Pirates/MLB
Pittsburgh Pirates
Photo: David HaguePirates – Cubs Pre Game Buzz
With runs going to be at a premium against Jake Arrieta, yesterday we pondered whether Clint Hurdle goes against the grain and goes in the direction of starting a defensive lineup.
Moments ago we got our answer.
Hurdle will put the mistake prone Pedro Alvarez on the bench and start Sean Rodriguez at first base.
What the Pirates lineup indicates is we’re not going to score much and we’re not going to be eliminated by our first baseman unable to make a routine play.
“We wanted to put our best defensive team behind him [Gerrit Cole],” Clint Hurdle said moments ago. “Find a way to scratch out one more run than the other team.”
The Pirates have never trusted Alvarez and the answer officially came out today in Hurdle sitting the Pirates’ home run leader in a win or go home situation.
Is it classic overthinking?
The logic is understandable as through the first five innings Alvarez might have only got one at-bat if Arrieta rolls through the lineup.
Picking defense over offense is understandable in a win or go home situation but the disappointing part is Michael Morse a proven playoff hitter in the past is not that much of an upgrade over Alvarez defensively for the Pirates to start him as an alternative, though, Bruce Bochy trusted him last year.
What has happened with Aramis Ramirez as a first base option?
He started seeing little action at first base in recent weeks as speculation is he might be dealing with a groin injury.
The lineup decision at first base has now become the biggest story of the day but the Pirates chances tonight come down to Gerrit Cole.
Cole has to come out and strike some fear into the Cubs immediately. The best way to getting to Arrieta tonight and maybe the only way is Cole putting pressure on Arrieta by somehow getting in his head that he needs to match Cole inning by inning. To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
Voting! You would consider that relevant.
CBauer if I could vote you up a 1000 times I would.
Parade cancelled bring chairs in till we hold the superbowl parade.
Bucotber a fast month
Finished exactly how I thought it would.
Should have started Snider and Morse
Should have started David Price.
Sean Rodriguez is interesting….
Cole pulled his best MAF
Now we can stop talking about the pirates. Blows me away people follow this team.
Another stellar season wasted by the one game wildcard against arguably the best pitcher in the game.
Well win games in April and May and then you might win a division.
They had the 2nd best record in baseball!! The 2nd best in the whole league and they play in a one and done. Come on now
If this happened 20 years ago and they lost the division, they wouldn’t have even made a play in game. Back when a pennant was a pennant.
Need to start swinging at first pitch
I got Anxiarrhea!
Not good start
I still think Cole should run one up on Arrieta.
Honestly – I’m shocked this doesn’t happen more often. Here’s what you do – you start AJ. Come the third inning, you have Cole warming up in the bullpen – AJ throws at Arrieta’s head – gets tossed – Jake is out of the game – and you upgrade at pitcher. Ta-daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! See you in the playoffs.
If Cole could pull a Doc Ellis and throw at the first five batters without being ejected, I’d be all for it.
Stop typing.
Well, don’t do it and miss the playoffs again – see what I care.
I bet it’s 3-0 cubs by the 4th inning and they finish the game with 3 hits – 1 off of the bullpen.
I actually predicted 4-0. I wish i could screen shot my text message when i found out that loser rodriguez was playing.
I sure wasn’t off by much.
Here’s my prediction for tonight, Pirates win and S-Rod is the hero allowing Pirates fans to justify a what is a horrible decision win or lose.
Bold?! I think you spelled “dumb” wrong.
Needed a good laugh today. Thanks, Clint!
Play I’m games are stupid. You should either have one wild card team or find a way to have a whole series. Having one wild card team makes sense since it ensures the second best record in baseball will make the playoffs. But any given baseball game is a coin flip when you have two solid teams against each other and in this case worse than a coin flip since the cubs have the hottest pitcher baseball has seen in years. That being said cole is more than capable of throwing shutout ball and putting this on the bullpen. We… Read more »
Not happening tonight. Looked good when you typed it huh?