Final: Pirates 2, Marlins 1

Marlins Lineup:
1. Dee Gordon (L) 2B
2. Ichiro Suzuki (L) RF
3. Martin Prado (R) 3B
4. Justin Bour (L) 1B
5. Marcell Ozuna (R) CF
6. Derek Dietrich (L) LF
7. Adeiny Hechavarria (R) SS
8. Jeff Mathis (R) C
9. Justin Nicolino (L) P

Wow, both Alvarez and Walker vs. LHP? At least half the people will not complain about the lineup? The other half...whoops see below (edit)!

We knew this would happen as soon as mercer was back hes hurdle mam crush. Hurdle rather sit a MUCH better hitter and Kang is a very good ss too

Hurdle seems to think Mercer is the better defensive shortstop. I know Mercer is usually fairly steady in the field, but he is not the modern day version of Ozzie Smith. I would still prefer to have Kang's bat in the lineup. I think he provides more offensive pop than Mercer

Ridiculous, Kang not playing. Ramirez should sit more;. goodness. Then the Monday QB after the fact will challenge these replies if Mercer and Ramirez do well. Does not matter. Kang one of the BEST players. You don't rest him this much now. Maybe, one game a week.

Kang has never played more than 120 games in a season. Maybe he just needs rest?

Oh that's right, I forgot. This is a nice problem to have.

Head scratcher for sure. I'd sit Walker and put Kang at 2B. Hurdle has got to be staring at Kang's splits against LHP.

You'd put Kang at a position he's never played before during a pennant race?

They are thinking about putting ARam at 1B, and Kang did play 2B in spring training, but I get your point.

Why in blue blazes is Mercer playing over Kang? This is not rhetorical, I'm genuinely looking for an answer that doesn't involve simple Hurdle bashing.

Jayme, since you asked (I don't totally buy into these, but you wanted an answer).
1) The Bucs view Mercer as a significantly better SS than Kang (obviously more than we see it)
2) Mercer historically hits LHP very well
3) In a small sample of this season, Kang hits worse against LHP than RHP.

Therefore, vs. a LHP and a bad team, they view this as a good time to sit Kang for a night (again, I don't believe this, but giving an answer that isn't Hurdle bashing).

@EKW: i imagine that's their thinking as well. I do not find those explanations persuasive but at least it's not blundering foolishness. On the other hand, Kang's WAR for the season is almost as high as Mercer's is for his entire bloody career. Ah well. Here's hoping Hurdle's right.

You know if Mercer and Ramirez do well, we will get the after the fact bunch they will say , YEA HURDLE>

Hey, I hope they do brilliantly. But I agree, chasing results, or result based thinking, is often a foolish endeavor. Kang is clearly the superior player and ought to be in the lineup. With the caveat being his need for rest. 120 v. 162 is a massive difference and I guess we have to trust that CH, who actually gets to spend time with Gung Ho, knows his player. All that being said....I still don't like it. Gung Ho forever. Grin.

Bench

It was a rhetorical question.

What's Pedro's batting avg Vs LHP this year ?

Madden said 300 ; he has been hot. I don't mind him in. You have more lefties this weekend, and you cant bench him whole time.

im fine with Pedro and Rammer. But Mercer over Kang makes me sick. Is that 2 nights in a row for Kang now. Dumb. We are back to that crazy Polanco Harrison Kang rotation except now Rammer is involved too.

Kand hits a lot of doubles and has big power. taking ur second best hitter out of the middle of the lineup two outta three games for a number 8 hitter that isnt a very good hitter is a joke and kang plays a good shortstop. Mercer is Hurdles choice Hurdle loves him i knew this was GOING to happen as soon as mercer returned wish hed not come back at all yes i said that. Team is much better with Kang playing and mercer late game defense replacement

While I'd like to see Kang in there too, Mercer is more solid defensively - and it's been said that he makes a big difference on throws in from the outfield. That seems to be mostly a language thing, but Mercer is more willing to take charge and communicate to the outfield so they get the ball to the right base.

No way. Pedro has been crushing lefties since before the all star break in the few chances he has received. It is time Hurdle gave him a chance to start against one. Especially a rookie lefty.

Maybe. I think we see Kang at some point tonight, unless they get up big. Hard to argue how they've handled them.

@bpn: I agree. I know it's not a popular decision tonight, but people lose track of the team's system of monitoring each player's steps, games, etc. Kang has looked a little frustrated and sluggish at the plate this series. Good time to give him a breather. Mercer hits lefties well, so not a bad night to sit him.

Yea, everyone mentioning the Mercer LHP splits has a good point.

In layman's terms, if you're going to sit him, do it against the poop Marlins. Run the wheels off against the Cards and Cubs.

Every night is a bad night to sit him.

You're probably right Milo. But I think they've handled nearly every aspect of Kang pretty well so far.

I'm sorry but Mercer is marginally better than Kang defensively and a cliff dive worse at the plate. Kang is the 2nd most valuable player the Pirates have. Sitting him, unless there are some facts I am missing, is truly foolish.

Exactly!

Does mercer have Naked pics of hurdle or something Kang way better then mercer

Mercer historically crushes left handed pitching. Kang has never played more than 120 games in a season.

Mercer is also better defensively.

Hurdle has said that Ramirez is not a starter.

