The Pirates - A New Beginning indeed!

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First is the changes - Manager Brian Esposito is requesting only one change, that we send CL Brandon Brennan back to AAA for more seasoning. His request is for last years closer and LHP Thomas Burrows to help even out the bullpen load. I question Burrows control, but Esposito feels the coaching can contain his wildness. I agree to swap the P's for the Pirates manager.

We start off the week with a home rematch with the Cubbies, these four games will likely seal someone's divisional fate and yes its way to early to be thinking that... unless you are lugging a two and seven record around your neck like an albatross.

I made a waiver wire bid for Detroit's RP John Scheiber, apparently either New York(N) or Minnesota also placed claims for him, we got bumped!

Atlanta is joining the LA(N) Dodgers in the lost starting arms pile. SP Max Fried is going to be laid up for 90 days or more after team doctors discovered Fried has forearm inflammation. No decision who will replace fried in the rotation has been made yet.

Finally the power rankings for this week are out. We aren't last! Hopefully we can improve this standing in the next seven days.

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This was the game that may turn it all around. The Pirates trailed throughout the game, each time scratching out a run to tie it up until the bottom of the 9th. The Jolly Roger gets raised for only the third time this year, but its against a divisional opponent AND it's a win that we will gladly take.

Pitching Report - SP Chris Archer (6 IP, 6H, 3R 2ER, 1BB, 7K's) continues to look ordinary, although he has more K's than hits this game. He left the game a run down so his effort wasn't rewarded. RP Nolan Blackwood (2 IP, 2H, 1ER, 1BB, 2K's) also let in the go ahead run in his seventh inning, but held the Cubs off in the eighth inning. CL Archie Bradley (1IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 0K) also prevented the Cubs from scoring in the ninth, which set up the dramatic finish to give CL Bradley the win.

Batting Report - Five runs on fourteen hits is good, but frustrating to wait so long for the payoff! Five position players had multi-hit games, led by SS Jose Iglesias (4/5, 2R, 2RBI) including the walk off single. RF Myles Straw (2/5, 1RBI), 3B KeBryan Hayes (2/5), C Reese McGuire (1/5, 2R), LF Andrew Toles (2/4, 1R) 2B Eduardo Nunez (2/4 1BB,1RBI) and PH Ryon Healy (1/1, 1RBI) all contributed to the victory.

In MLB news;
Arizona SP Zack Greinke (9 IP, 2H, 0R, 3BB, 7K's) threw the kitchen sink at the San Francisco Giants today, and came away with a complete game 7-0 victory at Oracle Park.

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It was a tight game, Pirates couldn't maintain the lead and eventually lost it in extra innings.

Pitching Report - SP Dario Agrazal (6 IP, 6H, 1ER, 1BB, 6K's) did MUCH better without an opener this time and left the game with a 2-1 lead. RP Rich Rodriguez (1.2 IP, 2H, 1ER, 1BB, 3K's) couldn't keep the Cubs off the board unfortunately. RP Thomas Burrows (1.1 IP, 0H, 0R, 2BB, 3K's) made his season debut, holding the Cubs scoreless. RP Corbin Clouse (3 IP, 0H, 0R, 1BB, 4K's) pitched three nearly perfect innings of scoreless relief, before giving way to RP Fernando Romero (0.0 IP, 0H, 0R, 2BB, 0K) who was quickly yanked after consecutive walks for RP Mitch Keller (2 IP, 4H 4ER, 1BB, 1K) who subsequently let 1B Anthony Rizzo nail a three run homer to provide the 4 run lead, the Pirates couldn't overcome.

Batting Report - Five runs on ten hits and a loss, Three players provided the bulk of the offense C James McCann (2/6, 2R), 3B KeBryan Hayes (2/5, 2R, 1RBI) 2B Eduardo Nunez (2/3 1R) who PH for P Thomas Burrows and stayed in to play 2B. CF Billy Hamilton (0/5, 2RBI) was the odd line score tonight with two RBI, one on a sec fly the other was a fielders choice.

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It's another extra innings game, another 14 innings, another loss. This is what GM Moore was concerned about.

