Pirates Fighting Off A Sweep?

Hey All,

The struggling Pirates faced the Brewers this afternoon in game three of this three game series, and it was one for the pitchers. Charlie Morton was on the mound for the Bucs and did a fantastic job with the Brewers lefty's, who Morton has struggled with this season. Pittsburgh, who is 12 games back in the division, need to pick up a win against the division leader Milwaukee Brewers to try and start a amazing come back. The Pirates have all the chances in the world to try and make another run at the division and the post season with the schedule they have coming up. The Bucs have the NL Central teams the next few series on the schedule. Since they finished their series with the Brewers, they now have the Cardinals at home for a 3 game set, then face the reds for a 3 game set right after that. This couldn't have came at a better time for Pittsburgh. Since they went into the slump they are in, being 12 games back and only going 3-3 in the past six games, the Pirates need to have wins in the next 2 series coming up. If the Pirates can and get out of the mouth of August, they can cut down on the lead that the Brewers have over them in the division.

In the game Vs. the Brewers, Charlie Morton went 7 1/3 innings and struck out 5, and only gave up 1 ER. This is what the Pirates have been lacking since they've been on the losing streak. The only thing I would have done differently in game was leave Varas in, when he came in to relieve Morton. I know what Hurdle was thinking bringing in the The Hammer with one out in the 8th to try and close the inning out, but it back fired on them. Joel Hanarhan picked up his 2nd blown save this season when he struck out Morgan, but it was a wild pitch that went into the dirt and Morgan made it to first safely. This put runners on the corners for the Brewers and not what the Bucs wanted to see because that drove in the lead off man that Morton gave up while he was in. Pittsburgh fought back in the 9th inning though after the first man up struck out, the Pirates then put 2 on in Ludwick, and Cedeno. Ludwick reached with a sharply hit ball up the first base line and through the legs of Fielder. After being down to their last out the Bucs Steve Pearce on a 2-2 pitch stuck out swinging leaving the game 1-1. The Pirates just couldn't seen to produce any offense since the 1st inning when McCutchen drove in a run on a fly ball to center field. Since then no one could score a run until last in the game in the bottom of the 8th. In the bottom of the 9th, with Hanarhan still in the game, the Pirates were still fighting. Everyone thought this game was going to go to the Bucco's; because when they've had a lead through 8 innings they are 50-0 this season, but when they were tied after 8 innings they are just 5-7. The Hammer came through in the 9th inning with a fly out and 2 strike outs to end the inning and send the game into extras. The Pirates in the top of the 10th inning had a base runner in Paul, who was moved over by a sacrifice bunt by Josh Harrison. This brought McCutchen to the plate, who has had a lot of swing and misses this game. McCutchen worked a full count and eventually struck out swinging. This brought Neal Walker to the plate who was intentionally walked with 2 outs. I didn't understand this because it brought Ryan Ludwick to the plate who has pick up a couple good hits in game, even thought they were recorded errors. Plus, Walker an this road trip has not hit well at all for the Pirates. The Brewers walked Ludwick as well, not intentionally though, loading the bases. Brandon Wood was up next who chopped a ball that went maybe a foot in front of the plate which made the last out easy for the catcher to touch home plate for the force out. Everyone, including myself, did not want this to be another marathon game like the 19 inning game the Pirates had earlier in the season. This would not be the case, the Brewers would end the game in the bottom of the 10th inning of a sacrifice fly by Morgan to score the winning run in walk off fashion. The Pirates just can't catch a break here late in the season, let's hope for a better outcome in the series against the Cardinals at PNC Park.

Pirates V. Giants

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The Bucco's are back to the winning side of things in their series with the San Fransisco Giants. The Pirates picked up with first win of a series since mid July. This series got a bit dicey once Pittsburgh shut out last years World Series Champs 5-0. In game two it was the Pirates turn to get shut out 6-0. In today's game with the Giants the Pirates had everything going right for them today; the hitters were hitting, the pitching was on fire, and the defense was outstanding. Pittsburgh has made some necessary changes to their line up before the deadline, which seemed to back fire a little bit. Once Pittsburgh added Lee, Ludwick, got Doumit and Alvarez back, is when they went on the 10 game losing streak. I think that they needed to put Doumit on situation only, and kept the young guys who were hitting and winning them games . That formula was the winning one, and the one they need to bring back. They should keep Doumit out of the mix, keep McKenry in at catcher, and get back to winning. They need to figure this out and fast, the games they have coming up against the Brewers and Cardinals can help get them back into the pennant race. If they can keep the momentum up going into the next 2 series they can get back into the race for the division title.

