Game 14: Monroe goes deep three times

Where is everybody? Out celebrating Monroe's three home runs? That is impressive, even in a spring training game.

he'll be a starter before too long....Hinske also.

G-Man, don't miss out. Hop on this Monroe Bandwagon as we take a wild ride through the swamps of Florida!  Remember folks, get a free Gift Ngoepe 2013 All Star Campaign flier when you hop on the Monroe Express!  Act now! Supplies limited!  

(Don't mind that bump we just rode over...no truth to the rumor that it was a guy in a "Morgan" jersey...)

Re Munroe, I wonder if he could knock Nyjer to the bench?  I know this is ST and all that, but 6 dingers in 30 abs, not too shabby to say the least.  Nyjer has options, this could open up a spot for Salazar...

Just musing

It it impressive even for ST but why is Wilson's record a "was"--Monroe has 6--Wilson had 8 so Wilson's record should be an "is" until someone passes it.

Chavez has a clean 7th with one strike out

Monroe is still available

DK's Asylum

Yahoo

League ID 157757

password plentyofhope

I'll bet when I visit the other league site tonight, someone will have claimed him

There’s still a lot of ST left, but a RH bat stepping up at this time is making it hard to cut him.

Monroe can hit, but before we go and bench Nyjer...which I am not opposed to...can he cover LF at PNC?

New neighborhood in Pittsburgh.  Monroevia.  New ballpark in Bradenton: Wrigley.

@Biz-

Re Munroe, I wonder if he could knock Nyjer to the bench?  I know this is ST and all that, but 6 dingers in 30 abs, not too shabby to say the least.  Nyjer has options, this could open up a spot for Salazar...

The job was Morgan's for the taking, however Monroe could step in and steal it from him, if goes back to AAA, Salazar, whom they like a lot would probably make this team.

Biz

Anything possible in the OF--also have to ask if Monroe can keep something close to this going.

Pirates get hits from Mccutchen and Cruz in 7th but don't score.  On to 8th

Good point DMac on covering LF at PNC

One thing we never, ever do in the asylum is look before we leap, know what I mean??

Just bought my ticket though, seat 14F in the bandwagon, neat thing is tomorrow, another one might be flyin by, and thats a good thing...

@DMac

Monroe can hit, but before we go and bench Nyjer...which I am not opposed to...can he cover LF at PNC?

If Yogi can play left field in Forbes field, Monroe can play left field in PNC.

To truly answer your question, he has looked good in the outfield in all the games I saw him play, fast enough for sure. I don't know how many American league teams have left fields like PNC though.

Good for Mr. Monroe. That has got to feel good!

Who said we needed to hit with these pitchers scheduled? WHO? Ask and ye shall receive!

Re - Projectors seem to think the Pirates are going for a starting pitcher with the first pick, there is a lot pitching in this draft.

No pitchers with No 4 pick, please...  we can get one with the one we get for Schleppers or our own No 2, give me that big stick anytime

Oh - and put Monroe in right! McLouth should move to left for the duration of his Bucs career once Andrew "the next great one" McCutcheon comes to PNC.

Personally I say move Nate now.

Burnett has given up 3 hits and run  so far in the 8th--he is not having a good spring.

Biz you are absolutely right:

Your seat does not preclude you from also riding the Shelby Ford Caravan, the Evan Meek Express, or any other Bucco-powered modes of transportation.

Info on Burnett's bad inning, please.  And thank you.  :-(

Uh oh...

please move to the window to make room on the aisles for the overflow as people come tumbling off the Sean Burnett Moped...

The outfield:

Morgan-LF

McCutcheon-CF

Moss-RF

.................for Indianapolis

I've got no problems with Monroe in RF.

Inning over

Burnett's line--1 inning--4 hits 3 runs (all earned) . 1 walk, 0 strike outs, 0 HR--

Monroeville-Where ever Craig Monroe graces the field.

