How can you celebrate the 4th any better than a beautiful, sunny day at the ballpark? (especially when the Buccos play a very exciting game!)

Jeff Karstens took the mound vs Joe Blanton. It was a scorcher out there. Before the game started I snuck down to the Lexus Club to cool off. I didn’t want to get busted for not having a ticket so I only took a few pictures. (I was very tempted by the yummy food) It was very fancy.

The 7th inning was awesome. The Pirates were down 5-2. Pedro Alvarez led off with a Solo Homerun. (Back to back games) DY came up with the game tieing double (His 9th dbl of the season) GFJ had a 2 RBI double. The Pirates scored 6 Runs and 10 men came to the plate during the 7th.

Each of the last 10 HR have been solo shots (Pedro with the last 2)

Joel Hanrahan came in in the 8th inning. He has now 4 consecutive outings, perfect 1-2-3 outings. (Since June 24th)

The Phillies 4 game series drew in 122,412. It was the 5th largest 4 game attendance in PNC Park in History.

• Karstens 6 IP, 9H, 5R, 5ER, 2K, 0BB. 86 Pitches, 53 for strikes.
• It was the 1st time this season the Pirates won back to back series.
•  The Pirates won 8-5 and took the series 3-4. The Pirates end the season 4-2 against the Phillies.
• The Pirates are 23-0 when leading after 8 innings.
• Alvarez 2-4, HR(2), 2RBI
• Tabata 2-4, RBI, SB, 2RUNS
• Blanton 6.1 IP, 6H, 5ER, 7K, 0BB
• WP- Meek 4-2
• LP- Contreras 3-3
• SV- Dotel 19
• The 8 Runs for the Pirates yesterday was the most they have scored in a game since May 14 (47 game span)
• The 6 Runs the Pirates scored in the 7th inning was the most for the Pirates since Sept 4, 2009.
• Pirates Streak of 46 games without scoring more than 6 runs was the longest in the majors since the 1985 Dodgers (48).

I didn’t take many pictures during the weekend series. To be honest it was so hot everyday I didnt want to keep messing with my camera. 

• The Phillies

May 22-June 15                                                 June 16-Present

Runs per game- 2.4                                            Runs per game- 6.1

Games shutout- 6                                               Games shutout- 1

Games w/ 5+ runs- 2                                           Games w/ 5+ runs- 10

.218 AVG                                                           .270 AVG

Record- 6-15                                                       Record- 10-7

• Complete Games (NL Leaders)

Phillies 9

Rockies 5

Giants 4

Reds 3

Marlins 3

Prospect Watch: Pitchers

• Danny Moskos 2-1, 1.32 ERA, 17 SV
• Rudy Ownes 8-3, 2.66 ERA, 0.96 WHIP
• Justin Wilson 6-4, 2.88 ERA, 1.14 WHIP
• Bryan Morris 7-3, 2.24 ERA, 90K, 25BB
• Nathan Adcock 7-3, 3.45 ERA, 1.17 WHIP

Prospect Watch: Hitters

• Josh Harrison .312 AVG, 1HR, 42 RBI
• Gorkys Hernanandez .255 AVG, 2HR, 21 RBI, 14 SB
• Chase D’Arnaud .248 AVG, 2HR, 29 RBI, 17 SB
• Calvin Anderson .293 AVG, 9HR, 49 RBI
• Jarek Cunningham .268 AVG, 6HR, 27 RBI

Pirates when…

                                                        June                              Season

Scoring Run in 1st                            3-4                                   17-9

Allowing run in 1st                            2-7                                    5-24

Ahead after 1st                                 1-2                                   12-5

Behind after 1st                                0-6                                   2-22

Tied after 1st                                    5-13                                 17-27

Ahead after 6th                                2-3                                    19-4

Behind after 6th                               2-14                                   4-47

Tied after 6th                                   2-3                                    8-3

Around the Ballparks:

• Strasburg (6 starts) saturday vs the mets: 5IP, 4H, 2ER, 5K

Season Splits (by starts)

First 3                                                     Last 3     

2-0                                                          0-2

1.86 ERA                                                 3.12 ERA

K/BB 32/5                                                K/BB 21/5

opp avg .149                                             Opp Avg .279

• Justin Verlander (last 6 starts at home)

5-1, 2.05 ERA, 8.8 K per 9IP, opp avg .196

• Jimenez (Sat Start entered 14-1, 1.82 ERA)

