Raise the jolly roger, the pirates are 7 games over .500, can you believe it...

Jmac is dealing, 7 k's thru 6 innings, now we need some insurance runs...1 isn't going to be enough.

Brandon wood has twice lollipoped a throw to first on a double play and both times the runner was safe, where is a real shortstop when you need one.

Brandon wood has twice lollipoped a throw to first on a double play and both times the runner was safe, where is a real shortstop when you need one.

Way to drive in a run by cutch but he really needs a hit tonight to break out of this horrid slump.

On Location: Pirates vs. Reds

I will be attending tonights game against the Reds with my brother. Hopefully I will have some in game posts on all things PNC Park during tonights contest. James McDonald is the only pirates pitcher to lose to the reds this year and tonight he looks for redemption. I say he gets it. Let's go bucs!

Pirates vs. Reds: 7.18.11

Stats/Matchup: After a successful albeit tumultuous weekend series against the Astros in which the Pirates were able to win 2 of 3 games, the Pirates return home to begin a stretch of games which will prove whether or not the Pirates are truly contenders for the NL Central division crown.  Over the next 13 games the Pirates will play home series against NL Central foes Cincinnati and St. Louis while going on the road to play series' against Atlanta and Philadelphia.  Those 4 teams are a combined 45 games above .500 and so far this season the Pirates are 9-5 in games against them.  Tonight, the Pirates begin a 3 game series at home against the Reds.  So far this season the Pirates are 5-1 against the Reds with all the games being played in Cincinnati.  Taking the hill for the Pirates will be Charlie Morton who is 2-0 with a 0.78 ERA and 2 complete games in 2 starts against Cincy this season, while Dontrelle Willis will throw tonight for the Reds.  Willis is making his 2nd start of the season after going 6 innings while giving up 2 ER in his season debut against the Brewers.  Willis is 2-5 with a 3.74 ERA in his career against the Pirates. 

What to look for: Willis throwing a ton of balls and walking batters, while Charlie gets back on track and throws more than 6 innings in a start since June 4.

Prediction: Buccos get to Willis and send him to the showers early, Pirates win 7-2.

The 2010 Pirates...?

Tonights game reminded me a lot of how the 2010 Pirates would lose ballgames. The Astros took the lead ok the bottom of the 8th on a walk, groundout, stolen base (McHenry not even attempting a throw), Pence being safe at home on another groundball (blown call by the ump), an error by Brandon Wood and then finally the first hit of the inning to put the Astros ahead for good. Veras is just brutal and has been since his last good outing against Boston. The buccos really should be looking at someone to bridge the gap between Resop in the 7th and the hammer in the 9th. A solid arm for the 8th inning would be huge in addition to the obvious addition of a power bat. In other news Walker had a big night and both presley and mccutchen were 0 for 5. Oh well, this one got away and so did a chance to go 6 games over .500 and remain in 1st place. If the Pirates want to stay in contention for the division crown they have to beat bad teams like the Astros, the good thing is that the rubber match of the series is tomorrow and we could really use a bounce back game in which we absolutely tattoo the Astros. Here's hoping that sentiment comes to fruition. Let's go Bucs!

Pirates @ Astros : 7.15.11

I have owed you, all 10 of my faithful readers, a first half recap and up until now I have not delivered and I am sorry to say that I am not going to be able to deliver before the beginning of tonight's game.  I know that technically the recap would mean less if it came after the 2nd half of the season started but you will all just have to get over it.  Now, on to a little preview of tonight's matchup against the Houston Astros.

Jeff Karstens (7-4, 2.55 ERA) vs. Brett Myers (3-9, 4.88 ERA)




The last time the Pirates faced Brett Myers, the touched him for 5 runs on 13 hits in 5.1 innings.  Myers had struggled since then as well, lasting on 4.1 innings against the Marlins in his last start giving up 6 runs on 4 hits and 4 walks while taking the loss.  Karstens last start happened to be against these same Houston Astros and in that start he went 7 innings while surrendering 1 run on 7 hits including 1 solo home run, the 17th he has allowed in 15 starts.

The last time Brett Myers faced the Pirates both Chase d'Arnaud and Alex Presley had huge games and I look for them both to contribute in tonight's contest.  I also think tonight is a good a time as any for Andrew McCutchen to begin his persuit of the NL MVP award (yeah, I said it).  The Pirates play well and continue their season long dominance of the Houston Astros behind another great outing from Jeff Karstens.  Buccos win 5-2.

