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| J-Bell is still ringing loud and clear (photo Pittsburgh Pirates) |
With two away and the bases loaded, Tim Adleman replaced Stephenson and Joey O hit for Ivan. He K'ed, swinging through a changeup. Huddy came on and struck out the side. A walk, double and J-Bell dinger chased Adleman in the seventh. Hudson loaded the bases via a walk and back-to-back two-out plunks and Schugs was called on to face pinch hitter Patrick Kivlehan. Unlike the Bucs, the Reds cashed in on the opportunity when Kivlehan dinked a hit 'em where they ain't double the opposite way to plate a pair. A walk filled the bags again but the third time was the charm for AJ. The rest of the game went by quietly. Can't pitch, can't win.
Notes:
- Per the Pirates: "Francisco Cervelli was removed from this evenings game due to left quad discomfort. His status is day-to-day."
- J-Bell had four hits, Jordy added a pair with a walk, Fraze had a knock and two walks while JJ had a rap and a walk.
- The Buc batters struck out 15 times.
- Josh Bell should be the Bucs top rookie HR hitter in franchise history when the smoke of the season clears. He has 22 bombs, behind just Jason Bay (26-2004), Ralph Kiner (23-1946) & Johnny Rizzo (23-1938).
- Pittsburgh has lost 10-of-13 despite scoring five or more runs in six of the last seven games. In those last 13 contests (116 IP), Pirates pitching has given up 81 runs (74 earned/5.74 ERA) on 127 hits (25 homers), 61 walks (two intentional), nine hit batsmen and tossed five wild pitches.
- In a minor league match tonight, ex-Bucco C Mike "The Fort" McKenry was called on to pitch the ninth inning of a mercy-rule match; he faced old matey Pedro Alvarez, who took him deep. Oh, the humanity...
2 comments:
Ha! LOVED the blurb about McKenry and Alvarez. Between the two, I'd take McKenry, but the main thing I want to know is how in the world you find out about stuff like this! It's great, but it's obscure!
Seems to me that this team is in free fall. And also that it has underachieved considerably in 2017. Not that losing both Kang and Marte didn't hurt and hurt bad---it did---but it's also not like the cupboard beyond those two is bare. McCutchen, while perhaps half a notch below his peak, is still a really good hitter and his defense is good enough. Harrison is having a career year. Freese and Mercer aren't anything special, but they've been reliable and reasonably productive all things considered. Bell is a Rookie of the Year candidate and figures to get better as long as his knee holds up. Frazier won't be in Cooperstown but he is a really good multi-position player along the lines of former Pirate Brock Holt. Even with the catching being a revolving door, I have to point the finger at the pitching staff. And also, maybe, at manager Clint Hurdle. Seems to me that most managers have a shelf life with a given team, and I am wondering if the Pirates might want to kick the tires on some other guys around the game and see if an upgrade might be possible. I know Clint signed a one year extension, but....
Inconsistent pitching is the one big thing, Wil, from both the rotation and pen. Lack of power hurt, and the depth was impacted by Kang, Marte, Polanco & Fran. Clint has an option for 2018 which I don't believe has been exercised yet, but I'm not sure if his erratic year is just his "gut" in action or just too few good options. The guys do seem to play for him, but sooner or later the lack of organizational fundamentals will bite someone, whether its Clint or the FO. The Fo didn't have much of a year - Keeping S-Rod would have solved some early depth problems (altho they couldn't have known of the Kang/Marte issues) and they never addressed a bullpen that clearly needed help.
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