2017 Pittsburgh Pirates

Mister Bee
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Re: 2016 Pittsburgh Pirates

Post by Mister Bee »

Bucs take 2 of 3 from the Cubs and are now just 7.5 games behind them.

Just a couple of weeks ago we were 14.5 back and 5 games below 500. Now we are 3 games over 500. We got hot and they got cold.

Offense has improved, especially with runners on base. The starting pitching was carrying us for awhile but the bullpen has really stepped it up even though the starting pitching hasn't been very good the last week. So the All-star break should give the shark tank a nice break.

Some good, timely AAA call ups have helped our staff, Tyler Glasnow, Chad Kuhl and Steven Brault gave us some good innings and a look at the future.

Also include utility man Adam Frazier who seems to have earned a longer stay in the majors and future 1st baseman Josh Bell who only got a 3 day call up but made a big impression. Josh will be back for good when the rosters are expanded in September, maybe even sooner. The Bucco farm system, which has earned the title of best in MLB is starting to show some very exciting results.

Staff ace Gerrit Cole is expected back on the hill after the break and Ryan Vogelsong will be back sooner than expected so that will help us out.

Catcher Fransico Crevelli will also return after the break.

GM Neil Huntington said that he expects the Pirates to be buyers before the trade deadline as he is looking for more pieces for our 4th straight run at the post season.

Bucs will be on the road after the break for a short 3 game series vs the NL East leading Washington Nationals on Friday. Neither team has announced it's starting pitchers.

The race for the NL Central crown has turned into a 3 team race and the Cubs don't appear to be a total lock to break the curse of the billy goat just yet.

As always...

LETS GO BUCS!!!


danicalifornia
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Re: 2016 Pittsburgh Pirates

Post by danicalifornia »

The Cubs will have All Star Dexter Fowler back a couple of days after the break. That will be a big jolt back into the lineup, which hasn't been struggling, unlike the starting pitching, which I think everyone knew wasn't going to stay on pace to be the greatest rotation ever lol

Went to the game yesterday, first time at PNC in over a decade and it did not disappoint. My 2nd favorite stadium behind Wrigley. Besides being around some very dumb fans (Cardinals lost to the Rangers in the NLCS last year as an example) it was an awesome experience. They use the scoreboard about 5827x better than GAB uses theirs.

I think that I'll be heading to more Cub games in Pittsburgh than in Cincinnati from now on. It's worth the extra hour each way, IMO. Good luck to the Pirates in the 2nd half.


Mister Bee
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Re: 2016 Pittsburgh Pirates

Post by Mister Bee »

Bucs 10 Mariners 1

RAISE THE JOLLY ROGER!!!

Bucs starter Gerrit Cole was outstanding in getting the complete game as the Bucs end the homestand 5-3. However, the Bucco bats left alot of runners on base in every game and we could have easily gone 6-2 or 7-1. We have to start producing when we have runners on base and in scoring position. I think in game 1 vs Seattle we were 1-13 WISP. Horrible. Last night's 10-1 win could have and should have been around 16-1. To many times we are getting multiple runners on base with 0 or 1 outs and stranding them.

We need our starting pitchers to start chewing up innings and I mean quality innings to help out the bullpen.

McCutchen is hitting 50 points below his.293 career average but he did go 3-5 last night so lets hope he is out of his season long funk. I was ready to bench him for a couple of games to clear his head if I was the manager.

Freese needs to be in the lineup everyday. Infield or outfield, we need his bat. He hammers lefthanded pitching and did so again last night.

Pirate farm system is rated the best in baseball. A lot of good, young players down there but they are a year or two away from being everyday starters, especially the starting pitching like Glasnow (DL) Kuhl and Tallion. More are coming at nearly every postion. It will be interesting to see if we are buyers or not before the August 1st trading deadline. If we go after anyone it should be an established starting pitcher IMHO.

