Game #75: Pirates @ Angels

Sheryl Crow sang "Leaving Las Vegas" and I think the Pirates are happy singing "Leaving LA" and loving it. Thank God this series is over. I've never been more frustrated watching a three game series and that includes the debacle in New York several weeks ago.

First thing I noticed to start the game was how fat Bartolo Colon is now. He reminded me of Kirstie Alley in the last season's of Cheers.

After 2 straight games of swinging at almost anything and everything I charted the pitches the team took today against Colon. Here's the breakdown by pitches per PA:

Duffy: 3.33 P/PA (1 BB, 2K's)
Sanchez: 3.8 P/PA
Bay: 4.8 P/PA (3K's)
LaRoche: 6.0 P/PA (1K, 3BB's)
Nady: 2.8 P/PA (1K)
Doumit: 5.8 P/PA (4BB's)
Phelps: 2.6 P/PA (3K's)
Castillo: 3.8P/PA (2K's)
Wilson: 2.6 P/PA

No wonder this team struggles so much. The team averages around 3 pitches per plate appearance. That unacceptable, especially from Duffy. He's the leadoff hitter. He's supposed to get on base and get the pitcher to throw as many pitches as possible, allowing the hitters after him to see what the guy's got. He did nothing of the sort. Duffy should not be leading off. He can't do either job.

Doumit was impressive today, which is good coming off his terrible game the other day when he was 0-4 with 4K's. He was constantly working the counts. His P/PA would have been higher if he didn't take a 4 pitch walk in one at bat.

Another good game by Tom Gorzelanny and boy can he can pitch out of trouble. Amazing that he got out of the first with no runs allowed. That's what makes him the best pitcher on this team. I am getting worried about his pitch counts though. He threw 123 pitches in his last start in Seattle. Today he threw 103. He's averaging 104 pitches per appearance. He's thrown over 110 pitches in 5 of his last 8 games started. That's a lot for a young pitcher. I would normally say I hope what Tracy's doing but in this case, I don't think he does. I think he's only worried about keeping his job and throwing Gorzo out there inning and inning is the way to get that done.

Like I mentioned yesterday, the Angels are demons on the base paths. Again in the bottom of the 3rd, fly ball to center and Figgins doesn't think twice about tagging up to third. No doubt that the ball was going to be caught, it was the right play and Duffy throws the ball no where near the base. Safe by a mile. Normally when guys tag up from second with 1 out of less I go nuts since the play should be to go half way in case the ball isn't caught but there was no doubt about that in this case.

And finally, FINALLY someone on this team is not only playing the Angels but studying them. Top of fourth, Phelps singles to center and Doumit take a BIG turn around 2nd. Looked like he was thinking about it though it wouldn't have been a good decision since the ball was taken in such shallow center. However, GOOD!! GOOD! Someone on this team is paying attention to what a good team does!

Why does Jason Bay love to watch the third strike? Can someone tell him that when he has 2 strikes he needs to protect the plate. Top of 5th, bases loaded, nobody out and he watches strike three. Again. I am usually Bay's biggest defender but this is getting old, really old. He needs to be aggressive with 2 strikes.

Why would Tracy have Nady steal second with 2 outs in the ninth of a game you just tied up. I love the aggression but this is especially dumb since Nady is the runner. I understand that K-Rod was slow to the plate but Molina is a very good defensive catcher and even with the great jump it was still close. I understand that by doing it he puts the runner into scoring position in the 9th but with a hitter like Doumit up it doesn't make any sense especially with how wild K-Rod was. Nady stole and luckily the throw was off and he was safe. I could accept this aggressive move if Tracy managed like this all the time but he doesn't.

What is really driving nuts about this team now is Jim Tracy. The man has absolutely NO FIRE. Top of the 7th, Bay grounds to third and beats throw but the ump calls him out. The play wasn't even close and Tracy should have blew a gasket. This team takes the personality of it's manager and that's what it is now; passive and disinterested. What this team really needs is a Larry Bowa type. A guy who will light a fire underneath their asses. I am tired of players like Bay and LaRoche seemingly accepting failure. I love Snell's comments yesterday that they aren't happy with their performance so far. Fine do but something about it. Get into the game, play balls out every play. Nady could have dove for Kendrick's bloop double down the line. Instead he let it bounce and hoped it landed foul. It didn't and Kendrick got a ground rule double, the next hitter singles and Kendrick scores. This team doesn't seem to play hard and it all starts with the manager.