LIVE BLOG - Pirates @ Dodgers, Game 14 (Pain Delayed, Bottom 6)
Good evening, folks...
Switching up the format of Snap Judgments a bit, I've decided to write a live blog during tonight's game. Today was an extremely busy day in reality and I have been slacking on my cyberspace duties, missing both Snap Judgments from yesterday's game (NATE MAC!) and This Day in Pirates History for both yesterday and today. I figure I can make This Day in Pirates History a tri-weekly section, but I'd like to keep Snap Judgments daily, if possible. I'm also going to add a Fantasy Spotlight tomorrow, but for now, let's get to the live blogging.
First off, it's Jackie Robinson Day around MLB and I'm confused. Number 42 is having a good and bad game for both the Pirates and Dodgers right now. 42 just walked in 42 for the first run of the game. This 42 looks like Matt Morris, this 42 like Rafael Furcal. For the record, I am not in favor of entire teams wearing Jackie Robinson's number...but more on that later.
1st Inning (Top)
Pirates on the board first as Hong-Chih Kuo can't hit the broadside of a barn, walking three straight with two outs. Ronny Paulino got credit for an RBI on his walk, knocking in Nate Mac who singled, running his season-opening hitting streak to 14 games. Jose Bautista strikes out looking with the bases loaded to end the threat. Pirates 1, Dodgers 0
1st Inning (Bottom)
Matt Morris looks decent so far, getting through the 1stl without incident. My expectations for Morris tonight are still realistic, though: 5 IP, 5 ER, 2 BB, 2K. Pirates 1, Dodgers 0
2nd Inning (Top)
Kuo seems to have settled down a bit and sets Chris Gomez down during a story from Vin Scully about snipers (or "sharpshooters" as Scully keeps calling them) on top of the roof somewhere during a game featuring Jackie Robinson. At least, I think that's what he's talking about since Scully rarely makes much sense. I'm watching the game on FSN Prime Ticket because it's being televised in HD and the FSN Pittsburgh broadcast is in standard definition and therefore, unwatchable. Pirates 1, Dodgers 0
2nd Inning (Bottom)
Morris gives up a base hit to Kent to start the inning and induces Loney into what looks to be a ground ball double play, but the always reliable Luis Rivas fires Freddy Sanchez's toss off the dugout fence up the first baseline. Loney tries to steal second on a busted hit-and-run play, but Russell Martin swings through the pitch and Paulino nails Loney by three feet at second. Martin ends the inning by whiffing at a Morris curveball in the dirt...man, is Martin struggling so far or what? Pirates 1, Dodgers 0
3rd Inning (Top)
Vin Scully just told a story about Luis Rivas' imaginary friend Gazoo. Apparently when Rivas was with the Twins, he talked to his invisible friend Gazoo during the games. I mean, is this necessary? I guess he has to fill air because he has no color man, but sometimes it feels like Scully is talking to his own Gazoo. MEANWHILE, Rivas just whiffed. Kuo has definitely settled in after a 30+ pitch 1st inning. Sanchez and Bay ground out and Kuo, while over 60 pitches, has a 1-2-3 3rd under his belt. Pirates 1, Dodgers 0
3rd Inning (Bottom)
Andruw Jones hits the prettiest flyouts of any player in the Majors. When it leaves his bat, you think, "Wow, that's gone," but the ball (at least for the past two years) dies nicely a step in front of the warning track. Blake Dewitt up next. Rivas makes the play on a groundout. It's kind of comforting when Rivas makes a routine play at short. Kuo grounds out weakly, and that's another quick inning by Morris. I'm still not convinced... Pirates 1, Dodgers 0
4th Inning (Top)
One good thing about the Pirates playing the Dodgers on Jackie Robinson day is hearing Scully's stories about Robinson. Most of Scully's little tidbits about the current players are hard to stomach, but the sincerity of him relaying personal memories about Robinson has a feel of authenticity that no other announcer in the game could bring to the table on this day. The flashbacks, brought to life by an announcer who lived them, are truly a treat for this baseball fan. For that, I appreciate having to listen to Scully tonight.