This is about giving Kang a day off and keeping him fresh.

Hate to say it i wish Mercer had never come back.

Actually if you were to do it, vs. LHP is the best time as Mercer historically rakes vs. them and in his short MLB career, Kang has shown a reverse split and hits slightly worse vs. LHP. That being said, I'd still play Kang over Mercer, but with so many lefties in this stretch it makes a little bit of sense.

phillyjake do u wAtch the games? Kang is a awesome ss. plays grwar defense and much better hitter then Mercer.

Hurdle has cited Kang's lesser results vs. LHP and on the road, in addition to the desire to give him a couple days "down," to use his term. He said Kang will be back Friday night, with Ramirez getting the travel day off.

Cheryl Girl,

What a terrible thing to say——you wish Mercer had never come back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Nice!

Good get on that "Ramirez travel day" plan the other day, Matt.

That's an important consideration to always remember in Clint's lineup construction.

The Pirates said last week that they would communicate at least the night before who would be in and who would be. So I imagine what's in his head is something like "They told me last night I was getting a night off, I can't wait to pinch hit tomorrow and then start the next day vs. a RHP."

Mercer should be riding the bench

Mercer is the better fielder by a wide margin.
Defense has mucked up Cole's starts recently.

Cole needs defense tonight more than offense to get out of his personal pitching funk. Kang will get his chance to pinch hit later in game if needed.

Mercer is the better choice to start at short to help Gerrit Cole.

Do u wAtch the games????? Mercer is no better defensive SS then Kang. Kang has been awesome. great arm a double play turning machine. Kang is the real deal mercer may be a small tick better defensively but that doesn't make up for Kang being a much superior hitter.

You just offended the real Dick Groat

Cheryl Girl,

A batter comes to the plate 3 or 4 times a game.
Defense is 9 innings!
Defense has messed up Gerrit Cole a number of starts recently.
Kang can get 1-2 bats as pinch hitter or batting in crucial situation late.

If you think Kang and Mercer are equal defensively, I have ocean front property to sell you in Washington County. Come on down.

@ G2M2S: and what facts would you use to support your claim that Mercer is so much better? Range Factor (no by the way)? DWAR (no also)? There is a .01 differential in fielding percentage (minuscule, or "a tick" as CG said). Don't be so insulting or pompous unless you can back it up.

Thanks Jayme. They believe whatever the manager who loves him some Mercer says but the actual stats and what my eyes show me say mercer is no better then Kang with his big bat and cannon of an arm

Oh and can we at least enjoy this ride a little? Watching the Warriors this whole season was pretty gratifying I must say.

Clint said, early on, before anybody knew Kang would be this good, that he had been impressed with the Warriors strategy. He has used a very modified version to what appears to be a good result. My personal complaints in this area are too much Pedro and too much Cutch & Cervelli.

He doesn't believe in RBI as a useful stat? ;)

I think you're right, Squeeky!

No "Clutch hitting" for Matt or McCutch.

Hi Groat.

Milo, my man!!! Missed you!

Oops! It's fixed. That Cafe Cubano I had this morning is wearing off.

I don't mind RBIs in the context of telling a story. Especially in the terms of RBIs/number of opportunities, I'm open to using the stat. :-)

Matt,

RBIs . . . . pitching wins . . . . clutch hitting.
We're going to make a real baseball man out of you yet, Matt.

Just don't tell me you would have voted for Bert Blyleven for the Hall of Fame. Stathead NIGHTMARE!!!!

Don't let them get to you Matt! RBIs, unless presented in context of opportunities, can be meaningless or at least misleading. Stick to your guns, sir!

Sense of humor in sports is a good thing, J.

Here's stat I proposed some 20+ years ago (and obviously it didn't take): total runner bases advanced divided by total opportunity to advance runners (their must be a better name).
It goes like this: if the bases are empty, the batter can only advance himself, up to a maximum (ie, "total opportunity") of 4 bases (home run). Thus, if singles its 1/4; doubles 2/4; and so on.
If there's a runner on second, it's the same Plus the two potential bases to advance the runner.

So, If there's runners on first and third: the batter (maximum 4), runner at first (maximum 3), plus runner at third (maximum 1); for a total maximum of 4+3+1=8; thus, a double scoring both runners would produce 2 (batter) plus 3 (runner from first) plus 1 (runner from third) equals 6 out of a possible 8= 6/8=.750

Over the course of a season the numbers accumulate as do any other stat to give a percentage of runner-bases advanced per total opportunities to do so.

Groat I have missed you. You keep things light and fun around here. Welcome back.

BRILLIANT. Very cool idea.

Glad Dan Haren got by us!

Don't care about the Cubbies! They are behind us: I agree with Satchel Paige on that.

All I see is the Cardinals in front and Bucs are closing. Next weekend crucial. Yet still must play games one-at-a-time until then.

Good-bye, Tony Sanchez! We hardly knew ye!

This surprises me a little. I can't imagine they actually play Diaz much. Wouldn't it make more sense for the 3rd (basically emergency catcher) that will sit most of the time be Sanchez? I guess maybe when Indy's playoffs are over call up Diaz, but Sept. 1 I'd prefer Sanchez to ride the pine.

He was also asked about Glasnow, and punted on that one.