Official Game Lineup - 3/30 - Bucs @ Marlins

[Possum]

Bucs

1 2B Adam Frazier L
2 RF B. Reynolds S
3 LF Tommy Pham R
4 DH A. McCutchen R
5 CF J. Suwinski L
6 C E. Rodriguez S
7 3B Jared Triolo R
8 1B E. Valdez L
9 SS I. Kiner-Falefa R
SP Andrew Heaney L

Marlins

1 SS X. Edwards S
2 2B Otto Lopez R
3 CF Dane Myers R
4 1B Eric Wagaman R
5 3B Jonah Bride R
6 DH Derek Hill R
7 C Nick Fortes R
8 RF G. Conine L
9 LF J. Sanoja R
SP Max Meyer R

I guess Cruz needs a day off to get his head screwed on tight. Can't blame Shelty for that. Endy get the start behind the plate but I can't believe that Valdez is playing 1B.

[Bobster]

I guess Shelton is legally required to use his weakest lineups on Sundays. He may have outdone himself today.

[Surgnbuck]

This is what it looks like when the guy everyone wants benched, gets benched. Cruz should be DH. His throw yesterday had no impact on the game. Triolo hasn't hit, but he deserves playing time, and I like that he's at third. We already knew Hayes was going to get a lot of off time, which is why I think they have so many "utility" guys, so they can (theoretically) put them in their best utility spot.

My biggest issue though, is I feel you can't have BOTH Cruz and Bart out of any game together. Along with Reynolds, they have been they only ones that I feel can be counted on to hit the ball with pop. Maybe the double and the stolen HR yesterday are a sign that Jack may be back. If he is, no way do you sit half of your potential power either. You have to have three of the four of them on a Sunday lineup.

Just my opinion. I don't care how much some of you hate Cruz, and I'm not enamored with him either, but they need him at the plate. That's how the DH spot should be used.

I feel that using Cutch sparingly is the best way to ease him into retirement. Love the guy, but he's not adding anything to the team right now.

But really, what does it matter? We're still waiting on ONE guy to at least be hot and drive some of these runners in, instead of stranding them. They're also handcuffed by the manager and his minions. We all know how Rabelo once again gets guys thrown out at the plate. Regardless of what the reason was with Cruz not running hard from first to second (It's quite possible he doesn't get a good read on the ball) Rabelo has to know he's not a speeding bullet, and hold him.

Shelton sends Cutch up to pinch hit, then in the bottom of the inning, Pham goes out to play the outfield, replacing Bae. Why the hell isn't he the one pinch hitting there? Why did you essentlially use two players to replace Bae? Even more so, you started Bae, and you pull him when there's a right handed pitcher? Let him finish the game. There's that part of game too, it's not as if everyone else is hitting the cover off the ball, give him his full day, and pull him when he's going to face a lefty.

[Surgnbuck]

Regarding Cruz and his lack of running out of the box, I forgot, there was two outs there, it doesn't matter if he's getting a good read if the ball will be caught.

It's quite possible he forgot how many outs there were. Regardless, I still stand by Rabelo is equally at fault, and should have read that Cruz had no chance, and just held him.

[Bobster]

Regarding Cruz and his lack of running out of the box, I forgot, there was two outs there, it doesn't matter if he's getting a good read if the ball will be caught.

It's quite possible he forgot how many outs there were. Regardless, I still stand by Rabelo is equally at fault, and should have read that Cruz had no chance, and just held him.

Right. Cruz wasn't hustling from the start but that's an issue to deal with later. When Rabelo waived him home, Cruz was just getting to 3B and the cutoff man had the ball. At that point, it doesn't matter why Cruz took as long as he did to get to 3B. The only issue before Rabelo was that Cruz had little or no chance to be safe at home. But Rabelo sent him anyway. That's on Rabelo.

[Surgnbuck]

Pirates go meekly in order in the top of the first. At least they weren't standing there like statues

[Surgnbuck]

The booth is acting like they're not sure what the Marlins lineup is. Can't they just look at the friggin scoreboard?

[Surgnbuck]

Someone needs to tell Capps, the Pirates bullpen didn't cover 12 innings, they covered 6

[Surgnbuck]

You know one thing about that ghost runner deal that a lot of people need to start considering when talking about relief pitchers: if that ghost runner scores, it doesn't count as an earned run against you. So the high leverage guys who presumably would be getting those innings, benefit from being able to lose a game and not cost them stat wise. In fact, it improves their stats, at least as far as ERA goes

[Surgnbuck]

I told you McCutchen should be DH today and not Cruz!!!

1-0 Bucs!!!

I fired up Cutch!!! Who you firing up now to help the cause?