Back to normal

The usual outings returned for the Pirates last night as they were shut out by the Florida Marlins 6-0.Zach Duke was the loser (5-12) despite allowing just three hits through the first four innings.
Florida ripped the game open with a four run fifth inning.
Things do not get much better tonight with the Marlins sending their ace to the mound in Josh Johnson (10-5) vs Ross Ohlendorf (1-9)

Pirate Hooks

1) I discussed Andrew McCutchen's sudden defensive lapses and last night,it happened again as he looked to make a spectacular catch to bail the Pirates out of a sixth inning jam.
Instead the ground jarred the ball loose,the Marlins scored a run and a visibly upset Zach Duke was forced from the game...

2) Play of the game goes to the Pittsburgh sixth,when the Bucs loaded the sacks against Ricky Nolasco with two down.
With a chance to make things a game again,Neil Walker fanned and that was pretty much the game....

3) Ryan Doumit,as noted last week,seems to have real problems moving in on fly balls.
This tends to be a problem when you are an outfielder.
Doumit might have flinched slightly on a Wes Helms pop that dropped in for a single.
If that ball is caught,McCutchen's near miss doesn't happen because the Pirates are in the dugout.

4) Zach Duke will always be a pitch to contact hurler.
That is what he is,attempting to change that would be like a tiger trying to change his stripes.
On this team,that is bad news with such inconsistent fielding.
Duke would be of a far more use on a better team than he will be in trying to help the Pirates out of the morass...

5) To this day,I still blame Jim Colborn for ruining Duke to an extent.
Duke has never resembled the same player that rocketed through the minors and had such a sterling rookie year since Colborn "fixed" his mechanics.
Sometimes,one needs to leave well enough alone.
Colborn has not worked as a pitching coach since....

Photo Credit:Matt Freed-Pittsburgh Post-Gazette