Remember the other day when everybody told me not to worry about Burnett??  He can't fall down that far in 1 appearance, can he?

Burnett allowed a double to Machado...one out later Matos singled him in. Romero then singled, Lehmann walked. Macri was out somehow, then Butera (at least third string catcher) knocked in two with a base hit.

@DMac

I agree i would not mind seeing Monroe in RF one bit at all, hes been hitting the daylights out of the ball during the spring.

Demery

Moss is only going to be in Indy if it is a rehab assignment.  

A double3 singles, a BB

Oops...I got distracted and sent before I meant to.

I haven't seen Monroe play and with all that has been made about a CF-type player in LF at PNC, I was just asking.

@Demery...if Moss is healthy, I'm relatively sure he'll be in Pittsburgh.

The outfield:

Monroe-LF

McClouth-CF

Hinske-RF

...................in Pittsburgh

Capn

Anyone can have an off day--he will have to pitch better in the days ahead or risk being surpassed by someone.

Maybe Burnett is not healthy. Might lock up a spot for Veal.

Salazar has replaced Monroe no chance for a 4th HR

Monroe's line for the day--3 AB  3 runs  3 hits 4 RBI  .333 BA

If Moss and Morgan are not ready or fail at least we have some options.

Bootcheck on the pitch the 9th  with a 6-4 lead

asylum members, i do apologize for starting this monroe bandwagon, but ive thought this from day 1 of signing him, besides, i have my engineers (choo-choo) hat on.....so lets get steaming...

i'm also pullning for Hinske to take over for either one of the larouches...either by trading deadline for adam, or because andy becomes....well, stays himself at 3rd.

I agree Moss will be in right.Tabata 1for 2 and 2 BBs

My Outfield

LF-McLouth

CF-McCutchen

RF-Moss, if healthy if not, Monroe

NH has said he doesn't put much stock in ST and September performances. Burnett was lights out last year. I wouldn't give up on Burnett yet. Maybe sore arm.

I would not be shocked if Moss put up big numbers.

 .280..20HRs 75-85 RBIs

Game over...6-4 Bucs.

Bootcheck had a 1-2-3 inning.

1-2-3 ninth for Bootcheck. Pirates win 6-4!

Hansen still has an interesting ERA.

Wilson now hitting .095--does he want stay so bad he is purposely destroying his trade potential?

Bullpen

Veal

Meek

Burnett

Hansen

Yates

Grabow

Capps

Now we wait the game report thread--we had 29 comments on the short-lived morning links thread, 159 on the game day thread, and now 45 on this one

Way to go BUCS!!!!! Another ST win in what is becoming a

Culture of Winning

Have hope. Have Plenty of Hope. Srsly.

I've been out of the loop... what was the final skinny on Pearce today?

GGG

Pearce went 1 for 4--a double and 1 strikeout--BA is .222

Looks like DK is not doing a new thread--just updated this one.

JAL -- <<Wilson now hitting .095--does he want stay so bad he is purposely destroying his trade potential?>>

This is totally freaking me out. When you wrote that and then I read it and thought "who?"

What the heck? Why has Jack Wilson become a once-a-week mention? Is it us? Is it the leaning of the asylum or has really not much of anything been said?

sports.espn.go.com/.../spring

mlb.mlb.com/.../exhibition.jsp

well lookie there....

PoH -

Re Jack Wilson: You're right. He has become less than a footnote. My thinking is that he is a foregone conclusion to be out of here this year, just a question of 7/31 or end of season. And there's no mystery or unanswered questions about him whereas with Big Stonehenge - the other guy who will be gone soon - there's still the intrigue of whether he'll hit in April. I think we did all our talking about Jack back during the Winter Meeetins in LV when the trade did not go down.

What about the bench, can Phillips play middle infield spots? I know he can play 1B and 3B, but what about middle infield anyone know? Because if he can its a no brainer put him on team over Cruz.

9-4. Hmm. I still think we should get credit for a half win and half loss for the tie yesterday.

