Bucs Win Hammering Low-A Ball Pitcher
Box Score [link] — Recap [link] — Audio [link – subscription required]
MLB’s box score, play-by-play data, and game notes [link]
—
Yet another sad day for Pirate fans as we trucked out what is likely to be our opening day lineup against the Twins and we managed just 1 hit over 7 innings in support of Tom Gorzelanny.
Never mind that it was Ramon Ortiz who threw four innings of one-hit ball and Wilson, Bay, LaRoche, and Nady have a career .435 batting average against him.
Never mind that Matt Guerrier and Juan Rincon, part of perhaps the best bullpen in all baseball, tossed another perfect three innings of work.
Never mind that the Twins fielded the equivalent to a AAA team by starting only regulars Bartlett and Krubel.
No, what is really sad about this game is that it took the Twins sending in Mount Carmel native David Shinskie, a low A-Ball hurler, before we could manage any production at all.
While the Pirates might have won the game, they really walked away with their heads hung low between their legs.
Consider this – in the last 6 games during what is typically known as "tuneup week", the Pirates total offensive production against 25-man roster starters and relievers:
— 34 hits, including 10 against Harang;
— 12 earned runs;
— in 46 innings thrown at them;
— having sent 180 batters to the plate;
— with 9 walks; and
— 25 strikeouts.
That’s a .199 batting average folks. Toss the outlier game out vs the Reds and you have a wonderful .160 batting average over 137 plate appearances.
Ouch.
I’m a believer in the thought that spring numbers don’t translate but I do believe the big picture translates. Things like the Pirates turning the fewest double plays in the NL, walking the third highest number of batters, and having the 4th worst OBP absolutely translate, imo.
Credit Tom Gorzelanny for pounding the strike zone and striking out 8, walking just 1, allowing just 4 hits, and 2 earned runs against what most would consider a AAA Twins lineup. That’s a start. It was also nice to see Wasdin, Marte, and Torres pretty much handle the youthful Twins players too. That is also a start.
But neither were impressive, except Gorzelanny’s dominance. Now, can he do the same against men in the batters box? We’ll see next Friday against the Reds who, by the way, have had almost as dismal a spring as the Pirates.
I should mention there are some positive spring signs for the Pirates. They do have a nice contact rate at the plate, have hit into very few double plays despite the contact rate, and our pitching has been outstanding outside the walks issued. But not hitting into DP’s when every batter is swinging for the fence in windy conditions isn’t unusual.
Pittsburgh Pirates - Bucco Blog 
Nice recap, but it’s not as bad as you think.
David Shinskie pitched in AA LAST season and will be in AAA or the majors by the end of this season.
He’s a decent pitcher, but that is neither here nor there. The bats certainly were silent for Ortiz, (former Bucco) Matt Guerrier, and Rincon.