Saturday, August 31, 2013
Buccoes
It's an exciting time. Just a few days after going to Earth & Sky with Buck & Byrd, we've just picked up Justin Morneau, a guy who was one of my favorite players years ago but I've kind of lost touch with.
In the meantime, I've gone to a couple games. I was at Byrd's first game when he cracked the whip for a 3-run jack. In his other at-bats, he lined into a Clutch Defense DP to pitcher in the 1st at a key moment, struck out after a 14-pitch at-bat earning himself a standing O, and then struck out the Buccoe way in 3 swings. Buck had a handful of hits the next night in a loss. The Brewers are not good. We lost 2 of 3 to them to set up going into the current weekend's Cardinals series a game back rather than tied. Even the game they won, it seemed like they should have lost it. The blew a bunch of opportunities and Russell Martin got the grand idea to make a snap throw down to 1st with 2 outs and 2 strikes and put it in right field to make things interesting. He's supposed to be one of the smart ones!
Last night Garrett Jones went mental, picking up the big hitters and driving in 4 runs. Maybe he smelled the blood in the water or maybe young Shelby Miller looked enough like a minor leaguer that he was able to hit him. At any rate, even if he gets hot, the team is much better with Morneau in the fold now.
Learned some things about small-sample size luck factors:
Good Luck: Doing Just Dance 4 while Buccoes on.
Bad Luck: Bringing Jessica to the game. Or British people. Or D&D rulebooks. (Hard to parse this one with so many factors.)
Good Luck: Me going to the game. I think the previous note broke my streak.
Bad Luck: TIM FREAKING NEVERETT who seems to GET OFF on talking about how an opposing player hasn't had [good result] in [latest time period]. He does this only with opposing players. With the Pirates he talks about how they haven't had a [bad result] in [latest time period]. I freaking hate Tim Neverett.
TBD Luck: Getting a random phone call from someone on a NYC phone with a foreign accent saying, "You're going to die" over and over again and then switching to some kind of chant. Yikes. But I want to see Morneau hit!!
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In the meantime, I've gone to a couple games. I was at Byrd's first game when he cracked the whip for a 3-run jack. In his other at-bats, he lined into a Clutch Defense DP to pitcher in the 1st at a key moment, struck out after a 14-pitch at-bat earning himself a standing O, and then struck out the Buccoe way in 3 swings. Buck had a handful of hits the next night in a loss. The Brewers are not good. We lost 2 of 3 to them to set up going into the current weekend's Cardinals series a game back rather than tied. Even the game they won, it seemed like they should have lost it. The blew a bunch of opportunities and Russell Martin got the grand idea to make a snap throw down to 1st with 2 outs and 2 strikes and put it in right field to make things interesting. He's supposed to be one of the smart ones!
Last night Garrett Jones went mental, picking up the big hitters and driving in 4 runs. Maybe he smelled the blood in the water or maybe young Shelby Miller looked enough like a minor leaguer that he was able to hit him. At any rate, even if he gets hot, the team is much better with Morneau in the fold now.
Learned some things about small-sample size luck factors:
Good Luck: Doing Just Dance 4 while Buccoes on.
Bad Luck: Bringing Jessica to the game. Or British people. Or D&D rulebooks. (Hard to parse this one with so many factors.)
Good Luck: Me going to the game. I think the previous note broke my streak.
Bad Luck: TIM FREAKING NEVERETT who seems to GET OFF on talking about how an opposing player hasn't had [good result] in [latest time period]. He does this only with opposing players. With the Pirates he talks about how they haven't had a [bad result] in [latest time period]. I freaking hate Tim Neverett.
TBD Luck: Getting a random phone call from someone on a NYC phone with a foreign accent saying, "You're going to die" over and over again and then switching to some kind of chant. Yikes. But I want to see Morneau hit!!
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
MARLON BYRD!!! Marlon Byrd? OK, Marlon Byrd!
Bucs pulled off a true trade deadline deal moments ago. Marlon Byrd who is having a decent but flawed year with the Mets (.848 OPS, 21 homers, 124 K's, 25 walks, 2 out of 6 on stolen bases) along with John Buck who has become a low obp (.215 ba), high slg (15 homers) backup catcher. Byrd's mixed bag immediately makes him the second highest OPS hitter on the roster, so while he should be no great shakes on a good team, he has a big impact on this lineup.
I like it!
What did we give up? Dilson Herrera and a player to be named later who I would love to name Garrett Jones. Herrera looks like he'll at least be a major leaguer but he's only 19 at this point and there is a lot to wait and see for him.
We also got some money. Huzzah! I'm going to both Wednesday and Thursday games this week and considering we just dropped a half game behind the Redturds, seems like it will be an exciting week!
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I like it!
What did we give up? Dilson Herrera and a player to be named later who I would love to name Garrett Jones. Herrera looks like he'll at least be a major leaguer but he's only 19 at this point and there is a lot to wait and see for him.
We also got some money. Huzzah! I'm going to both Wednesday and Thursday games this week and considering we just dropped a half game behind the Redturds, seems like it will be an exciting week!
Monday, August 19, 2013
The End is Nigh
I wonder how funny it would be to make a hooded cloak and a wooden sign and stand outside PNC Park at the next homestand. I might get beaten up. Everybody's bought tickets now and they're getting antsy and looking for a scapegoat. It should be Clint Hurdle.
Holy crap. Following getting swept in Colorado, and losing two heartbreakers in St. Louis, we come home to the mediocre Diamondbacks and drop another series. Yesterday's game was just ridiculous in so many ways.
This team can't hit. Every game it feels like when they scratch one across that that is all they are going to get.
This team is never going to out-think someone.
Can they get 10 wins out of the last 39? That's what they will have to do to break the losing streak.
Plus, you know, technically they are still in first place. THE END IS NIGH!!!!
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Holy crap. Following getting swept in Colorado, and losing two heartbreakers in St. Louis, we come home to the mediocre Diamondbacks and drop another series. Yesterday's game was just ridiculous in so many ways.
- Hurdle leaving Morton in to pitch against Goldschmidt with the bases loaded and two outs. He got him but he obviously had nothing left.
- Hurdle bunting with Jordy Mercer in the 8th after Marte leads off with a single despite the fact that Mercer is the hottest hitter and the obvious conclusion that McCutcheon then doesn't get to bat.
- After that doesn't work out, Marte getting caught stealing third for the third out.
- Hurdle leaving minor-league journeyman Kris Johnson, making his major-league debut at 30 or something, for SIX INNINGS... the miracle finally popping in the 16th when he gives up two runs.
- Hurdle keeping him in to BAT WITH THE TYING RUN ON BASE to make the last out of the game. Sure, we're out of position players but Gerrit Cole is 5 for 21 as a batter and just sat there. Johnson only has 3 hits in his entire professional career. Later Hurdle said he didn't want to risk him getting hurt. WTF?!
- 7 trillion guys left on base.
This team can't hit. Every game it feels like when they scratch one across that that is all they are going to get.
This team is never going to out-think someone.
Can they get 10 wins out of the last 39? That's what they will have to do to break the losing streak.
Plus, you know, technically they are still in first place. THE END IS NIGH!!!!
