my own special topic

[pnickers]

I hadn't heard any more rumors than the usual.  Do you think Mario will throw his lot in towards the bucs? 

[Tha_Professa]

http://community.post-gazette.com/blogs/pbc/default.aspx?cmpid=bcpanel2

This blog stood out on the P-G's home page concerning the issue...

[homesystem]

http://community.post-gazette.com/blogs/pbc/default.aspx?cmpid=bcpanel2

This blog stood out on the P-G's home page concerning the issue...

I'd trust Dejan Kovacevic's reporting on the issue.. he's pretty level-headed and fair.. unlike some other PG reporters (*cough* Bob Smizik).

[Tank Decker]

From Rocco:

"Bob pseudo-dodged my 'How long do you see yourself owning the Pirates' question on opening day. That left me with the impression that he wasn't planning to own the club over the long haul.

I could have misread him, though. That was just my impression at the time...."

[homesystem]

We'll see- but if anyone else were to buy the Buccos I don't see why they'd want to do anything differently than they're already doing it.. that'd be like changing horses mid-stream (and then getting eaten by the horses if you're Paco).

[Gregor]

We'll see- but if anyone else were to buy the Buccos I don't see why they'd want to do anything differently than they're already doing it.. that'd be like changing horses mid-stream (and then getting eaten by the horses if you're Paco).

Don't cross the horses?

[homesystem]

It would be bad.

[pnickers]

Especially being eaten by them. 

[Corny]

I just heard the first ' em Nuttings are lining their pockets ' comment of the season on Extra Innings.. Rocco seemed kind of annoyed.

I know Im not a Pittsburgh sports fan but what is Nuttings and who is Rocco?

I'm surprised that it took you this long to ask, with all those posts from Bryce and Matt over the last who knows how long...

Never paid attention to them til this morning and was curious. I'll make sure to read every post next time about Rocco's nuts.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Nutting

http://twitter.com/roccodemaro

[homesystem]

Encouraging news from Indianapolis:

Indianapolis was blown out last night, with Vinnie Chulk and Jeremy Powell allowing 13 runs between them, but Pedro Alvarez homered in his first Class AAA game. Brad Lincoln will start tonight.

[Tank Decker]

although this is a pretty sweet line too...

RHP Vinnie Chulk (216.00) allowed eight runs and seven hits in one-third of an inning of relief

[homesystem]

216.00.. that's insane.  I'd hope that 1/3 inning is an aberration because he looked decent throughout spring training.

[Tha_Professa]

http://www.postgazette.com/pg/10101/1049667-100.stm

Certainly puts that 2-0 start in perspective.

[Nye]

http://www.postgazette.com/pg/10101/1049667-100.stm

Certainly puts that 2-0 start in perspective.

*gasp*

[homesystem]

Thank god they don't need a fifth starter again for a few weeks.. Brad Lincoln can't come soon enough.

[Tank Decker]

and they can't be rid of Penn soon enough

[homesystem]

Yeah- but he's gonna stay on the roster even after GasCanrahan comes back cause he's outta options.. maybe Joe Kerrigan can work some magic.

[homesystem]

Here's a Bucs Dugout take on the inning from hell.. including what I was thinking they should do with Penn (but probably won't do):



"Daniel McCutchen started that inning with a walk and a fielder's choice and then allowed back-to-back homers to Chris Snyder and Kelly Johnson. With the Pirates having no real trouble with Edwin Jackson and a 6-4 score, John Russell could easily have kept the game alive by putting in a competent reliever, but instead he stuck with McCutchen, who looked visibly distraught on the mound. McCutchen allowed singles to Edwin Jackson and Conor Jackson, and then a triple to Stephen Drew, and the Diamondbacks led 8-4. Russell finally put in a reliever; unfortunately, the one he picked was Hayden Penn, who simply should not have been pitching with only a four-run lead and whose mess of an appearance inspired what's sure to be one of the more interesting quotes we hear from a broadcaster this season:

    "Hayden Penn pretty much upchucked all over Chase Field when his name was called" – Mark Grace

Yeah, there pretty much was upchuck all over the place. Penn entered the game with a runner on third, and the runner got to come home when Penn upchucked his first pitch all the way to the backstop. He then allowed a walk, a single, another walk, an RBI groundout and, for good measure, another walk. He had no idea where his pitches were going; he looked poised to run toward home after each pitch in the very likely event that the catcher would have to run somewhere to clean up his upchuck.

Normally I'm against making quick decisions about players, regardless of how much upchuck they spew in a given week, but Penn isn't someone who ever deserved a lot of time to begin with, and he hasn't shown any ability to command his pitches or get big league hitters out. He does have a good arm, but that could be said about any number of pitchers who stay marooned at AAA. I think it's doubtful anyone would claim Penn on waivers anyway, so there isn't much of a downside to just designating him for assignment and, assuming he clears waivers, dealing with him at Indianapolis."

[Tha_Professa]

http://www.postgazette.com/pg/10104/1050532-100.stm

Well at least they managed to avoid getting below .500 for a little while.

[Bull]

Bring up lincoln and go in a 4 man rotation?

[homesystem]

Maholm looked really good yesterday.. so that's another important step.. if Morton can get it together and Ohlendorf comes off the DL relatively soon the starters would have a chance to help rest of the team continue to win.. if the bullpen continues to be decent and the offense continues to produce.  That's a lot of ifs.
For now, let's just enjoy being 1 game out of 1st place while we can.

[homesystem]

And, since any optimism about the Buccos must constantly be tempered, here's this:

Since 1992, the Pirates have been 7-5 in 1993, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, and 2004 without ever finishing the season with a winning record. The disconnect between record and performance feels especially wide this season.

[Bull]

Yeah seven wins don't mean shit yet.

[Tank Decker]

damn...a 3 day bed-shitting session against the fucking Brewers

[pnickers]

Yeah, I really need to lay off the beer.  It's really becoming a pain in the ass to clean up every morning. 

[newefezziwig]

Yeah, I really need to lay off the beer.  It's really becoming a pain in the ass to clean up every morning. 

Gives a new meaning to "beer shits"

[Tank Decker]

16-0 in the 7th

[pnickers]

Wow!  When they lose, they lose bad. 

[Bull]

20 zip bottom of the ninth... lol.

[Tha_Professa]

I might have to switch the radio station and hear it for myself.....
Because that's unbelievably bad.