Pittsburgh Pirates - A new beginning...

[moore4807]

GM Moore said he wanted consistency? hahaha!! Silly Man!

SP Joe Musgrove (5IP, 6R, 3ER, 0BB, 5K's) was so... Joe Musgrove. He gave up the first run to lead off the first inning, then in the fourth he gave it up again on a two run homer to C Max Stassi. P Musgrove lasted until the 5th inning before getting injured and 3 relievers combined for 4IP, 1H, 2BB, 6K's in scoreless relief.

The Pirates offense turned turtle again, only managing 4 hits and one run against Marlins SP Jordan Yamamoto. 2B Erik Gonzalez was the star of this show going 3/4 with one solo HR.

The boss might be happy with this play overall, but I'm feeling a ulcer coming on here...

[moore4807]

P Joe Musgrove is done for the season. A hamstring strain will keep him sidelined for 7-8 weeks.

In MLB news;

NY(A) and Texas will be missing OF Kris Davis and P Chris Martin for 5 games each after a altercation involving the two happened at a recent game between the two teams.

Minnesota 1B C.J. Cron is done for the year after aggravating his broken wrist injury. Current timeline for his return is 2-3 months, eliminating any possibility of his return this season.

[moore4807]

Shut out again! We manage to sink below an inferior opponent to lose the series.

SP Joey Lucchesi (6.2IP 3H, 2ER, 4BB, 5K's) pitched well considering his walks weren't what led to the Marlins runs.

The Pirates strung out seven hits but couldn't plate any of them. 3B KeBryan Hayes, C Reese McGuire, and SS Jose Iglesias all had two hits but no one could score.

[moore4807]

Our weekend set against the St. Louis Cardinals begins tonight.

In MLB news;

Philadelphia Phillies SS Jean Segura's hitting streak is finally broken at 27 games.

San Diego P Garrett Richards injury has been aggravated and extends his time on the IL another week according to team spokeswoman.

[moore4807]

We tried to get into a chest bumping game against a team with four 20HR guys in their lineup. That plan came up just a little short for us.

SP Jimmy Nelson (4.1IP, 4H, 5ER, 3HRA 1BB, 5K's) just got lit up by the Cardinal's lumbermen, I wouldn't be surprised to see Nelson go on the IL for whiplash! RP Dario Agrazal didn't fare much better, but RP Archie Bradley did keep the Cardinals off the board for the last two innings.

Two players managed two hits, CF Monte Harrison (2/5, 1R, 3RBI) had a good game and C Elias Diaz (2/5, 1R) added a run.

The Pirates are clearly playing out the string, but without the rest of the 40 man roster, the season is beating them down too. We did bring up one player from A+ Bradenton Maulers who was on the 40 man roster, so we are back to our 25 man roster, although SS Iglesias injury today still has to be diagnosed by team doctors.

[moore4807]

Good pitching wins games!

SP Jameson Taillon (8.1IP, 2H 1ER, 0BB, 7K's) pitched a two hit masterpiece at PNC park. RP Rich Rodriguez finished up the final two outs without giving up a hit, walk or run. VERY Nice Job!

Our offense did just enough led by C Elias Diaz 3-run HR to lead the Pirates attack. 5 runs scored on 5 hits is not the norm, but we need every break we can get here in the homestretch.

Still no report on SS Iglesias' injury yet.

In MLB news;

Kansas City SP Danny Duffy (9IP, 5H 0R, 2BB, 5K's) threw a shutout at the Miami Marlins in their own park. The effort hides Duffy's struggles this year with a 3W/9L record.

Milwaukee RF Christian Yelich is the latest hitter to get a hit in 20 straight games. However his streak couldn't help the Brewers as they lost the game 9-3 to the Chicago Cubs.

[moore4807]

In MLB news;

Milwaukee Brewer RF Christian Yelich finally had his hitting streak broken, courtesy of the Chicago Cubs. The Brewers were beaten again by the same 9-3 score as yesterday.

Kansas City SP Jake Junis continued the Marlins misery today on a 3 hit shutout, P Junis raised his record to 14-7 on the year.

New York(A) 2B Gleyber Torres went 5/6 today against the Boston Red Sox helping his team to a 15-6 victory. In the win, Torres went deep twice, a solo shot in the 5th inning and then a grand slam in the 7th. Torres picked up 3 singles in his other at bats.

Toronto Blue Jays can start looking forward to next year, as today they were officially eliminated from the playoffs.

[moore4807]

Finally a series win!

SP Chris Archer (7IP, 5H 2R 1ER, 1BB, 6K's) pitched effectively in a close game, he gets his 13th win of the year. RP Archie Bradley (1IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 2K) and CL Thomas Burrows (1IP 0H, 0R, 0BB, 2K's, SV) finished the 9th inning for his 3rd save.

