August 22, 2015

Final: Pirates 3, Giants 2

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Looking ahead to first pitch … Game: Pirates (72-48) vs. San Francisco Giants (66-56), 4:05 p.m., PNC Park Pitchers: RHP Gerrit Cole (14-7, 2.61) vs. RHP Mike Leake (9-6, 3.52) TV, radio: Fox (national), 93.7 The Fan Online: Gameday | Multimedia | Media notes Josh’s five pregame notes: • Clint Hurdle is delighted with Jung Ho Kang’s performance

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437 Comments Newest to oldest

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Rick in Tampa
8-22-2015, 12:25 pm
Time to bounce back...

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Carmen
8-22-2015, 12:36 pm
Good day for Cole to even the score against some ex-Reds

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Tom P.
8-22-2015, 12:45 pm
Headed to Pittsburgh. Unfortunately, going to IKEA, not PNC. Somebody else can bring home the win.

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Radio wave
8-22-2015, 12:51 pm
What is Colts record since the a SG

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Sean Dillon
8-22-2015, 1:02 pm
He's 1-4 with a 3.55 ERA post-ASG.

Tom P.
8-22-2015, 1:03 pm
Radio, he was 13-3 at the ASG break. He is now 14-7. That would make him 1-4 since the break. I don't know if there were any no decisions.

Burghthing
8-22-2015, 1:00 pm
no Locke, that's a win in my book

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TheGreatOne21
8-22-2015, 1:20 pm
LOL, agree.

JAL
8-22-2015, 1:04 pm
Giants Lineup:
1. Nori Aoki (L) LF
2. Matt Duffy (R) 3B
3. Brandon Belt (L) 1B
4. Buster Posey (R) C
5. Marlon Byrd (R) RF
6. Brandon Crawford (L) SS
7. Gregor Blanco (L) CF
8. Ehire Adrianza (S) 2B
9. Mike Leake (R) P

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JAL
8-22-2015, 1:29 pm
Pirates Lineup:
1. Gregory Polanco (L) RF
2. Starling Marte (R) LF
3. Andrew McCutchen (R) CF
4. Jung Ho Kang (R) SS
5. Neil Walker (S) 2B
6. Josh Harrison (R) 3B
7. Pedro Alvarez (L) 1B
8. Chris Stewart (R) C
9. Gerrit Cole (R) P

TheGreatOne21
8-22-2015, 1:13 pm
Look Searage is a good guy and quality Pitching Coach, but can we finally stop with the view that give any pitcher with issues, and spend some time with him, he will have them fixed--especially when a Pitcher does well.

EXHIBIT A: LOCKE. Enough. Give the players the primary credit, and not this guy or any one.

Morse is looking good. Does the Batting Coach get the credit? :Oh yea, Morse actually had success, before coming here.

Oh yea, So did Volquez, Blanton, and others.

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Phantaskippy
8-22-2015, 3:31 pm
Coaches have their part to play.

This isn't run support being tied to pitchers, nor is it turning mediocre talents into stars.

Searage does a great job of helping good pitchers find their best pitch, by changing mechanics a bit, or finding a flaw they have introduced to their mechanics and helping them get rid of it.

They do a good job of finding those pitchers, acquiring them and then helping them find their best game.

Locke is what he is, there isn't a fix for not being very good.

TheGreatOne21
8-22-2015, 1:16 pm
Cole: time for Cole to show more variation on his pitches. The same 2 or 4 sea fastballs and slider are one pitch short from being total stud. It reminds me of Ben and his battle to reach top tier debates.

Big game: he needs to get off the 14 win schneid that Marte similarly was stuck on for HR for last 2 months, with only 1 recently added.

Finally, time to put away the Giants these two games or get at least one to make sure no doubt about playing in WC game, regardless of where or who we face.

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TheGreatOne21
8-22-2015, 1:21 pm
Having Byrd back so quickly facing the Pirates is a LOAD.

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TheGreatOne21
8-22-2015, 1:30 pm
Ramirez has 'added' to the team after a rugged start. But the one thing that really bothers me about him even when he hits is that he is SO SLOW that it almost takes 3 hits to get him home. No chance of first to third or scoring from second other than a total gap shot. And what are the odds of that.

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Immilton
8-22-2015, 1:34 pm
He can usually score from first on a homer.
May need to stop at 3rd for a bit though.
Am glad he gets to finish up as a Pirate.

