2015 Pirates thread
- Thread starter Buster
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I posted the Youtube video - he had an equally dirty slide that basically ended Iwamura's career.
The Buccos are reeling. No one is pitching well, they can't hit and they can't field. 3rd place here we come. They'll make the playoff's, but it'll be in Chicago and they will get rolled in a 1 game elimination. It's a shame because they were really strong there for a long time. Got cold at the wrong time.
Anything is possible with this team because they are so streaky. Just have to hop that they can win the wild card game and get hot during the playoffs.
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If we don't win the division, they better hope Chicago does. I would rather play the cards in the wildcard than have to face Arietta unless he starts falling apart. The question is who is our "ace". Cole has not been pitching consistent, Liriano has been off, and morton and locke should not even be in the discussion. One could argue that Happ is pitching the best right now, but no way do i see hurdle starting him over cole or liriano.
It would be Cole. He is the ace, even if he hasn't been stellar. More than likely, we will be going to Chi-town for the wild card game. Chicago will give St. Louis a run, but it will be too little too late. The Bucs are reeling and it's a bad time to do it. The Kang injury probably has them shaken. It was a devastating injury and is bullshit. It's not good, hard baseball. It's trying to take out a player, while he is making a play.
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Every team does those slides and i am not sure what the answer is. He was pretty far away from the base when he slid, but i think it would be a nightmare to try to make a rule where an ump could eject or call an automatic out on an inappropriate hard slide. They are already extremely leinient on the fielder touching second base. It seems they call an out if your within a few feet of the bag. Only thing i can think of is slides into second base on a double play ball have to be head first.
When Mercer got hurt, the runner was 12 feet from the base and Mercer was trying to tag him when he slid. I've never seen that before.
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Again there is already a rule on the books... they simply ignore it... the umps decided that the interference rule that specifically applies to the situation wont be called if the runner is within arms reach of the bag. that is nowhere in the rule... if a player goes out of his way to contact a guy making a forced double play, he is out and so is the other runner. if you slide in straight or are obviously avoiding a tag it is one thing, when you take your body that far off the bag to make contact it is supposed to lead to an auto double play, which eliminates the desire to do that
That's the part where I have the problem. You are not able to run out of the baseline in a rundown and whatnot, so why are you able to take a wide slide to take out a player? Doesn't make sense. I realize that they are conditioned athletes, but you are asking a lot of them to touch the base, jump over the base runner and get the throw off in time to first to complete the double play. I don't know what the solution is either and the play is as old as the game, but it should be looked at.
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Nice win vs. Kershaw!
We can beat and we can lose to anyone. I just want to have a series with the Cards, nothing would make me happier than kicking them out of the playoffs.
We can beat and we can lose to anyone. I just want to have a series with the Cards, nothing would make me happier than kicking them out of the playoffs.
Maybe Hurdle can give Marte and Polanco Base Running 101 lessons. I've never seen a team worse on the base pads. It's really uncalled for of how many outs they are responsible for that should be fundamental base running. That's my biggest gripe with this team. Saying that, they played two good games to get win the series. Good pitching does help.
Its not just them... I have read multiple pieces lately with old school players complaining that MLB teams no longer teach fundamentals in the minors and that new era players are just terribad at all of it... its epidemic, but even more noticeable in foreign players since they are less likely to have a good basis installed in the youth leagues
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The fundamentals have definitely been lacking, both on the bases and in the field, especially compared to recent seasons, but they have enough bat and arm talent to compensate.
Losing Kang hurts, as he has become a key contributor to the offense, but they have some other viable options in the infield between Ramirez and Harrison.
The likely one game playoff scenario with the Cubs does not seem to favor the Pirates, as the Cubs' top two starters seem to be better than the Pirates top two.
Hopefully, Hurdle does not botch the rotation this year, like he did last year, leaving the Pirates third best pitcher in Volquez in a matchup against the opponent's best pitcher in Bumgarner.
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Kang's injury can even be related to fundamentals. He planted to make the throw on to first, something a second baseman should never do, you want to be in the air or crouched to throw on that double play turn, that's how you get really tore up is having that leg planted when a runner slides in.
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RIP Yogi. Thanks for all the malapropisms, and the memories. I guess it finally IS over. 
