Pirates (Oviedo) vs Red Sox (May): 8/30/25, 4:10pm

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

He's out. He's safe. Pirates are trying to help.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

2 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

He's out. He's safe. Pirates are trying to help.

There goes the rally.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

C'mon OB. We don't bet on crap like that. This team is capable of anything. Bad or good.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

I certainly hope the Sox don't meet these Pirates in the WS.

[Nineintime]

Hicks looks like the guy at the carnival trying to hit a target to win his girlfriend a stuffed animal 

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

2 hours ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Pirates could lower their budget even further by not spending money on bats.

Apologies to the Pirates.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Certainly didn't expect the worst offense in baseball -- the Pirates (had to clarify) with the lowest runs per game and OPS in the majors -- to come in here and OWN our $12.5 million dollar reliever who we will also owe $12.5 million next year and another $12.5 million the year after that.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

1 hour ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Remember it is the Pirates. Tolle has to be reminded of that also.

My apologies to Tolle. He did shut down a pretty good offensive team.

[Maxbialystock]

1 hour ago, iortiz said:

Hopefully this serves to prove for once and for all May is not a starter. He could be a decent RP though. 

He has 2 quality starts--against the Orioles and Astros (whom he held scoreless for 6IP).  He was pretty decent today for 4 innings, after which the wheels came off.  He held the Orioles to 2 runs in 6 IP before Moran and Hicks came in an gave up 4 more in 3 IP.

To be honest, I don't understand all this griping about our 5th starter.  When did we ever have a great one?  Right now we have the best top 4 starters of any team in MLB.  

The hitting is what stinks.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

3 runs again. Pretty much their average runs per game when they don't score 10 or more.

[illinoisredsox]

42 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

With a win today the Pirates will have won 9 of their last 12 games. How does that shiver yer timbers, matey?

It’s not always who you play but when you play them.  The best teams will have bad weeks.  The worst teams will have good weeks.  Even the Rockies and White Sox will have a couple good weeks over the course of a 6 month season.

The Pirates are way better than those teams. Catch any team at the wrong or right time and anything can happen. The Sox have caught Pittsburgh at a bad time (from a Sox viewpoint).

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

The good news is Chapman is getting a rest.

[Maxbialystock]

6 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

3 runs again. Pretty much their average runs per game when they don't score 10 or more.

Yep.  I think that's why Cora left May in.  Once the Pirates got to 5 runs, the game was unwinnable.  

 

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

16 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

Certainly didn't expect the worst offense in baseball -- the Pirates (had to clarify) with the lowest runs per game and OPS in the majors -- to come in here and OWN our $12.5 million dollar reliever who we will also owe $12.5 million next year and another $12.5 million the year after that.

Bailey can only perform a certain amount of miracles.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Just now, Maxbialystock said:

Yep.  I think that's why Cora left May in.  Once the Pirates got to 5 runs, the game was unwinnable.  

 

Good point. Know your team's limits.

[Maxbialystock]

3 minutes ago, illinoisredsox said:

It’s not always who you play but when you play them.  The best teams will have bad weeks.  Tge worst teams will have good weeks.  Even the Rockies and White Sox will have a couple good weeks over the course of a 6 month season.

The Pirates are way better than those teams. Catch any team at the wrong or right time and anything can happen. The Sox have caught Pittsburgh at a bad time (from a Sox viewpoint).

Great points!  I've complained ad nauseum about the Sox hitting, but in fact the Pirates pitching was solid.  

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

8 minutes ago, Maxbialystock said:

To be honest, I don't understand all this griping about our 5th starter.  When did we ever have a great one? 

When did any team ever have a great 5th starter? 

But is it too much to ask for a mediocre one, a win some/lose some .500 kind of guy? 

ERod in 2018, and Bronson Arroyo in 2004 each had 2.6 WARs with ERAs hovering around 4.00. Rodriguez' was actually 3.82, while Bronson had a 4.03 in the ROID Era. Not great, but not bad...

[illinoisredsox]

10 minutes ago, Maxbialystock said:

 

To be honest, I don't understand all this griping about our 5th starter.  When did we ever have a great one?  Right now we have the best top 4 starters of any team in MLB.  

The hitting is what stinks.  

A little premature on the best top 4 starters talk.  We have no idea what we have in Tolle except potential.  Let’s see what happens once teams get a book on him.

Agree totally with your take on the #5 starter.  By definition, a #5 is not a great pitcher.  You hope they can keep you in the game most of the time and your offense can score enough to win. 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

3 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Bailey can only perform a certain amount of miracles.

Maybe the miracle is his boss dumped the teama donna and his whole salary in exchange for Hicks and his.

[d-money]

Better not get swept tomorrow. 

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

The Sox highlight today was the fan who caught the hard hit foul ball and then gave the ball to the girl.

[Maxbialystock]

13 minutes ago, illinoisredsox said:

A little premature on the best top 4 starters talk.  We have no idea what we have in Tolle except potential.  Let’s see what happens once teams get a book on him.

Agree totally with your take on the #5 starter.  By definition, a #5 is not a great pitcher.  You hope they can keep you in the game most of the time and your offense can score enough to win. 

You're right about Tolle of course.  But yesterday I was very impressed.  And I forgot Cora will continue to limit his pitches.  

[Maxbialystock]

13 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

The Sox highlight today was the fan who caught the hard hit foul ball and then gave the ball to the girl.

36,391 of the faithful made it to the Fens today.  That's getting to be normal--and the first that's been true since 2019.  

[moonslav59]

26 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

The good news is Chapman is getting a rest.

That's the spirit!

[king koji]

Sox need to solve 2B in the near future. We need to find this generation's Dustin Pedroia, but at this point I'll probably settle for our next Jody Reed, (sigh)

[moonslav59]

Just now, king koji said:

Sox need to solve 2B in the near future. We need to find this generation's Dustin Pedroia, but at this point I'll probably settle for our next Jody Reed, (sigh)

2B has been a terrible position for the Sox since Pedey, and even during his last years, we kept waiting for his return from the IL.

Now, our best hope is a guy who is on the IL half the time- Mayer.

Geeesh!

[iortiz]

2 minutes ago, king koji said:

Sox need to solve 2B in the near future. We need to find this generation's Dustin Pedroia, but at this point I'll probably settle for our next Jody Reed, (sigh)

Campbell is. He is hitting again, instead Hamilton who has proven over and over he can’t hit mlb level and being sloppy as hell is up. 

[Maxbialystock]

10 minutes ago, king koji said:

Sox need to solve 2B in the near future. We need to find this generation's Dustin Pedroia, but at this point I'll probably settle for our next Jody Reed, (sigh)

Right now I'm fine with Hamilton/Gonzalez whose WAR's are 1/1.1.  Plus Hamilton is hitting well in August.

Despite playing in just 58 games, Hamilton has the 5th best DWAR, 1.3, among 2bmen.  

[notin]

1 hour ago, FredLynn said:

Yes

May IS a bust. We all knew he would be. We needed Ryan or the equivalent a Breslow got M&Ms

Since the trade deadline:

Dustin May: 5.76 ERA (includes today)

Joe Ryan: 5.06 ERA

 

The grass isn’t that much greener.  Especially considering Ryan wasn’t available for Tibbs…

[Maxbialystock]

14 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

2B has been a terrible position for the Sox since Pedey, and even during his last years, we kept waiting for his return from the IL.

Now, our best hope is a guy who is on the IL half the time- Mayer.

Geeesh!

I'm not convinced Mayer will continue to ride the sick list.  This wrist thing is a repeat because they didn't do surgery the first time.  I'm glad you reminded me he is our best choice next season