Sunday, July 1, 2007

Pirates pound Nationals.Protest weaker than expected

How do you blunt an expected fan protest?
You give the fans something to take their mind off the protest.
The Pirates did just that with a 5 run 2nd inning to get the PNC Park crowd thinking about the game and not the protest and won going away over Washington 7-2.
Freddy Sanchez scored two runs with his single and Adam LaRoche doubled home two more,both hits coming with 2 out.
LaRoche later added his 10th long ball of the season with a solo shot in the 5th inning.
Tom Gorzelanny was able to control the timid bats of the Capital Gang,allowing just 2 runs and 5 hits in 7 and a third.
Gorzelanny moved to 8-4 and likely will be the Pirate all-star representive in San Francisco.
Masumi Kuwata mopped up the remainder of the game in finishing up.
The Pirates go for the sweep today at 1;35

C.C.Sabathia went seven innings in becoming the majors 1st 12 game winner as the Tribe beat Tampa on Grady Sizemore bobblehead night.
Travis Hafner hit his 13 th HR for Cleveland.

Pitching Matchups
Washington: Mike Bacsik (1-5) at Pittsburgh: Paul Maholm (4-10) 1:35
Tampa Bay: Jamie Shields (6-3) at Cleveland: Cliff Lee (4-4) 1:05

Bullpen Notes

Before the Pirates get all full of themselves for beating the worst team in baseball,let's remember that the Nationals at least have a plan for future success with two excellent drafts in a row.
Washington has Chris Marrero and Ross Detwiler to show for their top picks.
Captain Dave has a guy sitting around from surgery and one that was going to be such an easy sign,yet has yet to do so.
Let us be frank (Or in this case Dave),The Pittsburgh Pirates have no plan for future success.
I do and you will see it in the next week or so.
You may agree with some,maybe not with other parts of my plan,but you will see it and I will be accountable for the plan.
Littlefield shows no plan,no ideas and no vision-that is why he is doomed to fail.

Disappointed in the fan protest,but these things often are more hype than substance.
However,it was funny to see just how worried the Nickels Nutting gang were about the bad PR.
Nickels even appeared on the Pirate network last night,but I missed it.
Since they were playing Washington,we had the Nats network.
Was cool to see Dock Ellis show up though.
Ellis showed up to show his support for the fan walkout.
Wish more ex-Buccos would have joined him.

So,Zach Duke is having arm problems?
This seems to be a ploy to blame the arm problems for Duke's poor performance.
I think that it is just the opposite-I can blame Jim Colborn and the Pirates even more now.
What causes most arm,shoulder,elbow injuries?
Poor mechanics.
And what did Jim Colborn do to a promising and productive young pitcher?
Changed his mechanics!
So,it is possible that not only did Colborn decrease Duke's effectiveness,he also could have caused him arm problems.
Sad.

On the same link,Chris Duffy was placed on the disabled list with a bum ankle.
So.you would think that this drops the Pirate weak-hitting outfielder quotient to two.
But you would be wrong.
But to replace Duffy,the Captain recalled MATT KATA from Indianapolis.
The same Matt Kata that was released earlier this season by the horrid Texas Rangers!
If you cannot help Texas,who can you help??
The hits just keep on coming.

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats stumbled out of the gate in Calgary vs the Stampeders with a 37-9 rear-kicking.
The Cats did not score a touchdown as all 9 points came off the foot of Nick Setta's 3 field goals from 11,21 and 25 yards.
I will have more on the game and my opinions as the week goes on.
I taped the game while I was at work and will review it when I have time.


On the signing front

I will post on the results of the Lake County series when I have more time,but Lakewood came to town last night.
Thanks to Ryan for getting Kyle Drabek and Adrian Cardenas to sign their SAL top prospect cards and a few others.
Thanks to Jeff,for all his help in getting Nationals hitting coach and former Oakland outfielder Mitchell Page to sign one for me.
Thanks to both of you guys for the efforts.

Hockey free agency starts today.
Count on the Devils losing Scott Gomez ,but managing to hang on to Brian Rafalski.

UPDATE-Dead wrong on this.
Gomez to the Rangers and Rafalski to the Red Wings.

Knockout of the year and a great fight Friday between top 10 Cruiserweights Darnell Wilson and Emmanuel Nwodo.
Well worth checking out,if you can.

Until Later

Photo Credits
Pirate Fans-AP Photo -Gene Puskar

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