ThaPenguin
Footballguy
Gonna clinch on our ####### field.
Seems like more often than not we give up runs in the 1st inning. Really frustrating.
Seems like more often than not we give up runs in the 1st inning. Really frustrating.
Cards fans thought the same thing about Kris Medlen back in the 2012 wild card game and it played out to our favor in the end.Cole pitched a great game today but giving up 2 runs to the Cubs unfortunately will not be good enough. He needs to be perfect plain and simple.
True but he just looks like the type of guy who won't crumble under pressure. I do think the Bucs can win. Cole will pitch a very good game and all it takes is one mistake by Arrieta or the Cubs defense. If I had to bet on the game, I'd go with the Cubs but the Bucs certainly have a shot. Not ready to give up yet.Cards fans thought the same thing about Kris Medlen back in the 2012 wild card game and it played out to our favor in the end.Cole pitched a great game today but giving up 2 runs to the Cubs unfortunately will not be good enough. He needs to be perfect plain and simple.
You never know when a guy is going to buckle under the pressure... Arrieta has never started a game of this magnitude. Only takes one bad innimg for you guys to get what you need.
Not to mention so many defensive and baserunning blunders. Just shows you how talented of a team they truly are.Its amazing the bucs won this many games with the clown duo of Locke & Morton in the rotation all year.
You are correct there, just doesn't seem right one of these reams will be out after 1 stinkin game.Good luck guys.
This is gonna hurt(one of us)
Agreed.You are correct there, just doesn't seem right one of these reams will be out after 1 stinkin game.Good luck guys.
This is gonna hurt(one of us)
Ditto. I'm already on the record saying that I'll be rooting for the Cards to go the whole way if the Bucs don't win the game. This is mainly because what they've done with all of the injuries is nothing short of miraculous. If that doesn't happen, I'm fine jumping on the Cubs bandwagon since they're a very worthy team.Good luck guys.
This is gonna hurt(one of us)
Yes. Also, the system is intended to be unfair. The one-game playoff is designed to give the top seed an advantage the 2/3 seeds don't get.With all the complaining about one team being gone after one game, let's remember that the Cubs would be making tee times for next week under the old rules. #babysteps
I was a little but I've accepted it and moved on. Both the Cubs and Pirates deserve to be in so at least the one game WC will give the Cubs an opportunity. Just hoping for a close game Wednesday night.Who was complaining?
They were terrible against the Reds and Brewers and that's why they get a 1 game playoff against Arrieta (who no team has an answer for).The Cubs play-by-play man (Len Kasper) pointed out an interesting stat. The Pirates had the best out-of-division winning percentage since 1969. They played at an almost .750 clip. No other team is close. However, they were eight games under .500 against teams in the NL Central.
Jake Arrieta @JArrieta34 19h19 hours ago
Whatever helps keep your hope alive, just know, it doesn't matter. @Cubs
Parody_Parrot_ @Pirate_Parrot_Be ready for the sea of black #BlackOut #BUCN #crowdIsGoingToEatYoualive #walkTheplank @JArrieta34
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His defense is horrid yes, but he also has that ability to put one out at any time. You need those bats in big games. He has been solid in playoff games in the past.I don't want to see Pedro in the lineup tonight. He hasn't been successful against Arrieta and I just know that his defense will likely cost them the game.
He's been terrible against Arrieta and I believe Arrieta hasn't given up a HR in something like his past 400 + batters faced. The probability of Pedro making a game-costing error >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Pedro hitting a HR. Bring him in late in the game as a pinch hitter if the situation requires it. They're going to need to have smart at bats to manufacture a run and really won't be able to depend on the long ball. That's how I would manage it at least.His defense is horrid yes, but he also has that ability to put one out at any time. You need those bats in big games. He has been solid in playoff games in the past.I don't want to see Pedro in the lineup tonight. He hasn't been successful against Arrieta and I just know that his defense will likely cost them the game.
Most players have been terrible against Arrieta this year. But point taken.He's been terrible against Arrieta and I believe Arrieta hasn't given up a HR in something like his past 400 + batters faced. The probability of Pedro making a game-costing error >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Pedro hitting a HR. Bring him in late in the game as a pinch hitter if the situation requires it. They're going to need to have smart at bats to manufacture a run and really won't be able to depend on the long ball. That's how I would manage it at least.His defense is horrid yes, but he also has that ability to put one out at any time. You need those bats in big games. He has been solid in playoff games in the past.I don't want to see Pedro in the lineup tonight. He hasn't been successful against Arrieta and I just know that his defense will likely cost them the game.
