The Pirates have scored 11 runs in six games. An average of 1.83 runs/game. The team batting average is .199. What do you expect when a team of average (at best) bats faces some of the best pitchers in the league? Here are the opponents’ starting pitchers for the Pirates’ first twelve games.
vs. Roy Halladay, 1-0 L
And here are the results of last year’s NL Cy Young award voting (from baseball reference):
Rank | Tm | Vote Pts | 1st Place | Share | WAR | W | L | SV | IP | ER | BB | SO | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Clayton Kershaw | LAD | 207.0 | 27.0 | 92% | 7.0 | 21 | 5 | 2.28 | 0 | 233.1 | 59 | 54 | 248 | 0.977 |
2 | Roy Halladay | PHI | 133.0 | 4.0 | 59% | 7.4 | 19 | 6 | 2.35 | 0 | 233.2 | 61 | 35 | 220 | 1.040 |
3 | Cliff Lee | PHI | 90.0 | 0.0 | 40% | 6.9 | 17 | 8 | 2.40 | 0 | 232.2 | 62 | 42 | 238 | 1.027 |
4 | Ian Kennedy | ARI | 76.0 | 1.0 | 34% | 5.5 | 21 | 4 | 2.88 | 0 | 222.0 | 71 | 55 | 198 | 1.086 |
5 | Cole Hamels | PHI | 17.0 | 0.0 | 8% | 5.4 | 14 | 9 | 2.79 | 0 | 216.0 | 67 | 44 | 194 | 0.986 |
6 | Tim Lincecum | SFG | 7.0 | 0.0 | 3% | 4.4 | 13 | 14 | 2.74 | 0 | 217.0 | 66 | 86 | 220 | 1.207 |
7 | Yovani Gallardo | MIL | 5.0 | 0.0 | 2% | 2.7 | 17 | 10 | 3.52 | 0 | 207.1 | 81 | 59 | 207 | 1.215 |
8 | Matt Cain | SFG | 3.0 | 0.0 | 1% | 3.9 | 12 | 11 | 2.88 | 0 | 221.2 | 71 | 63 | 179 | 1.083 |
9 | John Axford | MIL | 2.0 | 0.0 | 1% | 2.7 | 2 | 2 | 1.95 | 46 | 73.2 | 16 | 25 | 86 | 1.140 |
9 | Craig Kimbrel | ATL | 2.0 | 0.0 | 1% | 3.0 | 4 | 3 | 2.10 | 46 | 77.0 | 18 | 32 | 127 | 1.039 |
11 | Madison Bumgarner | SFG | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 2.8 | 13 | 13 | 3.21 | 0 | 204.2 | 73 | 46 | 191 | 1.212 |
11 | Ryan Vogelsong | SFG | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 3.7 | 13 | 7 | 2.71 | 0 | 179.2 | 54 | 61 | 139 | 1.252 |
The Pirates face six of the ten starting pitchers to get votes as the best pitcher in the National League last year. When does it get easier? Matt Cain‘s one of the best pitchers in the league, Daniel Hudson has nasty stuff. Ian Kennedy broke out in a big way. Last year Ryan Vogelsong struck out 8 in 5.2 innings against the Pirates in the first start of his comeback year. The much-maligned Barry Zito threw a complete game shutout in Colorado in his last start. Joe Saunders threw seven shutout innings in his first start of the year.
Seriously, the Pirates could easilty be looking at a 4-8 record when this stretch is over. If they want to be better, then:
1) Their own pitching needs to keep up the good work. Allowing only 2.5 runs/game has kept the Pirates in every game so far.
2) The bats need to find a way to string some hits together. Also, take some more walks. You can be selective while still being aggressive. Seven walks in six games is woeful.
Let’s hope they pick it up this weekend in San Francisco. The Pirates starters are slated to be James McDonald, Charlie Morton (season debut) and Kevin Correia. I’ll see you Monday with the Weekend Wrapup.
Filed under: baseball, Pirates | Tagged: Barry Zito, Chad Billingsley, Charlie Morton, Chris Capuano, Clayton Kershaw, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, Craig Kimbrel, Cy Young Award, Daniel Hudson, Ian Kennedy, James McDonald, Joe Saunders, John Axford, Kevin Correia, Madison Bumgarner, Matchups, Matt Cain, Roy Halladay, Ryan Vogelsong, Tim Lincecum, Vance Worley, Yovani Gallardo |
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