Pitching Report - SP Jameson Taillon (6 IP, 4H, 4ER, 2BB, 4K's) was struggling and was pulled after only 84 pitches. RP Fernando Romano (2 IP, 1H, 0R, 2BB, 3K's) kept the Cubs off the board while RP Thomas Burrows (1 IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 1K) did the same. CL Archie Bradley (3 IP, 0H,0R, 0BB, 4K's) gave the Pirates a chance with three superb no hit innings in relief, RP Rich Rodriguez ( 1 IP, 0H, 0R, 2BB, 2K) was shaky with two walks but escaped damage otherwise striking out the final two batters. RP Nolan Blackwood (1 IP, 3H, 2ER, 1BB, 1K) looked like he just didn't have it and gave up 2 runs for the difference in the game.

Batting Report - Four runs on ten hits and another loss. 1B Josh Bell (2/4, 2BB, 2R, 1RBI) and CF Billy Hamilton 2/5, 1RBI) were the only multi-hit games tonight.

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Ok GM Moore finally feels like he can relax now after seeing the Cubs scoring just a little more than us, we have finally exorcised that devil of extra inning losses with an extra inning win! We'll take this 4 game series split.

Pitching Report - SP Joey Lucchesi (8.1 IP, 8H, 2ER, 3 BB, 9K's) gutted this game out and doesn't even get the credit for the win. RP Mitch Keller (1.2 IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB,2K's) relieved and threw lasers at the Cubs batters, allowing nothing more than a single the rest of the way.

Batter Report - 3B KeBryan Hayes (2/4 1RBI) had the only multi-hit game, but the real story goes to LF Hunter Renfroe (1/4, 1HR, 1R, 1RBI) who's 9th inning blast against RP Tony Cingrani tied the game, then one inning and four batters later, PH Ryon Healy (1/1, 1HR, 1R, 1RBI) in place of CF Billy Hamilton ended the game with a walk off blast to left centerfield

In MLB news;
Cincinnati 1B Joey Votto has created an endowment at his alma mater in Toronto Canada to help disadvantaged athletes compete and excel in sports.

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GM Moore had made some phone calls while the never ending games with the Cubs dragged out. One of the disappointments on the team so far has been 2B Jose Pirela. 2B Pirela hasn't even come close to the offensive skills he showed with the Padres. So shopping 2B Pirela got a few interesting offers, none so much as the S.F. Giants. Phone call and e-mail after phone call and e-mail were going back and forth trying to nail down the details of the deal, once the smoke and bluster cleared the Pirates had what we wanted and were giving up less than we planned to get it for.

Scouting Director Phillip Humber found a Dominican SP prospect, 16 y/o Luis Toro, Toro has been placed in the International complex for evaluation and instruction in furthering his career.

We leave the Friendly confines of PNC park to travel to Baltimore for a three game weekend set. The matchups and info are found below.

Roster moves because of trade... LF Austin Slater is placed at AAA for now, we expect his contributions will be better at the MLB level, but we want to give him time to settle in first. CF Heliot Ramos is currently assigned to Single A Greensboro for evaluation. Surprising some people GM Moore promoted 2B Eric Sogard to the MLB team over 2B Stephen Alemais who had a decent spring training. Moore was tight lipped about the move saying he wanted to get a look at 2B Sogard first.

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4/10/20 *** Rainout *** Tonight's Game vs. the Orioles has been rained out and a day night doubleheader on Saturday will occur.
Roster moves - RP Ryan Brasier is eligible to come off the IL. RP Mitch Keller is optioned to AAA.

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This was a game of two halves... The first half was four innings where Baltimore abused the Pirates building a 6-1 lead, then the second half was where the Pirates chipped away at the lead, eventually tying the game in the top of the ninth inning. There were two other unsung stars that deserve P.O.T.G. credit too but only one can be awarded the honor, RP Corbin Clouse fired four scoreless innings of one hit ball to keep the Pirates in the game and 3B KeBryan Hayes who had four hits in six at bats driving home two runs and scoring one.

Pitching Report - SP Jimmy Nelson (4 IP, 8H, 6ER, 2BB, 4K's) didn't have a good game at all, but his teammates bailed him out. RP Corbin Clouse (4 IP, 1H, 0R, 1BB,0K) was stellar limiting the Orioles to just the one hit and one walk. RP Thomas Burrows (2 IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 0K) continued the streak for two innings more, RP Nolan Blackwood (1 IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 0K) made his first save appearance of the season, serving up a plate of zero to the Orioles to lock down the extra inning win.

