OnlyBucs

3 run bomb by Freese makes it 8-2 and puts this one away. Both Frazier and Freese at this point MUST be in the lineup every game until further notice.

Good win last night overall. The Pirates got what they needed out of Nova which was 6 solid innings and were able to save the main guys out of the bullpen for the remainder of this series thanks to the offense scoring 10 runs. I’m not sure I like the idea of Holmes pitching tonight and the Pirates backing up the rotation another day. I guess it will work out for next week with the Cubs and Braves series but right now I want guys like Taillon and Archer pitching every 5th day as much as possible. Pitching a guy like Holmes tonight who was very good the last time he pitched against the Brewers with these games meaning so much now is still very risky. His numbers in AAA his last few starts have not been very good so I just don’t like this move very much tonight and I don’t get it at all why it has to be done. So hopefully it works out. The bottom line is watching the game last night the Giants stink overall right now and aren’t a very good team so the Pirates I still think have a pretty good shot of taking 3 of 4 from them this weekend. There is really no reason they shouldn’t.

A few other quick stats the Pirates are now 24-15 since June 25th and are 20-10 since the 4th of July. So over the course of the last 7 weeks or the Pirates have played pretty good baseball.

77504145405D62564140405D240 wrote: Good win last night overall. The Pirates got what they needed out of Nova which was 6 solid innings and were able to save the main guys out of the bullpen for the remainder of this series thanks to the offense scoring 10 runs. I’m not sure I like the idea of Holmes pitching tonight and the Pirates backing up the rotation another day. I guess it will work out for next week with the Cubs and Braves series but right now I want guys like Taillon and Archer pitching every 5th day as much as possible. Pitching a guy like Holmes tonight who was very good the last time he pitched against the Brewers with these games meaning so much now is still very risky. So hopefully it works out. The bottom line is watching the game last night the Giants stink overall right now and aren’t a very good team so the Pirates I still think have a pretty good shot of taking 3 of 4 from them this weekend. There is really no reason they shouldn’t.
I don't get this at all. Just seems like Hurdle's irrational obsession with resting players. The Pirates had 2 days off last week (7/30, 8/2) so the rotation picked up 2 extra days of rest. They are off again Monday (8/13). Then they will have 10 straight games (twice thru the rotation) and another day off (8/23). Things are going well now, they can barely afford to lose any games---and they decide to bring up a AAA pitcher for no other reason but to rest a staff that's had plenty of rest. NH obviously is buying into it as he had to make a roster move. But it's a head scratcher. As are most moves involving TBMTIB.

0A272A3B3C2D3A7A79480 wrote: Good win last night overall. The Pirates got what they needed out of Nova which was 6 solid innings and were able to save the main guys out of the bullpen for the remainder of this series thanks to the offense scoring 10 runs. I’m not sure I like the idea of Holmes pitching tonight and the Pirates backing up the rotation another day. I guess it will work out for next week with the Cubs and Braves series but right now I want guys like Taillon and Archer pitching every 5th day as much as possible. Pitching a guy like Holmes tonight who was very good the last time he pitched against the Brewers with these games meaning so much now is still very risky. So hopefully it works out. The bottom line is watching the game last night the Giants stink overall right now and aren’t a very good team so the Pirates I still think have a pretty good shot of taking 3 of 4 from them this weekend. There is really no reason they shouldn’t.
I don't get this at all. Just seems like Hurdle's irrational obsession with resting players. The Pirates had 2 days off last week (7/30, 8/2) so the rotation picked up 2 extra days of rest. They are off again Monday (8/13). Then they will have 10 straight games (twice thru the rotation) and another day off (8/23). Things are going well now, they can barely afford to lose any games---and they decide to bring up a AAA pitcher for no other reason but to rest a staff that's had plenty of rest. NH obviously is buying into it as he had to make a roster move. But it's a head scratcher. As are most moves involving TBMTIB. 

