Jim French Stepstool

Hah! I was about to post.............. They want Dino!!!!! It's part of the master plan!!!!!! Now's the Time!!!!! Murphy doesn't know what he's doing!!!!!

.........And Zastryzny was just removed from his outing tonite after the trainer came out. He was looking at his hand, so maybe just a blister. Or maybe not.

I mean, yeah but they've been 5th or 6th in all of MLB in that stat most of the season, and among the top teams in scoring two-out runs. This is something teams often go through. I know that sounds like a managers' cliche but it's true.

Mid-sixties and coming off surgery might have something to do with that.

Not much I can say about game 2 since I missed much of it. I will say that I thought it was significant that Uribe was used in the 8th rather than Koenig w/Lowe & Reynolds the first two due up. Kinda illustrates to me that another LH is needed for the BP no matter if Ashby is struggling, lights out, or anything in between. Zastryzny & Hall are on their way back; don't know if that'll satisfy the need or not. As a 'big picture' kind of fan I can't help but notice that given their season so far they hit well enough to win the first one, and from what the raw numbers say probably pitched well enough to win the second one. And won neither. Baseball, I guess. Watching Valdez today I couldn't help but be reminded of Franmil Reyes, who also came up looking like Babe Ruth but was out of US organized ball at 27 or 28. It'll be interesting once folks get a book on him; right now he's awfully impressive.

Yep, you're right. My bad.

Yeah, it often is. But there are hitters you need to turn around, or see a LHP just due to the splits. So another option they trust needs to be found. I'll admit, I didn't think his #s were quite that skitchy over the last month.

Interesting question re an off-season release, assuming he doesn't improve. They aren't in a great position to eat a contract, even one in its' last year but you never know. I'm actually a little surprised a mid-season break via the phantom IL hasn't happened. Might still be in the cards. The funny thing is, Tyler Black has really modest numbers at AAA but IMO has looked better than those numbers might suggest, and their hesitancy re Black's defense---which I totally get---would fit like a glove in the Yelich role since he hasn't seen the field in what seems like forever..

Makes sense. Personally though I've never been as big of a 'let him start the inning' guy as some are. I was perfectly fine with Patrick getting Davis to open it up. Obviously the .153 hitter decided to be vintage Jason Kendall today.

I don't disagree with the Yelich assessment. Yep, I was shocked he didn't beat that bunt out. I feel the day may come when Yelich doesn't see regular ABs unless things change dramatically. Mitchells' emergence & Lara showing every indication that he belongs should be the catalysts. Right now yeah, he's defending him & he's in 'we have to get him going' mode. I don't know when that plug gets pulled. All I know is stuff like that is almost always weeks after fans start clamoring for it, which makes sense. But I definitely think the clock is ticking.

I think bad might be laying it on a little thick; I agree he hasn't been as good in the last month. But his first three today were Mangum, Lowe & Reynolds. Mangum is OK but not as good vs LHP, Lowe is much worse, & Reynolds is someone opposing teams always try to flip to the RH side late in games. Ashby IMO was the clear call there. If anything, this could be an indictment against what you (don't) have behind him from the left side. Zerpa, Hall, & Fitzpatrick are all out, Drohan is now in the rotation & Koenig has been so-so since returning. I would imagine Zastryzny (who was also out) will be called on before too much longer.

He was probably shocked that Gonzalez made such an incredibly dumb decision throwing home. But sure, once you realize that, then try to force them to make another throw or two.

I've never understood why people bring that up. There is zero reason to need anyone or anything to shield him from the group asking the questions during these pressers. And I'm not even clamoring for 'tougher' questions, I don't really care one way or the other. It's just strange to think he's bringing them out there as a buffer like this is NY or Philly.

Pittsburgh has a better team these days at the plate & on the mound. But I can see why they don't have the look of a contender quite yet. The error in the 9th could've been a killer, and the throw home for the final out.........holy cow, what a dumb decision with Vaughn running. But it worked. Maybe a different outcome if we don't giftwrap them 2 in the first inning. I saw nothing from Ashby today that suggests he's wearing down. First pitch ambush for a base hit to the right side, the hit that loaded the bases wasn't hit particularly hard. Then after the K he falls behind Valdez 3-1 which is asking for trouble, but he's done that at times this year even when rested. Velo looked fine. It's too bad they couldn't have closed it out for Yoho. He really seems to be locking in. It was kind of funny watching Mlodzinski. What appeared to be a couple of very disinterested innings from him, then all of a sudden he gave a damn in the 8th once he smelled a W.

I could easily see Frelick raise his hand.