• Clint Hurdle confirmed the Pirates have reshuffled their starting rotation for the upcoming road trip. Gerrit Cole has been bumped up a spot and will pitch Tuesday at Milwaukee, with Jeff Lockegoing Wednesday andFrancisco Lirianoset for Thursday.
As a result, Cole will get the Sunday night finale in St. Louis, with J.A. Happ and Morton pitching in the first two games against the first-place Cardinals. Hurdle was asked if he could share the rationale.
“No,” he said. “We’ve got some plans in place and this is how we’re breaking out.”
• Joakim Soria was warming in the bullpen last night, but the Pirates went with the usual combination of Tony Watson and Mark Melancon to close the 4-3 win. Since arriving from Detroit, Soria has thrown in 14 of 26 games, but just once in the past week.
According to Hurdle, this is a deliberate attempt to give Soria some time away from high-leverage situations, which he knew well with the Tigers. Soria will get the ninth inning today should the Pirates have a narrow lead.
“He was used frequently, but more importantly he was used harder (with the Tigers),” Hurdle said. “We’ve tried to use him smart here. There is no injury issue whatsoever. Just trying to give him some more rest.”
• Last night, in his team-leading 64th pitching appearance, Melancon allowed just his third home run of the year, a two-run blast by Nick Hundley. That made the finish much tighter than expected, but the way he collected himself to close the game impressed one of his newer teammates.
“There was absolutely zero stress or pressure after that home run,” J.A. Happ said. “He just continued to execute pitches like he always does. He’s fun to watch out there.”
• The Pirates have rescheduled the Aug. 3 postponed game against the Cubs as part of a rare day-night split doubleheader on Tuesday, Sept. 15. The first game will be at 1:35 p.m., with the second listed at 7:05.
On first glance, the previous day was an option for rescheduling, but the collective bargaining agreement ensures that each team will have at least one off day per month, and that’s the Pirates’ lone open date of September. In regards to the split times, the organization made it known which format it would prefer, but the players had the final vote.
“There’s some down time (between games),” Hurdle said. “I don’t mind that. When you look at the amount of rain-delay time we’ve had, (the players) know what’s expected with the split game times.”
• A.J. Burnett threw a three-inning simulated game in the bullpen this morning. There was no update on his status as of 12 p.m.
Update 1:05 p.m.: Burnett spoke at length after a simulated game he called “very positive.” Full story here.
Follow the game with Matt:
1:43: Morton blows through the Rockies in order in the first. Pirates are dressed in their incandescent 1971 throwback uniforms, Rockies in gray with two-tone caps.
2:14: Morton looked pretty strong the first time through the Marlins order Tuesday night, but he’s taken it to a whole new level today. Virtually no hard contact so far, with only Aramis Ramirez‘s error costing him a perfect three innings.
2:16: Check the Burnett story for Neal Huntington‘s perspective on the situation.
Otherwise, here’s most of his weekly press gathering, recorded for your consumption. Near the end, the general manager answered questions I had pertaining to the Pirates’ struggles in allowing stolen bases:
(Here’s a link to my analysis on the Pirates’ struggles in controlling the running game.)
2:25: Nothing doing for either side in the opening three. Potential news: Jordy Mercer limped off the field after an awkward slide into second base. He is on the field to start the fourth, though.
2:33: There goes the no-hitter, the shutout and maybe even the quality start in the span of four batters. Nolan Arenado‘s double to right scores one, followed by Ben Paulsen‘s two-run triple to right-center off a hanging curveball. 3-0 Rockies.
2:37: Keep that quality start in order, at least for now. Morton gets a groundout, a lineout — with a nice leap by Mercer — and a strikeout of De La Rosa to strand Paulsen.
2:50: Most of the Pirates looking off-balance against De La Rosa, big time. The finesse lefty has gotten Gregory Polanco and Francisco Cervelli to strike out twice each.
3:03: In the most excitement at PNC Park since Morton started on a roll, Cheese Chester wins the pierogi race after video review.
3:17: We just witnessed one of the uglier errors you’ll see at the MLB level. Morton bobbled a comebacker, but still had time to get Dustin Garneau. Instead, he underhanded the ball over Michael Morse‘s head and two runs came in. 5-0 Rockies after 5 1/2.
3:25: Even Andrew McCutchen looked foolish on another splitter/changeup from De La Rosa. The Pirates have three baserunners through six innings, all singles.
3:50: Weird. De La Rosa gets tossed as Rockies manager Walt Weiss comes to pull him. Must not have liked the ball-strike calls on the walk to Cervelli. Two on with none out and reliever Scott Oberg coming on.
