OnlyBucs

It doesn't help that the HP umpiring is so awful. Joe and Suwinski both called out on strikes in the 9th on pitches out of the strike zone.

163B36272031266665540 wrote: It doesn't help that the HP umpiring is so awful. Joe and Suwinski both called out on strikes in the 9th on pitches out of the strike zone.
I saw it- certainly didn't help us

3 hits tonight

Have scored a total of 18 runs in the last 12 games

7F41444C5F47474C6C495E4D1A280 wrote: 3 hits tonight

Have scored a total of 18 runs in the last 12 games
Look on the bright side- 2 games over 500

I’m trying to look for positives. In spite of the offense, the Pirates have played two close games (just a handful of mistake pitches have made the difference) against one of the best teams in baseball in their home park. Doesn’t that make you feel better? Me, neither.

7C2A3C28273D2D262B3C0E29232F2722602D4E0 wrote: I’m trying to look for positives.  In spite of the offense, the Pirates have played two close games (just a handful of mistake pitches have made the difference) against one of the best teams in baseball in their home park.  Doesn’t that make you feel better?  Me, neither.
Keller needs to shut Baltimore out tomorrow and the bucs

have to get an unearned run

The difference between average clubs and good clubs was on full display. 



An Olympic skier, bobsledder, track and field star, figure skater enters every competition knowing that, sometimes, the slightest mistake can lead to a loss.....and, four years for the next chance.



Contreras was that Olympic athlete.  Two costly errors- coughed up home runs to a good club.  Neither side scored other than that.  Loss.



Now, wait another day for the chance to win.

457067676C5567676C6B67020 wrote: The difference between average clubs and good clubs was on full display. 



An Olympic skier, bobsledder, track and field star, figure skater enters every competition knowing that, sometimes, the slightest mistake can lead to a loss.....and, four years for the next chance.



Contreras was that Olympic athlete.  Two costly errors- coughed up home runs to a good club.  Neither side scored other than that.  Loss.



Now, wait another day for the chance to win.
Even without the 2 mistakes, the best they could have done was a 0-0 tie. 



Of course the constant counterproductive lineup shuffling only hurts. On Wednesday Cutch had 3 hits. Thursday was an off day for the team. He played Friday and was given Saturday off so that Andujar (.161) could play. It was the same schedule for Marcano. He hit a HR Wednesday and has done well at SS when given the chance. But he sat Saturday so that Owings (.111) could play. Marcano could have a future with the team. Not so for Owings. And when Marcano PH for the hitless Owings, he doubled. 



For the past few seasons, we thought we understood the constant lineup and position shuffling: "they wanted to see what they had." But we're beyond that now. But the shuffling never stops. Performance doesn't influence it. It seems to be the agenda of BC/DS that this is how to run a team. Players must always be moved in out of the lineup regardless of the situation. Winning must be attempted only within the confines of that rule. A less than optimal lineup is an acceptable byproduct of that strategy and cannot be rectified if it means straying from that priority.



Last night was the Orioles' 4th consecutive win. The top 8 in the batting order have remained the same thru those 4 games. The Pirates have not had the same top 8 in the lineup all season. Obviously, hitting is a problem for this team. But it's only made worse by the managing style. Players who hit get sat down so that those who don't hit can play. No one knows from one day to the next if they'll play and if so, where they'll bat or where they'll play. And since Shelton was extended rather than fired, this is clearly the management style Cherington wants.

Lineup shuffling by itself doesn't matter much to me.  I get that some guys are better at, say, leadoff, cleanup, and middle of the order than others.  Some have preferences.  Other than that, I don't mind juggling the order as much.



The guys who play..  and, their positions matter to me a lot.  The best players should play, unless there are clear match-up reasons.



Some guys can't hit.  Some guys can't hit with enough authority.  We have speed, so that's good.



I'm excited to think about the guys who ***should*** be arriving soon.  It's this "here and now' funk that's tough.



The good news?  Playing good teams shows everyone where we need to get better.  No one waits for anyone.  We have to do it.



Added- whoa! Your comment about the Orioles batting order. I'm going to let that sink in more.