Again beating the Cardinals on only 5 hits is not the usual result but it works here! RF Myles straw made the most of his 1H and 1BB, turning both into 2R scored. C Elias Diaz drove home the winning score in the bottom of the 6th inning.

The Pirates survived 3 errors in the game, 2 by C Diaz and one by SP Archer.

[moore4807]

We ended up perfectly average 3-3 on the week but we chose to do this the hard way. We lost two of three games to the Marlins, bur won two of three games against the Cardinals.

The Boss is still happy with our win/loss record and our 2B progress for the year. I'm NOT happy with the mediocrity, but will grudgingly admit this team is slightly better than their record indicates. I have cut a lot of fat off the budget and believe we can upgrade with free agents in the offseason.

We are up to four players whose weekly batting averages exceeded .250 for the week. C Elias Diaz, C Reese McGuire, 2B Erik Gonzalez, and RF Myles Straw. accomplished the achievement.

SP Chris Archer is dominating this month, he went to the hill twice and came away with victories both times, what's even more amazing is his stats (2-0, 0.56ERA, 16IP, 7H, 2R 1ER, 1BB, 16K's, 0.50WHIP)

SS Jose Iglesias injury is season ending, his oblique strain will keep him out of the final two weeks of play.

** Minor playoff's notes The AAA Indianapolis Indians are tied 2-2 against the Columbus Clippers, The AA Altoona Curve are tied 2-2 against the Binghamton Rumble Ponies. So no help this week again for the parent club.

[moore4807]

We start off the week away at San Francisco Giants for a 4 game set.

Our power rankings have us moving back to 19th place. That seems to be about where we belong.

In MLB news,

Seattle, Oakland, and Detroit all reached the end of the line for the playoffs, each one being mathematically eliminated from contention.

[moore4807]

Fall behind early and scrape together the hits to win. At this point of the season I can live with that.

SP Matt Shoemaker (6.1IP, 7H, 4ER, 2BB, 4K's) was shaky his first couple of innings, falling behind 2-0 after 1 inning, then 3-1 after two innings. But he then found his groove and allowed only one more run till being relieved by RP Rich Rodriguez( 0.2IP 1H,0R, 0BB,0K). RP Archie Bradley pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning, and CL Thomas Burrows closed out the game giving up only a single walk.

1B Ryon Healy, 3B KeBryan Hayes, 2B Erik Gonzalez, LF Trayvon Robinson all had two fer days, but it was SS Kevin Newman's only hit of the day that put the Pirates in the lead, a bases clearing double, that Newman tried stretching into a triple and was thrown out at third, ending the 4th inning.
Seven runs scored on eleven hits is a nice score line for the batters, can they do it again in the series is the question?

But the Manager and coaches are happy, the GM is happy, so lets enjoy the game and get ready for tomorrow.

[moore4807]

Head Scout Joe DelliCarri has brought back news of a young RHP Luis Mendoza, who Joe feels will be a fair shot to make a name for himself as a RP.

In MLB news;

Atlanta's RF Nick Markakis went 5/6 in a losing cause against the Phillies.

Oakland's Franklin Barreto went 5/5 on the day to lead his club past the Houston Astros 10-1.

[moore4807]

consistency... All I keep asking for is consistency...

SP Joey Lucchesi (2.2IP, 8H, 6ER, 4BB's, 2K's) was... IDK, is horrible a strong enough word? RP Dario Agrazal (2.2IP, 4H, 0R, 0BB, 2K's) was light years better and he isn't half the talent that Lucchesi is. Recent callup from A+ Bradenton RP, Devan Watts (0.2IP 0H,0R, 0BB, 0K) had an easy time of it, disposing of his batters flawlessly, before giving way to a PH. RP Ryan Brasier (2IP, 2H, 1ER, 0BB, 2K) got mop-up duty and let in one run over the last two frames.

Three Buc's batters, 1B Josh Bell, 3B KeBryan Hayes, and C Reese McGuire each got a pair of hits with Hayes and McGuire driving in one RBI each. That was pretty much all the highlights for the offense.

We're gonna see what tomorrow brings.

[moore4807]

Its a win, but it's NOT consistency otherwise...

SP Jimmy Nelson (7IP, 7H, 3ER, 2BB, 3K's) looked much better in this start than in his last couple of starts. He was named P.O.T.G. for his efforts. RP Rich Rodriguez (1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 2K's) was effective yet again in middle innings, and CL Thomas Burrows (0.1IP 1H, 0R, 1BB, 1K) was injured pitching, so RP Archie Bradley resumed the closer role and got the final two outs.