Bucs start a 6 game road trip, 3 each vs the Brewers and Braves. We need to win every series and sweep a couple to have a chance at catching the divison leading Cubs or securing a wild card spot.

Game 1 vs the Brewers has us sending out rookie Steven Brault to make his 2nd start (4IP 1R 4H 2W 5K) in his first start limited to a pitch count to face fellow rookie Junior Guerra (6-2, 2.85) who went 6IP 2R 3H 3W 6K against us on July 20th. We are a miserable 5-13 the last 2 years in Miller Park. Time to turn the tide.

LETS GO BUCS!!!


Mister Bee
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Re: 2016 Pittsburgh Pirates

Post by Mister Bee »

Brewers sweep the Pirates right out of Milwaukee for the 3rd straight series.

Bucs look totally lifeless after the Melancon trade was announced.

Bucco management have lowered the Jolly Roger and raised the white flag even though we are only 4 games out of the 2nd wildcard spot.

Pirate fans came now look at the final 59 games of this year as an early jump on spring training for the 2017 season. There will be a constant shuffling of players up and down from the majors to the minors as players are given their chance of having a "cup of coffee" in the majors. Look for many minor leaguers to make starts and pinch hit appearances for the Pirates the final 2 months of the season.

We can only hope that Pirate management and player pride will help us finish above .500 but I have serious reservations that we will.

Once again, we are playing for next year. I can understand the Melancon trade as they have signed him to a 1 year contract every season. This year it was for 9.6 million and he would again be a unrestricted free agent. No way will Pirate brass offer him the expected 12-15 million he will get next season. Their mistake was to sign him to 1 year contracts but that was all about money and the fact that they didn't think he would be as good as he was. One has to wonder what they will do with their ace starter Gerrit Cole as his 1 year contract is up and he is eligible for arbitration after this season.

3 game series at Atlanta starts tonight. Gerrit Cole takes the hill for the Bucs. Hopefully, our players will fight through management"s lack of faith in them and start winning some serious for the fans.

Clint Hurdle would be on a short lease with most other teams but management is writing this season off due to injuries.

Final side note, late season pickup last year starting pitcher J A Happ, who went 7-2 1.86 for us down the stretch, is 14-3 this season for Toronto. We traded for him and let him go as a free agent and the Blue Jays picked him up for 3 years, 36 million. (Thats the same amout we spent on Liriano who we just shipped to Toronto). Boy, we sure could have used Happ but he was just to expensive for us.

As always...

LETS GO BUCS!!!


danicalifornia
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Re: 2016 Pittsburgh Pirates

Post by danicalifornia »

Hutchison is a flyball pitcher who has had some bad luck, with an extremely high BABIP the last 2 seasons, who is getting out of the AL East could be a major positive for him. I think he has more upside for the Pirates than Nova, but I've never been high on Nova.

I also don't get the white flag waving when there was a serious chance to make another run at a playoff spot, especially since I feel like the Fish and Cards are going to slip and the Mets just aren't good. Lots of PT for the youngsters for sure.


Mister Bee
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Re: 2016 Pittsburgh Pirates

Post by Mister Bee »

Bucs start a 3 game series at home tonight vs the hapless Swinging Friars.

Pirates are barely treading water since the All-star break against a schedule heavy on sub .500 teams.

Game 1 has the Bucs sending out Chad Kuhl (1-0, 4.19) to make another spot start vs Luis Perdomo (5-5, 6.67).

Bucs better start taking advantage of their schedule and start winning some series. They started by taking 2 of 3 from the Redlegs this past weekend. They need to continue to win to have a chance for the post season.

Bucs are 2.5 games back from a wildcard spot.

LETS GO BUCS!!!


Mister Bee
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Re: 2016 Pittsburgh Pirates

Post by Mister Bee »

Bucs 6 Swingin' Friars 4

RAISE THE JOLLY RAISE!!!