4:06: Pirates have six outs left following two scoreless innings from Antonio Bastardo.
4:17: I guess I understand it considering the season his team is having, but Weiss is managing like it’s do-or-die. He goes to Jairo Diaz after Carlos Gonzalez drops Starling Marte‘s routine fly ball with two outs.
4:35: Final four Pirates go down in order. They stumble to the finish line of a 20-games-in-20-days marathon. Coverage to come.
RF Gregory Polanco (L)
LF Starling Marte (R)
CF A. McCutchen (R)
3B Aramis Ramirez (R)
C F. Cervelli (R)
1B Mike Morse (R)
2B Josh Harrison (R)
SS Jordy Mercer (R)
P Charlie Morton (R)
CFC. Blackmon (L)
2BDJ LeMahieu (R)
RFCarlos Gonzalez (L)
3BNolan Arenado (R)
1BBen Paulsen (L)
LFKyle Parker (R)
SSDaniel Descalso (L)
CDustin Garneau (R)
PJ. De La Rosa (L)
ekw96
8-30-2015, 11:15 am
Thought they might give Cutch the back to back days off today before the stretch run. Hopefully Morse and J-Hay can build on their strong play off the bench recently.
Descalso at SS instead of Reyes will hopefully work in our favor. Their top of the lineup still looks pretty dangerous.
Walter White
8-30-2015, 11:22 am
Clint ... his name is JUNG-HO KANG ... He plays short and 3rd ... when you let him play ... he usually does quite well!
cheygyrl030776
8-30-2015, 11:33 am
Walter hurdle gas to play Mercer. He keeps sighting these ridiculous splits between mercer and Kang. Kang war is better. Fielding percentage about the same and the splits on offense aren't fair being mercer has been in the majors FAR longer. He could've started Mercer at 2nd base where he has played before but no hes repeatedly benching one if his best power hitters for a number 8 hitter.
BVolk
8-30-2015, 11:38 am
So much friggin depth. They are now just resting and rotating players in and out..
ekw96
8-30-2015, 11:55 am
And winning while doing it! Can we just have everyone copy their complaints about when Hurdle sits Kang and just paste them in twice a week. I agree he's better than Mercer, but this rotation keeps everyone involved, we have a really strong bench for late games and we keep winning. Let's see what Hurdle does when we play cards, Cubs and Dodgers.
Matthew Gutt
8-30-2015, 12:10 pm
No Kang, just boggles my mind that he ate mercer instead of Kang so much!
Carmen
8-30-2015, 12:39 pm
Kang played a lot of games when we had no bench and giving him a few days off seems reasonable. Having said that, I expect to see him start every game in Busch
Stephen Petrilli
8-30-2015, 12:47 pm
@ clergy, you've really got to work on your writing…whether we agree or not is another matter, but you're getting difficult to read
Walter White
8-30-2015, 2:15 pm
Kang seems to sit more than others ...
Walter White
8-30-2015, 11:19 am
(I must repost this from last night El Camino is a great guy!)
Before the game Arquimedes Caminero was shagging fly balls and he jogged back to where I was standing and I called out to him "Arquimedes" and he immediately looked over at me and I said I have a new nickname for you ... and he looked at me curiously and said huh!? I said your new name is El Camino!! Ever since you've been on a roll we've been calling you El Camino! ... he looked right at me and gave me a big smile and then gave me the thumbs up and said .... "I Like it"!
80 wins in August would be amazing. With a day off tomorrow, let's have some fun today. My prediction, the Bucs hang a 10 spot on the board today in a blowout win.
So Pirates. Big game today. 3.5 behind those Tird Birds. How bad do you want it? Even more important. 3 games coming up with the Pew Crew. Are you going to choke and fold again against an awful team? I mean... whats the deal? Seriously? Why do they own you? 3.5 back guys.... get a handle on it and beat the Pew Crew. Oh yeah.... the Reds too.
Skipping Locke smart on multiple levels! The Soria thing still doesn't make sense to me. Because he was worked hard by the Tigers, you work Watson and Melancon harder than you need to? Maybe this Soria complaint of mine is like everyone else's Kang complaint! Okay I get what you guys are saying about Hurdle.
These things might, of course, make more sense to Hurdle and the Pirates' staff because they know more about them than you or I do.
ekw96
8-30-2015, 12:47 pm
True, just that explanation sounded weird and still doesn't jibe with how they say they don't want any pitchers to pitch in half the team games. Watson and Melancon are pretty close, and I don't see the September call ups easing their use for high leverage situations if they won't use Soria now. Maybe the way they used Caminero last night is a sign they will use him more.