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This is how the Pirates rotation looks the rest of the season (per ESPN)
9/23 - Rockies - (Morton)
9/24 - Rockies - (Locke)
9/25 - Cubs - (Cole)
9/26 - Cubs - (Liriano)
9/27 - Cubs - (Burnett)
9/28 - Cards - (Happ)
9/29 - Cards - (Morton)
9/30 - Cards - (Locke)
10/2 - Reds - (Liriano)
10/3 - Reds - (Cole)
10/4 - Reds - (Burnett)
Why the six man rotation with Locke in such a tight race unless they are that concerned about Cole. Looks like a one-game playoff with the Cubs and depending where we are going into the Reds series (if up two games over Cubs) I would not start Cole until that playoff game. Actually, just thinking about it....I wouldn't start Cole at all in the Reds series and save him for the Cubs.
9/23 - Rockies - (Morton)
9/24 - Rockies - (Locke)
9/25 - Cubs - (Cole)
9/26 - Cubs - (Liriano)
9/27 - Cubs - (Burnett)
9/28 - Cards - (Happ)
9/29 - Cards - (Morton)
9/30 - Cards - (Locke)
10/2 - Reds - (Liriano)
10/3 - Reds - (Cole)
10/4 - Reds - (Burnett)
Why the six man rotation with Locke in such a tight race unless they are that concerned about Cole. Looks like a one-game playoff with the Cubs and depending where we are going into the Reds series (if up two games over Cubs) I would not start Cole until that playoff game. Actually, just thinking about it....I wouldn't start Cole at all in the Reds series and save him for the Cubs.
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W
I honestly fear a scenario mirroring last season where they have an outside shot of winning the division in the final series, while ending up using both Cole and Liriano for ultimately no reason, which would most likely mean Happ or Morton starting against Arrieta or Lester.
I probably would not even bother watching that, demanding Hurdle be fired in the process.
I honestly fear a scenario mirroring last season where they have an outside shot of winning the division in the final series, while ending up using both Cole and Liriano for ultimately no reason, which would most likely mean Happ or Morton starting against Arrieta or Lester.
I probably would not even bother watching that, demanding Hurdle be fired in the process.
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Cole likely will pitch 9/30 against the Cards skipping Locke. The NL wildcard playoff is 10/7 giving him 6 days rest.
If the Pirates are out of division by last game. Locke will likely take Burnett's spot and AJ would open up division series if
Pirates get by the one gamer.
If the Pirates are out of division by last game. Locke will likely take Burnett's spot and AJ would open up division series if
Pirates get by the one gamer.
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Woof. Great error free game against the Cubs today.
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Cards lose, Bucs within 3 games, and control their own destiny for now.
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If Evil Liriano doesn't show up today and they win this game against the Cubs, for all practical purposes they sew up the first WC. That puts the Cubs 5.5 back with only 7 left to play for the Bucs. They aren't very likely to drop 5 of 7. Probably will lose the game tomorrow though against Arrietta. So hopefully the Brewers can take one more this weekend from the Cards, because I seriously doubt the Braves are going to win one.
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Here's a couple of hypotheticals. Assume the Bucs and Cards win today, in that case, Madden knows he has no chance at the division and about a 0% chance of a home WC game. Plus he has an extra make up game to play yet against KC. Does he jigger his rotation starting Sunday by pulling Arrietta and realigning the lineup so he pitches Tuesday to start the rotation fresh in preparation for the WC and subsequent division series if they win? Their last six games are Reds and Brewers and with no chance of moving up in the play off standings. Be a good time to reset and start over.
Second hypothetical. Same scenario, Bucs and Cards win today. Assume Madden does pull Arrietta. If I'm Hurdle, do I play Morton maybe instead of Burnett and get AJ,Happ, and Cole against the Cards? Wouldn't that be nice? Then have Liriano, Morton and (depending on the situation) either Locke or AJ for that very last game. Cole would be well rested for a WC game if needed. You give yourself a much better chance against St Louis, and no second string pitcher for the WC.
Second hypothetical. Same scenario, Bucs and Cards win today. Assume Madden does pull Arrietta. If I'm Hurdle, do I play Morton maybe instead of Burnett and get AJ,Happ, and Cole against the Cards? Wouldn't that be nice? Then have Liriano, Morton and (depending on the situation) either Locke or AJ for that very last game. Cole would be well rested for a WC game if needed. You give yourself a much better chance against St Louis, and no second string pitcher for the WC.
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