The Pirates.

[pensodyssey]

I know, I know.  Baseball sucks and Pirates fans are assholes.

Still, this team definitely has my interest.  Kudos to them for making the season interesting up til the all-star break. Remains to be seen if Nutting will actually pay to keep the team in contention, but with the lockout, he has a golden oppotunity to cash in.

[kluisi61]

If only we had a section where we could post about the Pirates...

 

[jburghfan]

And this season I cancelled my MBL extra innings package...

[kluisi61]

And this season I cancelled my MBL extra innings package...

Midget Bowling League?

[pensodyssey]

Wow.  I expected the Pirates to improve but I never thought they'd be part of an actual pennant race.  If they play .500 ball the rest of the way the 'Burgh will boast the reigning coaches of the year in hockey and baseball, and I cannot be convinced that Tomlin didn't deserve it in the NFL either.

[DrRockit]

IMO this turnaround began around the time they brought up Neil Walker last year.  Even though they still sucked, there started to be exciting play by young guys and it was worth tuning in.  Starting pitching was often quite good for 5 or 6 innings, but then it blew up more often than not. 

It remains to be seen whether ownership/management has a commitment to winning and as soon as important contracts come up, we'll know what's up.

[kluisi61]

It remains to be seen whether ownership/management has a commitment to winning and as soon as important contracts come up, we'll know what's up.

I'll take a crack at that one...they'll let them go to the Yankees, Red Sox, or Phillies and the Pirates will suck again. I'm jaded from 20 years of futility.

[pensodyssey]

The Pirates are in first.  Just wanted to say it.

[jonzr]

If you're the catcher, you have to make that tag - no excuse.  It might have been a bad call, but the catcher could have made it a moot point.  I don't think replay would have helped that.

http://youtu.be/HZRGe9Rjzek

[msdmnr2002]

I agree.  Why a swipe tag?  I dislike it most of the time anyway.  Just put the glove down there and leave it, they're gonna slide into it 99% of the time, and the other 1% you're in position to move the glove where you need it.

[pensodyssey]

If you're the catcher, you have to make that tag - no excuse.  It might have been a bad call, but the catcher could have made it a moot point.  I don't think replay would have helped.

Rediculous, jonzr.  No creditable source is suggesting that the tag was not made. 

Fact is, bad things happen to the Pirates in Atlanta, kinda like the Steelers and New England.

[jonzr]

If you're the catcher, you have to make that tag - no excuse.  It might have been a bad call, but the catcher could have made it a moot point.  I don't think replay would have helped.

Rediculous, jonzr.  No creditable source is suggesting that the tag was not made. 

Fact is, bad things happen to the Pirates in Atlanta, kinda like the Steelers and New England.

When I watch that slowmo replay it looks like he *should have* made the tag but there's no way I can say he actually did.  It's inconclusive.  I guess you could argue that the ump should give him the call, kinda like the 2nd baseman who never actually steps on the bag for a double play, but that's not the same thing.  The catcher has to make it obvious - no benefit of the doubt.

This isn't like the should-a-been-no-hitter last year.  Even in real-time it was obvious that the runner was out at first. 

[pensodyssey]

Not sure what replays you're watching. 

Meals admitted (in that back-handed, Bud Selig-era way) that he tagged him.

Players make plays.  Umps make calls.  Meals and his 19 years of experience need to be sent back to AAA to ride the bus again.

[jonzr]

On the replay I posted go to the 1:25 mark and it's impossible to say either way.  Same thing at the 1:05 mark from a different angle.

[pensodyssey]

On the replay I posted go to the 1:25 mark and it's impossible to say either way.  Same thing at the 1:05 mark from a different angle.

You are the only person I have read, seen, or talked to who thinks the tag was not applied.

[VaBchSteelersfan]

If the Buccos miss the playoff by 1 game after not being contenders for the last 18 years, Meals will become more hated in Pittsburgh than Steve Bartman was in Chicago a few years back.   

[jonzr]

On the replay I posted go to the 1:25 mark and it's impossible to say either way.  Same thing at the 1:05 mark from a different angle.

You are the only person I have read, seen, or talked to who thinks the tag was not applied.

That's not what I said.  In effect, I said that the catcher needs to remove the decision from the ump. And I further stated that a replay would likely not have overturned the call (using NFL rules) because it's inconclusive. I can't say he made the tag and I can't say he didn't.

