Pirates Lose as Duke Chokes on Longballs

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One of the real disappointing things about being a small market team fan is the lack of quality coverage in the spring. I had a conversation with Minor League Baseball sixteen months or so ago wanting to Internet broadcast every Pirate game, but was told no.

I mean, why not? I wasn't going to charge anyone anything. Instead, they said they had "plans" to do that.

Here it is two spring trainings removed and I'm still only able to watch a couple of spring Pirates games. That's ridiculous, considering the money in the game now.

So today I had to listen to boring Reds announcers yahooing about how their team is destined to win the Central despite not knowing who their fifth starter is. And when Duke gave up back-to-back home runs, their reasoning was he was tired.. done in.

Perhaps he was, but Pirate fans wouldn't know.

Rob Beertempfel over at the Trib said Duke "turned in a solid effort", but I would hardly call 2.57 home runs per nine innings of work for a career 0.60 HR/9 guy "solid". Nor is it "solid" for Duke to allow 64% fly balls when he averaged half that last year. Maybe Duke was setting Reds batters up knowing he faces them again in a week? "Swing for the fences guys," as they beat the sinker into the ground.

Trying to shake the rust off, Bay and LaRoche went a combined 1-5 today giving them a combined 96 at bats in the spring, just 6 extra base hits with two of those LaRoche bombs, plus a 30% K-Rate.

That's not solid either, especially when 67% of their at bats have been against lower level pitching. That's actually a bit worrisome.

But Humberto Cota and Jose Castillo continue to swing relatively hot bats, God Bless them. And how about Duffy.. 2-4 including a bunt hit. Way to go Duff. Have you tossed aside those Nikes yet?

And not only did Cota throw out a runner trying to steal second and Marty McLeary get a pick off, Nate McLouth shot down Encarnacion at home. Now you know if McLouth guns someone down, they shouldn't have been sent to begin with. I should have kept up this spring with all the runners Castillo and Kelly have gunned down on the base paths - their arms should be registered as lethal weapons.

And how does Moeller "double through the hole at shortstop" scoring two? I missed the play on the broadcast but we must have had either a serious lapse in our outfield route running or failed to hit the right cut off man for that to happen. And yes, Moeller did eventually score too. Geez.. same old Bucs.

For a team bent on playing good defense, the metal lapses this spring are very concerning. From Jack Wilson throwing two-hoppers to first, Paulino sending airmails into center, numerous cut off throws over relay men's heads, and a battery that has consistently looked out of sync, the Pirates better hope they can mash and the bullpen better find their "A" game because I'm afraid we're looking at a long season.

But as everyone says - it's just spring training.

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What a great quote Dejan Kovacevic at the Post-Gazette had from Salomon Torres today [link]:

"It's the first time all spring where I felt like I had my sinker under control," Torres said. "And that's good. This is the time. We're getting close for the bell to ring."

Lay your bets down folks.. "For Whom the Bell Tolls.."

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What a great idea the Pirates front office had - let's push Freddy Sanchez to see if he breaks.

Pleeeeease..

I hope the Pirates have a long-term disability contract that includes loss of revenue on Sanchez with Hartford in place.

If Sanchez has mental reservations about his knee, what possible good will it do to push him? All we need to see now is him tear his ACL. What then? A whole season of Bautista at 3B and Wilson whining about Castillo? Oh my.. can you spell a 100 loss season?