176 Comments
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WTM's avatar

So . . . Ortiz. Earning his salary? I think so.

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StatsCbl's avatar

Out of the 5 Pirates with at least 43 innings, Ortiz has the best ERA at a 2.51.

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bmcferren's avatar

him and rudy are the first fruit from the dominican facilty, no?

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Melkel's avatar

Especially when Rudy turned into Falter.

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John Six's avatar

I apologize because I was just informed that Shelton was warming up Holderman, Chapman and Bednar for the weekend!

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Robert Kasperski's avatar

Booyah!, 33 in the books and 93 to go! Great opener start combo with Mlod and Ortiz. Bullpen finished the job for the 5-2 win. #34 and the series clincher tomorrow! Raise it!!!!!

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Green Weenie's avatar

Nice win. 🙂

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Hoffmark 83's avatar

There goes Bednar giving up another homer.

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StatsCbl's avatar

same as a walk. I know it is Colorado, but did we need to use him in that situation. He was used against the Twins in a similar situation in the Twins series and we had to rely on Ben Heller for the 9th in the final game of the series.

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TNBucs's avatar

I was wondering this too--do managers tend to treat 4-run leads in CO as 3-run leads elsewhere? But I didn't think it was a wise move because we usually don't get a lot of innings from Jones (nor should we want him running up pitch counts), Sunday is a big question mark, and because it is Denver, the chances that we'll need multiple bullpen arms the next two days is high. Holderman and/or Bednar should have been held back, only on call if someone ran into trouble.

Of course it is more difficult with the three batter rule.

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1979andCounting's avatar

Valid point, but you know Shelton will say "it's Coors".

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Buccoboy's avatar

Like clockwork

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1979andCounting's avatar

There you go Ben, we don't need Alika!

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Buccoboy's avatar

Can you imagine watching Chapman in the eighth inning of a tied playoff game. It would be excruciating although most here would welcome the opportunity.

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Robert Kasperski's avatar

Back in 79 the Bucs had Grant Jackson in the pen….. he caused me some anxiety when he would come in. Relievers have the ability to make fans nervous 😁

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Aurorus Borealus's avatar

I watched him all last year in the playoffs hoping the Rangers would win. It was excruciating, and that was the Rangers. For the Pirates, it would be white knuckles and gritted teeth.

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1979andCounting's avatar

I was trying to convince myself that was not the same guy we have......agreed it was excruciating.

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John Six's avatar

Ortiz pitched five innings with sixty-nine pitches and won't be available for several days so rather then bring him out to see what you can get from him in the seventh you start using up your late inning guys up in the first game game of a three game series. Yeah, I shouldn't criticize Shelton!

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StatsCbl's avatar

I would have liked to see Mlodzinski get an extra inning or two....... unless there ws a part of the order they specifically didn't want him to face.

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AdministrativeSky236's avatar

I have so little trust in mlod, in theory i love the idea but man he can be rough

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StatsCbl's avatar

I like Mlodzinski. He has given up one run in his last 10 innings. He had a 2.25 ERA in his 36 innings last year.

What you saw was a guy that missed spring training, struggled in Indy, they brought him up anyway. He got left in one game to take a beating because they had no one available follwed by other bad games.

I think he is ready now, but yes if his pitches aren't working then take him out.

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bmcferren's avatar

i think they can stretch him out

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Jim's avatar

Ortiz was getting hit around at the end. Face facts, if Shelton has left him in, and he gave up a couple of hits, you would have been here bitching about that too.

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John Six's avatar

What are you talking about, lol.

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AdministrativeSky236's avatar

Well said lol

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1979andCounting's avatar

Davis with concussion symptoms......isn't that a 5-7 day protocol? Delay's cell phone ringing.

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StatsCbl's avatar

I liked Delay last year, but when I saw him in Indy he looked pretty bad. Right now he is 3 for 22 for the month of June which equates to a .136 batting average.

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1979andCounting's avatar

That's actually better than Hank. Not by much though!

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StatsCbl's avatar

I was thinking that when I typed it, but will say Henry's .242 slugging in the majors is better than Delay's .182 slugging. Seriously, Henry needs to try a new stance or at least try something new in the minors.

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1979andCounting's avatar

Yeah maybe a concussion stint is a blessing in disguise, let him step away for a week.

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StatsCbl's avatar

At this point, I would rather we just ride the storm with Henry until Bart comes back. Then have Henry spend a few months in Indy.

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NolaJeffy(BnP)'s avatar

Good thing they have 10 catchers on the 40-man

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WTM's avatar

Only seems like it. Actually, it's just ten guys who hit like fourth-string catchers.

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NolaJeffy(BnP)'s avatar

How quickly can Richard Ramirez get to Pittsburgh?

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WTM's avatar

Preferably, the moment Haines is gone.

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WTM's avatar

Been looking for a chance to mention, he had kind of a trifecta yesterday. Got three runners, one stealing, one a pickoff, and one trying to advance on a short wild pitch. Needs to cut the swing and miss, but he's really looking good.

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Anthony Murphy's avatar

No spoils on my observations for Monday lol

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bmcferren's avatar

joe has been slipping of late

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1979andCounting's avatar

He can go 0-5 if he throws a runner out at the plate. Tradeoffs.

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WTM's avatar

Regression. It can't be bargained with. It can't be reasoned with. And it absolutely will not stop.

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AdministrativeSky236's avatar

Would love an extra insurance or two

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Jim's avatar

5 ABs and not one ball in play. Chapman is going to drive us all crazy.

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StatsCbl's avatar

That's why I like him coming in with the bases empty. That formula works as long as there are more strike outs then walks.

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1979andCounting's avatar

Not having any one warming in the pen drives us all crazy!

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Robert Kasperski's avatar

They had someone warming with him before the 8th so should be a warm arm ready to,go.

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1979andCounting's avatar

According to Brown, no one up, so they must have sat down......which isn't great bullpen mgmt. Just soft toss and stay warm the whole Chapman inning.

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Robert Kasperski's avatar

Thank you Mr Umpire!

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1979andCounting's avatar

Last batter for Chapman.....smh.

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1979andCounting's avatar

Chappy just set up a real MLB hitter (McMahon) and made him look silly.

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Jim's avatar

Goes against the "clean inning" theory, but I might have had Holderman face the righty before bringing in Chapman for the two left handers.

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