OnlyBucs

5E464443435445425F5E482D0 wrote: Oh how I wish we had "The Gunner" and "The Possum" in the radio booth calling this name and Danny Murtaugh getting ready to bring in Elroy Leon "The Baron of the Bullpen" Face to shutdown the Cubbies these last two innings. 



Prince is going nuts right now shouting about a bit of "9th Inning Lightning" and how that has been a Buccos trademark in those years.



Unfortunately it looks like Rivero comes in for the 8th and that will mean Tony "Pariah of the Bullpen" Watson with pitch the 9th.  Or Clint might just surprise us with Antonio "Gilipollas" Bastardo to blow the game for Tallion and the Buccos.
If Murtaugh just saw Rivero's strong 8th on 12 pitches, he'd bring him back for the 9th.


Exactly if it hadn't been for Frazier Hurdle would have probably blown this game by bringing in Watson with his 93 mph fastball to mow down the cubs and we would have lost 4 to 3.  Just cannot understand this type of managing, just awful.  But hey Pirates sweep in spite of Hurdle and I'm happy, happy, happy, Go Bucs.


IDK...Watson was 2-2 in save opportunities this weekend, right?



Listen, it's clear that Rivero is our best reliever.  I don't really think that's debatable.  But, half the time, we're lamenting playing to the save stat, now we're upset because Rivero isn't being set up to rack up saves?  I don't get it.  I'm of the mindset that Rivero should be used when the game is most in the balance.  Whether that's in the 8th inning, the 9th, or the 5th, I don't care.  But, he's clearly our best reliever.

Thoughts ...



* I'd rank that as the single most surprising sweep by the Pirates in recent memory. I'm stunned. And thrilled. And stunned. I truly expected a Cubs sweep.



* Taillon: STUD. His ERA is now 0.90 and he's starting to show that he is a No. 1 caliber guy. Just wow.



* Adam Frazier: PROFESSIONAL HITTER. His bat needs to be in the lineup. Not only is he a sparkplug type, but he's a big-time bat. Gotta find a way for him to be in the lineup at least 4-5 times a week, at least for now.



* Our defense ... WRETCHED.



* Our baserunning ... WRETCHED.



* But sweeping the hated Flubs in Wrigley ... it doesn't get any sweeter than that.



* Can't believe we are back to .500. I for one admit I was not expecting to see .500 again anytime soon.



* Now let's keeping it going in STL.

This weekend was a preview of how we can hope to deal with these guys...Taillon, Cole, Glasnow... plus a few others on the way

4163706D6E6B6C63407761616D020 wrote: Thoughts ...



* I'd rank that as the single most surprising sweep by the Pirates in recent memory. I'm stunned. And thrilled. And stunned. I truly expected a Cubs sweep.



* Taillon: STUD. His ERA is now 0.90 and he's starting to show that he is a No. 1 caliber guy. Just wow.



* Adam Frazier: PROFESSIONAL HITTER. His bat needs to be in the lineup. Not only is he a sparkplug type, but he's a big-time bat. Gotta find a way for him to be in the lineup at least 4-5 times a week, at least for now.



* Our defense ... WRETCHED.



* Our baserunning ... WRETCHED.



* But sweeping the hated Flubs in Wrigley ... it doesn't get any sweeter than that.



* Can't believe we are back to .500. I for one admit I was not expecting to see .500 again anytime soon.



* Now let's keeping it going in STL.






Those are all great thoughts. There is a strange irony so far this season. Frazier has been a great spark plug offensively. However, to your next point after Frazier, he has been a key piece in their terrible defense...both yesterday and today. I think it is a small sample size and he is better than he showed, but he has cost them runs in the field both days.



Sort of related, I don't understand why Hurdle has to sub out half the lineup all at one time. If he wants to pull Mercer (like he did yesterday), fine. But don't take out your starting 2nd basemen and RFer. Take out your best defensive players one at a time over a week. Not all at once on the weekend.



I also had a problem with him pulling multiple better defenders and sending out a struggling Glasnow yesterday. Of all games, that seems to be the one when you would want to put your best defense out. Not the backups in the middle infield.

I wasn't able to watch any of the games this weekend but count me as delighted and surprised by the sweep of the Cubs!



Just a question for those who saw today's game. I saw in the box score that Kuhl pinch hit late in the game. Did Hurdle blow through his bench prematurely again or was there some mitigating reason for this?

301400080D610 wrote: I wasn't able to watch any of the games this weekend but count me as delighted and surprised by the sweep of the Cubs! 



Just a question for those who saw today's game. I saw in the box score that Kuhl pinch hit late in the game. Did Hurdle blow through his bench prematurely again or was there some mitigating reason for this?


It was 6-1 at the time and I'm assuming they didn't want to use Polanco or Stewart.



He fired all of his bullets in the 8th and I'd say appropriately so

102627303B3A2032113C2020530 wrote: This weekend was a preview of how we can hope to deal with these guys...Taillon, Cole, Glasnow... plus a few others on the way


Agreed. Pitching is the equalizer of the superior lineup the Cubs field everyday. Tallion is ready to fulfill his role. Cole can be good and if he's not #1 that will be really good.



Glasnow is the wild card. If he can develop the Pirates will have a top three that could allow this team to compete. Nova and Kuhl

Make a great 4 and 5.

655352454E4F554764495555260 wrote: I wasn't able to watch any of the games this weekend but count me as delighted and surprised by the sweep of the Cubs! 



Just a question for those who saw today's game. I saw in the box score that Kuhl pinch hit late in the game. Did Hurdle blow through his bench prematurely again or was there some mitigating reason for this?


It was 6-1 at the time and I'm assuming they didn't want to use Polanco or Stewart.



He fired all of his bullets in the 8th and I'd say appropriately so




Thanks! Glad to hear it was appropriate for the situation. I assume Kuhl showed a good batting eye too working a walk!

In the minors Frazier was a high average hitter with no power. He had 3 HRs in 1,354 ABs. As a Pirate he has 3 HRs in 181 ABs. Doesn't appear to be a fluke since he hits the ball hard. Maybe he's just getting stronger at age 25. I think he can be a guy who hits 12-15 a year if he played everyday. And he's forcing their hand to play him. It's clearly a better offense when he's in it. Defensively, I dunno. It was nice to have S-Rod play well defensively wherever they put him. But Frazier is not strong defensively at the various positions they want him to play. But they need his bat in the lineup.

6F424F5E59485F1F1C2D0 wrote: In the minors Frazier was a high average hitter with no power. He had 3 HRs in 1,354 ABs. As a Pirate he has 3 HRs in 181 ABs. Doesn't appear to be a fluke since he hits the ball hard. Maybe he's just getting stronger at age 25. I think he can be a guy who hits 12-15 a year if he played everyday. And he's forcing their hand to play him. It's clearly a better offense when he's in it. Defensively, I dunno. It was nice to have S-Rod play well defensively wherever they put him. But Frazier is not strong defensively at the various positions they want him to play. But they need his bat in the lineup.   


The thing that always comes to mind is just how poorly we did with our OBN prospect poll placings for him. ::)