Stephen Petrilli
8-30-2015, 1:07 pm
I'm definitely liking the way Caminero has been tending lately. If they get Soria up to speed it leaves only Bastardo as someone we need to worry about in the pen.
ekw96
8-30-2015, 1:14 pm
Good call and Bastardo has been better in the middle innings. Not so much trying to close out games with 4 run leads to save Melancon. But if all you are worried about is the 7th guy in your bullpen, that's pretty good.
Walter White
8-30-2015, 2:23 pm
Soria has given up a lot of hits ... and baserunners ... he has survived most of it ... but his outings have been far from clean! 30 pitch inning on the 23rd ... maybe they are working with him/
ekw96
8-30-2015, 12:34 pm
Matt have a great first official day as the bucs beat reporter (well at least this one with your face on the header and your game notes)!
I guess a pace for 100 wins people think this team could win 110 if someone other than hurdle was making out the lineups. Another day more complaints about the lineup. Yawn. Like watching paint dry or yadi Molina go to the mound six times an inning.
And how many times have you done it? Just yesterday gave your opinion on the rotation. That's what the comment section basically is. A forum of opinion.
Officer Jim Lahey
8-30-2015, 12:39 pm
they could win 111 and still be behind the Cards and be in same situation in a one off WC game...it is what it is
Florida Steeler
8-30-2015, 1:07 pm
Good for you bpn. Many critics of others on here. They should give opinion and then shut up instead of "I told you."
John Eckenrode
8-30-2015, 12:40 pm
• thanks for the notes matt. happy to see them in easy-to-read bullet format now. go bucs!
• tweeted earlier today how funny it is that yinzer nation still questions manager whose team is 30 games over .500 while overcoming injuries to key players and having to rely on players named gorkys, jaff and florimon. they'll be apoplectic when he's manager of the year again.
Randomness…
Pirates are 19-7 so far in August
Of the 20 game stretch without a day off they are 14-5 so far, which is especially nice after they started 0-2 in St. Louis
So those were the dog days of August!
Just to clarify, they are basically just flipping Cole and Locke? Locke not getting totally skipped, just going Wed. instead of Tues. so Cole can line up vs. StL?
I think I saw Kennedy was claimed by somebody on waivers so SD pulled him back. Shields? I'm not sure about waivers but he'd cost the Pirates too much and sounding like AJ might be back soon, so he bumps Locke, no where to put Shields in their mind. Shields has given up 5 ERs in 2 of his last 3 starts and the other was against the Braves who might be the worst team in the NL right now.
On the off day tomorrow we should predict who our Sept. call ups will be.
Matt Gajtka
8-30-2015, 1:31 pm
He just spoke. Will have the video, but the gist was that they're making calls and doing diligence on the guys they should.
ekw96
8-30-2015, 1:47 pm
Just checked MLBRumors.com, Ian Kennedy and Joaquin Benoit were claimed on waivers and pulled back by SD.
James Shields cleared so we could have placed a claim earlier and made a deal and this was when Happ and AJ were both more question marks than they are now. I don't see them making this deal, but only NH knows.
ekw96
8-30-2015, 1:12 pm
Also, even with the expanded rosters in Sept., doesn't a DH make more sense since you get a 26th roster spot for the day. You can call up a Starter from Indy who's stretched out already and then send them back down? Of course maybe they just use AJ with Blanton or Liz/Worley to piggy back.
August 30, 2015
Final: Rockies 5, Pirates 0
306by Matt Gajtka • Game previews • Pirates
Looking ahead to first pitch …
Game: Pirates (79-49) vs. Colorado Rockies (51-76), 1:35 p.m., PNC Park
Pitchers: RHP Charlie Morton (8-5, 4.20) vs. LHP Jorge De La Rosa (7-6, 4.61)
TV, radio: Root Sports, 93.7 The Fan
Online: Gameday | Multimedia | Media notes
Matt’s five pregame notes:
• Clint Hurdle confirmed the Pirates have reshuffled their starting rotation for the upcoming road trip. Gerrit Cole has been bumped up a spot and will pitch Tuesday at Milwaukee, with Jeff Locke going Wednesday and Francisco Liriano set for Thursday.
As a result, Cole will get the Sunday night finale in St. Louis, with J.A. Happ and Morton pitching in the first two games against the first-place Cardinals. Hurdle was asked if he could share the rationale.
