Post by joshsbix on Jan 7, 2024 11:58:51 GMT -5
Some may have noticed that the manager hasn't officially changed in game yet. The team has been trying to keep it quiet, but Kenny Powers has been staging a sit in, refusing to be fired. He wasn't in the dugout for the sim ending on 5/10 but he has remained in the building.
Let's see how the last sim went after the Pirates stumbled trying to get the series win against SF.
5/3
After mediocre pitching by Brad Penny, he was sent to the bullpen in a flurry of changes, moments after Kenny Powers was "fired". Franklyn German struggled to get wins last year and was sent to AAA over the winter, but he gets the call up to fill in as the Pirates continue to miss Ascencio.
While German's efficiency could have been better he went 5.2 innings striking out 12. The remodeled bullpen held onto the 4-1 lead it inherited, and the Pirates added 3 runs late to secure the 7-2 win.
The top of the lineup responded to the recent criticism that it wasn't producing after the first trip through the order, scoring 6 runs after the 3rd inning. Nieves and Lieberthal both homered in this one, but it was Nieves that got the POG with his 3-5 day. I think German deserved it but I am starting to think I have a pitching bias.
Pirates start the sim 1-0!
5/4
Pittsburgh sends rookie Cory Wade to the bump for his 6th start of the year, looking to continue to put pressure on a Dodger team looking to find its groove. The rookie faced off Dodger rookie Clayton Kershaw. Many Dodger fans have him penciled into Cooperstown already, but not on this night.
Wade and Kershaw both went 6.2 innings, but it was Wade that pitched like the future Hall of Famer, holding the Dodgers to 1 run while the Pirate bats scored a run early, they broke the game open with Justin Morneau's 4th Homerun of the year. Kershaw gave up 6.
Mattes had a rare off night in relief but Villarreal and Howry were able to lock down the late innings and CJ Wilson gets his second save of the season. Cory Wade deservingly got the POG as the Pirates win their second straight by a score of 6-3. Fans reported seeing Kenny Powers poking his head into the dugout during the 9th. Pittsburgh starts the sim 2-0.
5/5
Pittsburgh sent their other rookie to the mound in game three to try to sweep the 3 game series against the Dodgers. The Dodgers called on 32 yo veteran Ryan Dempster to try and get things turned around.
The Pirate rookie pitched well giving up 2 runs, 1 ER, but it was his error that cost them the unearned run. The lineup failed to find an answer to Dempster, Mattes relieved him in the 9a with 1 out before CJ Wilson came in to issue 3 walks and walk in the winning run. Pirates missed a sweep opportunity and the seat for CJ Wilson in the closer position could be getting a little warm.
5/6
The team was feeling good coming off of a 2-1 series win in LA with a 1 win SD team coming to Pittsburgh and their #1 pitcher on the hill. Wade Miller went 4 innings in an apparent bullpen game and the bullpen was flawless. Serrano went 3.2 scoreless innings, Neshek and Smith combined for the last 4 outs.
Anderson went 7.1 innings, giving up 4 ER but just couldn't get the big hit. ALl of the Pirate starters, except Choo had hits, but the Pirates could only scratch over 2 runs, losing 4-2 to drop their second straight and to 2-2 for the sim.
5/7
Surely, the 2 win Padres couldnt win 2 in a row after taking 30 games to get their first 2 wins, could they? Confidence was once again high as #2 starter Bryan Hebson matched up well with Padre starter, Sun-woo Kim. However, once again the Pirates offense was mediocre as the spotlight gets hotter for Erstad at the top of the lineup. It is just a matter of time before Fowler gets called up and Erstad's .185 average at the top of the order, has to change, fast.
Hebson wasn't his sharpest, giving up 6 runs through 5.1 innings. Mattes, Mantei, and Barnette were perfect in relief but the damage had alredy been done. Pittsburgh loses their second straight to SD, 6-3 to fall to 2-3 for the sim.
5/8
Looking to once again avoid a sweep, the Pirates looked to German to stop the bleeding. German pitched well in his first start of the season but start two did not go as well. He was pulled before getting a single out, giving up 5 runs powered by Brown's bases loaded double.
The Pirates responded with 3 in the bottom of the inning to close the gap to 5-3. They scored a run in the second and tied the game in the 3rd. Pittsburgh took the lead for good in the 7th scoring two to get the 8-5 win. However, the real story here was the bullpen. Morneau got the POG with a 4-4 night, but I would have given it to the bullpen as a whole.
This game is a microcosm of the season so far, an absolutely awful start, but the changes to the bullpen paid off. Howry went 3.1 scoreless, Villareal pitched 1.2. Barnette 2.2 to keep his perfect ERA intact, Mantei got a hold, and Wilson picked up a 4 out save.
Kenny Powers came out and sat in the dugout as the fans rose to their feet for the final out. Pirates improve to .500 on the sim and dodge a sweep from the Padres.
5/9
The Pirates were confident headed to Colorado, despite having lost the SD series 2 games to 1, the bullpen display from the night before, had the team believing that maybe things were turning around.
It seemed only right that the budding leader, Cory Wade should be up in the rotation. Looking for his
4th win of the season, the rookie was locked in. He went into the 8th giving up only a run before turning things over to Penny for the final four outs.
The Pirate offense wowed in this one, winning 9-1 behind 7 doubles. Choo hit two and had 3 RBIs while Sexson had 3 doubles but wasn't able to get a single RBI. Flores hit a solo shot in the 7th to highlight his 3-5 night and earning him the player of the game. Pirates improve to 4-3 on the sim and officially lock in their first winning sim of the season!
