Series: Pirates vs. Phillies, PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA
TV, radio: Root Sports, WPGB-FM (104.7).
Facts/Reaction: Big crowds, good pitching match ups and the Pittsburgh-Philadelphia rivalry make these games mean more than your typical weekend series in June. All that could have made this series against the Phillies really exciting. However, the Pirates decided to completely collapse against the Mets today and in doing so they left a really bad taste in my mouth. That taste can easily be forgotten with a good series against the Phillies this weekend. The Pirates enter the series after earning a split with the Mets in their last series. From my last post and hell the box score, it is obvious that the Pirates could have easily taken 3 of 4 and in turn gained a ton of momentum going into the longest home stand of the season.
Pitching Probables:
Friday, June 3 - Jeff Karstens (3-4, 3.58 ERA) vs. Cole Hamels (7-2, 3.01 ERA) 
Saturday, June 4 - Charlie Morton (5-2, 2.51 ERA) vs. Kyle Kendrick (3-3, 3.18 ERA)
Sunday, June 5 - James McDonald (3-3, 4.85 ERA) vs. Roy Halladay (7-3, 2.56 ERA)
Stats and Matchup: The Pirates begin this 10-game home stand with three games against their cross state rivals, the Philadelphia Phillies. Last season against the Phillies, the Pirates were 4-2 with three of the wins coming during a July 4th weekend at PNC Park. During those games, the Pirates were able to beat both Halladay and Hamels, while taking their only two losses while Kendrick was on the bump. This home stand comes at a crossroads for the Pirates. During the month of June the Pirates will play 3 teams who are leading their divisions (Arizona, Cleveland, Philadelphia), 3 teams from the American League East (Boston, Toronto, Baltimore) and then 2 teams under .500 (Mets, Astros). From all that it is pretty easy to see that the Pirates are going to have to play some good baseball to stay around the .500 level. That could be especially hard as the Pirates face three pitchers this weekend with a combined ERA of 2.92. For the first time this year, hear is a breakdown of each game and matchup.
Game 1: Karstens vs. Hamels
It's a good thing Hamels had struggled in his last 3 starts. Over that time he is 3-0 with 22 K's and a 2.57 ERA. However, he has not done quite so well against the Pirates in his career, going 1-1 with a 3.81 ERA in 26 innings pitched. Karstens on the other hand has pitched relatively well over his past few starts even though he carries a record of 3-4 into Friday's matchup. The big thing to watch is what the Pirates decide to do with their outfield arrangement. We all know that McCutchen will start in center but the question remains, who will flank him in left and right? The easy answer is Tabata in left since he has held that spot all year. However, Xavier Paul went 4 for 5 yesterday with a triple and 3 runs scored. That performance alone might warrant another start from manager Clint Hurdle. In right field, the choice seems to me to be pretty obvious. Garrett Jones doesn't hit lefties well. Matt Diaz on the other hand, has a career batting average over .300 against lefties and is hitting .286 in 39 at bats in his career against Hamels. If I were managing, I would send out the hot hand in Paul (even though Hamels is left handed) and Diaz because frankly it's a must.
Prediction: Phillies win 7-3. Too much pitching, too little hitting by the Bucs.
Game 2: Morton vs. Kendrick
How I wish this game was Charlie Morton vs. Roy Halladay. A matchup of either teams best pitcher. A matchup of guys who if you watch their delivery's are almost exactly the same. Go ahead and youtube, Charlie Morton Roy Halladay and you will see what I am talking about. Even though the "dream" matchup isn't happening, I am still pumped because my good pal Cameron (of High Hopes blog fame) will be in town to take in games on both Saturday and Sunday with me. Cameron is the only sports fan in Philadelphia that I tolerate, let alone respect so an entire weekend with him and baseball is going to be pretty awesome. Sidenote: if there was only a way that no other Philly fan would be in PNC Park on Saturday and Sunday, that would be awesome. Anyways, the game, Kendrick is 4-0 in his career against the Pirates with a 2.61 ERA and 14 K's in 31 innings pitched. That isn't exactly great news for Pirates hitters, but I have a feeling that the Bucs will be able to get to him. Morton on the other hand is 0-2 with a 9.75 ERA against the Phillies, but we know that this is a different Charlie Morton. This is not the guy who had the highest ERA in major league history through 10 starts last year. This is the Charlie Morton who throws like Halladay with a nasty sinker and a lower ERA; maybe it is time for the pupil to become the teacher.
Prediction: In Charlie “Electric Stuff” Morton we trust. Pirates win 4-1.
Game 3: McDonald vs. Halladay
This game is all about Halladay. The guy is dominating. He dominated the American League East and now he lays waste to the National League. It really isn’t fair. No team should have as many “aces” as the Phillies have. Any of their top 4 starters (Halladay, Lee, Hamels, Oswalt) would be and have been No. 1 starters for other teams. Oh well, baseball isn’t fair, give me a salary cap. Anyways, since I will also be at this game I would like to see something cool, so…I am thinking that Halladay throws his second perfect game. I don’t care that it is against the Pirates; only 18 perfect games have been thrown in the modern era. It is one of the rarest things in sports, if not the most rare thing to see in sports. To witness history would be unbelievable. Now I say all of that in hopes of jinxing Halladay and the Phillies and somehow winning Game 3 of the series and in the process crushing the hopes and dreams of every fan from the right side of the state. I don’t think Halladay will throw a perfect game, but I don’t think the Pirates will win either. But hey, there was this game last season when Halladay lost to the Pirates while throwing a complete game and a season high 132 pitches, so anything can happen.
Prediction: Phillies win 2-1 behind Halladay’s dominance, or do they…?
Programming Note: Cameron and I will be attending games both Saturday night and Sunday afternoon, so expect some in-game, live blog updates from the ballpark. Also, at the conclusion of the series each of us will be writing a reaction for the other’s blog so look for a Philadelphia biased reaction on the blog sometime early next week. Lastly, if you will be at the ballpark at anytime this weekend, give me a holla and we can have a beer while taking in the glory of America’s Pastime. Let’s Go Bucs!
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