Results tagged ‘ Brian Bixler ’
Snap Judgments – Game 12 – Pirates 9, Reds 1
Ah, the “sweep” smell of success! The Bucs completed their first home sweep since April of last year in beating the Reds, 9-1, on a rainy day in Pittsburgh. I didn’t have time to write yesterday because of baseball and softball commitments. So, in the essence of making up for lost time, let’s get into today’s Snap Judgments:
1.) Gorzo Rebounds From Horrid Start, Pitches Well Enough to Win
While Ian Snell is leading the voting so far this season in the election for Team Ace, I still have very high hopes for Tom Gorzelanny. He’s been wildly inconsistent so far this season and has reportedly been battling shoulder stiffness since spring training, but yesterday’s start was key on many levels for both the Pirates and Gorzo.
“He had a quality start in bad conditions,” manager John Russell said after the game.
Conditions aside (it looked pretty gross in Pittsburgh during the game), Gorzo cruised through five innings. He got into some trouble in the 6th and did surrender four walks, but all told, Gorzelanny made a big stride yesterday toward regaining his 14-win form of a year ago.
“Hey, do you see my batting average up there?” – “No, but I think I finally found the strike zone!”
2.) The Lumber Company, circa 2008
Ryan Doumit welcomed Johnny Cueto to the bigs in the 2nd by depositing a fastball about 5 rows deep into the stands above the right centerfield notch. It was the first hit by a left-handed batter given up by Cueto so far this season. ESPN keeps reminding me how good Cueto is supposed to be, but they forget to remind me that the guy is 22 and made just his third Major League start yesterday. In any event, the Bucs got to him (and the rest of the Reds’ pitchers) in a big way yesterday. Xavier Nady hit the death-blow homer in the 6th inning off Cueto, a two-run shot that made the score 5-0. And just for good measure, Jason Bay – who has been hitting the ball very well in the past 5 games – added a three-run bomb in the 7th off Todd Coffey.
Final score, 9-1. Three home runs, one each by the 3, 4, and 5 hitters. If LaRoche could find his swing this year before August, the Pirates may have a very powerful 3-through-6.
Xavier Nady in the gym, building up his hair muscles.
3.) Another Day, Another Error
No “Snap Judgments” would be complete without me bagging on Brian Bixler. So here it is:
While Bixler went 1/4 at the plate, struck out twice and stranded two, it was his throwing error in the 5th that bothered me. While it didn’t hurt the Pirates on the scoreboard, the error is indicative a troubling trend among Pirates infielders. Luis Rivas actually played well at second yesterday (his natural position) and Bixler made a couple of decent defensive plays, but he screwed up another routine ground ball and threw it away. Gorzo worked around it and ended the 5th by inducing Edwin Encarnacion’s weak tapper to Rivas for the third out.
When Bixler plays a perfect game, I’ll give him his props. Until then, I am forced to be unmerciful. Jack Wilson is supposed to return on the 19th. Pirates fans everywhere are praying that return date holds true.
Bixler in Indianapolis, where he should be today.
Snap Judgments – Game 11 – Pirates 4, Reds 3
When I take notes during the game, I underline what I consider good plays/positives for the Pirates in green pen, bad plays/mistakes/negatives in red pen. Looking over tonight’s game, I have 13 green to 9 red. That’s a pretty good margin for a team like the Pirates, a team that needs to rely on execution, fundamentals, timely hitting, and solid pitching to stay competitive for the majority of the season. Scratching out one-run wins will be a huge determining factor as 2008 progresses and tonight, if only for one night, the Pirates did more right than they did wrong.
So let’s get to it…
1.) Ian Snell, Without His Best Stuff, Got it Done
Snell’s last start, against the Marlins this past Sunday, was a picture of power pitching. Snell threw with a mean streak, apparently peeved at the way he perceived Marlins hitters showing up his team’s pitchers during the first two games of the series. The Bucs needed to salvage a win in Miami after losing the first two and Snell came out guns blazing, striking out 10 in only six winnings of work. Snell got a ton of offense during that game and manager John Russell lifted him early as the game was out-of-hand by the top of the 7th.
