Final: Pirates 5, Marlins 2

Gike? Did I miss a memo?

Thanks, Gike. I enjoy seeing the difference from stadium to stadium. For how new it is, that place may rival the Astrodome for ugliness.

My first impression of the place is quite positive actually. As long as you're not expecting a traditional ballpark, it's very cool.

Baseball stadiums were never meant to have roofs. It takes away much of the charm.

Here we go with the sitting Ramirez crap to play his boy. Play him until he cools down.....

With the infield log jam it's going to be super easy to second guess lineups each night. I'd stick with Ramirez tonight too. I like Cervelli in 8th spot so much more than Mercer not just because of average but also he understands what the role of 8 guy is. But unfortunately no other place to park Mercer's bat when in lineup.

Marlins Lineup

1. Dee Gordon (L) 2B
2. Ichiro Suzuki (L) RF
3. Martin Prado (R) 3B
4. Derek Dietrich (L) LF
5. Marcell Ozuna (R) CF
6. Casey McGehee (R) 1B
7. J.T. Realmuto (R) C
8. Adeiny Hechavarria (R) SS
9. Tom Koehler (R) P

I think this lineup is worth the ole pitcher in the 8 spot. I know it won't happen at this point, but this lineup looks built for it.

Everybody kept motivated and rested. Works for me.

I think I read that Hurdle more-or-less indicated (in different words), that it would be useful to give the 37 year old guy a few extra days off late in the season...

...and on a separate, why is replying only one-level deep in here?

The Pirates have three off days the rest of the year, 8/31 (after playing 20 in a row), 9/14 (with a doubleheader a few days later), and 10/1. I think there is going to be plenty of playing time for everybody.

Hurdle has a man crush on Jordy Mercer so even though Aramis' bat is better and kang plays a good ss mercer will play.

This is the lineup we need to get used to. Mercer and Kang will make this defense better all around.

The consternation over the lineup borders on ridiculous. 1. Lineup goes up. 2. People go nuts over it. 3. Pirates still win. Repeat the next day. Ramirez is old. He's getting a break. Mercer can field - it might be nice having no errors from the left side of the diamond with Happ pitching. And, pitcher in the eigth spot??? Great idea if you don't want Pedro to see any pitches.

Remember that Butch & Sundance line, "Who *are* those guys?" The Cards must be thinking that when they look in the rearview and see the Bucs and the Cubs (who may be closer than they appear).

All right Groat! Bring the attitude, man!

But how can they go 4-2 against the Cardinals if they go 0-3 at Busch?

Your math perplexes me! :)

"Who *are* those guys?"
Love that line !

DK zings one at ya Groat. lol

You need to log in, Biz.

I did, sorry bout that

I know it sounds callous but so what; people have always gotten hit. So we are going to throw monster nets up down the sideline to make sure no one ever gets hurt.

Someone gets in car accident after tailgating for Steeler game; time to ban all drinking in parking lots and games.

I have sat near nets in hockey; partly understandable, but not in baseball. I guess only idiots ran the sport the whole time now before our sensitive side of nature takes over.

So do you think people are going to pay the same prices for seats with monster nets up front.

And how about how in outfield, and a fan falls over getting a ball and dies. Then install 10 foot railings? I mean can we stop with the reactionary mode all time in this society from kids get hurt playing dodge so banned in schools. Kids fall in playground; some shut down. On and on it goes, but the hypocrisy is none of these idiots calling for that, ever say, shut down cars from driving because many hurt or killed.

I see IDIOTS with little kids on sidelines, so many fans invited injury with stupidity.

That's good news

Locke should be worried when the first able bodied pitcher from Indy gets here.

Does anyone but his closest family get confident when he pitches? I heard even his grandmother bets against him when he throws!

If Happ keeps pitching well Locke wont have a job as soon as a.j. is back SOON

You don't get it, do you? It's not about wins and losses; it's about whether a certain portion of the commenting base thinks he took a pitcher out too soon or, heaven forbid, too late.

HURDLED!!!

@Paul: LOL

So I guess I don't get it, then

2-1 walk off winners today.

This thing is insane...has vibration built in so all the heads bobble.

Explains why you get offered $5 at every bobble head night.

17 of next 20 games against sub-500 clubs. But 10 of those are against Brewers & Reds. Cubs beat Brewers 7 times in a row recently so the challenge is for PBC is to do something similar.

WS, so weird how quiet it is and dome like stadiums can do that.

Whadya' mean dead crowd?

This is raucous for Miami.

Yeah? I hear he calls a good game. Unfortunately I only get FM radio on my iPod and the Marlins flagship is on AM.