Cubs 15-15
Pirates 14-17
POTG: LF Alfosno Soraino (3 H, R, RBI, SB)
Runner Ups: 2B Ryan Theriot (3 H, 2 RBI, 2B, AS), C Michael Barrett (2 H, BB), SP Ted Lilly (7 IP, 2 R, 7 H, BB, 4 K, QS), RP Scott Eyre (3 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 0 R)
All I want to talk about is the Bottom of the 8th.
Ian Snell pitching for Pittsburgh
D Lee singled to center.
A Ramirez doubled to deep right, D Lee to third.
D Marte relieved I Snell.
***M Murton hit for F Pie.
Lou had brought Pie in the game in the top of the 8th, putting him in Cliff Floyd’s spot to improve the defense. That makes sense, but you do it knowing Pie is going to be up third next inning, right behind your best hitters and with a possible chance to drive in runs. If you’re uncomfotable with him batting in that situation, why put him in the 8th? This was a complete waste of a player on yet another night where we needed them all.
***M Murton popped out to second.
and at this point, everyone knew how the inning would end.
M Barrett intentionally walked.
J Jones grounded into double play, first to catcher, D Lee out at home.
vs LHP (career)
Jacque: 228/275/351
DeRosa: 301/361/489
Blanco: 237/314/408
I don’t know who you end up playing in CF, and that’s why there was no pinch hitting. (Theriot probably could’ve made do there for an inning.) It doesn’t matter. You absolutely must pinch hit for Jacque in this situation, and Lou…just did not. I don’t get it.
(This is also what 12 pitchers gets you.)
There were lots of chances to win last night, and lots of chances where they just barley hung on to stay in it. (Theriot seemed to be saved by microseconds from a bad night of fielding – lots of unclean picks at second for whatever reason.) This one stung me the most – if there’s anything anyone knows about this team, it’s Jacque Jones Can Not Hit Left Handed Pitching. The Pirates sure knew it, because they geared the inning around getting to that situation. For all Lou’s moves, he didn’t have a plan to cover the team’s most obvious weakness at the critical moment.