Pirates @ Nats

[Darkstone42]

Man, Pedro got that on the button, but also right at Rendon.

They were talking about Cutch's secondary lead, but that ball was a line off the bat, so he probably just froze in case it was caught in the air.

 

[thehobocop]

Am I the only one who would rather see Cole pinch hit than McKenry or Inge?

 

[Darkstone42]

I would.

But at least Inge is gone, so we don't have to worry about him.

 

[thehobocop]

El Torro going oppo! 25th of the year! Hopefully this is the start of a hot streak for him.

 

[sychmd]

why is cole out.
only 92 pitches.
a 4 run lead.
conserve the pen and let him go to 105 PC.

 

[steelparrot]

They are keeping his innings down probably, he only pitched 132 innings last year. He's at 117 now, I know some people dont like inning caps, but I'm pretty sure NH has a number that they arent going to let Cole pass.

He needed another year in AAA to get his innings up to where he could pitch whole year. I bet that number is somewhere around 175 innings +/- 5.

 

[thedddd]

Well another good win. Glad to see Alvarez get a few hits to break out of that mini slump.

 

[sychmd]

once morris in, let him go 2 innings.
conserve melancon as we have a 4 run lead!!!

he is already overworked this year. no need for him to pitch tonite.

 

[sychmd]

co;e pitched more than 175 in college.
he has size and body power.
Hurdle said no cap on him this year.
buid him up each appearance incrementally when his performance allows and game dictates.
he needs confidence to dominate.

 

[thehobocop]

I personally liked the move to let Melancon pitch the 9th. Nothing wrong with letting him get accustomed to his role for the next month or two, and what could be a better way to start? A four run lead against an offense that has been off balance all night.

 

[sychmd]

melancon is ready to pitch the ninth and has been hoping for it the last couple months. he even has a couple times.
he is still overworked and this was an opportunity to save him and get some needed leverage experience for others who are greener than melancon.

 

[fonze232]

once morris in, let him go 2 innings.
conserve melancon as we have a 4 run lead!!!

he is already overworked this year. no need for him to pitch tonite.

Let Melancon get an easy "almost" save under his belt. No prob giving him a no pressure 9th here.

 

[sychmd]

he has 2 saves already and pitched the ninth in at least one other non save before tonite.
in a vacuum, pitching tonite is OK, but he already is the most overworked reliever in the NL and we are in a stretch of 18 games in 17 days with a big 5 game in 4 day series with the cards where we are going to either bring up a 6th starter and go short in the pen or pitch gomez as the spot starter and lose a BP arm for several days before and after.

 

[Darkstone42]

I'm fine with Melancon going in the ninth, and I would have been fine with him not going in the ninth. He has a lot of innings, sure, but I get using him tonight in a low pressure ninth right before he assumes the full time closer role for the duration of Grilli's injury. It's not the same thing to get a save and to be the closer.

On the other hand, we have a lot of capable relievers and didn't need to use him tonight.

The important thing is the win. We have a good chance right now to get on a little positive run right out of the break.

 

[Tedsfrozenhead]

Pedro with another bomb tonight. What a huge lift he brings to the offense when he is hot.

 

[Darkstone42]

Liriano's stuff is extra nasty tonight.

 

[smokeyburgess]

I see Marte is 0-2 with 2 ks so far today. I think the guy needs a rest -- he's been in a real slump lately. Any chance of bringing up Presley for a few games to give Marte a break? He's been a catalyst for the team in the past.

 

[Darkstone42]

That curve Strasburg threw to Pedro didn't have him fooled, but his misthrew it and it stayed in the zone instead of breaking in off the inside corner of the plate.

Still, a curveball up, even if it might tail off the plate in, is a good pitch to take a cut at in a 2-strike count.

 

[sychmd]

pedro hit a bomb with 2 strikes.
awesome.
it would be amazing if he gets to 40 HR.
who was the last non roid(giles) to go for 40 as a pirate.

 

[mtm166]

Giles was on roids? I don't believe that for a second. :rollseyes: