2017-06-19: Pirates (Cole) at Brewers (Garza) 6:40 PM CDT [Brewers score first but lose, 8-1]

[hawing]

PIRATES

LF Adam Frazier (L)

2B Josh Harrison ®

RF Gregory Polanco (L)

3B David Freese ®

1B Josh Bell (S)

CF Andrew McCutchen ®

C Francisco Cervelli ®

SS Jordy Mercer ®

RHP Gerrit Cole ®

 

BREWERS

2B Eric Sogard (L)

1B Eric Thames (L)

RF Domingo Santana ®

3B Travis Shaw (L)

LF Hernan Perez ®

C Manny Pina ®

CF Keon Broxton ®

SS Orlando Arcia ®

RHP Matt Garza ®

[hawing]

I'm not hoping for it, but does this matchup sound like a brawl waiting to happen or what?

[liveforoctober]

The ERAs of the 3 starters the Pirates are throwing in this series are 4.54, 5.61, and 5.16 respectively. I’m not suggesting anything… but let’s go boys.

[jerichoholicninja]

I'm not hoping for it, but does this matchup sound like a brawl waiting to happen or what?

 

Other than the Pirates unending hate for the Brewers, is there some other bad blood here?

[liveforoctober]

Wasn't Cole at the center of the Gomez thing a few years back?

[jerichoholicninja]

Wasn't Cole at the center of the Gomez thing a few years back?

 

Ya, but Gomez and Maldonado are gone. I would guess Braun is just about the only one still around from that.

[pacopete4]

That's the great thing about this bunch, no memories. I can't remember who they asked but it was after their first series win against STL and the player was basically like so what, none of us were a part of the past.

[Lathund]

I know that it could simply be due to which pitcher is pitching, but I'm glad to see Piña is starting two days in a row, and I'm hoping it's a trend of him taking over as the starter. Not necessarily every single day, but moving from the 50/50 split so far (They actually both have 149 PAs) to Pina playing perhaps 2/3 games or something along those lines. Both the defensive and offensive metrics quite clearly rate Piña higher. The sample size isn't huge yet, but with them playing on the same team and in the same ballparks, I think one can start drawing conclusions.

 

Or am I simply reading too much into it, and it's just a matter of Bandy carrying some minor injury?

[Ennder]

I wanted to use one of them in fantasy about a month ago and I looked over the logs closely to see if I could predict which one would start any given day. I couldn't find any pattern to their playtime, just seemed random. Probably need a bigger sample before you can draw any conclusions that Pina is being used more often.

[adambr2]

We could be anywhere from 2 to 10 games in front of the Pirates after this series. Talk about a swing.

 

Here's hoping we are at least 8, need to take 3 out of 4.

[adambr2]

Does Rock need to complain after every close 3-2 pitch taken for Ball 4 that hitters just don't protect with 2 strikes like they did back in his day? Garza pretty clearly missed the inside corner with that.

[adambr2]

That's what leadoff walks will do to you, Garza.

[stoutdude04]

High BABIP this inning for the pirates.

[markedman5]

3 ground ball singles in this inning

[jerichoholicninja]

Nothing drives a pitcher crazy like piddly little ground balls that are hits.

[adambr2]

The walks hurt, it was partly self induced, but good job working out of further damage . That had a chance to get ugly quickly.

[rcc]

Shaw hits one out for the lead and Garza promptly gives up two runs. His pitch count is high and the bullpen will be in use early for this game. Such a difference from last night.

[BuckyBrewer61]

Does Rock need to complain after every close 3-2 pitch taken for Ball 4 that hitters just don't protect with 2 strikes like they did back in his day? Garza pretty clearly missed the inside corner with that.

 

I'm a Rock supporter but definitely second this. A ball is a ball and a strike is a strike, doesn't matter what the count is or how close it is.

[jerichoholicninja]

For crying out loud Pittsburgh, stop hitting it with your purse.

[stalton]

Somebody take the glasses off the baseball with all the seeing eye singles.

[adambr2]

I can't wait to hear again about how solid Garza is if you just remove his 8 worst starts and just he's just so unlucky .

 

I get the annoyance with the seeing eye hits, that part is unlucky, but his starts are trending in the wrong direction again, and his now 4.42 ERA for the year suggests he's still the same mediocre starter he was the last 2 years.

[jerichoholicninja]

Garza's ineffectiveness is vastly overblown this year. His FIP lines up with his ERA and his WHIP is the lowest it's been in years. Is he great? No. Is he terrible? No. Today 2 runs scored on a squibber that went under Arcia's glove. He probably should have only given up 2 runs today.

[adambr2]

Garza's ineffectiveness is vastly overblown this year. His FIP lines up with his ERA and his WHIP is the lowest it's been in years. Is he great? No. Is he terrible? No. Today 2 runs scored on a squibber that went under Arcia's glove. He probably should have only given up 2 runs today.

 

Exactly, his FIP lines up with his ERA. Which isn't a great ERA. If he had a 4.50 ERA and a 3.00 FIP, I'd be more of a believer.

 

I'm not saying he is Wes Obermueller bad. I'm just saying his supposed resurgence this year has long since passed.

[adambr2]

You just can't help using Wily for that 2nd inning, can you Craig?

[jerichoholicninja]

And hopefully we never see Wily again. Don't let the door hit you on the way out, because everyone else does.