Results tagged ‘ Zach Duke ’
Pirates cut ties with Duke, LaRoche, Young
Late Friday night, the Pirates announced that they had designated pitcher Zach Duke, infielder Andy LaRoche, and utility-man Delwyn Young for assignment.
Game 15: Astros vs Pirates
The good vibes of the Pirates taking 3 out of 4 against the hated Phillies were quickly destroyed by a 6 game losing streak before the All Star Break came around. The bucs were looking to get back on track, and I was looking to get back to the ballpark, somewhere I hadn’t been since July 4th.
I was there earlier than usual, as I had to wait in line for 30 minutes until 5:00 rolled around. When I got in it was nice to see the outfield was populated with Pirates pitchers, something I had not seen all year. Since a group of mostly lefties was up, I went over to the “North Side Notch” in left center where a bunch of pitchers were standing. Jeff Karstens noticed the 49 on the front of my Bullington jersey and asked me to turn around. He and Joel Hanrahan were both stumped, as they kept turning around and talked about it for a while.
BP was boring for both teams. I nearly had a Jose Tabata HR but yet again the sun was relentless and I missed it. Other than that, only one other ball made it to the stands.
Before the Pirates headed in Joel Hanrahan stopped to sign some autographs for a group of kids.
The Astros came out, and I changed into my dad’s old Nolan Ryan jersey.
It made me stick out like a sore thumb which I hoped would make it easier to get toss-ups. It would not. The ‘Stros were hitting everything the opposite way, and barely put any homers into the seats. I got lucky enough to snag my only ball of the day when it skipped off ballhawk Nick Pelesak’s glove (even he struggled today) and rolled into the row I was standing in. There were hardly any players in left field which made it hard to get toss-ups. It was ok though, my streak of consecutive games with a ball was up to an all-time high of four.
After grabbing some pizza I made my way upstairs for the game.
It was arguably one of the worst game the Pirates have played all season fundamentally. The Astro’s first run would come without a ball leaving the infield. An infield single by Jason Bourgeois would turn into basically a lead-off triple as he would quickly steal 2nd and 3rd on hapless catcher Ryan Doumit (who has only thrown out 12 percent of runners stealing on him). A ground out to short brought him home
What seemed to be the 100th passed ball by Doumit led to another early run. The Pirates even made Little Leagers look good by failing to tag out Hunter Pence when he got into a run down on a Zach Duke pick-off throw.
Reliever Sean Gallagher forgot that its a balk when you make a complete turn to first and don’t throw the ball.
The only thing that kept me from really being ticked about this game was the continued production of Pirates rookies Neil Walker, Pedro Alvarez, and Jose Tabata. They are beginning to show why they were so hyped.
The game was played under weird-looking skies.
There were storms toward the south but they never reached PNC Park. The bolts of lighting over the buildings were a welcomed distraction from the crap-show of a game going on. The Astros would win 5-2.
On my way back to my car, I snapped a pic of the PPG place fountains, one of the nicer places to be on a hot, humid night. Its also cool how the plaza is turned into an ice rink during Christmas time.
As a preview of things to come, I’ll be at the games on Thursday and Friday and will be in Cleveland on Sunday to visit Progressive Field. Make sure to check back to see how it goes.
STATS:
Record: 7-8
18 balls/15 games/ 1.2 avg
Games 8 and 9 vs Giants (6-4-10 and 6-5-10)
This past week has undoubtedly been one of the busiest in my life. Finishing up finals on Tuesday and Wednesday, graduating on Saturday, throw in work, grad parties, and of course Bucco games, and I haven’t had a chance to breathe. I was able to make three games this homestand: Friday and Saturday against the Giants, and the rain-out makeup against the Cubs on Monday.
GAME 8 (6-4-10) VS Giants
After a 3 hour delay cancelled the Cubs-Pirates game on Wednesday, another round of rain threatened the playing of this contest. However shortly after 10 PM, the game got underway. I got there at 5 PM under sunny skies however BP was not happening (they took it earlier in the afternoon).
It basically seemed that the team was just wating for the rain to come, it finally did around 7 PM.
As the scoreboard showed the 2006 All Star Game in it’s entierty (along with scenes from Singing in the Rain and the entire 1979 World Series Highlight film) it urged patience, something I was lacking.
Finally the game would get underway at 10 PM.
The Pirates would somehow jump out to a 4-0 lead on Jonathan Sanchez but Zach Duke would stumble during the middle innings giving up 6 runs on three homers including a monster shot from Aubrey Huff. The offense soon gave up and 6-4 would be the final. I had to leave the game in the 6th because of my graduation the next morning, and my parents would not appreciate my being out at 1 AM with that looming. On my way out I got some pics
Centerfield
Guillermo Mota warming up in the bullpen.
