Pitching coach Jeff Andrews and first base coach Lou Frazier were fired Monday, a day after the Pirates finished the season with a 67-95 record.
The firing of Andrews isn't a surprise. The pitching staff was supposed to be a strength of the team and instead was the biggest reason – save the Xavier Nady and Jason Bay trades – that the Pirates recorded their 16th consecutive losing season.
The Pirates had the third-worst earned run average in the majors (5.08). They also allowed the second-most walks in the majors this season with 657, which was also a team record. The staff also reached a historic low as no pitcher recorded 10 wins for only the third time in the 122 history of the club. Also, the starting pitchers combined for a pitiful 33 victories.
I was one of the people who thought the Andrews hire was a good one. He had a strong rapport with most of the pitchers on staff because he coached most of them in the minor leagues and seemed to have a firm grasp as to how to make them winners. Unfortunately, just about every pitcher minus Paul Maholm regressed. Tom Gorzelanny was so bad he was demoted to the minors and Ian Snell went months between victories. Zach Duke may never get back the success he one had. It appears his 15 minutes of fame were up when the 2005 season ended.
As for Frazier, I don't really have a good reason he got fired. Seemed like a nice enough guy though. Sorry to see him go.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Pirates change affiliate
The Pittsburgh Pirates are moving their low-Class A minor-league affiliate from Hickory (N.C.) to Charleston (W.Va.) in 2009.
Pittsburgh’s new affiliate will be the West Virginia Power, located in Charleston. The two signed an agreement through the 2010 season. The Power play in Appalachian Power Park, which opened in 2005.
Pittsburgh’s other minor-league affiliates – Indianapolis (Class AAA), Altoona (Class AA), Lynchburg (high-Class A), State College (Rookie) and Bradenton (Rookie) – will remain the same.
Pittsburgh’s new affiliate will be the West Virginia Power, located in Charleston. The two signed an agreement through the 2010 season. The Power play in Appalachian Power Park, which opened in 2005.
Pittsburgh’s other minor-league affiliates – Indianapolis (Class AAA), Altoona (Class AA), Lynchburg (high-Class A), State College (Rookie) and Bradenton (Rookie) – will remain the same.
2009 schedule released
Major League Baseball released the 2009 schedule Wednesday.
Here is the Pirates 2009 schedule:
2009 Pirates schedule
APRIL
6. at St. Louis; 7. at St. Louis; 8. at St. Louis, 9. at St. Louis; 10. at Cincinnati; 11. at Cincinnati; 12. at Cincinnati; 13. Houston, 1:35; 14. OFF; 15. Houston, 7:05; 16. Houston, 12:35; 17. Atlanta, 7:05 p.m.; 18. Atlanta, 12:35 p.m.; 19. Atlanta, 1:35 p.m.; 20. Florida, 7:05; 21. Florida, 7:05; 22. Florida, 12:35; 23. OFF; 24. at San Diego, 25. at San Diego, 26. at San Diego; 27. at Milwaukee; 28. at Milwaukee; 29. at Milwaukee; 30. OFF.
MAY
1. Cincinnati, 7:05; 2. Cincinnati, 7:05; 3. Cincinnati, 1:35 p.m.; 4. Milwaukee, 7:05 p.m.; 5. Milwaukee, 7:05; 6. at St. Louis; 7. at St. Louis; 8. at N.Y. Mets; 9. at N.Y. Mets; 10. at N.Y. Mets; 11. OFF; 12. St. Louis, 7:05; 13. St. Louis, 7:05; 14. St. Louis, 7:05; 15. Colorado, 7:05; 16. Colorado, 7:05; 17. Colorado, 1:35 p.m.; 18. at Washington; 19. at Washington; 20. at Washington; 21. at Washington; 22. at Chicago White Sox; 23. at Chicago White Sox; 24. at Chicago White Sox; 25. at Chicago Cubs; 26. at Chicago Cubs; 27. at Chicago Cubs; 28. OFF; 29. Houston, 7:05 p.m.; 30. Houston, 7:05; 31. Houston, 1:35 p.m.
