I had a different take on the game and the bullpen today. No doubt Rainey was wild and he was probably left in for one too many batters. Ferguson really didn't pitch too poorly. The Arraez single was on a good pitch and was just good hitting. The fly ball was well struck but got an out. The poor fielding play on the ball hit right at him was unfortunate. It was just a bad inning that could have been worse if the Machado drive had been a grand slam. I really feel it would have been a much different game if the bases loaded and one out situation in the 4th for the Bucs had resulted in more runs on the board. The real story continues to be offensive woes even during this stretch. Friday and today both saw some excellent scoring opportunities wasted. There continues to be too much deadwood in the lineup. San Diego has good hitters. To play 3 competitive games against a lineup with 5 hitters with an OPS over .800 when the Pirates only had 1 hitter like that is a credit to the pitching staff and the manager. The bullpen was performing better on this trip than previously.
I've been very critical of the team, the owner and the management this year. I'm so frustrated with the owner and the GM but I have been impressed, more impressed than I expected with DK. Just the fact that he has the fire to care is a change. I don't like Pham or Triolo in the lineup but I have noticed their playing time has decreased. Like many have said, it's hard to win with the trash the GM keeps throwing out there and the lack of spending by a wealthy owner. I am interested in the team again and actually have some hope that with a GM change (please let it be so) will make a difference as early as next year for a possibly competitive team.
Don Kelly confuses me. He sits the titanically asscheeks Tommy Pham to give Canario some run yet trots out the titanically asscheeks Rainey and Holderman to detonate winnable games.
If the GM is going to saddle you with a Zastryzny-grade reliever like Rainey, while keeping a legit reliever like Mlodzinski in AAA, nothing you can do about that bullshit decision. But why not use Rainey last night when you’re coasting?
Oh well. As Jim Leyland said, a manager’s IQ is determined by his bullpen.
This lost is on Kelly. With the pitching coach and the “ old man bench coach”, someone must tell Kelly to pull him after the first 2 walks. I do realize he is a rookie manager. I also know that we are off tomorrow so most of the bull pen could be used. Just my thoughts
BC’s failure to build a reliable bullpen is the issue that has really hamstrung this team now for two years. Holderman and Bednar and now some lesser lights have blown so many games since the beginning of ‘24. If you want to build a strong rotation it is absolutely necessary to find relievers who can get you through the 9th.
The Cherington offense has come around slightly, not much, but the Cherington bullpen is still lurking to throw away games like this one. Just another reminder that the Pirates are still half a roster away from being good.
And why tf do you leave a sub-fringe reliever in long enough to walk three batters in a close game? That's a Sheltonesque blunder.
Kelly's bullpen management has been atrocious. We are back to putting the better relievers into games well past the point where the games have been lost. Looks very much like Shelton 2 or 3 years ago.
Since Rainey likes walking people we need to give him his walking papers immediately after this game. Would much rather have Stratton here. Or Nicholas if we are putting up with the walks. At least he has good stuff.
I had a different take on the game and the bullpen today. No doubt Rainey was wild and he was probably left in for one too many batters. Ferguson really didn't pitch too poorly. The Arraez single was on a good pitch and was just good hitting. The fly ball was well struck but got an out. The poor fielding play on the ball hit right at him was unfortunate. It was just a bad inning that could have been worse if the Machado drive had been a grand slam. I really feel it would have been a much different game if the bases loaded and one out situation in the 4th for the Bucs had resulted in more runs on the board. The real story continues to be offensive woes even during this stretch. Friday and today both saw some excellent scoring opportunities wasted. There continues to be too much deadwood in the lineup. San Diego has good hitters. To play 3 competitive games against a lineup with 5 hitters with an OPS over .800 when the Pirates only had 1 hitter like that is a credit to the pitching staff and the manager. The bullpen was performing better on this trip than previously.
I've been very critical of the team, the owner and the management this year. I'm so frustrated with the owner and the GM but I have been impressed, more impressed than I expected with DK. Just the fact that he has the fire to care is a change. I don't like Pham or Triolo in the lineup but I have noticed their playing time has decreased. Like many have said, it's hard to win with the trash the GM keeps throwing out there and the lack of spending by a wealthy owner. I am interested in the team again and actually have some hope that with a GM change (please let it be so) will make a difference as early as next year for a possibly competitive team.
Don Kelly confuses me. He sits the titanically asscheeks Tommy Pham to give Canario some run yet trots out the titanically asscheeks Rainey and Holderman to detonate winnable games.
If the GM is going to saddle you with a Zastryzny-grade reliever like Rainey, while keeping a legit reliever like Mlodzinski in AAA, nothing you can do about that bullshit decision. But why not use Rainey last night when you’re coasting?
Oh well. As Jim Leyland said, a manager’s IQ is determined by his bullpen.
This lost is on Kelly. With the pitching coach and the “ old man bench coach”, someone must tell Kelly to pull him after the first 2 walks. I do realize he is a rookie manager. I also know that we are off tomorrow so most of the bull pen could be used. Just my thoughts
BC’s failure to build a reliable bullpen is the issue that has really hamstrung this team now for two years. Holderman and Bednar and now some lesser lights have blown so many games since the beginning of ‘24. If you want to build a strong rotation it is absolutely necessary to find relievers who can get you through the 9th.
The Cherington offense has come around slightly, not much, but the Cherington bullpen is still lurking to throw away games like this one. Just another reminder that the Pirates are still half a roster away from being good.
And why tf do you leave a sub-fringe reliever in long enough to walk three batters in a close game? That's a Sheltonesque blunder.
Kelly's bullpen management has been atrocious. We are back to putting the better relievers into games well past the point where the games have been lost. Looks very much like Shelton 2 or 3 years ago.
Put Rainey in, what did you think was gonna happen?
TRainey Wreck?
Exactly
ugh. filth
All Rainey and Ferguson needed to do was hit the edges given how ump called the 8th for Ashcraft.
Stick with Endy or PH Davis here?
Don't think it matters.
Ashcraft looks great. Maybe Kelly should have gone to him instead of Rainey.
At least we'll get IKF and Cruz up in 8th. If we get to Cutch and BRey, we should be in a good place.
2 veteran relief pitchers. That was brutal.
2 veteran not very good relief pitchers.
Jesus, does this look all too familiar.
Arraez was like the last guy you wanted to face there. Terrific hitting going oppo on a high inside pitch.
He's such a spray hitter I don't know why they were playing so hard to pull
Game over.
That was definitely true under Shelton. Will these guys rally under Donnie?
Since Rainey likes walking people we need to give him his walking papers immediately after this game. Would much rather have Stratton here. Or Nicholas if we are putting up with the walks. At least he has good stuff.
Rainey sucks…
Time to bring back Moreta and get rid of this slug.
No doubt. He's hard to watch.
I was rooting for Rainey, but he doesn’t have it. He needs to be DFA’ed after the game. He can’t be in a close game.