2012 Pittsburgh Pirates Season Thread

[Witlon]

Charlie Morton's rehab update:

In Indy last night...
7 2/3 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 K.

Very nice, and it's always great to have too much starting pitching, but it's worth wondering who gets bumped from the rotation when Burnett and Morton return.

[love_that_reefer]

Morton is the guy I'm keeping my eye on. This will be his second year with his new delivery so I expect better results.

[love_that_reefer]

Another tough loss for the Bucs but Cain was on his game.

[Witlon]

I'll get to the season stuff here in a few, but Bucs Dugout has posted that we should trade Alex Presley to the Red Sox for a PACKAGE, including Ryan Lavarnway(or their shortstop of the future), Mark Melancon and someone else. Mmmhmm. And we should trade Pedro Alvarez for Matt Kemp while we're at it, guys.

[Witlon]

First four road games of the season for Pittsburgh offense:

36 innings, 38 K, 2 BB, 2 Runs

Yup. That bad. I know Cain was on, but come, the fuck, on.

Our home runs this season are by Pedro Alvarez, Clint Barmes and Michael McHenry. Who would've guess that group?

[love_that_reefer]

Pirates are still getting good starting pitching so if they ever do break out with the bats, the Pirates should win some games.

[Witlon]

Meh, I figure the pitching will go when the bats start to come around. Pretty much like last night...we finally score a few runs, and now we can't hold it.

[Witlon]

Picked up another 9th inning win last night in Arizona with McCutchen driving in the tying run.

Jason Grilli blows it in the 8th, and the immortal Juan Cruz picked up his first save.

Aye. (Hanrahan is day-to-day with right hamstring tightness.)

[love_that_reefer]

And Barajas still bats 6th. Good to see Walker heating up.

[Witlon]

Barmes is hitting .091, it's not like he's completely outplaying Rod, anyway.

And Clint is hitting #2 today, with Barajas on the bench, so Hurdle threw you a bone, at least.

[love_that_reefer]

It's not about what Barmes is doing now. Barmes is faster and a better all around hitter than Barajas. Why clog the bases (when/if he does get on base) with a slow runner having better hitters behind you? It makes no sense and is poor lineup construction

[Witlon]

He's faster, but he's not that much better all around hitting wise.

Barmes career: .251, .300, .399
Barajas career: .236, .283, .412

It's a difference, but it's barely enough to notice. And mind you Barmes had parts of 8 seasons in Colorado to boost his stats.

[love_that_reefer]

I'd say a .20 difference in OBP is quite better. There's just no logical reason to bat him so high

[Witlon]

The Pirates season thus far...:
v. PHI(2-1)
@ LAD(0-3)
@ SF(1-2)
@ ARI(2-1)
v. STL(1-2)
v. COL(2-1)

Good enough for 8-10, in fourth place. We'll certainly take it, with the lack of offense thus far.

Now, four in the ATL, where we return to the scene of the crime of the Pirates century...

Baseball Video Highlights & Clips | Must C Call: Braves win on a contested call - Video | pirates.com: Multimedia

Ugh. Still gets me, to this day.

[love_that_reefer]

Burnett showed his true colors yesterday