Friday, April 8, 2011

Not in THIS Mr.Rogers neighborhood

The Pittsburgh Pirates home opener started with high hopes and fizzled with the inability to do anything with Colorado starter Esmil Rogers in a 7-1 loss to the Rockies.
Only Andrew McCutchen's RBI grounder in the first inning avoided a shutout.
Paul Maholm picked up the loss (0-1) allowing five runs (three earned) in just under six innings on the hill.
The series continues on Friday

Pitching Matchup
Colorado:Jorge De La Rosa (0-0 0.00 ERA) at Pittsburgh:Ross Ohlendorf (0-0 6.00 ERA) 7:05

Pirate Hooks

1) The Pirates had zero response for Esmil Rogers,who held them to four singles in his time on the mound.
Rogers was impressive with seven K's and just one walk,the control allowed him to keep the Bucco batters off balance all game long...

2) Give thanks to Garrett Olson and Mike Crotta for their games today or 7-1 would been far worse.

3) The pre-game ceremony honoring the late Chuck Tanner was very well done and the Pirates putting a Tanner inspired logo on the right field wall was a nice touch.
I suppose for such an occasion that the team was able to keep Greg Brown somewhat muted in his words and Brown was not nearly as annoying as on his usual day..

4) More Greg Brown-What is his deal with creating bad nicknames?
As if Garrett "G.I." Jones wasnt enough,he was toying with "T-Bat" during today's game with Jose Tabata.
Middle aged guys trying to be hip never comes across well....

5) Neil Walker's throwing error in the first inning that turned a double play into what turned out to be two runs was a shot that Pittsburgh never recovered from.
As I wrote yesterday about Walker being a great fit with the bat at second as long as he can be average with the glove.
Walker's glove is still a work in progress when you consider he has been playing there for just over a year.

6) Paul Maholm wasn't helped by the error,but he was not at his best either.
 Troy Tulowitzki's homer was a rocket type liner that left the field in a hurry.

Photos by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images

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