JUNE
1. N.Y. Mets, 7:05; 2. N.Y. Mets, 7:05; 3. N.Y. Mets, 7:05; 4. N.Y. Mets, 12:35 p.m.; 5. at Houston; 6. at Houston; 7. at Houston; 8. at Atlanta, 9. at Atlanta; 10. at Atlanta; 11. at Atlanta; 12. Detroit, 7:05; 13. Detroit, 7:05; 14. Detroit, 1:35 p.m.; 15. OFF; 16. at Minnesota; 17. at Minnesota; 18. at Minnesota; 19. at Colorado; 20. at Colorado; 21. at Colorado; 22. OFF; 23. Cleveland, 7:05; 24. Cleveland, 7:05; 25. Cleveland, 7:05; 26. Kansas City, 7:05; 27. Kansas City, 7:05; 28. Kansas City, 1:35; 29. Chicago Cubs, 7:05; 30. Chicago Cubs, 7:05.
JULY
1. Chicago Cubs, 7:05; 2. OFF; 3. at Florida; 4. at Florida; 5. at Florida; 6. at Houston; 7. at Houston; 8. at Houston; 9. OFF; 10. at Philadelphia; 11. at Philadelphia; 12. at Philadelphia; 13. All-Star Break; 14. All-Star Game at St. Louis; 15. All-Star Break; 16. OFF; 17. San Francisco, 7:05; 18. San Francisco, 7:05; 19. San Francisco, 1:35 p.m.; 20. Milwaukee, 7:05 p.m.; 21. Milwaukee, 7:05; 22. Milwaukee, 7:05; 23. at Arizona, 24. at Arizona; 25. at Arizona; 26. at Arizona; 27. at San Francisco; 28. at San Francisco; 29. at San Francisco; 30. OFF; 31. Washington, 7:05.
AUGUST
1. Washington, 7:05; 2. Washington, 1:35 p.m.; 3. Washington, 7:05; 4. Arizona, 7:05; 5. Arizona, 7:05; 6. Arizona, 7:05; 7. St. Louis, 7:05; 8. St. Louis, 7:05; 9. St. Louis, 1:35 p.m.; 10. OFF; 11. at Colorado; 12. at Colorado; 13. at Colorado; 14. at Chicago Cubs; 15. at Chicago Cubs; 16. at Chicago Cubs; 17. Milwaukee, 7:05; 18. Milwaukee, 7:05; 19. Milwaukee, 7:05; 20. OFF; 21. Cincinnati, 7:05; 22. Cincinnati, 7:05; 23. Cincinnati, 1:35 p.m.; 24. OFF; 25. Philadelphia, 7:05; 26. Philadelphia, 7:05; 27. Philadelphia, 7:05; 28. at Milwaukee; 29. at Milwaukee; 30. at Milwaukee; 31. at Cincinnati.
SEPTEMBER
1. at Cincinnati; 2. at Cincinnati; 3. OFF; 4. St. Louis, 7:05; 5. St. Louis, 7:05; 6. St. Louis, 1:35 p.m.; 7. Chicago Cubs, 12:35 p.m.; 8. Chicago Cubs, 7:05; 9. Chicago Cubs, 12:35 p.m.; 10. OFF; 11. at Houston; 12. at Houston; 13. Houston; 14. at L.A. Dodgers; 15. at L.A. Dodgers; 16. at L.A. Dodgers; 17. OFF; 18. San Diego, 7:05; 19. San Diego, 12:35 p.m.; 20. San Diego, 1:35 p.m.; 21. San Diego, 7:05; 22. Cincinnati, 7:05; 23. Cincinnati, 7:05; 24. Cincinnati, 12:35 p.m.; 25. L.A. Dodgers, 7:05; 26. L.A. Dodgers, 7:05; 27. L.A. Dodgers, 1:35 p.m.; 28. L.A. Dodgers, 12:35; 29. at Chicago Cubs; 30. at Chicago Cubs.
OCTOBER
1. at Chicago Cubs; 2. at Cincinnati; 3. at Cincinnati; 4. at Cincinnati.
