Snap Judgments - Failure has a Name and it is "Pirates Baseball"
Entering the 2008 campaign, I set out a list of goals for the Pirates. Assuredly, these weren't goals set forth by new manager John Russell, but I'll bet if we compared notes, the new skipper and I would have seen a common thread. First and foremost, on my list of goals for the Pirates to have a successful, competitive season, I wrote, "avoid 5-plus game losing streaks."
Well, now that the Buccos have shot that goal to rubble, today's entry will be scathing in nature. For all the talk of holding his club accountable for their mistakes, I have yet to read one published report of Russell taking his team to task for their recent "Bad News Bears"-esque play.
So let's get down to it, shall we?
Errors
Leading the league in errors is inexcusable, no matter how many runs you put on the board. In the case of the 2008 Pittsburgh Pirates, the number of runs they put on the board is somewhere between "a few" and "not many." This team fields worse than any current edition of the Pirates and that's downright scary. As friend, confidant, and fellow Buccos fan TNons has astutely pointed out, this team is playing like a "Clown Army" in all facets of the game, most noticeably in the field.
The Pirates arrive in Chicago for yet another ugly game. Shortly after this photo was taken, Brian Bixler committed an error and Xavier Nady was thrown out on the basepaths trying to stretch a single into a double.
Baserunning
In their attempt to screw up every part of the game, the Pirates have been dreadful running the bases. The Clown Army has been thrown out trying to steal, thrown out trying to stretch hits, thrown out running through coaches' stop signs. According to the venerable Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pirates have been told to "be aggressive" on the bases by Russell. However, over the first 18 games of the season, the Pirates as a team have committed at least a dozen base-running gaffes that have not only cost them runs, but wins. Desperately needed wins.
Freddy Sanchez ninja-kicking someone has nothing to do with baserunning mistakes, but I wanted to post the picture. Enjoy!
Starting pitching
Ian Snell aside, the Pirates' rotation has been consistent this year...as in consistently horrible. At this early juncture, I feel it's unfair to completely rip the bullpen as they have been overworked repeatedly by extra innings and blowouts, though they too deserve some criticism. Matt Morris is junk and I doubt he'll be a contributor this year.Tom Gorzelanny has all the talent in the world, but has been struggling with his command. My gut tells me it's because of the shoulder stiffness he's battled since spring training, but Gorzo assures everyone he's fine. I doubt it. Maholm has been a below-average 4th starter. What else can you say about that? Zach Duke seems to be slowly regaining the form that made him a rookie phenom in 2005, but he's still giving up a ton of hits and rarely gets a batter to strike out. The rotation must turn things around in a hurry for this team to have any chance at .500 ball.
Ian Snell has been the lone bright spot in the rotation this year.
Tomorrow I'll get to the offense and it's wretched performance, Nate McLouth not included. I just watched Adam LaRoche strike out looking in the 7th of today's 13-4 (score as of 4:55 pm) blowout at the hands of the Cubs and I just can't force myself to write any more. This is becoming unbearable.
Also, things have been a bit hectic here in reality over the past few days, but I promise to update This Day in Pirates History and also begin work on Buccos Fantasy Focus, a new, fantasy baseball-related section of the blog. Until then...
Well, now that the Buccos have shot that goal to rubble, today's entry will be scathing in nature. For all the talk of holding his club accountable for their mistakes, I have yet to read one published report of Russell taking his team to task for their recent "Bad News Bears"-esque play.
So let's get down to it, shall we?
Errors
Leading the league in errors is inexcusable, no matter how many runs you put on the board. In the case of the 2008 Pittsburgh Pirates, the number of runs they put on the board is somewhere between "a few" and "not many." This team fields worse than any current edition of the Pirates and that's downright scary. As friend, confidant, and fellow Buccos fan TNons has astutely pointed out, this team is playing like a "Clown Army" in all facets of the game, most noticeably in the field.
The Pirates arrive in Chicago for yet another ugly game. Shortly after this photo was taken, Brian Bixler committed an error and Xavier Nady was thrown out on the basepaths trying to stretch a single into a double. Baserunning
In their attempt to screw up every part of the game, the Pirates have been dreadful running the bases. The Clown Army has been thrown out trying to steal, thrown out trying to stretch hits, thrown out running through coaches' stop signs. According to the venerable Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pirates have been told to "be aggressive" on the bases by Russell. However, over the first 18 games of the season, the Pirates as a team have committed at least a dozen base-running gaffes that have not only cost them runs, but wins. Desperately needed wins.
Freddy Sanchez ninja-kicking someone has nothing to do with baserunning mistakes, but I wanted to post the picture. Enjoy!Starting pitching
Ian Snell aside, the Pirates' rotation has been consistent this year...as in consistently horrible. At this early juncture, I feel it's unfair to completely rip the bullpen as they have been overworked repeatedly by extra innings and blowouts, though they too deserve some criticism. Matt Morris is junk and I doubt he'll be a contributor this year.Tom Gorzelanny has all the talent in the world, but has been struggling with his command. My gut tells me it's because of the shoulder stiffness he's battled since spring training, but Gorzo assures everyone he's fine. I doubt it. Maholm has been a below-average 4th starter. What else can you say about that? Zach Duke seems to be slowly regaining the form that made him a rookie phenom in 2005, but he's still giving up a ton of hits and rarely gets a batter to strike out. The rotation must turn things around in a hurry for this team to have any chance at .500 ball.
Ian Snell has been the lone bright spot in the rotation this year.Tomorrow I'll get to the offense and it's wretched performance, Nate McLouth not included. I just watched Adam LaRoche strike out looking in the 7th of today's 13-4 (score as of 4:55 pm) blowout at the hands of the Cubs and I just can't force myself to write any more. This is becoming unbearable.
Also, things have been a bit hectic here in reality over the past few days, but I promise to update This Day in Pirates History and also begin work on Buccos Fantasy Focus, a new, fantasy baseball-related section of the blog. Until then...
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