Batting Report - Eight runs on sixteen hits. WoW! "From now on, THIS is how you drive!" (old Bad Boys movie line...) Top hitting billing goes to 3B KeBryan Hayes (4/6, 1R, 2RBI) who gave his team a fighting chance. 1B Josh Bell (3/5 2R, 2RBI) LF/CF Andrew Toles (3/6, 1R) 2B Eric Sogard (2/6, 1R, 1RBI) were our multi-hit batters today. Special mention to RF Myles Straw (1/4, 2R, 2BB) on his eleven game hitting streak.

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Well a split of the doubleheader, not great but it could be worse. Worrisome is the no report yet from our training staff and doctors on SP Chris Archer's injury.

Pitching Report - SP Chris Archer (2.2 IP, 4H, 1R, 1BB, 1K) left the game in the third inning to an unknown injury. RP Dario Agrazal (4.1 IP, 7H, 3ER, 4BB, 4K's) struggled through 4 plus innings, while RP Fernando (1 IP, 0H, 0R, 1BB, 0K) kept the damage from getting worse in the eighth inning.

Batting Report - Two runs on six hits. It's NOT the momentum GM Moore was looking for. Nobody had more than one hit and all the Pirates damage was provided by a two run jack by C James McCann in the second inning. We have to do better and do it more consistently than we have shown so far.

**Update** Chris Archer is reported to have a minor oblique injury that will keep him out one day... whew!

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Our first series win of the season. More worrying to GM Moore is the suddenly shaky SP efforts of late. The players batting has picked up for sure, but the pitching is now the question again.

Pitcher Report - SP Jameson Taillon (4.1 IP, 8H, 5ER, 0BB, 2K's) was horrible, there's no other word for it. RP Ryan Brasier (3.1 IP, 2H, 2ER, 0BB, 4K's) gave up two solo homers at the end of his stint, but he was clearly gassed and on fumes. RP Archie Bradley (1.1 IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, 1K) nailed down his third save in a four out effort.

Batter Report - Nine runs on twelve hits, Nice to get the momentum back again. LF Andrew Toles (2/5, 2R, 3RBI) has responded nicely to the looming threat of OF Austin Slater in AAA. DH Hunter Renfroe (2/5, 1R, 1RBI 1HR) and C James McCann (2/4 1R, 1RBI) and 2B Eric Sogard (2/5, 1R) are todays multi-hit players. Good Job!

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We finished four and three on the week, again a first for the club this year.

We moved up in the rankings from the putrid (#28th) to merely bad (#25th). Its a positive thing though and I will use it for all I can to motivate the troops into doing better.

In MLB news;
The Washington Nationals and Los Angeles(N) Dodgers went toe to toe on the field before two players decided to make that term a literal thing. See below for the details.
Tampa Bay CF Austin Meadows hit two of his three home runs against Cleveland Indians SP Shane Bieber, Bieber left the game shortly after his third HR given up in the loss, and was diagnosed with a torn flexor tendon in his pitching elbow. Bieber was put on LTIR by the Indians today.

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We are going out west on a brief road trip to Arizona and Los Angeles(N). They are the top two teams in the Western Division and we will find out quickly if we stack up to the good teams.

The other lucky thing is after two weeks of bad play, we are only 3 1/2 games out of first in the Central Division, I have no misplaced hopes here, but a return to .500 play is my first goal to accomplish.

League and Pirates information for the week of 4/6/20 - 4/12/20

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We are facing the Diamondbacks for the first time this season. Our scheduled pitching matchups are below.

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Actually Game #17, not #16...

GM Moore wondered how the starting pitching would fare against a club like the Diamondbacks. Answer is not great but it didn't matter in this game. The Pirates offense shined in this game, taking advantage of the generosity of the Diamondback pitchers walks.

Pitching Report SP Joey Lucchesi (5 IP, 4H, 2ER, 1BB, 4K's) won the game but he wasn't effective either, he gave up two runs before Manager Esposito saw enough after 79 pitches and pulled him after the 5th inning. RP Corbin Clouse (1 IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 3K's) is dominating right now and quickly disposed of the Diamondbacks in the sixth inning. RP Nolan Blackwood (2.1 IP, 2H, 0R, 1BB, 4K's) did well but was too gassed to finish the game, RP Rich Rodriguez (0.2IP, 0H, )R, 0BB, 1K) then closed this game out.