Brad Keselowski Wins With Broken Ankle

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I just witness one of the most amazing things I have ever seen inside a race car. Brad Keselowski wins at Pocono on a broken ankle, a tore up foot, and a bad back. He did all of this practicing, he was running some practice laps and wrecked his car, completely totaling it. When that happened it pushed the pedals back into his feet, breaking his left ankle, and really bruising his right foot. This is unbelievable to me that he was able to A. get in the car, and B. win the race. I wouldn't even think about climbing into a race car with a broken anything, let alone a broken ankle. He is tough as nails in my eyes, and an outstanding athlete for going through all the pain im sure he went through today. Brad has only 3 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series wins under his belt, counting this one. This win also put him in the running for the wild card spot in the case. Brad has 1 win this season and he is running in 18th in the standings. The way the points are this year is; the top 10 make the case for the sprint cup, to decide 11th and 12th is considered "wild card spots" the drivers in the top 20 who have the most wins get into the case in the last two spots. I hate this new rule change. I just don't think it's fair that drivers could have won a race or two at the beginning of the season, be in 20th in the points, and make the case over a driver who worked all season to be in the top 12. It's not fair to the drivers who come in week in and week out and work hard, make changes to their cars, have their teams build them the best cars for the track that they will be racing at, and just flat out going to the tack and racing their ass off to get a good finish. The only people who like this are the people who have not been able to make the top 12 and make the case. I also think this is NASCAR's way to try and keep Jimmy Johnson from winning his 6th consecutive championship. I also think that they were trying to make it so that if Dale Earnhardt Jr. didn't finish in the top 12 and happened to get a win this season, that he would be able to make the case, and contend for a championship. Now I am a huge Dale Jr. fan and would love to see him make the chase, but I would also like it better if he made the chase on his own, and not him it given to him because he won if he won a race this season. I like good ol' fashion racing, bumper to bumper, high speeds, and drivers joking for position. I also think that NASCAR, on super speed ways, should loss the restricter plates and let them fly out there. It would make for more exciting racing, and probably bring more fans to the sport. I was glad to see a exciting race today and think it's amazing what Brad Keselowski was able to do today. I want to give him a big congratulations,a big thumbs up for "maning up", getting in his car, and winning the race.

Struggling Pirates

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The Pittsburgh Pirates are on a 8 game losing streak, and compared to their amazing run to first in the division, this is down right sad. They have moved to third in the division and 8 games back from first. Tonight the Pirates gave up 4 HR in this game which lead to their 15-5 loss to the San Diego Padres. A team that doesn't have a good record, and doesn't hit a lot of HR. The sad thing is that the Pirates down fall these past 8 games has not be solely to blame on the offense, but the pitching of the Pirates has died. One of the element of their game that I said was the strongest part of their offense. Something needs to happen, and happen fast if the Pirates want to get back at making a run at the pennant race. I guess you can't really be too surprised at what is happening to the Pirates, at this point in time in the season. They always seem to crash and burn near the end of the season. When looking at their schedule coming up, it doesn't get any easier for the Pirates. They have the hardest part of their schedule coming up, with Milwaukee, St. Louis, and San Fransisco, last years champs. Pittsburgh needs to get on a different type of run, and that would be a winning run, and they need to do it fast. With how their schedule works they have to play Milwaukee twice, and St. Louis twice, so they can make a strong run back to first in the division by winning all of those series. I'm hoping and looking forward to the month of August for the Pittsburgh Pirates. It should be exciting and fun to watch. Once the Pirates regain their pitching staff, and get it back to where it was in the beginning of the season, up until these past 8 games. If this happens they will once again make a strong run at the pennant.

Favre Back To The NFL

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Now I know most of us have heard about all the rumors that Brett Favre is coming back to the NFL. This is just sports writers trying to cause some chatter, and give most analysis on ESPN something to talk about. I think they are just trying to get into the head of Brett and make him think he can come back for another year, which we all know he shouldn't. He is simply too old to be back in the NFL. I am one of the biggest Favre fans out there. I have once said that you can cut off both his arms and both his legs and he would still be the best torso in football, and I'm coming out here and saying he needs to stay retired. Last season should have proved to him that he just doesn't have it in him to compete at that level. Brett holds most of the NFL passer records anyways, and doesn't have anything else to prove to the fans, or the NFL.

The only reason this is coming out is because Miami fans are booing their starter Chad Henne. Henne, given isn't a bad QB, but he isn't a good one. Plus he plays for the Dolphins. The Miami Dolphins have not made a run at the playoffs, or had a winning record in I can't even tell you how long. Now everyone thought that the Dolphins were going to go out and acquire a trade for Kyle Orton and make him the starter. This according to ESPN "hurt Chad Henne's feelings" because at a scrimmage Dolphins fans were chanting "WE WANT ORTON!" Now I think this is getting under his skin because he has not produced for the Dolphins, and everyone knows that they need a new QB. I think he needs to get over it and go out and try to play and win games for Miami. Fans are going to boo, they're going to chant stuff that you don't like about you, and they are going to want better players to their team to make it a better team. Henne needs to learn this, in sports, you need to have a short memory otherwise you're not going to make it. Henne needs to just forget it and get back to work and not let it affect his play.

Randy Moss

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One of the best Wide Receivers (WR) in the game has called it quits. Randy Moss, the king of the one handed catch, has finally retired from the game of football. He decided that he would not find a team that he would fit with and is hanging up his cleats. The 34 year-old WR is ending his career after 13 seasons, which landed him in the top 10 in most receiving categories. In those 13 years that he played, Moss had 954 career receptions with 135 touchdowns. The receptions puts him tied for 8th all time in the league, and the touchdowns put him in second place behind the great of the game Jerry Rice. Most people don't believe that he is actually going to retire, mainly because of how he did it. His agent, Joel Segal, was the one who talked to the media to get the news out there this afternoon. Segal said "After weighing his options and contemplating offers, he's decided to retire." This makes people second guess his decision to retire. According to his agent Segal, Randy didn't receive the right offer. Segal said "He's such a competitor and wanted to go back. However, he wanted to go back in certain places," Segal said. "He wanted to be on a championship team in his mind." Everyone knows that Randy wants a ring, something that he hasn't been able to get in his 13 year tender. Randy's best shot to win a championship was in 2007 when the New England Patriots went 16-0, only to be upset by the New York Giants in the Super Bowl. Randy Moss played for four different teams, but the bulk of his career was played with the Minnesota Vikings. I think that if the right offer is made, that Moss will be back in the NFL, but until then the NFL world will miss Randy Moss.