OnlyBucs

1. With the exception of the 1-0 game, the Pirates have held a two run lead in every game this season.



2. They have scored first in 7 of 9 games so far.



3. The defense has made three errors so far. The pitchers, to date, haven’t given up an unearned run.



4. With runners in scoring position, the Bucs have hit .321, with a .385 ob% and a .929 ops with 45 runs in 81abs.

Our opponents have an .836 ops with only 32 runs scored.



5. With runners in scoring position with two outs, the Pirates are hitting .314, .415 ob% and a 1.043 OPS and 21 runs scored in 35 abs.

Our opponents actually have had 42 ab’s but have only scored 14 runs. (.262/.354/452).



6. Hitters have struck out 54 times in 81 innings or 6.0k’s/9 (lowest in the league by a ton). The MLB average is 8.49k/9. Looks like the



7. Polanco has drawn 8 walks in 39 ab’s. He drew 27 bb’s in 411 abs last season.



I’m not saying that any of this will last, but it seems like the guys, despite the poor preforming bullpen, are taking a different approach, and it seems to be working so far.

The team strikeout to walk numbers are stunning so far. Of course the overall numbers won't hold up but these guys are on fire. the whole team, minus Cervelli really. and his SO/BB ratio is still great, he's just not hitting.



I'm interested to see the correction when it comes. Perhaps a combination of facing lousy pitching in freezing cold is buoying the ratios. Where will it drop to, is the question I have? Maybe part of it is a systemic change in approach.



Heck, JHay and Marte are even taking walks...

I also haven't seen nearly as many TOOTBLANs as we're accustomed to, Moran's blunder in the ninth inning the other day withstanding.

6B626A7B750F0 wrote: The team strikeout to walk numbers are stunning so far.  Of course the overall numbers won't hold up but these guys are on fire.  the whole team, minus Cervelli really. and his SO/BB ratio is still great, he's just not hitting.



I'm interested to see the correction when it comes.  Perhaps a combination of facing lousy pitching in freezing cold is buoying the ratios.   Where will it drop to, is the question I have?  Maybe part of it is a systemic change in approach.



Heck, JHay and Marte are even taking walks...


On the other side, the pitchers have struck out 71 guys in 85 innings (7.51/k9) while giving up 39 bbs (4.12bb/9) so maybe there is a weather correlation.

Besides Cervelli and Marte, the starters are all over .300. The "clutch" hitting has been great too.



There have been some bad defensive lays, but the score keeper wouldn't notice. Frazier and Polanco in RF have missed some balls. Then that pop between Bell, Cervelli, and Nova probably cost them the game (even Moran abandoned third on that play).



So far so good. There really isn't much to complain about except for a few plays in the field. The bullpen has been picked up a few times by the offense. That's what good teams do. The Cubs have some very good starters going this week. Let's hope it continues.

polanco playing like a superstar changes a whole lot of things.

63515D5D497B58515C595651300 wrote: polanco playing like a superstar changes a whole lot of things.






Single biggest thing. Easily.

The Pirates are one of four teams to have all of their starters go at least 5+ innings every game this season. The Astros, White Sox, and Diamondbacks are the others.

252E262A2F2E357076013820292E2E6F222E410 wrote: Besides Cervelli and Marte, the starters are all over .300.  The "clutch" hitting has been great too.



There have been some bad defensive lays, but the score keeper wouldn't notice.  Frazier and Polanco in RF have missed some balls.  Then that pop between Bell, Cervelli, and Nova probably cost them the game (even Moran abandoned third on that play). 



So far so good.  There really isn't much to complain about except for a few plays in the field.  The bullpen has been picked up a few times by the offense.  That's what good teams do.  The Cubs have some very good starters going this week.  Let's hope it continues.


The “pop up game” is the only game this year that felt like last year. It’s not just that they are clutch so far, they Are, but the team looks accountable.



I may be the only person that believes this, but I think better leadership is resulting in better play. A direct correlation.

383F29212F387F730A2D272B2326642925274A0 wrote: polanco playing like a superstar changes a whole lot of things.






Single biggest thing.  Easily.






He's the one guy you don't want to pitch to but the nice thing is you've got Bell lurking he needs to be batting 3rd ahead of Bell and then you've got Dickerson who may become dangerous also. I am so ready for teams not to be able to pitch around one guy to get to someone who's got no chance. Keep it up Gregory.