Pittsburgh Pirates - A new beginning...

[moore4807]

In our AAA playoffs, The Indianapolis Indians have a 2-1 lead over the Rochester Red Wings. 3B Brian Anderson had a 5-5 day but the team lost 10-6 to Rochester Sunday night.

In our weekly power rankings we have slipped to 21st position, this is disappointing but the stats reflect the position, just try to make them better the next two weeks.

in MLB news;

The LA(N) Dodgers have clinched a playoff berth in the West Division standings.

Also Cubs RP Brian Duensing is hanging up his cleats at the end of the season.

[moore4807]

Here is the schedule for September, we went 3-4 for the week, splitting with the Giants and losing 2 of 3 to the Cubs. Since our AAA team is still battling to win the championship, no help from them is expected this week, we wish them luck!

Asst. GM Huntington noticed that our batting avg. is still ranked 4th in the National League, our SP ERA is 10th, RP ERA is 11th. We are seriously deficient in Pitching WAR, ranking 14th in the NL, and our ZR for defense is 12th. We are surprisingly in 4th place for errors, but our defensive efficiency is ranked 11th. Neal is a stats guy and he continues to say we need to shore up our middle infield defense... but SS Iglesias is still the #1 SS defensively in the whole league when he went out on IL, and Gonzalez is currently ranked 5th in Zone Rating at 2B.

TEN of our twelve position players batted at least .250 this past week, greatly surprising and pleasing GM Moore, who is sick in bed at home (Not Co-Vid time yet, just a regular cold/flu) Asst. GM Neal Huntington relayed our appreciation to the coaches and manager to make sure they tel lthe batters good job!

Our Pitching staff is much more of a mixed bag. SP Chris Archer is throwing up some incredible numbers for this month and this week he posted a line of 1-0, 0.00ERA, .120BAA, .40WHIP - less than one! POINT four oh!!! Sweet!! Several relievers have done a decent job this week, notably RP Rich Rodriguez, RP Ryan Brasier, and RP/CL Archie Bradley.

Upcoming this week, we have a three game set at home against Seattle starting Tuesday, then travel away to Milwaukee for the weekend.

[moore4807]

We kick off a three game series against the Seattle Mariners at home, details are below.

In MLB news;1B Joey Votto went deep three times to help his Cincinnati Reds to a 7-1 win over the Cubs at Wrigley field.

The Arizona Diamondbacks ganged up on the Miami Marlins on a 14-0 whitewashing at Chase Field. SP Matt Andriese threw a complete game, only allowing six hits with no walks and 6 strikeouts.

For the ARZ offense LF Christian Walker went 5-5 to pace the Diamondbacks attack over Miami.

[moore4807]

This wasn't a game, this was a laughable effort. Our pitcher's didn't pitch well again, defense for the most part didn't defend well. Our Manager isn't managing well? All of our XBH were with two outs. Ten hits isn't horrible but without all three phases of the baseball being played, this is the results you get.

With the results of the last two weeks, and yes I'm noting the injuries here too, I'm just sorry we aren't trying to be more competitive to finish out our season strong. This whole season needs to be evaluated, from the top to the bottom, but it will wait until the season is actually over.

SP Jimmy Nelson (4IP, 8H, 5R 4ER, 3BB, 3K's) hasn't been an inspiring pickup so far, I thought the change of scenery would help him. RP Dario Agrazal (2IP, 3ER, 0BB, 2K) has fallen off the cliff here. RP Jaime Callahan ( 1IP, 1H, 2ER, 1BB, 2K) got his first chance as a Pirates reliever and didn't impress too much here. I am remembering he is a AA callup, so I'm not quite throwing in the towel yet. RP Devan Watts (1.0 1H, 1BB, 3K's) has rebounded nicely and his current ERA is back to 2.45, not bad for a high "A" player! CL Archie Bradley (1IP 2H, 1R) was just ok considering the game.

Two players had multiple hits, 1B Josh Bell (2/4 1R, 1RBI) and 3B KeBryan Hayes (2/4) produced, but 3B KeBryan Hayes legged out two triples but couldn't be brought home to score either time. CF Monte Harrison's solo hit was a two run jack that made the game 8-4. It was definitely too little, way too late.

[moore4807]

The Pirates have officially been eliminated from 2019 playoff contention.

In Minor League action,

The Indianapolis Indians are the 2019 AAA Round 2 Champions!! Congratulations to the team and players on their accomplishment! All players eligible for the 40 man roster have been promoted and will hopefully help the team pull out of their tailspin.

In MLB news;

The New York Yankees are the 2019 East Division Champions. They await their playoff opponent to be announced.

