Results tagged ‘ Jason Grili ’
Pittsburgh Pirates Bold Second Half Predictions
You may be seeing this scene again…
It’s time to look into the crystal ball one more time and see what’s in store for the Bucs as the second half of the MLB season rolls around. I think it’s safe to say that the Pirates’ fans around the world are pretty happy that the team is currently in first place and in the best position since 1992. Furthermore, this team has last year to learn from when it comes to collapses. But what will happen next? Well here are the official 1992 And Counting predictions for the Bucs second half.
The Pirates finish above .500.
Seeing that this end result would end a losing streak that no one in North America has even rivaled is bold in nature but looking at the team that has to be the floor of expectations at this point. The team has an 11 game cushion to work with and one of the easiest second half schedules in the league, padded with games against the Astros and Cubs who continue to look like AAA teams. Ironic that this blog’s name will be irrelevant in it’s first year but hey, no one’s complaining about the end result.
The Pirates grab a bat at the deadline.
Tim Kurkjian reported that his sources confirm this suspicion, specifically at first base or outfield so El Toro and Garrett Jones can remain in the lineup. This move would greatly help the Bucs seeing that Gorkys Hernandez is still starting for the Bucs and Josh Harrison looks like a better shortstop that Clint Barmes in many instances. The name that has been floating around is Carlos Quintin, although a bidding war of sorts should occur now that Edwin Encarnacion has signed long term with the Blue Jays. Another option is Justin Upton, but the Pirates would have to bet a good chunk of the farm to get him. Quintin is the better option, but expect Cincinnati to be very involved as well.
Not Getting Pitching hurts the Bucs.
Even though a bat is the primary concern as of now, pitching is where the Pirates should be looking for help. The unwillingness to pull Correia from the lineup coupled with Bedard’s struggles will take a huge toll on the Pirates and they will be forced to rely on Brad Lincoln and Rudy Owens/Jeff Locke (who ever is left after the deadline). Neither veteran is known for an entire season of healthy, effective work and I see both starters needing to be sat down in late August with injuries. If they AAA guys come up, I don’t expect much more than what the Pirates have gotten of late from Correia (5/6 innings, 4 > ER minimal strikeouts) and thus the struggles down the stretch begin. Unless…
Gerrit Cole gets the call.
When the rosters expand, I wouldn’t bet money that Cole is called up to Pittsburgh. However, there is still a good chance he starts dominating AA like we’ve seen in a few starts. Correia and Bedard go down. Pirates traded one half of Owens/Locke and the other gets hurt. The Bucs are in desperate need of a starter. If all of that happens (which it very likely can) then Cole needs to get the call up. He has the maturity and college experience to handle the AA MLB jump and even if he just starts 2-3 games to buy time for someone else, he can produce and keep the Bucs in contention. He’ll get sent back to the minors but be ready for a legitimate 2013 push.
Pirates Eek Out Win With No Starter, McCutchen Stays Hot
When the Bucs replaced Karstens after just one inning, the panic button went on. The Bucs bullpen has been less than stellar this year and now they would have to pitch for at least 8 innings if they wanted to try to pull out a win. The good news for the pen? The Pirates offense finally woke up, thanks in large part to Garret Jones and Andrew McCutchen.
Jones was a triple away from the cycle and knocked in three runs off of a solo shot and double both times helping the Bucs stay in the game. Defensively, the Bucs were sound and Jared Hughes set the tone for the Pirates makeshift pitching performance.
Hughes went two and 2/3 with one run allowed. He was followed up by Tony Watson who completed Hughes’ innings and went another two before Evan Meek pitched a scoreless inning. Jason Grili gave up the game tying run off of a homer in eighth, putting the pressure on the Bucs’ offense in the ninth.
The Pirates pulled off another two out nine inning rally with Andrew McCutchen playing the role of hero again. McCutchen battled at the plate and managed to hit a slider low and away off the end of his bat for a bloop single that scored Alex Presley.