Tonight was a different story. Far from the balmy climate of south Florida, the weather in Pittsburgh was damp and chilly. It was evident from the first inning on that Snell didn’t have particularly great command or velocity. Yet, the Bucs’ emerging ace got it done. Snell’s line read like this: 6.1 IP, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2K, but he worked out of jams in the 1st and 3rd and kept what could have been a wretched 5th inning under control. All told, I was quite pleased with Snell’s work. His fastball topped out at only 91-92 mph and he was throwing 95-96 mph in Florida and he was forced to rely on his off-speed stuff more often than I’m sure he would have liked. It’s gritty performances like tonight’s that the rest of the rotation needs to duplicate in order for this team to get hot. If the rest of the starters can learn from Snell gutting out a win without his best stuff, all the better. This is the type of leadership the Pirates are supposedly paying Matt Morris $10million this season to instill, but if Russell were smart, he’d be touting Snell as the team’s ace.
“Don’t make me start the season 2-0! I’ll do it! I’m CRAAAAAAAAAAAZY, fool!”
2.) Brian Bixler, Bane of My Existence
Sure, you think I’m being hard on the guy, right? Well, screw you. I can’t take it. I have Bixler’s name underlined in red three times in tonight’s notes. That’s 1/3 of the red, 1/3 of the bad plays, 1/3 of the failures that could have cost the Pirates tonight’s game. Luis Rivas started yesterday and was predictably bad, so Russell went right back to Bixler. And he did not disappoint…everyone who was waiting for him to screw up. In the 4th, with Doug Meintkeiayeintyiwsyiwiicz on 3rd after a lead-off double and wild pitch by Reds’ starter Bronson Arroyo and Ronny Paulino at first after a walk, Bixler came to the plate. With Snell batting behind him, Bixler’s job was plain and simple: get Meintkeiayeintyiwsyiwiicz home before the pitcher came up. “Get the ball to the outfield,” is what I kept saying in my head. Then I started screaming it at my dog. It turns out that dogs apparently aren’t telepathic and Bixler didn’t get my message. He then proceeded to whiff oh-so-gracefully. Snell then struck out the end the inning with Meintkeiayeintyiwsyiwiicz standing frozen at third.
Bixler also made two terrible “plays” in the field, but I can’t even go into those right now because my stomach acid is churning as I proofread this and I don’t want to vomit on my keyboard. All I’ll say is this: “Congratulations, Brian Bixler, on getting your first Major League hit. That sharp ground ball off a diving Brandon Phillips’ glove is something I’m sure your grandkids will hear about as a laser into the right-centerfield gap.”
Bixler turns a crisp double-play in the 9th, a surprising “green underline” for the Pirates’ struggling rookie.
3.) Nate Mac and The Mad Capper Shine
What more can I say about Nate Mac? The dude is a machine right now. Another 2/5 night, the game-winning RBI, another run scored, average hovering around .400, leading the Majors in hits. Ho-hum. Just another night for Nate McLouth. Watching Nate Mac emerge into a bona fide starting centerfielder and possible (probable) All-Star has truly been the highlight of the young season. Just as Snell approaches the game with a fiery attitude, so does Nate Mac. His swing is perfect for PNC Park. Those big gaps and short right field porch are going to be kind to him numbers-wise as the season progresses. The only guy not happy about McLouth’s breakout year? Chris Duffy, somewhere in Indianapolis…
Nate McLouth has hit safely in all 11 games this season and also owns an extensive collection of leather-bound Hemingway first editions.
After being roughed up in his first appearance of the season in Atlanta, Matt Capps has been nearly unhittable since. Tonight, The Mad Capper made quick work of the Reds in the 9th inning and is now 3/3 in save opportunities on the season. Capps emerged last year as the Pirates’ closer and while he agreed to a two-year, $3.1million contract at the beginning of this season, Nutting and Co. should definitely come out of their pockets and extend this guy to five years. The two sides couldn’t get a long-term extension settled before spring training (hence the two-year deal), but it should be priority No. 1 this offseason. He’s big and strong, young, overpowering, and aggressive; all the characteristics a front office looks for when scouting a potential closer. Marte and Yates also got some big outs tonight, but Capps is the guy in that bullpen.
Capps! AHHHH! AH! Savior of the Universe!
Snap Judgments – Game 9 – Cubs 7, Pirates 3
Upon hearing the news that I would be blogging about the Bucs, the venerable and wise Open Bar (wheres-luke.blogspot.com) said to me to, “More commentary, less reporting. I can read a box score if I want to.”
This nod to OB will become a regular occurrence following all Pirates games. I’m calling this section of the blog “Snap Judgments” as it will most likely be influenced by emotion (and maybe a few brews) and I will do my very best to post my thoughts within an hour of the game’s final out. These will be my instant reactions and they will spare no one, least of all the Pirates. As far as being a sympathetic homer, I will strive to avoid that at all costs.
