The Pittsburgh Pirates Epidemic

UPDATE. Has the epidemic ended? After stranding ten over the first eight innings, Pedro Alvarez hit a two-run bomb.  Starling Marte followed with a walk off bomb.

The Pirates epidemic broke out in Baltimore to an entirely new level.  Being stranded sucks.  Everyday people are stranded at airports and its frustrating.  Satellites are stranded in space and it’s alarming for the future of the country. For Pittsburgh Pirates fans the stranded on bases around the country is what gets the blood boiling.  The Bucs have stranded base runners in Chicago, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Milwaukee and Baltimore–a whole lot were left on the bags in Charm City.

The numbers might be even higher if not for those damn TOOTBLANS.  After last night, we are pretty sure Starling Marte is the Major League leader.  Those damn TOOTBLANS suck, but perhaps Marte is just tired of being stranded?

Since the Pirates were driving me nuts with so. many. stranded. runners.  I started digging.  The team is hitting like shit, but still getting opportunities.  Not an alarming number, but enough to grab five or six more wins than they have now with a timely knock.

The Pirates are stranding runners at an alarming rate

In Pittsburgh Friday, the Bucs stranded ten runners.  The team was 3-for-13 with runners in scoring position.  Pedro Alvarez had the big bomb. Marte, the game winner.

In Baltimore, the Bucs left 28 runners on the bags.  The team was 6-for-30 with runners in scoring position.

In St. Louis, the Bucs left 16 runners on the bags.  The team was zero-for-12 in the two losses, 4-for-8 in the win.

Hosting the Reds, the Bucs left 32 runners on the bags.  The team was 1-for-18 with runners in scoring position.

Hosting the Brewers, the Bucs left 35 runners on the bags.  The team was 8-for-27 with runners in scoring position.

In Cincinnati, the Bucs left 17 runners on the bases.  The team was 4-for-23 with runners in scoring position.

In Milwaukee, the Bucs left a season low 11 runners on the bases.  The team got no RISP in one game and went 2-for-11 in the other two games.

In Chicago, the Bucs left 21 runners on the bases.  The team got no RISP in one game and went 7-for-19 in the other two games.

Hosting the Cards, the Bucs left 20 runners on the bags.  The team went 7-for-21 with runners in scoring position.

Hosting the Cubs, the Bucs left 25 runners on the bases.  The team went 4-for-18 with runners in scoring position.

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May 1, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle (13) during a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

We believe that adds up to 205 stranded for the Bucs.  That’s enough for me to get the epidemic mask out.

It’s hard to talk while I am wearing this mask, but the team batting average would be right around .235 with runners in scoring position which is somehow better than the overall team batting average of .225.  The only team the Pirates trail in batting average in balls in play is Houston.  That tells me sooner or later, the Pirates have to break out of this inability to score runs.