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Pirates notebook: No short-term fix for offense
PIRATES GAME DAY
at MARLINS7:10 p.m. today, Marlins Park, Miami
TV/radio: Root Sports/KDKA-FM (93.7), WCNS-AM (1480), WJPA-AM (1450), Pirates Radio Network, XM 183
Probable starters: Pirates RHP Brad Lincoln (2-0, 0.63 ERA) vs. Marlins RHP Anibal Sanchez (2-0, 2.01 ERA)
7:10 p.m. Tuesday: Pirates RHP Kevin Correia (1-3, 3.47 ERA) vs. Marlins RHP Josh Johnson (0-3, 5.87 ERA)
By Karen Price
Published: Sunday, May 13, 2012, 7:18 p.m.
Updated: Sunday, May 13, 2012
General manager Neal Huntington addressed his team's struggling offense before the game, and said that any help they get is going to have to come from within — at least for now.
“If you look at history over the last five years, there aren't trades made in April,” he said. “There are very, very few trades of substance made in May and there are few trades of substance made in June, so our solutions are going to have to come internally unless we're willing to be less than intelligent and dramatically overpay. That's just the way it is.
“We're certainly looking externally, but the extra wild card has made it that much more of a challenge. There are fewer sellers out there, and we're going to have to be creative.”
• Brad Lincoln gets his first start of the season tonight in Miami, and although manager Clint Hurdle wouldn't place a limit on his pitch count, the right-hander is only stretched out to about 50 pitches. “I'm not going to stretch out to 80 pitches by any means, but I'm going to go out there and give them what I got and we'll go from there,” Lincoln said. “I'll try to get to the fifth, but if the pitch count gets to the point where I'm getting tired I'll let them know and they'll be able to see it.”
• The Pirates brought Starling Marte to Pittsburgh to have his hand examined by a specialist after the outfield prospect was hit by a pitch last weekend. Huntington said Marte's hand is bruised, but everything checked out OK and he is good to go.
• Daniel McCutchen was placed on the 15-day disabled list yesterday as the corresponding roster move to Joel Hanrahan's reinstatement from the bereavement list. According to the Pirates, McCutchen suffered a strained left oblique muscle while taking batting practice Saturday.
— Karen Price
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Here's a short-term fix --- if you get struck out lookin' at the same pitch --- twice in one game --- you get sent down to the minors to ride a bus. Send McLouth and Presley down for a week --- when they come back -- I bet they protect the plate better.
Submitted by: Larry on Monday, May 14, 2012
Apparently Joel didn't read the article, you know the part about Huntington explaining that NO valuable trades can be made now, or in June. Also Joel must not have watched Saturdays game where Pedro had multiple nice plays at 3B. The errors he made were on plays where he had to rush the throw. I'm not totally absolving Pedro but I feel like I have to defend him when he is getting over-the-top criticism.
Submitted by: joel on Monday, May 14, 2012
Hey Neal, the Pirates are two games under .500. Trade for a good defensive 3rd basemen who can hit and get Pedro to 1st base. Pedro is the worst 3rd baseman in the NL[ he is a butcher]. It is May 14th and he has 8-10 errors already. IMO that NH has a bigger say on the make-up of the Pirates than Clint Hurdle has. CH is the best manager the Piraters have had in a long time and this marriage cannot last at this rate. If you think CH likes running Pedro to 3rd base almost everyday when the Pirates need defense then gladly sell you some prime real estate at the South Pole.
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