6IP, 5H, 7ER, 5K - ERA now at 2.27

1st 14 Starts                                         Last 3

13-1                                                      1-0

7.1 IP/start                                             6.0 IP/Start

13 ER                                                    17 ER

1.15 ERA                                                8.66 ERA

Opp Avg .189                                          .271 Opp Avg

• The Dbacks had 6 Errors in Sat’s game vs Dodgers (Most by 1 team this season) lose to Dodgers 14-1.
• The Yankees have hit 8 Grand Slams this season. When bases are loaded the team batting average is .429.
• Adam Wainwright at Home this season:

9 Starts, 9-0, 1.43 ERA, 7.2 IP/Start, Opp Avg .189. His 2.06 ERA at home since 2008 is the best in the MLB

• The Rockies beat the Giants 4-3 in 5 Hours and 24 minutes, the longest game by time in Coors Field History.
• The Cardinals Adam Wainwright pitched his 5th career CG, but did so in fewer than 100 pitches (for the 1st time in Sunday’s win)
• Cliff Lee tied a career high with 11 K’s in the 8-1 Win over the Tigers
• The Reds hit 7 HR’s sunday against the Cubs, most by any team in any game this season.
• Jonathan Broxton got his 17th save yesterday- his 1st save in nearly a month (vs Cardinals June 9th)
•   SD Padres Pitching:

ERA 3.08 (1st)

Strikeouts 646 (1st)

WHIP 1.21 (1st)

Saves 24 (T-1st)

I taped the Game from yesterday so that I could watch Pirates post game. I was fast forwarding through and guess who I found on tv?! Yours truly!

I love my reaction, as well as the other peoples in the crowd after the called third strike on Ronny Cedeno.

Well, It took 55 AB’s but It finally happened last night! Pedro Alvarez with his 1st ML Homerun.to the left field bleachers. (the 1st of many) To witness it in person was pretty cool and It’s something I will never forget. Hopefully, (no pressure) one day when his phenomenal career is over (if he produces the way they say he will) possible HOF’er? It will be awesome to say I was there for his first hit and HR. (I don’t want to get a head of myself, I know he’s only been here a few weeks. But they compare him to Willie Stargell. He has been the best prospect in the system since Barry Bonds. So yes, I’m pretty excited to see a guy like that)

“I’m trying to get more comfortable, doing a good job of calming down and trying to settle in and just taking it day by day. My intention is to every day get a little better and better, but probaly (this was) as comfortable as I’ve felt all year so far.” -Pirates.com

Unfortunately, that was the only good thing about the game last night. The rest? Well it was pretty ugly.

Maholm went 3 IP 10H (season high) 8R 7ER 2BB 1 K

Paul wasn’t as bad as his timeline shows. Pedro miss played a ball, as well as Crosby missplayed a ball which would have been an easy DP and the Pirates would have gotten out of the inning. It should have never happened. But it did. And it went sour from there. Everything that could go wrong, did. It was not a very fun game to sit through. 

Maholm did not make himself available to the media after the game. He walked through the crowd of reporters not aknowledging them.

• Ryan Church did have a HR and went 3 for 3 with a BB.
• The Pirates lost 12-4 and have dropped to 29-52 on the season.
• Hanrahan hasn’t given up a run in his last 9 appearances (9IP)
• Steve Pearce underwent an MRI in Indy on Friday. The test confirmed that he has Patella Tendinitis. He will travel to Pittsburgh to be examined further. -Pirates.com 
• Octavio Dotel rumors continue to swirl. -PostGazette
• Alvarez 2-4, 1st ML HR, 2 runs
• Rollins 3-4 HR, 3RBI, 3 Runs
• Howard 2-5, 3RBI
• Kendrick had his 1st career CG. 10H 4R 3ER 4K 2BB

There’s nothing much more to discuss about the game. It was not pleasant. Going back to the ballpark again today for the last home game until after the all star break. (At noon the results for the Pirates representative will be annouced) Should be a beautiful day for baseball. Hope everyone has a happy safe 4th!

Around the Ballparks:

• Kirk Gibson was named the Dbacks new Manager. He won his 1st gm Friday.

“My goal is to be a world campion again. It’s just so much fun. It’s the ultimate acomplishment. I’d really would just love to have these guys experience what is really means, what it takes to do so.”

• The Braves (entering sat) last 22 Home games:

19-3 .272 AVG 5.1 runs/gm 3.33 ERA

They are 22-9 at home this season (best in MLB)

• Dodgers Kuroda had the shortest outing of his career Friday. 1.2 IP 8H 6ER 3K. The Dodgers lost to the Dbacks 12-5.
• Yankees bullpen this season:

Mariano Rivera

0.86 ERA 0.61 WHIP 5.2 K/BB Ratio

rest of the Yankees pen:

4.80 ERA 1.46 WHIP 1.8 K/BB Ratio

• Tim Wakefield made his 201st start on Friday at Fenway, a new MLB record passing Roger Clemens.
• Since Jon Niese has returned from the DL on June 5th, he has been hot.