I was able to get a ball from bat boy and fellow graduate Colin, so a shout out to him for getting me on the board.
GAME 9 (6-5-10) VS Giants
I was back at the ballpark the next night, after making appearances at some grad parties I made my way down to the ball yard in the bottom of the 3rd. I didn’t really care, all I wanted to see was the Skyblast extravaganza featuring Collective Soul. It was already 4-0 and the Pirates were shelling Todd Wellemeyer. Neil Walker and Cutch tore it up at the top of the order and are looking like a formidible 1-2 punch.
The Giants were able to cut it down to 6-3 in the top of the 9th. Octavio Dotel had loaded the bases, and former Pirate, and fan favorite Freddie Sanchez stepped up to the plate. He lauched a liner into the left-center gap that would have certainly tied the game. Lastings Milledge had other plans and made a Willie Mays-style diving catch to preserve the win.
The festive sell-out crowd was now ready for the show which didn’t dissapoint.
Fireworks were shot off of the barges on the river, the field, the Roberto Clemente Bridge, and even a couple of skyscrapers downtown. All of this while Collective Soul played which brought a great end to an amazing day.
Afterwards the park was consumed in smoke.
STATS
12 Baseballs/ 9 games/ 1.33 average
Record 5-5
Next post will be about Monday’s game where yours truely scored some foul balls, and TV time.
Lumber Company 2.0? Opening Day 2010
The scene could not have been better. A sold-out PNC Park on a sun-drenched and warm spring afternoon, throw in a Pirates victory….
Wait? The Pirates??? Winning??? It happened alright, and the worst offense in the league during the 2nd half of last year and 2010 spring training exploded for 11 runs and 3 dingers. Here is my account of one of the better days of Pirates baseball I’ve experienced in my life.
Perhaps one of the best thing about Opening Day is the atmosphere. The children are skipping school, the adults are skipping work, everyone is in a good mood and the hope of a great season of baseball ahead is in the air. This is usually the only day where tailgating is a big happening on the North Shore. Props to my friend Adam who today invited me to his large family gathering across the street from the stadium. Very good food and an atmosphere that put me in the mood for baseball.
After filling my stomach it was time to head inside. The tail end of batting practice was going on for the Dodgers, and so also a desperate attempt for me to get on the board in the ballhawk league. Some close calls while standing down the 1st baseline, but no dice. I’ll have to take a goose egg for week one as I can’t get to the ballpark Wednesday or Thursday.
A nice surprise (and change) for this season is the free programs that are now being given out every homestand.
Though I’ll miss collecting the monthly issues of the game programs (I have every one dating back to 1999), I won’t mind saving the money.
The view from section 4
Yes, I know this goes against the title of this blog but I could not pass up the chance to have better seats to the opener. I bought these for $25 as a part of my 20-game plan. I would like to see another team that offers that good of a seat for this price. The only drawback was that the 1st base coaches would occasionally obstruct the view of the batter, but flaws aside they were beautiful seats. Another good thing about my location was in close proximety to a ball girl. Though there was great hope I could get one from her, it just was not ment to be. Not a single foul ball rolled down the line and the only ones that came close to me whizzed way over my head. Oh well at least the game was a good one.
It did not get off to a good start however, as Zach Duke allowed two runs in the first inning. With how hard the Dodgers hit him in the 1st I thought for sure we were in for a long game. But Garrett (G.I./Freakin’) Jones erased all doubts with his 2 run homer in the 1st inning. It was a monster shot traveling 460 ft and landing in the Allegheny River. (View the video HERE) He had many doubters after having a breakout 2009 where he hit 21 HRs after spending the past 11 seasons in the minors. But he has thus far shut up the critics by starting the Bucco season with a bang. It got the crowd of 39,000+ rocking and back into the game tying it 2-2.
But Jones wasn’t done yet. In his second at bat in the he hit a high fly ball to the left field corner. It just kept carrying and carrying and it barely made its way over the short left-field fence (It also didn’t hurt having Manny Ramirez trotting over and failing to make a play on it). 2 HRs in 2 ABs? As unreal as it seems, it happened, and to none other than Garrett Jones. He also shone defensively making two diving grabs as well. It was an MVP effort that electrified the crowd.
