Archive for May, 2009

Catching Upgrade evident: When Ryan Doumit was injured 25 games ago, Pirate fans were left to wonder how we would get through one game let alone the weeks it would be until he returned.  After all, little was known about the backups other than Robinzon Diaz tore the cover off the ball.   Jason Jaramillo was called the more defensive catcher and went North with the ballclub.  Diaz played well at AAA Indy and was the obvious call up when Doumit was placed on the DL.  We knew that Diaz was a stud for the Jays minor league system and Jaramillo [...]

I received the following in an email from the Nationals last week.  Each year we go down with clients and we have been placed on an email list.   So who do you think the Nats are going to take with their first pick in the draft?  Enjoy… Tom, With Ryan Zimmerman riding a 29 game hitting streak and Adam Dunn on the way to another 40+ home run season all is strong on the batting front for the Nationals as we settle into the second month of the season.  But as many of you know the pitching, outside of two [...]

A blog network dedicated to you, the fan.  If you haven’t added this to your favorite list, we should talk.  Yeh, I know Pittsburgh, who cares about anything other than baseball right?    The new site has drop downs for all sports.  Within a few months, the site will have all of the teams covered.  The NFL is covered the best by Fansided.com with MLB growing weekly.  The MMA site is fantastic.  NASCAR launched recently as well.  Check this out if for no other reason than to get a good laugh at the NHL site, Capitals Outsider.  [Fansided]

Matt Capps got right back on the bull last night.  He got the save and the Pirates won 7-4.  We don’t want to say we told you so, but our story on Capps early Saturday detailed some of the things that were going on with him.   Did you see Kerrigan with the bandage around Capps eye in the bullpen this afternoon?  Gotta love the witch doctor working on the Pirates closer.  How great was it to see Capps get right back on the bump and close it out tonight?  And how about the bullpen gave the Pirates seven innings of one run baseball [...]

Many people are saying that Pirates closer Matt Capps has lost some umphhhhh on his fastball.  He has given up a hit in each of his last eight appearances.  He has been knocked around in three of his last five outings.  Surely something must be wrong with his fastball?  I wanted to be certain and went over to Dan at Brooksbaseball and did some digging. At this time last year, Capps already had ten saves.  His confidence was high.  His fastball wasn’t off the chart except on one occassion during this period last year, when he earned his tenth save [...]

Pedro Alvarez wasted no time in his at bat last night.  With third round pick Jordy Mercer on base, Alvarez blasted the first pitch for a towering two-run walk off homerun to give the Hillcats their 15th comeback win of the year. We all know Pedro’s average hasn’t been there at all this year.  He has 120AB now with 7HR and 28RBI.  He has struckout 37 times and walked 20 times.  I have seen him swinging at pitches that have been completely out of the strike zone.  It must be frustrating, but he has worked counts and taken walks.  His batting [...]

We head to DC today to check out the world champion Phillies. My scouting report is weak.  No excuses.  It was a youthful mistake.  We just didn’t hit.  I credit him for always getting me out with Nyjer and Freddy on, anyway enough excuses….  Here come the Rockies.  They are 13-20.  Not one of the starting pitchers looks overpowering to us.  LHP Jorge De La Rosa (0-3, 3.53) vs. LHP Paul Maholm (3-1, 4.06); Saturday, 7:05 p.m., RHP Aaron Cook (2-1, 5.02) vs. RHP Ian Snell (1-5, 4.50); Sunday, 1:35 p.m., RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (3-4, 4.73) vs. LHP Zach Duke [...]

12300+ fans at PNC Park. Pitching was solid. Plenty of hits. The key elements of a sweep were right there for the Pirates to break out the brooms and knock out the division leaders.  Nothing was quite enough. It didn’t happen. One baserunning blunder One wild pitch led to two crucial runs No timely hits 12300+ left shaking their heads We fast forward to what we want to talk about. Nate struggles against the Cards.  Jeff Karstens is a tough kid. In the fifth inning and for the third time in the game, Nate McLouth had Nyjer Morgan and Freddy Sanchez staring [...]

Photo Zimbio.com Enough about how the pants look, a relaxed John Daly fired a 68 today at the 3 Irish Open in Baltray.  He is five shots off the lead which is held by Italian (did I really have to tell you that) Frank Molinari.  To say that scores were spectacular is an understatement.   Molinari set a course record and only holds a one shot lead.  Daly is tied for 20th after the first round.  The video highlights are here which highlights his amazing approach on number 12…[European Tour]

Pregame: Jeff Karstens (1-1, 5.19ERA) goes against RHP Mitchell Boggs (1-0, 3.50ERA). The Pirates have won five straight against the Cardinals.  PNC Park is becoming quite the birdcage as well with the Bucs taking six of their last seven against them.  After tonight the Bucs and Cards don’t see each other again until August 7. Karstens doesn’t have a hit at the plate yet.  0-for-6.  Normally, that wouldn’t stand out, but the way the Pirates pitchers are hitting and bunting this season is commendable.  Thank you Coach Beasley.  It’s the little things that make the difference.  You think Duke’s hit the [...]