Pirates go down quietly to Cubs, Harden

quiet it was

The Pirates are offensive when it comes to offense.

Not enough hits bunched together.We had our chances.

too many blown chances.   we have to get these guys tomorrow and wednesday.  if we are to even dream of having a chance to make the playoffs.

all we want is hope.

Just looking at our middle INF down at Indy I can only hope we keep Sanchez and Wilson.Lopez is the best we have.

Cruz .249

Bix .240

Ford .166

Lopez .274

                             JR IS SUBPAR!

Hinske and Vasquez are just not helping much either.

The bad news, the Yankess, Phillies, Rays  and Rangers have twice as many HRs as us. The good news, we are not last in MLB for HRs. ( but are tied for secind worst).

The best news...We will likely not break the Astros' record for fewest HR's in a season ( 49). At least that is one futility record we won't break this year!

Doc

Yes they are! This was a painful, painful loss tonight, great outing from Zachary, got a good number of hits and couldn't capitilize, we just ran into a great pitcher in Harden, throw out the numbers he is one of the best in baseball.

Freddy killed us tonite...Double play really hurt.

You would think the Pirates would get tired of getting beat up by the Cubs and of course the Brewers. I am tired of the roll over like puppies attitudes when these teams are around.

I think the what bothers me more than anything is the lack of fight, this team looks like it is going to lose before the game starts.

People, no matter where we are in the standings come July 31, as long as we can't beat the Cubs and the Brewers,

LET THE TRADES BEGIN. I don't care who they trade or how many!

At least we're not shelling out 4 mil for Ryan Freel and his 50 ABs and .143 BA.Talk about a waste of money.

Daryl

Freddy killed us tonite...Double play really hurt

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When guys get traded people usually don't remember games like this but I will bet management does.

daryle - Last thread you said JJ was reminding you of Ronnie P.  The lack of production lately maybe, but he still runs out ground balls - and the past two games there have been two tag plays at the plate.  Can't fault him for tonight (had to leave his feet to catch it) but Ronnie NEVER caught those balls.  He wouldn't have even tried to catch today's.  I'll still take  JJ over Diaz, but Doumit over eaither.

Very dry game to watch.

maz

"At least we're not shelling out 4 mil for Ryan Freel and his 50 ABs and .143 BA.Talk about a waste of money."

That does sound like something we would od though!

Well, Vazquez's 2 million for 85 AB's, .247 and .259 slg  is proportionally a bigger hit to the Pirates payroll than Freel is to the Cubbies, as pathetic as that sounds...

How about Bradley for 7 mil and his 18 RBI ?

I have feeling that Zach Duke's days as a Pirate may be numbered.  The Phillies are in dire need of starting pitching and when I saw one of their scout(probably happens often) at the game I got a bad feeling about his future with the bucs.

Hopefully I am just paranoid.

Lee 13.2 mil for 39 RBI.Soriano 17 mil and 32 RBI.As bad as we SEEM  to be THESE  guys are MORE  underachieving in a tiny stadium

WWWYP

I have feeling that Zach Duke's days as a Pirate may be numbered.  The Phillies are in dire need of starting pitching and when I saw one of their scout(probably happens often) at the game I got a bad feeling about his future with the bucs.

Hopefully I am just paranoid.

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What will they give us for him? Was that Fregosi that was there?

Also Littlefield was at the game.

I have not heard ANYTHING  about Duke.Who is your source?

Zach Duke for Kyle Drabek and Jason Donald. Of course the Phils would never do this but, "isn't it pretty to think so."

Last year on June 29 38-43

                      today 35-41  

Doc

Zach Duke for Kyle Drabek and Jason Donald. Of course the Phils would never do this but, "isn't it pretty to think so."

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I would prefer Werth even up

Ok.... But that is less likey unfortunately. I was gonna say Taylor and Drabek, but that is patently absurd, unless Cole Hamel's arm falls off and we throw Snell in also.

Doc - Only if Kyle gets a perm like his dad had!  Kid's tearing things up right now though.

Our starting pitcher tonight had a better BA than our starting catcher. Shows how much Jaramillo has tailed off in the last month, eh?

I don't know how to clap in regular text but you all did a GREAT job!

Kudos to Biz and Marty for stepping to the "mike" and doing the PBP.  I was late getting off work so I forgot to post a note.

Biz got it...I was at PNC with Bay and Mrs. Bay, Irate and Capn watching the game.  Duke didn't look that bad and Adam made a couple of sparklers out there.  I hope NH was watching....despite the K's he had.  Harden had him fooled.

Jaramillo is nowhere near as bad as Paulino was, sorry.  He hasn't had a good couple of games making outs at the plate, but he hasn't looked bad enough to be pulled down to Paulino's level.  

I really thought they'd crack it open when Duke got a hit, but oh well.  

You will all be glad to know I don't think I can go to anymore games this homestand

Bay Jr.

Our starting pitcher tonight had a better BA than our starting catcher.

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And every chance he gets, JR has him bunting when the kid can flat out hit, why give up an out when you don't have to.

Doc

There is situational hitting, it cluch hitting that does not really exist--there is also situational pitching.  Good teams change their approach as the game unfolds.  Working a pitcher instead of hitting the 1st pitch.  Hitting behind the runner.  Hit and run,  getting the ball into the air.  Some players do it well, others do not.  

JAL

I think our situational hitting took the night off, everytime Harden needed to get out of a jam he would start throwing that low breaking ball and most of our hitters would not lay off of it.

Hey All - hate losing to the Cubs!  Hopefully we can get the next two.  Traveling again this week so my posts will be sporadic.  Just wanted to tell everyone hello!

