Pirates @ Cubs 6/7 2:20 EST GDT

[sychmd]

for pedro to get going, i think cutch has to get going to put pressure on pitchers, get us ahead in games, and get positive offensive momentum going.

that was a big part of the pedros offensive explosion last year.

marte was our offensive leader, but cutch needs to get going now.
we are about 40% in and he is playing at a C- level.
he needs to be the leader, as we have really good supporting players (martin, walker, marte, jones, alvarez, and even snider and sanchez)

 

[sychmd]

just like in football, offenses always look better, play easier, pad their stats, when they play from ahead, or jump out to early leads.

especially against the midling and lesser opponents.

 

[Etrius24]

Marte has struggled a little of late... His OPS has dropped 100 points and he looks less than superb when his batting average is approximately .280 ish. He either needs to stay above .300 or he needs to be more selective at the plate... Because his OBP is not going to high enough for him to stay in the leadoff spot if he is struggling to hit .280

He is young, and this is his first full season...So I am not pushing the panic button just yet.. But I worried a little bit even when he was hitting .330! His OBP % was basically driven by batting average alone...That is a problem for a lead off hitter that does not contend for the batting title.

 

[Etrius24]

Sychmd,

It would be FANTASTIC if Cutch could get into a groove like he did last season...That would be amazing! At this point for him to have three incredible months would almost certainly make the bucs a favourite to get into the post season.

I am not expecting it...I can say I have been expecting him to play a little better than he has thus far though... I was really expecting him to hit .300 with an OPS of .900

 

[Darkstone42]

Pedro looks comfortable going the other way right now. That's a great sign.

 

[steelparrot]

This ump has a big strike zone, Locke is going to adjust his k/9 numbers today.

 

[Darkstone42]

Favorable call at first for us. Let's capitalize.

 

[HuskerPower52]

Let's go Pirates!!!!

 

[Darkstone42]

Well, we got one.

 

[Etrius24]

Pedro has a lot of power the other way.. I would love to see him embrace that part of the strike zone and outfield... He can easily get his extra base hits including homeruns hitting the ball the other way.

Maybe that is the missing piece with Pedro... Go the other way.. get the average up.. OBP jumps up and all of a sudden the kid is a .900 OPS compliment to McCutchen..

I smell a Dynasty!


Okay back to earth...LOL

Would be nice to see pedro use the whole field when he hits.