Nady leads off with a sharp single to left, but Paulino follows it up with a strikeout looking. Kuo now has six strikeouts in just over 3 IP, but his pitch count is way high, over 70 at the moment. No trouble for Kuo this inning as Nady stays frozen at first thanks to flyouts by Bautista and Gomez. Pirates 1, Dodgers 0
4th Inning (Bottom)
Morris is in trouble after giving up a lead-off ground rule double to Furcal and a single and stolen base to Matt Kemp. I have a not-so-good feeling about this inning...and quickly, that feeling is realized as Andre Ethier brings them both home with a flare double to left in front of Jason Bay. Morris gets Kent to ground out and Rivas holds Ethier at second. Loney lashes an RBI single to right to score Ethier and the Dodgers are rolling. Loney now owns a 14-game hitting streak to start the season, the Dodgers' longest such streak since 1978. Martin flies out to right and Paulino nails Loney at second with another bullet to end the inning. Dodgers 3, Pirates 1
5th Inning (Top)
Kuo is out of the game, replaced by former Pirate Esteban Loaiza. Kuo struggled in the 1st, but found his groove and struck out five straight at one point. Hard to believe it's been 17 years since the Pirates first signed Loaiza. While it makes me feel a tad old to remember Esteban as a rookie in Pittsburgh, I'm sure it makes him feel older every time he faces his former team. The Bucs go quietly in the 5th as Loaiza gets Morris to ground out and Nate Mac and Rivas to pop out. Dodgers 3, Pirates 1
5th inning (Bottom)
Morris issues a lead-off walk to Andruw Jones and gets some big defensive help from Nady as the X-Man pulls in a Blake Dewitt drive up against the right field wall. Loazia sacrifices Jones to second and Rafael Furcal cashes in Jones with an RBI single up the gut into center. Sadly, it looks as if my numeric predictions for Morris from the 1st inning are right on track. Furcal steals second on Paulino, but that one is excusable. Considering Morris didn't look at Furcal once while he was at first, Rafael got a huge jump leaving Paulino with no real shot to throw him out. Kemp triples off the base of the center field wall, driving in Furcal. I'd say Morris is just about done, wouldn't you? Manager John Russell agrees and lifts Morris in favor of Phil Dumatrait. Final line on Morris - 4 2/3 IP, 7 H, 6 ER, 1 BB, 1 K and yes, another crappy start. I like being right about baseball-related things, but certainly not like this. Dumatriat plunks Ethier to put Dodgers on first and third and Jeff Kent absolutely BOMBS a belt-high fastball out over the plate to put a stranglehold on this game. Finally, Dumatrait gets Loney to ground out to second base and the inning is finally, mercifully over. Dodgers 8, Pirates 1
6th Inning (Top)
Well, if the Pirates can put a couple on the board this inning, I'll stay up (currently, the time is midnight EST) and keep this ill-fated experiment going. However, in the interest of me actually getting some sleep tonight, if the Pirates fail to score, I'm calling this Live Blog fiasco in the bottom of the 6th due to a pain delay.
Freddy leads off with a sharp single the other way, a line drive between first and second. Just the type of hit I watched about 110 times during his 2006 season when he became the 25th Pittsburgh Pirate to win a batting title. Bay grounds into a fielder's choice for out number one. Nady strikes out looking for out number two. Paulino flies out to center to end the inning and send me to bed an unhappy fan once again. Dodgers 8, Pirates 1
Well, I hope the game stays close tomorrow night as I'll give this Live Blogging thing another shot. As for tonight, I can only hope I wake up tomorrow morning to a happy report of the Pirates scoring eight runs in the 9th to pull out another dramatic victory.
D'oh!
Switching up the format of Snap Judgments a bit, I've decided to write a live blog during tonight's game. Today was an extremely busy day in reality and I have been slacking on my cyberspace duties, missing both Snap Judgments from yesterday's game (NATE MAC!) and This Day in Pirates History for both yesterday and today. I figure I can make This Day in Pirates History a tri-weekly section, but I'd like to keep Snap Judgments daily, if possible. I'm also going to add a Fantasy Spotlight tomorrow, but for now, let's get to the live blogging.
First off, it's Jackie Robinson Day around MLB and I'm confused. Number 42 is having a good and bad game for both the Pirates and Dodgers right now. 42 just walked in 42 for the first run of the game. This 42 looks like Matt Morris, this 42 like Rafael Furcal. For the record, I am not in favor of entire teams wearing Jackie Robinson's number...but more on that later.
1st Inning (Top)
Pirates on the board first as Hong-Chih Kuo can't hit the broadside of a barn, walking three straight with two outs. Ronny Paulino got credit for an RBI on his walk, knocking in Nate Mac who singled, running his season-opening hitting streak to 14 games. Jose Bautista strikes out looking with the bases loaded to end the threat. Pirates 1, Dodgers 0
1st Inning (Bottom)
Matt Morris looks decent so far, getting through the 1stl without incident. My expectations for Morris tonight are still realistic, though: 5 IP, 5 ER, 2 BB, 2K. Pirates 1, Dodgers 0
2nd Inning (Top)
Kuo seems to have settled down a bit and sets Chris Gomez down during a story from Vin Scully about snipers (or "sharpshooters" as Scully keeps calling them) on top of the roof somewhere during a game featuring Jackie Robinson. At least, I think that's what he's talking about since Scully rarely makes much sense. I'm watching the game on FSN Prime Ticket because it's being televised in HD and the FSN Pittsburgh broadcast is in standard definition and therefore, unwatchable. Pirates 1, Dodgers 0
2nd Inning (Bottom)
Morris gives up a base hit to Kent to start the inning and induces Loney into what looks to be a ground ball double play, but the always reliable Luis Rivas fires Freddy Sanchez's toss off the dugout fence up the first baseline. Loney tries to steal second on a busted hit-and-run play, but Russell Martin swings through the pitch and Paulino nails Loney by three feet at second. Martin ends the inning by whiffing at a Morris curveball in the dirt...man, is Martin struggling so far or what? Pirates 1, Dodgers 0
3rd Inning (Top)
Vin Scully just told a story about Luis Rivas' imaginary friend Gazoo. Apparently when Rivas was with the Twins, he talked to his invisible friend Gazoo during the games. I mean, is this necessary? I guess he has to fill air because he has no color man, but sometimes it feels like Scully is talking to his own Gazoo. MEANWHILE, Rivas just whiffed. Kuo has definitely settled in after a 30+ pitch 1st inning. Sanchez and Bay ground out and Kuo, while over 60 pitches, has a 1-2-3 3rd under his belt. Pirates 1, Dodgers 0
3rd Inning (Bottom)
Andruw Jones hits the prettiest flyouts of any player in the Majors. When it leaves his bat, you think, "Wow, that's gone," but the ball (at least for the past two years) dies nicely a step in front of the warning track. Blake Dewitt up next. Rivas makes the play on a groundout. It's kind of comforting when Rivas makes a routine play at short. Kuo grounds out weakly, and that's another quick inning by Morris. I'm still not convinced... Pirates 1, Dodgers 0
4th Inning (Top)
One good thing about the Pirates playing the Dodgers on Jackie Robinson day is hearing Scully's stories about Robinson. Most of Scully's little tidbits about the current players are hard to stomach, but the sincerity of him relaying personal memories about Robinson has a feel of authenticity that no other announcer in the game could bring to the table on this day. The flashbacks, brought to life by an announcer who lived them, are truly a treat for this baseball fan. For that, I appreciate having to listen to Scully tonight.
