It’s Opening Day...

[Obviously]

Fucking pitchers hitting. Stupid and boring. NL needs to go to the DH.

[Legacy User]

shit line up today doomed from start. don't get it.

[Jobu]

shit line up today doomed from start. don't get it.

Bubbles loves his rest metrics...and really loves him some Serpico!

But seriously...other than SR in for JHay, it was the normal lineup accounting for the guys DLed.

[jeemie]

shit line up today doomed from start. don't get it.

Without Dickerson and Bell, the lineup is severely compromised.

As Jobu pointed out, JHay for Serpico is the only real change you could make...maybe Diaz for Cervelli.

I hope to see more Adam Frazier than Jordan Luplow (although Frazier is a lefty, as was Hamels), but Frazier is limited in the OF so I guess that's why they didn't go with him last night.

[Stallworth16]

Fucking pitchers hitting. Stupid and boring. NL needs to go to the DH.

Fuck the DH. The AL should eliminate the DH.

Good read here:
https://www.fangraphs.com/tht/the-case- ... ng-the-dh/

Different article, Jayson Stark:

4. The only reason to have a DH rule is that fans allegedly like more offense. Obviously, DHs are better hitters than pitchers. But how much more offense does this rule really generate? The average AL team scored one more run every three games than the average NL team last year — and got one more hit every four games. So we're talking about two extra runs a week. That'll pack 'em in, all right.

5. Finally, the game is simply way more interesting without the DH than with it. Period. Ask any manager which is more strategically challenging — managing a game under NL rules or AL rules. It's no contest. It's baseball's cerebral side that separates it from all the other games ever invented. And the game is way more cerebral with no DH than with it. That's one thing that hasn't changed in 45 years — and never will.

[Hacksaw Jim Duggan]

I like that the GM so interested in winning was content with having three players in his lineup bat below .200 against the divison leader.

[jeemie]

I like that the GM so interested in winning was content with having three players in his lineup bat below .200 against the divison leader.

And a manager that pushed his starter who striggled to hit the strike zone to pitch the entire first inning even though the team had an off day today and Monday.

Although only one ball left the infield that inning...the two errors were killer.

[jeemie]

Chris Archer’s first batter faced as a Pirate...



...launches a 400+ foot bomb to almost dead center.

[jeemie]

At least the bats were there in the bottom of the first!

[Legacy User]

Chris Archer’s first batter faced as a Pirate...



...launches a 400+ foot bomb to almost dead center.

a lead should settle the new guy!

what the fuck was I thinking.? was archer mad bout trade?

[Legacy User]

man archer playing with fire. nice timely Ks...

[Legacy User]

not much of a debut by archer. why the hell does he walk the lead off every inning? well besides the double and homer leadoffs? comfy lead faded away

[jeemie]

Pretty shitty debut.

[Legacy User]

Pretty shitty debut.

shoulda been worse only positive! dude fortunate to get out of some tight jams

[Legacy User]

That was an underwhelming performance overall. Maybe he was nervous pitching in front of the home crowd? Maybe he just didn't have his best stuff, but Archer's lucky he didn't get knocked out in the first three innings tonight.

I did like Archer's compete effort, and the dude does have good stuff. Frankly, the umpire screwed him to lead off the 5th inning -- I still don't know why in 2018 we can't have an automated strike zone and end all this subjective shifting strike zone crap. Frankly, Jordy Mercer screwed him by letting a double play ball go under his glove. Frankly, Marte let him down by losing the ball in the lights or whatever, and, frankly, good old Skip Hurdle surprised me with the quick hook -- less than 100 pitches and in the 5th inning -- skip has given longer leashes to lesser pitchers in the past to get them their 5 innings.

Skip didn't get tonight's script -- people came to see Archer get his first win and Skip decided to treat this like the Roulette Game. Now it's a battle of the bullpens. Maybe the new reliever will steal the show? After all, NH made these trades to suck yinz back to the ball park and Hurdle needs to understand that takes precedence over winning a ball game in early August.

[Legacy User]

need to teach these clowns to stop walking guys. 6 walks so far. pathetic. playing with fire loading bases again. throw in 10 card hits. and n error. damn lucky they not down 4.

[Legacy User]

unreal. every fucking inning. luck fixing to end.

[jeemie]

Too bad Frazier can’t field for shit.

He’d be an everyday player if he could.

[jeemie]

Vazquez shuts ‘em down.

Wasn’t pretty but it’s a win!

[Legacy User]

wow. amazing fortunate win actually. great throw by polanco.
love sweep of hated red birds

[jeemie]

So...from now until September 3, with the exception of a two-game set against Minnesota, the Pirates will be playing teams they are competing against for a playoff spot.

We will know by the end of the month if September baseball in Pittsburgh is worth watching.

[Legacy User]

need dickerson back asap. he's important cog for winning.

[jeemie]

need dickerson back asap. he's important cog for winning.

Dickerson just got activated.

[jeemie]

Whoa!

Cervelli playing first base!

[jeemie]

Starting to worry that the pitching is reverting to form.

No runs scored yet but Nova is struggling to locate.

As did Archer yesterday and Kingham on Wednesday.

[jeemie]

Addendum to earlier post.

Dickerson has been activated, but is not starting.

[jeemie]

Nova looks sharper this inning so far with the first batter.

Maybe Diaz’ ridiculous gear was blinding him.

Of course Kolten Wong follows with a double...although Polanco nearly got him at second (like he nearly got Carpenter in the first inning).

[jeemie]

Hell of a defensive play by the Bucs to gun a runner at the plate again!

[jeemie]

Nova at 81 pitches and it's 4-1.

Hurdle will make him suck this up.

[jeemie]

DAMMIT if only Frazier could field consistently...