Mets Wrap Up

Scores:
Monday: 5-4 Win vs NY Mets. Three late runs win it. Box score.
Tuesday: 3-2 Loss vs NY Mets. Can’t solve the knuckler. Box score.
Wednesday: 3-1 Loss vs NY Mets. Only 1 run for the 9th time. Box score.

Season Record: 20-24, 4th place in NL Central, 5.0 games back

Notes: Andrew McCutchen and Josh Harrison were pretty much the whole show this series. I have nothing else good to say about the offense at this time. In two starts since his back spasms, Erik Bedard‘s totals are 11 IP, 8 ER, 12 H, 4 BB and 11 K’s. He hadn’t given up more than 2 ER in any of six pre-injury outings. If his next start continues the current trend the team may want to skip Bedard when his turn comes up again. The bullpen was stellar, allowing only 1 ER, 4 H and 3 BB with 11 K in 8 IP.

Combined Box

Pittsburgh	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG	OBP
Harrison, RF-SS	12	3	4	0	0	1	3	0.333	0.333
Walker, 2B	12	1	2	0	0	5	3	0.167	0.167
McCutchen, A, CF	11	1	4	4	0	3	5	0.364	0.333
Barmes, SS	8	1	3	1	1	1	4	0.375	0.400
Alvarez, 3B	8	1	2	1	0	2	5	0.250	0.250
Tabata, LF-RF	8	1	1	0	1	2	2	0.125	0.222
Barajas, C	8	0	1	0	0	4	2	0.125	0.125
McGehee, 1B	6	0	0	0	1	2	3	0.000	0.143
Jones, G, 1B	5	0	0	0	0	3	1	0.000	0.000
McKenry, C	4	1	1	2	0	2	3	0.250	0.250
Navarro, 3B	4	0	1	0	0	1	0	0.250	0.250
Hernandez, Go, LF	4	0	0	0	1	2	1	0.000	0.200
McDonald, J, P	2	0	0	0	0	2	1	0.000	0.000
Morton, P	2	0	0	0	0	1	1	0.000	0.000
Bedard, P	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	1.000	1.000
McLouth, LF	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.000	0.000
Totals	96	9	20	8	4	31	34	0.208	0.235

Batting
Doubles (8): Harrison 3 (6), McCutchen, A (8), Alvarez (7), Walker (6), Barajas (6), Tabata (7)
Triples (1): Harrison (2)
HomeRuns (1): McKenry (3)

BaseRunning
SB: McCutchen (8)

Fielding
Errors: Alvarez (9)
Double Plays: (Barmes-Walker-McGehee)

Pitching

Pittsburgh	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA	WHIP
McDonald, J	7.0	4	1	1	2	8	0	1.29	0.86
Morton (L, 2-5)	7.0	8	3	3	0	1	0	3.86	1.14
Bedard	5.0	6	4	4	3	4	0	7.20	1.80
Resop	2.7	1	0	0	1	2	0	0.00	0.75
Grilli	1.0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0.00	0.00
Hanrahan (S, 10)	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0.00	0.00
Lincoln	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0.00	0.00
Hughes, J (W, 1-0)	1.0	1	0	0	1	1	0	0.00	2.00
Watson	0.7	0	0	0	0	1	0	0.00	0.00
Cruz, J (L, 1-1)	0.7	2	2	1	1	2	0	13.50	4.50
Totals	27.0	22	10	9	8	24	0	3.00	1.11

Transactions: Traded Drew Sutton to Tampa Bay Rays for cash. Activated RHP Jason Grilli from the Bereavement List. Optioned LHP Jeff Locke to AAA.

Grilli Activated, Locke Optioned

Relief pitcher Jason Grilli has been activated from the Bereavement List. Jeff Locke was optioned back to AAA. Locke made no appearances in his three days with the big league club.

Today’s series finale against the Mets is at 12:30. The Pirates are off tomorrow.

Gorkys Hernandez gets his first start today. Jose Tabata and Pedro Alvarez have the day off versus lefty pitcher Jon Niese . Lineup:

Josh Harrison RF
Gorkys Hernandez LF
Andrew McCutchen CF
Neil Walker 2B
Casey McGehee 1B
Rod Barajas C
Yamaico Navarro 3B
Clint Barmes SS
Charlie Morton P

Trade Tree: Johan Santana

I started throwing this together after Philip Humber‘s perfect game a few weeks ago and since the Pirates faced Johan Santana last night it seemed like a good time to bring it out. If people like it I can keep doing Trade Trees for players and teams other than the Pirates.

The 2007 Twins were at a crossroads, one several teams had known before and others would see again. Their ace pitcher, the best pitcher in baseball at the time, was going to be a free agent after the next season. They had been unable to agree with him on a contract extension. It was time to talk trade. The Yankees offered Melky Cabrera, Phil Hughes and other prospects. The Red Sox offered Jacoby Ellsbury, Jed Lowrie, and Justin Masterson. The Mets were able to get the deal done with this offer:

A sturdy pack of prospects, but nothing too exciting. What have the Twins done with those players though? That’s an interesting tale to be sure:

Branden Harris ties Johan’s trade tree to that of Chuck Knoblauch, meaning a good chunk of the last two decades of Twins history is listed here. All told, The Twins started with four players (three draft picks and one Rule 5 pick) and turned them into twenty-two players, four of which are still in their organization. In between they had six outstanding season of Johan, seven good years from Knoblauch, and several seasons of supporting work from the other 24 players listed. It’s a mixed bag of results in all of the individual deals, but you can say that about any team’s transactions. These deals helped the Twins to nine winning seasons and six playoff appearances.

Series Preview: The Mets

Current record: 19-22, 3rd place in NL Central, 3.0 games back

Up Next: New York Mets, 22-19, 4th place in NL East, 5.5 games back

Season Series: 0-0, First time playing.

Notes: The Mets come to the ‘Burgh for the only time this season. New York features a decent offense and below average pitching staff. If the Pirates can get to the Mets’ bullpen early they stand a good chance to win some games.

Familiar Faces: Ronny Cedeno, Jason Bay (DL), Miguel Batista (DL).

Probable Pitchers
Monday: LH Johan Santana (1-2, 43.2 IP, 46 K, 2.89 ERA, 1.17 WHIP)
vs. LH Erik Bedard (2-5, 41.0 IP, 44 K, 3.07 ERA, 1.34 WHIP)

Santana has been very effective this year, but has not been able to go deep into games. Bedard’s numbers have been slowly creeping up after his stellar start.

Tuesday: RH R.A. Dickey (5-1, 50.1 IP, 40 K, 3.75 ERA, 1.23 WHIP)
vs. RH James McDonald (3-2, 50.1 IP, 50 K, 2.68 ERA, 1.01 WHIP)

Hopefully the knuckler won’t be knuckling, or the Pirates’ free-swing ways could doom them here. J-Mac took a no-no into the sixth inning in his last start.

Wednesday: LH Jon Niese (2-2, 42.2 IP, 39 K, 4.85 ERA, 1.38 WHIP)
vs. RH Charlie Morton (2-4, 39.1 IP, 24 K, 4.35 ERA, 1.47 WHIP)

I have nothing to say about Jon Niese. Totally non-descript pitcher. I guess he’s lefthanded though. That’s something.

No lineups yet.