Pirates and Dimondbacks Drama

Hey All,

I know I haven't been on here much this year with my blog, and for the I apologize. Just been busy with a bunch of other stuff. But never fear, I'm back and better than ever, and boy do I have a good one for you folks tonight. Late last week the Pirates took on the Diamondback's in Arizona, and boy did sparks start to fly. It all got started on Friday and then got worse from there. There was late game missed calls, players being beamed, and managers getting tossed. This isn't enough for me though. I feel that more fines should be held to the Diamondbacks organization for what they did in Saturday's game.

To be fair in the matter at hand, this case started on Friday night in the 9th inning of the game. Pirate Pitcher Ernesto Frieri plunked D-backs All-Star Paul Goldschmidt on the hand fracturing it. This only becomes significant because he is behind Andrew McCutchen in the NL MVP race. Goldschmidt is more than likely going to miss the rest of the regular season because of his hand and is about 95% chance he is out of the race for NL MVP.

Now let's flash to Saturday's game all the way to the 9th inning, yet again. This time D-Backs pitcher Randall Delgado drills Andrew McCutchen in the small of his back with a 95 MPH Fastball. Now most would think it's retaliation, and you would be right. But, there is a bit of principle here. Now, if McCutchen would have just gotten hit by a pitch, I'd be okay with this and wouldn't be writing this. That wasn't the case on Saturday. Now had this beaming happen in the first inning, the second inning, hell I'd even take the third inning there would be no problem. This happened in the 9th inning, they waited the entire game, and that's not right. Not only that, but the sign that was given to Delgado was really obvious as to what was going to happen.

Delgado got a sign that was a middle finger pointed down, and then pointed right to McCutchen. This was after the Catcher looked at the coach for the call. So this came from the Manager. Now, the Manager had been tossed earlier in the game for making a big scene with Martin after Friday's night game, and then getting into it with the Umps after a questionable call in Saturday's game. So it came from back up Manager, or was called in from the club house. Either way this call came from the bench, and wasn't just the players doing this on their own.  

The one major problem that I have with these actions is NOTHING was done about it. Even McCutchen, who typically keeps his cool had something to say. “They had all game to retaliate. They had the first inning to retaliate. They had the first pitch (of the ninth inning at-bat) to retaliate. They missed. You throw a slider on the second pitch and then you throw up and in on the next pitch. Are you trying to hurt me too? That’s the question…. We understand that retaliation is going to happen in this game. But you know, there’s a right way to do it. If you’re going to hit me, hit me. He hit me square in the spine. If I get hurt, what happens then?”

I couldn't have said this better myself. Something needs to happen to the Diamondbacks origination. Fines, suspensions, or a combination of the two, no matter what, something needs to be done by MLB. This is getting out of hand. Someone is going to get hurt, and this late in the season, it could case a team to miss the postseason. If I had my way, the Pitcher Delgado, the Catcher who put the sign up, and both Manager, and acting Manager at the time should all be fined, and all be suspend for their actions. Not only was it classless, but it was uncalled for. This could have very well ended Cutchen's season as well as his career. The ball did hit him right in the spin. The league needs to do something and it needs to do something quick. I mean hell, it's already Tuesday night, and nothing has happened yet. How long do we have to wait for a punishment? Sure shouldn't be this long, and I won't rest until something is done.

Until Next Time,
You keep doing what you do, and I'll keep you up to date with everything sports. 

Punches in Pittsburgh Punishment

Hey All,

I'm sure If you've watched Sports Center you've seen the bench clearing brawl between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Pittsbugh Pirates. This all started after Gomez and Cole had words after Gomez hit a triple off of Cole.

Today the league handed out the punishment. There were four players involved, and ESPN has more on this story.

Carlos Gomez suspended 3 games http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/10822556/major-league-baseball-issues-penalties-milwaukee-brewers-pittsburgh-pirates-scuffle?ex_cid=null -via SportsCenter http://bit.ly/zzSpRY

After these suspensions were handed out, Gomez, Snider, and Martin are appealing their suspensions. I think this is a great move for Snider and Martin, not so much Gomez. I feel this way because Snider and Martin were sticking up for their pitcher Cole. Not to mention that Snyder got drilled by a Brewer defending Cole, Martin was just out there to support his teammates, but Gomez started the whole thing by being cocky. 

