Series Thread: Pirates at Padres

[Darkstone42]

We should have a lot more runs, but we've got a decently comfortable lead, we're making their pitchers work, and Morton looks extra sharp. That curve is really working.

 

[Darkstone42]

Morton's losing it.

 

[Darkstone42]

Got the K to get out of the jam. Good, hard 2-seamer there.

Just wasn't hitting his spots in the fifth, and that's likely it for him. 5 IP 2 ER 9K, but 3 BB, 3 HBP, and a couple hits is too many baserunners.

 

[Darkstone42]

Mercer with three hits so far tonight. He's looked good tonight.

 

[Darkstone42]

Mercer scores on the Walker single.

 

[Darkstone42]

Harrison with another good night at the plate.

And Tabata and Snider each with pinch hit singles. They both seem to be better hitters in the role off the bench.

 

[Darkstone42]

Nice, comfortable lead after a 3-run seventh. Martin smoked the ball with the bases loaded, but it was right at Headley, or else that could have been an even better inning.

Still, this game is a testament to how effective the "just get on base" strategy is. Not an especially impressive performance with RISP, but when you generate that kind of density of baserunners, you're going to score runs.

 

[Darkstone42]

The hitting just keeps going tonight for the Buccos. McCutchen finally gets his first hit of the night, an RBI double to right-center field. Would have been 2 RBI if it hadn't bounced over the wall.

Gaby Sanchez also doubled, giving the Pirates their third successful pinch-hit at bat of the game.

 

[Illinest]

Getting on base is better than not getting on base.

So the team is 3 wins below .500 now. We may want to acquire a starting pitcher at some point before the trade deadline. I'm just assuming that we'll be in the hunt because the schedule is getting friendlier and the roster is due to be improved at some point in the next few weeks.

 

[Etrius24]

The team is three wins below .500 and they did it by taking 3 of 4 on the road against the Dodgers who have stellar pitching. The Bucs have won 4 of their last 5... and the starting pitching has been pretty good. Morton was sharp tonight for 5... Liriano looked really good the other night.

The Pirates will need consistency from both Morton and Liriano if they want to make a serious push.

I agree that the schedule is going to get easier and there will be a couple of call ups in June... But this team was built to rely on the starting pitching and they need it to be very good... Getting Liriano back on track would be HUGE for this team.

 

[Etrius24]

Also when Mercer is on... the guy looks like a hall of famer hitting the baseball... He is a big kid with a nice level swing... I have watched the replay of his homerun tonight maybe 10 times... what a great looking swing he put on that baseball.

I wish he could find some sort of consistency... He showed decent pop at the plate last year for a shortstop... I was hoping he would build on that and be a guy that could hit 15 homeruns and 40 doubles a season...50 walks and hit close to .300.... I know that it is a lot to expect a shortstop putting up those numbers in Pittsburgh.... But Mercer had me thinking it was possible after last season. Right now I would settle for him playing well enough to cement the role of starting shortstop on this team...

 

[element1286]

Nice, comfortable lead after a 3-run seventh. Martin smoked the ball with the bases loaded, but it was right at Headley, or else that could have been an even better inning.

Still, this game is a testament to how effective the "just get on base" strategy is. Not an especially impressive performance with RISP, but when you generate that kind of density of baserunners, you're going to score runs.

Did you just make that up? That's a great phrase.

 

[element1286]

Getting on base is better than not getting on base.

So the team is 3 wins below .500 now. We may want to acquire a starting pitcher at some point before the trade deadline. I'm just assuming that we'll be in the hunt because the schedule is getting friendlier and the roster is due to be improved at some point in the next few weeks.

Thinking if they do so, it will be a guy with multiple years of team control. Saw some Samarjida rumors, and they are looking for a comp pick as part of any deal with him.

 

[sychmd]

Still, this game is a testament to how effective the "just get on base" strategy is. Not an especially impressive performance with RISP, but when you generate that kind of density of baserunners, you're going to score runs.

Did you just make that up? That's a great phrase.

agree, hopefully density doesn't refer to the speed of the runners. it could be beneficial taking out the DP option at second or bowling over the catcher at home.

maybe speed is viscousity of base runners.

 

[element1286]

Still, this game is a testament to how effective the "just get on base" strategy is. Not an especially impressive performance with RISP, but when you generate that kind of density of baserunners, you're going to score runs.



agree, hopefully density doesn't refer to the speed of the runners. it could be beneficial taking out the DP option at second or bowling over the catcher at home.

maybe speed is viscousity of base runners.

Well at home plate F=MA so that would favor some dense players.

 

[Darkstone42]

Did you just make that up? That's a great phrase.

I don't know if I made it up or not, but in chemistry, we talk about the density of states in things like metals and semiconductors, so if I did, it's probably because it seemed like a viable phrase based on my background.

I'm glad you like it, though!

 

[sychmd]

in the brain, we look at structure descriptions and use density and viscosity, conduction velocity, action potential acceleration or propagation, topography etc.
but regarding cognitive, emotional, or relational skills and flow, we use capacity, inertia, density, viscousity a lot as well and they are quite helpful.
one of my favorite technical terms is when a person is really disorganized, usually psychotic or in a floridly manic state and the mind is chaotic or accelerated faster than the cognitive capacity, then the verbalizations are pretty random like = word salad (as their words are like lettuce in a tossed salad.)

 

[Darkstone42]

That called strike three on Snider was brutal.

 

[Darkstone42]

And now Cole throws one more or less down the gut, and it's called a ball. Ugh.

 

[Darkstone42]

Mercer kind of looks like he's found it.