Now in first place in the NL Central Division

[bweiser831]

Like Flounder in Animal House:


"Boy is this great!'

[Hammer]

Pirates shut out the #1 scoring team in the NL (Reds 1-0) for the second straight game!

I'll be at the Wednesday afternoon game at PNC Park. Looks to be another low scoring game with Cueto vs. Karstens.

I cant fathom how the Reds are the #1 scoring team in the NL. They have absolutely sucked over the last month.

[joncarlos]

I cant fathom how the Reds are the #1 scoring team in the NL. They have absolutely sucked over the last month.

Reading through their post-game comments, they're just in a funk right now. Bruce struck out last night against Joe Beimel with the bases loaded... strike 3 was a brutal hanging curve that I don't know how Bruce missed. Maybe it was one of those things where he would have hit a good one. I think they're too much of a veteran team to be shocked when they go into PNC Park and the crowd is actually vocal, but I guess you never know. Stubbs is a streaky guy, Bruce and Rolen have been resting and the Pirates are on a roll. Maybe they'll take it out on Karstens today.

But I really hope not! This Pirates team has been a ton of fun to watch. It's nice to see this city caring about baseball again.

[Hammer]

Reading through their post-game comments, they're just in a funk right now. Bruce struck out last night against Joe Beimel with the bases loaded... strike 3 was a brutal hanging curve that I don't know how Bruce missed. Maybe it was one of those things where he would have hit a good one. I think they're too much of a veteran team to be shocked when they go into PNC Park and the crowd is actually vocal, but I guess you never know. Stubbs is a streaky guy, Bruce and Rolen have been resting and the Pirates are on a roll. Maybe they'll take it out on Karstens today.

But I really hope not! This Pirates team has been a ton of fun to watch. It's nice to see this city caring about baseball again.

Votto looked lost against the mighty Chris Resop last night.


The Reds have been horrid hitting with RISP. Dont have the numbers handy but just watching them nightly theyve left small villages on base nightly.

[madducks]

Pittsburgh, St Louis, & Milwaukee in a three way tie for the top spot again. Pirates ahead by percentage points (fewer losses) after winning only 1 of 3 against the Cards over the weekend. And Cincinnati is not going away at 3 games back.

Pittsburgh 52-47 .52525 -
St. Louis 53-48 .52475 -
Milwaukee 54-49 .52427 -
Cincinnati 50-51 .495 3.0 GB

Pirates have a tough schedule this week with all road games against Atlanta (4) & Philly. Cards & Brewers both get Houston & Chicago all at home. Reds have New York & San Fran both at home. No days off for the top four this week.

[Erik]

I cant fathom how the Reds are the #1 scoring team in the NL. They have absolutely sucked over the last month.

Offense is down all around. Lame offenses are actually good and horrendous offenses are merely bad.

[pjs24]

If yall get a chance, check out the site that joncarlos and I have started http://pittplank.com/

It's affiliated with ESPN Sweet Spot blog network. We launched last week and it's going pretty well so far. Let us know what you think.

[chancellor]

If yall get a chance, check out the site that joncarlos and I have started http://pittplank.com/

It's affiliated with ESPN Sweet Spot blog network. We launched last week and it's going pretty well so far. Let us know what you think.

I wanna know since when does JC use the term "sweet merciful crap"?!? LOL!!

Good stuff, BTW!

[frae]

Holy ****, what an awful call. I am sure you will all see it tomorrow, but how do you end a 7 hour game on that call. Total bull ****,doh!

[OaklandA's]

Holy ****, what an awful call. I am sure you will all see it tomorrow, but how do you end a 7 hour game on that call. Total bull ****,doh!

Agreed. Is there any possible way that the catcher missed the tag? I don't see how he could have missed it. Otherwise, I don't know what the umpire was thinking, since the tag was applied a few feet in front of home plate.

[pjs24]

Positively disgusting. Absolutely ridiculous. http://pittplank.com/2011/07/27/huh-what-no-why/ Video & stills of the call. Even worse than Jim Joyce because while he cost Armando his perfect game, the Tigers still won. This cost the Pirates a win and it was an easier call by leaps and bounds. Just impossibly pathetic. I'm livid.

[madducks]

Agreed. Is there any possible way that the catcher missed the tag? I don't see how he could have missed it. Otherwise, I don't know what the umpire was thinking, since the tag was applied a few feet in front of home plate.

The ump was thinking that he needed to go get some sleep after being behind the plate for seven hours. His eyes were obviously closed when he made that call.

An interesting note is that McKenry caught all 19 innings for Pittsburgh and once again did a great job of handling the pitching staff (almost the entire bullpen tonight). He's been an incredible find for Pittsburgh and has stabilized their once dire catching situation after their top three catchers went on the DL.

[OaklandA's]

Jerry Meals said after the game he thought McKenry had swiped but missed the tag. "I just saw the glove sweep up. I didn’t see the glove hit his leg." But after seeing the replay, he realizes he may have been wrong.

[amcg]

Amazingly bad call, however, kudos to the ump for standing there after the game and fully explaining the reasoning. Even his wording: "I thought he olé'd it..." really helps. Don't get me wrong, it's a crappy call, but other sports could actually learn from that example.

[frae]

Jerry Meals said after the game he thought McKenry had swiped but missed the tag. "I just saw the glove sweep up. I didn’t see the glove hit his leg." But after seeing the replay, he realizes he may have been wrong.

In the major leagues if the ball is there first the call is out unless you clearly see him miss the tag. Heck the phantom tag at 2B on the double play would be called safe all day if we are going to start going by what we see. I am still irate that I was up to watch what had been a great battle and to see it end with a total bull **** call is just awful. Unreal!