What a job considering the position he was in – he had to stop a two-game losing streak against the very club that just let him go.  And he responded – with a very efficient two-hitter over 7 innings.

Now that’s pretty impressive.

One reader asked me if I thought the Pirates “bought” Dumatrait a win by allowing the Reds a two-game PR snow job since they had called Jay Bruce up.  He contended that the Pirates played on the lamb for two games because of the Bruce hype (it’s good for baseball, he said) and then they gave one back to the Pirates in Dumatrait’s start.  Afterall, he suggested, why was Duke moved back just one day?

I thought I was the only conspiracy theorist in Pirateland?  Maybe I’m breeding a whole new group?

I’ll admit the Reds approach toward Dumatrait wasn’t typical, and I’ll agree it looked like Harang was taking one for the team pitching up in the zone all game (about the only place we really mash).

But how do you explain Dreckman’s poor zone Wednesday night?  I mean, was he in on it too?  Or I wonder if the reader was suggesting there a new silent code among clubs that goes like this: anything that promotes the game in a significant manner will be allowed to foster? 

LoL – I wouldn’t be surprised the way everyone in the game is only after money any more.  And hey, if it is true, then we’ll know when McCutchen comes up.  Maybe we should get the calendar out and look for when we play the Reds this year to anticipate McCutchen’s arrival?  Let’s see, we play them a three-game set right after the roster’s expand – September 2cd. 

Hmm.  We’ll revist this when/if McCutchen is brought up to see if his point was valid.

But back to the game, Dumatrait had to make his pitches under tough conditions and he did just that.  Kudo to him… a W is a W is a W and, hey, the win kept us out of the cellar.  Good stuff there.

So it’s on to St. Louis where we see Duke and his 4.97 road ERA (and first career start at Busch) up against Wellemeyer and his 2.70 home ERA, Maholm and his 8.57 road ERA against rookie Mike Parasi who will be making his first MLB start (get out the memo, do we have to play the Bruce game again?), Snell with his 8.40 last three ERA againt Looper and his 7.63 last three ERA, and Gorzelanny with his 11.57 last three ERA against Wainwright and his sparkling 2.42 home ERA.

It’s no wonder Bullington was called up and Burnett kept around.  Looks like there’s going to be one heck of a lot of long relief opportunities the next four days, huh?  And if we’re really blessed, Gorzelanny will be shut down for at least one start and we can see Bullington take his slot.

My-oh-my… the fun we’re going to have.  But look at it this way, we have won 10 of the last 32 games in St. Louis (.312).  Ouch.

The road ahead is paved with lead balls tied to our Pirates ankles.  Blub, blub, blub.  Let’s see if we can at least split this series and prove everyone wrong.  If not, then we’ll see Dumatrait against the Astros Tuesday before Oswalt pitches Wednesday night. 

Talk about a pitcher being setup for some wins.

–

Joe Torre evidently told one of the Reds broadcasters that he feels it takes half a season for a new manager and field staff to get to know the players, and the players to get to know them, before they start to gel.

Half a season put us well into the trade deadline, huh?  Maybe we’ll see a whole new cast for Russell to learn to gel with by then?  I know I certainly can’t wait.

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