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The Pirates scored a run in the first and even tied the game in the third,but the continuing decline of Matt Morris led to another loss in San Diego and being swe
pt in the series.The loss was the 6th in a row for the Bucs and had to be expected when one looks at the lineup that keeps getting put out there.
Pretty tough to win when you are playing 4 players that are usually outs when they arrive at the plate.
Today we got Nyjer Morgan (while Steven Pearce continues to sit),Matt Kata,Cesar Izturis and Carlos Maldonado.
Maldonado did hit a homer (2) and Izturis had an RBI,but the basic point remains the same.
Jim Tracy pontificates on the "integrity of the pennant race",yet this is the lineup he runs out?
I see Izturis because Jack Wilson is out and every team plays the crappy 3rd string catcher on day/getaway games on occasion,but playing Kata and Morgan on the same day as the other two?
Tracy's apparent goal to to win as many as possible to save his job,but his lineup selection is not helping his efforts any.
Steven Pearce needs to play,not occasionally pinch hit,but he sits so Nyjer Morgan can play.
Morgan is a spectacular defender and adds speed to the basepaths(when he gets there),but you pretty much know what you will get from Morgan.
Morgan is a pinch runner,late inning defensive replacement,4th/5th outfielder type.
Can you get some use from Morgan?Yes.
Is it as an everyday outfielder?No.
We aren't sure what you get from Pearce at this level,yet he sits so Morgan can play?
Tracy's argument is where does Pearce play when Bay,Nady and LaRoche are all in the lineup.
But last night Jason Bay was out of the lineup and today Xavier Nady was on the bench,but Pearce sat both games,while Morgan played both.
Upon reflection-Jim Tracy is full of crap and hopefully soon-out of a job.
Meanwhile,Matt Morris appears to be the bad gift that keeps on giving ,courtesy of Captain Dave.
Morris dropped to 9-11 with today's loss (2-4 in Pittsburgh) and continued his poor pitching.
Morris has allowed 4 or more runs in each of his last 4 starts and saw the sixth inning in only one of those efforts.
Pittsburgh travels to the Vines of Wrigley for a 3 day game series against the Cubs.
Pitching Matchup
Pittsburgh: Paul Maholm (10-15) at Chicago: Jason Marquis (12-8) 2:20
Bullpen Notes
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Reader Mike Treadwell sends us this link from the Lancaster newspaper on Former Hagerstown Suns manager Tommy Herr.
That's right-I did say former as apparently Herr and the Nationals had a parting of the ways.
Most readers know of my dislike for the way Herr carried himself and basically seemed to be miserable being in Hagerstown,but reading this article and Herr's comments-I think I was right on cue.
What I was surprised about is what I did agree with Herr on.
Herr's comments on the disadvantages of pitch counts and on the experience gained by working your way through problems instead of being locked to the pitch counts are very accurate and I agree totally.
Now to me,after reading the article and watching Herr manage all season,the reason it appeared to most that Herr was mailing it in was out of unhappiness with restraints placed on him by the parent Nationals.
I thought he was bothered by managing Low A ball or having to be in Hagerstown generally,but it appears there was far more to the story.
But he referred to wanting to manage at AA Harrisburg next year,which meant a leap over Randy Knorr in the Nationals pecking order.
How would anyone that watched Herr manage this team justify that call?
It does seem that Indy ball suits Herr better and if that is more fun for him and makes him more fan friendly,we wish Herr well.
As long as Hagerstown doesn't get him back down the road! Ha Ha.
The Washington Times reports that Bob Carpenter will not return to the TV booth for the Nationals next season.
Too bad,I like the way Carpenter calls a game and his absence will be a loss for Nationals broadcasts next year.
Color analyst Don Sutton is returning in 2008.
Can anyone believe the Astros hired Ed Wade to be their GM?
What ,Captain Dave was in Peru and couldn't interview???
Ed Wade?
I guess his great tenure in Philadelphia was enough to get him the job.(Sarcasm here)
I had heard that Wade could be the asst to Ruben Amaro but to be the head man??
I guess dumbness is not just a Pirate thing after all!
In another funny note-Former outfielder and Greenville Drive manager Gabe Kapler announced plans for a comeback.
Looking at Kapler last month,he certainly appears in shape for it,but I thought he almost looked TOO in shape.................
Finally,realized today that I had missed two games of the Ashland Arrows.
The Arrows were blasted at Shelby two weeks ago in their final non-conference game and kicked off Ohio Cardinal Conference play last week with a 35-6 pummelling of the Madison Rams.
The Arrows are now 3-1 overall and 1-0 in the OCC and battle the Wooster Generals Friday night.
We will give a brief summary Saturday.
Photo Credit
Morris-Lenny Ignelei-AP Photo
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