By Dejan Kovacevic | Trib Total Media
Looking ahead to first pitch …
Game: Pirates (6-10) vs. Baltimore Orioles, exhibition
Starters: LHP Jeff Locke vs. LHP Zach Britton
Time: 1:05 p.m.
Site: McKechnie Field, Bradenton, Fla.
Radio: 93.7 The Fan
Here is the official live box score.
Here is the TribLIVE’s Pirates page. Karen Price is covering.
Says it an exhibition but doesn’t say what the exhibitions are except for Locke and Britton. Well, this who the Pirates are exhibiting
https://twitter.com/Pirates/status/311117407169155072/photo/1
Most definitely a bit quiet in here today….
Does anyone know if/when Jeff Karstens will start seeing game action?
Sometime after he’s released by the Pirates next off season; only to be resigned 3 months later
thanks boss.
11 million a year for Mike Wallace?
Are ya kidding me? I knew he’d get paid but 11mil a year?
Apparently it’s a very shallow FA class.
If Wallace gets 11 then what does Greg Jennings and possibly Anquan Boldin get?
Percy Harvin just traded from Minny to Seattle
Boldin got traded to 49ers.
Same situation in the NHL 2 years ago. Some oopsie overspending/overvaluation going on.
Percy Harvin to the Seahawks for a No. 1 pick, that might put Minnesota back in the Wallace race, except I heard he’s going to Miami cause he likes the weather there
How in the world did Minny get a #1 pick for Harvin? The guy can’t stay on the field. God this makes me so angry when I think that instead of tagging Wallace you let him walk. Could have at least got a 3rd or 4th round pick!!!!!!!
Boo on you, Tom Singer. This is all I could come up with for Sing It, Tom Singer.
“It was good throwing to Russ. Hopefully, I’ll get to work with him a lot more,” Cole said, knowing full FELL that would happen when he is in the big leagues, not merely big league camp.”
I guess a typo will have to do until the unbiased and analytical Tom Singer write-up on the awesomeness of Jonathan Sanchez.
Shouldn’t the Pirates start trimming their roster soon? Or have they decided to release everyone in order to save payroll?
First cuts are supposed to be coming tomorrow, which is an off day.
DK: Cuts don’t happen on off-days. There’s no one there to do the cutting and no one present to cut. It’s really an off-day.
I thought every day was an off day in the Pirates front office
On off days, maybe they all go around wearing their shirt with an extra button undone like their owner.
Is tomorrow an election day?
No tomorrow is the start of the papal conclave
The cuts are like contract extensions to the FO.
Secret.
Wouldn’t this be something if its serious
http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/mlb/story/_/id/9040242/zack-greinke-los-angeles-dodgers-doctor-check-elbow
They have more than enough SP in LA to cover but considering his contract I hope they got a good insurance policy on him
Ted Lilly, Chris Capuano, and Aaron Harang covering for Zach Grienke?
Those are two completely different classes of pitchers.
Quantity doesn’t equal quality.
I was just thinking about the $$
No no, I’m agreeing with you. Unquestionably would be a major deal if the injury is serious.
Has anyone told Huntington about the quantity/ quality thing yet? Both for pitching and OFer/1Ber…… Seems he likes to have a lot of ??????? On his 40 man roster….
NMR be serious. In no way am I saying one anyone can be Zach Greinke but look at their freaking pitching staff.
Beckett
Billingsley
Capuano
Harang
Kershaw
Lilly
Ryu
Telling me 5 of those 7 still don’t account for one of the best rotations in baseball?
Ok. 5 of those 7 do not account for one of the best rotations in baseball.
Not even close.
After Kershaw you have Beckett who may or may not bounce back, Billingsley who may or may not be healthy, three guys over the age of 35, and a guy who’s never thrown a pitch in America.
There are at least two teams in each division of the NL with a better rotation than that.
Ok… now your either trying to be funny or just ignorant to baseball.
Dodgers had the 2nd best team ERA in the NL last year at 3.35.
Their starters were
Kershaw 14-9 with a 2.53 ERA
Capuano 12-12 with a 3.72 ERA
Harang 10-10 with a 3.61 ERA
Billingsley 10-9 with a 3.55 ERA
Other starters stats with the Dodgers
Lilly 5-1 with a 3.14 ERA
Beckett 2-3 with a 2.93 ERA
Ryu — NO ML STATS
Ok big shot who are the 2 teams in each division in the NL with better rotations.
Giants, D-Backs, Reds, Cards, Nats, Braves.
Easily.
I know those big salaries are pretty, but those six teams have better rotations than the Dodgers without Grienke. Period.
