Pirates scare Reds

Well,it might not have been our best pun ever,but the Pirates did complete a three game sweep of the Reds yesterday.
I did get to see the Saturday and Sunday games,so a few thoughts follow.
Pittsburgh takes today off before a three game series at PNC vs the Brewers starts on Tuesday.

Pirate Hooks

1) Paul Maholm was strong yesterday in moving to 1-1 with a two run,four hit effort over seven innings.
Maholm seems to have success against the freer swinging teams like the Reds or Astros (seven all time wins vs Houston).
I think that it is mainly due to those teams allowing Maholm to work the corners instead of having to throw down the middle strikes,which is a hindrance to the lefty with his less than top notch stuff...

2) Delwyn Young is hitting .316,but has shown that his best position might be pinch hitting for a contender.
Young attempted to play third on Saturday and botched the first routine grounder hit his way (which was absurdly ruled a hit) and his misadventures last season continued yesterday with his being pulled off the bag on a force play,which would have never happened had he used his other foot to stay on the base.
Playing Young anywhere,but pinch hitter or an American League DH is a disaster waiting to happen...

3) Jeff Clement has struggled so much with the bat thus far that the Pirates have benched him for a few days after Clement is hitting just .107 .
Clement clearly is having issues,but he needs more than two weeks to give up on him yet.

4) That said,the Pirates best lineup for the time being is with Ryan Church in right field with Garrett Jones moving to first for Clement.
The more value Church gains makes for a better trade deadline prospect for him and Church is killing the ball right now.

5) Daniel McCutchen was dreadful on Saturday.
The box score is not awful as he pitched,allowing three runs in four innings,but the three walks are worrisome along with 35 balls over 75 pitches.
For a supposed strike thrower,walking batters and getting behind in the count as the warning flags up....

6) The season is long,but the bullpen has surprised me so far.
The standout has been Evan Meek,who has allowed just 1 run and six hits over six appearances.
Meek has closer type stuff and could be the Pirates future closer if he continues to mature...

7) Ross Ohlendorf was placed on the DL.Brian Burres will stay as the mop up man and the Pirates will either start Burres or call someone up from Indianapolis for the next game for the Ohlendorf rotation spot...

8) Prospect Quinton Miller left his last start for Low A West Virginia after just an inning with "tendonitis in his right bicep"

9) Whether you agree or not that bullpens need to be adjusted by the year and cannot be counted on by past performance,one thing is for certain-If you are paying big money for a closer on a less than good team,that closer had better be reliable.
I think the Pirates have the right idea for their bullpen for this season,cheap and with arms with something to prove.
That doesn't mean they are the long term answer though.
The Reds are paying Francisco Cordero 12 million this year and his three walk ninth inning that allowed the Pirates pull the victory in the ninth was painful to watch even as a Pirate fan.
I can live with closers getting beat,but not by walks....

Will be back later with a cleaning of the inbox and with time this week,I am hoping for Browns and Seahawks draft previews,this seasons first On the Signing Front and I still have a Indians in the system planned...

Photo Credit
Keith Srakocic/Associated Press