I don't think the suspensions are just. For one, Gomez deserves more than a 5 game suspension. He is a repeat offender, who said in his statement after the game "That's how I play, if they don't like it then they don't like it." He's telling everyone he's not going to stop with his attitude on the field, and basically start more bench clearing brawls on the diamond. 

Second Martin shouldn't get a suspension for defending a fellow teammate, and Snider got blasted in the face and taken out by another Brewer, again for defending his pitcher. There is no reason for these two to have a suspension, but Gomez needs more than 5 games for this. What is 5 games? Like a series and a half, in the beginning of the season? Who cares about that? It means nothing. I say a full week of games worth of suspensions. 

Until next time,
You keep doing what you do and I'll keep you up to date with everything sports

Two Game, Two Extra Innings Walk Offs

Hey All,

Well it's official, the baseball season is upon us, and boy did it get off to great start. A lot of teams seemed to look like there was no layoff from the Winter season. They jumped right back into things like there was no offseason. One of the teams is the Pittsburgh Pirates. They are playing some great baseball right now, like they did last season. The pitching is right where it was last season, even after losing their ace A.J. Burnett to the Phillies. The hitting is right where it was when the season ended last year, with maybe a few cobwebs that need beaten off, but who doesn't need to do that. It seems like the only way to go for the Pirates, is up.

The season got underway this past Monday March 30th with opening day against the Cubs. This game was a pitchers duel throughout the entire game, as it was 0-0 going into the 9th inning. Neither team could buy of run in this game because of the pitching. Francisco Liriano pitched a gem on opening day. He went 6 innings with only few hits and 10 K's. He is one of few Pirates who had double digit strikeouts on opening day. Though Liriano didn't get the win on opening day you still can't say that he didn't deserve a win, if only he got a little run support. The Bucs were able to get a win in the bottom of the 10th inning on a Neil Walker walk off home run. This is Walker's first walk off home run ever, and it just so happen to happen on opening day in Pittsburgh.

Yesterday, Wednesday April 2nd, the Bucs had their hands full with the Cubs yet again. Only this time, there was a lot more runs scored, and innings played. This game had a lot of excitement with run support, as well as pitching. This game was 2-1 in favor of the Bucs in the top of the 9th. This meant it was time for the closer. Jason Grilli was called in to close the game out, and I thought it was a done deal. Well, the Cubs had other plans. They were able to get a run and stop Grilli from getting his first save of the season. This meant that the Bucs were going into extras for the second time in as many games. This hasn't happened since 1964 that the Bucs had to go into extras two times in two games, and oddly enough, it was against the Cubs.

This game though, wouldn't just go 10 innings, it would go 16 innings and had just as much excitement. In the 12th inning, the Cubs were able to take the lead 3-2 and it looked like the Bucs were going to lose this game. Well, they had other plans. They were able to get another run off the bat of Marte, and no one was able to get a run until the 16th inning. The Bucs looked like they weren't going to make it out of the 16th and the game was going to go into the 17th, but Tony Sanchez had other plans. With runners on the corners and a full count, Sanchez had one pitch left to face. He was able to slap a ball into left and score Marte from third. This was just as exciting as Walkers, because this was also Sanchez's first career walk off RBI.

This is a great start for the Pirates, and lets everyone know that they are no joke and are here to contend. The bullpen has been able to hold down the fort like they did all of last season. The hitting and the defense has been there like it was last season. The only thing that I see is room for more improvement. They are only going to get better from this point on, and I can't wait to see how this season turns out.

Until next time,
You keep doing what you do, and I'll keep you up to date with everything sports. 

Opening Day is Almost Here

Hey All,

As I'm sure most of you know, the baseball season is about to get underway. Spring training is almost to a close, and the teams are about to get out of their camps, and into their home stadiums. A lot of the teams have made some strides in Spring Training, and others picked up right where they left off. 

The one team I will be talking about today, and for most of the season, is the Pittsburgh Pirates. Yes, because they are my favorite team, and yes they are also my hometown team. Along with that they are one of the least recognized teams in the league, and don't get the respect that they deserve. So, that is why I'm here. To give them the recognition that they rightfully deserve. 

They went into Spring Training coming off of their best season in a very long time. Roughly around 21 years of being under .500 and not even coming close to the postseason. Now that's all changed. They had a winning season and made it past the opening round of the playoffs last season, and things are looking up for the Battling Bucco's. 