TheGreatOne21
8-22-2015, 1:41 pm
IMM; lol, yes, but implied was A/Fortiori logic. Obviously if singles won't get him home, unless three of them, then, much more would get him home, but as you said, may need a water bottle rounding third. At least we won't have to worry about GOFIELD waving him in :)

Walter White
8-22-2015, 1:44 pm
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Big Daddy
8-22-2015, 4:23 pm
Awesome picture W W !!!!!!!!!!!

zidanesdagger
8-22-2015, 2:01 pm
Win both this weekend and it's an 8 game lead over the Giants with 38 to play. So yeah, win those and they are basically in.

But the more important number is being 4.5 behind St. Louis. The Pirates have to do everything in their power to avoid that WC sudden death game.

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Tony Chiu
8-22-2015, 2:31 pm
Okay, four back in the loss column with three dozen-plus to play. But baseball is a funny game:

On September 20, 1964, pre-division of course, Philadelphia was 6.5 games up in the NL with just 12 to play. The league told them to start printing World Series tickets. Whereupon the Phils lost their next 10 -- the legendary "Phold" -- to finish a game behind St. Louis (which, behind Bob Gibson's two W's, went on to defeat the Yankees in seven games).

William Maloni
8-22-2015, 2:35 pm
I hope that includes making Jeff Locke your long rleiver, here or at Indy.

I have no confidence in this kid when he takes the mound.

BTW. Before the 8-30 trading deadline, I really wanted the PBC to get Byrd back because he's a "gamer" and hits (I know his average is low).

Byrd could have been obtained--as he was by the Giants--with a minor league pitcher, which should have put the Bucs in competition for his services.

Give me Byrd in f or RF, instead of Ishi or S-Rod.

unipress_55a4f5f6173b3
8-22-2015, 3:38 pm
28 teams would have had first dibs on byrd

David Foster
8-22-2015, 4:46 pm
The Reds actually jumped into first place before the Cards ultimately did (1964).

davidtgalbraith
8-22-2015, 2:33 pm
Cole needs to skip a start in the rotation and relax his brain. It's not physical, the guy is emotionally intense and it takes a toll on him. That or meditation each morning!

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cmat0829
8-22-2015, 2:42 pm
Imagine if hurdle actually did this and skipped a start for Cole. This site would explode.

Whovian87
8-22-2015, 2:39 pm
Probably good to give Ramirez the day off. Not an everyday guy anymore and he's played a good bit lately. Another perk of JHay back is they don't have to worry about overusing Ramirez and wearing him down.

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Bubba Banjo
8-22-2015, 3:12 pm
Two things gotta happen today. Cole has got to show up. And when Cole shows up..... the Clown Car defense that has plagued him has gotta go away. When he has a good game they toss the Kibosh on him. But he hasnt been shut down for a few games now.

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Reading
8-22-2015, 3:28 pm
How about the Pirates actually secure one of the wild card spots first. Cole needs to pitch like an Ace. The Giants aren't going away. Nor are the Cubs.

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ledtotheflood
8-22-2015, 3:56 pm
I certainly hope Walker and Ramirez are "ok" with their roles as the season progresses. We certainly wouldn't want them to sulk or pout.

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Walter White
8-22-2015, 4:23 pm
I don't think Walker will sit much ... he's swinging a hot bat and hasn't been told by management that his "role" is changing like they have done with Ramirez!

Whovian87
8-22-2015, 4:56 pm
Walker is .233 in the last 14 days. Not exactly a "hot bat". For reference Ramirez is .318 over the same span.

Walter White
8-22-2015, 5:33 pm
Walker is .324 with 4HR in August
Ramirez is .324 with 1HR in August

Whovian87
8-22-2015, 5:43 pm
Walker is .258 in August.
Ramirez is .292.

Walter White
8-22-2015, 6:06 pm
You are correct sir ... got caught looking at OBP!

ledtotheflood
8-22-2015, 3:58 pm
Leake will be at much less than 100% today. We'll see what that bodes.

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rwattersa
8-22-2015, 4:14 pm
Slight difference in Cole's 1st vs. Locke, eh?

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Reading
8-22-2015, 4:18 pm
Great start. Way to bring the lumber.

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Final: Pirates 3, Giants 2

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