That one kind of hurt. Two games in a row blowing late leads? Wooftastic doggy.
Does anyone see this Pirates team as a World Series contender? Seriously. Take a step back from your fandom and look at the team as a whole. Do they have the starting pitching to do it? That’s questionable. The offense is pretty good statistically but they seem to either score early and quit, or wait until the last two innings and hope to explode. And the bullpen? Don’t get me started on the bullpen.
They’re a good team. They just have enough holes that the parts rarely work in concert with each other. Last year they were better than the sum of their parts, this year they’re closer to just being the sum of their parts.
Jeff Locke it is for the Buccos tonight.
Locke was great in his last outing which was also against the Cardinals.
The Pirates really need good outings from the starters. Every reliever at this point is suspect in my mind. Justin Wilson, Tony Watson, John Axford, Jeanmar Gomez, Jared Hughes are not sure things. Mark Melancon is to a point but he gives me the same feeling Joel Hanrahan used to give me. Just something about his outings.
So yeah, they’ll either need the bats to awaken or they’ll need a deep, low damage, start from Locke.
He just might want to stay away from Matt Holliday. Unless of course he is batting. Then hit everything to that bumbling fool.
Adam Wainwright though.
That’s why yesterday’s game was such a kick in the dick. You can’t fuck around with teams in front of you when you have a favorable matchup. Squandered. I’ve been repeatedly saying that since the first month of the season. The Pirates routinely squander chances. It’s like they get nervous as the game goes on. They consistently play dumber and dumber as the innings are completed. Now to win the series they MUST get to Wainwright.
They actually hit him pretty good last time they faced him. He threw a quality start, but he wasn’t able to out-duel Jeff Locke.
Expect that again? That’s tough to do considering how well he’s pitched against the Pirates this year.
Sorry today’s preview is so late, and short, kids and school is a hectic time in the beginning. Love you all.
First Pitch: 8:15 PM EST
Where To Watch: Root Sports, MLB.TV, FS-M