Bucs starter Kuhl makes a spot start and goes 6 effective innings (2R, 5H, 4BB, 4K) to get the win.

Polanco (El Coffee) gets the game winning RBIs with a 5th inning, 2 on, 1 out, 0-2 blast to right center to break open a tight 2-2 game.

David Freese (this guy needs to be in the lineup everyday) gets 3 hits and Harrison adds 2 more.

McCutchen goes 1-2 and says he is not struggling at the plate this year. ??? You came into the season with a career .294 average (it's now down to .293) and you're hitting .242 this season. Sorry man, you're struggling at the plate. Admit it, own it and your mind will be free of the clutter that is causing the batting average to stink.

Bucs are a dismal 4-6 during their 12 game stretch vs teams that are at least 10 games below .500.

Game 2 has the Bucs sending out Ryan Vogelsong (1-1, 3.25) to face Edwin Jackson (2-2, 5.00).

This will be Vogelsong's 2nd start since being hit in the face back in late May while batting. He started last week vs the Braves and went 6IP, 1R, 3H but didn't get the decision as the Bucs lost 5-2 that night.

Bucco bats need to start producing as the Pirate pitching staff continues to struggle on a regular basis. Winning each series is the only way to get back into the postseason. Bucs are 56-54 with 52 games left to play.

LETS GO BUCS!!!


Mister Bee
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Re: 2016 Pittsburgh Pirates

Post by Mister Bee »

Padres 4 Bucs 0

Bucco starter Vogelsong deserved much better than he got. His line was 6IP, 2 unearned runs, 3H, 1BB and 5K, as he gets stuck with the loss.

The real loser in this game was the Pirate offense which was offensive at best. 2 hits and 3 walks and 0-6 WISP. As Jed Clampet would say, "pitiful, just pitiful."

Pirates try for the series win as they send out Jameson Taillon (2-2, 3.39) to face Freidrich (4-7, 4.76).

Bucs are still 2.5 games back of the wildcard spot.

We need a win before we head west for 3 games each vs the Dodgers and Giants.

LETS GO BUCS!!!


Mister Bee
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Re: 2016 Pittsburgh Pirates

Post by Mister Bee »

Bucs 4 Swingin Friars 0

RAISE THE JOLLY ROGER!!!

Pirate rookie starter Jameson Taillon was outstanding 8IP 0R 3H 2BB 4K.

Bucco bats had 9 hits and they were timely as Freese collects a couple and both times he plates a run. Bucs did a great job with RISP as they were 5-9.

Bucs start a 6 game western road swing with 3 each vs the Dodgers and Giants. We really need to win both series.

Currently, the Dodgers are 1 game back of the Western division leading Giants but the Dodgers have a 4 game lead on the top spot in the wildcard race. Looks like either the Dodgers or Giants will grab the top wildcard slot and they still have 9 games left to play vs each other with 6 of those games in LA but they have a 3 game season ending series in SF. Bucs are 14.5 back of the Cubs in the Central and it looks like our only hope is the 2nd wildcard which we are 2 games back of the Marlins with the Cards in between.

Game 1 has the Bucs sending out former Yankee pickup Ivan Nova (8-6, 4.83) making his 2nd NL start vs Ross Stripling (3-3, 3.79).

I hope the Bucs know that this is October baseball in mid August and we need to get on a season ending winning hot streak. 50 games left.

LETS GO BUCS!!!


Mister Bee
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Re: 2016 Pittsburgh Pirates

Post by Mister Bee »

After a great 5-1 western road trip vs the Dodgers and Giants, should have been 6-0, how can you have 10 hits, 11 walks, leave 18 runners on base and score only 4 runs to lose 8-4 is beyond me vs the Dodgers...the Bucs return home to lay a big fat turd as they go 1-5 vs the Marlins, whom they are chasing in the wildcard race and the Astros.

Gerritt Cole continues to struggle in the month of August with an ERA at 6+.

