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Game 37: Pirates vs. Nationals Recap

by IsItTheShoes926 | May 17, 2012 - 7:27 AM

Erik Bedard tested. Jeff Karstens approved. That should be the motto for Bedard's return to the starting rotation on Wednesday night. Last season, Karstens gave up a significant amount of home runs but was helped by the fact that most of them were solo shots. Bedard, after taking two extra days off in between starts due to back spasms, struggled with the same issue. And when you have an offense as pathetic as the one owned by the Pittsburgh Pirates, giving up home runs of any sort is probably a bad idea.

Bedard struggled to get into his groove in the early going. Bryce Harper, the second batter of the game, just missed hitting a home run for the third straight game and ended up with a triple. He ended up coming in to score on a ground out by Ryan Zimmerman.

The home run issues began in the third inning. Ian Desmond led off the inning with a solo home run. That seemed like it would be the end of Bedard's problems. He retired the next 11 batters consecutively, including four straight strikeouts. But that all ended in the sixth when Adam LaRoche and ... [Read More]

0 Replies | 46 Views

Game 36: Pirates vs. Marlins Recap

by IsItTheShoes926 | May 16, 2012 - 7:40 AM

Starting pitching has once again carried the Pittsburgh Pirates to this point of the year, much like it did last season. The one difference this year is that there is a better chance of it sustaining because there are more guys on the rotation that miss more bats more often. One of those guys is not Kevin Correia. Correia has been the weak link to put it kindly since after he made the All-Star team last July. His struggles continued on Tuesday night.

The very first inning saw Correia giving up runs. Omar Infante, who had four hits in the game, still reached base in the one at bat where he did not have a hit by grounding into a fielder's choice. Hanley Ramirez followed with a double that bounced deep into the spacious gap in left center field. Infante easily came around to score. Then Correia completely fell apart in the fourth, an inning that he didn't even make it out of. A walk and two singles loaded the bases for the Miami Marlins before Correia even recorded an out. John Buck delivered a two run single, still no outs. By the time the bases re-loaded full of Marlins, Correia had at least recorded one out. Infante hit a two run single and Ramirez followed with a double that only scored one run thanks to Infante being thrown out at home plate.

Six runs on eight hits. He also walked four batters while only striking out one. All that was over a span of just 3 2-3 innings pitched. His ERA has ballooned a full three runs in the course of a month. On a team and an organization full... [Read More]

3 Replies | 100 Views

Game 35: Pirates vs. Marlins Recap

by IsItTheShoes926 | May 15, 2012 - 7:23 AM

There was a ticking time bomb just counting down the second the Pittsburgh Pirates signed Erik Bedard to his one year contract worth $4.5 million in the offseason. The bomb going off would signify the oft injured Bedard becoming sidelined. Fortunately for the Pirates, Bedard's injury this time was reduced to just back spasms which only pushed his start back two days. But someone would have to pitch on the day that he was originally scheduled and that someone would be Brad Lincoln.

The former first round pick turned long reliever took the mound in a starting role for the first time this season. He struggled in that role in the past which regulated him to bullpen duty if he had any hope of sticking on the big league ball club. Monday night was different. He showed the talent that the Pirates saw when they drafted him. He only allowed two runs over the course of six innings and struck out three.

The first run that Lincoln gave up was off of a home run in the first inning to Hanley Ramirez. The run tied the game after Jose Tabata scored on a sacrifice fly by Andrew McCutchen. The second run off of Lincoln came in the fourth inning when ... [Read More]

2 Replies | 86 Views

The Times, They Are A-Changin'

by Palmetto Steel | May 14, 2012 - 7:22 PM

Yes, in the immortal words of Bob Dylan; "The times they are a-changin' " actually apply to today's version of the NFL.

ufiygf.jpgThe league, and sport as we know it absolutely MUST make some changes in order to protect itself for the future. The commish, Mr. Roger Goodell has now been tasked with saving the league for future generations to come. Unfortunately all that is heard is "how bad" of a job he's doing, or that "he is ruining football" as we know it. It's well past time that knuckleheads making these comments shut up and realize what is happening. Yes, he is not doing most things perfectly, but he's still doing a **** fine job with maintaining the league. It's a thankless job sure to garner complaints, but folks need to look at the bigger picture for the future of this league. He has to "look forward" in order to preserve the past, but unfortunately there are folks that just cannot see this fact. Those folks need to light-up another Marlboro, drink a six-pack, and contemplate how to reduce their beer belly.

Before I get into the "nuts & bolts" of the issue I want to make one point very clear. Mr. Goodell has issues with how/why/where/when/and to what extent he dishes-out punishment. That is not in debate here. The issue at hand, at least in this article, is that of player safety and responsibility of the NFL. No other issues are addressed here in my article.

More than 2,000 players have filed almost 75 complaints against the NFL or Riddell concerning the issue of brain trauma. Big-name players and small-name players. So, in a few years the courts will start hearing class-action lawsuits filed by retired players against the NFL on this matter. If these cases end badly, they can basically bankrupt the league and put it out of business.

With all due respect to our famous linebacker that said; "They should just put skirts on a quarterback", there is much more to this issue. Yes, it's a given fact that Mr. Lambert didn't have the information about concussions back then, but neither did the NFL management. The sheer fact that medical advancement is providing more information should be reason enough for changes to be made. And unfortunately, the "I... [Read More]

17 Replies | 252 Views

Game 33: Pirates vs. Astros Recap

by IsItTheShoes926 | May 13, 2012 - 7:33 AM

Andrew McCutchen no longer knows how to hit into outs. Saturday night saw the star center fielder go 4-for-4 with a home run in a game for the second time this week. Where the Pittsburgh Pirates saw a difference was in the fact that the rest of the lineup was able to produce as well. That was the biggest problem in the loss the night before that spoiled eight innings of excellent pitching from James McDonald. Fortunately for the Pirates, Charlie Morton got the offense.

Jose Tabata is another Pirate that has been on fire for a couple of weeks now. Ever since he dedicated himself to going the other way in virtually every at bat, he has been an extremely tough out. He continued that success with a triple to lead off the Pirate half of the first inning. Tabata also had a leadoff triple the night before was unable to score due to the ineptitude of those behind him. Saturday was different. Neil Walker hit a sacrifice fly to put the Pirates on the board early on Houston Astros' southpaw J.A. Happ.

McCutchen hit his home run in the third inning. It was a monster shot that he hit to right center field. Thanks to another... [Read More]

0 Replies | 107 Views