Saturday, August 06, 2005

Game 111: Dodgers at Pirates

7:05 PM EST. Zach Duke (4-0, 0.92 ERA) tries to stop the bleeding again, this time against Odalis Perez, and likely in front of another sell-out crowd on Skyblast night 2. All hail Brad Eldred for his first jack last night! Anyone fortunate enough to be attending the festivities this evening please throw a bone to us less fortunate fans with comments, news, impressions, or opinions on Duke, Eldred, other Pirates, or the pyrotechnical display.

Only 9 days left until the Steelers' preseason opener vs. the Eagles. Big Ben looked sharp today.

Friday, August 05, 2005

Game 110: Dodgers at Pirates

7:05 PM EST. Derek Lowe vs. Josh Fogg. The Bucs host the first of three against the lowly 48-60 Dodgers. Fogg will try to build a case for his 2.15 million dollar salary and a 2006 rotation spot.

All hail NL Rookie-of-the-Month for July, Zach Duke!

"I'm not going to get complacent," said Duke. "I still have a lot of work to do."

Thursday, August 04, 2005

Game 109: Padres at Pirates

(The two-day-old reverse jinx is 2-0. I'll try for 3, hoping for another Bucs' win).

12:35 EST. Brian Lawrence drop-kicks Mark Redman. Look for our low-rent last-place split-squad to shuffle slowly into the slaughterhouse and, of course, lose big. The "hidden languorish" in Eldred's 4-for-4 guarantees an 0-for-5 with 3 Ks tonight. The lad certainly won't go yard.

Wednesday, August 03, 2005

Game 108: Padres at Pirates.

(My prediction for yesterday's game couldn't have been much more horribly wrong. I'll try again, lowering the bar).

7:05 PM EST. Newly acquired Chan Ho Park drop-kicks Dave Williams. Look for our ragtag motley crew of fourth outfielders, utility infielders, and mop-up men to get another mudhole stomped in their ass. To mix things up, Mac will leave some poor lemming in to give up a sixth consecutive hit or walk. Oh wait, he did that yesterday. BTW, RV was ready with the mop, right? WTF leave White in after giving up 6 hits/walks (5 consecutive) to see a 7th (6th consecutive)? Anyway, expect more of the same learned helplessness tonight as our overmatched half-roster has its gaping weaknesses systematically exposed and exploited.

Tuesday, August 02, 2005

Game 107: Padres at Pirates

7:05 PM EST. Pirates return home for the big Jake Peavy vs. Kip Wells smackdown. Although tied with the D-backs for first in the NL West, the Padres are on the ropes, having lost 9 of their last 10 . Look for another dominant outing by Kip and a huge Bucs victory featuring multiple Eldred/Doumit jacks. Gerut will likely hit fifth and play RF. Jason Bay says his knee is fine, expect him to bat third and hit for the cycle.

Meanwhile, over in Steelers training camp, Kendall Simmons "smoked his competition" and Casey Hampton "looked svelte" in the "run-test".

Monday, August 01, 2005

Game 106: Pirates at Braves

1:05 PM EST. Zach Duke tries to stop the bleeding against Tim Hudson in another chance to avoid the four game sweep. Bucs have lost 5 straight, are 22.5 games back, and now at 44-61 have the worst record in the NL besides the Rockies. I'm guessing Gerut will hit second as the Lawton-less Bucs try to find other ways to score a few runs. At least if Gerut totally tanks or hurts himself again, we won't owe him much in arbitration.

Mercifully, Steelers training camp began today. #1 pick Heath Miller signed (as did #2 pick Bryant McFadden and #3 pick Trai Essex) but Hines Ward didn't report to camp and is apparently going to hold out until he's offered a contract extension.

Sunday, July 31, 2005

Matt Lawton for Jody Gerut

Welcome aboard, Jody. Gerut is a 27 year old left-handed RF who can't hit lefties. Against righties, he's decent. In 2003, he tore the rotator cuff in his left shoulder. In Sept. 2004, he tore the ACL in his right knee. So he's either undervalued or injury-prone. Overall, it sounds like he'll fit right in. He's only making 356K this year, so this should free up some money for either next year's payroll or Nutting's coffers.

75 minutes past the deadline and this is the only Pirates trade that has been announced.

Game 105: Pirates at Braves

1:05 PM EST. Fogg vs. Smoltz. Last-place Bucs try to salvage some dignity and avoid four game sweep. With our play of late, the odds of this happening are not favorable.

Trade deadline today at 4 PM EST. What goes down will shape the future of the franchise.