The offense is uneven at best.

Bucs (63-61) start a road trip tonight in MIlwaukee for 4 games. Since 2006 the Bucs are a woeful 19-68 and have lost their last 9 games in Miller Park.

There are 38 games left in this season for the Bucs and every series is very important. We need to go no worse than 2-2 in Milwaukee and win every series from here on out to have a chance at a wildcard spot. Giants had a half game lead over the Cards for the top spot with the Marlins 1.5 games back and the Pirates 3.5 back. We still have a shot but time is running out.

Hurdle must manage every game like it is the 7th game of the World Series and stop worrying about players playing time and giving them days off.

Game 1 has the Bucs sending out Chad Kuhl (3-1, 3.62) vs Wily Peralta (5-9, 6.00). The Pirates have won 6 of 7 games that Kuhl has started and he is 1-0 with a 2.00 ERA in his 3 road starts this year.

ALL HANDS ON DECK MATES!!! ITS NOW OR NEVER!!! RUN UP THE COLORS AND...

LETS GO BUCS!!!


Mister Bee
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Re: 2016 Pittsburgh Pirates

Post by Mister Bee »

Bucs 3 Brewers 2 F/10

RAISE THE JOLLY ROGER!!!

McCutchen plates all 3 runs for the Bucs including a 10th inning game winning single as the Pirates end a 9 game skid in Milwaukee.

Bucco starter Chad Kuhl goes 6 1/3 IP 2R 5H 2BB 5K. Its his 5th straight start of at least 6 IP. Even though he didn't get the win, the Pirates have won 7 of his 8 MLB starts. Tony Watson gets the save.

Both the Marlins and the Cards lost so the Bucs pick up a game on each of them in the wildcard race and are now 2.5 games back of a playoff spot. However, the Cards lost to the Mets who are only 1 game behind us. As long as we keep winning, we can keep the Mets behind us.

Game 2 has the Bucs sending out veteran Ryan Vogelsong (2-3, 2.98) vs Matt Garza (4-5, 5.27). Vogelsong is 4-0 and 2.53 in his last 6 games, including 5 starts vs the Brewers.

Bucco bats need to step up and deliver.

RAISE THE COLORS MATE!!!

LETS GO BUCS!!!


Mister Bee
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Re: 2016 Pittsburgh Pirates

Post by Mister Bee »

Bucs 5 Brewers 3

RAISE THE JOLLY ROGER!!!

Buccos score 5 in the 6th which was capped by Jordy Mercer's grand slam for the game winning RBIs. Mercer's slam was setup by an 2 out intentional walk to load the bases for him and he repaid the Brewers for the insult by going yard.

Buc starter Vogelsong was effective going 5 1/3 2R 4H 4BB 6K on 93 pitches to get the win. He as a 2.48 ERA this month in 5 starters.

Everybody above the Bucs won so we didn't pick up any games in the wildcard race but at least we held our own, still 2.5 games back.

Game 3 has the Bucs sending out Jameson Taillon (3-3, 2.29) vs Jimmy Nelson (7-13, 4.26) who is 5-2 with a 2.55 ERA in 7 career starts against the Pirates. Not going to be an easy matchup for our offense so we need to make the chances count when we get them.

HOIST THE COLORS MATE!!!

LETS GO BUCS!!!


Mister Bee
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Re: 2016 Pittsburgh Pirates

Post by Mister Bee »

Bucs 9 Brewers 6

RAISE THE JOLLY ROGER!!!

Bucco starter Taillon has his first off night since his mid-season call up and only last 3 innings but the Pirate bats pick him up as they come back from 4 runs down to get the win.

Polanco has a key pinch hit 3 run double to lead the way. I don't understand why this late in the season Hurdle is giving players like Polanco a night off because we need our best players out there everyday. You rest players in mid-season so they are available for this part of the schedule when you are making a post-season push. There is only 1 month left in the season and no time for a "rest" unless it is for an injury.

