By Dejan Kovacevic | Trib Total Media
BRADENTON, Fla. — Looking ahead to first pitch …
Game: Pirates (2-6) vs. Houston Astros, exhibition
Starters: RHP Kyle McPherson vs. RHP John Ely
Time: 1:05 p.m.
Site: McKechnie Field
Radio: KDKA-AM 1020
Here is the official live box score, and here is TribLIVE’s Pirates page.
Among our coverage today: Here’s the Sunday column about Clint Hurdle and his highly candid, I’m betting you’ll agree, observations about how he hopes to keep his players’ trust after Epic Collapses I and II. … Rob Biertempfel takes a close look at the art of pitch-framing. … And here’s my news coverage of the conflicting assessments regarding Russell Martin’s status.
Here is today’s home team lineup:
- Jose Tabata, LF
- Clint Barmes, SS
- Andrew McCutchen, CF
- Pedro Alvarez, 3B
- Neil Walker, 2B
- Garrett Jones, 1B
- Brad Hawpe, DH
- Jerry Sands, RF
- Tony Sanchez, C
UPDATE 10:38 a.m.: Martin clearly got his wish to not play today, though he has come out for drills right now in full gear. In other drills of late, he’s been just rolling the ball away after receiving rather than throwing it back to the pitcher.
Again, see link above for Clint Hurdle saying yesterday he’d expected Martin to play today.
Heading down soon to Bradenton to attend today’s game.
They’ve lost six straight. So if they lose another, not my fault.
But if they break the jinx while I’m there, EYE get the credit.
Me.
I’ll have my iPhone with me so I’ll post from the game. Only important stuff…
Size of Tabata’s butt. Snider’s pregame meal. Pedro’s ears. Whether Hurdle and Martin come to blows over whether he plays C. Baseball fights. Brush-back pitches. Whether anyone sulks when they’re taken out. Or in general if anyone appears like he doesn’t wanna be here. (We already know the answer, so I’ll give Dejan a pass on that one)
It’s freezing today, so I’ll save my streaking for later in March. Sorry Dejan.
Have fun, Drew, watch out for those restraining orders
Just in case it’s warmer than I expect I, ummm, shaved.
14 paragraph posts please Drew.
And please do not mention Dan Bylsma in any of them. Or anyone that plays on the 3rd or 4th line.
I wonder if the space between the players’ clubhouse and the manager’s office is referred to as the neutral zone trap.
amen
Fantasy Leagues
Everyone is welcome
All Yahoo
League ID – 25547
Password – 1203
ID – 25558
Password – 1203
ID – 25576
Password – 1203
ID – 25595
Password – 1203
Any update on the apparent conflict?
Is it real? A misunderstanding? Or is it still in the apparent stage?
I sit behind home plate. I can take good butt pictures for those who want to measure Tabata, Snider or Pedro.
Which gives me an idea for a new avatar.
Tho it may be a better fit for Thunder.
Those were always the popular vacation pics when I was growing up. My dad would take the pictures of us walking towards whatever the site was. So of course, lots of butt pics.
95 wins.
I can see a scenario where that happens, but I can also see a 95 loss scenario.
As Biz says, “Hope but expect.”
Career years will lead to 95 W’s, but a slow start and a massive trade-off at the ASB will lead to 95 losses.
+1
Hope but expect
Rust never sleeps
You can check out any time you like
But you can never leave
Every last one of those was written about the Pirates.
Every one.
As well as the remote Eno classic…
Baby’s on fire
Better throw him in the water
Almost forgot. The Velvet Underground. Heroin.
Both lineups today
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/484934_10151484034435865_123587881_n.jpg
Car thermostat registering 46 degrees.
They may have to switch sports.
Oklahoma Drills.
Hurdle vs Russell Martin.
Does McPherson take a step up today in the race for te 5th rotation spot. Couple of shaky appearances from starters last few days, would like to see someone thre some zeroes up there.
Glad to see Martin resting, way too early to be pushing it…plus gives Sanchez some additional reps after all he is the catcher of the future.
keep hearing about the minor league players being more mature. Any thoughts on why?
Navy Seal training would seem like the most obvious answer to me.
Or that when they act immature Kyle Stark screams in their face.
Then I had better avoid Kyle Stark
what’s his butt like?
Firm. Hard. Nasty. Arrogant. Militaristic.
