Pirates rally over Mets.

On a rare evening that I had neither work or a game to attend,I settled in at the home office for the Pirates vs the Mets and after another Ian Snell effort that was less than scintillating,hopes looked dim.
However,the Bucs dug in,trimmed the lead to 5-3 and then put the Mets away with a five run eighth for a 8-5 win!
Tom Gorzelanny vultured the win (3-1) as a going away gift before his expected return to Indianapolis and Matt Capps twirled a scoreless ninth for his 11th save.
The four game series continues today.

Pirate Hooks

1) We were quite harsh in our indictments on Andy LaRoche early in the season,but time to come clean as LaRoche has rallied quite well over the last month.
LaRoche still lacks the power that we like to see from a third baseman,but he is far from the total disaster that he showed signs of becoming since his arrival in Pittsburgh.

2) Ian Snell seems to be on the verge of being trade bait or having his situation dealt with in another manner.
Could Snell be the next Bucco pitcher to be an ace for the Indianapolis Indians?

3) Snell lasted six innings,but walked five and fanned just two.
Snell's lack of control,both emotionally and in the strike zone is simply maddening and no idea seems to have hopes of solving anything.
Indianapolis would just make a temper issue worse,moving him to the pen makes little sense unless you make him a long man and that would just make him useless in any trade value.....

4) Even though it hurt the Bucs,it was nice to see former Hagerstown Sun Bobby Parnell work the Mets out of a tough spot in the sixth by whiffing pinch hitter Ramon Vasquez with the bases loaded.
The hard throwing Parnell was a starter here,but his arm seems to be a better fit in the Mets bullpen.

5) The newest Pirate pitched a scoreless inning in the win as Steven Jackson made his first appearance since being recalled from Indy.
Jackson was claimed from the Yankees off waivers a few weeks back.

Pitching Matchup
New York Mets:Johan Santana (7-2 1.77 ERA) at Pittsburgh:Zach Duke (5-4 2.77 ERA) 7:05

Bullpen Notes

Will be taping the game and watching when I get home as I will be in Frederick to work on the Lynchburg Hillcats again after the forgetful fiasco.
Since that time,the Hillcat team set has come out,so all was not lost....

The New Jersey Devils made their first off season move in re-signing Pierre (3L) LeBlond to a three year contract worth 1.5 million over the course of the deal.
LeBlond will likely take Mike Rupp's spot as the fourth line enforcer.

The Devils also announced that prospect Petr Vrana will be playing professionally in his native Czech Republic for the next two seasons.
The Devils retain the NHL rights to Vrana and this might be a good thing for Vrana,who could return in a few years as a more skilled player.
I have wished that New Jersey gave Vrana more of a chance in the past,but the prolonged opportunity never came.

Will try to be back later with more on the signing front and some other thoughts.

Photo Credits
Bucs:Gene Puskar-AP Photo
Vrana:AP Photo