Hopefully, we can climb out of the cellar in today's sim. After that we turn our sights on Milwaukee. Let's Go Bucs!
Let's see how the last sim went after the Pirates stumbled trying to get the series win against SF.
5/3
After mediocre pitching by Brad Penny, he was sent to the bullpen in a flurry of changes, moments after Kenny Powers was "fired". Franklyn German struggled to get wins last year and was sent to AAA over the winter, but he gets the call up to fill in as the Pirates continue to miss Ascencio.
While German's efficiency could have been better he went 5.2 innings striking out 12. The remodeled bullpen held onto the 4-1 lead it inherited, and the Pirates added 3 runs late to secure the 7-2 win.
The top of the lineup responded to the recent criticism that it wasn't producing after the first trip through the order, scoring 6 runs after the 3rd inning. Nieves and Lieberthal both homered in this one, but it was Nieves that got the POG with his 3-5 day. I think German deserved it but I am starting to think I have a pitching bias.
Pirates start the sim 1-0!
5/4
Pittsburgh sends rookie Cory Wade to the bump for his 6th start of the year, looking to continue to put pressure on a Dodger team looking to find its groove. The rookie faced off Dodger rookie Clayton Kershaw. Many Dodger fans have him penciled into Cooperstown already, but not on this night.
Wade and Kershaw both went 6.2 innings, but it was Wade that pitched like the future Hall of Famer, holding the Dodgers to 1 run while the Pirate bats scored a run early, they broke the game open with Justin Morneau's 4th Homerun of the year. Kershaw gave up 6.
Mattes had a rare off night in relief but Villarreal and Howry were able to lock down the late innings and CJ Wilson gets his second save of the season. Cory Wade deservingly got the POG as the Pirates win their second straight by a score of 6-3. Fans reported seeing Kenny Powers poking his head into the dugout during the 9th. Pittsburgh starts the sim 2-0.
5/5
Pittsburgh sent their other rookie to the mound in game three to try to sweep the 3 game series against the Dodgers. The Dodgers called on 32 yo veteran Ryan Dempster to try and get things turned around.
The Pirate rookie pitched well giving up 2 runs, 1 ER, but it was his error that cost them the unearned run. The lineup failed to find an answer to Dempster, Mattes relieved him in the 9a with 1 out before CJ Wilson came in to issue 3 walks and walk in the winning run. Pirates missed a sweep opportunity and the seat for CJ Wilson in the closer position could be getting a little warm.
5/6
The team was feeling good coming off of a 2-1 series win in LA with a 1 win SD team coming to Pittsburgh and their #1 pitcher on the hill. Wade Miller went 4 innings in an apparent bullpen game and the bullpen was flawless. Serrano went 3.2 scoreless innings, Neshek and Smith combined for the last 4 outs.
Anderson went 7.1 innings, giving up 4 ER but just couldn't get the big hit. ALl of the Pirate starters, except Choo had hits, but the Pirates could only scratch over 2 runs, losing 4-2 to drop their second straight and to 2-2 for the sim.
5/7
Surely, the 2 win Padres couldnt win 2 in a row after taking 30 games to get their first 2 wins, could they? Confidence was once again high as #2 starter Bryan Hebson matched up well with Padre starter, Sun-woo Kim. However, once again the Pirates offense was mediocre as the spotlight gets hotter for Erstad at the top of the lineup. It is just a matter of time before Fowler gets called up and Erstad's .185 average at the top of the order, has to change, fast.
Hebson wasn't his sharpest, giving up 6 runs through 5.1 innings. Mattes, Mantei, and Barnette were perfect in relief but the damage had alredy been done. Pittsburgh loses their second straight to SD, 6-3 to fall to 2-3 for the sim.
5/8
Looking to once again avoid a sweep, the Pirates looked to German to stop the bleeding. German pitched well in his first start of the season but start two did not go as well. He was pulled before getting a single out, giving up 5 runs powered by Brown's bases loaded double.
The Pirates responded with 3 in the bottom of the inning to close the gap to 5-3. They scored a run in the second and tied the game in the 3rd. Pittsburgh took the lead for good in the 7th scoring two to get the 8-5 win. However, the real story here was the bullpen. Morneau got the POG with a 4-4 night, but I would have given it to the bullpen as a whole.
This game is a microcosm of the season so far, an absolutely awful start, but the changes to the bullpen paid off. Howry went 3.1 scoreless, Villareal pitched 1.2. Barnette 2.2 to keep his perfect ERA intact, Mantei got a hold, and Wilson picked up a 4 out save.
Kenny Powers came out and sat in the dugout as the fans rose to their feet for the final out. Pirates improve to .500 on the sim and dodge a sweep from the Padres.
5/9
The Pirates were confident headed to Colorado, despite having lost the SD series 2 games to 1, the bullpen display from the night before, had the team believing that maybe things were turning around.
It seemed only right that the budding leader, Cory Wade should be up in the rotation. Looking for his
4th win of the season, the rookie was locked in. He went into the 8th giving up only a run before turning things over to Penny for the final four outs.
The Pirate offense wowed in this one, winning 9-1 behind 7 doubles. Choo hit two and had 3 RBIs while Sexson had 3 doubles but wasn't able to get a single RBI. Flores hit a solo shot in the 7th to highlight his 3-5 night and earning him the player of the game. Pirates improve to 4-3 on the sim and officially lock in their first winning sim of the season!
Hopefully, we can climb out of the cellar in today's sim. After that we turn our sights on Milwaukee. Let's Go Bucs!
