18 Jul 12
Originally posted by no1marauderReasons why the the Pirates MAY surprise in the NL Central in 2012:
The Pirates have certainly played well and have some excellent young players; Andrew McCutchen is developing into one of the best all around players in baseball. But they are still the Pirates and I'll believe they'll be in a September pennant race when I see it. In 2011, they were tied for first place in the NL Central as late as July 25th and then went ...[text shortened]... aks the 20 year below .500 drought, but I don't think they'll be in the race in September.
Second year under Clint Hurdle. IMHO one of the better motivators in baseball today...witness the 2007 Rockies.
Andrew McCutchen, always one of the best defensive CF in baseball, he is now emerging as one of the best hitters. For those of you who don't follow the Pirates, in Spring Training, hitting coach Gregg Ritchie tweaked McCutchen's approach at the plate. It took until late May to see results but since then he has been awesome.
Neil Walker's emergence as a decent hitter (currently riding a 17 game hitting streak) and a very good defensive seconder sacker ( he never played second till 3 years ago) under the tutelage of the greatest defensive second sacker ever...Maz
The emergence of James MacDonald as a quality starter and the reemergence of AJ Burnett (yes that AJ)
Closer Joel Hanrahan.
Does the team have holes? Yes, but I think and hope the front office will work to fill those holes during this trading period. Would love to see a corner outfield bat and another starter come to the "Burgh. I won't get into all the rumors flying around. If the front office does nothing there may be riots in the streets
19 Jul 12
Posted today in the Pgh Post Gazette:
Consider these day-game numbers for Alvarez:
* He is first in home runs with 12, three more than Joey Votto, although Votto has 20 more at bats (109-89)
* He is first in slugging, .764 to Votto‘s .706.
* He is tied for first, with Votto, with 29 RBIs.
* He is second in OPS at 1.133, behind Votto’s 1.189.
* He is first in home runs per at bat with the Bondsian ratio of one ever 7.4. Votto is second at 12.1.
In daylight, even Andrew McCutchen pales next to Alvarez. McCutchen, who leads the league in slugging and OPS in all games, trails Alvarez by 171 points in slugging and 179 points in OPS in day games.
Yet Alvarez is batting .223 overall.
As Mark Twain once said, ..
Oh wait! No1Maruader doesn't like that Twain quote about statistics! Almost forgot.
19 Jul 12
Originally posted by DanTriolaI debated putting Alvarez on my list. He is a beast WHEN he makes contact, unfortunately he is still too much feast or famine. I want to see his average somewhere between .250-.275 and him hitting comfortably in the clean up spot.
Posted today in the Pgh Post Gazette:
Consider these day-game numbers for Alvarez:
* He is first in home runs with 12, three more than Joey Votto, although Votto has 20 more at bats (109-89)
* He is first in slugging, .764 to Votto‘s .706.
* He is tied for first, with Votto, with 29 RBIs.
* He is second in OPS at 1.133, behind Votto’s 1.189.
* He is ...[text shortened]... e said, ..
Oh wait! No1Maruader doesn't like that Twain quote about statistics! Almost forgot.
Anyway, after yesterday's action, Reds and Pirates are tied for first again, with the Cards 4.5 back and the Brewers 7 back. Still a wide open division with only the Cubs and Astros PROBABLY out of it.
19 Jul 12
Originally posted by DanTriolaThat's extreme cherry picking. Last I checked, most games get played at night.
Posted today in the Pgh Post Gazette:
Consider these day-game numbers for Alvarez:
* He is first in home runs with 12, three more than Joey Votto, although Votto has 20 more at bats (109-89)
* He is first in slugging, .764 to Votto‘s .706.
* He is tied for first, with Votto, with 29 RBIs.
* He is second in OPS at 1.133, behind Votto’s 1.189.
* He is ...[text shortened]... e said, ..
Oh wait! No1Maruader doesn't like that Twain quote about statistics! Almost forgot.
19 Jul 12
Originally posted by ChaswrayReds rally from 6-0 down in the sixth to beat the D-Backs 7-6. BP: 5 RBIs. Aroldis Chapman: The Man.
I debated putting Alvarez on my list. He is a beast WHEN he makes contact, unfortunately he is still too much feast or famine. I want to see his average somewhere between .250-.275 and him hitting comfortably in the clean up spot.
Anyway, after yesterday's action, Reds and Pirates are tied for first again, with the Cards 4.5 back and the Brewers 7 back. Still a wide open division with only the Cubs and Astros PROBABLY out of it.
19 Jul 12
Originally posted by no1marauderNice comeback win for them today. Who and where do they play next? Pirates have 6 games at home, 3 against the Fish, then 3 against the Cubbies and the Pirates have the best home record in all of baseball!!
