Running shutouts

At work tonight, I peeked at the tv every time I walked through the bar for a score on the Pirates game. Finally around 1-130 I am treated to the full recap on Baseball Tonight. Two strikeouts looking at pitches that looked pretty damn good--and neither by Adam LaRoche! Then, Adam LaRoche, but he earns the forward K. Then Ichiro's at bat, fouling off all those balls to get to JVB finally. The tv set was too far to see the score, but the winner was obvious, and a shutout likely. And as you know by now, it did, in fact, occur. With the pitiful state of the lineup, why not have this guy get some pinch-hit at bats? The bench is garbage aside from Castillo. But then again, so is the entire organization. And the Angels sweeping us to go to 22 games over .500 while our season plunges further into darkness? Likely.

This Week's Sign of the Apocalypse

Mondesi's House reports that the Pittsburgh Pirates have a MySpace page. What a disgrace. If I could be any more disgusted of me being a Pirates fan, I would be. But after Jeff Weaver throws a complete-game shutout, three days after being shut out by Kameron Lowe, not after Kip Wells didn't walk a batter in a 7-inning, 1-run performance. And Rece Davis had to insult Pirate fans on Tuesday's 6 pm Sportscenter, claiming there was no fan base. This team doesn't deserve a fan base. This ownership group has ruined a once-proud franchise. Insult them Rece, don't insult us.

On that note, Brian Graham attended the State College Spikes home opener last night, and received a warm applause. Maybe the crowd should have been informed of Mr. Graham's and the Pirates' performance since he became director of player development in 2001. The Spikes performed about as well as the Pirates in getting shut out, 2-0. Very few balls were struck with authority and many bats were sawn off in what was probably the first in-game experience with wooden bats for a lot of guys. Moises Robles allowed only one run in 6 inning for State College and Drew Naylor threw seven scoreless for the Williamsport Crosscutters allowing for a fast and tidy pitcher's duel. A strike-em-out-throw-em-out double play ended a scoring chance for the Spikes in the fourth, and Justin Byler was unsuccessful in his try for a third hit in the eighth with the bases loaded, lining out to left to end the inning. Byler had the only Spikes' extra base hit, a double in the first where the right fielder didn't know how much room he had. Friday is Turner Ward bobblehead doll, inspired by his run through a Three Rivers Stadium fence, a top five moment in the 15-year losing streak. Somehow, I could not find a video of it.

The United States Open--Tiger Watchinig

Thanks to my dad buying week passes, I was able to attend the first three days of the U.S. Open at Oakmont 10 minutes from our house. Quite the sporting event. Everyone running around in the grass, few trees and shade in sight, but plenty of sand and high grass. I'm no more than a casual golf fan, and I'd never been to an event as a spectator, but the atmosphere there was incredible. As a sports fan, there was just a vibe you could feel. Like Tiger coming down 10 on Thursday morning (more on him later). The middle-aged guys in the 17th fairway grandstand (top row seats, $100! was their catch phrase) Saturday searching for hot girls. It was an older crowd, and females were not exempt from that.

We got to the first tee at about 7:45 Thursday morning. The grandstand and surrounding area were already filled for Tiger teeing off at 8:06, but the place to be was down the fairway near the bunkers on the left. Shade, and the destination of most players' balls. Tiger put his drive into one of those bunkers, and the destruction was on. After the group of Retief Goosen, Luke Donald and eventual winner Angel Cabrera sent their second shots to the green, we headed down that way, hung by the green for a bit then went into the 10th grandstand, a spot where you could see all of 10 with the binoculars, and some of 9. Ricky Barnes hit a nice putt for par, one of his few highlights on the way to a +15, 5 shots off the cut. Tiger failed to impress again in person. His drive was less than 5 feet from being out-of-bounds! The disastrous shot led to one of four bogeys on the day, two of which I'd seen. 10 was a tough hole (2nd hardest of the tournament), and hanging with it was daunting. Seeing from eight rows up (actually a great place to see all of the green) and how softly everyone hit their putts compared to how quickly they rolled was unbelievable. Cabrera had another strong drive, better than the more famous Donald and the Goose, but still managed only a bogey. He did notch a 69, good for second at the end of the day.



Again, we left the 10th shortly after that group. We wandered around, getting stuck between 10 and 11 for a little, finally arriving in the back right of the 18th green (from the fairway) right near the rail. We nabbed the spots when the first group, starring Ken Duke, arrived at the green and waited out the big cat. The Tiger Trailers (thanks, Dad) didn't really arrive until a hole or two before he finally arrived for the end of his round and celebrated my presence with an errant drive...again. I wasn't in any position to see it this time though, one row back at ground level. But, finally, Tiger had a good shot at par, and sunk it for a 71, a near draw with dangerous Oakmont.