Batting Report - Eight runs on eleven hits is a good day! The top of the lineup duo of CF Billy Hamilton (3/5, 2B, 3R, 2SB, 1BB) and LF Andrew Toles (3/4, 1GS, 2R, 4RBI, 1SB, 1BB) were very effective today in the win. Toles' monster shot in the sixth inning blew open the game and he further entrenched himself as our regular LF.

Mildly concerning is the injury to C Reese McGuire, however we are well positioned with C James McCann to fill in and help is down on the farm if needed.

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C Reese McGuire has been diagnosed with a groin injury, however its a low grade strain and C McGuire insists he can play with the injury. Team trainer Dan Wright, who joined the Pirates this year with a great resume, thinks he is 50/50 of further aggravating the injury, but he doesn't think a severe injury will result if he still plays. I appeal to Manager Esposito to use C McGuire sparingly for the next few weeks.

In MLB news;
Milwaukee SP Dan Woodruff (9 IP, 3H, 0R, 1BB, 6K's) shackled the Phillies on a complete game three hitter, walking one and fanning six, to go 3-0 on the year.
Chicago(A) White Sox 1B Matt Adams and Kansas City Royals RP Gabe Spier each were handed down four game suspensions for a fracas instigated by the two at a prior game. They will both start serving their suspensions immediately.

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Actually Game #18, not #17...

Well two wins means our second series win is assured. This game felt in control, both pitching and hitting wise. GM Moore wonders if he can start relaxing now... lol I know it's the kiss of death by saying it.

Pitching Report - SP Chris Archer (5.2 IP, 2H, 1ER, 1BB, 5K's) got his first win of the season and it was relatively easy for him. RP Ryan Brasier (1.1 IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, 0K) got through the sixth and seventh innings before giving way to RP Archie Bradley (1 IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 1K) to face his old club. CL Thomas Burrows (1 IP, 2H 2ER, 1BB, 2K's) struggled to get his first save of the season but escaped with it after giving his manager "heart palpitations" as he described it in the postgame press conference.

Batting Report - LF Andrew Toles (2/5, 2B, 2R, 1RBI) again led the hit parade. RF Myles Straw (2/5 1R, 1RBI, 2SB) and SS Jose Iglesias (2/4, 1R, 1RBI) also had multi-hit games for the Pirates.

After asking Manager Brian Esposito to use C Reese McGuire sparingly over the next four weeks, Esposito had C McGuire penciled in the very next game. When I asked Esposito why he disregarded my request, he looked at me in annoyance, "McGuire played because he was such a P.I.T.A. about it, I figured if he got hurt again and we had to IL him, it would serve him right..." I "counseled" our manager on letting players get what they want even though they agitate for playing time. However my request to move him down in the order was honored by Mgr. Esposito.

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Actually Game #19, not #18...

How sweep it is! Winning all three games vs. the Diamondbacks makes our team look a whole lot better in the standings. I have a nitpick problem with Manager Brian Esposito leaving Jimmy Nelson out there for too long. I want 95 pitch counts on all the starters to limit the wear and tear on them. Nelson got tired and anyone could see on the two long homers he gave up, Nelson didn't have bite on them. He labored through the seventh inning and only CF Hamilton's eighth inning homer gave him the win here.

Pitching Report - SP Jimmy Nelson (7 IP, 6H, 4ER, 1BB, 6K's 3HRA) was good until the end, when he was left in too long and the Diamondbacks took advantage of that. RP Archie Bradley (2 IP, 0H 0R, 0BB, 1K) secured his fourth save with two scoreless innings of relief.

Batting Report - LF Andrew Toles (3/5 2B, 2HR, 3R, 2RBI) is En Fuego!!! He decimated the SP for Arizona with two long bombs to RF putting the Pirates on top early. 2B Eric Sogard (3/4, 2R, 1RBI) and SS Jose Iglesias (2/4, 1R) also had a multi-hit games. The best was saved for last, as the Diamondbacks scratched their way back to tie the game in the seventh inning, CF Billy Hamilton took a 1-1 pitch 450 feet over the right center wall for his first homer of the year and restored the Pirates lead. Hamilton when asked for his reaction said, " I was watching Andy Toles steal all the limelight, we cant have that in the locker room!" As Toles jumped in the interview he replied " I don't want ALL the attention", laughing the two hugged briefly and separated back to their respective lockers.