Yeah they don't have a lot of great options at first. You're probably right that they pretty much have to go Pedro and just say a prayer.Most players have been terrible against Arrieta this year. But point taken.He's been terrible against Arrieta and I believe Arrieta hasn't given up a HR in something like his past 400 + batters faced. The probability of Pedro making a game-costing error >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Pedro hitting a HR. Bring him in late in the game as a pinch hitter if the situation requires it. They're going to need to have smart at bats to manufacture a run and really won't be able to depend on the long ball. That's how I would manage it at least.His defense is horrid yes, but he also has that ability to put one out at any time. You need those bats in big games. He has been solid in playoff games in the past.I don't want to see Pedro in the lineup tonight. He hasn't been successful against Arrieta and I just know that his defense will likely cost them the game.
Who would you start at first? Ramirez? He's not great defensively there either. Morse? Not a great bat. Whoever starts you can be sure there will be great debate about it either way.
Yeah this could work. Ramirez is bad in the field but still better than Pedro. I would also want to keep Josh's bat in the lineup. I have a hunch Hurdle will go with Pedro and a bigger hunch that it will not end well because of that decision.It's strange but I have a good feeling about tonight. I would put Ramirez at 1st & josh at 3rd. Hope they can pull this out somehow.
Looks like it is Rodriguez. No Ramirez and no Pedro. I guess Hurdle is thinking like I am that the only chance to win tonight is to not make any mistakes on defense. I can't criticize him for this.fred_1_15301 said:Maybe Sean Rodriquez? But that's completely giving up another potential base runner. It's sad that Pedro so absolutely atrocious in the field that we even need to think about benching him in the most important game of the season.
Possibly but then he has no one to put in as a defensive replacement later in the game. I would have gone with Ramirez or PedroThe other thing Hurdle can always do is bring in Pedro or Ramirez early in the game as a pinch hitter if there are men on base with Rodriguez up to bat. You're basically ensuring that Rodriguez is in there for defense in the early innings and that he will only bat if the Pirates are not threatening to score. It's a really smart strategy.
Lot more contact in there. This game probably comes down to a bloop hit with someone in scoring position. A bunch of automatic K's don't make that happen.I don't like it. At least put Morse or Ramirez there.
I think Pedro has the only HR (from a Pirate) off Arrieta this year. I could be wrong. Save Rodriguez for a defensive replacement or pinch hitter.Lot more contact in there. This game probably comes down to a bloop hit with someone in scoring position. A bunch of automatic K's don't make that happen.I don't like it. At least put Morse or Ramirez there.
Hey, he's going to be the everyday first basemen next year. RESPECT IT!Morse shouldn't even be in the conversation since he's not very good at anything.
Pedro does not have a HR against Arrieta this year. No Pirate has hit a HR against Arrieta this year. Pedro has been abused by Arrieta this year and every other year.I think Pedro has the only HR (from a Pirate) off Arrieta this year. I could be wrong. Save Rodriguez for a defensive replacement or pinch hitter.Lot more contact in there. This game probably comes down to a bloop hit with someone in scoring position. A bunch of automatic K's don't make that happen.I don't like it. At least put Morse or Ramirez there.
Josh Bell will be the savior soon enoughHey, he's going to be the everyday first basemen next year. RESPECT IT!Morse shouldn't even be in the conversation since he's not very good at anything.
My mistake. I meant EVER.Pedro does not have a HR against Arrieta this year. No Pirate has hit a HR against Arrieta this year.I think Pedro has the only HR (from a Pirate) off Arrieta this year. I could be wrong. Save Rodriguez for a defensive replacement or pinch hitter.Lot more contact in there. This game probably comes down to a bloop hit with someone in scoring position. A bunch of automatic K's don't make that happen.I don't like it. At least put Morse or Ramirez there.
Ok that may be true but Arrieta is a different pitcher this year than in past years. He seems practically unhittable at this point. I pray that Hurdle has been watching the tapes of him over and over and over for the past week and have maybe found something that they can exploit. They need to change up their overall strategy against him.My mistake. I meant EVER.Pedro does not have a HR against Arrieta this year. No Pirate has hit a HR against Arrieta this year.I think Pedro has the only HR (from a Pirate) off Arrieta this year. I could be wrong. Save Rodriguez for a defensive replacement or pinch hitter.Lot more contact in there. This game probably comes down to a bloop hit with someone in scoring position. A bunch of automatic K's don't make that happen.I don't like it. At least put Morse or Ramirez there.