Notes:

I can understand wanting to get drunk at an event like this, even so early in the morning. But when a beer is $5? It's probably just because I'm a college student, but this seems like an outrage. I'll probably pregame in my car before the game til I'm 50. I'll drive there sober, of course.
Binoculars are required material at an event like this. Without them, you'd be better off at home.
Very seamless all the way around. But where are all the people from Oakmont?
I found my new favorite British saying, courtesy the presumed (by me) dad of Nick Dougherty's caddie. Upon finishing his round with a 68 that tied for third-best of the weekend, this man said, in the British accent, "Super-real job there, Nick." Not much in print, but next time I see you I'll give you the impersonation. Eventually I'll find someone British, have them say it, and put it up here.
Anyone remember watching Tiger putt on 18? From our up-close view of the green, with Tiger and Geoff Ogilvy viewing their putts, my brother yelled, "Tiger!" He received plently of flak from the crowd around us (me included), but my aunt claims she heard someone yell Woods' name there at 18. Can anyone refute or support this?
In addition to that disturbance, a member of the Open crew decided to give directions from the catwalk of the grandstand to people below him, talking so loudly he was easily audible from the green.

Hopefully, my round 2 recap will come tomorrow.

Lots of Pickles

Big props out to Ian Snell for his stellar performance last night. Just what the Bucs needed, a way to get to our closer without involving any of the crap bullpen pitchers not named Capps, Marte or Torres. But the Pirates' incompetence on the bases overshadowed Snell's great outing. I didn't get to see Sanchez get gunned down at home in the first, so I won't offer judgment there. But let's talk about the bottom of the sixth. Xavier Nady busts out of a 1-13 slide with a homer to center. LaRoche follows up with an opposite field double, Paulino does the same. Now, Dejan Kovacevic was very critical of LaRoche for not scoring here. But if you saw the game and knew the situation (nobody out) you know that LaRoche was correct in staying close to tag out. If Ethier catches it, which he damn well looked like he was going to, Adam is on third with one out. Unfortunately, he was too slow afoot to score from second, but, second and third with none out. I'll take it.

Now all I'm thinking out of Jack is, go the other way, just like Paulino did. Nope. A piss-weak grounder right at second base. Of course, with Paulino having a lead, he was hung out to dry. Pat at WHYGAVS was furious at Ronny for this. I'm not, honestly. It was just an unfortunate place for Wilson to hit the ball in that situation. This is supposed to be Tracy's "2 hitter" who can place the ball wherever it needs to be placed, supposedly. Paulino and LaRoche did a good enough job running around like asses that only an out was made and runners were still at second and third.

Here is the major mistake. Snell's up, one out. First pitch, Dodgers expecting the squeeze, it's way outside. No go. Second pitch, Dodgers STILL expecting the squeeze (why wouldn't they be) Tracy stupidly takes the bait. Pitch is way outside, the slow-footed catcher is hung out to dry between third and home, and is easily tagged out. Runner at third, two outs, pitcher at bat. Inning essentially over, and officially over when Snell cheeses a few pitches later. Good decision Jim. Let's run the suicide squeeze with one of the slowest players on the team when the opposition clearly sees it coming. Pure genious. Not.

the mid-game post

Watching the Pirates hit makes me want to bang my head against a brick wall. Duffy cheeses in his first start in 4 games, Sanchez pops out to short left, LaRoche pops out, Nady pops out with Bay on second (I didn't even see how Doumit failed to advance him). Even when Bay gets a hit, he manages to miss the homer by four feet. And this miserable hitting has been going on for six, seven weeks now. And Ian Snell takes tonight to do his Kip Wells imitation. I'm sure Kip is flattered and glad he's on the right side of this matchup for once. Even though the Pirates are currently a little better than the Birds, they're not.

Kip Wells season hitting stats going into this game? .267 (4-15) with a homer and a double. We shoulda resigned him for pinch-hitting duties.

What's his WHIP?

Zach Duke is going beyond his "give up a lot of hits and hope they don't score" routine tonight. Through four and two-thirds innings, the third-year southpaw has given up eleven--ELEVEN!!--hits in falling into a 4-2 deficit, miraculously less than it could be, considering Pujols popped out with two on and none out in the first and couldn't push Eckstein home from third in the fifth (he was gunned down by the great Ryan Doumit).

The offense has pecked at Wainwright similarly, but is its usual nonclutch self, getting only one run out of bases loaded, one out in the first, none out of juiced bags in the second, and only one out of the same situation in the fourth.

And as I write this, Duke gives up a bases-loaded walk (his first unintentional of the night). So his WHIP for the evening is....2.78. Awful. Unbelievably awful. I think I'm standing with Ron Cook on the Duke right now.

But I am glad that we brought in Brian Rogers, who is actually Dave Williams, the Pirates de facto ace in 2005 (Seriously. Only a June-callup era Zach Duke was better). This is the man Dee-troit gave up to get another Mayor for the city. Rogers gives up yet another base hit but is bailed out by Jim Edmonds' poor baserunning leading to the second man thrown out at home of the game. Wainwright is practically cruising considering his early-inning struggles. But the World Series stud is not up to the task of facing Don Kelly, even with a four-run cushion. More after the game.

