Extra Innings are Not for the Faint of Heart (or the Sober)
On Opening Night in Atlanta, the Bucs were staked to a 9-4 lead in the 9th inning and somehow ended up scraping out a 12-11 win in 12 innings courtesy of National League Player of the Week Xavier Nady's big blasts.
Two nights later, the Pirates pulled out a 4-3, 10-inning win against the Braves.
On Monday, the Buccos roared back from a 7-0 hole in the 4th inning to tie the game at 8 in the 8th, only to lose four innings later in the 12th after Evan Meek decided to walk the entire Cubs batting order.
And yes, last night the Bucs and Cubs played a 15-inning marathon in which the black and gold fell, 6-4 despite Jason Bay's game-tying homer in the 9th and Adam LaRoche's game-tying homer in the 14th.
In eight games this season, the Pirates have played a total of 13 extra innings. That's an extra game and a half in the first week or so of this very young 2008 campaign. At this pace, the Pirates are on track for what would be an MLB-record 81 extra-inning contests. Why am I belaboring this point? Mainly because the bullpen is working double overtime and if this keeps up, will be burnt out for good by late June. I've already seen Franquelis Osoria's crazy glasses and Tyler Yates' 97-mph gas more times than I'd like in April and we still have another 20 days to go before May rolls around. The bullpen has also been extremely inconsistent early on and I have to think that's due in some small (maybe large) part to the excess of innings these guys have been forced to pitch. On Monday, starter Tom Gorzelanny lasted a measly 2 2/3 innings. The bullpen was fantastic after Gorzo was yanked, but to pitch 9 1/3 innings Monday and another 8 innings last night, well...it's worrisome to say the least.
Franquelis and his new and improved Rec-Specs!
Tonight, the Pirates try to avoid the dreaded opening series sweep at the hands of the division-rival Cubbies before starting a weekend series at PNC against Cincinnati. I just hope tonight's game doesn't go another 15. I'm low on beer as it is.
Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA. The good stuff!
Two nights later, the Pirates pulled out a 4-3, 10-inning win against the Braves.
On Monday, the Buccos roared back from a 7-0 hole in the 4th inning to tie the game at 8 in the 8th, only to lose four innings later in the 12th after Evan Meek decided to walk the entire Cubs batting order.
And yes, last night the Bucs and Cubs played a 15-inning marathon in which the black and gold fell, 6-4 despite Jason Bay's game-tying homer in the 9th and Adam LaRoche's game-tying homer in the 14th.
In eight games this season, the Pirates have played a total of 13 extra innings. That's an extra game and a half in the first week or so of this very young 2008 campaign. At this pace, the Pirates are on track for what would be an MLB-record 81 extra-inning contests. Why am I belaboring this point? Mainly because the bullpen is working double overtime and if this keeps up, will be burnt out for good by late June. I've already seen Franquelis Osoria's crazy glasses and Tyler Yates' 97-mph gas more times than I'd like in April and we still have another 20 days to go before May rolls around. The bullpen has also been extremely inconsistent early on and I have to think that's due in some small (maybe large) part to the excess of innings these guys have been forced to pitch. On Monday, starter Tom Gorzelanny lasted a measly 2 2/3 innings. The bullpen was fantastic after Gorzo was yanked, but to pitch 9 1/3 innings Monday and another 8 innings last night, well...it's worrisome to say the least.
Franquelis and his new and improved Rec-Specs!Tonight, the Pirates try to avoid the dreaded opening series sweep at the hands of the division-rival Cubbies before starting a weekend series at PNC against Cincinnati. I just hope tonight's game doesn't go another 15. I'm low on beer as it is.
Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA. The good stuff!
Dogfish - that's great stuff! Although we are Sox fans, my brother and I went down to PNC last May and loved it, especially all the great beer offerings you have there. Now that's how you enjoy a ballgame.
-Dan
http://fansonthefield.mlblogs.com
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Thanks for the comment, Dan!
Yeah, PNC is a beautiful park...of course I'm biased, but I truly think it's the best park in the bigs.
All of those restaurants you visited in left field have been changed around, the beer has gone up a tad in price, but the selection is still varied.
Great blog, btw!
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