Comments on: Pirates make seven errors in ridiculous loss to Cubs

By: danaking

danaking — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 18:33:56 +0000

They did about what they could at the deadline this year, and much better than they did the year before. Wandy Rodriguez is a solid starter, and Travis Snider is a young player with considerable upside. (Last year they brought in Ryan Ludwick–who was a zero in Pittsburgh, and old to boot–and Derrick Lee, who played well but is no one you’re going to build around at his age.) The key was not to give up any of what’s in the pipeline, especially the youing arms like Cole, Taillon, and, to a lesser degree, Locke and Vandenhurk. Alvrez appears to be figuring some things out. With his power, if he can hit .260 and pull a .330 OBP (both about average), he can slug .500 and be a force. Marte looks like the real deal, McCutchen IS the real deal, and Garret Jones is a valuable platoon player.

The problem this year is they had one of the best records in either league during June and July, and they’re not that good. (I never thought they were even then, but it sure was fun to watch.) They regressed to the norm, but, being in a pennant race, started to press, which may have regressed them past the norm.

They lost 105 games two years ago. It’s safe to say their progress in no worse than on schedule.

By: derklempner

derklempner — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 17:12:06 +0000

In all fairness to McCutchen (and I’m a Cubs fan), he did have two mammoth swings that could have gone for extra-base hits (and were almost home runs) if it weren’t for two fine defensive plays by Soriano and Jackson.

McCutchen is still young, and he’s an up-and-coming star in the NL. Give him another season or two and you just might see one of the best center fielders in the game at that point. He’s a five-tool player who is on the brink of becoming the first true superstar on the Pirates’ roster since Barry Bonds played in Pittsburgh.

By: hushbrother

hushbrother — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 16:36:10 +0000

McCutchen is still playing well, but his power stroke has disappeared for well over a month. When he was hitting the snot out of the ball in June and July it changed the whole complexion of the Pirates; there’s no question that the team was feeding off of him, playing loose and with confidence. Whether its because he’s banged up or just not getting many good pitches to drive (sound strategy for opposing pitchers, given the rest of the lineup) Cutch just hasn’t been that monster slugger of late, and not coincidentally the Bucs have played very poorly.

By: willclarkgameface

willclarkgameface — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 15:12:34 +0000

You’re right. I grew up rooting for the Red Sox so 1.5 games back always looks like 20 to me.

By: florida76

florida76 — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 15:00:12 +0000

Pirates are on the right track, despite this one loss. The 2010 club won only 57 games, so let’s keep that in mind. Four of the seven errors last night were made by rookies, those things will happen. Unless I missed something, this loss didn’t count for more than one game.

And here’s the most important fact of all. The Bucs are still only 1.5 games out of that final playoff spot, not 10.5. With 25 games left, anything is possible.

By: willclarkgameface

willclarkgameface — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 14:50:49 +0000

I want to say that I can’t believe this, but there’s 20 years of history before today that says I need to.

I have been rooting for this team to do SOMETHING since 2010 when I went to Pittsburgh for the first time. I fell in love with the ballpark and the city. Something about it just felt very “home” to me. I may have chosen the wrong team to quietly root for.

It’s embarrassing, Pirates. Get your act together and while the playoffs may be well out of grasp this year, you could at least turn in a silly 81-81 record, right?

RIGHT?!?!?!?!?!

By: natstowngreg

natstowngreg — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 14:46:35 +0000

That may be the most meaningless comment possible. But it may also be the truest comment possible. Proven by more than a century of experience. Thursday, the Cubs were an embarrassment to Major League Baseball. Friday, the are blowout winners.

By: buddaley

buddaley — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 12:48:45 +0000

I disagree with 2 statements/assumptions you make.

First, the Pirates have done quite a bit to try to improve this year’s team. Wandy was a significant effort to upgrade the starting staff. They also tried to improve the offense by promoting Marte and Tabata and dealing for Gabby Sanchez and Travis Snider. The fact that these players have not performed particularly well does not mean they were not sensible moves to keep the team in contention.

Your assumption that the Pirates have the makings of a real good team is, in my view, also wrong. Offensively, there is one major star in McCutchen and another very good player in Walker. After that, the rest of the offense is either erratic (Alvarez), limited (Jones) or mediocre to poor.

The pitching is also suspect. Burnett is talented and having a good year, but is unlikely to be part of the next good team. McDonald seemed to have broken out, but may be slipping back while the rest of the staff is generally not very good and older. It would be foolish for the Pirates to deal their top talent, such as Cole or Taillon, to make a run this year. But to add significant talent this year, that is what they likely would have to do.

By: xmatt0926x

xmatt0926x — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 08:46:52 +0000

The bottom line is that the Pirates were contenders at the break and didn’t do anything to really go for it. If you’re looking to break a two decade streak of losing and you obviously have the makings of a real good team, how do you not do more to make a run at the playoffs? You don’t need to mortgage the farm. Just make a real addition that could help. Wandy Rodriguez was not an impact addition. I’m rooting for them but I don’t feel bad for their looming failure.

By: seeinred87

seeinred87 — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 07:06:35 +0000

Lucky for you, the page url has the original title:

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/09/07/pirates-make-seven-errors-in-ridiculous-to-cubs/

By: chrisdtx

chrisdtx — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 05:20:15 +0000

Rod Bahajas…perfect.

By: hittfamily

hittfamily — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 04:35:51 +0000

Come on Bucs, keep up the good work. You won’t make the playoffs, so you may as well keep that impressive 20 year losing streak alive.

By: crisisjunky

crisisjunky — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 03:49:48 +0000

just change the 2nd u to an s, and you have ‘ rediculoss’, and a perfectly acceptable sentence.

By: sjtorpitt

sjtorpitt — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 03:43:21 +0000

So sad to see such a great start to the year end like this..

By: royce!

royce! — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 03:38:04 +0000

I hate even more to be the second guy to point out an error…not a good night for me, apparently

By: royce!

royce! — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 03:37:03 +0000

Hate to be that guy (and also to be that guy who starts his comment “Hate to be that guy”), but I think you accidentally omitted a word in the title.

By: footballfan01

footballfan01 — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 03:34:26 +0000

I think you’re missing a noun in the title. I also think you’ll soon edit the title to make my post obsolete.

By: chill1184

chill1184 — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 03:29:30 +0000

Thats baseball for you.