Nady leads off with a sharp single to left, but Paulino follows it up with a strikeout looking. Kuo now has six strikeouts in just over 3 IP, but his pitch count is way high, over 70 at the moment. No trouble for Kuo this inning as Nady stays frozen at first thanks to flyouts by Bautista and Gomez. Pirates 1, Dodgers 0
4th Inning (Bottom)
Morris is in trouble after giving up a lead-off ground rule double to Furcal and a single and stolen base to Matt Kemp. I have a not-so-good feeling about this inning...and quickly, that feeling is realized as Andre Ethier brings them both home with a flare double to left in front of Jason Bay. Morris gets Kent to ground out and Rivas holds Ethier at second. Loney lashes an RBI single to right to score Ethier and the Dodgers are rolling. Loney now owns a 14-game hitting streak to start the season, the Dodgers' longest such streak since 1978. Martin flies out to right and Paulino nails Loney at second with another bullet to end the inning. Dodgers 3, Pirates 1
5th Inning (Top)
Kuo is out of the game, replaced by former Pirate Esteban Loaiza. Kuo struggled in the 1st, but found his groove and struck out five straight at one point. Hard to believe it's been 17 years since the Pirates first signed Loaiza. While it makes me feel a tad old to remember Esteban as a rookie in Pittsburgh, I'm sure it makes him feel older every time he faces his former team. The Bucs go quietly in the 5th as Loaiza gets Morris to ground out and Nate Mac and Rivas to pop out. Dodgers 3, Pirates 1
5th inning (Bottom)
Morris issues a lead-off walk to Andruw Jones and gets some big defensive help from Nady as the X-Man pulls in a Blake Dewitt drive up against the right field wall. Loazia sacrifices Jones to second and Rafael Furcal cashes in Jones with an RBI single up the gut into center. Sadly, it looks as if my numeric predictions for Morris from the 1st inning are right on track. Furcal steals second on Paulino, but that one is excusable. Considering Morris didn't look at Furcal once while he was at first, Rafael got a huge jump leaving Paulino with no real shot to throw him out. Kemp triples off the base of the center field wall, driving in Furcal. I'd say Morris is just about done, wouldn't you? Manager John Russell agrees and lifts Morris in favor of Phil Dumatrait. Final line on Morris - 4 2/3 IP, 7 H, 6 ER, 1 BB, 1 K and yes, another crappy start. I like being right about baseball-related things, but certainly not like this. Dumatriat plunks Ethier to put Dodgers on first and third and Jeff Kent absolutely BOMBS a belt-high fastball out over the plate to put a stranglehold on this game. Finally, Dumatrait gets Loney to ground out to second base and the inning is finally, mercifully over. Dodgers 8, Pirates 1
6th Inning (Top)
Well, if the Pirates can put a couple on the board this inning, I'll stay up (currently, the time is midnight EST) and keep this ill-fated experiment going. However, in the interest of me actually getting some sleep tonight, if the Pirates fail to score, I'm calling this Live Blog fiasco in the bottom of the 6th due to a pain delay.
Freddy leads off with a sharp single the other way, a line drive between first and second. Just the type of hit I watched about 110 times during his 2006 season when he became the 25th Pittsburgh Pirate to win a batting title. Bay grounds into a fielder's choice for out number one. Nady strikes out looking for out number two. Paulino flies out to center to end the inning and send me to bed an unhappy fan once again. Dodgers 8, Pirates 1
Well, I hope the game stays close tomorrow night as I'll give this Live Blogging thing another shot. As for tonight, I can only hope I wake up tomorrow morning to a happy report of the Pirates scoring eight runs in the 9th to pull out another dramatic victory.
D'oh!
Ugh, this was an ugly one tonight.
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"Number 42 is having a good and bad game for both the Pirates and Dodgers right now. 42 just walked in 42 for the first run of the game. This 42 looks like Matt Morris, this 42 like Rafael Furcal. For the record, I am not in favor of entire teams wearing Jackie Robinson's number."
Why do you clearly hate Jackie Robinson? I think he was pretty great. Other than that, I like your blog. Keep it up!
On a related topic, best second baseman of all time? I go with Jose Lind, by a smidge over Johnny Ray.
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I don't think he hate Jackie, I think its dumb for every player on both teams to wear 42. It just looks goofy having everyone wear the same number, it would be better if 1 player from each team was given the honor to wear it.
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It's all good, pittstop. CChabs is a great friend of mine...he's only being sarcastic as he knows I have nothin' but love for Jackie and what he accomplished.
However, I do agree...every player on a team should not wear the number. Jason Bay wearing No. 42 is kinda lame, not because he's white, but because he's CANADIAN! HA! But seriously, folks...I agree with pittstop. Pick out one representative from the team to honor Jackie by wearing 42. Entire teams wearing it is kind of watering down the tribute, at least in my eyes.
Oh, and CChabs...Chico Lind was the man! However, I gotta give some love to Johnny Ray. Great names. I know you loved that last statistical barrage I gave you in the Hank/Roberto debate. Greatest 2B of all-time? I'm going with Rogers Hornsby. What's your opinion?
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