Pirates Game 104 Thoughts: 5-3 win over Atlanta

[Crimson's Ghost]

It seems like a while since the Pirates last game, and even longer since their last win. A disappointing series in  Milwaukee followed with an underwhelming trade deadline will do that to you. The Pirates got back on track tonight however. They used a solid pitching performance by their bullpen, and a big day from rookie Adam Frazier to take game one from Atlanta.  Speaking of Atlanta, this is the last time ever the Pirates will play in Turner Field. The Braves are moving to the suburbs, and Turner Field is being shut down.  The space is being re-purposed, as Georgia State University is buying the land. 

-- Gerrit Cole was coming off his best start ever, and didn't really follow it up strongly.  It's not that he was bad tonight, he just seemed to be laboring in a hot Georgia night and wasn't as effective. It took him 97 pitches to get through 5 innings. He got the win, and he's now 7-6 on the year with an ERA around 2.80, which is roughly the same ERA as Jake Arrieta.  Pirates fans tend to be critical of Cole and say things like "he's not an ace", yet he keeps putting up numbers.  When Cole is on, he's incredible. When he's not on, he's still effective. 

-- Antonio Bastardo is back, and had a quick 1-2-3 inning on 8 pitches.  Jon Niese gave up a solo shot for the Mets tonight. 

-- Felipe Rivero recorded two strikeouts and mixed in a hit and walk in there as well in two-thirds of an inning. He hasn't given up a run yet in 2 outings for the Bucs. 

-- Nefatali Feliz had to get 4 outs tonight, and threw 28 pitches. Usually not his forte, but he did fine. He gave up a solo homer, but fanned 3 Braves.

-- Tony Watson recorded his first save as the team's official closer, and the sixth of his career. 


-- John Jaso was 0-3 with a walk tonight.  I think people are starting to get restless waiting on Josh Bell, but I think it could happen soon.  Jaso was fine for 2 months, but hit a wall and hasn't rebounded. 

-- Gregory Polanco had a quiet 0-4 night. Not much from him

-- Matt Joyce earned the start tonight, and responded with a 1-3 showing with an RBI single. People have been clamoring for him to get opportunities to start with McCutchen's struggles, and he produced as they had hoped. 

-- Starling Marte was 1-3 and also had a walk. He scored a run as well. 

-- Jung-ho Kang had a big RBI double to the wall tonight. At first I thought it was gone, but it was one of the better struck balls he's had in the past month or so. 

-- Cervelli was 0-0 with a walk and a HBP.  The hit by pitch resulted in an early departure for Cervelli. He was hit in the head with a breaking ball, and tried to stay in the game but it was thought better of, and he exited.  Cerevelli has been running into a lot of injuries since signing his extension. Fryer stepped in, and scored a run. Fryer runs well for a catcher. I've grown to like him more than Stewart in his short stint with the Bucs. 

-- Adam Frazier was 2-4 with 2 RBI's tonight. One of the hits was a hustling double He also stole a base, and made a nice head's up play to move to third on a grounder to short.  Frazier just plays with heart and hustle - he's fun to watch and probably should be starting 2-3 times a week, at least.  He made a defensive mistake that resulted in a run, but he was trying to make a play.  It wasn't smart, but he's always trying to make something happen. Hard not to like him. 

-- Mercer was 0-4 with an RBI groundout. 


The Pirates take game one from Atlanta, and will look to take a second tomorrow with Jeff Locke on the hill.  In terms of teams ahead of them, the Cardinals lost, the Mets won, the Marlins are losing. Should Miami lose, they'll be one back in the loss column. 

[konjo78]

Noticed a trend.... only do these thoughts when the pirates win not when they lose.

[Crimson's Ghost]

You can take care of the losses in Konjo's Korner if you want. 

[konjo78]

I think the fact youve only done 5 since game 50 is the real eye opener though. Not that your write ups arent quality but more than the season is too long. So many fans get burned out by june and july that baseball is just kinda there. Cant imagine its amazing for the players either!

[letsgo]

Keep them coming Crimson!! Enjoy reading them to start my day!

[12HankQB]

I think the fact youve only done 5 since game 50 is the real eye opener though. Not that your write ups arent quality but more than the season is too long. So many fans get burned out by june and july that baseball is just kinda there. Cant imagine its amazing for the players either!

You say this about every sport.  Can't you just be happy?

[Crimson's Ghost]

Since Game 50, I've gone on a week long vacation, attended 3 concerts, been to 2 weddings, attended a weekend bachelor party, played in a charity wiffle ball tournament.

Kind've been busy.

[12HankQB]

Plus there's a lot to you post. Takes some serious sit down time to put together I'm sure, which we all but one appreciate.

Next week in Konjo's Korner, we'll be talking about the color Periwinkle and how it should not be in Crayola's list of crayon colors. It rhymes with Bullwinkle, who we all know wasn't a real talking moose. Seems sketchy to me. We'll be reading excerpts from the biography of Danny Ferens and the Washington State Times. Finally, we'll finish up with a small power point presentation on the risks of playing League of Legends: how it causes career ending carpal tunnel, how it's a gateway to World of Warcraft, and that tournament season last entirely too long.

And that's the way the cookie crumbles… I'm Bruce Nolan. Eyewitness News.

[12HankQB]

Konjo, I like giving you a hard time.

Did any of you see this? I love Votto. http://m.mlb.com/cutfour/2016/08/02/193 ... s-in-style

I don't know if this is as good as the paper airplane

[DragonsDoExist]

Votto is a clown.


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