Ryan Doumit is the man. He had 4 homer runs in that 3 game series and helped the Bucs win the Series. All three starters pitched well. With the exception of Paul Maholm's 6th inning in game 1.
The Pirates go to Baltimore for the first time since winning the World Series there in 1979. Phil Dumatrait is the starter in game one of that series.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Dear Matt Capps: The Nats! Really!?!
I knew this day would come. I knew Matt Capps wouldn't stay perfect the whole season but I didn't expect him to blow his first one against the Nationals. I'm not that mad at Capps though I know he will rebound.
THE NATIONALS COME ON!
Why can they split a series against Arizona and then lose the first one to Washington.
The Bucs started out fine with a three nothing lead but then lead would change three times. The last time after a Lastings Milledge 2-run homer in the 9th off Capps.
This is just frustrating because the Pirates are now, instead of one game out from .500, 3 games behind and they start inter-league play on Friday.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Duke/ Mientkiewicz Do thier Part: Bucs Win: Split Series with D'Backs
Zach Duke Pitched a brilliant game today. He allowed 2 runs on 5 hits over 6 innings of work with 5 strike outs and getting the Win. The bullpen allowed 1 run on two hits and Matt Capps converted his 15th save of the season.
Doug Mientkiewicz did his job getting into D'backs pitchers Randy "Big Unit" Johnson's head. Mientkiewicz call a time out as Johnson was entering his windup and Johnson had some words for Mientkiewicz. The two got into each others face which lead to the benches and bullpens clearing.
Mientkiewicz walked, then Johnson committed an error, then walked in a run. The next inning Mientkiewicz hit a successful hit-and-run that lead to another run.
The win brings the the Pirates to within two wins of .500 they are 31-33. Duke's win shows that the Starters are starting to become consistent even though Snell and Gorzo lost.
Pittsburgh Penguins' Contracts and Salaries
As Taken from the Pittsbugh Tribune-Review.
FORWARDS
Sidney Crosby
Contract Status: Signed through 2012-13 at average of $8.7 million per season.
Looking ahead: Took less on his deal so Pens could build winner around him.
---------------------------------------------------------P-----------------------
Marian Hossa
Contract Status: Made $7 million, can be unrestricted free agent July 1.
Looking ahead: Pens will make a serious effort to keep him, but he'll only stay if he's willing to take less than what he could get on open market.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Evgeni Malkin
Contract Status: One year left on three-year, entry-level deal.
Looking ahead: Pens will try for long-term extension this summer; Malkin likely will shoot for more than $8.7 million per year.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jordan Staal
Contract Status: One year left on three-year, entry-level deal.
Looking ahead: Pens would like to negotiate a long-term extension this summer. Staal, coming off 12-goal season, might want to wait till next summer.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ryan Malone
Contract Status: Made $1.45 million and can be an unrestricted free agent.
Looking ahead: Malone might out-price Pens on open market.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Petr Sykora
Contract Status: Signed through next season at $2.5 million.
Looking ahead: Prototype for kind of productive, reasonably priced players GM Ray Shero must continue to find.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jarkko Ruutu
Contract Status: Made $1.15 million and can be an unrestricted free agent.
Looking ahead: Eleven teams made offers to Ruutu last time he was a free agent. Pens like him but won't overpay.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gary Roberts
Contract Status: Made $2.5 million and can be an unrestricted free agent.
Looking ahead: Retirement a possibility. Probably has fulfilled his purpose here.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Georges Laraque
Contract Status: Makes $1.3 million and will be an unrestricted free agent.
Looking ahead: He's a comforting element on the team but no sure bet to stick around.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pascal Dupuis
Contract Status: Made $880,000 and can be an unrestricted free agent.
Looking ahead: Very iffy on whether Pens would want to pay much more to keep him.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maxime Talbot
Contract Status: Signed through next season at $700,000.
Looking ahead: Might find himself on one of top two lines next season.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tyler Kennedy
Contract Status: Signed through next season at $550,000.
Looking ahead: Needs to add some goals to go with all that speed and energy.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Adam Hall
Contract Status: Made $525,000 and can be an unrestricted free agent.