Reds rally from 6-0 down in the sixth to beat the D-Backs 7-6. BP: 5 RBIs. Aroldis Chapman: The Man.
19 Jul 12
Originally posted by ChaswrayFinish our home stand against the Brew Crew this weekend and then off to Houston.
Nice comeback win for them today. Who and where do they play next? Pirates have 6 games at home, 3 against the Fish, then 3 against the Cubbies and the Pirates have the best home record in all of baseball!!
20 Jul 12
1 edit
Originally posted by ChaswrayChas, (Can I call you Chas? Or should I call you Ray?)
Nice comeback win for them today. Who and where do they play next? Pirates have 6 games at home, 3 against the Fish, then 3 against the Cubbies and the Pirates have the best home record in all of baseball!!
Looked at your profile today and see you are in N central Pa.
I'm in NW Pa. You must be on Rt 6. If you are in Sayre, you are in the same town as Alex Dunne, the head of USCF CC play! But being a Bucs fan, you are more likely in Bradford, where winter visits 9 months out of the year!
I've been following the Pirates since Mazeroski got that hit in the 9th.
Good to see a W Pa player here on RHP.
Bill
20 Jul 12
Originally posted by DanTriolaI've always liked the Bucks, through mediocre play.. but if the Fish can score more than 4 runs, watch out this weekend!
Chas, (Can I call you Chas? Or should I call you Ray?)
Looked at your profile today and see you are in N central Pa.
I'm in NW Pa. You must be on Rt 6. If you are in Sayre, you are in the same town as Alex Dunne, the head of USCF CC play! But being a Bucs fan, you are more likely in Bradford, where winter visits 9 months out of the year!
I've been fol ...[text shortened]... rates since Mazeroski got that hit in the 9th.
Good to see a W Pa player here on RHP.
Bill
Nolasco, Big Z or JJ hopefully can put a damper on things!
Ex-Marlin AJ has been doing well 🙁
20 Jul 12
Originally posted by DanTriolaHi Bill,
Chas, (Can I call you Chas? Or should I call you Ray?)
Looked at your profile today and see you are in N central Pa.
I'm in NW Pa. You must be on Rt 6. If you are in Sayre, you are in the same town as Alex Dunne, the head of USCF CC play! But being a Bucs fan, you are more likely in Bradford, where winter visits 9 months out of the year!
I've been fol ...[text shortened]... rates since Mazeroski got that hit in the 9th.
Good to see a W Pa player here on RHP.
Bill
Chas is fine, the other name is actually Wray not Ray, but that's a whole other story not related to baseball🙂 I live in DuBois off I80, roughly 60 miles west of State College and probably the same amount south of Bradford.
I too have been following the Bucs since then, I remember being in the seventh grade and listening to that game on the school PA system!! Right now, I think the streak that Cutch is on offensively could be the greatest, by a Pirate, that I've ever witnessed. You must remember the Gunner as well? What a character!
Nice to meet you.
Charlie
20 Jul 12
Originally posted by SmookiePAJ has become a mentor for our younger pitchers especially MacDonald. After a recent start, in the post game press conference, AJ said that playing in Pittsburgh has made baseball fun again. He's also reunited with Rod Barajas his catcher from his Toronto days and they have become the pranksters on the team...keeping things loose.
I've always liked the Bucks, through mediocre play.. but if the Fish can score more than 4 runs, watch out this weekend!
Nolasco, Big Z or JJ hopefully can put a damper on things!
Ex-Marlin AJ has been doing well 🙁
Oh, and it's Bucs, as in buccaneer, not Bucks as in Milwaukee🙂 Have a great day! And good luck this weekend.
20 Jul 12
Originally posted by ChaswrayCount me in as a life-long Pirate fan, also a 7th grader when Maz hit it. Born there, moved away, but visits to the grands in Johnstown got me hooked on KDKA. I used to tune them in from whatever state we lived in; after about 2 minutes of crowd noise background, I'd hear .............."Ball Two"................
Hi Bill,
Chas is fine, the other name is actually Wray not Ray, but that's a whole other story not related to baseball🙂 I live in DuBois off I80, roughly 60 miles west of State College and probably the same amount south of Bradford.
I too have been following the Bucs since then, I remember being in the seventh grade and listening to that game on the ...[text shortened]... witnessed. You must remember the Gunner as well? What a character!
Nice to meet you.
Charlie
20 Jul 12
Originally posted by John OsmarJohn,
Count me in as a life-long Pirate fan, also a 7th grader when Maz hit it. Born there, moved away, but visits to the grands in Johnstown got me hooked on KDKA. I used to tune them in from whatever state we lived in; after about 2 minutes of crowd noise background, I'd hear .............."Ball Two"................
Same grade I was in at the time!
Was in handwriting class when it happened. The room went nuts, and I, as a non-sports kid, got hooked.