M's @ Pirates May 7th and 8th

[steelparrot]

The brutal schedule finally ends with the Pirates getting their first AL series.


McDonald vs Harang
AJ vs King Felix


We need McDonald to have a good start. Dropping game one, then facing Felix is a recipe for a mini sweep.

 

[Darkstone42]

Thanks for starting this thread, parrot. Hopefully your luck is better than mine.

Agreed on McDonald. We definitely need a strong start out of him. AJ and Felix could be a fun game to watch for folks who like pitching, though.

 

[smokeyburgess]

From a diehard Pirate fan living in Seattle:

The Mariners have put together a pretty good team this year. Their pitching is still good, and they added some real punch to the middle of the lineup in Morse and Morales. In addition, Mike Saunders is developing into a fine all-around player and Kyle Seager is a doubles machine. If a few more of the youngsters (Montero, Smoak, etc.) continue to improve, I wouldn't be surprised to see the M's make the playoffs this year.

Our big chance, of course, is to beat Harang, who's been inconsistent so far, but McDonald willl have to keep the Pirates in the game. And we all know about "The King." AJ will need to be at his best to beat him.

I will be watching the games on TV at a reasonable hour, and I've already got box seat tickets for a Pirate-Mariner game on June 26th. Look for the guy with a long white beard a few rows behind home plate. I'd bring a "Go Bucs" sign, but I'd probably be assaulted by some hot-head M fans!

 

[steelparrot]

McDonald to the DL with shoulder soreness, Gomez gets the start, Harrison called up.

Walker starts rehab in Altoona on Thursday.

 

[thedddd]

Not surprised McDonald went on the DL took long enough.

Have to give Gomez props he had a decent start (still don't want him in the rotation but we will take it this time).

I like Marte/Snider/McCutchen at the top like that. Granted Snider is not hitting for much power as he should be but I will take him getting on base as much as he has been.

 

[element1286]

Love day baseball, "working from home" to watch the matchup today.

 

[smokeyburgess]

Gomez looked really good out there yesterday. Changed locations and spotted the ball well. Guess he's the kind of pitcher that needs pinpoint control to be effective, but he could be a viable 4th/5th starter as the season progresses.

 

[element1286]

Gomez looked really good out there yesterday. Changed locations and spotted the ball well. Guess he's the kind of pitcher that needs pinpoint control to be effective, but he could be a viable 4th/5th starter as the season progresses.

It's really not likely, his peripherals aren't much different than his career numbers, but this year he is stranding 90% of runners, which isn't gonna hold up.

As a long man and spot starter he seems useful because of the rubber arm he seems to have.

 

[Darkstone42]

Our suspicions about J-Mac seem to have been confirmed. Of course, I can't believe it took this long for it to come out. His velocity has been really bad for a while now. Perhaps that's why he was nibbling, too, not trusting his stuff because he knew it wasn't at its best.

 

[thedddd]

I am with element on this one. You don't want Gomez starting more than he needs to as a spot start. What is nice about him he takes the Karstens spot and at least stays healthy.

Liriano is supposed to start Saturday and Gomez will be back in long relief.
Liriano to make Pirates debut on Saturday | pirates.com: News

Interesting notes from this article:
1. Marte has reached base in 29 or 32 games. Pretty impressive. Make it now 30 or 33.
2. The bullpen has the second most k's in the league.

 

[Darkstone42]

Why was Hurdle having Barmes bunt with the pitcher on deck?

 

[Darkstone42]

Now what is this? Just have him swing!

 

[Darkstone42]

Wow. That was ridiculously stupid.

 

[thedddd]

could not agree more.

 

[Darkstone42]

Let's force our 8 and 9 hitters to bat entirely with two strikes. That'll work well.

 

[thedddd]

yep truly wasted a leadoff double.

 

[Darkstone42]

AJ looks to be running out of gas. The control is going away.

 

[Darkstone42]

I just hope he's got enough in the tank to pitch out of this jam...

 

[Darkstone42]

It looks like he did. Another 6 strong innings from Burnett, but I feel like he might be done. His pitch count is getting up there. It'd be nice if he could give us one more, though.

 

[thedddd]

yep the 94 pitches but it is nice to get out of it. bet he stays out in the 7th until someone gets on.