The Bullpen Works in Indy*

I was desperately looking for some good news on the Pirates baseball front.  It has a small asterik, (a loss for the AAA Indians) but here you go.  The Indians needed help from their bullpen this afternoon after Syracuse jumped out to an early lead.  They finally got it in the form of some solid piching from three future Pirate hopefuls.

Four walks were recorded, which is troubling, but Brian Slocum (2.0 IP, 2 BB, 2 SO), Denny Bautista (1.2 IP, 2 BB, 3 SO) and Chris Bootcheck (1.0 IP, 1 SO) combined to hold Syracuse hitless, while also striking out six Chiefs’ hitters in 4.2 innings of relief.

Former Bucco Brad Eldred had a double and an RBI as Syracuse dropped the Tribe to 13-17 on the year.

Garrett Jones (looks like the back has healed)and Neil Walker homered against Syracuse, but it wasn’t enough as the Tribe went down 6-3.  Ty Taubenheim lost his fourth to drop to 0-4 on the season.  He lasted 3.1 innings gave up six hits, six runs(five earned) while walking four and striking out four.  [Indians website]

The Tribe bullpen has struggled of late.  So much so, position players have been on the mound.  In Sunday’s contest, the relief corps were disguised as pyromaniacs against Syracuse when RHP Jeremy Powell and LHP Corey Hamman (20.25ERA) gave up seven runs on five hits and three walks in a combined 1.2 innings pitched.  The Indians sent 1B/OF Larry Broadway out to pitch a shutout ninth.

Broadway walked one and struck out one Syracuse hitter.  The 6-4 lefty pitched in five games last season as a member of the Columbus Clippers.  He had a 2.70 ERA after 6.2 innings on the mound.

One highlight of the bullpen recently was Saturday night when Jeremy Powell, Denny Bautista, and Chris Bootcheck gave up just one run in 4.1 IP with seven strikeouts.  Powell gave up the lone run on a Brad Eldred home run.

After 30 games, the pitching stats for the Indians are rather scary.  The team ERA is 5.19, WHIP is 1.47.  One complete game and eight saves.

One look at the team pitching stands out.  Hittable.  In 262 innings pitched, the Tribe has given up 281 hits.

In case you were wondering who was closing games at AAA, Bootcheck has recorded 22K and 3BB in 15.2IP.  He has four saves, but has given up 14 hits and his ERA is 4.02.

Juan Mateo has an ERA of 5 plus while he has recorded 3 saves, but has allowed 16 hits and 10 ER in 17.1IP.  He got his third save while pitching three innings on Saturday.  He gave up six hits including a three run homer.

Mateo was hot in April as the right-handed reliever gave up only an unearned run in 12 innings while holding the opposition to a .079 batting average.

Tom Gorzelany is 1-1 with a 4.37ERA.  He is the starter for Indianapolis tomorrow in Rochester.  He has a 1.37WHIP, 32K, 35IP, and has allowed 34hits.

ALTOONA:

As the Pirates get ready for a difficult series against the Cards, here is a great story about the AA Curve.  They have been bad.  Real bad.  Corey Giger of The Altoona Mirror tells us they have played the best teams (wow, that hurts), the players are getting used to AA (fair enough), and it can’t be much worse. Ouch.  [Altoona Mirror]

Jose Tabata will return to help, but not for another month. 

The Curve play Reading, the worst team in the Eastern League in a three game series.  Note to self, keep an eye on the Curve.  Here are the matchups.

Curve RHP Jared Hughes (0-4, 2.79) vs. LHP Ross Detwiler (0-2, 3.22) RHP Mike Crotta (2-0, 4.44) vs. LHP CoryVan Allen (0-2, 7.71)
LHP Daniel Moskos (1-2, 5.02) vs. RHP Adrian Alaniz (1-1, 5.27)

EXTRA OFF DAY STUFF:

John Daly is the man.

Michael Phelps is a bad boy. I would rather check out the pics of this dancer than the bong pics.  [New World News is back again]

While I was on their site, I learned Obama was snubbed by the Britians Got Talent star Susan Boyle.  [New World News]

Is it time for the Pens to drop the puck yet?