They are returning most of their starters from last year, and have made great moves in their farm leagues. The pitching staff is right where it left off, minus the work of A.J. Burnett, who has retired after a long a successful career. Pittsburgh has made the necessary moves to fill the void of the Ace. The only problem is, they have too much talent and not enough roster spots. There just isn't enough room at the table for everyone, and a lot of quality guys will be moving down to AAA Indianapolis.  For example, left handed pitcher (LHP) Michael Schlereth, son of former NFL great and ESPN Analysis Mark Schlereth. Schlereth hasn't given up a run this Spring Training, yet he was told that, even though he's had a great Spring Training, there just isn't room in the bullpen for him.

Now even though he won't be moved up with the club, that doesn't mean that he won't get a chance to play for the team this year. Baseball is a very long season, and you just simply can't predict injuries, trades, or anything else that could effect a player this year. I'm almost certain that Michael will be playing for the team at some point in time this season. 

The Pirates will have their home opener, as well as opening day, on March 31 and I can't wait to see what they bring to the table this year. I have all the faith in the world that the Pirates will be a contender this year and will make a strong run through the postseason. 

Until next time,

You keep doing what you do, and I'll keep you up to date with everything sports. 

Baseball Update

Hey All,

A quick baseball update for ya, and what has gone on, prior to, and now that it's the first games back since the All Star break. There has been a lot that has gone on right before the break. Some good, some bad, but mostly bad for one team in particular. The team is not one I am to fond of, but non to less you never want anything bad to happen to anyone. That team would be the New York Yankees.

The Yankees have had one of the worst starts they have ever had. Injuries have plagued their team, and it just seems like if it can go wrong, it has gone wrong. Besides the injuries there's also the biogenisus scandal going on, which one player specifically is right in the middle of it. We'll get to that a little later, right now the injuries is what interests me the most.

The Yankees have had almost all of their stars go on the DL, some of which are still there. Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, these are just some of the names for the Yanks that are on the DL, and it's not looking good.  A Rod has been out all year and is finishing up his rehab assignments now, and Teixeira has been back for only a handful of games this year. The newest name to this ever growing list of injuries is Derek Jeter. Jeter has just been put on the 15 day DL with a strained Quad. He says it feels fine, yet he hasn't ran on it yet. So, I don't know how he can sit there and say it's fine, when he hasn't tested it out yet.

The next thing that really is hurting the Yankees is the Biogenisus scandal, that has A Rod right smack dab in the middle of it. He has already been caught before using PED's, and this will be his second offense. For second time offenders, it can bring up to a 100 game suspension, and that will crush the Yankees this season. They've only had A Rod for one game this season, and he only produced one hit, and had to be taken out before the game was over because he was have discomfort in his quad. There's only one other catch to this story, and that's Rodriguez might not just be suspended for 100 games, he could receive a life time band from the game of baseball for lying about using PED's.

To make matters worse for the Yankees, their first series back from the All Star Break, they get the Red Sox. A rivalry game that means everything to both these teams. The Red Sox beat the Yankees very easily by a score of 4-2. Doubront got the win, bringing him to a 7-3 record and is looking strong moving forward. Pettitte got the lose bringing him to 7-7 on the season and isn't looking good.

The scoring got started in the Bottom of the 1st inning when Ellsbury homered to right on a 1-0 count. After that Napoli was able to reach base for Gomes. Gomes hit a 2 run blast over the monster on a 2-2 count. Making the score 3-0 Red Sox. Another point wasn't scored until the Top of the 4th inning when Catcher Saltalamacchia committed an error, and Gardner was able to score. The next points were scored by the Yanks on a double to left from Stewart scoring Overbay. This was the Top of the 5th inning. This put the Yanks back in the game, but not for long. The Sox got yet another run, and the final run of the game, in the Bottom of the 7th inning on a single to right from Iglesias scoring Gomes. After that closer Uehara would come in and get his 9th save of the year and shut it down.

New York didn't need this game to go the way that it did. As of right now, based on the way they've played and how well the rest of their Division is doing, they only have a 7% chance of making the playoffs this year. This is very uncommon for the Yanks, they have been consistently in the post-season for the past 17 times out of the last 18 years. To make matter worse for the Yankees, the Pittsburgh Pirates have over a 90% chance of making the post-season this season, and they haven't had a winning record for a record breaking 21 straight seasons.