Apparently this was planned a month or so in advance based on the trip to Colorado and figuring the pitching staff would be tired. It’s dumb and flat out ridiculous Hurdle is doing this. Like you pointed out Bobster things are going so well right now with the starting rotation with guys like Williams and Musgrove why mess with it and back them up a day?? Hurdle just better hope Holmes does the job tonight and pitches well and they don’t lose this game because of him. Because he is going to yet again take a ton of heat from myself and others if they lose this game and this blows up in their face because of Hurdle and his stubbornness and unwillingness to change things.

Another observation watching Cutch last night I am more and more glad the Pirates traded him when they did. He is having a terrible season numbers wise. He is hitting under .260 with 12 Homeruns and 46 rbis and his OPS is .768. Trading him and getting Dickerson from Tampa has been a solid move by Neal. I am totally convinced that if Cutch was still on the Pirates they would not be 4 games over .500 right now and in the thick of this wildcard race. He just does not look good at all at the plate.

This rest the starters could cost the Bucs. Archer gets a start against the lowly Twinkies but does not get a chance to go against the division leading Cubs next weekend. Does Hurdle really want to win I wonder?

At least it will be in the middle of the night when nobody will see it.



Glad for Holmes though.

7C5B4A4E4B56695D4A4B4B562F0 wrote: Good win last night overall. The Pirates got what they needed out of Nova which was 6 solid innings and were able to save the main guys out of the bullpen for the remainder of this series thanks to the offense scoring 10 runs. I’m not sure I like the idea of Holmes pitching tonight and the Pirates backing up the rotation another day. I guess it will work out for next week with the Cubs and Braves series but right now I want guys like Taillon and Archer pitching every 5th day as much as possible. Pitching a guy like Holmes tonight who was very good the last time he pitched against the Brewers with these games meaning so much now is still very risky. His numbers in AAA his last few starts have not been very good so I just don’t like this move very much tonight and I don’t get it at all why it has to be done. So hopefully it works out. The bottom line is watching the game last night the Giants stink overall right now and aren’t a very good team so the Pirates I still think have a pretty good shot of taking 3 of 4 from them this weekend. There is really no reason they shouldn’t.


1. I agree that it was fortunate that the offense kept the bullpen fresh for today.

2. I’ve got no problem with Holmes going today, with a full bullpen behind him. He’s a competent starter who if he can stay away from the walks should get through their lineup twice. If we can stay competitive through five (which is a spot starters job), we have the tools on paper to end to game.

3. I also agree with Hurdle that trying to steal a day of rest for all of his starters can pay big dividends. While every game is important, I’d rather this happen than the mass Sunday lineups that Hurdle is known for.

536E69736E69070 wrote: Good win last night overall. The Pirates got what they needed out of Nova which was 6 solid innings and were able to save the main guys out of the bullpen for the remainder of this series thanks to the offense scoring 10 runs. I’m not sure I like the idea of Holmes pitching tonight and the Pirates backing up the rotation another day. I guess it will work out for next week with the Cubs and Braves series but right now I want guys like Taillon and Archer pitching every 5th day as much as possible. Pitching a guy like Holmes tonight who was very good the last time he pitched against the Brewers with these games meaning so much now is still very risky. His numbers in AAA his last few starts have not been very good so I just don’t like this move very much tonight and I don’t get it at all why it has to be done. So hopefully it works out. The bottom line is watching the game last night the Giants stink overall right now and aren’t a very good team so the Pirates I still think have a pretty good shot of taking 3 of 4 from them this weekend. There is really no reason they shouldn’t.


1.  I agree that it was fortunate that the offense kept the bullpen fresh for today.

2.  I’ve got no problem with Holmes going today, with a full bullpen behind him.  He’s a competent starter who if he can stay away from the walks should get through their lineup twice.  If we can stay competitive through five (which is a spot starters job), we have the tools on paper to end to game.

3.  I also agree with Hurdle that trying to steal a day of rest for all of his starters can pay big dividends.  While every game is important, I’d rather this happen than the mass Sunday lineups that Hurdle is known for.


I agree with Tintín.