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Pirates @ Cards - 8/11 - Game Thread
Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2019 8:54 pm
by BenM
Today the Yankees had an 8-5 lead over the Orioles. The Orioles managed to load the bases.
The Yankee reliever did not give up a grand slam.
Pirates @ Cards - 8/11 - Game Thread
Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2019 9:26 pm
by Bobster21
4463684B060 wrote: Today the Yankees had an 8-5 lead over the Orioles. The Orioles managed to load the bases.
The Yankee reliever did not give up a grand slam.
The NY manager actually took out the struggling reliever who had loaded the bases and let in a run in the 8th instead of just leaving him in to see what would happen next. Amazing!
Pirates @ Cards - 8/11 - Game Thread
Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2019 9:45 pm
by BenM
And they were able to use their star reliever in the ninth to get a save!
Pirates @ Cards - 8/11 - Game Thread
Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2019 9:50 pm
by MaineBucs
This year's pen has not performed as management expected.
Coming into the season, management believed that the back end of the pen with Vasquez, Kela, Crick and Rodriguez was all set, and that pitchers like Liriano, Brault, Kingham and Burdi could form a good second tier.
Management apparently didn't envision Kela being a nowhere man, Kinghman pitching so badly that he was released, Rodriguez having a bad case of neck snapping watching pitches leave the park for the 1st month of the season (sent to the minors), Burdi getting injured (who could have expected that?) and Crick melting down as badly as he has.
So, what did we get, too much of the Never man, Montana, Hattleib, Stratton, Holmes, Escobar and a quickly revolving host of others who quickly failed to produce any results. Management had no real contingency program, meaning a contingency program that could yield some results and be more than a name on a roster.
Hurdle doesn't use the few resources that he has very effectively, but I will admit that he does not have many resources with which to work.
And, unless Santana, Kuhl and Burdi all return next year and are effective, next year's pen could be even worse, because most major league teams are now willing to (over)pay for decent relievers, and the Pirates are not.
In my opinion, the Bucs need to trade some of their few good assets this off-season, at least two of Vasquez, Marte and Bell. to try and build a young pitching staff with promise. Some of the current starters, perhaps Archer and Musgrove, may be better as relievers.