The Battling Buccos are having one of the best starts to their season in a long time. They've won more games in the first half of the season, then they've ever had  since 1996. In my opinion, they have a great team and everyone is doing their part, and helping this team to make a playoff run. There's only one problem with this, and that's the Division that they play in. It's one of the hardest Divisions in the Majors if you ask me. With the Reds, who are always a tough team, the Cardinals, who are always at the top of the Division, and the Brewers, who the Pirates just can't seem to beat, it makes it very hard to make the playoffs. But I'm not asking for a playoff birth this season. I'm asking for a winning season to break this streak of losing ones, as I'm sure every Pirates fan is wishing for.

This baseball season has been one of the most unpredictable seasons I've ever seen. With teams who shouldn't be up in the running for the playoffs, to teams who are always up there, being at the bottom of the Division. I can't wait to see how the rest of the season plays out, and will keep you up to date with everything that happens along the way.

Until next time,
You keep doing what you do, and I'll keep you up to date with everything sports.

The Collapse of The Pirates

Hey All,

Today is a very sad day in the land of the Burg. It's now October and the battlin buccos should be preparing for the postseason, but yet they are not. Following the worst half of baseball that I have ever seen in my life. The Pirates have now had 20 straight losing seasons. That sets an MLB record, a record no team what's to hold. Unforchantaly the Buccos own that record.

The Pirates fell apart right after the trade deadline. There was no stopping it, the management had made its decision. They should have kept the team as it was when they were winning, instead of trying to bring a new comer in. Pedro Alvarez said it the best, "we should have kept all of us together, and not try and make some big move."

If you look back on when the Bucs were winning, you'll notice that they were just out there to have fun and play baseball. Between throwing up the Zoltan Z after every hit, and the pitchers having more enthusiasm after every pitch, that was when the Pirates were winning games. Then the pressure got to them after the All Star break and they fell apart.

Do I think Wandy Rodriguez was a bad pick up, no, but I don't believe he was a good fit in the Pirates pitching rotation. When manager Clint Hurdle moved around the starting rotation is when he got into pitcher James McDonald's head and his "stuff" wasn't there anymore. He was in the heads of his players. Hurdle shouldn't have picked up a pitcher, but rather pick up a position player to help out the hitting. The Pirates weren't losing games by much, in the first half of the season, just by 1 or 2 runs. If they would have brought in a big bat to help out, I think I'd be talking about how far the Bucs are going to go into the playoffs, rather than them missing it yet again and having an under .500 season.

The last thing the bugs me about the Pirates season was the fans chanting "MVP!! MVP!!! MVP!!!" every time McCutchen got up to bat. Do I think he had a chance at it, in the first half of the season, yes. Do I think he carried that team at that time, yes. Do I think if they had a first half MVP as well as a second half MVP that he would have won it, yes. But that does not mean that he is going to get it. Yes I know he was batting in the 400's and his slugging and on base percentage were outrageous, but by no means was he in MVP forum.

All in all the Pirates had a good season, and have a lot of room for improvement. I've said this countless times but if they can find and put a team together that works, and that is winning an having fun, they will be a nice team and can make a good run for October and the postseason.

Until next time,
You keep doing what you do, and I'll keep you up to date with everything sports.

Batting Crown In Pittsburgh?

Hey All,

The battlin Bucs are heating up, including that of center fielder Andrew McCutchen who looks to bring a batting title to Pittsburgh.

For the Pirates, home is where you hang your crown. Yet the Bucs' home is also where hitters hang their heads, mourning drives that become warning-track fatalities.

The man promising to bring the NL batting crown "home" has barreled-up on that contradiction. Andrew McCutchen returns to PNC Park on Friday night accompanied by the rest of the first-place Pirates and enough flashing numbers to make Elias' head spin.

McCutchen's .369 average puts him in position to add to the Pirates' 25 historical batting titles, the most for any Major League team (St. Louis is runner-up in the NL with 22 crowns, while Red Sox players have won 24 AL titles).

Amazing enough that average is 153 points above what McCutchen produced in the second half of the 2011 season. It has a lot to do with Pirates ownership's reaction to that swoon: A six-year, $51.5 million contract extension agreed to during Spring Training.

"That freed up Andrew," manager Clint Hurdle said. "His attitude became, 'I can just go and play now.' Sometimes something like that can lock up a guy, worried about living up to it. Not him."

