OnlyBucs

We ripped the heart out, from San Francisco:

Frazier 2B

Hayes 3B

Reynolds CF

Nogowski 1B

Stallings C

Evans LF

Newman SS

Oliva RF

Brubaker P 4-9 4.68 ERA



Little Giants (okay, that's a football film, but you get it)

Wade Jr. 1B

Solano 2B

Dickerson LF

Ruf 1B

Flores 3B

Duggar CF

Estrada SS

Casali C

Wood P 8-3 3.77 ERA



Let's Go Bucs!!!

The Pirates have won this current series, and go for the sweep. This should come as no surprise, as I learned watching the replay last night, that going back to 2011 the Pirates are 7-1-2 at San Francisco for the series. No wonder people didn't show up Friday and Saturday. They knew what was coming. The Pirates have also won the season series, and go for a 5-2 record against the team with the best record in the NL.



Brubaker last pitched July 18th against the Mets, getting a no decision in the infamous 7-6 loss, going 3.2 innings and surrendering 4 runs, igniting a Mets comeback from a 6-0 first inning deficit. Brubaker has surrendered 15 runs in 14.2 innings in his last three starts, and is 0-5 in his last 7 starts and only one "quality start" in that span. He did not face the Giants at PNC in May.



Wood last pitched July 20 against the Dodgers, going 5 innings and allowing 3 runs and taking a no decision in the Giants 8-6 loss in LA. He's only had two really bad outings this season. He faced the Pirates on May 16, taking the win in the Giants 4-1 victory, allowing one run in six complete innings. The Pirates tagged him for 8 hits, but he only gave up one walk, and none of the hits were for extra bases. Frazier, Reynolds, and Stallings accounted for 4 of those hits and the walk. Four of the starters he faced from that game aren't on the active roster for the Pirates, as 2 are on the IL (Tom, Gonzalez), one at AAA (Stokes Jr.), and the other now playing in Korea (Craig). Ironically, his mound opponent that day, Mitch Keller, is also in AAA, but in this game, pitched maybe his best outing as a Pirates starter, going 5 innings, 2 runs, and 8 strikeouts.

I used to think Brubaker always got the short end of the stick with the lineups on the days he pitched, until I took a good hard look at his starts. I think it's the other way around for the subs.

Although they are comfortably in last place in the NL Central I continue to watch the Pirate games. The roller coaster ride of the last 10 games, as exciting (Mets and Giants) and depressing (D-Backs) as they have been, would be a lot more enjoyable if the Bucs were actually contending for something instead of draft pick position next year.



And, while I could be wrong, it also appears that this year's trade deadline may not be that interesting for the Pirates. There have been a few rumored links to Frazier and Rodriguez, although nothing too firm, and today's MLB Trade Rumors story on Anderson. Unfortunately, the Bucs may not be able to add any real pieces for the future by trading away some of the little current talent on the team that is trade material. If that is the case, I hope that BC holds onto Frazier and Rodriguez until the off-season; Anderson doesn't really matter in the larger picture of things.



Continuing, I took a quick look at the team's official site and read the update on the injured list. Does anyone miss Gonzalez, Tom, or Cahill? Nogo has made Moran's injury less of a concern (although I clearly expect Nogo's performance to taper off dramatically quite soon), and it is good to hear that Brault is showing some signs of life.



Hoping for a miracle today and that the Bucs can actually sweep a series from the Giants on the road.

Nogowski!!! Go Bucs.

48535E5F565A553B0 wrote: Nogowski!!! Go Bucs.
Didn't take long to give that run back.

Well, at least Brubaker didn't wait till the Pirates had a 6-0 lead to waste

Polanco, Newman, Perez all starting to hit lately.



If this keeps up, this could be a real fun team the rest of the way. Too bad the starting pitching is atrocious.

Great, Shelton replaces Polanco with an automatic out.

Newman to second on a passed ball, third on Oliva's ground out.



Brubaker can get that lead back