5-0 2.43 ERA IP per start: 6.2 32/9 K/BB

• The most wins when scoring 2 runs or fewer (this season):

Pirates 8

Padres 8

Rockies 6

Dodgers 6

Twins 6

• Best Home record since June 2nd:

Tigers 11-1 .917 Win Pct

Red Sox 11-3 .786 win Pct

Braves 11-3 .786 win pct

Rangers 10-3 .769 win pct

Mets 9-3 .750 win pct

• The Padres pitching staff has not allowed a run over the last 18 innings, its longest streak since going 26.0 straight scoreless (4/28-5/1). The Padres also beat the Astros 1-0 and now lead the NL with most shutouts (12) Heath Bell got his 23rd save of the season.
• Josh Hamilton hit the longest HR in the History of Rangers Ballpark, 490 ft yesterday.

“I’m excited to hold the longest home run in the park now.” – Rangers.com

• The Cubs left 17 men on base yesterday, one shy of the NL record (9 inning game) the most since 1920.
• Jim Thome had his 45th multi HR game of his career yesterday. His 45 gms with 2+ HR are the 3rd most among active players.

Ross pitched a phenomenal game last night.He went 7IP 5H 0R 8K 1BB (He has now pitched 13 straight scoreless innings) 64 of his 95 pitches were strikes.

It was his 1st win since Aug 18, 2009. (16 Consecutive starts without a win)   

He seems to be back to the 09 version of himself, which was dominant.

Me and Ross the Boss from last year:

• Dotel picked up his 18th save (of 20) and opp hitters are batting just .125 against him.
• The Starters (last 5 gms) are 3-1 with a 1.11 ERA. The team ERA has been lowered from 5.30 to 5.18.
• The Pirates last 6 starts= 39.1 IP 4ER 0.92 ERA
• The more the merrier. (Home record with Larger crowds:

25,000                        12-4 (2009)        8-2 (2010)

30,000                        7-2 (2009)          5-0 (2010)

Tomorrow is standing room only, and sunday is expected to be a huge crowd as well. Looking good in the bucs favor. If only we had huge crowds every game. :-/

• Friday marked the 3rd consecutive game a Pirates starting pitcher recorded his 1st win of the season, as Daniel McCutchen beat the Phillies on thursday and Brad Lincoln beat the Cubs on Wed. That has happened only one other time after June 1st in ML History, when the Red Sox’s Smoky Joe Wood, King Brady, and Don McMahon each won his 1st start of the season Oct 3-6, 1908.
• Lowest ERA among Relief Pitchers: (minimum 30 innings pitched)

Jose Valverde 0.53 ERA

Mariano Rivera 0.89 ERA

Evan Meek 0.98 ERA

Arthur Rhodes 1.09 ERA

Billy Wagner 1.15 ERA

• Jamie Moyer has had 103 Career wins since turning 40 (2nd most) (Tabata, Alvarez and McCutchen were not alive when Moyer made his ML start, June 18, 1986.)

He went 6IP 5H 1ER 8K 2BB

• Pirates are now 19-11 vs Phillies all time at PNC Park. 8-5 at home vs Lefty Starters in 2010.
• They are now 22-0 after leading through 8IP.
• Howard, Rollins, Werth, Ibanez and Victorino are just 5 for 35 in losses to the Pirates.
• The Phillies have been shutout 8 times this season. On pace for 17 shutouts. That hasn’t happened to the Phils since 1971.
• McCutchen 2-3, BB, SB, Run
• Alvarez 1-4 (w/ a 5 gm hitting streak batting .263)

Other Pirates News:

The Pirates agree to terms with 16 round selection Matt Curry. The team has now signed 15 picks from this years draft.

JR on if he thinks Steven Strasburgh should be selected to the All Star Game: -Triblive

“I think (making) the All-Star Game is an honor,” Russell said. “Not to take anything away from Stephen Strasburg — he’s going to be an outstanding pitcher; he already is — but I look at the All-Star Game as (being for) guys who have put together a full first half of a season, who’ve been consistent and have shown what they can do for an extended period of time.

“Even though (Strasburg) has probably pitched as well as any starting pitcher in baseball, he’s been around for a short period of time. He’s going to have plenty of All-Star Games to pitch in. I don’t know that this year will be the one. I’m a believer that it’s (based) on the total package.”

