Saturday, July 23, 2011

Lineup Change

OK, late change to the Pirate lineup. Alex Presley was scratched with a left thumb contusion (bruise). No word on the seriousness of the injury. Presley said he was jammed yesterday and can't hold the bat right today.  We imagine he'll get the once-over tomorrow or Monday if it doesn't calm down.

He'll be replaced at the top of the order by Chase d'Arnaud. It shakes the lineup up considerably, and not in a real good way, swapping a .333 hitter at leadoff for one that's batting .215. The splits aren't much better; Presley hits .290 against lefties and d'Arnaud .200.

Lotta changes in the field, too. Matt Diaz will now play left field, Steve Pearce moves to right, Brandon Wood goes to first base, and d’Arnaud will man third.

The new lineup card reads Chase d'Arnaud 3B, Ronny Cedeno SS, Neil Walker 2B, Andrew McCutchen CF, Steve Pearce RF, Matt Diaz LF, Brandon Wood 3B, Mike McKenry C,  Kevin Correia P.

Presley was the only lefty slated to go against LHP Jaime Garcia (.251 vs RH, .228 vs LH), so maybe this was the baseball gods' way of loading the lineup. We'll see.

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