PIT @ SD 9/12

Pirates Lineup: (39-74)

McCutchen CF

Tabata LF

Walker 2B

Jones 1B

Alvarez 3B

Doumit C

Young RF

Diaz SS

Duke P

Padres Lineup: (66-46)

J.Hairston 2B

Tejada SS

Gonzalez 1B

Ludwick RF

Headley 3B

S.Hairston LF

Denorfia CF

Hundley C

Garland P

 

• Argenis Diaz is making his first major league start at shortstop. He was re-called from Triple-A Indy on July 21st but has never started. He has three career at-bats (1-for-3 .333 AVG)
• Ryan Doumit, who made a horrible non-play yesterday, is starting as catcher today. (Because he proved to catch the ball so well yesterday?)
• The Pirates are wearing throwback 1970′s pinstripe uni’s today in honor of the Padres “throwback thursdays” which I must say is pretty sweet.The Buccos will also be wearing the pill box caps while the Padres will wear the mustard yellow jerseys.
• Zach Duke is 2-2 in 4 starts against SD. 27.2 IP, 23 H, 11 ER, 2 HR, 12 BB, 18 K
• Some relevant facts about the current state of the Pirates -PiratesEI  

 

 

 

 

Greg Brown interviewed Chris Resop on Pirates Pre-Game yesterday:

GB: “Chris, I know this doesn’t suprise you but to some of us who kind of followed your career from afar, you’ve ”wowed” some of us in the Broadcast booth by this arm and we’re wondering, “Man, the Atlanta Braves. They are pitching rich certainly but they have given the Pirates an oppurtunity here with you. And of course it’s a great oppurtunity for you.”

CR: “Yeah. The one thing about Atlanta is their starting staff right now, from top to bottom, all five of those guys are putting together such quality starts that they’re really running on about a four, five man bullpen. It’s just one of those things and you kind of get squeezed out of a position and that’s fine because another door opened for me. And I was greatly appreciative of this oppurtunity that Pittsburgh has given me and I’m going to try to do my best.”

GB: “Were you suprised that it was Pittsburgh at all?”

CR: “No. I was just happy. I was relieved I was able to get claimed off waivers no matter who it was. Everybody’s always asking “Where do you want to play?” I don’t care where I play as long as I have a job and I’m playing the game I love.”

GB: “Chris, what about starting or relieving? We’ve asked Neil Huntington about this, and you have a history of course of starting and knock-out numbers down in Gwinette-Triple-A in Atlanta’s organization this year. The Pirates seem like they are in need of starters. Would you relish that oppurtunity?”

CR: “Yeah. Again, this goes along with who I want to play for, same thing. I don’t care if I’m the water boy. So whether it’s starting, it’s relieving, it’s middle relief, whatever it might be, I’ll take any oppurtunity I get as long as I’m pitching.”

GB: “How big was your experience in Japan? What did you learn from that?”

CR: “I think the most important thing I learned was, and this is going to sound kind of funny, but, to not take this game for granted. I learned to respect this game so much more from being there and not really pitching. I almost feel like the game was being taken from me. It really opened my eyes and made me really appreciate every oppurtunity I have over here.”

GB: “Doesn’t that Chris, in turn almost help you become a better pitcher?”

CR: “Yeah, it does. You sit down and you start to focus more and you start to concentrate a little harder. And you do the small things that make you a much better player.”

GB: “We haven’t had a chance to see you swing the bat just yet. You are really recently, a pitcher.”

CR: “Yeah, 2004 was my first year throwing. I was drafted as an outfielder in high school. Obviously the hitting thing didn’t work out. [Laughs] That’s why I’m here today. I can hit a little bit if push comes to shove. I can get a bunt down I guess I can say. [Laughs]