Jeff Locke, remember him, comes out of the bullpen to get the win.

Gerrit Cole has shoulder discomfort and will miss his next start. He hasn't thrown well in his last few starts. Steven Brault will be called up from AAA to make a spot start for him.

Bucs pick up a game on both the Giants and Cards as they both lost and now we are only 1.5 games back of the Cards and tied with the Marlins, who also lost, for the 2nd wild card spot and 3 back of the Giants. We aren't going to catch the Cubs but we do have 7 games against them down the stretch so those games will be very important to us for the wildcard.

Pirates go for the rare 4 game sweep in Milwaukee today as they send out Ivan Nova (3-0, 3.20) vs Chase Anderson (7-10, 4.99) who is 1-0, 3.00 in 2 starts against us this season. Bucco bats better be alive.

HOIST THE COLORS MATE!!!

LETS GO BUCS!!!


Mister Bee
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Re: 2016 Pittsburgh Pirates

Post by Mister Bee »

Bucs 3 Brewers 1

RAISE THE JOLLY ROGER!!!

Bucs history was made with the win as it was our first ever 4 game sweep in MIlwaukee.

Bucco starter Nova continues to impress with 6 very strong innings. He was pulled due to tightness in his hammy.

The Lumber Company made an appearance as the Pirate bats slugged 3 solo shots.

8 straight road wins have helped us move a 1/2 game back of the Cards for a wildcard spot and a game ahead of the Marlins as both teams lost. We aren't going to catch the Cubs with 7 games left between us so a wildcard spot is our only hope.

Bucs head to the Windy City under full sail for 3 against the Cubs.

Game 1 has the Bucs recalling Steven Brault (0-1, 3.60) from AAA to make a spot start for Cole vs Jake Arrieta (16-5, 2.62) who has returned to his old form going 4-0 in August. Bucs are a respectable 30-20 over the last 50 games.

We need to take 2 out of 3 vs the Cubbies and keep the pressure on the Dodgers, Giants, Cards and Marlins. Hopefully, we will play our best baseball in this series and the rest of the season.

ALL HANDS ON DECK!!!

HOIST THE COLORS MATE!!!

LETS GO BUCS!!!


danicalifornia
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Re: 2016 Pittsburgh Pirates

Post by danicalifornia »

What a crazy game last night. That could be a killer loss for the Buccos after battling back against Arrieta and having a 3 run lead going into the bottom of the 8th.

A couple of outstanding plays kept the Pirates alive, but only getting one with the bases loaded and nobody out in the top of the 13th was their biggest misstep.

Should be another playoff atmosphere the next couple of evenings! Go Cubs Go


Mister Bee
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Re: 2016 Pittsburgh Pirates

Post by Mister Bee »

danicalifornia wrote:What a crazy game last night. That could be a killer loss for the Buccos after battling back against Arrieta and having a 3 run lead going into the bottom of the 8th.

A couple of outstanding plays kept the Pirates alive, but only getting one with the bases loaded and nobody out in the top of the 13th was their biggest misstep.

Should be another playoff atmosphere the next couple of evenings! Go Cubs Go
I agree. We have had several games this month that we have lost and they included about a half dozen innings in which we had bases loaded and nobody out only to not score any runs.

Game 2 has the Bucs sending out Chad Kuhl (3-1, 3.50) vs Kyle Hendricks (12-7, 2.19). Hendricks has the lowest ERA in MLB and he is on fire going 8-1 and 1.38 in his last 13 games.

Buccos have to shake off last nights game and play a complete game tonight.

HOIST THE COLORS MATE!!!

LETS GO BUCS!!!


Mister Bee
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Re: 2016 Pittsburgh Pirates

Post by Mister Bee »

Brewers 1 Bucs 0

Very tough loss last night as our starter, Taillon and bullpen allowed 1 run on 3 hits. The offense has to step up.