The team is forced to wait at the airport as a plane had to make an emergency landing and was blocking one of the runways. The team doesn't arrive at Los Angeles airport until almost ten pm. This puts the team in a sour mood, ruining the good vibe they had earlier.

In MLB news; former Pirate 2B Jose Pirela got into a scrap with Cincinnati SP Sonny Gray over a bean ball incident. Pirela was not seriously injured and he will face a three game suspension while SP Grey will face a six game suspension.

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We begin a three game weekend set against the Dodgers. While impressed with our sweep over the Diamondbacks, BNN is predicting the Dodgers "are just too good" for the Pittsburgh pitching. THAT is just the kind of incentive the team needs to get revved up for the series. Also LF Andrew Toles is fired up about facing the team that traded him away this past offseason, and may explain his recent surge in production, showing them they made a mistake.

Also in scouting, Scouting Director Phillip Humber has signed a 1/2 star SP prospect and assigned him to the International site. There isn't much hope at this point, but you never know with prospects.

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So maybe those ex-jocks on BNN know a thing or two after all... We were punished by LAD, 5HR's given up by three Pirates pitchers. But looking at the Dodgers record, we aren't the only ones suffering.

Pitching Report - SP Dario Agrazal (4.1 IP, 7H, 4ER, 2BB, 5K's 3HRA) went through the Dodger lineup once with no trouble but they were ready for him the second time around. RP Corbin Clouse (1.2 IP, 1H, 0R, 2BB, 1K) kept the Dodgers off the board until he was lifted for a PH. RP Nolan Blackwood (0.2 IP, 1H, 1ER, 1BB, 2K's 1HRA) couldn't get the final out of the seventh, so rookie RP Fernando Romero (1.1 IP, 2R 0ER, 1BB, 3K's, 1HRA) came on to get that out. Romero then got torched the next inning for two runs that went unearned because of an error.

Batting Report - Four runs on six hits. It wasn't enough offense against this juggernaut. All six hits were by three players. SS Jose Iglesias (3/4, 4RBI) had a better day with his bat than his glove, while 2B Eduardo Nunez (2/4, 2R) got on base and both times got driven home by SS Iglesias

As is customary among MLB clubs the visiting owner and or GM is hosted by the home team in their skybox, where the backslaps and glad-handing are all part of a ritual to feel out the management on trades, business, and potential changes to baseball as we know it (it rarely happens though). LA(N) GM Andrew Friedman keeps asking me about what I like best about his farm system, I reply "the prospects" but do not commit to any one player. It seems to frustrate him, but he plays it off and nothing comes of today's conversation.

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Manager Esposito made some adjustments on the fly and we actually led most of this game. Extra innings win is still a win in the column! Holding the Dodgers to five hits and three runs is quite the accomplishment. The tenth inning suicide squeeze play worked because they had to respect CF Billy Hamilton's speed at the plate as well as worry about the runner breaking for home. VERY well done team!

Pitching Report SP Jameson Taillon (6 IP, 1H, 1ER, 3BB, 6K's) pitched decently and only gave up the one run in the bottom of the first. RP Rich Rodriguez (1 IP, 1H, 2ER, 1BB, 1K 1HRA 1BS) relieved and almost made it undamaged through the seventh inning before C Austin Barnes' two run homer to CF tied the game up. RP Ryan Brasier (1 IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, 1K) pitched the eighth inning putting two base hits into scoring position before getting the two outs needed to get out of the inning. CL Thomas Burrows (2 IP, 1H, 0R, 1BB, 3K's SV) could still not get a clean inning, but retired the side twice without giving up a run for his second save.

Batting Report - Four runs on six hits. Again an impressive run total for the number of hits gotten. 2B Eric Sogard (3/4, 2B, 1R) led the Pirates attack with his three hits and scoring the winning run on CF Billy Hamilton's suicide squeeze bunt. RF Myles Straw (1/4, 1R, 2RBI, 1HR) hit his second HR of the year, which kept his seventeen game hit streak alive.1B Josh Bell erased an early Dodger lead with his third HR of the season, a solo shot to RF.