Game Thread (8/30/2022): Pirates (Keller) at Brewers (Alexander) - 7:10 PM CDT

[Eye Black]

[folly412]

Think we'll get better than yesterday's case for Robots?

 

[willie key]

I’m setting the over under on O Neil Cruz daily homer against the brewers at 419 feet

[nate82]

2 hours ago, folly412 said:

Think we'll get better than yesterday's case for Robots?

 

With the Brewers string of umpire crews it is very possible.  I swear the Brewers have been on the rotation of the worst umpire crews for the past couple of weeks.  

[Guest]

Can we please give Mitchell and Hiura starts today? I know CC likes to punish Hiura for good performances, but hopefully not today.

[wildcat2237]

I was really really hoping for a sweep.

However, I forgot the Houser/Alexander spot was coming due.

Here's to hoping for a major offensive outburst and Alexander throwing some smoke and mirrors for 5 innings. 

[Jim French Stepstool]

We're now at 23 runs in the last 19 innings (18 innings if you factor in no out recorded in the 9th yesterday) so maybe the offensive outburst continues. On paper, it could be needed tonite.

It's always nice to have Suter available when you're at an iffy spot in the rotation, so it kinda sucks that he worked yesterday.

I'm wondering if we don't see Tellez for 3-4 days because that's what "day to day" usually means around here.

[BruisedCrew]

8 minutes ago, Jim French Stepstool said:

We're now at 23 runs in the last 19 innings (18 innings if you factor in no out recorded in the 9th yesterday) so maybe the offensive outburst continues. On paper, it could be needed tonite.

It's always nice to have Suter available when you're at an iffy spot in the rotation, so it kinda sucks that he worked yesterday.

I'm wondering if we don't see Tellez for 3-4 days because that's what "day to day" usually means around here.

Usually it’s 3-4 days of playing shorthanded then they put the player on the IL. 

The fly in the ointment of the wins the last two days is that the short start from Lauer on Sunday, Burnes not making it through even 6 yesterday, and some hiccups from the bullpen on Sunday have put more strain on the bullpen than necessary.

In the middle of this stretch of 18 games in 17 days with no off days, some pitchers have to be more efficient. 

[Brewcrew82]

2 minutes ago, BruisedCrew said:

Usually it’s 3-4 days of playing shorthanded then they put the player on the IL. 

The fly in the ointment of the wins the last two days is that the short start from Lauer on Sunday, Burnes not making it through even 6 yesterday, and some hiccups from the bullpen on Sunday have put more strain on the bullpen than necessary.

In the middle of this stretch of 18 games in 17 days with no off days, some pitchers have to be more efficient. 

Burnes pitched 6 innings yesterday...

[Jim French Stepstool]

I have no numbers to back this up, but it seems about as bad as I can ever remember this season w/regards to our starters' pitch counts being elevated during games. Even when someone is throwing a good game you'll get to 0-2, then a foul ball, then ball one, then foul off four more. That & the number of decent (just off the plate) 0-2 & 1-2 pitches that are taken. Just not a lot of quick outs. Short starts b/c the starter had a poor outing is one thing, but they don't seem to catch many breaks. 

Of course I've seen too many 0-2 & 1-2 pitches that were hittable also (Burnes last nite vs Delay), so damned if you do, damned if you don't.

[BruisedCrew]

1 hour ago, Brewcrew82 said:

Burnes pitched 6 innings yesterday...

I stand corrected. I was probably so irked after the second HR that I probably tuned out and didn’t care whether they left him in or not.

Regardless, that is 3 straight less than quality starts from Burnes. They need more than that from an ace, both in terms of covering innings and preventing runs. Those subpar outings put more strain on the bullpen and potentially impact other games. Having to use Suter last night with Alexander starting tonight is a perfect example. 

Burnes quality start percentage, IP per start , and ERA this season are not up to the standards I would expect from an elite SP. it’s definitely what the Brewers need considering that they rely so heavily on elite pitching. 

[markedman5]

Not sustainable but interesting

 

[markedman5]

 

[sveumrules]

31 minutes ago, markedman5 said:

Not sustainable but interesting

 

Using raw K% will naturally limit the pool of players & skew recent, but substituting K%+ (which adjusts for era) makes it a little more interesting.

Over the last 40 years there are 13,640 individual seasons with at least 190 PAs. Keston's K%+ of 187 is 130th on that list. 

Players with a higher K%+ (187) and wRC+ (139) than 2022 Hiura include 1989 Canseco (188/144), 1990 Canseco (191/157), 1990 BO JACKSON (191/140), 2007 Jack Cust (194/145), 1982 Reggie (200/145) and 1992 Deer (208/145).

[sveumrules]

Here are some pre-1982/post-1947 seasons for guys who posted similar K%+ and wRC+ numbers as 2022 Hiura so far...

1968 Willie Crawford (230 K%+ / 133 wRC+), 1975 Schmidt (225/142), 1975 Tony Solaita (224/147), 1979 Gorman (223/138), 1978 Gorman (210/143), 1953 Larry Doby (210/139), 1949 Andy Seminick (209/138), 1969 Dick Allen (202/160), 1977 Bernie Carbo (201/147), 1971 Willie Stargell (197/186), 1971 Reggie Jackson (196/148), 1978 Reggie (194/138), 1948 Doby (192/134), 1977 Stargell (192/139), 1957 Joe Adcock (190/142), 1961 Steve Bilko (189/140), 1968 Dick Allen (189/159).

[Hopper]

It makes me feel happy to see both Hiura and Mitchell in the line-up tonight.  Makes me at least feel like CC is trying to win games rather than being stubborn. (even though the real reason Keston is starting is probably because Rowdy is out with an injury)

Wong hitting clean-up though, what?

 

[Brewcrew82]

3 minutes ago, Hopper said:

It makes me feel happy to see both Hiura and Mitchell in the line-up tonight.  Makes me at least feel like CC is trying to win games rather than being stubborn. (even though the real reason Keston is starting is probably because Rowdy is out with an injury)

 

I think CC has been trying to win games this whole time...

[Brewcrew82]

Let's not let O'Neil Cruz beat us tonight. 

[BruisedCrew]

Cruz has hit 6 of his 11 HRs against the Brewers (55%). That’s roughly equal to the percentage of the Pirates wins since June 30 that have come against the Brewers. 

[LouisEly]

12 minutes ago, BruisedCrew said:

Cruz has hit 6 of his 11 HRs against the Brewers (55%). That’s roughly equal to the percentage of the Pirates wins since June 30 that have come against the Brewers. 

And he hasn't had one damn at bat against the Cardinals this year.  Not one.  Down in the minors every time they played the Cards so far.

[yourout]

If nothing else a 3 game win streak with some new faces will rekindle some interest in the Crew.

[HarryDoyle]

The Padres have the second most difficult schedule remaining this year.

[BruisedCrew]

1 hour ago, LouisEly said:

And he hasn't had one damn at bat against the Cardinals this year.  Not one.  Down in the minors every time they played the Cards so far.

That will change soon as the Pirates have a series with the Cardinals coming up.

The Pirates also play the Cardinals for the last 6 games of the season, though those games may be meaningless. 

[willie key]

19 minutes ago, HarryDoyle said:

The Padres have the second most difficult schedule remaining this year.

The pirates swept the dodgers earlier this year 

[treego14]

Keller might be a nice feller,

BUT

Jason is going to help us in our playoff chasin' !!!

Brew Crew in 22!  Let's bust through!