The Cleveland Indians are going to the playoffs, what isn't known is whether they are going as a Division winner or Wild-Card team.

[moore4807]

In MLB news;

Philadelphia Phillies SP Aaron Nola 10-9 (9IP, 5R, 0R, 1BB, 6K's) shut out the Atlanta Braves 5-0 in a complete game.

Arizona Diamondbacks SP Robbie Ray (9IP, 2H, 0R, 2BB, 10K) shut out the Miami Marlins 10-0 in his complete game.

Atlanta Braves RP Arodys Vizcaino is out for the season after team doctors found bone chips in his throwing elbow. Vizcaino (2-4, 4.72ERA, 2SV) appeared in 58 games this season.

[moore4807]

Manager Clint Hurdle shook up the lineup and pitching staff tonight and it paid immediate dividends. Our Pirates got nine hits and scored five runs off those hits in our 5-2 win.

SP Jameson Taillon (6.2IP, 7H 2ER, 0BB, 9K's) got the win with a fairly strong pitching effort, he gave up one HR and two runs total for the evening. RP Rich Rodriguez (1.1IP, 0H, 0ER, 1BB, 4K's) was his usual self, safely navigating the Pirates to the last inning. Newly minted CL Jacob Lindgren (1IP, 0H,0BB,2K's SV) came on for the ninth and struck out the first two batters he faced before inducing a harmless flyball to CF for the last out.

Again only two players had at least two hits tonight, CR Myles Straw (3/4, 1RBI) and SS Kevin Newman (2/4, 2R, 1RBI). LF Wes Rogers (1/4 1R 2RBI) made his only hit count, a double that plated two runners and Rogers advanced to third base on the throw home.

Team is back to .500 ball on the week, we have been eliminated from postseason play to nobody's surprise, I want to see how many players perform for their jobs next year, and who is just going through the motions.

[moore4807]

Here are the latest teams that missed, and those that made it to the Postseason party.

[moore4807]

Good effort derailed by so-so pitching equals a close loss. The Pirates came back from being down 4-1 to tie it up four all going into the ninth. Neither team could score, leading to the fateful 10th inning. After P Lindgren's letting in a pair of runs, the Pirates attack in the 10th netted a walk then a double to put baserunners at third and second, but the inning fizzled out on a strikeout and a fly ball to RF.

SP Chris Archer (5.2IP, 10H, 4R 3ER, 1BB, 5K's) had a "bad by his standards" game today. Maybe it was the early afternoon start? Well whatever the reason, Archer was not the lights out ace pitcher he has been over the past few weeks. RP's Kyle Crick ( 1.1IP, 0H, 0R, 1BB, 1K) and Archie Bradley (2IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 2K's) combined for 3.1 innings of hitless and scoreless pitching, before CL Jacob Lindgren (1IP, 3H, 2ER, 0BB, 2K's) came on in the 10th inning and those two runs became the winning margin.

Three Pirates had multi-hit games today, 1B Josh Bell (2/5 1R), 2B Jose Pirela (2/4 1RBI) and C Elias Diaz (2/4 1R, 2RBI 1HR).

We lost today and guaranteed a losing season for 2019. That we got close to being .500 and failed is not sitting well with the GM.

In MLB news;

Minnesota Twins SP Jose Berrios has made the walk up to "Heartbreak Hill" as he joins fellow injured pitchers in finding his season over prematurely. P Berrios has been diagnosed with radial nerve compression and will have to miss 5-6 months. The good news is team medical staff think it will not require surgery and he will be back for the start of next season.

[moore4807]

We start a three game weekend series against the Brewers in Miller Park. We are only one game behind the Brewers in the standings, so winning two out of three here would tie us for wins with one week to go.

In MLB news;

Philadelphia Phillies SS Jean Segura (5/5 1R 2RBI) had a hit parade in yesterdays game. With SS Segura's help the Phillies defeated the Braves 5-2.

In 2019 Playoff News

The Cleveland Indians have clinched the AL Central Division championship! This is the 14th divisional championship for the club and they are eyeing the opportunity to win their third World Series.

[moore4807]

Lets just let this one go. I admit I got my hopes up and quite unnecessarily too! We end up making the Brewers backup C Tim Federowicz look like Mickey Mantle for the game.

All of a sudden our SP cant get out of the 5th inning, in nearly every game for the past week. SP Matt Shoemaker (4.1IP, 8H, 7ER, 1BB 3K's) was the latest short-timer to not get to the 7th inning. RP Max Keller (2.2IP, 4H 2ER, 2BB, 5K's) made his MLB debut and promptly got roughed up. Nick Kingham (1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 3K's) made his Pirates season debut and did much better than his predecessor.