I figured he would at least try to be a hard a%&
More mature? Maybe it’s because they’ve been stuck in the minors for so long that some of them have grandkids now.
Wow. I sounded like Drew there…
They train in Florida.
Everyone there is considered “mature”
like
They are more mature because their average age is 27. The Pirates AAA roster probably has a higher average age than that of the Royals major league roster.
Cy Young. 1-2-3 inning. Watched a scout’s gun. Consistently running them in at 93.
Andrew out trying to steal. By 17 feet.
DK: Drew in the house?
But at least he’s on the cover of Road to the Show that comes out this week.
Wonder if the picture of him on the cover is one of him being caught stealing.
Drew, thanks for the updates. At least one team knows how to control the opponents running.
Well, looks like some of hurdles lessons are coming through.
Walker almost killed the pitcher. Hard comebacker over the pitchers head for a crisp single. Then Jones drilled a hard single to right, Walker to third. Nothing cheap about either. Now two outs.
Two out walk to Sands. Bases loaded. Tony Sanchez draws two out walk for first run. Tabata up, bases still jammed
Tabs smokes double deep center, scores two. Sands held at third. First open. New pitcher.
DK: Must. Meet. Drew. Where are you down there?
Error shortstop scores two more. Barmes now on first. Andrew AB.
Section one just behind concourse. Right behind home plate. Sitting in in row 8 (second row behind concourse) two rows behind and just to the left of Neal.
Small world- the guy sitting next to me just figured out we blog. It’s Jim Bibby’s Sweat
Unplanned. We just started talking and figured it out. Now I have a black eye
5-1. No idea how the Astros scored. Bases loaded. Two outs. McPherson lifted.
Awesome! I remember him. Great username.
Take a picture and post it, Dejan!
Drew’s the guy down there who lives there because he likes the weather.
I love the smell of Naples in the morning.
Back on track to sweep the World Series!!
On second thought, it may go to a fifth game.
Astros radio says their picture was supposed to go three innings. Guess he didn’t make it.
Astros radio critical of McPherson on the ground ball. Said he lacked hustle. DK, can you ask them why they didn’t let him finish the inning?
Pop fly to short. Wind took it. Fell Next to Barmes. Three runs score. Just a goofy wind blown play. Then Barnes makes a nice play on next batter and Jones makes nice scoop. 5-4 an Ps back up. Walker leads off
Grilli takes an inning. No damage.
Small world 2 – Jim Bibby’s Sweat and I just figured out that we went to high school together.
So does DK’s desire to meet Drew go unanswered? Does Jim Bibby’s Sweat make this a triangle? And just how did that sweat taste back in high school? The suspense kills…
Andrew walks, goes to second on a wild pitch. Two outs. Walker drills one out, but foul. Then puts a bloop single in left. Andrew scores. 6-4, Walker on first, jones up.
Sorry. 6-5.
Oddity alert. Score 6-5. Hits 4-4. Both teams have more runs than hits. And only one E, no HRs. Just one of those quirky baseball things.
Stadium emptying out. Freaking cold. I picked a bad day to come naked.
I’m evaluating several responses here. I’ll have to get back to you.
Must be how Jim Bibby’s Sweat recognized him.
Yeah. He probably looked down and figured he went to Mt. Lebanon.
Yes. Emphasis on the “re” in “recognize.”
Great stuff, guys. All true. In golf lingo, you knocked it stiff
Old friend Robbie Grossman just beat out an infield single.
Did you go to high school with him?
Oh wait….did your son go to high school with him?
Nice DP to end the inning
Bibby’s Sweat just left. I’ll head out after Ps bat in bottom of 6th.
Hawpe up 1st. Sweat asked, does he have a hit all spring? Well. Not yet. Looked bad. Again.
Sands singled. Tony Sanchez up, TRIPLES off the R field wall, deep corner. Sands scored. One out, Sanchez on 3rd, pitching change
Harrison DEEP fly out to farthest center. Tony tags and scores. 8-5.
D’Arnaud up. Life of Pie on deck.
Lines to CF to end a productive inning. Heading out. Three hour drive to cocoa beach.
That, and it’s COLD
Thanks for your efforts, Drewmeister.
+ mega
Yes, thanks.
