Series Thread: Pirates at Marlins

[Darkstone42]

The Pirates have a 3-2 lead after 4 innings, Marte and Stanton with homers in this one.

Locke's pitching pretty decently overall, I think, despite the runs allowed.

 

[Darkstone42]

Ike Davis doubles home Polanco and Marte! 5-2 Bucs!

 

[Darkstone42]

Nice to knock a starter out early instead of waiting to jump on the bullpen.

 

[Darkstone42]

Excellent start for Locke. He might even come out for the 8th, but he's gone 7, given up 2, and struck out 7.

 

[Darkstone42]

That's 8 innings for Locke. No walks. His control has been very good since his call-up.

 

[Illinest]

That just happened.

This outfield could be amazing. They're all centerfielders too.

 

[Darkstone42]

Well, I think Polanco's comfortable in the Majors now, or at least getting there.

 

[sychmd]

oh baby,
he has such a sweet stroke on low strike zone pitches.
on pirates prospects, they occas have a video of polanco highlights and it seems that all his HR came on low pitches. then again last nite.
several of his outs have been line drives, but he has at least 4 of his hits to LF already.
interesting no BB yet. maybe he makes such good contact he doesn't get to 4 balls.
haven't really seen any AB, just highlights.

what are the observations of those who have seen some of the games on TV?

 

[Darkstone42]

oh baby,
he has such a sweet stroke on low strike zone pitches.
on pirates prospects, they occas have a video of polanco highlights and it seems that all his HR came on low pitches. then again last nite.
several of his outs have been line drives, but he has at least 4 of his hits to LF already.
interesting no BB yet. maybe he makes such good contact he doesn't get to 4 balls.
haven't really seen any AB, just highlights.

what are the observations of those who have seen some of the games on TV?

He's still adjusting to Major League pitchers, but he controls the strike zone pretty well, and he doesn't swing and miss very often. I think he's not drawn any walks yet simply because he's been seeing strikes, and they've been in places he can handle them, so he puts them in play. And, as you already mentioned, he hits a lot of line drives.

 

[Illinest]

His second strikeout last night was actually a walk. The ball was low. It looked like a bad call on tv and then pitch fx confirmed. Ball 4 in actuality. Strike 3 in umpire's head.

He's not going to get any borderline calls unless he earns some respect first. Then the walks will start to come.

 

[Darkstone42]

I thought for sure Cutch had the two-run dinger there, but this is a big ballpark.

 

[Darkstone42]

Mercer got just enough of that one!

1-0 Bucs!

 

[Darkstone42]

Opposite field single for Pedro, and that was a nice piece of hitting on the outside 2-strike curveball left a little up.

 

[Darkstone42]

Morton "bunted for a hit" with no one covering first or third.

And Polanco grounded the run in. 2-0 Bucs.

 

[Darkstone42]

Whatever Ray Searage said to Morton was awfully effective.

 

[Darkstone42]

Cutch with a three-run shot on that hanging curve. 5-0 Bucs!

 

[Darkstone42]

Morton's splitter is nasty when he locates it.

So is his curve.

 

[Darkstone42]

Stewart is usually pretty good at receiving, but he's cost Morton a couple strike calls this inning by diving his glove out of the zone.

And that Ozuna triple wasn't hit especially well, but it was in just the perfect spot, right inside the bag. But such is the risk you run as a pitch-to-contact type, and it's cost him two runs this inning.

 

[Darkstone42]

Mercer doubles home Mercer, and we've answered one of the Marlins' two from the fourth.

 

[Darkstone42]

Morton bunts home the second answer, and gets Stewart into scoring position for Polanco.

He's bunted successfully thrice now.