Bizarre win in Houston
By Jake • Jul 21st, 2008 • Category: Jake's Take
Take two teams who are hitting a collective .205 over their last 219 ABs and have them face two starting pitchers with a combined 10.01 ERA in 2008, then have them face off at Minute Maid with the roof closed and what do you get?
A 3-2 game thru 5 innings (combined 3.48 starter’s ERA) despite having allowed a total of 6 walks and 14 hits (40% OBA).
What a pitiful excuse for a baseball game which included events such as:
Bay an infield hit because his bat shattered and the defender ran from the ball because the barrel was coming at him faster
Bautista with an infield hit (oh my)
the Pirates having to get six outs in the first
Sanchez scoring from second on a ground ball to short and no miscues
John Russell sacrificing with Gomez in the 8th inning down 3-2 with no outs and Bautista at first in an away game - then removing it - and Gomez striking out, Wilson failing to swing on a hit-and-run with Bautista still at first who took off on the play and saw he was going to get nailed so he returned to first, but Ausmus’ throw was airmailed into center, then Wilson struck out - looking - leaving Bautista at first, McLouth then singled allowing Bautista to go first to third (which would have been second to home), but Sanchez then ground out to short
Bay, with a 3-2 count in the 9th and down a run, is fed a belt-high 97 mph straight fastball from Jose Valverde who has 10 career saves in 10 save opportunities against the Pirates, who crushed it over the left centerfield wall; then gives up a Nady single; a LaRoche two-run homer; then Bautista singles; then Michaels walks; then Wilson singles up the middle scoring Bautista; and the Astros closer is run off the mound carrying his 6th blown save of the year
And then capped off with a Freddy Sanchez inside the park home run with two outs and two on in the 9th off Tim Byrdak - the third home run of the inning - and just our 16th win on the road all year while raking 18 hits against the Astros - most they have allowed in a game all year.
Un-be-liev-able.
Weird, dysfunctional baseball at its best. At least the smiles have returned in our dugout so you can start to feel sorry for Cassel who has to face us Tuesday night.
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Last time we hit three home runs in one inning was against the Astros May 26, 2006, when Castillo, Bay, and Craig Wilson did it in the 4th off Taylor Buchholtz. Funny thing, all three times we’ve done it going back to 2004, Craig Wilson hit one of the three.
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It sure is nice to see Freddy Sanchez swinging his bat with two shoulders again.
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Trade whispers are picking up steam. Nothing concrete yet in my inbox, just whispers so far.
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An inquiry to the Pirates early Monday morning about the progress of signing Pedro Alvarez received a “no comment” response from the team and then Tuesday Dejan Kovacevic reports a “team source” as saying they are $2M apart.
I should know better by now. I should know better.
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A few readers asked me what I think about Dejan Kovacevic’s new “PBC” blog. I think it’s great - maybe it will help the Post-Gazette to stay afloat since they have diluted the team’s news so much you are now required to load page after page thereby feeding their advertising revenue stream?
Make sure you click some of those ads so Dejan can keep his job!
Jake is no longer contributing at Bucco Blog, a fan blog covering the Pittsburgh Pirates.
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Wilson did swing on the hit and run in the 8th, he just failed to make contact.
– edit by Jake… thanks for the correction Chris. I thought he held the bat.
Jake just a comment on the game last night I normally dont like it when players show up the other players and I dont know what Bay did was even showing Valverde up but when he crushed that 97 mph heater and then gave the little flick of the bat I liked it cause Valverde has all sort of things he does that I dis like when he strikes someone out at the end of the game and he does the cut throat thing.But the reason I noticed that is because no matter how well Bay hits a ball and he know its gone he never just flicks the bat and watches it he usually puts his head down and trots around the bases like a Professional should.But in that case I though it was right move.
Kovacevic sucks.
I like Kovacevic. Yeah, so theyre trying to run up their advertising, what website doesnt? He always gives reasonable commentary, doesnt talk about ridiculous, impossible trades (See Clayton Kershaw), and he doesnt claim every Pirate victory to be some stroke of luck. Maybe thats what makes you a professional…. Just a thought.
I think Dejan stole Jake’s girlfriend at some point in their lives.
I enjoy Kovacevic’s writing. Is it perfect? No, but it gets the job done.
I loathe the new PG format, but newspapers are an old medium now and they’ve got to make revenue somehow so I hardly blame them for trying to fit in w/ the modern web.
I don\’t really like Kovacevic. He seems like he is writing to keep his job rather than to voice his opinion. Also, there are times when he writes complete useless information and until just recently he hardly ever discussed trade rumors. Also, he seems like he is writing alot of BS sometimes to drive up a players market value. I also remember it pretty much being his fault that we had to give up Lillbridge along with Gonzalez to get LaRoche. If he would have stayed quiet the deal might no have fallen through and we could have traded Wilson for Jurrjens last year without having to worry about finding a replacement.
Also, almost every Pirates win is a stroke of luck. This team should be much worse than we are now and at this point it would be better if we fall even further. This made make a rebuilding process more likely and it would net us a higher draft pick. If we keep losing and get the number 1 pick Strasburg would almost definatly be ours.
Does the Rausch trade to Arizona hurt our chances of landing legit prospects for our relievers seeing as Arizona only sent their 6th best prospect for the best RH pitcher? Are we going to wait to deal until the 31st???Go Bucs!!
Bill
It shouldn’t really hurt it because left handed relivers are more at a demand. If it hurts anyone’s chances of getting prospect for a reliever it’s Oaklnad. Rauch was doing just as good if not better and he only got what some people consider a futrue utilityman. We could still probably get someone good for Marte or we will just take the draft picks.
Also, I could see us tarding Nady very soon. I have a feeling someone is going to cave into our demands to make sure they have a playoff spot.
lol Joseph. Are you Jake\\\\\\\’s twin or something? A beat writer causing the team to give up more in a trade? You are a joke. Check your head, son.