I guess we’ll have to rely on paparazzi to provide us with details of the DK/Drew summit, because the principals have decided to freeze us out.
Drew is actually the love child of Sarah’s 3′rd uncle 9 times removed, Piston Palin, and the Parsimony Nutting. There are trusts involved, and if his genealogy gets out, he loses them.
That was supposed to read, “…the improbably named Parsimony Nutting.” Never mind
Well the Florida State troopers are about to catch Drew driving naked with *all* his genealogy hanging out, so it’s all about to blow. (Ironically, Drew’s perp walk will be performed by the same trooper who busted Chico Lind in the same spot, two decades ago.)
Thanks Drew.
It was fun, guys. Almost out of battery so out for awhile.
Thanks Drew,
BTW if you want to see REALLY sucky weather its 25 degrees and windy here in western PA.
Stuart
Thanks Drew
I just spent the most exciting of days at the Home and Garden show
GROAN
Drew, what year did Jim Bibby matriculate?
He’s a year younger than me.
Thanks
We might have thrown him off a ballfield so we could play
My brothers age and class
My wife likes to watch HGTV. I refer to it as the paint drying channel. Because you csn literally watch paint dry.
we are going to miss the Astros
+1
Back in Cocoa Beach, just in time to catch a sunset. Now watching purple-orange sky turn midnight blue. Black still an hour away.
The boat lights are on, marking the docks.
Why the reverie?
Because EYE delivered a victory. EYE did it.
Me.
Though Dejan helped. He predicted another loss.
And to think, you live there because you want to live there
Yes, he does. And that sunset is the same with 46 degree temps, Drew?
Spunk: I watched it from inside, a climate controlled 73. So yes.
Thunder: I voluntarily live here for THAT reason; weather plays that big a part in my life.
Rain??
Nevermind, forgot the past 20 years of being a Pirates fan
Rain is better than, you know, tears
Hope but expect
One time, just one time, I want the former to win
Smart man.
To all who asked, no, there are no pictures of Dejan and me.
Just videos.
Videos? Did you put clothes on yet?
Orange jumpsuit.
Hope your not joking. That would be enjoyable.
Wakeup Call:
Title: Drew and the Winnepeg Man
BTW, do NOT LET YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER ever watch Lifetime
Else you will truly know what tears are
Who needs Lifetime? I just watch my wedding video.
Drew, in all honestly
I’d much rather watch that
By the way. Hawpe does NOT look like a ball player.
And he had his clothes on.
Slow. Can’t hit. Kind of a cool name. But he looks lost at the plate and comical running down the line.
Barabbas part deaux?
LifeTime = The Depression Channel
Thank god though, the surrogate lady, was a poor shot, missed the good lady a bunch of times with a rifle, cutting to the quick, good folks win.
It forced me though to utter words I do not especially like
“Um hon, how about we watch the Amazing Race?
I laid there like a slug, it was my only defense
And folks wonder why I have a bunch of teams in fantasy baseball….
Ah. That explains a lot.
So I guess my wife has been in defense mode for years.
Dead nuts on
Yes. After all this time they are dead.
DK: Drew hates me.
+1
Good tidings to all
My only hope tonight is to yawn and say the dachys are ready for bed
I hope, but expect tomorrow morning is Monday
Pens game??
You should watch that new mini-series on History called The Bible, Biz.
Or the one about Vikings.
Watching Annie Hall.
I should be shot.
But early in the movie, when they first meet and Annie is an insecure girl from Wisconsin, here’s the funniest part of the movie. They’re at a deli. Annie orders pastrami on white bread with mayo and tomatoes and lettuce. And Woodie/Alvie rolls his eyes.
White bread and mayo.
Now that’s funny.
Ok. I guess you had to be there.
(Shoot me. Shoot me now.)
Enjoyed meeting Drew71 at the game today. He needs to come to Pittsburgh in August & September — may be the Pirates’ best hope for victory.
Only if he brings the Astros with him.
Sweat! YOU are the man. Great to meet you.
And if I am their best hope, they’re becoming the Astros.
By the way, we found your glove. If you don’t get it before you head back, your colleague (forgot her name) will take it back to Pittsburgh for you.
Give my best to your dad. Thoroughly enjoyed meeting him.
Will do. Got my glove back before leaving. Glad you made it home safely. Keep up the fine commenting here, too. Enjoy reading it.