Here is the Pirates 2009 schedule:
2009 Pirates schedule
APRIL
6. at St. Louis; 7. at St. Louis; 8. at St. Louis, 9. at St. Louis; 10. at Cincinnati; 11. at Cincinnati; 12. at Cincinnati; 13. Houston, 1:35; 14. OFF; 15. Houston, 7:05; 16. Houston, 12:35; 17. Atlanta, 7:05 p.m.; 18. Atlanta, 12:35 p.m.; 19. Atlanta, 1:35 p.m.; 20. Florida, 7:05; 21. Florida, 7:05; 22. Florida, 12:35; 23. OFF; 24. at San Diego, 25. at San Diego, 26. at San Diego; 27. at Milwaukee; 28. at Milwaukee; 29. at Milwaukee; 30. OFF.
MAY
1. Cincinnati, 7:05; 2. Cincinnati, 7:05; 3. Cincinnati, 1:35 p.m.; 4. Milwaukee, 7:05 p.m.; 5. Milwaukee, 7:05; 6. at St. Louis; 7. at St. Louis; 8. at N.Y. Mets; 9. at N.Y. Mets; 10. at N.Y. Mets; 11. OFF; 12. St. Louis, 7:05; 13. St. Louis, 7:05; 14. St. Louis, 7:05; 15. Colorado, 7:05; 16. Colorado, 7:05; 17. Colorado, 1:35 p.m.; 18. at Washington; 19. at Washington; 20. at Washington; 21. at Washington; 22. at Chicago White Sox; 23. at Chicago White Sox; 24. at Chicago White Sox; 25. at Chicago Cubs; 26. at Chicago Cubs; 27. at Chicago Cubs; 28. OFF; 29. Houston, 7:05 p.m.; 30. Houston, 7:05; 31. Houston, 1:35 p.m.
JUNE
1. N.Y. Mets, 7:05; 2. N.Y. Mets, 7:05; 3. N.Y. Mets, 7:05; 4. N.Y. Mets, 12:35 p.m.; 5. at Houston; 6. at Houston; 7. at Houston; 8. at Atlanta, 9. at Atlanta; 10. at Atlanta; 11. at Atlanta; 12. Detroit, 7:05; 13. Detroit, 7:05; 14. Detroit, 1:35 p.m.; 15. OFF; 16. at Minnesota; 17. at Minnesota; 18. at Minnesota; 19. at Colorado; 20. at Colorado; 21. at Colorado; 22. OFF; 23. Cleveland, 7:05; 24. Cleveland, 7:05; 25. Cleveland, 7:05; 26. Kansas City, 7:05; 27. Kansas City, 7:05; 28. Kansas City, 1:35; 29. Chicago Cubs, 7:05; 30. Chicago Cubs, 7:05.
JULY
1. Chicago Cubs, 7:05; 2. OFF; 3. at Florida; 4. at Florida; 5. at Florida; 6. at Houston; 7. at Houston; 8. at Houston; 9. OFF; 10. at Philadelphia; 11. at Philadelphia; 12. at Philadelphia; 13. All-Star Break; 14. All-Star Game at St. Louis; 15. All-Star Break; 16. OFF; 17. San Francisco, 7:05; 18. San Francisco, 7:05; 19. San Francisco, 1:35 p.m.; 20. Milwaukee, 7:05 p.m.; 21. Milwaukee, 7:05; 22. Milwaukee, 7:05; 23. at Arizona, 24. at Arizona; 25. at Arizona; 26. at Arizona; 27. at San Francisco; 28. at San Francisco; 29. at San Francisco; 30. OFF; 31. Washington, 7:05.
AUGUST
1. Washington, 7:05; 2. Washington, 1:35 p.m.; 3. Washington, 7:05; 4. Arizona, 7:05; 5. Arizona, 7:05; 6. Arizona, 7:05; 7. St. Louis, 7:05; 8. St. Louis, 7:05; 9. St. Louis, 1:35 p.m.; 10. OFF; 11. at Colorado; 12. at Colorado; 13. at Colorado; 14. at Chicago Cubs; 15. at Chicago Cubs; 16. at Chicago Cubs; 17. Milwaukee, 7:05; 18. Milwaukee, 7:05; 19. Milwaukee, 7:05; 20. OFF; 21. Cincinnati, 7:05; 22. Cincinnati, 7:05; 23. Cincinnati, 1:35 p.m.; 24. OFF; 25. Philadelphia, 7:05; 26. Philadelphia, 7:05; 27. Philadelphia, 7:05; 28. at Milwaukee; 29. at Milwaukee; 30. at Milwaukee; 31. at Cincinnati.
