The Curse of Barry Bonds: Game 87 – In what way to Blow a Game (38-49)
Posted by tunspatrick on July 19, 2009
As the pirates marched towards the all-star break, one things is clear. They can’t win afternoon games, they can’t win on the road, can’t win against the division, and get dominated by pitchers that have ERA’s in the stratosphere. What will the second half bring? I’m not sure. But the Pirates find themselves 12 games under .500 and 9.5 games out of first place in the division. It could be worse, but it could be a hell of a lot better. They are slipping into a routine of losing games and a losing culture is never good for momentum. At 2-8 in their last ten games, the all star break couldn’t have come soon enough. Execept for maybe Garrett Jones who has homered in four straight.
Game recap -
Virgil Vazquez isn’t cutting it. Five runs in the first inning and the game was pretty much over. Of course knowing the pirates 1-0 lead for the opposition might be enough to call it a game. But they played out the game, Sanchez doubled in a run and Jones hit another solo homerun but that’s all the pirates could do and after losing this game 5-2, have been swept by the Phillies and for all purposes eliminated from any chance at making the playoffs. Playing 12 games over .500 in the second half is possible, and if they do that, I’ll consider it a playoff birth.
With the loss, the Pirates fall to (38-50), (16-33) on the road,(14-113) vs. the NL east, and (0-3) vs. the Phillies.
Stars of the game -
#1 Garrett Jones (4)
#2 Andrew McCutchen (9)
#3 Freddy Sanchez (13)
#4 Jeff Karstens (6)
#5 Joel Hanrahan (2)
Not so much -
#1 Virgil Vazquez (2)
#2 Ryan Doumit (5)
How we can reach .500 Written on may 20, a look at how the pirates could inconceivably reach the .500 mark by the end of the 2009 season and avoid a 17th consecutive losing campaign.
July 10-12 @ Philadelphia Not a great way to head into the all-star break, but the Pirates find a way to get the job done and sweep the defending world series champs: finish the road trip (7-2) and move to (45-43) Division title here we come. (Even though by this point the brewers lead the pirates by 12 games). Well the Cardinals lead by 9.5 games over the Pirates. At least I knew there was going to be a sweep. 38-50, 7 games behind. We better have one hell of a second half.
Similar posts: blow give job