Looking ahead: Had excellent playoff and likely would be welcomed back for right price.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jeff Taffe
Contract Status: Made $500,000 and can be an unrestricted free agent.
Looking ahead: Solid role player who'd fit right in again.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kris Beech
Contract Status: Can be unrestricted free agent.
Looking ahead: Seems unlikely to return.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DEFENSEMEN
Sergei Gonchar
Contract Status: Signed through 2009-10 at an average of $5 million per season.
Looking ahead: A trade would free up money, but Gonchar is so valuable on ice and a mentor for Malkin.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ryan Whitney
Contract Status: Signed through 2012-13 at an average of $4 million per season.
Looking ahead: Gonchar's heir apparent on power play had an excellent final.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brooks Orpik
Contract Status: Made $1.075 million and can be unrestricted free agent.
Looking ahead: Might triple his salary on the market, which would likely make him a goner.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kris Letang
Contract Status: Signed through 2009-10 at an average of $835,000 per season.
Looking ahead: Figures to take on more prominent role next season.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hal Gill
Contract Status: Signed through next season at $2.1 million.
Looking ahead: His physicality is a necessary ingredient.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Darryl Sydor
Contract Status: Signed through next season at $2.5 million.
Looking ahead: Questionable as to what role will be if prized prospect Alex Goligoski is ready.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rob Scuderi
Contract Status: Signed through next season at $725,000.
Looking ahead: Solid defensive defenseman.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mark Eaton
Contract Status: Made $1.6 million and can be an unrestricted free agent.
Looking ahead: Injury could keep salary reasonable, so he could return.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GOALIES
Marc-Andre Fleury
Contract Status: Made $1.6 million and can be a restricted free agent.
Looking ahead: Should be an interesting negotiation. Pens will want to reach deal before July 1 so no other team comes along with enticing offer sheet.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ty Conklin
Contract Status: Made $500,000 and can be an unrestricted free agent.
Looking ahead: As with Roberts, might have served his purpose here, but would be nice to keep for right price.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dany Sabourin
Contract Status: Signed through next season at $525,000.
Looking ahead: If Conklin leaves, he'll be the backup.
FORWARDS
Sidney Crosby
Contract Status: Signed through 2012-13 at average of $8.7 million per season.
Looking ahead: Took less on his deal so Pens could build winner around him.
---------------------------------------------------------P-----------------------
Marian Hossa
Contract Status: Made $7 million, can be unrestricted free agent July 1.
Looking ahead: Pens will make a serious effort to keep him, but he'll only stay if he's willing to take less than what he could get on open market.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Evgeni Malkin
Contract Status: One year left on three-year, entry-level deal.
Looking ahead: Pens will try for long-term extension this summer; Malkin likely will shoot for more than $8.7 million per year.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jordan Staal
Contract Status: One year left on three-year, entry-level deal.
Looking ahead: Pens would like to negotiate a long-term extension this summer. Staal, coming off 12-goal season, might want to wait till next summer.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ryan Malone
Contract Status: Made $1.45 million and can be an unrestricted free agent.
Looking ahead: Malone might out-price Pens on open market.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Petr Sykora
Contract Status: Signed through next season at $2.5 million.
Looking ahead: Prototype for kind of productive, reasonably priced players GM Ray Shero must continue to find.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jarkko Ruutu
Contract Status: Made $1.15 million and can be an unrestricted free agent.
Looking ahead: Eleven teams made offers to Ruutu last time he was a free agent. Pens like him but won't overpay.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gary Roberts
Contract Status: Made $2.5 million and can be an unrestricted free agent.
Looking ahead: Retirement a possibility. Probably has fulfilled his purpose here.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Georges Laraque
Contract Status: Makes $1.3 million and will be an unrestricted free agent.
Looking ahead: He's a comforting element on the team but no sure bet to stick around.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pascal Dupuis
Contract Status: Made $880,000 and can be an unrestricted free agent.
Looking ahead: Very iffy on whether Pens would want to pay much more to keep him.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maxime Talbot
Contract Status: Signed through next season at $700,000.
Looking ahead: Might find himself on one of top two lines next season.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tyler Kennedy
Contract Status: Signed through next season at $550,000.