Hayden Penn was named AAA Player of the month of June (4-1 with a 1.89 ERA and 32K’s in 33.1 IP)

Zack Duke threw side yesterday with no problems. He will make his 1st of 2 rehab starts July 5th with AA Altoona.

Charlie Morton was taken off the DL and was optioned to AAA Indy. Huntington explains on his decision here

According to MLBTradeRumors the Marlins have inquired on Octavio Dotel.

Dotel has pitched in the last 3 games, and 4 of 5. Hanny or Meek tonight if there is a save situation??

Today’s Pitching Matchup:

Kyle Kendrick

4-3 4.88 ERA

In his last 4 Starts he is 1-1 with a 6.04 ERA

vs

Paul Maholm

5-6 3.98 ERA

Paul is 3-1 with a 3.29 ERA in 6 Starts against the Phillies.

Don’t take that literally. I’m sure he is a very clean and nice guy. I’m talking about him as a pitcher. Filthy and Disgusting are perfect words to describe his outing tonight (and his outings this season)

Meek came in the 7th inning and was lights out. Everyone should be very excited about him as he is the probable future closer. (FSN pgh call him “Evan Almighty”) The bottom of the 7th inning was an interesting one. I noticed him on deck swinging a bat. I was stunned and very confused as I’m sure most of you guys were as well. It was his 1st ML at bat. He layed down a very very very nice sac bunt. (If only some of the other pitchers could do the same)

8th inning was intense. Meek struck out Ryan Howard on a full count curveball with Rollins at 2B.

2 batters later, he got Ibanez to flyout to left. He went 2 scoreless IP. Only allowed 1 hit, 1BB. His ERA dropped down to 0.98. He still has the lowest ERA in baseball. Just ridiculous.

No offense to Andrew McCutchen (he has been great all year long) but last night’s performance from Evan is just one of many great great outings and he really deserves to go to the All Star Game.

Meek reguarding All Star Nod:

“A few people have asked me about it, and I thought a little about it. I think it would be a honor to go. It would be awesome to go. But other than that, I’m just trying to keep things day to day, just looking at the schdule, seeing what road trips we got, where were going and just going from there. But in terms of thinking about it, I really havent’t that much.”

John Russell openly pushed for his selection to the All Star Game:

Asked if Meek should make it: “Absolutely. This guy has gotten accolades from around the league. The Players know him, managers know him…hes not fun to hit off. What he’s done the 1st half of the year…absolutely. I think he should be a shoo-in. What he’s done to opposing teams is phenomenal.” -Pittsburgh Post Gazette

How has Meek–In his first full season in the majors–achieved such consistent dominance?

“JR has been very consistent in putting me in similar situations. I can read it pretty well down in the bullpen. If we have the lead, I pretty much know that seventh inning is going to be mine. I know my role more and so preparation and routine has become much more consistent. I’m just keeping things simple. All I do is figure out who I’m facing, go over what we went over and that’s it. I just know what stuff I have and know what I feel is going to get the hitter out.” -Bygoshitslangosh 

I guess we will have to wait and wonder who will represent the Bucco’s until Sunday.

Sorry to have stolen the thunder away from Daniel McCutchen but I thought Evan Meek deserved praise for an outstanding year so far. (The guys in the bullpen seem to get over looked often)

He went 5 IP 2R 1ER 4K 0BB

78 Pitches, 51 for K’s

D Cutch got ahaed of 12 of the 23 batters he faced. It is his 1st win of the season and 2nd ML win for Daniel. (1st win was Oct 2, 09) McCutchen pitched very well. He even struck out the side in the 2nd inning

• Dotel picked up his 17th save of the season.
• The Pirates have won the last 3 of 4 and are now 17-19 at PNC Park this season.
• Pirates best win % vs opp at PNC Park (Going into July 1st)

vs Marlins: 19-9 .679%

vs Rockies 21-13 .618%

vs Phillies 17-11 .607%

• The Pirates starting pitchers have just 4ER in 32 1/3 innings (going into last nights game)
• The Pirates have won 2 in a row for the 1st time since May 20th.
• 22 of 28 wins this year have been by 2 runs or less. They’re 14-12 in 1 run games and 12 of last 13 wins have been by 2 or fewer runs.
• Bucs happy to have rough June behind them -Pirates.com
• GFJ celebrated his 1 year anniversary in the the bigs yesterday. How has he done? Check out RTJR for the recap of his 1st game and WHYGAVS for a detailed summary.

