15 Comments

Termarr just roped a double.

Expand full comment

A 4 game cycle - 2 singles, a double, a triple, and a HR. Box score watching - it seemed as if Khristian Curtis had a pretty decent outing against a team with obvious offensive firepower.

Expand full comment

Looked pretty good early.

Expand full comment

Just had to rant about Austin Hedges. He must put a spell on GMs to sign him and then on manager's to play him. Like an addiction, it only gets worse as the season wears on into the playoffs, such that he gets actual MLB ABs in critical one-run situations with RISP. It's one of the most bizarre examples of a player stealing from the club. Both dollars and Wins.

Expand full comment

By WPA, his whiff had the second-biggest impact of any play on the game's outcome.

Expand full comment

Holmes comes in relief of Cole. But, for the Yankees, not the Bucs. Be interesting to see if Cole opts out. He was more good than great this year, maybe due to injury. I always thought he could pitch well into his late thirties.

Expand full comment

Watching this game, just dreaming of the pirates rolling out skenes, Chandler, Jones and Keller next year in the playoffs! Need some bats this off-season!

Expand full comment

BC thought that IKF and BDLC were a part of the answer to a better Offense at the trading deadline. Their strikeout to walk ratio's after coming to Pittsburgh were atrocious - an indication of two MLB veterans who did not give a crap about playing in Pittsburgh! Should either come back? Should BC continue?

We have assembled enough pitching and 3 or 4 hitters who can get us to 10 games under .500 each year. We need a stronger, more basics oriented Manager - Shelton is not the answer at Manager, and we should have a GM who recognizes this after 5 years and a .415 Winning Percentage! Shelton has failed to achieve Managerial Journeyman status after 5 years of Managerial Apprenticeship. This city deserves better!

Expand full comment

I agree!

Expand full comment

I posted something similar when I saw that the Dodgers had to go with a bullpen game in the second game of the NLCS. It’s all there for the Pirates, led by Skenes, if they can somehow put a decent offense together.

Expand full comment
author

My personal interest in the playoffs mostly died off with the Tigers getting knocked out. I just don't think Cleveland has the juice left. Their arms in the bullpen have to be getting exhausted at this point. What seems the inevitable Dodgers vs Yankees series is unexciting, while also likely leading to one of the most watched World Series in a long time.

Expand full comment
Oct 15Liked by NolaJeffy(BnP)

I agree on the Guardians arms likely wearing out, though not needing to use the back of their pen last night may have been a blessing in disguise. I think the Dodgers are in a similar boat, already needing two bullpen games and just having too many injuries to their rotation.

So, I think it's going to be a subway series and as someone who has a fondness for NYC, I can get behind that. Rooting for a Guardians-Dodgers series though.

I wish they'd cut the regular season back to 154 games--it would help save arms for the postseason among other benefits (like better weather in northern cities).

Expand full comment
Oct 16Liked by NolaJeffy(BnP)

The Guardians problem is having only 1 starter. When you only have one starter, the pen will wear out.

Expand full comment
author

Which just seems ironic, given their usual penchant for pitcher development. Injury bug came for them, along with their reclamation arms are hitting a wall and young starters taking steps back.

Expand full comment
author

I think Dodgers just cause that offense may end up being too much to overcome for the Mets. Part of me wants the Mets to win, but also, don't really want Cohen to win.

Expand full comment