With the score now 5-4 Pirates, Clint Hurdle sent Juan Cruz out to finish off the D-Backs instead of Joel Hannerhan. It turns out he has tightness in his hamstring and will try to be rested until Friday’s home game versus St. Louis. The good news is that Hurdle picked the right guy has Cruz set Arizona down in order to close out the game and earn his first official save since 2009.
In my mind, this was a huge win for the Pirates as they were pegged to lose this one. Going up against Ian Kennedy and losing Karstens (we won’t know for how long until he’s back in Pittsburgh) was a recipe for disaster. Furthermore, many were critical of how Hurdle managed the seventh inning but in the end the Pirates come away with a win and a chance to win their first series on the road.
James McDonald will take the mound for Pittsburgh in a game that should be interesting. Daniel Hudson has been bad this season leaving the door open for the Pirates to grab another win. If the Pirates do win, they would be 5-7 after playing the Phillies, Dodgers, Giants and D-Backs. Not too shabby after all.
Pirates Feelin’ Dodger Blue, Swept Out of LA 3-2
The Pirates had the golden chance in the sixth inning again. Chris Capuano had been put on the ropes and pulled and the Bucs had just loaded the bases after scratching across a run to cut the Dodger lead to just one. Matt Hague stepped up to the plate, ready to be the Pirates’ hero again.
Only this time, like so many other times this season, Hague’s zinger into the outfield was snagged by Matt Kemp and the Pirates never threatened again, fading away to the Dodgers 3-2. Jeff Karstens got rocked early on by the top of the Dodgers order, allow three runs to come across with sacrifices and hits.
Karstens did settle down from there, however he only made it 5 innings and 71 pitches. He did walk Capuano before he was pulled for a pinch hitter, summing up how he struggled with command all night. The bright spot for the Bucs (aside from Andrew McCutchen, get used to that line) was the bullpen. They kept the game close for the final three innings and unlike last night, never let the Dodgers come close to putting up more runs.
Chris Resop was once again solid and is identifying himself has the rock in the bullpen when the Bucs are down or need glue before the eighth inning. Jason Grili continues to impress and has great substance that is forcing strikeouts. Both could be used a lot more over this road trip if the bats don’t wake up.
27 strikeouts and three losses later, the Bucs head out to San Fran deflated. They have one of the best pitching staffs of any 2-4 team in MLB history (based on numbers) but their hitting is ensuring West Coast woes continue. San Fran offers a different challenge for the Bucs and last year, the Pirates took 2 of 3 while out by the Bay.
I think it’s safe to say that Giants won’t be a push over and the pitching matchups don’t get any easier (Cain, Zito, Vogelsong) but this was a great wakeup call after eaking out two wins against Philly. Don’t get too high, don’t get too low. The Bucs take two of three in the next two series and things will be righted. Another flat performance and then it’s time to worry that April may get away from the young Pirates.
Pirates 1 Runned in LA, Lose Close to Dodgers
I can’t say that I watched much of this game, but what I saw was that the Pirates caved just a tad too late. The Bucs sent Jason Grili to the mound and looked good using his breaking ball to get two hitters to chase strikes. Andre Ethier definitely chased the pitched down and away, but golfed the ball all the way out of the park.
It was a good pitch thrown by Grili, but an even better swing by Etheir. Then in the 9th, Andrew McCutchen grounded into a double play to end the game, capping off another rough outing for the Bucco Bats. So far, the Pirates have pitched against some of the best in the league, but when guys like Correia and Bedard show such strong outings, it hurts to “waste” these outings.
Plate discipline could help the Bucs as Halladay and Kershaw both lasted late into the games but that’s what they are paid to do. They are the best in the league and the Pirates were able to defeated Cliff Lee (so 1-2 against those caliber guys isn’t too bad.)
Tonight at 10:10 EST Pittsburgh gets Chad Billingsley which should off the Bucs’ bats a chance to open up. If Erik Bedard has another strong outing, the Pirates NEED to capitalize to snag at least one in LA.
Let’s Go Bucs!
This seems very appropriate, can’t believe I forgot it for the Dodgers preview.