McCutchen is also contending for the NL home run crown. His 22 are second to Ryan Braun's 26, after McCutchen waited until the Bucs' 29th game to hit No. 1.

The future Home Run Derby participant did not connect for his first homer until May 8, a game he had also begun with an average of .298. In 61 games since McCutchen is batting .404, with 22 home runs and 58 RBIs.

"The thing is, those first five weeks he was getting pitches to hit, but wasn't hitting them," Hurdle recalled. "He's not missing them now. He's playing the game the best he's ever played."

All this makes the center fielder the embodiment of Pittsburgh's strange journey along the National League Central's yellow brick road. For he has built, and will try to maintain, those incredible numbers in a home park that was designed to be pitcher-friendly and has lived up to that blueprint.

Wait, you say, haven't the Bucs led the Majors in scoring since the start of June? That they have, and it is a contradiction that leads to the most confounding part of the Pirates' contention for the division title.

Good thing that Hurdle keeps saying that the season's outcome will define this team because, at the moment, it defies definition. Throw all of the team's stats into a numbers-crunching machine and it would sputter, emit sparks and finally just blow up.

The Bucs' well-chronicled offensive turnaround has had less to do with adjusted swings than with the schedule. Through May, which they ended with a ridiculous team average of .218, the Pirates played 29 of 50 games at home. Since then they have played 25 of 41 games on the road.

The Pirates have hit 64 of their 101 home runs on the road, where they average 4.5 runs compared to 3.7 at home. Despite this their 29-14 record in PNC Park is the Majors' best home mark.

It doesn't make sense until the spotlight shines on their collective 2.39 ERA in those 43 home games, more than two runs lower than the road mark (4.68).

"Our pitchers love pitching at home. It's a pitcher-friendly ballpark," Hurdle reiterated. "When you develop a home-field mentality, you build your club to your home field. What we tried to do is get the personnel in place we need to have success.

"But," Hurdle added, "our guys have gotten over the mentality that left field is too deep, that it is not a hitter's park. It is -- if you hit line drives and keep the ball low and hit it hard, good things will happen. There's a lot of grass out there."

There was also a lot of grass around the 457-foot center field sign in Forbes Field -- where 13 of the Pirates' batting titles were won between 1909-1970. Before that, Exposition Park hosted seven bat kings. Three Rivers Stadium produced four titles, while Freddy Sanchez's 2006 title was the only one in PNC Park's first 12 seasons.

McCutchen thrives among those grass blades, although his wrists can generate the bat-speed and power to send balls soaring over them. His 10 home runs at PNC Park account for 27 percent of the team's home total. He also is hitting 30 points higher at home (.386) than on the road (.356).

He shouldn't count on those MVP chants subsiding during the upcoming six games against the Marlins and Cubs.

McCutchen's version of his breakthrough is as monotonous as the two, three hits he seems to be getting daily.

"[I'm] just going up there trying to hit the ball hard, without trying to do too much," McCutchen keeps saying. His modesty belies all the hard offseason work the All-Star put in to get to this point.

"He worked on things he had to do to be the best player he can be and he hasn't varied from that for one day," Hurdle said. "It's a very special time and place for him. And the other thing is, he's having fun with it. Too many times, we get that head-down-and-grind mentality of, 'I've got to do well' and falling to pieces if things don't go right. Andrew is enjoying this ride."

He enjoys it the most of any of the Pirates hitters when the ride pulls into PNC Park. On a personal level that is. Everyone is stoked by the wins, but when it comes to maintaining offensive equilibrium, no one is as balanced as McCutchen.

Go down the line: Pedro Alvarez has 13 road homers among his 19 (a total which pairs with McCutchen to form the NL's second-best one-two punch, behind only the Milwaukee twosome of Braun and Corey Hart). Casey McGehee has hit seven of his eight on the road and Neil Walker is hitting 59 points higher on the road (.324) than at home (.265).

The Pirates' chief home-field advantage is knowing what to expect and how to prepare for it. Hurdle's lineup often reflects the defensive needs of the day's pitcher, whether his tendency is to get grounders or get to the ball in the air.

By the time a visiting team might have figured it out, it has to move on.

"Our confidence level spikes at home," Hurdle said. "It's not like we aren't confident on the road, but at our place and in front of our fans, it's just different."