The game remained close until the bottom of the 5th. With the pitcher spot up and the bases loaded John Russel elected to yank Duke to send newbie Ryan Church to the plate. He made quite the first impression ripping a double right-center and breaking the game open. Pinch me, the Pirates were up 7-2. It was 8-2 after the 5th when Russel then turned the game over to the new-look bullpen. Jack Taschner did a fair job, while DJ Carrasco and Evan Meek (the only returning member from the pen last year) let the Dodgers chip away at the lead, going into the 8th, the score was now 8-5. But in the bottom of the 8th Ryan Doumit crushed a 3-run homer that would put the Buccos up for good. New closer Octavio Dotel put together a quick 1-2-3 9th and the Pirates were victorious 11-5. It was an offensive explosion that I and many others were not expecting from the anemic Pirates, so maybe this year won’t be so bad after all?
Here are some pics from the day:
Andrew McCutchen accepting his award for Baseball America’s Rookie of the Year
The Dodgers on the baseline
The Pirates (Love DJ Carassco’s stirrups!)
The Parrott attempts some BP
Manny and other Dodgers warming up
RAISE THE JOLLY ROGER!!!!
My Pull-no baseballs 
STATS AFTER ONE GAME ATTENDED:
Record: 1-0 (Bullington jersey works its magic)
Balls snagged: 0 on the day 0/game
Times scolded by an usher: 1 on the day 1/game
Crappy songs played over the PA: 5 on the day 5/game
Highlights by MLB.com can be viewed HERE
Random Thoughts Courtesy of Bill James
This has been a very busy time for me lately. Between the Olympics (Curling!), college basketball, and schoolwork it really made February fly by. But as we go into March and spring training comes upon us, it is also a rite for me to get ready for a season of fantasy baseball. In order to prepare for yet another season of domination I had to get my number one weapon…
The Bill James Handbook has sort have been The Bible to me when it comes to determining who to draft. With all sorts of statistics that go beyond the traditional ones that we normally see, it gives me a leg up on who will be the best. The work he and Baseball Info Solutions have done has revolutionized the way some front offices judge tallent and build their teams.
Any baseball fan can get enjoyment out of the book, and here are some random tidbits that I found regarding our Buccos.
The Pirates are really good at pickoffs. Ross Ohlendorf led the National League with 8. Zach Duke and Paul Maholm tied for 5th with 4 each.
Speaking of Zach Duke
He shows up a lot throughout the book.
-His 232 hits allowed was 2nd in the NL
- His 3.45 pitches per batter faced, was also second in the NL
- Only 5 pitchers in the NL threw more curveballs than Duke, as he used it for 18.4% of his pitches.
- He also had one of the slowest average fastballs among NL pitchers, as it was just 88.8 MPH.
Other pitching stats
Paul Maholm allowed more doubles than any other pitcher (52).
He is also right behind Duke with 3.65 pitches per batter.
Matt Capps tied with Brad Lidge for most relief losses with 8.
Also of the 27 saves he noched last year, 22 were classified as easy (meaning when he entered the first batter did not represent the tying run)
Not much about the team really showed up in the offensive categories but…
Ryan Doumit’s average home run length of 385 ft. was the third shortest among NL hitters with at least 10.
Andrew McCutchen ranked third among CF in OPS (On -Base + slugging) as his .836 mark was behind only Carlos Beltran and Matt Kemp.
Of the 37 intentional walks John Russell ordered last year, 27 had either a “Not-Good” outcome (when the subsequent batter doesn’t ground into a DP and/or one run scores) or a “Bomb” outcome (more than one runner scores after the walk)
Another fun part of the book is the projections section where predictions are made for every player in a variety of stats. Here is how the Pirates projected starting eight are predicted to do.
Andrew McCutchen .281/13/61/31
Akinori Iwamura .290/4/40/12
Garrett Jones .271/25/88/14
Ryan Doumit .285/15/62/4
Lastings Milledge .283/11/60/22
Andy LaRoche .254/15/69/4
Matt Clement Not enough sample size
Ronny Cedeno .254/9/41/6
And the rotation
(W-L/ERA/K)
Paul Maholm 9-12/4.29/126
Ross Ohlendorf 7-12/4.90/118
Zach Duke 9-14/4.54/106
Charlie Morton 7-8/3.97/102
Kevin Hart 5-8/4.58/104
Daniel McCutchen 3-5/4.56/54
So there they are. What are your thoughts on these predictions? Seems like the Bucs will have speed and average, but no power. The pitching would be very sub-par. They are assuming Hart will beat out McCutchen for the 5th spot. Also it seems like Cutch and Ross would have dissapointing seasons if those were to be their lines.
The first steps toward opening day will be taken tommorow when the Pirates take on Manatee Community College, then take on the defending champion New York Yankees Wednesday (1 PM on MLB Network).
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