Here goes…
1.) Brian Bixler is NOT Ready for the Majors
Bixler: Two major league starts, three big-time mistakes.
The game started off ominously for Bixler and the Pirates. Alfonso Soriano was dead to rights trying to steal second in the 1st inning when Ronny Paulino fired a pea that had the speedy Soriano out by a half-step. It was a bang-bang play to be sure, but the throw was perfect, Bixler barely had to move his glove and yet somehow, Soriano’s head-first slide dislodged the ball from Bixler’s mitt. Soriano scored the Cubs’ first run two batters later. In the home half of the 1st, Bixler ended the Pirates three-run first with a gorgeous swinging strikeout. I know it’s early in this guy’s career, but he’s really done nothing to distinguish himself so far in the Minors and by a cruel twist of fate, he’s now Pirates’ starting shortstop for a couple of weeks. This is mainly because Luis Rivas is somehow worse than Bixler and Jack Wilson is on the 15-day DL. I’d certainly be looking for Chris Gomez at SS tomorrow, but I don’t know if the 16-year vet is still athletic enough to make all the plays. Former manager Jim Tracy, not known to be the best evaluator of talent, had this to say about Bixler last season:
“How can you not like what you’ve seen from this guy?” Pirates manager
Jim Tracy said. “He’s a baseball player — a solid baseball player.
It’s very impressive to see, no question about it.”
He’s a baseball player? And that was somehow impressive to Mr. Tracy? Uh, wow…I can’t believe I’m upset we got rid of Cesar Izturis. Bixler also let a ground ball eat him up during the Cubs’ five-run 6th. With the infield drawn in, Reed Johnson hit a sharp ground ball that squirted under Bixler’s glove allowing Ryan Theriot to score and up the score to 5-3. The Pirates never threatened after the 6th.
2.) The Matt Morris Equation – 5 IP/start X 32 starts = $10million/year
“I know, Ronny. I can’t believe they’re paying me that much either!”
For a franchise that has boasted some of the best players the game has ever seen, not one of them has been paid $10million in one season by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Now, I know the economics of baseball and I understand that the average MLB player will make $3million in 2008, a figure unheard when Clemente, Stargell, and even a young Barry Bonds roamed the diamond in the Burgh, but Matt Morris? How is this guy the highest-paid player in the 122-year history of the Pirates? Simple answer, really: Dave Littlefield.
But I shall digress on my conspiracy theory as to why Littlefield traded for this worn-down, one-time All-Star and just hit you with the cold, hard numbers. In 2001, Morris went 22-8 with a 3.16 ERA and 185 strikeouts in 216 IP. I would gladly pay $10million/year for those numbers. However, Morris has steadily declined every year since. Since joining the Pirates last season, here are Morris’ numbers, including tonight’s 7IP/7R/4ER/11H/2BB/2HR/3K performance:
3-5 in 13 starts, an ERA over 6.00 and 34 strikeouts in 74 IP
You don’t have to answer, but I’ll ask anyway: Do those numbers warrant his current salary? I would implore the Pirates to deal Morris, but no Major League team will take him and his immovable salary. If Morris finishes the season in some city other than Pittsburgh, rest assured the Pirates will still be paying him.
3.) Nate McLouth (aka Nate Mac) Will Represent the Pirates at Yankee Stadium as an All-Star this July
BOOM goes the dynamite!
Just before the season, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Dejan Kovacevic conducted a poll of 20 Pirates and asked them a series of questions, one of those being:
“Which player will have a breakout season?”
11 players chose McLouth and he has not only proven them right, he has delighted Pirates fans during the team’s dismal 3-6 start at the plate and in the outfield. Entering tonight’s game, Nate Mac was hitting .390AVG/.419OBP/.659SLG/1.077OPS. McLouth went 2/5 tonight with another run scored and his defense all year in center has been stellar. On April 4th against the Braves, Nate Mac’s glove-work kept the game close early as he made two Gold Glove-caliber plays to rob Mark Teixiera in the 3rd and Matt Diaz in the 5th. The Pirates won 4-3 in 10 innings.
Nate Mac snags a Mark Teixiera bomb and keeps two runs off the board.
McLouth’s play has won him the job as the team’s starting centerfielder and it looks as if only injury could dislodge him. Nyjer Morgan, the team’s back-up CF who many thought would be platooning in CF with Nate Mac, will likely get some action against righties in place of Xavier Nady when he inevitably cools off. With Morgan and McLouth at the top of the order, the Pirates can actually field two speedsters for the first time in recent memory.
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