Go Bucs...

Before I forget, we encountered a nice Cubs' fan who took pictures for us...of course this was after they had won the game, but really, he was great about snapping a couple of pics for us.

community.post-gazette.com/.../default.aspx

Of the ladies, Capn is in the Orange, Mrs. Bay is wearing red, myself in the Pirates shirt.  Bay is in white while Irate is wearing his Pirates' shirt.

DMac

Great looking group--wish i was there

DMac

Nice Pics, Bays wife could pass for Capn's sister.

Just can't understand why I waste my time each and every night watching this.  I am as big of a Bucco fan as the next guy, but I can only take so much.  Blow it up Neal.  

Maz

Earlier in the year, the phillies had shown interest in both duke and maholm.  But, as I said I just have a feeling.  They desparate need pitching as this reported here.

www.mlbtraderumors.com/.../amaro-few-pitchers-available.html

Here are a link that links the phils to maholm and duke:

www.cbssports.com/.../rss

leadoff

Our situational hitting takes too much time off--In the third Jaramillo led off with ball, ball then grounded out on next pitch.  4th Sanchez came up with Morgan on 1st, took ball, ball and then flew out on next pitch.  My strategy in both situations is to take the next pitch.  In Jaramillo's case the next 4 pitches to Wilson were balls and in Sanchez's case the next pitch to Adam was a ball.  No guarantee Harden would have thrown the same pitch if he was throwing 2 and 1 to Sanchez to go 3-1 but also not known if the pitch Sanchez swung at was in the strike zone.

Off for the night so i can be awake enough in the morn to do the links without messing up.

Good night to all and to all a good night.

Generally a very well played game of baseball. BUT this is the type of game we need to start winning. WE NEED to get that clutch hit, WE NEED to get that clutch pitch, WE NEED to get these kinds of wins. Cubs are playing under .500 ball. LETS GET THEM NOW! I still think its team leadership, team motivation, team belief in themselves. We can win these types of games and series to get to the next level. Sanchez was there twice and just did not finish it off with that clutch hit. Lordy, he was my go to guy. Well again, a well played game by both teams if ya like baseball. Otherwise Pirates JUST DO IT, JUST WIN BABY!  Go Burgh

One last post to What's Wrong

Interesting links but after reading them certainly see nothing too hot there--normal what do teams need and who might be available.  I am sure Maholm and Duke are on several team's radar.  We shall see what unfolds over the next month.

So everyone knows, once again I want to say it is just a feeling I got watching the game.

What shocked both Irate and myself was that JR actually PH-d for Jaramillo in the 9th.  I don't think I've ever seen him PH for the catcher, regardless of the inning.  

JAL:

"Working a pitcher instead of hitting the 1st pitch"

What a novel idea. I have never, ever seen that done.

I love how 2 days ago everyone in here was saying "oh, let's keep these players and make a run at being mediocre."  Today everyone is "trade, trade, trade",  make up your minds.  The smart thing to do is continue the plan of trading away vets and bringing in prospects who could be their future.  

It's looking more and more like Duke is a better hitter than Moss.  Let's keep Young in RF for a couple months.

Plus, tonight the Pirates rule of thumb was in play.  Any time the Pirates go up against a "good" pitcher, they get dominated.  I've been saying it all season, and it's been holding true.  Although it is pretty funny that "great" pitchers have trouble with this triple A lineup, but that's another story.

Dmac, I think JR heard Daryle yelling. It was eerie how quickly after Daryle posted about Jammer that JR pinch hit for him.

I'm hoping Daryle posts I need a doubling of my salary next!

I know it's only one game, but Freddy does not deserve to be an All-Star after this one.  Although the situational hitting was bad across the board, his stood out more than anyone to me.  And our catchers are starting to show their true colors; we really need Doumit back.  Yes JJ has hit a few homers the last week or so, but, honestly, who cares.  Doumit will be a welcome return.

Also, I've said it many times, if we cannot beat anyone in our own division, we are destined to lose 90+ games.  It's mind-boggling to me how bad we are against the Cubs and Brewers.  And Stros, for that matter.  

I'm all for whatever moves we need to make to change the makeup of this organization.  We don't have the killer instinct...ever.  Gosh, last year offense was good...no pitching.  This year...pitching has been inconsistent at times, but ultimately very good compared to last year....offense puts a knot in my stomach, night after night.  

I can be as big an optimist as anyone, but let's please not talk about playoffs.  Not at least until we ever get to 2nd or 3rd in our own division.  I know we're only 6 back, but it means nothing when you have 5 teams to jump.

Irate and I were saying yesterday that we missed Doumit.  Diaz and JHammer have done a good job, but boy will it be nice when Ryan comes back.  

Duke had his juke

Bucs offense makes you puke

1-12, Bucs 3-4-5

Glad I didn't see it live

Time to start disassembling this team. It has shown absolutely no life against NL Central opponents. Get on the phone NH. Get what you can for AdamLa, Moss, Snell and Grabow. DO NOT trade your young pitchers! Duke, Maholm, Ohlendorf, Karstens and Morton have too much potnetial to trade away. Negotiate with J. Wilson NOW and extend him for two years at a reasonable cost. Freddy? - That's the big question, what do you do with Sanchez? Just my opinions.....

Maybe Doumit can finally live up to the potential every wants to see.  However, as long as he's catching, he'll never play more than 130 games healthy, and even less when he takes his annual trip to the DL.  Either make him a 1st baseman or keep him healthy enough to trade him for a power bat that stays in the lineup.

The room appears empty, as even the ants have left

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