POH

not much has been said about it--probably because veteran and people assume when the bell rings he will hit his norm.  If Adam was hitting .095 there would be 50 posts a day on him.  Since Adam has his BA up to .250 the posts on him have dropped from what they were when he started slowly in ST.

Bottom line--people like Jack and they do not like Adam so the look for failures by Adam and such failures become magnified.

Those standings are, indeed, a beautiful sight!

Mrty

Phillips has primarily been a 1st baseman--his ML totals--175 games at 1st, 32 at 3rd, 8 at 2nd, and 3 in LF--never played ss in majors or minors.  Did play 216 games at 2nd in the minors.

Time for me to head off for while--catch up things later

Roster?

McLouth - CF

Sanchez - 2B

Doumit - C

Ad. LaRoche - 1B

Hinske - LF

Monroe - RF

An. LaRoche - 3B

Wilson - SS

Pitcher

I could see this lineup working better than one with Morgan and Moss in it.  It looks to have more pop, but more strikeouts in it.  If you wanted McLouth batting third, I don't know what you do for a leadoff hitter in this scenario.

@Marty-

Phillips played 2nd base this spring, don't know if he can play SS.

JAL that is an excellent analysis of Jack vs. Adam. While I realize that ST stats mean little or nothing it will be interesting to monitor the public reaction if his poor numbers continue.

Not meaning to be a smart (_!_), but the term "Shelby Ford Caravan" probably has Carroll Shelby and the folks at Ford going goggle-eyed. "sides, I thought all caravans were Dodges.

OK, ya got me, I was trying to be a smart (_!_)

I do like this culture of winning a lot. Srsly

JAL

Bottom line--people like Jack and they do not like Adam so the look for failures by Adam and such failures become magnified.

Well Put!

Isn't that way with all players for the Pirates, like them and not much said, not like them and failures become magnified.

New thread up.......

Dumatrait headed to disabled list

I think the whole Jack vs Adam scenario comes down to one being revered and the other being reviled. To those in the latter category I offer this warning: be careful what you wish for. The replacement for Adam, whoever he may be, will likely not be a consistent 20+ HR- 80+ RBI man with a good glove. Until we have such a player in place, Adam ain't all that bad once April is over.

crank it monroe

i was curious about the USC SS.  anyone know anything about him??  is he an offensive weapon or defensive weapon?  a nice power hitting SS next to Pedro would look nice!!

DMac, I think you like those ST standings more than I do!

It has NOTHING to do with the team leading the standings.  I swear on my Pirates' Hap Cap.  I love seeing the Pirates up there doing as well as they are.

I'm having far more fun with the knowledge that Mike Cameron...CF for the Brewers...tweaked a rib cage muscle. Currently being restricted from baseball activities...Hmmm...I wonder who'll get some extra playing time?  *grin*

methinks this was just Monroe's way of telling the twins his .111 or whatever was an aberration. no doubt he's in actuality a .240-.250 caliber player.

FYI, Maholm dislocated his throwing shoulder and will miss 2-3 months in my MLB '09 The Show franchise. I plucked Glavine off the FA market and he's 2-1 with a 2.13 ERA so far.  Not being a huge subscriber to the whole "pitching depth" thing, i traded Karstens/Ohlendorf/Barthmeir away in deals to make cash and used it to buy the team a spa because Luis Cruz requested it. Gotta keep those utility guys healthy and happy.

after reading of the 30-year-old Craig Monroe's exploits, I just had to check the Nationals' site.  The 28-year-old Brad Eldred has 2 HR in 11 AB's.  Just thought I'd throw that out there...

I am usually an optimist, and I often only post when Hostage is spewing negatives...  However, I think a dose of reality is in order for Monroe...

Anyone remember two years ago when Joggin' Ronny was ripping the cover off the ball in SP?  Did not translate into regular season games.

Having said that, I am hoping for the best here in Monroeville.