Game 43 - Pittsburgh Pirates (Charlie Morton) at Cincinnati Reds (Bronson Arroyo)

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Azubuike24's avatar
Azubuike24
Posts: 15,933
May 17, 2011 10:51pm
Charlie Morton has been a different pitcher this year and he shut the Reds down at GABP in April with a complete game 5-hitter allowing only one run. The Pirates actually won 3 of 4 at GABP in that series and come back Wednesday for a 2-game series. The Reds are 11-4 in April and 15-9 since that series ended.

Look for Gomes to be back in the lineup tomorrow I'd think, unless Dusty likes Lewis for another start.
se-alum's avatar
se-alum
Posts: 13,948
May 18, 2011 7:47am
Dusty said yesterday that Gomes would be in the lineup today.
T
thavoice
Posts: 14,376
May 18, 2011 10:30am
I think tomorrow they should use their BP in a limited capacity....meaning guys ya wouldnt expect to use in a tight game in Cleveland. Tonite everyone should be available but tomorrow some BP guys should get a rest to be ready to pitch days in a row. Rolen will probably be off tomorrow as well.

Tough 10 game stretch after the Pitt series. Lets hope they dont overlook the pirates and lose both. I will be happy with 1-1 against the buccos.
Heretic's avatar
Heretic
Posts: 18,820
May 18, 2011 11:16am
Hopefully Morton can replicate his last start against the Reds. It'll be interesting to see how he reacts with having his spot in the order fucked with by the weather. His start last week went for about 1-2 innings before rain forced the game to be postponed and then he was supposed to start yesterday against Washington, but that was postponed.
se-alum's avatar
se-alum
Posts: 13,948
May 18, 2011 4:41pm
Stubbs
Janish
Votto
Phillips
Rolen
Lewis
Gomes
Hanigan
Arroyo

Bruce is sick.
justincredible's avatar
justincredible
Posts: 32,056
May 18, 2011 4:52pm
I'm headed back down there tonight. Hopefully this game is as entertaining as last nights.
Heretic's avatar
Heretic
Posts: 18,820
May 18, 2011 4:54pm
justincredible;773168 wrote:I'm headed back down there tonight. Hopefully this game is as entertaining as last nights.

As long as "entertaining" doesn't equal "Reds win because everyone on the other team is an utter retard on defense" like last night. I'd at least like the Pirates to preserve some shred of dignity, unlike the Cubs.
killer_ewok's avatar
killer_ewok
Posts: 11,379
May 18, 2011 4:58pm
Come on, Pirates.....get back in the W column.
SportsAndLady's avatar
SportsAndLady
Posts: 35,632
May 18, 2011 7:06pm
Game time beechees
se-alum's avatar
se-alum
Posts: 13,948
May 18, 2011 7:17pm
Pirates threatening, 1st & 3rd w/ 2outs.
se-alum's avatar
se-alum
Posts: 13,948
May 18, 2011 8:06pm
Pirates up 3 thru 3 1/2.
SportsAndLady's avatar
SportsAndLady
Posts: 35,632
May 18, 2011 8:08pm
Fuckin A Arroyo
Rotinaj's avatar
Rotinaj
Posts: 7,699
May 18, 2011 8:25pm
Do the reds ever score like 1 or 2 runs in an inning? Seems like they've been going like 5 or 6 innings per game without scoring and then score 4+ runs in an inning and not score the rest of the game. I'm predicting a 4 run 5th or 6th.
SportsAndLady's avatar
SportsAndLady
Posts: 35,632
May 18, 2011 8:45pm
Rotinaj;773343 wrote:Do the reds ever score like 1 or 2 runs in an inning? Seems like they've been going like 5 or 6 innings per game without scoring and then score 4+ runs in an inning and not score the rest of the game. I'm predicting a 4 run 5th or 6th.