Black Saturday

With the game blocked out on a Saturday night and being miles away from PNC Park, mlb.com's Gametracker was the only way to keep track of the happenings. Despite my pleas, Jim Tracy decided to sit the red-hot Jose Castillo for rookie Don Kelly, who could be a Pittsburgh-style second coming of Rafael Belliard. He responded with a 1-3 night, getting his single with none on and two out in the second, but popped out with one down and the bases loaded in the third. Thankfully, Tom Gorzelanny bailed him out with his second single...ever. Was it a positive sign that Kelly was the only starter below the Mendoza Line? After the D-Bags tied the game Jose replaced Kelly but also went 0-2, including an out in the ninth.

Tonight was a tale of two bullpens. Despite the quick 7-1 lead, this game never felt too safe. Gorzelanny allowed 10 baserunners in laboring through 6, but he only allowed one run before Grabow, McLeary and Capps blew it. A heartbreaker. And with the Big Unit tomorrow. He's a very old Unit, so let us hope the Pirates can continue working the count and salvage a win. But there's no question this one hurts in the drive for 82 wins. They could be at 21-21 if the bullpen had not blown two late inning leads, but here they stand, four games under .500. The third post down at Honest Wagner says it best.

Jose Castillo

What to do with the Pirates' disgruntled 2b/3b/SS/OF? He has been mashing the ball since filling in for Jose Bautista during Sunday's game, prompting Boss Tracy to start Castillo at short for only the third time in the bigs, first of 2007. Castillo responded in a manner those familiar with him: 2-4 with a pair of ribs and a ball thrown into the stands behind first base. He has raised his batting average 82 points to .264 since Jeff Cox foolishly decided to send Bautista home on a shallow fly to Jeff Francoeur.

No truth to the rumor Castillo was seen pumping his fist after this happened.
(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Castillo has asked for a trade. Reportedly the Bucs tried to deal him during the offseason, but could find no takers, no surprise after his disappointing 2006. If Littlefield is going to deal him, now would appear to be the time. But should he?

I say no. Castillo can be an important piece of this team. He has shown enough flashes that if he is producing, he deserves to receive some spot starts, especially since he can play five positions with steady enough defense. In fact, here is the lineup I'd like to see the Pirates run out tonight against Micah Owings and the D-Backs.

1 Sanchez 2b
2 Bautista 3b
3 Bay LF
4 LaRoche 1b
5 Nady CF
6 Doumit C
7 Castillo RF
8 Wilson SS
9 Gorzelanny P

I'm a big fan of playing the hot hands, and Castillo and Doumit are just that. Some is sacrified defensively without Duffy in center field, but his bat has been so atrocious of late that his bench spot is well-earned. At the least, Jim, drop him in the order. Please? And what is with Tracy's claims that putting Sanchez at third would be "unfair" to Freddy? This guy is paid millions to play a game that people pay ridiculous amounts just to watch. He played one of the best hot corners in the league last year while taking the batting crown. A night at third would cause him to slump again? I'm not buying it. Ryan Doumit seems to be doing just fine shuffling between three positions. With Bautista back in the lineup, Sanchez's position is more of a moot point, although I would have been more comfortable with him at short and Castillo at second last night. Having versatility in your players is a blessing, and it is mind-boggling that Tracy would try to eliminate this part of Sanchez's game. At the very least, Sanchez and Castillo being able to play short should save us from seeing Don Kelly starting when ol' Jack Smack needs a day off. You know, at least until we trade Grabow, Gorzelanny, and Jack to the Yankees for A-Rod.

Opening Up Shop

Welcome, everyone, to the Pirates' Cove. I'm starting up this blog to cover a topic and a team that does not get enough love in my eyes: the Pittsburgh Pirates. Using my tremendous knowledge of the team and its failures over the past 15 or so years (I have a vague memory of being at the NLCS in 1990 at age 5, although it's so vague it could just as easily been '91) along with my stellar wit, I'll offer my two cents on the Buccoes. I'll also cover two of the Pirates' farm squads, the Altoona Curve (AA) and State College Spikes (short-season A ball), although it will not be as expansive as it could, because when I am at the games I am working rather than watching. I can offer a bit of insight, such as lampoon Andrew McCutchen. The eleventh overall pick in 2005 has struggled mightily this season for the Curve, batting only .178 in 135 at-bats and only stealing four bases. MC Cutch has lost the plate discipline and strike zone recognition that made him the top prospect in the Pirates' organization. On the year he has struck out 37 times against only 11 walks, and a lot of the whiffs I've seen have been of the frozen pizza variety, although there have also been some flailers. For the guy projected by Baseball America to be the best for-average hitter in the Pirates's system (see above link), Andrew's performance has been disappointing.

It also calls to mind the Pirates's current center fielder and leadoff hitter, Chris Duffy. The Duffman is having the same problem: an inability to regularly put the ball in play and get on base. It is a damning problem for a leadoff hitter and a major reason the Bucs have struggled to score more than three runs a game, this past week's explosion notwithstanding. The struggles of LaRoche, Sanchez and Paulino have received more coverage, but Duffy has fallen apart in May, rather than turn the corner as those three appear to be doing. How much longer will Jim Tracy keep him at the top of the order? With Duffy and Jack Wilson usually batting 1-2, the Pirates have a combined .299 OBP in the lineup spots that get the most at-bats. I hope Billy Beane doesn't see that stat. He'd have a heart attack.