I would give you the Reds, Nats, Braves and Giants. No way on the D-Backs and Cards.
Actually, I take back the Braves. They have some question marks.
The Cards, though, are a no-doubter. 24 yo Joe Kelly is their 7th starter. He posted a 3.53 ERA as a rookie. Their young starters are filthy.
That dog don’t hunt. You want to use age as an issue against the Dodgers I can use age as an issue with the Cards. No guarantee that their young guys will live up to anything. We all know that.
And why isn’t he replaceable?
Since 2010 he’s 56-30 with his ERA never being lower than 3.44.
Is he an awesome pitcher? Absolutely. But he’s not Cy Young
Some more baseball news….
Yankees call Derrek Lee; would love to bring in Chipper Jones.
Obviously tells you the Yankees are desperate for a 1B.
Had Lee story in the morning links, NY Times article
Hope Huntington is not on the phone as we speak, trying to peddle Legend…
Amen.
2 runs 7 hits in 2 1/3 innings by Locke so far.
I hear Domingo “Three Time 1st Round Draft Pick” Ayala is unsigned. Pirates really need to snag him. Even if his proclaimed heritage is questionable.
Who is he? Seriously
whatever you just posted got blocked by the internet police here at work
It was an Ayala v. Clayton Kershaw presser.
I heard an interview this morning on CBS Sports radio with Hurdle. After singing the praises of Amac, the host asked Hurdle what else there was about this team for Pirates fans to get excited about. His answer, starting pitching.
Really Clint, Really??
I have a 20 game plan, three rows back over the Clemente Wall.
I’m excited about all the chances I’m going go get catching visitor’s dingers???
Have you always had those seats, Biz?
All except for the first year at PNC, had them in the 200 level for that year, the right field seats were sold out, then when the club lost 100 games and raised prices, I moved down there. I did move over one section towards center maybe year 3.
Very cool.
I’ve only sat in the section once, but it was a neat experience. You see the game from a really unique POV.
Section 143, and yes, the view from there is outstanding. Worth it, even with the price increase. They will have to dynamite me out of them.
Have taken in a couple of games from these sections. I was there last year when Jones and Walker when yard off the pole against Houston. Definitely a section of seats that I will try to get to more often this year. Can’t wait to see a game from our next section this year with our 20 game pack. Instead of sitting right behind home plate below the press box, we will be down the third base line some in section 318.
One of the best things about those right field seats is the Charities Sign is behind you, you never notice its there
I just seem to have always sat there, did it at Forbes and sat there all the time at Three Rivers Stadium. In 79, we sat right next to the Cobra sign. Good memories
Jealous.
Cowboys just cut Dan Connor, isn’t he a linebacker from PSU that the Steelers were thinking of drafting a couple of years ago?
No that was Lee that the Cowboys drafted.
Connor I believe was out of Miami; a LB they were looking at prior to the draft but believe he was drafted by the Panthers but ended up with some injuries that really cut his career
Dan Connor played at PSU
With all the cuts the Steelers have made I’m hoping they can bring some sunshine in with perhaps signing Steven Jackson.
On a side note I did see that James Harrison was interviewed by a Boston radio show. Man thats got to be #2 on my list behind Baltimore of teams I don’t want him playing for.
Zach Britton was once a guy the Orioles sold their fan base as a can’t miss prospect that would deliver winning baseball to Baltimore.
Sounds like Kris Benson and Chad “he can walk on water” Hermansen
I thought it sounded familiar, TJ!
3 – 0 Orioles top of 5th, the O’s have 11 hits, we have 2
Looks like Locke stranded 7 guys? Thats a change.
Can we just pretend those were stranded ove seven innings of work and not just three?
Please?
very nice line for irwin
4.2 innings 3 hits 1 run 0 BB and 7 K
They changed Irwin’s line to 3.2 even better, 7 K in 3.2 innings
32 pitches … 31 strikes , 1 ball
Don’t trust Gameday on balls and strikes.
Not this time of the year.
Good point, but he had at least 21 strikes … nice line either way
Pirates rally in 9th and win 4-3 Hits from Goedert, Presley, Harrison, and a ground fielders choice by Paulino
Pretty inspirational as box scores go. More like this! And who this Irwin guy?
Since nothing else is going on tonight….
Thoughts on the NHL trade deadline….
Do the Pens get Iginla? Seems like the big prize this trade deadline
Btw said it last night but I’m all for the CEC being nicknamed Sidneyland
If BBennett continues to show, I wouldn’t…I would use all tradeable assets on a physical Dman.
Sidneyland…too much. LOL.
Ohhh and this just in….
