If the Pirates had just been able to get their bats on track on Tuesday in a 2-0 loss,a sweep could have been in the cards,but a 8-5 win on Monday and yesterday's 8-7 power based thriller gave the Pirates a series win that was filled with excitement on many levels.
The Pirates start a seven game road swing tonight in Arizona with four games against the snakes before a three game stint against the Giants by the Bay Brid
ge.I will likely miss the first three games of the series due to work issues,but should see Sunday and possibly all three of the Giants series....
Charlie Morton vs (gulp) Dan Haren tonight at 9:35.
Pirate Hooks
1) Most baseball talk about violence is usually that,but the Brewers and Pirates really don't like each other.
Plunkings,brushbacks,challenges for pre- games fights and bench clearings all happened in this series.
Ryan Braun seems to have issues with the Pirates and considering his actions lately towards his own organization,Braun could be a star ready to implode.....
2) Although,the bench clearing was one of those baseball "much ado about nothing" events,Jason Kendall's post game comments towards Pirate pitching coach Joe Kerrigan were hilarious.
Kendall repeatedly called Kerrigan "Dave Kerwin" even after being corrected on Kerrigan's name.
One of those things where you comment on someone not being important enough to bother to learn their correct moniker....
3) The Pirates popped five homers on Adam LaRoche getaway day,the biggest being the Brandon Moss walkoff homer to win the game in the ninth.
Moss has had a total of five hits since July 3rd and four of them have left the park.
4) The Pirate bullpen is maligned here and there,but some credit should go to Evan Meek,who is quietly putting together a solid season.
Meek has given up just two runs since June 6th and posts an excellent ERA of 2.41.
Relievers tend to have erratic careers,but Meek shows the ability to be a future setup man at worst.
5) Despite winning two of three from Milwaukee,the best starting pitching performance of the series came from losing pitcher Virgil Vasquez.
Vasquez allowed two runs in six innings in the loss,but worked his way out of jams and showed a great deal of poise.
I still think that Vasquez is a middle reliever in the long term,but he is showing the type of guile that could be a 5th starter in the right situation...
6) Steve Pearce returns from Indianapolis and Neal Huntington claims that this will be Pearce's shot to become the regular first baseman.
Pearce has disappointed in his previous stints in Pittsburgh,but has never been given consistent at bats to prove himself.
If this opportunity is given,Pearce has no further excuses....
7) This means outfield time for the Yinzers current darling Garrett Jones.
Jones was thought to have been the LaRoche replacement,but Pearce received the nod.
Jones should see time in both left and right fields along with Brandon Moss before the inevitable callup of Lastings Milledge shuffles things yet again.
8) Argenis Diaz will be added to the 40 man roster,which was full on the last day I checked.
That means someone will be removed from the slate to make space.
9) My guess is that Brian Bixler will be the player dropped.
Bixler is a super nice guy,but he hasn't hit in any of the Pirate opportunities that he has had and Diaz is being handed his starting spot at Indianapolis.
Just makes sense to me.
10) No more Freddy Sanchez trade rumors,but the Giants keep coming up as
a good fit to me.I have seen more Giants games over the last week than I have in a while between their Pittsburgh stop and a set in Atlanta,but I kinda like Kevin Frandsen.
Frandsen,who as I searched for a link for his numbers, was sent back to AAA Fresno,hasn't hit much in limited chances by the Bay,but has hit well in the minors and can play short or second.
Just a player that impressed me for some reason....
Could be back later with some Random Ramblings..
Photo Credits
Moss;GenePuskar-AP Photo
Frandsen:Unknown
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