Comments on: First Pitch: Stolen Bases Are a Problem, But Not the Big Problem

By: John Lease

John Lease — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 00:42:00 +0000

Of course it’s the Pirates fault when everyone who comes out of their system can’t bunt, or hold runners, or steal effectively. They can’t ALL be slow, and anyone can learn to shorten their time to the plate, very their rhythm, etc. But the Pirates don’t BELIEVE it matters, or not much, so they don’t teach. They do obsess over fastball command though. They got a bit too much ridicule for that and quit being overly ridiculous about it. Just like you’ll be sure to see next year they’ll start trying to teach guys the slide step. Pirate management always thinks it’s smarter then everyone else, yet the reverse is true. Number of wins don’t lie.

By: Rob

Rob — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 20:28:00 +0000

Probably both!!!!!

By: Smrtbusnisman04

Smrtbusnisman04 — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 19:22:00 +0000

Cole despite being taken #1, is not ready just yet. McPherson has great stuff and I’m excited to see him finally get a start. Why Hurdle was resistant and put him in the bullpen is stupid.

By: Smrtbusnisman04

Smrtbusnisman04 — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 19:20:00 +0000

Preventing stolen bases is a big need to improve for Pirates pitching. I hope Tony Sanchez has a strong arm.
Note: Barmes should go back to being used as a bench player. He doesn’t hit consistently enoughto start and should only be a late inning replacement.
Barajas should not be brought back next season.

By: F Lang

F Lang — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 18:55:00 +0000

Cole gave up 8 or 9 runs his last start at Indy so I don’t know if that is a good idea. I am excited about McPhersons stuff and command and am looking forward to see what he can do. Even Locke has not pitched poorly other than all the HR’s he gave up. 15K’s and 2 BB in just under 20ip is a nice ratio. 5 HR is terrible though.

By: F Lang

F Lang — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 18:51:00 +0000

I get five vote downs. Was that for mentioning Obama or Barmes?

By: F Lang

F Lang — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 18:49:00 +0000

I know. We can’t even make a run at .500 for the first time in 20 years the right way.

By: F Lang

F Lang — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 18:46:00 +0000

Over the course of the season we are -10 in run differential which shows we are close to dead average team if you look at it on the most basic level. If you break it down to just one game we are getting outscored by 6/100 of a run. That is as average as you get. Some teams like Baltimore who is -12 is winning way beyond their ability and the Cardinals are underachieving. Some teams don’t have a good 5th starter and get shelled a lot but play good otherwise and some teams win 11-5 once or twice a week and then battle it out the rest of the games. But the Pirates neither score a lot or give up a lot and everyone in their rotation and lineup (other than Cutch) are not spectacular…so we have to scratch, claw, and most importantly execute to win. i think we are seeing what happens when the pitching and hitting slumps a little, a few injuries occur, and we don’t execute…we fall apart. The most worrisome thing to me is it happened two years in a row. We need to figure out is it our players, our trainers, our coaches, our instructors, our depth, or just all of it combined.

By: William Pearce

William Pearce — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 18:01:00 +0000

20 YEARS…WHO CARES ANYMORE???

By: heyheywhattyasay

heyheywhattyasay — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 17:04:00 +0000

Bundy is up with Baltimore. Any chance Cole comes up? Wouldn’t he be better than getting a bullpen arm from Boston?