http://community.post-gazette.com/blogs/bobsmizik/default.aspx
Sep 16 2010
Statistically, the Pirates never stop astounding.
Take last night when then sent pitchers to the mound who ended the game with earned run averages of 8.61, 6.38, 6.02, 10.24 and 6.75.
It’s not easy to build a pitching staff that can throw numbers like that at the opposition. Congratulations, Neil Huntington. Where are all the people who say Huntington is expert at cobbling together a good bullpen?
Pirates catcher Chris Snyder watches as manager John Russell takes the ball from relief pitcher Wilfredo Ledezma (36) in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets at Citi Field in New York, Thursday, Sept. 16, 2010.(AP)I’ve got all kinds of favorite Pirates statistics but this one is my flavor of the week: The Pirates have 15 road wins this season. Since Aug. 1, the Philadelphia Phillies have 17. The Phillies did in six weeks what the Pirates might not do in six months.
I am old enough to remember but not to critique the 1952 team that lost 112 games. I remember well the 1985 team that lost 104 times. I covered it. It stunk. It could play rings around this team.
There’s no disputing it. This is the worst Pirates team in more than 50 years.
The Pirates failed to win again on the road last night, losing, 6-2, to the New York Mets. They are 50 games under .500 at 48-98 and looking at 109 losses, maybe more.
Haven’t heard much lately from team president Frank Coonelly, who decides whether manager John Russell and Huntington will be back next season. Both are under contract for 2011 but no one would or should be surprised if neither is retained.
This is the team that Huntington built and Russell leads. You wouldn’t want that on your resume.
If there was a bright spot last night it was another non-horrendous performance by Charlie Morton, who allowed two runs in five innings. Morton whittled his ERA down to 8.61. A couple of more decent starts and his name won’t just be penciled in to the 2011 rotation, it will be engraved.
Morton was given a 2-0 lead and allowed the Mets to tie the game. The bullpen gave up the lead and enlarged it. Familiar story. Same old Pirates.
I don’t like to bring up the Coonelly ``dynasty’’ talk because I believe the man just got a little carried away and really didn’t believe what he said back in spring training.
But I wonder if he ever thinks about it. Maybe he does. Maybe that’s why he’s not talking anymore.
No comments:
Post a Comment