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***Official Pittsburgh Pirates 2014 Thread*** (1 Viewer)

Earlier this season, I expressed doubt the Pirates could match last year's home record of 50 wins. They won 51! That's how to rebound from a 10-18 start.

So many fans are pointing to different MVP candidates for this club----Martin, McCutchen, Harrrison, Walker, etc. I'd not single out any particular player as so many have contributed at various times. But Hurdle deserves Manager of the Year accolades, especially if the club overtakes the Cardinals in the final week for the Central title.

To take nothing away from their 14-3 run since leaving St Louis on Sept 3 having lost 4 in a row, there are mitigating factors While they really played well, being the beneficiaries of the right schedule except for Milwaukee, the squad laid waste to lesser clubs with nothing to play for. You expect 69 runs in 17 games. But the pitching, a bit underwhelming this year, mowed down a lot of September call-ups and inexperienced types en route to a meager 37 runs or 2.3 per game in the stretch. I hope they maintain quality starts in the post-season.

 
The Giants are choking (just like the Braves and Brewers). If we get Liriano on the mound, I'm VERY confident in a one game playoff against the Giants. This team is playing such great baseball right now.

 
Fred and company, here's an idea of how good the Pirates have been since the start of June (a 60-41 record from June 1 to date):

Baseball traditionalists believe big-time production from a first-baseman is a must. In the past 101 games cited, Ike Davis has 7 home-runs and 34 RBI in 214 ABs with just 43 hits. So, a guy hitting almost exclusively against right-handers has a BA of .200. And he's struck out 50 times in that span.

His right-handed counterpart against lefty pitching, Gaby Sanchez, is 33-153 since June 1, for an average of .216 with 1 HR & 18 RBI, and 29 Ks.

So, while the Bucs have tallied the equivalent of 96 wins in an 162 season since 6/1/14, production from the conventional big-hitter slot has amounted to only 8 HRs, 52 RBI, and a .207 average in 367 official at-bats to go with 79 strikeouts. Not intimidating, right?

My point is while the team doesn't fit the ideal prototype, all they do is win. They locate keys to victory that needn't rely on standard expectations and could make them unique and dangerous for the post-season. While we'd like the team to fire on all usual cylinders, perhaps that's an antiquated paradigm for MLB success. Just saying.

 
monessen said:
Fred and company, here's an idea of how good the Pirates have been since the start of June (a 60-41 record from June 1 to date):

Baseball traditionalists believe big-time production from a first-baseman is a must. In the past 101 games cited, Ike Davis has 7 home-runs and 34 RBI in 214 ABs with just 43 hits. So, a guy hitting almost exclusively against right-handers has a BA of .200. And he's struck out 50 times in that span.

His right-handed counterpart against lefty pitching, Gaby Sanchez, is 33-153 since June 1, for an average of .216 with 1 HR & 18 RBI, and 29 Ks.

So, while the Bucs have tallied the equivalent of 96 wins in an 162 season since 6/1/14, production from the conventional big-hitter slot has amounted to only 8 HRs, 52 RBI, and a .207 average in 367 official at-bats to go with 79 strikeouts. Not intimidating, right?

My point is while the team doesn't fit the ideal prototype, all they do is win. They locate keys to victory that needn't rely on standard expectations and could make them unique and dangerous for the post-season. While we'd like the team to fire on all usual cylinders, perhaps that's an antiquated paradigm for MLB success. Just saying.
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the cardinals regular first baseman has a whopping 6 HRs since july 1 or so

 
Next year, the Pirates first basemen against righties might just be Pedro Alvarez. This team is very good right now. I'm giddy of their potential over the next few years. Losing Martin would be huge though and he's one guy I hope they overpay for. He won't match this type of offensive production but his defense is where the true value is at.

 
Looks like I might need to head to Chase Field this weekend. Surely the DBacks will rally around Kirk Gibson. I'll bring extra grit.

 
Winning the division really is huge on so many levels. In addition to the obvious reason, I'd rather the Pirates play the Dodgers than the Nationals. The Cards have been to this dance so many times that I have a hard time picturing them choking in these last 4 games. But anything is possible. If the Giants lose today and the Pirates win, the Pirates would virtually lock up homefield for the WC game. Since the Pirates win the tiebreaker, they are essentially 2 games up on the Giants right now.

 
fred_1_15301 said:
Winning the division really is huge on so many levels. In addition to the obvious reason, I'd rather the Pirates play the Dodgers than the Nationals. The Cards have been to this dance so many times that I have a hard time picturing them choking in these last 4 games. But anything is possible. If the Giants lose today and the Pirates win, the Pirates would virtually lock up homefield for the WC game. Since the Pirates win the tiebreaker, they are essentially 2 games up on the Giants right now.
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CONGRATULATIONS PIRATES ON WINNING THE DIVISION!!11!

 
gianmarco said:
fred_1_15301 said:
Winning the division really is huge on so many levels. In addition to the obvious reason, I'd rather the Pirates play the Dodgers than the Nationals. The Cards have been to this dance so many times that I have a hard time picturing them choking in these last 4 games. But anything is possible. If the Giants lose today and the Pirates win, the Pirates would virtually lock up homefield for the WC game. Since the Pirates win the tiebreaker, they are essentially 2 games up on the Giants right now.
Click to expand...
CONGRATULATIONS PIRATES ON WINNING THE DIVISION!!11!
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I thought it was dropped :confused: "Stop being a troll in the Pirates thread"

 
There is a chance that the Pirates, Cards and Giants will all have the same record after 162 games. The Pirates hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Giants but what happens if they lose the play-in game against the Cards? Do the Giants then get home field for that WC game?

