The Lineup: Josh Harrison 3B, Gregory Polanco LF, Cutch CF, Neil Walker 2B, Corey Hart RF, Pedro 1B, Fran Cervelli C, Jordy Mercer SS, AJ P.
Starling gets a time-out tonight, sending El Coffee to left and the hot bat of Hart to right (guess that knee is feeling OK).
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| AJ Burnett (photo Justin Aller/Getty Images) |
- AJ's middle initial should be K. With 2377 career strikeouts, he ranks second among active pitchers behind CC Sabathia's 2445 hums. On the all-time list, AJ ranks 43rd, just 19 behind Sandy Koufax. Burnett is 23 strikeouts shy of becoming just the 41st player in MLB history to reach the 2400 K mark.
- Yesterday's odd stat: Corey Hart's 1,000th hit was a homer, coming as a pinch hitter yesterday. His first career hit was also a home run that came off Cincinnati’s Jason Standridge at Miller Park in 2005.
- Another odd stat: Anibal Sanchez gave up four homers in 126 IP in 2014; he surrendered three in 6-1/3 frames against the Pirates Monday. He did give up a handful of long balls in the spring, so last season may have been a small sample anomaly. Still, it's nice to see the boys lose a few baseballs.
- The Tigers were undefeated coming into the game, but manager Brad Ausmus kept the loss in perspective, saying "I wasn't expecting to go 162-0."
- The Bucs are a different animal at home, where they've won 51 games last year and 50 more in 2013. Must be pierogie power! Actually, the Pirates posted an 8-2 record against AL teams at PNC Park last season and have gone 15-6 the past two seasons against the junior circuit on their home turf. The Bucs have won seven straight home games against AL clubs, including a two-game sweep of the Tigers in August, 2014.
- IF Pedro Florimon cleared waivers and was sent to Indy.
- Only two pitchers have lit up the gun at 100+ more than once so far this season: Arquimedes Caminero (6) and Aroldis Chapman (5). Wonder why NL Central guys have to sit on the fastball? (S/O to Forbes at Federal)
- John Dreker of Pirate Prospects reports that "John Holdzkom struck out two batters in his inning of work for Indianapolis today but he threw just 8 of his 17 pitches for strikes." And that's why he's at Indy.
- Mike Reinhard of the Harrisburg Patriot News has a profile of the Pirates prospect with a bullet, Altoona RHP Tyler Glasnow. Jake Seiner of MiLB features Austin Meadows of Bradenton, with quick mentions of a few more young guns to watch for in the future.
- Ryan Doumit didn't catch on with anyone this year, but his name has resurfaced as a dark horse potential back up in Cleveland after Yan Gomes went down. (EDIT - very dark horse now that the Tribe has called up Brett Hayes).
Doumit's career didn't turn out quite the way most expected, but he is surely more than good enough to be somebody's number two catcher-pinch hitter-DH. Up to him if he wants to keep giving it the ol' college try, but he is still young enough to open some eyes if he is willing to go down to Triple A or play in one of the independent leagues.
ReplyDeleteWill, Dewey is 34, hit .247 and .197 the past two years, didn't throw out a baserunner in 2014 and has gotten paid $22M as a ballplayer. Prob time for him to sip on some cold ones between golf dates.
ReplyDeleteRon, I thought he was a couple years younger than that. Still, a lot of guys have had productive second careers as backup catchers, and I would think Doumit's power would still play well in the AL as a part-timer. Maybe not. His glovework was never the strongest, though, and so I suppose that works against him, as most number two catchers (though not all) are usually defense-first guys.
ReplyDeleteThat's what hurts him, Will. Bench catchers are valued for their defensive work, especially in the past two or three seasons. Dewey is purely dependent on his hitting, which has taken a tumble. Plus he's been on the fragile side. Different sport, but one of Chuck Noll's great bits of advice was "It’s time to get on with your life’s work."
ReplyDeleteAh, yes. How well I remember The Emperor's words of wisdom. The "life's work" comment was a classic, but my personal favorite was what he said about Sidney Thornton, a running back once thought to be Franco Harris' heir-apparent. After Thornton fumbled several times and basically single-handedly cost the Steelers a game (I think against the Chiefs), Noll was asked about Thornton's future with the team. He replied, "His troubles are many, and they are great". IIRC, Thornton was soon off the team and out of football.
ReplyDeleteChas was not one to play word games, lol. The Thundering Bull, btw, became a teacher and then landed a state job in recreation. I remember an interview of his a few years back - he enjoyed his team & teammates and only wishes they were throwing around the $$$ back in the day like they do now.
ReplyDelete