Ravens trade Boldin to the 49ers for a 6th round pick
Musical chairs today with NFL receivers. Mike Wallace will be worth more to a team with a strong arm that can hit him in stride downfield (is downfield really two words? This spellchecker is telling me so.) Ben is strong, and so is his arm across the middle. But the deep bombs have not been his forte for a while now. (I’ve thought so ever since Ben injured his hand but Bill Cowher insisted that it never happened.)
I watched a you tube video last night of Ben hitting a receiver on the run 65 yards down field back when he was in college. Want to know how he did it…. he had room to step into the throw. Hard to throw the ball down field when your pocket collapses or your on the run.
True that…and in Wallace’s case, not only did he have to be hit in stride, but also so that he could cradle it since his hands are average a best and he couldn’t/wouldn’t fight for the ball so his catching window is very small.
One stat I read suggested his catch to/thrown at ratio was barely over 50%. Not good if you are the #1, perhaps one of the stats overlooked given the interest in his “speed’.
Step on his big toe early….
I wouldn’t say Wallace is a #1 receiver. I would say Wallace allows others to become the #1 receiver.
True #1 receivers like Andre Johnson, Calvin Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald have catches game after game and they aren’t all 60 yard bombs.
Now thats not to say its Wallace’s fault. They could have drawn up plays for him to run 60 yards every play to open the field for everyone else. However; he’s not going to fight for a ball like any of the guys above. He will make everyone else around him better like he did in Pittsburgh.
Good point.
Yes, but regardless if he is or isn’t a #1…he’s fixinta be paid like one.
And why they had to say adios.
Or there is the ravens O philosphy of throw it long and hope for a catch or a flag.
The lack of Ben’s pass protection has been, no doubt, a factor. But his arm is also not what it used to be. Too many times Wallace had blown by his coverage only to have to slow up to wait for Ben’s rainbow throw to get there. Not dumping on Ben nor making excuses for Wallace. But Wallace will do better with a quarterback that can match his skill set, since he wasn’t too adept himself at matching his quarterback’s. Just don’t be surprised if Wallace scores a lot of TD’s on deep passes, depending on where he ends up.
He might, but as mentioned above, no one can throw it 60 yards with accuracy if they are running for their lives or can’t step up into the pocket.
No question BBR couldn’t do that after his shoulder injury and just don’t remember lack of arm strength earlier this past season and the season before that would include after his anke injury.
If he’s healthy, I don’t think he’s lost much if any. Some might say that’s a BIG if.
Remember……He’ll have to catch them.
Nice comeback.
I smell playoffs.
Though it could be Thunder
You must have a good whiffer.
or it’s a strong whiff
Irwin did well
Locke, not so much
Playoffs hell. Dynasty.
Yessir. Thunder is smelling better and better
Thank you
Thank goodness Ramon Foster will be around.
Now Mr. Injury can get on to his life’s work.
A signing of Max Starks in training camp, and the O-Line will be at its strongest since about 2004.
Now if we can just get Gilbert on some antler spray we might be ok. He’s good for 1 or 2 series before an injury.
Latest mock draft from Kiper has the Steelers taking Eifert the TE from Notre Dame. Think that would be a better pick than reaching for a WR. Everyone knows what happens when you have 2 quality TE’s. And for the first part of the season we won’t have Heath anyway.
One can’t blame all of those underthrown balls to Wallace on poor pass protection. And to those mocking Wallace, just watch: he’s going to catch and score on a lot of bombs, wherever he ends up. With Boldin out of Baltimore, I just hope in isn’t with the Raven’s and Flacco’s cannon that Wallace goes. But go ahead and whistle past the graveyard…
+1
Never said all the under thrown balls were due to poor pass protection but I’d be willing to bet a majority of them are. The funniest thing you said was he’s going to CATCH a lot of bombs where ever he ends up. For as many bombs that Ben under threw you can easily say that Wallace dropped or misplayed just as many.
Hey, this guy doesn’t play for the Steelers anymore! Let’s all go on about how we all knew he sucked all along!
(Nodding my head.)
Do you mean like Nutting followers do when one of the Pirates escape the Regime?
There’s been about four of us discussing Wallace and I’m not singling you out, though you have been the one emphasizing Ben’s lack of pass protection (with which I agree, as far as it goes — it’s been woeful for several years now). Now, almost every bomb thrown to Wallace — not every last one, but ALMOST every one — was, indeed, underthrown. Wallace did not drop or misplay an equal amount. He was bad, but not THAT bad. And don’t forget, he didn’t always have such a bad case of the dropsies. If the Wallace that started out with a bang with the Steelers re-emerges with his new team — and a strong-armed quarterback — he’s going to soar. It just wasn’t meant to be with the Steelers.