 
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The Cardinals must be pretty nervous. Seems some of their fans are. Rightfully so.

Since Aug 20, the Pirates are 23-10, scoring 143 runs and allowing only 81 in that stretch. Phenomenal!

 
fred_1_15301 said:
There is a chance that the Pirates, Cards and Giants will all have the same record after 162 games. The Pirates hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Giants but what happens if they lose the play-in game against the Cards? Do the Giants then get home field for that WC game?
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I just read an article that said game 163 would not impact Pirates/Giants WC tiebreaker.

 
Is anyone else in here pissed off that the Dbacks canned Gibson with 3 games left (coincidentally against the Cards)? Gee I wonder if that ##### Larussa had anything to do with that.

 
So I guess depending on what happens today, either Volquez or Cole will be pitching in the WC game (assuming the Cards take care of business). If the Pirates win that game, Liriano could pitch game 1. If the Pirates win today, Cole will definitely pitch tomorrow and Volquez would pitch the WC game. If the Pirates lose and the Cards win, Hurdle will have an interesting decision. I think he would go Cole but I'd be comfortable either way.

 
I know this comes across as pessimistic and it's not the way I should be thinking but I'm sort of hoping the Cards win tonight. If the Cards win, we pitch Locke tomorrow and opens up our option to start Cole for the WC game. If the Cards lose, the Pirates will be forced to pitch Cole tomorrow. If they win, I still don't like the Dbacks chances against Wainright. If they lose, well then they are forced into pitching Volquez against Bumgarner. Even with how good Volquez has pitched of late, I still just feel more confident with Cole. It sucks that the Pirates have had to play before the Cards this weekend but them are the breaks. They really needed to win today and keep the pressure on.

 
fred_1_15301 said:
I know this comes across as pessimistic and it's not the way I should be thinking but I'm sort of hoping the Cards win tonight. If the Cards win, we pitch Locke tomorrow and opens up our option to start Cole for the WC game. If the Cards lose, the Pirates will be forced to pitch Cole tomorrow. If they win, I still don't like the Dbacks chances against Wainright. If they lose, well then they are forced into pitching Volquez against Bumgarner. Even with how good Volquez has pitched of late, I still just feel more confident with Cole. It sucks that the Pirates have had to play before the Cards this weekend but them are the breaks. They really needed to win today and keep the pressure on.
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Ok on cue of course the Cards lose. I still pitch Locke today going up against Cueto knowing the cards have Wainright. If the Pirates win and the Cards lose, all of a sudden it's Cole going up against someone not named Wainright and Volquez still available against the Giants. Let's see how Hurdle views it. :popcorn:

 
I guess the fact that Volquez has pitched so well the past 2 months (probably better than Cole) is what is driving this decision. Hurdle must have more faith in Volquez for a WC game.

 
Actually looking at the numbers, I'm going to back track and say that this a good decision by Hurdle. Volquez is pitching better than anyone other than Liriano.

 
I'm scared of tying the Cards, losing with Volquez tomorrow and being stuck with Liriano on short rest or Locke Wednesday.

 
Timmypg said:
I'm scared of tying the Cards, losing with Volquez tomorrow and being stuck with Liriano on short rest or Locke Wednesday.
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Yeah but statistically the odds are much better than just a single game elimination

 
If the Pirates win tonight, I think they're set up fairly nicely for the next round. I would actually pitch Cole on normal rest for game 1 and Liriano game 2. I think Cole has been more dominant of late and Liriano's control issues have me a little worried. Cole has also proved to me that he can pitch a pretty good game in a high-pressure environment.

 
fred_1_15301 said:
If the Pirates win tonight, I think they're set up fairly nicely for the next round. I would actually pitch Cole on normal rest for game 1 and Liriano game 2. I think Cole has been more dominant of late and Liriano's control issues have me a little worried. Cole has also proved to me that he can pitch a pretty good game in a high-pressure environment.
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Washington has a pretty R loaded lineup. Cole is probably a better match-up choice.

 
Copeman said:
Let's get through tonight first.
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Got it. Thats why I said "if the Pirates win tonight". We're the underdogs so it's absolutely no foregone conclusion. Still no harm to think ahead as a fan......

 
How are people feeling about tonight? I was definitely more confident going into last year's WC game. Volquez has been very good the past 2 months but will he continue that in a big stage? I still feel like the Pirates are a better team but the pitching matchup certainly favors the Giants and they just have so much playoff experience. I don't even think the loss of Pagan is that big of a deal because Blanco is a pretty good replacement. It really will suck if they lose tonight.

 
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