirates have promoted infielder Pedro Florimon from Class AAA Indianapolis and optioned back reliever Wilfredo Boscan. To create space on the 40-man roster for Florimon, Class A pitcher Jayson Aquino was designated for assignment.
4:57: I’ll bring you full pregame notes later, but I wanted to publish right away Rick Sofield’s explanation for his waving home Starling Marte last night …
Pregame notes 6:24 p.m.: Sorry for the delay. In total headless-chicken mode today. The lineup tonight has an Indianapolis feel, with Jaff Decker, Travis Ishikawa, Florimon and whatever. Florimon is starting right away because, per Clint Hurdle, he wants to make sure Jung Ho Kang isn’t being overworked at shortstop. “It’s to get Kang out of shortstop from time to time. He’s played shortstop in Korea, but his comments a little earlier were that it’s a different shortstop in our game, just the intensity, the pitch-to-pitch … it’s different.” It’s yet another example of the Pirates sounding exceedingly guarded about using Kang too much. That’s been happening since spring training. … Of Florimon, Hurdle said: “He puts down some bunts. He handles the bat. He steals some bases. He was a very dependable player in Indianapolis.” Hopefully, Florimon can quote that assessment for his acceptance speech in Cooperstown. … Francisco Cervelli was just “given one more day,” Hurdle said, to recover from the bruised wrist. … Francisco Liriano left the stadium this afternoon to fly back to Pittsburgh, a strong sign that he will, in fact, make his scheduled Thursday start. … Unlike Sofield, who strikingly included criticism of Marte into his alleged acceptable of blame for that horrific green light last night, Hurdle repeated that it was nothing other than a mistake by the third base coach: “You have to make a snap judgment, and then you live with it. I think he’ll be the first to tell you that, when that situation arises again, he’ll never wave the runner home.” Might want to check with Sofield on that.
8:10: First pitch, Volquez to Gregory Polanco, 80 degrees, mostly cloudy.
8:22: Not exactly a Ground Chuck start for Morton. He’ll need to get his pitches down in a hurry, or this lineup will spit him out by the third inning.
8:44: Polanco crushes a double to put runners at second and third for Neil Walker.
8:50: Pirates, 1-0, 3rd. Walker sac fly to center. Professional at-bat.
8:53: This afternoon, a group of subscribers and I were taken on a tour of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum by the president of the institution, Bob Kendrick. It was all Pittsburgh-based, and it was absolutely glorious. I’ll bring it to you in video form later this week.
8:59: Morton whiffs Mike Moustakas to get through three mostly untouched after the initial hard contact. These last two innings look a lot like Morton at his peak. Mixing up. Locating. Even hit a guy.
9:16: Royals, 1-1, 4th. Eric Hosmer murders an up-and-over sinker from Morton. You could have been out on the concourse and facing the wrong direction and still have known a home run had happened from the sound off the bat. Sonic BOOM.
9:56: Attendance here: 39,105. All three games of this weeknight series sold out. With loud, standing, roaring crowds. Good for KC. Fun to see it.
10:02: Troubles for Charles. Runners at the corners with Jarrod Dyson up. One out. Ray Searage and the entire infield conferring on the mound. Getting noisier, too.
10:04: A dribbler to Travis Ishikawa at first brought a try for the play at home. Runner is safe, but Pirates are challenging, apparently, that he missed the plate. Not an easy overturn. I haven’t seen a clear angle yet.
10:06: Royals, 2-1, 7th. He was safe. Call upheld. Either that or it was a home run.
10:11: Royals, 5-1, 7th. Morton gets walloped by Moustakas, three-run home run to right.
10:50: That’s it. Column to come. Shouldn’t take too long.