Saturday, April 10, 2021

Bucs Back In Action Tonight: Mitch Keller v Zach Davies

Today's Game: The games starts at 6:35 and will be aired by AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan. The giveaways tonight are a magnetic schedule and a facemask.

Lineup: Adam Frazier 2B; Phil Evans 3B; Bryan Reynolds LF; Colin Moran 1B; Eric Gonzalez SS, Gregory Polanco RF; Jake Stallings C; Tony Alford CF; Mitch Keller P. As Teddy Roosevelt said, "Do what you can with what you've got..." though Shelty could probably do more if he handed out fewer rest days, especially with two off days already baked into the schedule.

Kevin Newman gets the night off - 2020 photo Pirates

Pitchers: RHP Mitch Keller (0-1/9.00) gets the call against RHP Zach Davies (1-0/3.18). Mitch rang up too many pitches (77), too many walks (4) and too many runs (3) in too few innings (3) in his first outing, a 4-3 loss to the Cubs. In four MLB starts, Keller has a 7.29 ERA against the Baby Bruins. Davies has already beat the Pirates, surrendering two runs over 5 2/3 innings with five strikeouts and three walks during the season's opening series. He has a 4.34 ERA in 15 career games against Pittsburgh

Notes:

  • For those keeping count, the Pirates have dropped six straight.
  • RHP Edgar Santana was sold to the Braves yesterday; he had been DFA'ed earlier in the week.
  • It's a sad day at the ballyard - Phil Coyne, the usher whose 6,000+ games career spanned from Forbes Field to PNC Park, died on Friday at age 102.
  • Congrats to Big Joe Musgrove, who tossed the first no-hitter in Padre history last nigh while, beating the Rangers 3-0. It also ran his scoreless streak to 31 straight innings, dating back to last year. Guess what team his next start is scheduled to be against?
  • The beat goes on...Tampa Bay returnee Chris Archer left today's game due to right lateral forearm tightness. 
Tomorrow's Game: RHP JT Brubaker goes against RHP Trevor Williams in a quick homecoming visit for Willy. The game starts at 1:05 and is on AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan.

3 comments:

WilliamJPellas said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
WilliamJPellas said...

Musgrove did some good work for the Pirates, but just never quite put it all together---except perhaps at the tail end of his time in Pittsburgh, which has obviously carried over to San Diego. I just hope he doesn't turn out to be Jason Schmidt 2.0, another pitcher with considerable talent who only achieved maximum results after he left town. If he does, he does (and good for Joe in any event) but it does seem that many pitchers just don't really thrive in black and gold. Some do, certainly, and yet...is it just me, or do there seem to be more of them who only hit their stride once they've left town? If so, I wonder if the colder weather might be a factor? Just thinking out loud here.

Ron Ieraci said...

I think it's more in development, Will. Several pitchers have noted they received more detailed input from other orgs and there have been in some cases changes in the pitch mix. Throw in some traditionally meh defense behind them and the focus in mentality a change of scenery brings, especially if traded to a more competitive nine, it's not a surprise some improve I'm hoping the new crew's use of data-driven info and a little more flexibility in coaching bears fruit. We'll see...