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Showing posts from April, 2015

Pirates Franchise Four

Obviously baseball wants everyone to get into their teams history, recent or ancient. My four choices for the Pirates Mt. Rushmore are: Honus Wagner Roberto Clemente Willie Stargell Ralph Kiner

Pirates fall again to Reds

The Bucs lost in the ninth inning today when Marlon Byrd lined a hard line drive to right field and Gregory Polanco could not come up with it allowing the winning run to score from third. For the third game in a row, rain drenched down and forced a delay. Sterling Marte has been struggling with seven strikeouts in three games. A J Burnett pitched well and surprisingly came back out after the rain delay. The Pirates now travel to Milwaukee for three games before opening at home on Monday. The Reds appear a stronger team with Joey Votto back in the lineup. Pedro Alvarez homered in the game.

Rain and Reds fall on PIrates

Two games into the season and a pair of losses and a pair of rain delays for the Bucs. Yesterdays (rather this mornings) loss to the Reds in 11 innings had Clint Hurdle emptying his bench. Never mind that the Pirates would play again in less than 12 hours. Notables: Pedro Alvarez was pinch hit for by Corey Hary. The usual one batter, one pitcher appearance was used. Gerrit Cole had some highs( 3 K's in one hinning) along with lows ( first inning homer by Todd Frazier and a a run scoring wild pitch.) JHay did his incredible tag avoiding play and scored a run a few moments later.

Beat em Bucs ? Not in the opener

The Pirates lost the season opener  to the Cincinnati Reds, 5-2 on Monday. The Bucs are looking to win their first division title since 1992 and their first playoff series since 1979. Andrew McCutchen tied the game at 2-2 with a two-run homer in the eighth inning. Tony Watson gave up a three run homer to Todd Frazier in the bottom of the eighth. There was a rain delay in the game but it didn't seem to affect the starting pitchers Liriano and Cueto. In the ninth, the Reds closer Aroldis Chapman threw his usual pouch of aspirin tablets to end the game. After two wild card appearances, the Pirates are hoping to win the division and eliminate the need of a one game win or go home. The Root Broadcast Team kept the game interesting. Bob Walk did not challenge any replay decisions or head hunting pitches. The new rule this year will be trying to get the batter to keep one foot in the box after normal deliveries.