I siad this in the game thread last night, but I really think they go 1 or 2 times through the order as free swingers, learning the pitches, etc. then just rape soon as they've had enough looks at the pitches.
Midstate01's avatar
Midstate01
Posts: 14,766
May 18, 2011 8:51pm
The bucko's own us thus far this year.
SportsAndLady's avatar
SportsAndLady
Posts: 35,632
May 18, 2011 8:52pm
Reds can't beat the Pirates llol
sherm03's avatar
sherm03
Posts: 7,349
May 18, 2011 8:53pm
The Cardinals owned the Reds last year...and it seems like this year the Pirates just have the magic.

If we can go 1-1 on this short series...and then get a winning record on the road trip, I'd be very happy.
Terry_Tate's avatar
Terry_Tate
Posts: 7,606
May 18, 2011 9:11pm
Back to back hits by Heisey and Bruce. Come on Janish, break out of the slump.
se-alum's avatar
se-alum
Posts: 13,948
May 18, 2011 9:14pm
Reds just aren't being patient against Morton.
GoPens's avatar
GoPens
Posts: 2,339
May 18, 2011 9:27pm
Who is this Charlie Morton of which you speak...and what has he done to the real Charlie Morton? Great way to break the losing streak.
Midstate01's avatar
Midstate01
Posts: 14,766
May 18, 2011 9:31pm
Had to lose eventually.
justincredible's avatar
justincredible
Posts: 32,056
May 18, 2011 10:53pm
I'm glad I ended up staying home tonight. This would've been a brutal game to sit through. Charlie effin' Morton.
Heretic's avatar
Heretic
Posts: 18,820
May 18, 2011 11:54pm
You call him Charlie Morton. You SHOULD call him Jesus Christ because, let's face it, you guys have a great offense and play in a small park and he's dominated you in two starts to the tune of two complete games and only one run surrendered. To me, that's amazing because over the past couple years you've improved offensively to where single pitchers don't dominate. Like how Oswalt USED to win every time, but in the last couple years, you guys improved against him. Chris Carpenter's in the same boat. So for Morton to follow up a great effort with an even better one surprised me. Especially after the first inning. I was expecting a 5IP/4R or 6/3 outing at best after that.

The weirdest thing was how, until the 3-run homer inning, the game was almost a perfect mirror for both sides. Both teams got two two-out hits, but didn't score in the first (Pirates- 1st/3rd and Reds 2nd/3rd) and then the pitchers were perfect for a couple innings. But then Arroyo struggled and Morton kept on keeping on.

Sadly, I have no faith in that happening tomorrow. In his start against the Reds earlier this year, MacDonald was the losing starter in what wound up an 11-2 game. Cueto utterly OWNED the Pirates last year. Recipe for an ugly day.
se-alum's avatar
se-alum
Posts: 13,948
May 19, 2011 9:01am
The Reds were swinging at everything against a guy that doesn't throw alot of strikes. You'll have these type of games though. Also, if I was Chris Heisey, I would extremely pissed about the situation this year. To have to watch Gomes go out there and do absolutely nothing, while good things happen nearly every time he hits, has to be hard to deal with.
Azubuike24's avatar
Azubuike24
Posts: 15,933
May 19, 2011 9:08am
It was amazing that in the 6th inning, Brantley said to Thom "did you notice Morton threw two pitches to the backstop in warm-ups." Thom says "yeah I noticed that too." Jeff then said it would be a good idea to take some pitches.

Down 3-0, Paul Janish leads off, takes the first 2 pitches that are not even close. 2-0 he swings and misses at a fastball that tails about 3 feet inside. On 2-1, he takes ball 3 and then walks on 5 pitches. Maybe it's a start? Nope. Votto swings at the first pitch, and although he hit the hardest ball the Reds hit all night, he didn't elevate it and it was caught on a nice recovery by McCutchen in CF. That effectively ended any chance the Reds had to score the rest of the night.

I think "The Cowboy" can be ridiculous and even arrogant sometimes, but he was right on last night. The Reds weren't making any quality contact off Morton yet kept swinging early in counts. Given that they will probably face him 2-3 more times this year, it would be nice to make some adjustments. At this rate, he'd win the Cy Young if he faced the Reds every night.