Pedro Alvarez batted in the 2 spot yesterday for the 1st time. I noticed a lot of people on twitter not too happy with it. Traditionally the 2nd spot isnt a power guy. More of a guy that can lay down bunts, move the lead off guy over. The beauty in baseball is that you don’t have to follow by the book. Jason Heyward hits in the 2nd spot and he’s a power guy. I was curious to see how he would do. I’m all for giving Pedro more AB’s and he would see better pitches hitting 2nd. He went 1-4 with an RBI and 2K’s. The 1 hit he had was a MONSTER. a 405 ft RBI double. When it left the bat I stood up immediately. It was hit into the north side notch. SO CLOSE to being his first homerun. Once this guy gets going, he’s going to be a machine.

• Neil Walker should be returning to the lineup tomorow. He took grounders at 2B yesterday.

Today’s Pitching Matchup:

Jamie Moyer

9-6 4.30 ERA

Moyer became just the 40th pitcher in baseball history to throw 4,000 or more innings in a career in his last start Sunday against the Jays. He also allowed the 506th homer of his career, an all-time record

vs.

Ross Ohlendorf

0-6 4.90 ERA

Ohly hasn’t won in his last 11 starts this year, although he did not allow an earned run in his last outing.

Around the Ballparks:

• The Dbacks fired GM Josh Byrnes and Manager AJ Hinch. Kirk Gibson will be the new interim manager and Jerry DiPoto will be the interim GM.
• Ex Pirate, Matt Capps ERA in April = 0.68. Since then = 5.07. Enough said.
• Chase Utley will be out 8 weeks. That’s 50 games. He’s only missed 54 in his previous 5 years combined.
• Kevin Wood of the Reds made his Major league debut yesterday against the Cubs. He went 7IP 2H 2ER 4K
• A Rod hit is 595th Career HR yesterday against the Mariners.  

I am so lucky and fortunate to have season tickets. And believe me, I don’t take it for granted. PNC Park has quickly been my 2nd home this summer. (More so, than ever)

Everytime I am at the ballpark, I feel like a little kid again.

Okay. That’s not me. But that’s exactly how I feel.

Oh, yes. I just embarrased myself. Haha I look like such a dork. But I love this picture. I started out playing 2B but was converted to a pitcher soon after.

The phightin phils are in the burgh for a four game series. It’s the only time they will be town the whole season.

Here is today’s Pitching Matchup:

Cole Hamels                                vs                       Daniel McCutchen 

6-6 4.08 ERA                                                         0-3 11.00 ERA

His last start against the Blue Jays                          This is Daniel’s 4th start, his 2nd since

didn’t go so well. He allowed 9 R in                           being recalled. There’s a lot of pressure 

5 innings, including 3 HR.                                        on him to make a good start. Unless he

                                                                             dazzles he could be back in AAA once

                                                                             Zack Duke comes off the DL.

Pirates this season:

April:                                 May:                                          June:

10-13                                11-18                                          6-20

.236 AVG                           .238 AVG                                   .238 AVG

3.6 runs/gm                       3.0 runs/gm                                 3.2 runs/gm

8.1 hits/gm                        7.8 hits/gm                                  7.8 hits/gm

21 HR                               15 HR                                         14 HR

6.62 ERA                           4.36 ERA                                    4.91 ERA

10.3 hits allowed/gm           9.3 hits allowed/gm                      9.9 hits allowed/gm

.291 opp avg                      .274 opp avg                                .292 opp avg

4/7 save/oppurtunity            8/11 save/oppurtunity                    5/8 save/oppurtunity 

• Pedro Alvarez: No reason to Freak out yet - Bucs Dugout

Around the Ballparks:

• Until Kung Fu Panda’s single in the 9th inning of yesterday’s game, Pablo was 0 for his last 13 and 1 for 20 vs LHP. Hitting just .211 vs lefties in 2010.
• The Giants sent Bengie Molina to the Rangers for Chris Ray
• Zack Greinke pitched his 1,000th inning in the Majors yesterday. He is the 12th pitcher to do so for the Royals.
• Emerging Ace Alert: Clayton Richard (Padres)

Since his last 10 starts:

5-2 2.42 ERA

Averaging 6.2 Innings per start

52/21 K/BB

• Dodgers Vincent Padilla won his 100th career win yesterday (against the SF Giants)
• Justin Morneau (Last 10 gms) .419 AVG 3HR 9RBI .698SLG
• Adam Jones (last 10 gms) .419 AVG 5HR 12 RBI
• King Feliz follows Cliff Lee with Gem as Mariners top the Yankees- Link

CG 2H 0ER 11K 115 Pitches

• Consecutive Complete Games vs Yankees (last 20 years)

Cliff Lee/Felix Hernandez 2010

Chris Carpenter/Kelvim Escobar 2000

Mark Langston/Jim Abbott 1991