Pirates had 4 players get at least 2 hits, with SS Kevin Newman (3/5 2R, 1RBI) leading the batting parade. RF Myles Straw, 1B Josh Bell, and LF Jason Martin all had the other two hit games.

[moore4807]

Close game but there is the yo-yo effect going on and it just won't stop.

SP Jameson Taillon (8IP, 12H, 3ER, 1BB, 5K's) pitched a good game, however he allowed 12 hits in his complete game and the last hit cost him a loss in the column.

Pirates batting cost us another game. Nobody got multiple hits, C Elias Diaz brought home both runs on a single after a wild pitch put the runners on second and third.

GM Moore flies home immediately after the game, claiming he's not feeling well and the team charter goes on without him.

In MLB news;

Rockies LF David Dahl is out for the season with a strained lat muscle. No word on who will replace Dahl on the regular roster.

[moore4807]

In GM Moore's absence Asst GM Neal Huntington flies out to Chicago(N) for the 3 game set in Wrigley Field.


In Minor league Playoffs our AAA affiliate, the Indianapolis Indians prevailed in their first round against Columbus Clippers with a 1-0 game five score. The Indians are now facing the Rochester Red Wings. Our AA affiliate, the Altoona Curve, beat the Binghamton Rumble Ponies 3 games to two. No indication of any more games to be played, so I'm bringing up the AA players on our 40 man roster and backfilling.


We play the Chicago(N) Cubs in a 3 game away set in Chicago's famed Wrigley Field.

In MLB news;

Speaking of the Cubbies, RP Ty Buttrey is lost for the season to a strained oblique muscle.

Arizona and San Francisco both fall by the wayside of playoff competition and are eliminated from postseason play. (We outlasted them! lol)

[moore4807]

A sweet win over our Central Division leaders!

SP Chris Archer (7.1IP, 3H, 0R, 0BB's, 9K's) is making his play for Pitcher of the Month. Winning his third straight game, this time on a 3 hitter, Chris Archer dominated the Cubs. RP Rich Rodriguez (1.2IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 2K's) came on and finished out the game for his 5th save, even though the Pirates struck for three additional runs in the top of the ninth to put the game out of reach.

Three Pirates hitters got multiple hits in this game led by 3B KeBryan Hayes (3/4, 1RBI) performance. RF Myles Straw (2/5, 1RBI) and 2B Ryon Healy (2/4, 1RBI) all had good games, LF Jason Martin scored twice despite only getting one hit. He got on base on a fielding error by 3B Kris Bryant and scored.

A satisfying win, Asst. GM Neal Huntington has a few good comments for the Pirates players and our foes in the postgame press conference.

[moore4807]

We get battered by the big boppers. Offense good, pitching bad. next game please.

SP Matt Shoemaker (2.2IP, 8H 8R 4ER, 2BB, 3K's) is pretty awful this turn on the mound. RP Dario Agrazal (2.1IP, 3H 2ER, 1BB, 1K) is no better and this game is a rout. RP Michael Feliz (2IP 4H, 2ER, 2BB, 2K;s) just adds to the misery. Minor league callup RP Devan Watts provides the only hit free, run free, walk free inning while striking out 2.

Pirates batters did show up to this game but were way overmatched by our pitchers ineffectiveness. AA callup CF Wes Rogers (3/5AB) had a good game in his Pirates debut, while 1B Josh Bell (3/4, 2R, 2RBI), SS Kevin Newman (2/4 2R,) C Reese McGuire (2/4 2RBI), and RF Myles Straw (2/4 1R) contributed in the defeat.

MLB news;
Yankee star RF/DH Giancarlo Stanton and RP Danny Young of the Toronto Blue Jays are suspended for a fracas they caused in last night's game.

[moore4807]

In MLB news;

Houston Astros win the "Wild West". Fans are happy, players are happy, what's not to like here?

Phillies pitching is slowly falling apart, this time it's RP Juan Nicasio who suffered a ruptured finger tendon while pitching.

[moore4807]

12 games left to the season, the team looks like they are playing out the string.

SP Joey Lucchesi (4.1IP, 7H, 5ER, 1BB, 4K's) looked and played like he didn't care at all about the result. RP Devan Watts (1IP, 3H, 1ER, 1BB, 2K's) finally was solved by the Cubs hitters but he only gave up one run here. RP's Ryan Brasier and John Axford combined for a respectable 2.2IP, 2H, 2BB, 5K's to finish off the game.

One hitter has multiple hits, LF Jason Martin (2/4 1R) turned his days work in. SS Kevin Newman (1/3, 1R) managed to score our other run.