All blame on the catcher IMO.  Don't make a showy, pretty, sweeping tag, get your fucking nose dirty and tag that bitch forcefully.  Change his path.  Physically intervene.  Hell, bloody his fucking nose - at least then you have some evidence.  "You see ump, you see that blood on the ball? You see that guy with blood pouring out of his nose?  You see the blood on the ground 8 feet away from the plate?"

“I saw the tag, but he looked like he oléd him and I called him safe for that. I looked at the replays and it appeared he might have got him on the shin area. I’m guessing he might have got him, but when I was out there when it happened I didn’t see a tag.  I just saw the glove sweep up. I didn’t see the glove hit his leg.”

http://mlb.sbnation.com/2011/7/27/2296871/braves-pirates-umpire-jerry-meals

[otismalibu]

That's the type of contact that forces Sidney Crosby to miss a season. 

[jonzr]

That's the type of contact that forces Sidney Crosby to miss a season. 

BAM!

[pensodyssey]

That's the type of contact that forces Sidney Crosby to miss a season.  

That's funny!  Let's all send back our team Canadia medals.

And jonzr, you're the only one who's argued that the catcher didn't get the tag down.  EOS.

[otismalibu]

That's funny!  Let's all send back our team Canadia medals.

C'mon Penso, ya think the entire Nation loves him just because he's a great player? I'm plenty glad he lit the lamp for the gold, but quite a few Canucks used to call #99 a pussy too. 

[jonzr]

That's the type of contact that forces Sidney Crosby to miss a season. 

That's funny!  Let's all send back our team Canadia medals.

And jonzr, you're the only one who's argued that the catcher didn't get the tag down.  EOS.

I guess you didn't read my last post before the "BAM" one.  This one:

In effect, I said that the catcher needs to remove the decision from the ump. And I further stated that a replay would likely not have overturned the call (using NFL rules) because it's inconclusive. I can't say he made the tag and I can't say he didn't.

That's fine, Mob Rules!  The majority is *always* right! Heck, left is right!  Up is down!  Wheeeeeeeeeee!!!!11!!!

[kluisi61]

You guys should meet up at the Orange Julius. 

[jonzr]

I think the point here is that no Pittsburgh players or even teams should ever go to Georgia and expect a favorable outcome.

[msdmnr2002]

Quote from: pensodyssey on Yesterday at 23:22
Quote from: otismalibu on Yesterday at 20:00
That's the type of contact that forces Sidney Crosby to miss a season. 



That's funny!  Let's all send back our team Canadia medals.

And jonzr, you're the only one who's argued that the catcher didn't get the tag down.  EOS.


I guess you didn't read my last post before the "BAM" one.  This one:


Quote
In effect, I said that the catcher needs to remove the decision from the ump. And I further stated that a replay would likely not have overturned the call (using NFL rules) because it's inconclusive. I can't say he made the tag and I can't say he didn't.

That's fine, Mob Rules!  The majority is *always* right! Heck, left is right!  Up is down!  Wheeeeeeeeeee!!!!11!!!

Don't worry jonz, I got your back.  Did he make the tag?  Prob so.  But it was poor technique and he could easily have made it completely obvious he made the tag.  Absolutely no reason or purpose in a swipe tag there.

[kluisi61]

Don't worry jonz, I got your back.  Did he make the tag?  Prob so.  But it was poor technique and he could easily have made it completely obvious he made the tag.  Absolutely no reason or purpose in a swipe tag there.

So what you are saying is that you want to fight Penso too?

[jonzr]

Don't worry jonz, I got your back.  Did he make the tag?  Prob so.  But it was poor technique and he could easily have made it completely obvious he made the tag.  Absolutely no reason or purpose in a swipe tag there.

So what you are saying is that you want to fight Penso too?

No, he's getting dibs on Penso's keepers! 

[pensodyssey]

Phew.  Eh, it's past now.  On vacation with the in-laws in Tahoe and not what you would call relaxed right now.  Will be the subject of an epic post upon return.

I keep looking for BV careening out of contol down one of these mountainsides.

Back to the topic, Hurdle's job is now to keep the team from losing 8 of the next 10.  Just get through the next stretch at or near .500 and all will be ok.

[VaBchSteelersfan]

On vacation with the in-laws in Tahoe and not what you would call relaxed right now.  Will be the subject of an epic post upon return.

You can title the post 'On vacation with the out-laws'. No offense but that's not a vacation. 

[pensodyssey]

Just got a text from my brother.

"F the braves.  F Meals. F Sid Bream, Cabrera and Bonds."

To which I can only add, F Skip Carey's dead ass too.

Fuck the Braves.