SEPTEMBER
1. at Cincinnati; 2. at Cincinnati; 3. OFF; 4. St. Louis, 7:05; 5. St. Louis, 7:05; 6. St. Louis, 1:35 p.m.; 7. Chicago Cubs, 12:35 p.m.; 8. Chicago Cubs, 7:05; 9. Chicago Cubs, 12:35 p.m.; 10. OFF; 11. at Houston; 12. at Houston; 13. Houston; 14. at L.A. Dodgers; 15. at L.A. Dodgers; 16. at L.A. Dodgers; 17. OFF; 18. San Diego, 7:05; 19. San Diego, 12:35 p.m.; 20. San Diego, 1:35 p.m.; 21. San Diego, 7:05; 22. Cincinnati, 7:05; 23. Cincinnati, 7:05; 24. Cincinnati, 12:35 p.m.; 25. L.A. Dodgers, 7:05; 26. L.A. Dodgers, 7:05; 27. L.A. Dodgers, 1:35 p.m.; 28. L.A. Dodgers, 12:35; 29. at Chicago Cubs; 30. at Chicago Cubs.
OCTOBER
1. at Chicago Cubs; 2. at Cincinnati; 3. at Cincinnati; 4. at Cincinnati.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Well, it's official
Sunday's 11-6 loss to San Francisco officially clinched the Pirates' 16th consecutive losing season.
The Pirates tied the 1933-48 Philadelphia Phillies for the longest streak of futility in major pro team sports history. Congratulations Buccos.
The Pirates tied the 1933-48 Philadelphia Phillies for the longest streak of futility in major pro team sports history. Congratulations Buccos.
Stat of the year
With Paul Maholm's no decision Sunday, thanks in large part to Denny Bautista blowing the lead, the Pirates have a very good chance of not having a starting pitcher win 10 games this season.
How rare is this? It has happened only twice in the club's 122-year history. The last time was the strike-shortened 1981 season when Rick Rhoden won nine games and the Pirates were 46-56. The other time was 1890 when Billy Gumbert led the Pirates with four wins during a 23-113 season.
How rare is this? It has happened only twice in the club's 122-year history. The last time was the strike-shortened 1981 season when Rick Rhoden won nine games and the Pirates were 46-56. The other time was 1890 when Billy Gumbert led the Pirates with four wins during a 23-113 season.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
In case you missed it
In case you missed it Friday night, Pirates starter Zach Duke had his best outing in a couple of years, pitching a six hit shutout as the Pirates won 7-0. Here is the Associated Press story from the game.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Zach Duke pitched a six-hitter to snap a career-worst nine-game skid and the Pittsburgh Pirates ran their winning streak in San Francisco to seven with a 7-0 victory over the Giants on Friday night, when a light earthquake rattled the area during the game.
Brandon Moss drove in three runs and Adam LaRoche two for Pittsburgh, helping Duke win for the first time in 15 starts since beating Arizona on June 9. The left-hander ended the longest losing streak by a Pirates pitcher since Jose DeLeon lost 11 in a row in 1985.
Duke (5-13) struck out four and walked two in his third career complete game and second shutout. In two of his previous three outings, the Pirates failed to score while he was on the mound.
This time, Pittsburgh matched a franchise record with four sacrifice flies.
Duke earned his first road win since May 27, 2007, at Cincinnati, and the second straight complete-game shutout by the Pirates in San Francisco. Pirates pitchers have 20 straight scoreless innings in San Francisco's waterfront ballpark.
Tom Gorzelanny pitched a five-hitter here last Aug. 12.