“No,” he said. “We’ve got some plans in place and this is how we’re breaking out.”
• Joakim Soria was warming in the bullpen last night, but the Pirates went with the usual combination of Tony Watson and Mark Melancon to close the 4-3 win. Since arriving from Detroit, Soria has thrown in 14 of 26 games, but just once in the past week.
According to Hurdle, this is a deliberate attempt to give Soria some time away from high-leverage situations, which he knew well with the Tigers. Soria will get the ninth inning today should the Pirates have a narrow lead.
“He was used frequently, but more importantly he was used harder (with the Tigers),” Hurdle said. “We’ve tried to use him smart here. There is no injury issue whatsoever. Just trying to give him some more rest.”
• Last night, in his team-leading 64th pitching appearance, Melancon allowed just his third home run of the year, a two-run blast by Nick Hundley. That made the finish much tighter than expected, but the way he collected himself to close the game impressed one of his newer teammates.
“There was absolutely zero stress or pressure after that home run,” J.A. Happ said. “He just continued to execute pitches like he always does. He’s fun to watch out there.”
• The Pirates have rescheduled the Aug. 3 postponed game against the Cubs as part of a rare day-night split doubleheader on Tuesday, Sept. 15. The first game will be at 1:35 p.m., with the second listed at 7:05.
On first glance, the previous day was an option for rescheduling, but the collective bargaining agreement ensures that each team will have at least one off day per month, and that’s the Pirates’ lone open date of September. In regards to the split times, the organization made it known which format it would prefer, but the players had the final vote.
“There’s some down time (between games),” Hurdle said. “I don’t mind that. When you look at the amount of rain-delay time we’ve had, (the players) know what’s expected with the split game times.”
• A.J. Burnett threw a three-inning simulated game in the bullpen this morning. There was no update on his status as of 12 p.m.
Update 1:05 p.m.: Burnett spoke at length after a simulated game he called “very positive.” Full story here.
Follow the game with Matt:
1:43: Morton blows through the Rockies in order in the first. Pirates are dressed in their incandescent 1971 throwback uniforms, Rockies in gray with two-tone caps.
2:14: Morton looked pretty strong the first time through the Marlins order Tuesday night, but he’s taken it to a whole new level today. Virtually no hard contact so far, with only Aramis Ramirez‘s error costing him a perfect three innings.
2:16: Check the Burnett story for Neal Huntington‘s perspective on the situation.
Otherwise, here’s most of his weekly press gathering, recorded for your consumption. Near the end, the general manager answered questions I had pertaining to the Pirates’ struggles in allowing stolen bases:
(Here’s a link to my analysis on the Pirates’ struggles in controlling the running game.)
2:25: Nothing doing for either side in the opening three. Potential news: Jordy Mercer limped off the field after an awkward slide into second base. He is on the field to start the fourth, though.
2:33: There goes the no-hitter, the shutout and maybe even the quality start in the span of four batters. Nolan Arenado‘s double to right scores one, followed by Ben Paulsen‘s two-run triple to right-center off a hanging curveball. 3-0 Rockies.
2:37: Keep that quality start in order, at least for now. Morton gets a groundout, a lineout — with a nice leap by Mercer — and a strikeout of De La Rosa to strand Paulsen.
2:50: Most of the Pirates looking off-balance against De La Rosa, big time. The finesse lefty has gotten Gregory Polanco and Francisco Cervelli to strike out twice each.
3:03: In the most excitement at PNC Park since Morton started on a roll, Cheese Chester wins the pierogi race after video review.
3:17: We just witnessed one of the uglier errors you’ll see at the MLB level. Morton bobbled a comebacker, but still had time to get Dustin Garneau. Instead, he underhanded the ball over Michael Morse‘s head and two runs came in. 5-0 Rockies after 5 1/2.
3:25: Even Andrew McCutchen looked foolish on another splitter/changeup from De La Rosa. The Pirates have three baserunners through six innings, all singles.
3:50: Weird. De La Rosa gets tossed as Rockies manager Walt Weiss comes to pull him. Must not have liked the ball-strike calls on the walk to Cervelli. Two on with none out and reliever Scott Oberg coming on.
4:06: Pirates have six outs left following two scoreless innings from Antonio Bastardo.
4:17: I guess I understand it considering the season his team is having, but Weiss is managing like it’s do-or-die. He goes to Jairo Diaz after Carlos Gonzalez drops Starling Marte‘s routine fly ball with two outs.
4:35: Final four Pirates go down in order. They stumble to the finish line of a 20-games-in-20-days marathon. Coverage to come.