Looking ahead: Needs to add some goals to go with all that speed and energy.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Adam Hall
Contract Status: Made $525,000 and can be an unrestricted free agent.
Looking ahead: Had excellent playoff and likely would be welcomed back for right price.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jeff Taffe
Contract Status: Made $500,000 and can be an unrestricted free agent.
Looking ahead: Solid role player who'd fit right in again.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kris Beech
Contract Status: Can be unrestricted free agent.
Looking ahead: Seems unlikely to return.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DEFENSEMEN
Sergei Gonchar
Contract Status: Signed through 2009-10 at an average of $5 million per season.
Looking ahead: A trade would free up money, but Gonchar is so valuable on ice and a mentor for Malkin.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ryan Whitney
Contract Status: Signed through 2012-13 at an average of $4 million per season.
Looking ahead: Gonchar's heir apparent on power play had an excellent final.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brooks Orpik
Contract Status: Made $1.075 million and can be unrestricted free agent.
Looking ahead: Might triple his salary on the market, which would likely make him a goner.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kris Letang
Contract Status: Signed through 2009-10 at an average of $835,000 per season.
Looking ahead: Figures to take on more prominent role next season.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hal Gill
Contract Status: Signed through next season at $2.1 million.
Looking ahead: His physicality is a necessary ingredient.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Darryl Sydor
Contract Status: Signed through next season at $2.5 million.
Looking ahead: Questionable as to what role will be if prized prospect Alex Goligoski is ready.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rob Scuderi
Contract Status: Signed through next season at $725,000.
Looking ahead: Solid defensive defenseman.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mark Eaton
Contract Status: Made $1.6 million and can be an unrestricted free agent.
Looking ahead: Injury could keep salary reasonable, so he could return.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GOALIES
Marc-Andre Fleury
Contract Status: Made $1.6 million and can be a restricted free agent.
Looking ahead: Should be an interesting negotiation. Pens will want to reach deal before July 1 so no other team comes along with enticing offer sheet.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ty Conklin
Contract Status: Made $500,000 and can be an unrestricted free agent.
Looking ahead: As with Roberts, might have served his purpose here, but would be nice to keep for right price.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dany Sabourin
Contract Status: Signed through next season at $525,000.
Looking ahead: If Conklin leaves, he'll be the backup.
Dumatrait Shines as Bucs Beat D'backs
Phil Dumatrait pitched 5 2/3 innings for his 3rd win of the season. Dumatrait gave up one run in the second but that forgotten about when the Bucs put up 5 runs in the bottom of the forth and one more in the fifth.
LaRoche and Bautista hit back to back doubles to start the fourth. Raul Chavez had an RBI single that scored Bautista. Jack Wilson had a sac fly to score Chavez. Nate McLouth and Freddy Sanchez each got on base with two outs then Jason Bay hit a double to score them. The one run in the fifth came from an RBI single by Jack Wilson.
The win put us above the Reds and three games under .500.
Matt Caps got his 14th save of the season.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Pirates Take Series from Huston
Paul Maholm pitched 8 innings giving up 3 runs on 8 hits and got the win. Matt Capps got his 13th save.
Jason Bay hit a run scoring triple. His triple scored the tying run. Jason Michaels hit his second Home run of the season, a three run blast in the first inning.
The Pirates activated Ryan Doumit today and optioned catcher Ronnie Paulino to the minors this is so he can get more at bats. He is not being used because catcher Raul Chaves is producing and Doumit is coming off the DL.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Pirates Take Alvarez
With their first pick in the 2008 MLB draft the Pirates took 3rd baseman Pedro Alvarez.
Its the first time in a long time I have been excited to see what one of the Pirates picks will do.
Although Neil Walker is in training to be our 3rd baseman, I don't see why he can't move to 1st and let Pedro take over at 3rd. But lets not forget, unless he is spectacular in the Minors it will be 3 years till we even think about Pedro having a starting role.
Its the first time in a long time I have been excited to see what one of the Pirates picks will do.
Although Neil Walker is in training to be our 3rd baseman, I don't see why he can't move to 1st and let Pedro take over at 3rd. But lets not forget, unless he is spectacular in the Minors it will be 3 years till we even think about Pedro having a starting role.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
