Gerrit Cole Looks To Keep Pirates Strange, New Streak Alive

Feb 28, 2014; Dunedin, FL, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Gerrit Cole (45) pitches during the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Florida Auto Exchange Park. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

The Pittsburgh Pirates starters take a strange streak into today’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays although rain is in the forecast.  Buccos starters have gone ten innings without giving up a run.

The Bucs will face left-hander Mark Buehrle in the scheduled 1:05 start. Starling Marte will leadoff in left field and the Bucs are expected to load up with right handed batters after him.

Pirates starters have been dominant in Spring Training.  It’s really odd for the Bucs to get good pitching, because shitty pitching has been a staple for the Bucs in Bradenton.

Remember last year?  If you drink too much like us, and can’t we are here to remind you.

"Pittsburgh Pirates fans have got to be thinking, “What in the hell happened?” Jonathan Sanchez is now in the rotation – just a few weeks after the Buccos were smooth sailing with pitching depth, and a plan on paper that at least looked logical. Now, Kyle McPherson and Jeff Locke have been Zach Duke-like, allowing hits with regularity. It wasn’t supposed to turn out this way.Yeah, we hear you. But rest assured, we went back and checked out some awful numbers from Spring Trainings past, and this is nothing new. Repeat: Garbage pitching by the Pittsburgh Pirates in Spring Training is nothing new.2012James McDonald started six games. JMac pitched 21.2 innings and allowed 20 hits and 20 earned runs. He walked 11 and struckout 11.Erik Bedard started five games. Bedard pitched 19.2 innings and allowed 19 hits and 11 earned runs. The Bucs Opening Day starter walked eight and struckout 14 before pitching well at PNC Park for a considerable number of starts.Brad Lincoln pitched eight innings. Lincoln, who was recently sent down by the Toronto Blue Jays, gave up 12 hits and 10 earned runs.Kevin Correia pitched 16.2 innings. KC gave up 23 hits and 14 earned runs.2011Joel Hanrahan pitched 10.2 innings. The Hammer was hit around for eight earned runs and 12 hits, but struckout 13.Paul Maholm pitched 25 innings. The southpaw was rocked for 31 hits and 13 earned runs, he surprised with 18 strikeouts against five walks. Seven bombs scared the hell out of Bucco fans.James McDonald only threw 6.2 innings and allowed ten hits.2010Virgil Vasquez, Kevin Hart, and Brian Burres * pitched so poorly that they combined for a 53.30 ERA.Ross Ohlendorf had an ERA over 9, Zach Duke and Jeff Karstens were over 6 and Vinnie Chulk rocked a big number as well."

Feb 13, 2014; Bradenton, FL, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jameson Taillon at Pittsburgh

Those days are gone for the Pirates and today Gerrit Cole will be on the mound throwing fuzz.  It will be the right-handers second start of the Grapefruit League season, both against Toronto.  Cole allowed three hits, two earned runs and struckout two in the first outing.

Jameson Taillon will pitch after Cole.  Also, Pirates closer Jason Grilli will be firing bullets later today Mother Nature willing.