A minor earthquake hit the Bay Area during the bottom of the sixth inning. Many felt the temblor — with a preliminary report as a 4.0-magnitude from the U.S. Geological Survey — but there was no interruption of the game. During the 1989 World Series here between the Giants and Oakland Athletics, a 6.9 earthquake hit during warmups before Game 3 and delayed the conclusion of the Series.
This quake hit just after 9 p.m. and could be felt throughout the region. The temblor's epicenter was near Alamo, about 28 miles east of San Francisco.
LaRoche doubled in the Pirates' first run past center fielder Aaron Rowand in the second after Ryan Doumit led off the inning with a double — the first of Doumit's four hits — then LaRoche added a sacrifice fly in the fifth. Moss had a two-run triple in the seventh and a sacrifice fly in the ninth.
Nate McLouth and Nyjer Morgan also had sacrifice flies for the Pirates, who have won three of four on the heels of a season-worst 10-game skid.
Pittsburgh has won eight of nine at San Francisco's waterfront ballpark. The Giants' last win at home in the series came in 2006 and they haven't won a home series in this matchup since 2003.
San Francisco lost for the 14th time in its last 16 meetings with Pittsburgh and is 8-21 vs. the Pirates since 2004. The Giants were shut out for the 12th time this year and second time in four games.
Kevin Correia (3-8) has only one win in seven starts since a victory at Dodger Stadium on July 28.
Nate Schierholtz got the start in right field — his first home game since being called up after earning a bronze medal with the U.S. baseball team in Beijing — for the Giants after getting a career-best four hits Wednesday at Colorado.
The Giants had the bases loaded in the third with no outs but couldn't capitalize.
Notes:@ The aunt of home run king Barry Bonds, Rosie Bonds-Kreidler, took part in the Giants' Olympic Night festivities. The sister of Bonds' late father, Bobby, she was a hurdler in the 1964 Olympics. ... Randy Winn moved to LF with Schierholtz in his regular spot. Schierholtz's father, Vai, attended the game wearing one of his Olympic jerseys. ... Hall of Fame pitcher Juan Marichal attended the game and received a warm ovation. He is in town for Saturday's statue unveiling for Orlando Cepeda. ... The Pirates also had four sacrifice flies on May 17, 2007, against Florida and in 1988. The Giants allowed four sacrifice flies for the first time in San Francisco's 50-year history.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
September callups
The Pirates recalled the following nine players from Triple-A Indianapolis today:
Right-handed pitchers T.J. Beam, Craig Hansen, Ross Ohlendorf, Marino Salas and Romulo Sanchez; catchers Robinzon Diaz and Ronny Paulino; shortstop Brian Bixler and outfielder Steve Pearce.
The Pirates also selected the contract of INF Luis Cruz from Triple-A Indianapolis and unconditionally released right-handed pitcher Ty Taubenheim.
Also, Ohlendorf will make his first start for the Pirates Wednesday in Cincinnati.
I'm not surprised, as others are, that John van Benschoten wasn't recalled. If anything, not being immediately recalled signals to me that the Pirates will cut ties with JVB at the end of the season.
I was a little surprised that neither outfielder Andrew McCutchen or third baseman Neil Walker were recalled. My only thinking is that the club believes there might be a little too much pressure on the 22-year-olds and that they would be better served to take some time off before winterball rather than sit the bench and be hounded for interview requests for four weeks.
There also might be some lingering health issues going on with either or both, though I'm not sure. After all, the grind of their first full Class AAA season probably took its tool on both.
Also, Ohlendorf will make his first start for the Pirates Wednesday in Cincinnati.
I'm not surprised, as others are, that John van Benschoten wasn't recalled. If anything, not being immediately recalled signals to me that the Pirates will cut ties with JVB at the end of the season.
I was a little surprised that neither outfielder Andrew McCutchen or third baseman Neil Walker were recalled. My only thinking is that the club believes there might be a little too much pressure on the 22-year-olds and that they would be better served to take some time off before winterball rather than sit the bench and be hounded for interview requests for four weeks.
There also might be some lingering health issues going on with either or both, though I'm not sure. After all, the grind of their first full Class AAA season probably took its tool on both.
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