Pirates hitters scattered eight hits, LF Jason Martin (3/4) got on base three times, but couldn't drive in or score a run to help his team.

In MLB news;

TWO Boston Red sox players cranked out six hits each in a ball game against Tampa Bay at Tropicana Field and the team still ended up losing 8-7!!! LF J.D. Martinez (6/9 2R, 1RBI, two 2B, 1HR) and 2B Eduardo Nunez (6/8 2R, 2 RBI, two 2B, 1HR) performed accomplished the feat in the defeat...

[moore4807]

This time the SP is outstanding and the RP give the game away! No to be fair, RP Archie Bradley (0.0IP, 3H, 2ER, 2BB, 0K's) gave away the game, RP Rich Rodriguez (1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 1K) did exactly as he was supposed to do, he pitched a shutdown 8th inning.

RF Myles Straw (2/4, 1RBI) was the only multiple hit game tonight, a continuing problem for this team.

In MLB news;

Phillies LF (and beloved former Pirate) Andrew McCutchen has had another setback in his recovery from a strained medial lateral ligament. Team staff estimated he will be out one more week.

Arizona Diamondback P Zack Greinke has won his 200th game in MLB. Greinke (13-12, 5.07ERA) is an almost sure lock for a future Hall of Fame selection after he hangs up his cleats.

[moore4807]

We got swept! SP Rick Porcello scattered nine Pirates hits on his way to win #18 on the season.

SP Jimmy Nelson (5IP, 7H, 3ER, 3BB, 4K's) pitched well until the 5th inning, when a walk and Christian Yelich's double set up second and third for Brewers 2B Brandon Lowe who stroked a two run single to make it 3-1. RP Corbin Clouse (1.2IP 2H, 2ER, 3BB, 2K's) pitched the 6th and part of the seventh innings where he gave up another two runs to make the 5-1 final score. RP Ryan Brasier (1.1IP, 0H,0R, 0BB, 2K's) came on with 2 outs in the 7th and got the final out to escape the jam RP Clouse left.

Pirates got ten hits and only one run, RF Myles Straw (2/5 1R) and SS Kevin Newman (2/5) were the only multiple hit players. RF Straw has been productive as a leadoff batter and is getting multiple hits in a game as much as anyone on the team.

[moore4807]

The Final Week is here... we obviously went 1-5 for last week. We close out the season at home first with a three game series with the Cubs, then a fight to avoid the cellar position with the Reds.

[moore4807]

Our Power rankings fell all the way to 27th. Proof of futility?

We start a three game series with the Cubs at home, They have locked down the Division already, we may catch a break against them as they rest for the playoffs.

We sign 2B Jose Pirela to a three year deal @ $1.5M per. We will still scour the league to find a better solution, but 2B Pirela can be a bottom of the order player as long as he plays good defense.

Our AA manager Michael Ryan, has won the Manager of the Year for the AA Eastern League. Congratulations Michael!

[moore4807]

Putrid, horrific, abysmal, <unprintable>, these words are running through GM Moore's mind as he watches the dismantling of his team by the Cubs.

I'm ready to trade this group for a bunch of used baseballs... the ONLY decent player on the field tonight was 1B Josh Bell. I cant even count on SP Chris Archer, as he's fallen off lately...

[moore4807]

Only marginally better - still got whupped 8-2...

In MLB news:

Cleveland 3B Jose Ramirez is done for the year after breaking his thumb sliding into a base. No Word on Cleveland's replacement for him in the playoffs.

Washington Nationals closer Austin Adams is done a few games early this season as he has an elbow strain on his patching arm. The team trainers say will keep him sidelined for around 5 weeks.

[moore4807]

we lose 3-2, and we are swept out like the trash from our own building.

Cardinals RP Ryan Helsley is done for the year. A torn rotator cuff will sideline him for the next 6-7 months.

[moore4807]

while we lost our last three games, the Reds won theirs - they are now three games in front of us and we would have to sweep just to gain a tie for last place. This is not what I envisioned when I boasted in the beginning of a "New Beginning"... more like the "same old same old"..

There will be some changes at all levels here, maybe/likely starting with myself looking for a new job after my performance here...

[moore4807]

It would be funny except winning is supposed to be enjoyable, this was more like the relief AFTER the dentist is done drilling your mouth. The Pirates again played disinterested baseball for 8 innings and trailing the Reds by 3 runs. Then in the ninth inning they suddenly decide to hit? The Reds relievers suddenly collapse? I don't know what to call it other than thanks to C Elias Diaz's 2 run walk off homer, Pirates win!

The National League's two wildcard teams have been decided. The Colorado Rockies and the Washington Nationals will play a wild card playoff game to determine who advances to the NCLS playoffs.