Not alot has gone on since i last wrote on Sunday.The Bucs were defeated by the Brewers on Sunday 11-6.Zach Duke went a whopping 2 1/3 innings,Giving up 6 runs(5 earned) on 7 hits.The bullpen didn't do much better,Giving up the final 5 runs.Not going into alot of detail about that game, I listened to the game,But shut it off a few times due to frustration.Monday saw the return of Phil Dumatrait from the DL,And my supposed "favorite" only went 3 1/3,Giving up 7 runs on 9 hits.Thankfully the Pirates offense showed up at PNC Park Monday,Astros pitcher Runelvys Hernandez didn't make much longer then Dumatrait,Going 4 innings giving up 10 runs on 13 hits!The Bucs did win Monday,By the final score of 10-7.Tuesday saw the return of pitcher Ian Snell,And it looks like the time off did Ian well.Snell was clocked in the 90-95 MPH range,But still needed 56 pitches in 2 innings.With Snell being on a pitch count of 70-80 pitches and rain coming,Buccos manager John Russell had to pull Snell.The following is from MLB.com"
"After allowing a solo homer, a hit and a walk in the fourth, Russell came out to take the ball from Snell with two outs in the inning.
"I knew from what they were telling us that it was going to start pouring any second," Russell said.
Snell, who had thrown 88 pitches, didn't look at his manager as Russell approached, and the pitcher walked off the field disgusted. Television cameras then caught a brief verbal confrontation in the dugout between Mientkiewicz and Snell.
"We understand he wants to be out there, but it's his first start off the DL," Mientkiewicz said afterward. "You've just got to try and calm him down a little bit, and for some reason, he listens to me ... a little bit."
"I was still fuming," Snell explained. "I listen to [Mientkiewicz]. Maybe two years ago, I probably wouldn't care, but now I've got a little bit more respect for the game and the players."
"I knew from what they were telling us that it was going to start pouring any second," Russell said.
Snell, who had thrown 88 pitches, didn't look at his manager as Russell approached, and the pitcher walked off the field disgusted. Television cameras then caught a brief verbal confrontation in the dugout between Mientkiewicz and Snell.
"We understand he wants to be out there, but it's his first start off the DL," Mientkiewicz said afterward. "You've just got to try and calm him down a little bit, and for some reason, he listens to me ... a little bit."
"I was still fuming," Snell explained. "I listen to [Mientkiewicz]. Maybe two years ago, I probably wouldn't care, but now I've got a little bit more respect for the game and the players."
It now seems clear why the Bucs signed Mientkiewicz,He brings a veteran attitude this club needs,He can fill in a few positions and has been on World Series teams,Last year this team would have never fought back in a game that took over 6 hours to get in.But the 2008 Pirates have won games they would never have last year,Yes they are only about 3 games better then last years record shows,But it's after the All Star break that will show how this team does.I digressed from the topic The Bucs won the game 4-3.Wednesday brought out our old friend John Van Benschoten to the mound,And the holder of the WORST era in the history of MLB for 16 starts didn't make it out of the 4TH inning,Giving up 4 runs on 7 hits.Somehow getting 6 strikeouts,But of course he walked just as many.Thanks to the hole dug by JVB our Buccos dropped this game 6-4.Thursday night brought back the New York Yankees for a 1 game "series" that was supposed to be played as the series finale on June 26.Nate Mclouth fouled off a sac bunt,Setting up for manager John Russell to give the go ahead to let Mclouth swing away at the next pitch.Good idea MLB.com That shot helped the Bucs go ahead 4-2 in front of 39,081(3rd largest crowd in PNC Park history)Paul Maholm went a strong 8 innings ,Giving up 2 runs on 7 hits striking out 4.Damaso Marte pitched the 9TH for his 4TH save in as many chances.
Nate Mclouth was named to the 79Th All Star game in New York on Sunday,McLouth has had a great 2008 season,But Xavier Nady,And Jason Bay also have and did not get voted in.Corey Hart of the Brewers was selected by the fans for the final roster spot(the video of this is on MLB.com,and is worth the few seconds to watch)
And finally(I'm sure you're tired of reading by now)The Buccos "lost"Bryan Bullington to the Cleveland Indians off waivers on Thursday.His career record in a Pirates uni? How about 0-3 with a 5.89 ERA in 18 1/3 innings.I'm sure he'll now go on to win the Cy Young award with the Indians(Yes I'm being sarcastic) The Bucs were not done making moves,Our old friend John Van Benschoten was optioned back to AAA Indianapolis,To make room for RP Luis Munoz.The Bucs also traded once a upon a time star Craig Wilson to the Mariners for a player to be named later.If you think Pirate fans get tired of no sense trades,Check out You Can’t Make This Stuff Up. Now i have to smile,Knowing we are not the only fan base that throws our hands in the air sometimes.
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