The Buccos are in the midst of a 4 game losing streak. They were swept by the Cubs in Chicago but they could have easily won the series 2-1 if they had some timely hitting. Too many men left on base.

30 games left in the season and we are still in the running for the 2nd wildcard spot. Either the Dodgers or the Giants will take the first spot. We have to win every 3 game series and at least split our 4 remaining 4 game series to have a chance. That should put us at 18-12 and with a little help, allow us to slip into the 2nd spot.

Game 2 has the Bucs in a must win situation as we send out Ivan Nova (11-6, 4.41) but 4-0 and 2.87 since coming to the Pirates vs Jimmy Nelson (7-13, 4.45).

HOIST THE COLORS MATE!!!

LETS GO BUCS!!!


Mister Bee
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Re: 2016 Pittsburgh Pirates

Post by Mister Bee »

Bucs 4 Cards 3

RAISE IT!!!

Bucs end a horrible stretch of games (8 straight losses) to get a much needed win and avoid 3 straight series sweeps.

The pitching staff, which has carried this team, is out of gas. Nearly all of our starting pitchers are rookies and our offense is, in the words of the late football coach John McKay, "offensive". Our bats are unreliable at best.

Bucco management took last year's 98 win team and basically dismantled it as we brought back only 12 players from it. Therein is the biggest reason for this season's debacle.

While still in the wildcard race, barely, the Pirates need to basically win out to make the post season. Strangers things have happened but I just don't see that happening. Having a 82-80 record is barely on the horizon at this point.

Bucs start a 4 game series vs the Redlegs tonight as they send out Ivan Nova (4-0, 2.89), who is pitching for a free agent contract just like J A Happ (17-4, 3.43 this season with Toronto @ $6.7 million this season) did last year for us and he won't get it from Pittsburgh vs Dan Straily (11-7, 3.83).

HOIST THE COLORS MATE!!!

LETS GO BUCS!!!


Mister Bee
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Re: 2016 Pittsburgh Pirates

Post by Mister Bee »

Bucs 4 Reds 1

RAISE IT!!!

Bucs ride the arm of Ivan Nova 9IP 1R 6H 0BB 5K for his 2nd complete game in 4 starts and get just enough offense to support his outing for the win.

Bucs gain a game on the Cards who lost to the Brewers to move to 4 GB as they chase a wildcard spot.

This game was the first of 15 straight games vs teams with a losing record. Hate to say it but we really need to win them all to have a chance at the post season.

Game 2 will feature rookie pitchers for both teams as it appears that this is really nothing more than early spring training. Bucs send out Steven Brault (0-2, 3.32 not too hateful stats) vs Tim Adleman (2-3, 4.02) but who is 0-2 and 5.63 in his last 3 starts.

Bucs better bring the bats to support a pitching staff (outside of Nova) that is quickly running out of gas.

HOIST THE COLORS MATE!!!

LETS GO BUCS!!!


Mister Bee
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Re: 2016 Pittsburgh Pirates

Post by Mister Bee »

Reds 4 Bucs 3

Horrible. Bucs had the lead runner on in 6 different innings and couldn't take advantage.

Bucs also loaded the bases with 1 out, 2 batters hit by the pitch and a intentional walk, only to have the next batter swing at the first pitch and pop out and the next to weakly fly out on the 3rd pitch. The Reds tried hard to give this one away but the Bucs didn't want it.

Pirate starter Brault was good, 5IP 2R 5H 2BB 2K but got no support.

Bucs closer Tony watson, while an all-star as a set up man, continues to struggle as the closer.

Game 3 has the Bucs sending out Drew Hutchinson in his Pirate debut (1-0, 4.97) vs rookie Robert Stepenson (2-1, 3.12) in his 4th career start in what appears to be another early 2017 spring training game for both teams.

HOIST THE COLORS MATE!!!

LETS GO BUCS!!!


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