Jose Contreras and Josh Harrison Are On Pittsburgh Pirates Roster Because….?

May 27, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle (13) takes the ball to relieve relief pitcher Jose Contreras (52) during the seventh inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The Pittsburgh Pirates are battling with the big boys of Major League Baseball this week.  It’s not a time for experimentation or infatuation, yet two players on the 25-man roster that have failed to perform were in the spotlight once again as the Pirates fell to the Detroit Tigers 6-5 in what seemed like a very winnable game.

Even though Justin Verlander struck out 13 Bucs.

At what point did Clint Hurdle think Jose Contreras was going to figure it out?  After the first walk?  The second?  The third?

Well, it took four walks before Hurdle went to the mound to tell Contreras to vanish, slapped him on his ass and handed the ball to southpaw Tony Watson.

Watson is left-handed.  Contreras is right handed and was brought in to face Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder, Victor Martinex, Jhonny Peralta, Pittsburgh kid II Donny Kelly and Brayan Pena.

Interestingly, Hurdle brought in newly called up southpaw Mike Zagurski to face three of four right-handed hitters an inning prior.  Umm, wasn’t that backward?

At some point, common sense is likely to prevail and the Pirates will lose interest in veteran-osity.  Players like Jose Contreras and in a few days John McDonald should likely be looking for work or wearing the colors of another Major League team.

What gives you pleasure about this numbers from Contreras?

The fascination with Josh Harrison is still mind boggling.

It’s difficult for me to see why Harrison was recalled yesterday.  The right-handed Harrison still strikes out too much and fails to get on base enough.  It’s not like Harrison was lighting up the scoreboard at Victory Field in Indianapolis, actually it was just the opposite.

With right-handed pitchers on the slate, why not righty-killer Felix Pie?   Look at his numbers over the past ten at Indy  Hell, Pie has killed righties all season–he just hasn’t done squat against left-handers.  But Pie can run the base and he also gets on base too.

Yet somehow a 30-plus win Pitttsburgh Pirates team have spots on their 25-man roster for both Contreras and Harrison.  It’s mind blowing.