Maholm and Oswalt at seven.
With Gorkys in LCF and Cutch in RCF, a broad swath of the PNC outfield seats could be removed and that area covered in ice. Push the fence back, and have player #9, Nyjer Morgan, speedily patrol the new warning track on skates.
McCutchen II at eight, featuring Mike Hampton and Jeff Karstens.
With a two-man outfield (Nyjer in LCF and Cutch in RCF), where does the ninth player play?
For Gorkys Hernandez, Morton, and Locke. Looks like a pretty nice haul for Neal and the Bucs, bringing an official end to the Frodo and Sam (McLouth and Duffy) Era. We'll miss Nate and wish him the best.
Cy Hampton and Paul Maholm this afternoon.
Don't let Hampton's 1.56 WHIP or his 7 HRs allowed in 48 IP fool you. Bunker down in the southwest corner, and prepare the vats of boiling nacho cheese.
No game today. Season is 29% complete. Pirates are 21-26.
As a team, the Pirates are 11th in the NL in OPS. They are hitting .264 / .332 / .401. Freddy Sanchez has 60 hits and a .326 / .362 / .505 line. Nate McLouth leads the team with 8 home runs. Andy LaRoche leads the team with a .370 OBP. Nyjer Morgan has a .362 OBP.
Adam LaRoche is hitting .228 / .321 / .449. Brandon Moss has played in 41 games. He has 133 at-bats and .263 / .310 / .376 performance. Hinske, Monroe, and D. Young have combined about equally for 150 at-bats of .730 OPS.
The rotation has been consistent. Duke and Ohlendorf have been pretty good. Maholm has been solid and Snell has been not so good. Snell strikes some people out (6.79 per 9) but he has also posted a 1.58 WHIP, 7 home runs allowed in 53 innings, and not surprisingly a 1-6 record. Jesse Chavez has been good from the bullpen (4 holds, 1.2 WHIP, 7.65 K/9). Sean Burnett has good numbers too. John Grabow has somehow survived a lot of high-pressure situations with good results.
Collectively, the team has a 1.38 WHIP and 5.67 K/9. This WHIP is league-average (8th of 16) and translates into a .750 OPS against (10th of 16). And this K/9 is dead last in the NL. Arr ... the Pirates bring the junk.
The Pirates parade into Wrigley to start a three-game series. Bring your own lawn chair.
Maholm and Dempster at 8. Bucs are 20-24; Cubs are 21-21 after losing 7 in a row.
Karstens and Buehrle at two. One of these days, a scraggly, mangy RUN will come scratching at the Beer Fort's back door.
Ohlendorf and Richard at seven.
In other news, we raise our glass to the speedy recovery of James Harrison III, another reminder that dogs bite.
Duke and Floyd at eight. The White Sox are 17-23, despite having no 2002-2003 Bucs in their bullpen. The Bucs are a sweep away from .500.
Meanwhile, all hail Brad Lincoln and his shutout.
Snell and Stammen at seven. The Bucs are 19-21, have won five straight, and are out of the basement.
Maholm and Lannan at seven. Good chance we see Kip and Julian tonight.
Karstens vs. 5-0 rookie phenom Shairon Martis at seven.
The Nats' bullpen is two young guys, Colome, and four former 2002-2003 Bucs: Beimel, Tavarez, Villone and Wells.
