Sunday, May 4, 2008

DC blues continue...

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Adam LaRoche finally came through with a long ball and 2 RBIs, and the X Man continued his red hot hitting. Unfortunately, the rest of the team's bats took the day off, resulting in another loss to the Nats this afternoon, 5-2.

Ian Snell again struggled along, lasting 6 innings and giving up 4 runs on 10 hits, striking out but a pair. Two of the runs came in the first inning, continuing a trend of allowing the opponents to jump out to the lead early and putting the Bucs in catch-up mode.

Does anyone on this team want to pitch? Pirates starters this season are combined 6-15, and that just doesn't cut it.

On the Pirate front: From the Associated Press - "The Pittsburgh Pirates picked up the contract of left-hander Sean Burnett from Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday, adding him to the bullpen as a short reliever.

To make room for Burnett on the roster, the Pirates designated right-handed reliever Evan Meek for assignment. Pittsburgh has 10 days to trade, waive or release Meek, who made the club in spring training after being selected from Tampa Bay in the Rule 5 draft in December.

Any team that claims the 24-year-old must keep him on its major league roster for the remainder of the season or offer him back to the Rays. The Pirates could retain him if they work out a trade with Tampa Bay, which would allow them to demote Meek."

We figured something like this was in the works. JVB has been getting the innings Meek usually did, and showed enough to bump him out of a bullpen spot. In addition, the move keeps one more potential starter at hand if Phil Dumatrait runs across tough times.

Burnett is expected to take a middle inning relief role in the bullpen and work no more than two innings per outing. JVB could be looking at passing up Frankie Osaria and getting some 6th or 7th inning work.

On the college front: This has nothing to do with the City, but is a tale worth repeating. The Post Gazette reported a wire story on the womens' playoff softball game between Central Washington and Western Oregon.

A girl from WO hit a three run homer, but twisted her knee at first base and couldn't go any further.

The dilemma - if a team mate helped her around the bases, she would be called out. If her coach called time and put in a pinch runner, the hit would be ruled a single.

What happened? In an unbelievable show of sportmanship, the Central Washington girls carried their injured opponent around the infield, stopping at every base so she could drag her good leg across it. The home run ended up being the game winner.

Do you think any male team, even in a friendly beer league, would have done the same?

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