Pirates Homestand Critical

So the Cardinals and Rockies will be in town this week.  Are you interested in how the Pirates will play in front of the hometown fans?  The Pirates are  already down in the cellar in attendance and nearly there in performance trailing only the Indians  for the worst record in the MLB.

Will anyone be interested in watching with the Pens knocking on the door of the conference finals?  I surely trust that John Russell can say something motivating to his team.  Eight in a row?  That’s disgusting.

The Pirates will hit again.  We have faith.

How about our call on Robinzon Diaz? We knew this kid was the real deal.  3 for 4 yesterday!

Pirates pitching has been downright awful in the past sixteen games.  The team ERA is over five.  I am done seperating starting pitching and bullpen pitching.  What’s the point?  Although we sometimes wish it was, the game isn’t over after six innings right?

In the past thirteen games, Pirates pitchers have given up the long ball fifteen times.  The Buccos are 8-3 when not surrending a homer and with the Cards in town, ugghh..we should be worried.

Here is a great article about the Cards ability to not give up home runs.  Cards starter tomorrow night against Zach Duke is Todd Wellemeyer.  He said the ability to stop giving up the homerun ball is ”total, absolute, chaotic randomness.”  Wellemeyer didn’t give up any in April in 22IP, although last April he allowed six over 37 IP.

Pirate pitching is  just too predictable on their pitch selection.  And the opposition isn’t taking as many pitches as last year which is even more bad news.

Someone will get plunked against the Cards.

John Grabow scored on again in an awful performance surrended three hits and four earned runs in an inning.  A few balls had eyes yesterday which explained the first two hits.  A big hook hits the batter on the foot bringing up Reyes who…is walked on four pitches.  Ugh.  Grabow ERA 6plus.

One more article on the Brewers dominance and how the Pirates fail against the NL’s best.

Time for some moves in the minor leagues? 

Yesterday, RHP Brad Lincoln (0-3, 3.23) was a tough luck loser again for the Curve yesterday (the Curve had a 1-4 record for the week).  Lincoln allowed two runs and seven hits over 6 2/3 innings. He struck out five, walked one.  Get him to Indy.  The velocity is back.

Brian Bixler another multiple strikeout game.  Another awful performance in the field as well.  (If you can stand reading this, here is the Post Gazette story on Sunday’s game.) What an awful showing. 

Jack Wilson will be activated Tuesday.  He didn’t play in his final AAA game in Syracuse as the weather was below 50 degrees.  He is back in Pittsburgh now and will workout today. 

The AAA Indians  had a rough week going 2-6.  Shelby Ford was hot with eight hits for the week.  But yesterday was just ugly getting blown out 12-2 behind RHP Jason Davis (0-4, 10.07) who allowed five runs and eight hits in 4 1/3 innings. He struck out four, walked one.  Davis had a solid spring with the Bucs and well, it looks like he needs to move out now to make room for Lincoln.

At AAA Indy, Tom Gorzelany had 12 strikeouts over his last 13IP.

Andrew McCutchen didn’t do much to help going 0-3 dropping his average to .257.

The bright spot again this week was the Lynchburg Hillcats.  Pedro Alvarez had three hits including a homerun as he continues to battle, but Kent Sakamoto had three homers and 8RBI as the Hillcats sported the only winning record for the minor league organizations at 4-2.

And Baba Booey the producer of The Howard Stern show threw out the first, well, take a look for yourself. He is getting grilled today by Howard.

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