This Day In Pirate History: July 12, 1997

This Day in Pirate History is a semi-annual piece that will focus on significant events in the history of your Pittsburgh Pirates baseball club.  Today's feature has as much to do with this blog and its title than any other player/event that has taken place in Pittsburgh baseball since 1992.  In the 5 preview years, the middle of July was a tumultuous time for the Pirates.  Most years they were already out of a division race and were relegated to the back pages of the sports section as Steeler's training camp was about to begin.  However, the summer of 1997 was different.  

The "Freak Show" Buccos as Greg Brown dubbed them after a late May comeback against the Expos, were 43-43 at the All-Star break with a team that was predicted to lose 130 games (that is what a 9 million dollar payroll does to a teams season outlook).  These young Buccos (sound familiar?) were coming off back to back losses to begin the 2nd half of the season dropping them 1 GB in the NL Central.  These young Bucs couldn't afford to be swept in their first series after the All-Star break and more importantly, didn't want to be swept by the division leading Houston Astros.  Charged with halting the skid, manager Gene Lamont sent 25 year old Francisco Cordova to the mound in what would prove to be one of the greatest games in Pittsburgh Pirate history.

The size of the crowd at Three Rivers Stadium that night would have made one believe that the Pirates had been a good team for years.  Not the case.  The crowd of 44,119, lured by a Jackie Robinson tribute and fireworks fireworks: see pyrotechnics.

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fireworks

Explosives or combustibles used for display. Of ancient Chinese origin, fireworks evidently developed out of military rockets and explosive missiles and accompanied the spread of military explosives westward to
..... Click the link for more information. show, was the Pirates' first non-Opening Day sellout since June 5, 1977.  They had no idea of the magnitude of what they were about to witness.

Entering the game the Pirates had not only lost back to back games to the Astros, but had also managed to get shut out both times and from the way the game was playing out, it seemed like not scoring a single run in the entire series was a real possibility.  Throughout the first 9 innings of play that Pirates were only able to muster 5 hits, including 2 singles from starter Cordova.  They hadn't come close to scoring but the good thing was, neither had the Astros.  Throughout his 9 innings pitched Fransisco Cordova had allowed only 3 baserunners (2 by walk and 1 by HBP), while surrendering 0 hits and striking out 10.  After his final batter in the top of the 9th inning, Cordova had thrown 121 pitches, 75 for strikes and an amazing 11 for swinging strikes.  He would leave the game to a standing ovation after throwing 9 no hit innings, earning him a no decision.

The Pirates would muster little offense in the bottom of the 9th and Ricardo Rincon would enter the game in relief in the top of the 10th inning.  He would face 4 batters, walking one but would get through the half inning without giving up a hit, setting the stage for a possible combined extra innings no hitter.  In the bottom of the 10th the Astros brought on right-hander John Hudek to face Dale Sveum, Jason Kendall and Jose Guillen.  Sveum would strikeout swinging, while Kendall would walk and Guillen would fly out to centerfield.  With a runner on first and two outs, Turner Ward was brought in to pinch hit for Lou Collier.  Ward, famous for running through the outfield wall at Three River Stadium, would draw a five pitch walk moving a runner into scoring position.  Gene Lamont then brought in pinch hitter Mark Smith to face Hudek.  Smith a utility man who appeared in 71 games for the Pirates in 1997 had never faced Hudek in his career and was not known for his power.  However, on an 0-1 pitch in the bottom of the 10th inning, Smith created the most dramatic moment for the Pirates in the mid-90's when he launched Hudek's fastball into the left field bleachers.  Smith's home run capped the first and only combined extra innings no hitter in the history of baseball.  

Here is the only video I could find of the end of Cordova's no hitter and Mark Smith's pinch hit 3-run home run in the bottom of the 10th. 

What a game.  What a moment.  The Pirates would finish 79-83, 5 GB in the NL Central making the 1997 season the closest the Pirates have come to finishing above .500 in 19 years.  Hopefully, the 2011 Pirates can one up the "Freak Show" Buccos and make another improbable run at .500 and the division title.

Programming Note: Look for a Pre All-Star Break recap coming in the next day or two.