Pirates take two and why I like Bob Walk

The Pittsburgh Pirates managed to take both weekend games from the Detroit Tigers and actually won a series!
A 9-3 Saturday win behind another solid effort from Zach Duke (7-4) was followed by a 6-3 Sunday matinee win over the Tigers.
The Buccos actually showed some pop in the Saturday win as they smacked two homers,the big bomb being a Freddy Sanchez grand slam (5) in the fifth.
Adam LaRoche hit his eighth in the win.
Ross Ohlendorf moved to 6-5 on Sunday in allowed just a run on two hits over six innings.
Matt Capps finished the game for his 16th save.
The Pirates now hit the bricks for six games,3 in Minneapolis against the Twins followed by three in Denver against the Rockies.....

Pirate Hooks

1) The Sunday game featured uniforms from the 1909 World Series between the Pirates and the Tigers.
The Tigers looked pretty neat,but the Pirates were bland.
Throwback days are always so much fun to watch.

2) Has there ever been a pitcher since maybe Steve Blass (Cringe here,Pirate fans) that seems to have lost "it" so fast than Dontrelle Willis?
Willis walked eight batters in less than four innings and could have walked many more if the Pirates had any semblance of plate discipline...

3) I like Bob Walk a lot,he might be the only Pirate announcer that has any kind of credibilty and personality,but I almost thought I was in the booth for Sunday's win.
Walk complained several times about the Pirates swinging against Dontrelle Willis when it was apparent that he had no idea where the ball was going.
The Pirates loaded the bases with no one out in the third and two of the runners reached on walks.
Robinzon Diaz then swings at the first pitch,misses and then pops out on the next pitch.
Jack Wilson takes ball one and then pops out on the second.
Walk:"How long has Jack been playing this game,eight years"?
Ross Ohlendorf then grounded to short to end an inning with nothing that could have been a big inning.
Walk groused about all inning and then the next until Willis was relieved.
It is refreshing to have the home announcers tell the truth instead of being a mouthpiece for the team.
That is Greg Brown's job after all.

4) More Walk
Tim Neverett (who grows on me everyday,although I think it is because he isn't Greg Brown) was wondering why Minnesota didnt use a retractable roof like the other "nice new" stadiums like Miller Park in Milwaukee,which is the one new park that I just hate (except for bringing Bernie Brewer along from MCS).
Walk:I must take issue with one part of your statement,Nice like Miller Park?
I hate Miller Park.it isnt very nice at all.
YES!!!!

5) Even More Bob
Neverett talking about the upcoming road trip followed by the three game visit from the Indians (boo!).
"And that's it for interleague already">
Walk: "darn,too bad".
I wish I could type that as sarcastic and as unenthusiastic as he said.
Right on,Bob!!!

Bonus Hooks

Rumors are flying about Ian Snell being shipped to Colorado.
Not sure what Snell would command right now,but he did not pitch poorly in his last two starts and the arm is sound enough.
Snell shouldn't be a Pirate much longer,Charlie Morton wasn't part of the Nate McLouth deal for nothing....

The Pirates could be looking for a second baseman or shortstop prospect for Snell and Colorado seems to be a good fit.
Colorado has Troy Tulowitzki entrenched at short and Ian Stewart likely to be the second sacker once Garrett Atkins ends his slump at third and that leaves a few interesting prospects blocked from the big club.
Former number one pick Chris Nelson was the player the Pirates really wanted in the draft that saw them tab Neil Walker.
Nelson has been slower to develop,but could play either second or short.
Hector Gomez missed all of 2008,but hits decently and has a dynamic glove at shortstop.
Corey Wimberly is a slap hitting speedball that the Rockies moved from second to center to alleviate the congestion in the system at second,but could easily move back to the keystone position and Daniel Mayora was someone that I thought the Pirate should have taken a look at in the Rule 5 draft last winter.

Photo Credits
Celebration:Gene Puskar-AP Photo
Walk:Fleer